The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-11 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, AUG. 11.

The Inman steamship Edinburgh, from New
York on the 30th ult., arrived here at 3.40 a.m.
to-day. She brings 76 passengers and 163,178 dole.
in specie. She landed six passengers, and proceeded
for Liverpool at 3.45 a.m.
Her news has been fully anticipated.

SWITZERLAND AND AUSTRIA.

BERNE, AUG. 11.

The Federal Council hag a second liras requested
from the Austrian Government the extradition of
General Langiewicz.

The International Conference for the care of the
wounded in battle has held three sittings at Geneva

since Monday.

SPAIN.

MADRID, AUG. 11.

The Diario Espanol announces that the Libertad
and Iberia have been prosecuted for publishing
military tribunals.
seditious writings, and have been brought before the

FRANCE.
PARIS, AUG. 11 (Morning).
Frankowski, an agent of the Polish National
Government, was tried yesterday at the Court of
Assize for the Soine. He was charged with having
altered the numbirs of some bonds of the Credit
Foncier of Poland, stolen during the insurrection.
The court sentenced him to 1:wo years' imprison-
ment—that being the lightest punishment that
could be inflicted.

BOURSE, August 10.—The market shows but
little or no change either in quotations or in the
the amount of business doing. Threes, for the Ac-
count. are now at 66f. 45c., and Mobilier at 1,007 f.
50c. Railway Market quiet, but firm. The market
closed as follows :

41 per Cents 94 6C
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 45
Credit Mobilier 1906 25
Do. end m0nth...11007 50
Bank Shares —
Credit Fonder 1220
Roman .....

Italian Loan
68 20
Do. end month 6B 25
Ditto Threes .. _.New Mexican .... 56
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes.• •
Home Debt
Deferred -
lAA LL WATS.
Cash. Account.
Orleans
Northern .... 9BO .. 982 50
Lyons and Mediterranean 920 .. 922 50
New ditto
Southern 640 .. 641 25
Western
Eastern ....
Sardinian.. 350 .. 348 75
Austrian
Lon, bard
North of Spain
Saragossa 503 75 .. 505
Ditto to Barcelona

.....

rypt.

