The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-04 00:00:00

COMMON LAW.

The Reader on Common Law proposes to deliver
during the ensuing educational term 10 public
lectures as under :
Prior to the recess the Reader will lecture on the
Law of Torts and Actions ex Delicto of ordinary
occurrence.

After the recess the lectures will embrace the
following subjects connected with Criminal Law-
1. The Elementary Principles of our Criminal
Law.

2. Criminal Procedure.
3: Specific Offences-1, against the Person ; 2,
against Property.
with his private class the Reader will lecture on
the Law of Torts, and the nature of actions appro-
priate for the redress of wrong, citing and analysing
cases in elucidation of his subject. He will subse-

The Reader on the Law of Real Property, &c.—
Public lectures, Fridays, 2 p.m., at Gray's-inn-hall.
First lecture on the 15th of April. Private Lectures.
—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, at a quarter
to 12 a.m. to a quarter to 2 p.m. First class meets
on the 18th of April. Classes meet in the north
library.
The Reader on Jurisprudence and Civil Law.—
Public lectures, Tuesdays, at 2 p.m., at the Middle
Temple Hall. First lecture on the 19th of April.
Private Lectures.—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sa-
turdays, at a quarter. to 4 p.m. First class meets
on the 21st of April. Classes meet, at No. 3, Gar-
den-cthirr, Temple:- -
The Reader on the Common Law.-=Public lec-
tures, Mondays, 2 p.m., at the Inner Temple Hall.
FirSt lecture on the 18th of April. Private Lec-
tures.—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at a
quarter to 12 to a quarter to 2 p.m. First class
meets on the 19th of April. Classes meet at the
Inner Temple Hall.
The first public lecture in this term will be de-
livered by the Reader on the Law of Real Property,
&c., on Friday, the 15th of April, at 2 p.m.
The public lectures and private classes will be
suspended after Thursday, the 21st of April, for the
Easter Holydays, and resumed on and after Wed-
nesday, will be again
of May next,
snuspesdeanyd,
edtheaft2e7rthnoufrsAdapyri,lt.heTlh2e
and will be resumed at the appointed hours on and
after Thursday, the 2d of June.

The educational term commences on the 15th of
April, and ends on the 31st of July, subject to a
deduction of the days above enumerated.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

(From the Morning Herald.)

Lord John Russell and those who voted with him
on Friday morning have prostituted a. great ques-
tion to party purposes. There was a growing dis-
position, both amongst members of Parliament and
the public generally, to treat this important sub-
ject on purely national grounds. The member for
London, however, stepped in with a hostile amend-
ment, calculated to 'fetter the free action of the
executive and to postpone the settlement of the
controversy. Before the opinion of the House of
Commons on the merits of the bill could be ascer-
tained Lord John Russell unfurled his factious
banner and made one last bid for power. His con-
duct was severely condemned by his own adherents,
and many of those who voted with him openly dis-
claimed any share in such petty tactics, alleging,
as an excuse for their vote, that they dared
not desert their party. Under the circumstances,
we are not surprised that in every circle of society
these factious proceedings are denounced. The
member for London and the ravenous bands of place
hunters may bay the moon in angry disappoint.
ment. They have, by wanton attacks upon the
responsible advisers of the Crown, at a period of
unparalleled difficulty, shown their utter incapacity
for assuming the helm. Doubtless, for the last two
days Lord John Russell has waited in eager expec-
tation the summons to attend the Queen. Duly
apparalleled and prepared has he remained at
home, lest by temporary absence he might lose a
chance. liow drearily must the weary hours have
waned ; how small the consolation afforded by the
false rumours with which the columns of subser-
vient organs have teemed ! Neither oracle nor
master were consulted, for states may happily be
saved without such interference. The hero of the
factious assault has been subjected to that severe
discipline which men of large ambition and mean
capacity so often bring upon themselves. Great may
be the expectations created by their wicked plots,
but justice and fair dealing cannot be outraged with
impunity, and some protecting )deity appears at the
right moment to turn aside the envenomed dart,
and to cheat conspirators of their prey.
This evening explanations will be given by
members of the Cabinet in both Houses of Parlia-
ment respecting the course to be adopted, and it is
not our intention to attempt to anticipate these
confidential communications. Suffice it to say that
the absurd rumours circulated by interested persons
are altogether devoid of foundation. Lord Derby
understands his duty to his Sovereign and the
country better than these intriguers and their
ready tools can tell him ; and the manner in
which the crisis is to be encountered will, when
announced, give general satisfaction. The conduct
of the chiefs of the now coalition meets with
almost universal condemnation. They have rejected
the chance of a fair settlement of the reform con-
troversy, and, without pledging themselves to any-
thing definite, have made common cause with the
ultra-Radicals. The truth of this assertion may
be gleaned from the tone adopted by the ultra-
Radical writers. They point with exultation to
the 330 members of the House of Commons who
became the dupes of Mr. Bright, adding that by
their votes they have pledged themselves to sup-
port a genuine measure of reform. Nor do they
seek to delude the public as to the nature of that
reform. A general disfranchisement of the small
boroughs, manhood suffrage, and vote by ballot,
are to be chief ingredients of the new bill. The
.member for London has become the slave of Mr.
Bright, and bows in humble submission to his will.
For every home-thrust which he received during
the debate he turned anxiously to the member
for Birmingham for consolation. The inter-
change of glances, the frequent whisperings, the
gentle taps on the shoulder, that marked the
intercourse between these quondam rivals, at-
tracted the attention of several gentlemen of
the House of Commons. Ancient Whiggery was
coquetting with upstart Radicalism, and wonders
were predicted as the results of the new coalition.
L 3rd John Russell was to be the nominal ruler,
while Mr. John Bright pulled the strings. We do
not wonder that some members of the band, to
whom Whiggery was something better than the
shadow of a name, felt that they had fallen into
bad company, and asked questions to which no
answer was returned. •

