The Press. — 1856-02-09 (London, England)

THE PRESS.  SATURDAY,  pendent, yet thoroughly Conservative. We are gratified to learn that his literary reputation did him good service in his canvass, and that some electors who had hardly ever heard of Mr. Warren the " Q.C.," cordially promised their votes to the author of " Ten Thousand a Year." Mr. WARREN is an eloquent. speaker, and, we believe, only wants the opportunity now afforded him to distinguish himself highly in debate.  The murder of the unfortunate Mr. WAUGH by CHARLES WESTRON must be fresh in the minds of all our readers, Labouring under the delusion, or apparently labouring under it—for who shall say which: that he had been defrauded of his rights, the wretched criminal fired a pistol into the bosom of his intimate friend, and, though found guilty, has been recommended to mercy on the ground of insanity. On the 20th of December last THOMAS CORRIGAN, a man in the employ of the East India Company, murdered his wife under very peculiar circumstances, which led the public generally to suppose he was suffering from delirium tremens ; he has been tried, found guilty,'and sentenced to death. Now, without questioning the justice of either verdict, it will certainly occur to most men of common sense who have read the proceedings in each, that both cannot be right. We are happy to be able to quote the authority of the Times in favour of our own view. There r,eems to be, says that journal, but little difference between the two cases. But under any circumstances we feel bound to add our own protest to that of the leading journal, against the new practice attempted by jurymen of finding a prisoner guilty and then recommending him to mercy. That is the business of the judge; and really we feel obliged in all conscience to remonstrate against the tendency to leave any such loop-hole for murderers.  The knowledge that Lord LYNDHURST was to bring forward the whole question of " the legality," (and also "the constitutionality ") of life peerages, drew a crowded assembly to the House of Lords on Thursday It was a most interesting debate, the argument being treated with eminent ability on both sides. It is not often that so striking a sight is seen as that of the venerable Lord LYNDHURST addressing so illustrious an assembly in a style worthy of the place and of the man. His vigorous voice and distinctness of articulation are surprising at his time of life, and though the form is stooped, the vast beetling brow is still full of muscular power, and is irradiated with the expression of intellect. His vindication of the profession which he adorned from the attempted indignity, produced great effect, and in his accustomed closeness of style ho touched the grave impolicy of the proposal. " You will create a new influence, a nett " species of subserviency, and you augment an evil which is already " sufficiently large." No phrase could more happily describe the impropriety of the proposal. It has been eloquently urged that there is, in the matter of decay, no analogy between the bodily powers and the mental functions. Lord LYNDHURST is a splendid exemplification of the truth of the argument. His complete mastery of a new subject, and his illustration of it in one of his finest orations, is a convincing and most gratifying evidence that the intellect may burn with undimmed brilliancy to the last stage of human life, and, according to WALLER'S fine image, may  Let in new light through chinks that Time has made. Lord GRANVILLE had a difficult task in following the great exChancellor. His exordium was at once courteous and artful, though not likely to please Lord