It is some years now
Barry began the restoration of this beautiful crypt,
the only relic that remains to us of the once un-
eqaalled St. Stephen's Chapel, unless Westminster-
hall and the cloisters on the east side are to be
considered parts of the famous Palace, What the
crypt was 600 years ago, now that it has been per-
fectly
restored to the splendour of its original
decoration, we can judge for ourselves; but the
glories of the chapel which once rose above it can
only be guessed at from comparison with the crypt,
or dimly admired through the traditions of anti-
quaries. Long before the fire Which finally destroyed
it, the gradual, but necessary, process of accommo-
dating its interior to the wants of the Houee of
Commons, had totally changed this once superbly
decorated edifice. Mr. Ferguseee, in his "Hand-
book of Architecture," :Jays of Se Stephen's:—" As
might be expect-,a a priori; the gem of English art
was the e:lapel in the Royal Palace at Westinineter.
On 't..nis was lavished all that the metropolis could
then produce most exquisite in the arts of design,
and this not in architecture only, but the best
works of sculpture and the highest class of painting
were put in requisition for its adornments. The
dimensions were not large, being only 90ft. by 33ft.
internally, and its roof was of wood, but so elaborate
were its decorations that it must have cost more
than many edifices three or four times its size.
There can be no doubt that it was designed to sur-
pass everything of the sort in England, and being
erected wholly within the reigns of the three first
Edwards, it embraced the very best period of
English art, answering to the Sainte Chapelle
at Paris, which belongs to the great architec-
tural age of St. Louis." But, as we have
said, very little of this grandeur beyond its
traditions remained till 1834, when, after having
been partly burnt about a dozen times, the
old building finally succumbed to the great confla-
gration known as " the burning of the Houses of
Parliament," In traditions of other kind, however,
St. Stephen's, as the arena in which were fought
out the great battles for England's Constitution was
not inferior in historic interest to any building fire
has yet destroyed. A building in which the Confese
sor died, which was not new when the first Norman
councils were held in England, and whioh witnessed
and survived every reformation but the reformation
of Parliament, must have possessed such historic
associations as would leave it without an equal in
this respect in Europe. But, endless as are the
traditions about St. Stephen's Chapel, about the
crypt beneath, with which we have now to do,
there is almost none. Some of the early Edwards
gave banquets in it, which must, one would think,
have been genial feasts, for there is a legend that
one of their Queens indulged to such intemperate
extent at a banquet there as to enable her toshuille
off this mortal coil much earlier than she or her
friends anticipated. After this period it was merely
a crypt--a dull sort of ecclesiastical lumber-room,
about which there are no records save the doubtful
rumours which assign it as a place of meeting for
Cromwell, Pym, Denzil Hello, and others of the
Liberal party when the debates which preceded the
Commonwealth were drawing to a violent close.
From this time forth it seems to have been a lumber-
room, which was left alone in its dusty silence till
used to prepare the coronation banquet of one of the
early Georges—a mode of turning it to account
which seems to have suggested the idea which after-
wards was carried out by many successive Speakers
of giving their Parliamentary banquets in it. After
the fire which destroyed St. Stephen's Chapel above
it, but did not much injure the crypt, the gas meters
used to be kept in it, and in the New Palace the site
of St. Stephen's above the crypt was used in order
to obtain an entrance to the present structure
through Westminster-hall. All who have visited
the Nev Palace will, we are sure, have a vivid re-
collection of St Stephen's-hall, leading from West-
minstershall to the great octagon central hall, and
containing the marble effigies of Pitt, Somers,
Hampden, Fox, Eldon, Clarendon, and others of
our greatest and most renowned orators and states-
men. This ball is exactly over the crypt, which
was spared by the fire, and which has now been
completely restored under the care of the present
