The Sun.
London, England, 1828-07-29 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUDLIC JOURNALS.

The Session of Parliament closed rcslerday.
The Speech by which that Session vas formally
pat an cud to may be regar(letl, in its connexion
with our foreign interests, as a continuance of
the policy, or of the system rather, which had
been successfolly followed in the course of
namely, that of compelling the peolbt I;ng-
tarai to fill up, by their o.rn. 'conjectures, the
hirAtst void which the Kings Government could
possibly create Far 1-110 n, in such intelligence as
might have }wren furnished from official au-
thority o:f every thing which it most concerned us
as an i..nlependent nation to know. Although
the Affairs, both of the East and West of En-
-3.11e, are discussed in his Majesty's Speech, it is
'not practicable, for us at least, to discover in
what relation this country stunts, or is on the
point of standing, with the Piers which arc di-
rectly and by name referral to in that document.
The country is indeed assured, that the efforts of
the parties to tb Convention of July, 1821, for
efkcong the nbjects of that important treaty,
have continued unabated, and that their original
intentions main unehanpd. These, -however,
arc words 'Which call for further explanation. If
'die efforts of the Allied Powers for the relief of
Greece have been unabated for a twelvemonth
past, how happens it that a Turkish army is still
in military possession of the Morea ? If military
operations have been concerted, and are now, as
report says, about to be executed, for dislodging
the Turks from the Greek territory, it seems
to in; that more light ought to have been thrown
upon the part which is assigned to England in
this project. If France, for example, is de_
stilled to demonstrate the " unabated anxiety"
of the British Ministers for the accomplishment
of Grecian liberty, by sending a large army to
occupy Greece, it might, we think, without im-
propriety, have been announced to its whether
s!acli a phenomenon was to be exhibited with
Tlie entire concurrence of his Majesty the King
of England, or in spite of him ; and how the
preponderance thus inevitably accruing to the
French power in the Mediterranean is to be
guarded against, or compensated to Great Bri-
tain.
So it is affirmed in the Speech that the
Emperor of Russia has found himself " under
the necessity of declaring war against the
Ottoman Porte," on distinct grounds from any
councAted with the Treaty for Greek independ-
ence ; but that his Majesty has " consented" to
naive his belligerent rights in the Mediterranean,
nod to recall certain hostile instructions which
he had issued to his Admiral in that sea. It is
liowever no where hinted whether his Majesty
the Emperor Nicholas has consented to waive
his right of occupying Constantinople, and thus
effecting a total destruction of the Turkish em-
pire on this side the Dardanelles, a calamity
which his Grace the Prime Minister has so-
lemnly deprecated from his place in Parliament,
as subversive of the balance of power in Europe,
and therefore, by implication, as one which
Great Britain could not tamely behold. The
neutrality of three or four Russian ships in the
Mediterranean was thought worthy to he dwelt
upon—and in a manner boasted of—as some-
thing on which the people of England might
congratulate the Ministers who had obtained it,
and themselves who were to be flattered by it ;
but the possible, nay, most probable event, of
the conquest of Constantinople, and extinction
of Turkey, was too trifling a prospect for the
Royal Speech to notice, it being moreover the
declared hinge on which, in the contemplation of
his Majesty's Prime Minister, the fate of Europe
must inevitably turn. We are, therefore, left
pretty much in the dark as to the sentiments of
the King's Ministers upon that posture of affairs
which is manifestly on the eve of being esta.
'dished, when Russia will be mistress of Con-
stantinople, France of Athens, and England, in
her new livery of a satellite kingdom, left to stand
behind the chair of either, a laughing-stock to
both. With respect to Portugal, though little
is disclosed which was not already notorious, we
do riot mean to deny that something—and that
of a consolatory nature—may be inferred from
the language of the King's Ministers. It is
plain from the first paragraph which relates
to Portugal, that in the eyes of the British Go-
vernment, Pedro had not, at the period of
Miguel's usurpation, completely abdicated the
Portuguese Crown—Don Pedro was still
considered as wearing the diadem on his own
brow. He had not completed the transfer
(not to 'Miguel, but even) to his (laugh-
ter. In the next passage his Majesty re-
lies upon the wisdom of the august Sovereign,
the head of the I-louse of Braganza, to take the
course which shall be best calculated to maintain
the interests and honour of that illustrious
family, and to secure the peace and happiness
of the dominions over which it reigns."—On
this declaration of the King of England, and on
the tone of it as well us the substance, it is
hardly too much to build a hope, that if Don
Pedro requires that degree of active service and
protection which it would be undoubtedly suit-
able to the interests as well as honour of the
British nation to bestow upon him, he will not,
in his exigency, have to reproach any English
Minister With indifference—not even Lord
-Aberdeen, who has been taught to identify the
tools of Miguel with the friends of Britain. In
speaking of our domestic affairs, the speech re-
verts to the Corn Bill, as a measure which had
combined " adequate" protection for domestic
industry, with
." due" precaution against the
consequences of a deficient harvest. We fear
that in practice these terms will prove themselves
not to have been felicitously chosen—that the
protection to monopoly will be found more than
" adequate,"—and the provision against famine
less than " dn
e." It is remarkable, that the re-
peal of the Test Act—that measure by which
both its friends and enemies will agree to distin-
guish exclusively the session just e.xpiral---,has
not received the slightest notice front Iii!; Ma-
jesty's Ministers; as if any accession • tohberty,
civil or religious, was a subject proscribed by
those in whose names Kings' speeches arc wont
to be delivered._Times.