The change that has come over Mr. Bright since
he commenced intriguing on his own account is
really remarkable. It may be said of him, that
" He was wont to speak plain, and to the purpose,
like an honest man and a soldier ; and now is he
turned orthographer; his words are a very fantas-
tical banquet, just so many strange dishes." This
sturdy champion of democratic changes has learnt
to bow and cringe with the rest. Everybody remem-
bers the bill introduced with such flourishes in the
autumn, with the threat that it should be laid upon
the table of the House of Commons. On the night
that the Government Reform measure was read a first
time the threat was repeated, and our legislators
were told that the awful moment had arrived at
which the terrible feat was to be performed. Sud-
denly a coalition was formed between Mr. Bright,
Lord John Russell, and others, and it was dis
covered that the production of the democratic
scheme might be attended with inconvenience.
Then Mr.:Bright, who denounces anything like
sharp practices in others, consented to dissemble
like the rest, and declared that he would not bring
forward his scheme. This was the first act in the
drama of insincerity. Of course Mr. Bright was
constrained to make a speech during the recent
debate. This afforded the opportunity for another
clever transformation, and so the honourable
gentleman wore a mask and exchanged fierce
denunciation for gentle remonstrance and fair
language. Beng called upon to play the part
of Bottom in the political masque, he readily
adapted himself to the task. His performance
was quite as successful as if he had pledged him-
self in explicit terms, and, like his great. prototype,
exclaimed I will aggravate my voice so that I
will roar you as gently as any sucking dove; I
will roar an 'twere any nightingale." This was the
next deception, or the second act in the degrading
drama. 'When Lord John Russell's resolution:was
put to the vote Mr. Wyld introduced his amend-
ment in favour of the ballot. Mr. Bright and his
immaculate friends understood the peril and walked
out of the House of. Commons, because they had

not the courage to give an honest vote. These
legislators who, in such fierce language have de-
nounced trickery and deception of all kinds, were
guilty of one of the worst political frauds ever per-
petrated in the House of Commons. They endea-
voured to defeat the Government Reform Bill, by
selecting one portion of the same for censure; and
they did this without declaring what was to be substi-
tuted. When a chance was offered for a fair expres-
sion of opinion on another point, they refused to
open their lips. Such was the last act in their ex-
traordinary duplicity, and we ask the people of
England whether they would commit their desti-
nies to men who make such high-sounding pledges
and whose actions are- so base ? By his conduct
during the last month Mr. Bright has utterly
destroyed the only reputation which he ever en-
joyed, namely, that of being perfectly honest, and
incapable of participating in mean intrigues. He
has shown that he can plot, like other politicians,
in order to obtain power, and that he is as adroit
a tactician as those with whom he herds.
Had. these opponents raised their objections in a
constitutional manner, and waited until the provi-
sions 011ie balZbuld be discussed in committee, we
should not have complained. But to select two out
of eighty clauses, and to foicua false isssue, was the
most factious and unjust course that could by any
.possiliility be conceived. >ltprovedthat they recoiled
from a fair encounter on the actual merits of the
bill, and that it was only on cunningly devised
artifices that they could rely to obstruct its pro-
gress. That such desperate tactics should result in
shame and humiliation .to their promoters will not
excite surprise. People of every class and grade
do not hesitate to condemn the disgraceful conduct
of this, coalition. It is generally admitted that
Lord Derby and his colleagues have done the State
some service, and the least they had a right to
expect from the present House of Commons- vas
that fair play which the public are aeterinined to
give. Short, indeed, has been the triumph of in-
trigue. The vote had scarcely been given ere it was
condemned, and many who helped to swell the ma-
jority have since admitted that it was a fatal error,
for which retribution has already commenced.
They provoked the struggle, • and on their heads
must the consequences rest.