architect to the New Palace—Mr E. M. Barry.
The late Sir Charles Barry, while, in common
with all other architects, he lamented the destruc-
tion of St Stephen's Chapel, always held as his
most cherished idea the restoration of the crypt,
and its re-dedication to religious uses as the pri-
vate chapel of the New Palace at Westminster,
whose inmates are some hundreds, now that the
Speaker, Black Rod, Sergeant-at-Arms, librarian,
and other officials possers regular family residences
within the building, and which, we believe, being
necessarily extra-parochial, give no legal claim for
seats in the neighbouring churches. It is some years
since this restoration was commenced, and it has
fallen to the lot of Sir Charles Barry's son to carry
out his father's views by completely restoring and
decorating the crypt, and nothing now remains to
be added except the fittings to render it a chapel
worthy of the most important Gothic edifice of
modern times.
In the progress of this restoration the Workmen
came upon the embalmed body of an ecclesiastic,
without any coffin, and buried under one of the
window seats. The body lay with its feet towards
the east—an unusual position for an ecclesiastic. It
was wrapped in several folds of waxed cloth, sewn
with twine. Its right hand vves on the breast, and
on the left arm lay the pastoral staff, a crook
of oak, beautifully carved, while on the feet
were sandals, with leathern soles sharply pointed.
The face was perfect in its preservation, with
the hair still on the chin and upper lip. This
was supposed to be the body of William Lyndwood,
Bishop of St David's, the only person, it is be.
'loved, who was buried in the crypt—at all events,
the only one found during the course of the repairs,
which were most extensive. As it appears row,
the crypt is restored • to all the pristine splendour
of its early erection. Every tone of its rich gold
and colour decorations have been, wherever they
could be traced, most diligently reproduced, and
the result is a chapel which, in its general richness
of effect, will bear comparison with any in Europe,
with the Sainte Chapelle, with the Chapter-house
of Salisbury Cathedral itself.
The date of the erection of St. Stephen's Chapel
anderypt is supposed to be from about A.D. 1290
to A.D. 1345, and, though the upper chapel was
roofed with wood, the crypt always possessed a
groyned ceiling of stone, with massive ribs and
bosses, which have been carefully reinstated and
restored. The bosses are in most cases original, as
their fragments have been collected and put together
again with great care. Some of the largest bosses
are really medallion groups of historical sculpture,
and contain representations of the martyrdoms of
St. Stephen, St. John, St. Catherine, St. Lawrence,
and also a representation of St. George and the
Dragon. Some of these bosees are most quaint, ea-
pecially the chief one, which represents the martyr-
dom of St. Stephen, who is clad in gorgeous robes,
and being stoned by Hebrews dressed in the curious
costume and long pointed shoes of the time of
Chaucer, who, by the way, was himself clerk of the
works during the erection of part of the crypt and
chapel. Another boss, which represents the mar-
tyrdom of St. Catherine, is equally grotesque in
its manner of telling the tale of suffering. Weird
and monstrous, too, aro the Gothic dragons which
peer from the roof and vary these bosses, and give
such appearance of originality to the whole ceiling.
The crypt is of nearly the same dimensions as the
original chapel above it—namely 90ft. long.by 28ft.
wide, and 20ft. high. It contains five elaborate
groins, all richly decorated in gold and colours.
Attached to each of the side walls are groups of
clustered columns which support the greine. Each
cluster contains five columns, which, with their
capitals and bases, are all of Purbeck marble
polished. The side and end walls, as well as the
private entrance from the Palace, are all painted
and ornamented in a manner to correspond with,the
decoration of the groins, and as from the situation
of the crypt there is necessarily a deficiency of
light, Mr Barry has thought it necessary to make a
liberal use of gold grounds, as-a field oa which the
various decorations have been executed. The floor
is paved with Minton's tiles, with an admixture of
marble, the designs increasing in richness and ela-
boration towards the east end. The windowe are all