We lay before our readers the report of a
Committee of the Common Council of London,
with relation to the execution of the duties of
the office of Secondary: Here it is admitted ,
that great abuses have taken place—that inure,
money has been exacted from unfortunate indi- '
viduals than ought to have been exacted ; but,
as happened in the case of the negotiations of
the police officers with the thieves, the Magis-
trates knew nothing of the matter, so here the
Secondaries were equally ignorant of the prac;
tices in their offices. " In the course of our en-
quiry (say the Committee) we have discovered
that a clerk, who has been employed in the Se-
condaries' Office for forty years past, and to,
whom has been reposed with unlimited confi-
dence the duty of inquiring after the responsi-
bility of persons proposed as bail, has been in the
practice of receiving much larger sums in respect
of bail bonds than according to the scale above

The affairs of Portugal continue to engross
a large . share of public interest, and the anony-
mous mode of defending misconduct, or imbe-
cility, by palliatives and inuendos, appears only
to have excited one feeling. The public seem
ready to make every allowance for the spiritual
bondage in which Portugal has been so long
kept, and are fully aware of the extent to which
the Usurper and his partisans have dexterously
availed themselves of that lever ; but they cannot
reconcile to themselves the idea that, in a ques-
tio❑ of right to the succession to the throne,
the odds were so great as it is now attempted to
represent them. There is a sound portion in
the population of Portugal which would have
shown itself, as it did in Oporto, Coimbra,
Aveiro, Figueiras, Beja, Algarve, Almeida, and
so many other places, as-soon as it had an oppor-
tunity, and as soon as the nature of the struggle
was properly understood. The certainty of
having the countenance and support of the rightful
heir to the throne, coupled with the approbation
of all Europe, not even excepting Spain, would
have been more encouraging than all the
benedictions of the cowled myrmidons, on whose
aid and co-operation the Usurper seems mainly
to have relied for success. Yet all this could
not be obtained without a stand being made, and
that stand must have been preceded by a battle.
Why was not that battle fought, when evidently
all the elements required for one existed- ? is a
question at this moment in the mouths of every
one. Not more than 1,500 men, we believe, at
first left Oporto to march towards Coimbra. At
Albergarria Velha, nine leagues from Oporto,
they learnt the revolution in Coimbra, a sur-
rounding district, and received the printed pro-
clamations relating to that encouraging event.—
On arriving at Coimbra they found the 2d Chas-
seurs already there, having come on from Tho-
mar, 13 leagues further on a nearer road from
Lisbon. \\ien at Condeixa, on the 24th, on
tolerably correct calculation, the Constitutional
army mustered as follows :-
6th Regiment of the

