The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-05 00:00:00

_

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1854.

A. grand attack upon the Crimea is now to be
expected. The Allied Powers are in movement,
Eighty thousand soldiers, at the lowest computa-
tion, probably altogether a hundred thousands,,
English, French, Turks, and Egyptians, are forth_
with about to make a descent upon the Crimea__
bent upon achieving a great victory at Sebastopol,
with the force of their own valour, under the aid of
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
An indication of what was about to be adven-
tured upon by the Western Powers, as allies of
the SULTAN and antagonists of the AUTOCRAT, be-
came visible at the time when Generals BROWN 1
and CAZTROBERT made a visit recently with some
5,000 men to! the coast of Circassia, and there
took up a position manifestly only in preparation 1
for some more formidable enterprise. They visited
that particular part of
the shores of the Black
Sea, it now appears, to the north of Abasia, for
the pm-pose of reconnoitring
betimes in the
How
vicinity of Anapa. ever this preliminary 1
endeavour may have been effected under the cir-

* "Description of some of the principal Harbours
and Towns of the Krimea and the Kherson, compiled
from various authors." By Montague Gore, Esq. Bvo.
pp. 24. London : Ridgway, 1854.

"In the good old times when GEORGE 111. was
King" a smart traffic was carried on in
" boroughs "—" rotten boroughs," as they were
somewhat contemptuously designated by a
troublesome band of Reformers, who had no re-
spect for " vested interests," or " the rights of
property." The representation of various consti-
tuent es was universally regarded as belonging' to
certain families, or the owners of estates in the
vicinity ; and but scant ceremony was displayed
in dealing with them, as the owners for the time
being thought proper. A seat in the House of
Commons might be purchased, for the session, the
duration of the existing Parliament, or in perpe-
tuity, just as the next presentation or advowson
of a benefice may now be obtained. Bonds' of
resignation were frequently given,—in some in-
stances with security. The influence of a noble-
man or gentleman was calculated, not by his
talents, or popularity, or property, but by the
number of his boroughs.

Any ambitious aspirant for Parliamentary
Honours knew, to a pound sterling, the price
he would be obliged to " pay for his whistle."
If he required to be allowed to vote as he thought
proper, to be considered as an " independent
member," or, in other words, competent to make
his own bargain with the Minister for his own
private advantage, the price was heavy, varying
according to the demand from 1,000/. to 2,000/.
for the session, and decreasing in price for a silent
member, or " dumby," according to the degree
of subservience which he was willing to exhibit,
while a smart talker, or friend of the family,
might be sent in for nothing. This was, how-
ever, seldom the case, unless the party was re-
quired as a "warming pan" to fill the seat for a
• time, until the patron was enabled to suit him-
self ; just as we have seen a very old and sickly
clergyman, whose hold on existence was very
feeble, presented to a living which the patron
had not time to sell before the vacancy had
occurred. In such cases it was deemed
a point of honour to relinquish the seat on
demand ; and the patron was therefore enabled
to dispose of it to the best advantage, either to a
private or Ministerial purchaser. If the Minister
of the day required the nomination, some desir-
able appointment was given to heal the wounds
and assuage the sorrows of the gentleman obliged
to make way, to gild the bitter pill he was com-
pelled to swallow ; and as such transactions were
by no means unusual, no inconvenient questions
wmear a
tte
receivingsked as t
ano theapp
appointment,
qualifications
theo any
naturegen t 1
ofc
the bargain that had been effected. It would not
do to establish a precedent that might injuriously
able
bffleec tome
na
tnl ye n
ae be/ve,enayseo,ma.
en dNßobiglehtLoHrdosn.our-
ll
tehdo utghhe.
pt hr
aectißeee,foitrrn
nstill existed ; but much
had materially
cheAlek
greater caution was necessary in • "dealing for
seats." The matter could not bo openly
arranged as heretofore ; but still it might
he managed quietly—for the law which pro-
hibited giving ss. or 5/. to an elector took
no cognisance of 3,0001. or 5,000/. paid to •
the patron. And, notwithstanding the virtuous
indignation excited against vulgar bribery, and the
stringent enactments brought forward for its sup-
pression, no notice was taken of this higher and
more aristocratic species of corruption in any of
the measures that, emanating either from the