......
filled with stained glass by ..—..........Hardman, and are il-
lustrative of the life and death of St. Stephen, who
is depicted in the discharge of his various diaconal
duties, and meeting in the end a martyr's death.
The east end probably contained windows origin-
ally, as the chapel above undoubtedly did; but, as
the Palace now adjoins the east end of the crypt,
no windows can now be obtained there. The panel-
ling is therefore occupied with full length figures
on gold grounds representing St. Peter and St.
Stephen, St, Oswald, St. Ethelreda, St. Edmund,
St. Edward the Confessor, St. Margaret of Scot-
land, anti St. Edward the Martyr.
It is to be hoped that no time may be lost in fit.
ting up the crypt and making use of it as the
private chapel of the New Palace at Westminster.
No permanent seats are contemplated, but the
&lapel is proposed to be furnished with chairs to
accommodate 250 or 300 person©.—Times.
The Royal Horticultural Society.

Sir Joseph "'Lotion, M.P., his addressed the fol•
owing letter to the Assistant-Seerptary :-
7, Pall-mall East, London, July 20.
Sir,—Having been requested to give my opinion as to
the nature and character of exhibitions which the Royal
Horticultural Society should encourage for the true ad-
vancement of horticulture and its accompanying sciences, I
have draughted out this letter, in order to form a founda-
tion or data on which this matter can be discussed, and I
trust with a good result,
1. No doubt the result of the society's exhibitions has in
many respects been very advantageons to the cause of hor-
ticulture, particularly the earlier ones. They have en-
couraged great improvements in the culture and manage-
ment of plants, particularly such plants as can be pro-
duced in floweret what may be called the London fashionable
season; but they have by no means been productive of
unmixed good. They have brought into existence an un-
natural and artificial condition of things, which is not only
objected to in the interests of gardeners themselves, but is
also opposed to the interests of the public, by causing what
may be termed a spasmodic effort and exertion, which at
other seasons of the year is unemployed and to a great de-
i gree unproductive. I may illustrate this by stating that a
good many years ago (and the same state of things now
exists to a certain extent) I called to see a first-class Londcn
garden—forgetting that it was one of the exhibition days—
and I found only about six or eight plants in the garden,
and others having all been trained—like a horse for racing
and had been taken to the show to win the stakes. In the
same season, some time after this, I called again, and found
the plants having been their round of racing, all flowerless,
and beginning to be placed under training for the next
season for the same purpose; and this training was effected
by keeping some plants back and forcing others, so that
they might all flower together, and such plants as would
not bear this treatment were not cultivated.
2. Everyone, of course, says he has a right to do what
he likes with his own plants, which I do not deny; and if
a gentleman does not mind being 10 months in the year
without flowers in order to make a great display, I have no
fault to find with him; all I contend for is, that should not
be the main aim and scope of the exhibitors of the Horti-
cultural Society. In one respect the exhibitions of the pre-
sent day have produced a good result by giving prizes for
collections of beautiful foliage plants, as the culture of these
plants (which look beautiful all the year round)_ is thus
stimulated, and they are a great improvement in the
garden.
But in other respects those great show cultivators grow
very few plants which do not flower at the show season,
and therefore leave the flowers which might be cultivated
with great effect for other seasons of the year without much
attention.
4. The true object of horticulture should be, in my
opinion, to increase the enjoyment derivable from it, and to
diffuse it as widely as possible; to enable the owners of gar-
dens to get the greatest amount of pleasure and satisfaction
from their possessions, and to enable the general public to
procure the greatest number of fruit flowers and vegetables
in the greatest quantity, of the best kinds, and at the
cheapest prices.
5. In order to carry out this, there should be something
like a continuous exhibition, so that a gardener would have
no interest in forcing his plants unnaturally into flower;
but if he had a beau iful specimen at any time he would
know he could exhibit it where it would be seen and appre-
ciated and its merits rewarded. When the Horticultural
Society was in its palmy days, one of its great sources of
benefit and attraction was the fortnightly shows at their great
room in Regent-street, It was then the practice for any
gentleman in the country, if he had a new plant or a new
fruit, to send to one of these exhibitions at any time in the
year, and the nurseryman brought every new plant there
from their respective establishments. Dr Lindley explained
the nature and properties of everything as it appeared in each
exhibition with his lucid and agreeable manner, in which on
this subject he has no rival, and these meetings were in-