Line
10th 750
3d 4CO
9tk 2OO
2d Chassenrs 260
3d .160
6th 260
7th 3OO
6th 330 Regulars 4,670
Besides these regulars there were the militias of
Molnar, Coimbra, and Figueiras, at least 1,000
more ; so that, independent of sick, outposts,
detachments, &c. the Constitutionalists, on the
24th of June, and after the affair at Condeixa,
could still present a front equal to 4,000 regu-
lars. At the Vougalso men in killed, wounded,
and taken, and 600 militia returned home. In
the whole line of retreat, however, from Coim-
bra to the Douro, only SO men deserted. Ar-
rived at Villa Nova, where the position was ad-
vantageous, a battle was fully expected, and
announced ; yet those who were to have com-
manded the action were no longer to be found.
Then it was that the army determined to cross
the bridge—they entered Oporto 4,000 strong,
as a spirited eye-witness declared, not men,
but lions ! They there found the 18th regi-
ment,served
in Monte4oostrontr,,ide2oo,o veterans, who - hadl
besides
volunteers. Them were 600 regulars 1 O
saotvOaloprtnogao,
two leagues on the other side of the city, with
90 cavalry and 350 militia. Out of all these
materials,: even after great allowances for de-
sertion, which did not commence till the 2d, a
General of courage might still hir,,y-easassneomtblteictlat
a
at the
b e found
etalsiialty
force of 6,000 men, and. why
General to
moment , actuated these troops is
under-
stood from their subsequent devotion ; but even
in Oporto, and while their fate was still uncer-
tain, did not this very same army send a depu-
tation on board the Belfast, composed of three
officers in their own confidence, namely, Ser.
raiva, Torres, and Xavier, requesting- a leader
to command them ? and were not those same
three officers retained on board, or persua.,led
not to re-land ? Did not the troops, when it
was proposed to them to enter Galicia, say, to a
man, " No, we will fight ; we prefer death to.
ignominy ?" And would not such a body of

