The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

MADAME GRISI AND SIGNOR MARIO
WILL SING AT THE
PHILHARMONIC HALL,
THIS RIPENING tTUP:S Al';, the 4th INSTANT,
AT A QUARTER BEFORE EIGHT.

Eibrrpoot tptrtnbarb,

FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

MONDAY MORNING.

TITE actual position of the British Cabinet, with regard
to the Eastern question, still continues shrouded in the
most impenetrable mystery; and those who, generally
speaking, are beat acquainted with the intentions. and
resolves of HER MAJESTY'S Ministers,—the men who can
indicate, to a hair's breadth, within twenty-four hours
after the Council has separated, what particular line of
policy the advisers of the Crown have determined upon
following, profe3s themselves utterly ignorant of the
views and ultimate course of action which the ABERDEEN
Administration means to adopt towards preserving the

'independence of Turkey,. and defeating the avaricious
designs of Russia. You have, of course, heard the report

so industriously circulated, respecting Lord ABERDEEN'S
intended resignation of the Premiership. More than one
journal of semi-Ministerial character has given currency
to the rumour, and others of the smaller fry, following in
the same wake, name Lord PALMERSTON as his certain
successor. Now, that there is something wrong in the
Ministry—that that something is rather serious in its
nature, and that it threatens to affect the honour of this
country in the conduct of affairs in the East—no sensible
man can, for one instant, doubt ; but I do not believe—
indeed, I have good reason for knowing—that the idea of
withdrawing himself from the position of first Minister of
the Crown, at this all-important cris's, never once

entered the head of Lord ABERDEEN. Believe me,
so experienced a diplomatist would look twice before
he made a mistake so fraught with damage to his
own honour and character. According to very good autho-
rity, he has more entirely at heart " the arrangement of
any affair, according to the rules of diplomacy, as attested
by the approbation of his brother diplomatists, than ac-
.cording to the genuine feelings of his own country, or the
most glorious precedents of English history." Lord
ABERDEEN will not leave the Cabinet, at all events, until
the Eastern question presents an appearance of settlement.

So much, however; I will not undertake to say for other
men who take a leading part in the Councils of the State.
It is just beginning to be whispered about that Lord
CLARENDON, and Lord PALMERSTON, finding themselves

checkmated in some of their conjointly concocted schemes,
meditate separation from the ABERDEEINITES; and for the
purpose of hastening this event, it is believed that the

First Lord of the Treasury will, in the course of the next
week or ten days, summon a Cabinet Council. These are
the on dits of political men, whom at all seasons I find
best up to the mark, and whether they be well or ill
founded, I can assure you that they have obtained no
small share of Credit at the clubs and other West-end
reunions.
As if in the most insolent contempt for the storm of
indignation which the persecution of the MADIAI excited
in every enlightened part of Europe, and disregardinf;
alike the promptings of reason, the sympathies of huma-
nity, and the energetic remonstrances of the agents of the
British Government, the GRAND DUKE of TUSCANY has
ventured upon a fresh exercise of his arbitrary power, in
the most odious form in which that power could be dis-
played.. Without evidencing the smallest desire to re-
establish himself in the favourable opinion of the world—
without even allowing time to soften the deep feeling of
reprobation which swelled every generous bosom, at the
recital of his -atrocities,—he has hastened to confirm
and to aggravate the sinister impressions of himself and
his government which they gave rise to; and the more
completely to demonstrate that the liberal views of the
present day are incapable of balancing in his judgment a
bigoted and servile adherence to laws and sentiments,
the bequest of a barbarous period, he has selected a
British subject for the object of his resentment.
Were the facts of the case not completely authenticated,
we could hardly bring ourselves to believe that a prince
occupying so low a place among the Sovereigns of
Europe, would thus gratuitously offer an insult to a
ration so powerful to visit him with a terrible retribution;
and we might equally wonder that he should again so
• soon fly in the very face of the public censure of Em.ope,
which at least informed him that his principles of action
were wholly unsuited for the progressive spirit of the age
in which his and our lots have been cast. But there is no
room for doubt. A benevolent and pious young lady,
zealous and active as she should be in spreading far and
wide around her the glad tidings of salvation, has been
suddenly dragged from a bed of illness to answer an accu-
sation, drawn up against her for having given a copy of
the Holy Bible and an Italian version of Bunyan's " Pil-
grim's Progress" to a Tuscan peasant, eager for religious
instruction. Untouched by the youth and innocence of
the so-called offender, unmoved by the entreaties of her
friends, and deaf to the remonstrances of the resilient
English Minister, the barbarous administrators of the law
of Tuscany consigned Miss CUNNINGHAM]; their victim,
to the prison of St George at Lucca, whither she was con-
veyed in a van, under a strong escort of Bens d' armes,
and where she now remains. These are the chief features
of this new example of papal' tyranny, and though not
aggravated by incidental harshness, they need no addition
to them to awaken in the people of this country the most
determined resolution, first, for prompt and effective re-
dress, and secondly, while execrating the miserable priest-
ridden policy- of Tuscan rule, to obtain, through the con-
stituted diplomatic channels, adequate guarantees for the
future security of British subjects resident in, or travelling
through, the territory of the GRAND DUKE, so attractive
to the tourist by the profusion in which nature has
scattered her beauties through it, and so inviting by its
vast stores of art, but unhappily cursed by the intolerant
bigotry of man.
To consider the bearings of the question involved in this
unfortunate matter is almost superfluous. However Miss
• CUNINGHAME may have violated the public law of Tuscany,
under which, for the time, she was living, common sense
will suggest to every one that her punishment has been
shamefully disproportioned to her offence. What has she
done ? She has given a copy of the Bible to a poor
Italian peasant—doubtless in want of one. Is that an
act which ought to receive the praise or the censure of any
state in-which it took place ? A little consideration ought
to show that the Bible so given—or indeed any other book
—should be allowed to do its work of confirmation or con-
version, as the case might be. Truth is only to be at-
tained by the gradual elucidation of error ; and if the
means of elucidating it be withheld, or if the natural food
for reflection be diverted, the human mind will remain
for ever sunk in the darkness from which it is even now
only slowly being emancipated. As far as I can discover
any tendency in this act of the Tuscan Government, it is
to maintain in its now fortunately crippled state the de-
testable remnant of that persecuting spirit which, in by-
gone and less happy days, forced the philosopher GALILEo
to abjure a declaration which he had made in opposition
to priestly teaching when convinced before the mighty
majesty of truth. In its essential principle, the proceed-
ing in both instances is precisely identical, amounting
simply to a forcible repression of thought and teaching.
It is not to be supposed, however, that, m this enlightened
age, these narrow-minded prejudices and the barefaced
tyranny by which alone they are sustained, can withstand
the impulsive effort of events. Italy, though compara-
tively removed from Anglo Saxon influence, is gradually
being brought within its sphere, and the dominion over
'the minds which its priests have long held with ruthless
rigour will not survive the first shock of the coming
encounter.