tensely fashionable, and often densely crowded.
6. Where the Horticultural gardens at Chiswick were the
leading gardens in the country for new plants many gardens
were supplied thence, and so they were never without great
interest. They could not trust altogether to country gen-
tlemen and nurserymen for plants for exhibition, and when
the entries were deficient the shows were made up of beau-
tiful plants from the Horticultural Gardens. Though then a
Certificate of Merit from the Society meant something and
was prized at a high rate, it insured the sale of any plant
which received it, and often practically represented a prize
of some hundreds of pounds sterling--as many nursery•
men had orders before the exhibition closed for very large
amounts. It therefore appears to me that these fortnightly
exhibitions should be renewed at once, and every attraction
given to them. And considering the increase of commercial
transactions relating to horticulture, the facility of carrying
anything from a distance, and the great influx of visitors
into London in the season for a temporary sojourn, for the
spring and summer months, it would be well to try a weekly
exhibition without the descriptions, which, in point of fact,
would almost amount to a continual show. And they
should be held in a place suitable for plants, where many
nurserymen would not mind allowing them to remain all
the time they were in full flower. One or two of the great
shows might be still held in the gardens, where the fashion-
ables could attend to show themselves and lock at each
other; which they do on these occasions quite as much as
at the flowers.
7, It would be too much in a letter of this sort to go into
details as to how many branches of horticulture have re-
mained stagnant for many years past ; though it would not
be irrelevant, it would occupy more space and time than I
can now afford to give to it. But there is one subject that
has pressed upon me so long, and I am so convinced of its
damaging effects upon the commercial part of the supply of
the finer fruits in the public market, that I cannot help re-
verting to it in this letter, and that is—the growth of fruits
for sale by private establishments, in competition with
the market gardeners. Many gentlemen keep gardens,
partly for their own use, and partly for the sale of the pro-
duce, which they sell to cover part of the gardening ex-
penses; and this is done to a very large extent and by some
of the highest private garden establishments in the country.
The result is that fruit, with all the facilities of cheap glass
and cheap coal all over the country (compared with 40 years
ago), is absolutely dearer than it was 40 years since; while
the produce of real market gardens is perhaps 50 per cent.
cheaper and 100 per cent, better, the forced fruits in which
the private establishments compete have made very little
progress in goodness. If you went to Covent-garden market
between 30 and 40 years ago and looked at the fruit, you
would find the grapes were grown by Mr Andrews, the
great market gardener at Vauxhall, Mr William Wilmot,
of Isleworth, or some other good market gardener of the
day, whereas, if you go there now, the same kind of fruit is
from some private garden ; and supposing a large quantity
of fruit is wanted for a 1;1$ party, none of the great fruiterers
will undertake to supply yos: until they have written or
telegraphed to some private eataishments to know what
they can get.
8. The first question that naturally stn.," you is—
How is the public worse off for this change ? Ice n answer:
this, I think, to everybody's conviction in a few worae.:
private establishment will very often sell in the early seam;
llb of grapes or a dozen peaches, regardless of cost, at a
price which it would ruin a market gardener to attempt.
This price will content a private gentleman who does not
know the cost of growing them, but competition at these
prices would ruin any market gardener, who is nearly de-
terred from growing them at all ; and therefore the regu-
lation of the supply of the market is left in the hands of
these limited private establishments. If the market gar-
deners were not met there they would try to excel each other
in the cheapness and goodness of the fruit, as they do in all
other things, and in a short time the market would have a
regular supply at half the present cast of spring fruit, which
is not attempted now on a scale large enough to compete
with the great number of private establishments who send
the best of their things, and pocket their losses, and the
public have in consequence a very limited supply. I dare-
say it answers the purpose of the fruiterers very well, but
it is very detrimental to the public.
4,9. And now, sir, before I close my letter allow me to say
a word or two about what is done in the sale way by the
Royal Hortioultural Society. It is quite legitimate and
right to propagate anti distribute any new plants (which it
has brought into the country) to Fellows, but I object
in totq to buying new plants, cultivating them, and ballot-
ing far them ; this is (allow me to say) an infringement of
the legitimate business of the nurserymen, who can do it
much better and cheaper than the society can.—l am, 80.1
JosEnn PAXTON%