10th 3OO
12th 330
11th Cavalry 2BO
3 squadrons of 6th,

Ist, and 9th SO
10th l2O
Artillery, six pieces, &

men BO

refry-e( to, and has appropriated such over- I men, well commanded, in case of an emergency,
charge to his own private use, as has been have gained the fortress of Almeida ? Nay,
distinctly proved, and since admitted by such had the Usurper a force that could have rit"li'
clerk, whom we summoned before us on the stood_ them.-11etv tinzes.
subject ; and in consequence of t!.',,' discovery I The King's Speech on the prorrigation of Par-
of the a!yavP. mal:ptai*Aice. Mr. Crowther, 'Lament, yesterday afternoon, like all its predeces-
tbe .1-aaa.liVig :Secondarr, has altogether dis- .
gives no information with which the public
Onarged him froin his employ ; that the Sr-
sors,Nvere not previously acquainted. The only thing
,cendaries have never sanctioned the receipt of in it of importance is the announcement that the
larger sums than .according to such scale, we Emperor of Russia has consented to waive the
:have been assured by Mr. Crowther ; and in one
exercise in the Mediterranean sea of any rights
instance it has been proved, by the testimony
of . appertaining, to his Imperial Majesty in the cha;
a most respectable member of the profession)
ratter of a Belligerent Power, and to recall the
N that upon a sum of ..ss. being offered to Mr.
separate orders which had been given to the
Collingridgt paraonally, for a bail-bond on a
Commander of his Naval Forces in that sea,
debt 0f2,1001. he declined to receive the same'
directing hostile operations against the Ottoman
stating that it was too much, and 3/. 3s. only
Porte. This, as far as
'it
observations with it goes, is certainly im-
was ultimately accepted by him." The degree
of acuteness a man displays in discol'erhig those
portant. His Majesty
re-
truths he has an intcreal in discovering, and gird to Portugal are very cautiously worded.
those he hits an interest in not discovering, is He relies upon the wisdom of' the august Sove-
ettencratly very different. The confidential clerk, reign at the head of the House of Braganza to
take the course which shall be best calculated to
who for forty years had been in an office, and in
liaain the interests and honour of that illus-
the practice of receiving much larger sums than
tiajl
iioits family, and to secure the peace and happi-
he was entitled to receive, succeeded, it seem,,
tress over which it reigns. And in another part
in mystifying the unsuspecting Secondaries. But
Majesty have been disappointed, and mea-
v„e are told that the just expectations of his
though they did not know what he extorted from
I
the public) they knew what he received from them. '
'The Committee say nothing on this point; though sures have been adopted in Portugal, in dis-
it makes all the difference in the world, whether regard of the earnest advice and repeated
this confidential clerk was or was not paid remonstrances of his Majesty. From this
suitably by hip employers, if we would esti-
it would appear that our Government have
mate correctly the probabilities for or against the determined not to interfere with the ques-
connivance of the Secondaries at the extortions. lion, but to leave it to Don Pedro to settle in
If a man is seen to appear in a certain manner, any way his Imperial Majesty may think proper.
and to live at a certaix rate, with no other vi- the remarks with respect to the war between'
sable means of emolument than what he derives
Turkey and Russia are conceived with due re-
from a certain employment, and if the emoln-
Bard to prudence ; and, under all the circum-
ment does not correspond to the expellee of stances of the case, we do not see how they could
livin be changed for the better. We are afraid, how-
g, the inference to ba drawn by men of the
ever, his Majesty's friendly efforts to restore
world would be, that there was an understand-
peace will only be laughed at. The Speech
mg that more than the fair emolument was oh-
does not contain a single word relative to Ireland.
tamed from some quarter or other. If the man
This is a complete answer to all the fearful an-
was underpaid, it was the interest of the Secon-
daries not to inquire too narrowly into the mat- nouncements which have been put forth by cer-
ter, because, if he wore not allowed to ay him-
tam would-be Ministerial Journals as to the dis-
p self at the expcnce of the public, he must be turbed state of that country. Day after clay we
have been told that the Government were about
paid at theirs. We regret that the Committee
to adopt the most energetic measures to put
did not, like men of the world, ascertain those
down the Irish agitators—that Ireland was, in
particulars, which were of importance to the
fact, on the eve of insurrection—and that a de-
cans pay their Custom-housejudging correctly on this point. The Aineri-
sign existed for exterminating the whole Protes-
waiters officers and tide-
tant population of' tke country ; yet here we have
well, knowing that it requires very little
casuistry to persuade a man who is not paid the King's Speech, and not one word in allusion
fairly to pay himself unfairly. There is in this to these fearful doings. We have all along
" ventured" to ridicule as unfounded these dire-
country but too strong a disposition to escape
ful--ronos contemporaries, ad
from the responsibility of what is positively
thep docugmentstication in quofestioour n, by its silence on thne
wrong, by the subterfuge of personal ignorance
subject, completely justifies our remarks.--
of it, though such ignorance implies an opaque-
Morning Herald.
ness of intellect seldom found where men have
not im interest in shutting their eyes.—Morn-
ing Chronicle.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