Ministerial or Opposition side of the House ; and
therefore, we may assume that there was no de-
sire to prevent a matter that might be made so
very useful on an emergency. Although JOHN
NoKEsor PETER STYLES would be punished severely
for accepting a couple of sovereigns, or a 5/. note
for his " most sweet voice," nothing would be
done to his Grace the Duke of —, or the most
noble the Marquis of —, or the Right Hon.
Lord —, for bartering an entire constituency
for a blue ribbon, a step in the peerage, or a good
situation for a younger son or brother. The person
who gave money or refreshment for a single vote
would be liable to prosecution, and to severe penalties '
and disqualifications, but perfect impunity would :
attend the purchase of an entire constituency,
particularly if the consideration were the handing
over the interests and well-being of a flourishing
eolony to the control and management of one of
the parties to the compact.
Much attention has lately been attracted to a
case which savours strongly of " the good old
practice," and bears the aspect of " job" on its
very front. The " WENLOCK" or " LAWLEY"
interest is supposed to be very powerful in the
free and independent borough of Beverley. The
Honourable FRANCIS CHARLES LAWLEY, youngest
son of the late, and brother to the present, Lord
WENLOCK, was the chosen representative of this
ancient constituency. He was a young gentle-
man of fair abilities, respectable attain-
ments, unexceptionable manners, and gene-
rally popular qualities. Added to these, he
filled the responsible, although not very
lucrative situation, of Private Secretary
to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. LAWLEY,
however, had one or two failings. He indulged
in rather expensive amusements, better suited to
the eldest than the youngest son. He had specu-
lated on the turf, and not very successfully ; and
his dealings in the vicinity of Capel-Court had
been even less fortunate. The result was, that
Mr. LAWLEY found it convenient to exchange his
political prospects, brilliant as they were, for
something yielding a more speedy return. But
how was this to be accomplished He had the
interest of one Cabinet Minister—another would'
insure success. A colonial appointment would be
most suitable, but how could one of sufficient
value be obtained ? That was the question to be
answered—the problem to be solved ? But au
CEDIPus was speedily found. The friend and
patron of the young aspirant to a Governorship
(Mr. LAWLEY was in his 29th year) was the Fidus
Achates to the Minister who presided over the des-
tinies of our various dependencies. The Exchequer
" PYLADES" to the Colonial ORESTES. But the
request was a " little too bad." More influence
should be obtained to stifle or over-rule the objec-
tions that might be started in "The Happy Family
at Downing-street."
But nothing is too difficult for an energetic
mind. The word " impossible" has no place in
some vocabularies. The " dear" and "excellent"
Premier had a youthful son whom he was very
desirous of starting into public life. The Hon.
A RTHIIR GORDON was in his 25th year, and it
was time that he had entered on the track which
had been pursued with so much profit by the GOR-
DONS of many preceding generations. A hint
that " Beverley" could be made safe, that the
seat could be transferred from the Hon. FRANCIS
CHARLES LAWLEY to the Hon. ARTHu GORDON,
smoothed every difficulty. The laudable aspira-
tions of both the young gentlemen were accom-
plished. The former was Gazetted Governor of
South Australia, and entitled to the designation
of " His Excellency." The latter to add the
magic initials M.P. to his name, and so far
"All went merry as a marriage bell."
But there's

"Many a slip 'twixt cup and lip."

Strange rumours were circulated as to stock
speculations, not very becoming a Private Secre-
tary to a Foreign Minister. The result has been
that, although Mr. LAWLEY has duly paid the
stipulated price—although he has faithfully pro-
cured the return of the Hon. ARTHUR GORDON to
the vacant seat—he has been displaced from
the Govern& rship—his appointment cancelled.
There may be satisfactory reasons for this, but it
is quite fair that the rising hope of the house of
ABERDEEN should retain his seat—that he should
continue to bear the title of M.P. for Beverley.
Mr. LAWLEY should not be the only victim ; and,
as inquiries are so much the fashion, we do not
see why there should not be one into every matter
connected with the Beverley and South Austra-
lian job, or why, "since laws were made for every
degree," the more important culprits should be
suffered to escape with impunity, while the minor
fry are treated with all the rigour of the law.