ETHE MAIL ROBBERY.—Cash, the engine-driver,
was tried at the Chester assizes, on Tuesday, for the rob-
bery of a mail bag from Chelford station, near Macclesfield.
The prisoner was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude.
INCOME WITHOUT RlSK.—Agents wanted for Arthur
Granger's (New Patent) Ladies' and Gents' Paper Co lars
and Cull's in every variety at 15. 6d., 2s. 6d., 3s. Gd., and 48.6 d.
per gross; Patent Safety Envelopes Is., Is. 3d., and Is. 6d.
per gross ; Samples and terms 3 stamps.—Cheap Stationery,
Printing, and Toy Warehouse, ass, High Holborn,
Advt.

61131' tit
agar

HER MAJESTY,

10.
The Queen and Princess Louis°S B°l
ofNEAugust
Hesse drove
yesterday.
Lieutenant-Colonel Du Plat was in attendance.
Viscountess Jocelyn has succeeded the DowaPr
Countess of Mount-Edgcumbe as Lady in Wgiting.
oat

Departure of the Prince and Princess Of
Wales for Scotland.
Yesterday evening their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by
their infant eon, Prince Albert Victor, left Loyd°
on their way to Abergeldie, where, as it is under•
.
stood, they will remain for about six weeks.
Their royal highnesses, who were attended by
lion. Mrs. Coke, Lieutenant-General linollys, oda
Major Teesdale, travelled by the 8.40
express mail," on the London and North-Western
Railway. Two royal saloon carriages, a first'elass,'
and a luggage van were attached to the train, and
behind were three large Post-office carriages end
some heavy vans.
A considerable number of persons collected cut'.
side the station and within the entrance yard,
while the platform itself was by no means hate.
canted. On the arrival of the prince and prince's
at a few minutes after the appointed time they
were received by Mr Moon, chairman of the corn'
pany, and some of the principal officers, by whom
they were conducted to the salon in which t;h4efa
l
were to travel. The handsome carriage is divided
into two compartments, in the first of whiellr°6o
the prince and princess, and in the second
r,f
young prince and two nurses. A door allovis
communication between the two divisions• a
spectators outside and inside the station then
the prince and princess most heartily en hen
arrival, and redoubled their acclamations
Prinoe Albert Victor was seen in his nurse's arms.
The hurrahing was, indeed, so loud that the r°
~,Yo
he
infant's slumbers were evidently disturbed. '"th
Prince of Wales conversed for a few moments with
Mr. Moon while the preparations were being cons';
pleted ; but in a very brief space after the r°).ll
travellers had entered their carriage the signal Was
given, and the train sped on its way. ed
The prince and princess intended to Pr"E
direct to Stirling on their way to the Troesoii:
after visiting which their royal highnesses svi
continue their journey to Abergeldie. Will
It is expected that the prince and princess
visit Gordon Castle and other places during their
stay in the North.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will visit Pend•
mark at the conclusion of their stay in seotlor?
The visit would have been made at an earlierPorl°a

but for the recent hostnies.
f the
Prince William of Prussia, the eldest Bon ° hp
Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia, Ic:r
has been on a visit to her Majesty at Osborne los.
some time, WA return to Berlin in a few daY
Major von Schweinitz, adjutant to the Cr°;„-wn
Prince, has been deputed to accompany .nce
William home.
The Earl and Countess of Tanksrville are about
to leave ChiHingham Castle, Northumberland, 'or

the North.
The Earl and Countess of Malmesbulo *1:
nave been visiting the Earl and Countess of
vile at CidHingham Castle, go to the noble earl to
shooting box in the Highlands to-morrow.
The Duchess (Dowager) of Sutherland, who 110
been on a visit to her Royal Highness the Crown.
Princess of Prussia (the Princess Royal of El;
land) at Potsdam, has left for Geneva, and wi
remain several weeks in Switzerland.
His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio left the
Italian Legation yesterday, for Belgium, on his WAY,
to Aix.la-Chapelle.
The Duke of Newcastle left Carlton-41(3°8e*
terrace yesterday for Clamber Perk, Notts, acc°l33:
panted by Lord. Edward Pelham Clinton. The
duke's health is somewhat improved, but ref"
care will be required before he regains his I°s-
-
strength.
The Earl and Countess of \Yinchilsea hoe left
the St. George's Hotel.
said to bEemvPeEryßOß NAPOLEON 111., whose health Lg.
Vichy. returned to St. Cloud on Sunday evening, Where "
was received witmhugcrheaitm; eadnbdythheislroeucdeensttEweic:::::
Lions.

ROSSINI'S FETE DAY !—Signor Meroadano nee
written
an ode for outdoor performance by 400 voices Is"
a commemoration festival in honour of Rossini, whie:a
to be held at Pesaro on Aug. 21, Rossini's four de nol4'
Ma J. R. PLANCIIE ROUGE CROIX. PUBSUIVAI4'
has recently given to the world, "A Corner of _Kent; .ta
Some
ome Account of the Parish of Ash-nest-Sandwich
Historical Sites and Existing Anti uities "
THE PURCHASE OF ASTONg PARE, BaariNa4
HAM.— We have much pleasure in learning that this 11;
delayed purchase is nearly on the point of cohililetf°ll,;„.ed
understand that the contract was signed and ele—
yesterday. The corporation's and thegcaniPanY's seal have
remains for the conveyance to be settled been attached to their respective documents, and it only
e th 13°8 •
be entirely completed and the property to Vega
session of the town.—Birminghanz Gazette.
THE " NEW ALABAMA." The neVi sbiP
Captain Seminas, building on the Continent, ar.of
which will probably be ready towards the ci°s° tea
and will be
,protect. 0
August, is reported as over 4,000 tons,
with solid steel plates 2iin thick. She is to be ailed
04.
New Alabama, and will be armed with Armstrong Oa
oi
for themeatter to.
she is built for a ram, will be furnished with eagiues.o..
great power, and will possess the means of throwing sc'•
1,.,r to
log water on her opponents. It is intended for 1—:,,•110
have the very large complement of 1,100 men I Ilea'
are are offered a bounty of £lO each on joining, with r
cool-
month wages, and prize money equal to that of her -
mender, Captain St.mmes ; in other words, the prize za°lll°l
is to be divided pro rata by all cn board. Most of
eW
officers and crew of the sunken ship will join t
hf
Alabama. It is intended that she will commence operations
near Boston, United States. Federal ships of war
to
watching her progress, and will dispute her first atteUiPt