LIVER I'ool, JULY 26.-The business done in British
Plantation Sugar this week is rather limited, and prices
barely supported : the total quantity sold is 700 hhds.
Nothing dune in Bengal Sugars. A small parcel of fine
white clavannah has been sold at 465. per cwt. About
300 punchy. Demerara Molasses have been dieposed of at
245. 3d. to 245. 9d. per cwt. off the quay. We have nu
alteration to notice in our Coffee market ; the few trans-
actions that have taken place are scarcely worthy of notice.
Cocoa, Pimento, and Ginger remain likewise without any
alteration. Rums of good quality for the home trade meet
a steady sale ; upwards of 200 punchy. have been sold,
principally Jamaica 30 per cent. 0. P. at ts. 3d. to 4s. tid.
per gallon.
Our Cotton Market has continued steady till*, week,
without alteration in the prices. The sales amount to
12,820 bags, consisting of
6d. to '7d. 74d. 7-0. chiefly at fild.
4580 Bowed, at -- - for middling
3.
4242 28 210 to fully fair.
1510 Orleans, at 6 id. to 83-al., (10 ato4.) chiefly at Gil. to
lid.
2270 Mol4de and Alabama, at Sid. to 64d. (10 at led. )
270 Sea Island, at 13id. to 18d.
40 Stained ditto, at bid, to lOid.
770 Pernambuco, at Bhl. to 84d.
1820 Maranharn, at 7td. to Bd.
5-10 Bahia, at 724. to Bd.
670 Egyptian, at 71d. to 91.
90 Demerara, at 7:W. to 71d.
20 West India, at 611.
240 Surat, at 41. to 41d.
About 800 bags Bowed have been taken fur export, at
from bid. to 71. in bond. The arrivals are 16,556 bags.
1600 Sea Island are declared for auction on the Ist August.
The Tobacco market remains in a dull state, and we
have had no sales worthy of notice since our last. No-
thing worth reporting has been done this week in Caro-
lina or East India Rice. The Corn market has been on
the whole without any material change during the week,
but has been occasionally influenced by the unsettled state of
the weather causing the holders to ask higher prices, which
in some instances have been obtained. Canada Wheat, of
the new importations, which prove to be of good quality,
sells readily at Ss. 10s. to 9s. 21. per 70165. ; awl up-
wards of 600 brla. Canada Sweet. Flour have also been sold
at 325. to 335. 3d. per bd. duty paid. American Sweet
Flour for export is scarce, and sells freely at our quoted
prices. Nothing has been done in Quercitron Bark. For
Turpentine there has been a better demand, but without
any improvement in prices : 3150 brls. have been sold at
10s. 9d. per cwt. for good quality. Of Tar the sales are
2000 brls. Stockholm at 13s. and a small lot of Carolina
at 1 is. 3d. per brl. The demand for Ashes continues dull,
and a further reduction has been submitted to in order to
effect sales. The business done consists of 300 brls. Mon•
treal Pot at 2Ss. fid. to 295. 3d. for new, and 265. to 275.
for old ; 120 Inds.. Pearl at 265. to 2Ss., with 200 brls.
New York Pearl Ashes at 275. per cwt.
Dyewoods generally have been less inquired for since
our last; the principal sales are 100 tons Campeachy Log-.
wood, at 7/. 10s. ; 40 tons Spanish Fustic, at 6/. ss. to
6/. 10s. ; 80 tons Tampico, at 71. 15s. to 8/. ; and a
smalllet of Camwood, at 12/. per ton. About 400 tons Cuba
Fustic have arrived this week.---A few small purchases of
Indigo have been made since our last, at steady prices. Of
Cochineal no sales are reported ; a small parcel of black is
announced. for public sale on the 30th inst. Some 'small
lots of good Safflower have been sold at Si. 105. to 91., and
holders are looking for a further advance. Shumac is
steady in price, but rather dull of sale. Madders and
Madder Roots remain without alteration. A parcel of 40
tons Morca Valonia has been sold at 14/. per ton. We
have to notice an improved demand for Olive Oil, mid an
advance on the lower descriptions of 1/. to 21. per tun.
Gallipoli has also advanced about 10s. per tun. The sales
of the week are about 200 tuns Gallipoli, at 32/. to 33/. ;
40 tuns Spanish, at 291. 103. to SU.; 40 tuna Sicily, at
29/. 10s. to 30/. ; and 20 tuns Trieste, at 30/. 10s. to
311. per tun. No sales are reported in Brimstone.. The
business dome in Saltpetre is 420 bags, at 22a. 6d. to 235.
6d. per cwt. Palm Oil sells slowly, in small lots, at 241.
to 241. 10s. per tun. About 200 casks St. Peteraburgh
Yellow Candle Tallow have been taken at 395. to 40s. per
cwt. Hides remain dull of sale. The business done this
week is SOO New York salted Cow and Ox, at 4id. ; 500
Riga salted, at 74d. ; 500 dry Kips, at 9d., and a few
small lots of Brazil'Hides at former rates. a.

It is reported that a certain Dean has refused
to allow the Monument of a Noble Poet to be placed with-
in the walls of the Sanctuary under his controul.

By the Laura, arrived at Guernsey, from Rio
de Janeiro, letters have been received to the 25th of May.
By this conveyance, a letter of the 24th, from the Agent
of LLOYD'S, conveys the distressing account of the murder of
the crew of the Cumberland, Capt. CAIRNS, which vessel
sailed from Van Dieman's land, in May, 1827, and was
hitherto supposed had foundered. Capt. C. was \veil known
and respected, and had, independent of his crew, several pas-
sengers win) have doubtless shared the same dreadful fate.
Surely some steps should be taken to put an end to such
enormities. Capt. C. has left three orphan children, kis
wife having died in his absence.

