New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-25
LONDON. Friday, Feb. 8, 1856.

LONDON, Friday Feb. & 1856
England, which in 1853 drifted into war, is now
silently drifting toward peace. The feeling Ia uni
versal that the suspension Of hOstilites has hap
peped at the most nopportune moment, Just when
all the Shortcomings Of the former Administration
had been overcome, and the senile stupidity Oh
generals By aristocratc patronage had given place
to the common sense of younger chiefs; when me
aeets are at last in state Of complete ericiehcy;
when the money which sufIices to insure the hahh-
.tion of Russia has already been spent and snort
campaign might have brought about the most
.,lsndd rcsults. Still Parliament has resol7ed TO
leave the negotiations altogether in the hands oil
Ministers, and not to embarrass the proceedings oil
the Peace Congress by any indiscreet speeches.
Yle nation seems fully to ratiy the resolution OF
the Commons and no meetings are held, ana
scarcely any leading article is written in the papers
which might be construed into want OF confidence
in the Ministers during the present most important
crisis People do not deny that England must go
wherever Napoleon leads her. When two
persons sit upon one horse, one OF them must
nit behind; and in the present case it Is evident
that it is not England who holds the rein'.
Accordingly certain uDeasiness pervades society
but no Enalshman, however much he may grum-
bic on account Of the negotiations suspects Napo'
leon of bad faith toward England, nor believes be
IL in Russo.French alliance. Everybody shut
his ewes TO all those indications which for the
continent are sufficient 10 show the future current
Of European politics-for instance the laudation OF
France in the st. Petersburg Official Journal, and
the attacks of the mi.oficial French papers on
the English daily press which " fans the embers of
war" Mr.. Duveyrriers pamphlet on the necessity
of q European Congress, which so truthfully fore
shsdowed the occurrences of the last six weeks,
was pooh-poohcd by the English, and in similar
way they now do not attach any Importance to the
Yicomte dc la ROcheacquelin's last political publ
cation. which advocates the Russian alliance as the
the true basis of French foreign policy. La Roche
'acqueHn was originally Legitmist, but he has
given his adhesion to the present Emperor, who
makes use of his old arisocrstic rame to give
wide circulation to the intended flank movement OF
his policy, which the English do not like to per-
ceivc.
The foreign politics Of Europe being now tabooed
in Parliament we expected at least to bear something
definite about the American difficulties from Lord
RlmerstOn, since Mr. Henry Balllie had given no.
tice of question about the enlistment in foreign
countries, for yesterday night. We were dissp-
pointed for though Mr. Baillie belongs to the Tory
opposition, Lord Palmerston has found some meaus
to induce him to alter the wording OF his notice,
ard TO restrict it IL the arrest Of Mr.. Curtis the
English Consul at Cologne, and to the cOmmunica'
tons of the authorities of the Hanse Towns re-
ferring to the enlistment Thus the dispute with
the United States was left out of the question:; but
Lord Palmerston objected even in this resercted
form to the production of any correspondence con-
neeted with the matter. and thought-prObably
with reference TO the Champion adair-that no
advantage wonld result from the publication Of tho
communications with Prussia and Hamburg.
If We are allowed to FrOgnosticate, we may say
that the present session Of Parliament promises to
BE- fruitful of many salutsry reforms. The bill
introduced by Mr.. Rob Lowe, President Of the
Board OF Trade, on limited liability aud partner
ship, has given much satisfaction. The rural police
measure is likewise less Objectionable than vas ex-
pected and the plan of the reform of the Corporation
Of the City of London has been concerted with the
city authorities previous TO its introduction into
the House. The Ministry seems TO consult public
opinion ON all questions of home politics. Ireland
has also ceased 10 embsrrass the Cabinet. 1t is
not even necessary TO bribc Irish members by the
Wholesale since the Pope's brass band is disorgan-
lied. Thus, we can say that no serious opposition
now exists in the House of Commons. The peers
are less easily satisfied. The creation Of apeerage
for life, by calling Baron Parke to the House of
Lords under the title Of Lord Wensleydale, has
reused the energies of the aristocracy. The pre-
negative of the Crown, as regards the creation Of
life peers, was questioned yesterday; and though
the Lord Chancellor stood manfully up for the Gov
eminent and the Crown, stating that such life
peerages are expedient ali the other Law Lords
Lord Ly ndhurst Lord 81. LeOnsrds, Lord Camp
bell and Lord Brougham-voted with the opposi-
tion which sent the question before the Comm ttee
Of Privileges After long discussion, the
House divided, and the Government was beaten
BY majority of SO U35 against 1867.
But there is only the srstocracy to fight the battle
of hereditary privileges against the Crown. The
middle classes side evidently with the Government,
and see triumph OF their own principles in the in
PRODUCTION of a new element into the constitution
of the House of Lords, which, If more fllly deVel-
eped, cannot fail to lower the position of tue Peers
and to break any eventual sristocratic obstinacy.
The only suspicious point in the transaction is that
the Government thus encroaeh upon the privileges
Of the Peers and introduce change of the Consti-
tssion de faeto without the previous sanction OF
Parliament, and even without consulting the