go
ritousEea
—ATIIIAYIRaDIBuIIitEVIEW SPEAKING " A BIT Oi?
ITS MIND" TO SIR CHARLES WOOD 1..—1 t is itnlwi P.
Ile to say that he is hy au:, means either an admirable or
a pleasing specimen of the ilritish statesman. FerhaP'J a
more entirely unoriginal mina' never occupied itself
.with
the business of Government; For more than 30 years he
has been an inevitable member of every Whig Administra-
tion, but his warmest friends would scarcely ven:ure to
assert that he has ever displayed pow 'era beyond the se of a
painstaking and industrious clerk, lie' has been Cha acellor
of the Exchequer, and President of tb a Board of Control,
and First Lord of the Admiralty, and 3e, eretary
of State f
India; but it cannot be said that in any ca,Dacity he has risei a
above the level of the dreariest commonplace. It is certab i
or
,;;tat he has never uttered a word in pub:in which inankinii
will uake the smallest interest in rememb, sring; and we sr a
not avrat'e that he ever originated a meant ire which histor y
will care to ,associate with his name. He .is best known t °
,associatehis contemporaries by a style of oratory Nv.hicb. perpla h lr.a
0
and exasperates even the friendly listener, and whic
singularly fitted to make the better reason app.( ar the worsc
•
If he has ever deviated into vivacity, it has been at
thl?
expense of conventional proprieties which a wise r man would
have studiously respected. The most lively pa sages of his
public career that we recollect was his famous , controversl
with Mr Laing, when he pulled to pieces with unecng
i frankness the facts and figures of the Indian Fit ante Nit;
nister, and rudely discredited the policy of an abla ilv;,,,
meritorious colleague, who, whether mistaken o'd
',not '-
to
the parti;mlar questions at issue, was at least ent 'tie
courteous treatment. Of Lis temper and deportmen c there
is, unfortunately; nothing to be said but what it won Id w°
Woo
more agreeable to leave unsaid. Sir Charles dJO
never enjoyed the reputation of being a pleasant ini,ll
,t;
work with, or under. Art has done nothing to correa
.°.
conceal the acerbity of a harsh and ill-conditioned rutty.' 'l'l;4
and charity herself has no resource but to assume that
I 8
is wholly unconscious of peculiarities of manner whic xi".
offensive to others. On the whole, though it would be,r;
:il
candid to deny him the possession of some qualities vrk,
)14
are valuable in a public servant, he can only l'eitnipii,
at the best, as a type of laborious, not to say 'e" -
complacency
mediocrity; louse
and the country would learn with raw a thsli
of Commons and served his last term as a Cabinet Mint ..t. ra
that he had made his last speech in the 1.,,,e
_.
We have had a very long spell of Charles Wood, of Vie'
list of new peerages which shall include the name
popular
heaviest of heavy Whigs is sure to be generally
fLords is.
always provided that promotion to the House o- ,_ bet,
understood to mean retirement from official life. :1::
_re,
with perhaps the one exception of the present Iloalry
._autii,
tarn there is no living public man (not alrteted ".
catxgorf
Upper House) whose final withdrawal tromi a table,.
of pssible Ministers would be more uoVersal y cvtr