On the 7th inst., in lat. 2. S., long 22. W., the
British barque Clorinda, Capt. CARER, from London to
Batavia, was plundered by a pirate under Carthaginian
colours. It appears that the Cumberland, Capt. CAIRN,/
a vessel which sailed from Van Dieman's Land in May
last, was taken by this pirate and the crew murdered. It
is reported that two Portuguese vessels have been taken by
this same pirate, both of whose crews were murdered.

Mr. W'. HOLMES, M.P., for SLIGO TOWN.

(FROM TILE SPIIYNX.)
Sonic men there tilt, who :7 nand. by slow and
painful labour; some, by mere enthusiasm and
buoyancy of spirit ; some, by force of talent; others,
by force of stupidity ; and a fifth class, by force of
independence ; but there are many who rise in life
by having good fortune, as it were, in a manner
thrust upon them. Of these, Mr. W. Holmes is
one; and it is very likely, if he were asked how he
got on in the world, he would say, " Good fortune
lay in his way and he found it." Mr. Holmes is a
native of the Emerald Isle; and rumour saith, that he
was born to no other inheritance than great modesty
and a most mellifluous brogue. It was, therefore,
necessary that something should he done " to drive
the wolf from the door;" and Mr. Holmes•early be-
came an Ensign in a marching regiment, and one
fine morning in the month of May, left his native
town of Sligo, " the world being all before him,
where to choose his place of rest." There are,
however, unfortunately—or, perhaps, fortunately,
and so it turned out in the case of Mr. Holmes—
such things as regimental orders; and the young
here who adorns this tale, and points its moral too,
was soon shipped, with his regiment, for the West
Indies. Here the young Sligenian remained till the
fire of his Irish blood was somewhat dried up, and
till, like Roderigo, he had " put money in his
purse." Mr. Holmes had bethought himself of re-
turning to England, and the rather as, from his
usefulness and tact, he had bees+ offered the civil si-
tuation of agent for Jamaica; the which, with his
usual discretion, he at once accepted. Arrived in
England, Mr. Holmes found himself incumbered
with commissions, one of which led him to a dis-
tant part of the country. This journey, though re-
motely, was the cause of his success in life. The
details may appear somewhat romantic and impro-
bable, but I have been assured that they are not the
less true ; and it should be remembered, that " Le
vrai n'est pas toujours vraisemblabe." Having taken
his place in one of those useful machines called mail-
coaches, Mr. Holmes set out on his mission, crest-
high with hope, and fixed in a desire to serve him-
self; and, if need were, his country. The thought,
however—the daring thought—of getting into Par-
liament, did not vet present itself to Mr. Holmes's
imagination, and he was destined, like another of
his countrymen—Daniel O'Connell—to be this day.
plain Mr. Holmes, and the next morning 'an M.P.
with all its honours. In passing through a borough
near the end of his journey, Mr. Holmes found' the
streets all bustle, and the faces of the worthy towns-
men big wit-h' preparation. The writ for electing- a
burgess had already arrived ; the only candidate
who had presented himself was very unpopular,
and this fact Mr. Holmes was not long in discover-
ing. Now, of all the talents in this nether world,
the talent of decision is perhaps the.most useful.—
The unpurposed man, perhaps, is at a stand-still for
life ; and while he is balancing on which side the
egg shall be broken, another, anti a Wiser one, is
swallowing the meat. Some there are who allow
their " native hue of resolution" to be sicklied over
by circumstances ; and others who leave-" enter-
prises of great faith and moment" unperfecte=., be-
cause they seem encompassed by difficulties which
would vanish before perseverance. Among the
number of these, however, Mr. Holmes cannot be
accounted one. With all the quickness of thought,
he determined, at once, to offer himself as a candi-
date for the representation of the town. The par-
ties to whom he tendered his services desiring an
opposition, took the new candidate at his word, and
led him forth to the rich burghers, and substantial
dealers and chapmen, their associates—Mr. Holmes
having first, however, transferred his baggage and
credentials to the best inn in the town. Whether it
was the manner of the man•—•his air—his port—or
his promises, that took fast hold of the natives, I
profess to be without the reach and means of my
inquiry; but certain it is, that they became ena-