In the meantime, however, oppression and suffering still
mark its slow and tottering footsteps? An amiable young
lady is unjustifiably detained in a foreign prison, under
circumstances of extreme hardship, and for her immediate
restoration to her friends the English nation will cry with
one voice. Headed by that excellent nobleman Lord
SHAFTESBURY, ever foremost in the work of humanity, a
deputation has already attended the Foreign Minister to
urge upon him the necessity of immediate and vigorous
action on behalf of our imprisoned countrywoman. The
favourable reception which Lord CLA.BENnoN bestowed
upon this deputation, and its spirited declaration of true
British feeling, would create in us the most lively feeling
of satisfaction, and encourage us to look forward to a
speedy and substantial vindication of offended national
dignity, but for the sad illustrations we have recently had
before us, of the little anxiety displayed by the Govern-
ment to sustain the honour of the British name. I am
willing to believe, however, that Ministers will readily
apply themselves to the redress of this intolerable act of
oppression, surrounded as it is bycircumstances which make
it repugnant to us beyond all endurance : and that they
will humble the wretched little Tuscan tyrant into a true
estimate of his power. But should our hopes and expecta-
tions be unfounded,—should our Government, in this case
too, let the world see that despotism advancing over the
continent with its great strides might possibly be wel-
comed by it on the shores of England—we fearlessly en-
trust the issue to the well-formed resolution of the
people.
It is gratifying to know that the health of London has
not been better for some time past, especially so for the
last four or five days. The weather has much to do with
this : it is drier and colder, and sunshine has enlivened
us. The Board of Health sits daily, and Mr. CHADWICK
receives his deputations like a minister of state. The
parish surgeons also report favourably ; and I might almost
venture to state that cholera does not exist, save in a mo-
dified form. Provisions are still rising in price, and from
certain movements among the bakers, I believe it is ar-
ranged that the quartern loaf shall be a shilling before
many days are over. In some sort to compensate for this
untoward state of prices, wages in most trades are better.
This is the result of the recent strikes : nearly all the
trades have gone to work, masters and men meeting each
Other half way, as the phrase is. The salutary view taken
9f these strikes by the magistrates has had much to do
in the adjustment of the question. Where intimidation
mas attempted, punishment followed : " Stop work," said the
TiVtl'ate, "if you like, but you must not coerce others."
in a Vat movers in many of these strikes are to be found
becor4 :I cunning, lazy fellows, who, by dint of agitation,
or three
secretaries, delegates, and what not, receiving two
The e,,lLounds a-week from the gulled workmen.
KEAN:‘,7hmer in which I have met the great EDMUND
day the scene' indeed, he used to unbend, was the other
Mr BRooicEliall ovation. A repast was provided for
4etragedian ;
the tavern in and though the Coal-hole—
not the same as
ith the meeting took place—is, perhaps,
so : there was en was thirty years ago—it may become
drama is yet amrZattie.pf vitality in it to show that the
is as eagerly folfowed
afteramong us, and that good acting
heart. Mr. BROOKE Was ast ever. The meeting was all
the lessee, was grateful tra
BROOKE,
to the press, and Sx
to everybody in short, and presKeE, the press, the public,
nted the actor with a
4ighly-PrlAMent94 diN7gera yr kirk, 19x MacMita 111
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