moured of Mr. Holmes, and he in turn enfeoffed
himself unto them, to be for ever grateful, to do
them all manner of precious services, and to procure
them rich gifts and fat places, if in his power. The
day of battle came, and Mr. Holmes was victorious :
to the utter and most complete discomfiture of his
opponent. What a change was here ! The young
Sligoniar!, who but a few years before left his native
town unincumbered with gold, was now a full-blown
M.P., anti ready, like his countryman at the fair, to
do all manner of kindnesses, first for himself, and
then for all the world. • Mr. Holmes returned to the
metropolis with " heart elate ;" nor was he long in
taking his seat. At this period the late Lord Cas-
tlereagh was leader of the House of Commons, and
possessed unbounded sway over the inmates of St.
Stephen's Chapel. Perhaps there never was a man
so lax in principle, and so really devoid of all heart,
as Lord Castlereagh, more formed to attach and at-
tract numerous followers. To much cordiality and
apparent warmth and sincerity, he added a grace of
mariner, and a nobleness of deportment, which cap-
tivated at first sight. For his political friends, too,
he was ardent and warm, anti for the cause which
he espoused, he, on more than one occasion,
evinced his readiness to risk his life. Gifted with
much personal beauty, though- deprived of the
higher attributes of mind, he nevertheless possessed
strong common sense, deep knowledge of mankind,
and sufficient of the reasoning power to distort and
mistify any cause to which interest, duty, or corrup-
tion, led him to be opposed. True it was, he dic-
tated to Parliament in the language of Mrs. Mala-
prop, but it was a dialect which the Honourable
Members well understood, for they gave his Lord-
ship the rankest majorities. Since the days of Cas-
tlereagh, as a tactitian, the House of Commons has
not had his equal. His readiness, his thorough•
pacedness, his brazen effrontery, and open contempt
of all save what served his purpose, were unequalled
by any other man—they were only surpassed by the
more than calculating coolness of his own temper.
Mr. Canning, with all his genius and, eloquence,
was, in these affairs, but a child to Lord-Castle-
reagh. He could not stoop to these meannesses;
his proud and lofty temper held no communion with,
nor coald it be controlled by, such reptile souls ; and
he fell a victim to too amity and nervous I ensibility.
As to Mr. Peel, his elaborate and artigeial polite-
ness approaches to insult, and he is wholly void of
influence with the Collective Wisdom, and at heart
is even despised by them. With such a man as
Lord Castlereagh, Mr. Holmes was the likeliest
person in the world soon to fall in. In the first
place, they were countrymen ; and, secondly,
Mr. Holmes had a saving reverence for authority
and power, and a very lively and acute sense of
gratitude for anticipated favours at no distant day.
His Lordship, too, was not insensible to any kind of
merit, and was soon aware that Mr. Holmes might
do the " State some service" in an humble way.
Accordingly, the Member for Sligo was intrusted
with the Minister's Portfeuille, and he soon display-
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were intractable, Mr. Holmes could devise the best
system of mollifying him. He knew those who had
influence with the Hon. Member, or hinted that a
place given to his needy nephew, or younger brother,
might turn the scale. The whipper-in could some-
times also out-general Lord Duncannon, and pair-off
in the evening against a sick Whig or Tory who had
died early in the morning-. At Election Committees
he was great in striking off, arid unrivalled in nam-
ing a Nominee. He could make or unmake a House
as occasion served; and smuggle in a Bill, or add
a rider, with amazing dexterity. His votes were as
mandates, and his beck had about it all the power of
the magician's wand. These are the noble arts by
which Mr. Holmes has risen to fame, and to the at-
tainment of the patent place of Treasurer of the
Ordnance, which he nosy enjoys. Though the sub-
ject of this sketch could get others on their legs,
and force them, as he often forced Lord Wallace,
when a Member of the Lower House, to speak
against time, yet he never ventured to open his own

mouth ; and his maiden speech, though an old Par-
liamentarian, is yet to be made. Truly, therefore,
may it be said of Mr. _Holmes, " II a on grand
talon pour le silence."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.