The Press. — 1856-02-23 (London, England)

THE PRESS.  SATURDAY,  on the part of the former. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, a discussion ensued on the motion of Lord DERBY, concerning the relations between the Secretary for War and the Commander-in-Chief. Lord PANMURE says, it is not the intention of Government to interfere with the patronage of the Horse Guards, or the direct control exercised by the Commander-in-Chief over the discipline and regulations of the army. Lord GREY assured their Lordships that when tho Duke of WELLINGTON was Commander-in-Chief he never took any steps of importance without first consulting himself. In the Commons, on the same night, Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY introduced his bill for throwing open the National Gallery and the British Museum on Sundays. His motion was negatived by the large majority of 328.  The death of Mr. JOHN SADLEIR, and its tragical circumstances, have excited much notice this week. The deceased gentleman had gained great political notoriety in consequence of the influential position he had acquired in the formation of the Coalition Cabinet, to which he had rendered most important assistance, and by some of whose members he was received into the closest confidence. There are many singular facts connected with his public career. He had few qualities for the part of an Irish tribune, being deficient in the heartiness and buoyant vivacity of an agitator ; but he had more subtle and more formidable resources. He had an organising talent, a speculative disposition, something of the spirit of a gambler, and a capacity for steady labour. It was a strange appointment for Lord ABERDEEN to 11BYC named Mr. SADLEIR a Lord of the Treasury. In 1M47 he was only a second-class Dublin attorney, and in five years afterwards he was officially honoured by the Aberdeen Ministry. The appointment was not justified by " routine," or the conventional rule of Parliamentary life. As was observed at the time, Mr. SADLEIR'S head was half turned with the sudden elevation. He wondered at it himself ; so did his associates and neighbours. " What next?" was asked in Ireland, and all the place-hunters extolled the new Irish party, of which Mr. WILLIAM KEOGH, Mr. EDMUND O'FLAHERTY, and Mr. SADLEIR, were the three chiefs. Mr. SADLEIR supplanted the late Major LAYARD in the representation of Carlow. Major LAYARD was a " Liberal Protestant," but some Roman Catholics at Carlow thought it was a good move for " the Church " to turn out Major LAYARD and put in a Roman Catholic attorney It is a strange thing that Major LAYARD, who was a gentleman of high personal honour, should also, from the result of illness, have committed suicide about three years ago. Mr. SADLEIR was the reputed proprietor of a Roman Catholic journal, of ultramontane principles. Before a twelvemonth has passed, Mr. FREDERICK LUCAS (with whom he was in strong personal antagonism), has fallen, but under circumstances of a most dissimilar kind. Mr. SADLEIR had formed a regular Parliamentary family, having five votes under his influence. Even after his withdrawal from the Lordship of the Treasury, he retained considerable influence. He made a show of worldly prosperity, and kept up a stud of hunters for the Aylesbury Vale hounds. Many shook their heads and thought it would not last, but none expected that it would end in so tragical a manner. Of the extraordinary rumours which prevail about the causes of Mr. SADLEIKS decease, we shall at present take no other notice than to express our sincere hope that they will prove to be unfounded.  PAM'S SENSIBLE THEOLOGY. (See Speech on Thursday Evening on Sir J. Iralimsley's Motion.)  Ata—Albert Smith's Galignani Song.  If I haven't risen sooner on that fellow Walinsley's motion, It was not from indifference about this Sunday Bill ; But I thought that independent men should first explain their notion, And that's why I've not spoken yet, but silent sat and still.  'Tis not, you know, quite in my line to do the theological, Indeed, I think such arguments are better let alone; But speeches pro and con. to-night are really so illogical, I'll try to set both parties right with reasoning of my own .  If I somewhat lack of sympathy for rigid Sabbatarians, Who turn a day of leisure into one of care and gloom, I own I am no fonder of your vulgar Nothingarians, Who think a church no holier than any other room.  Their views to me, I frankly own, seem tinctured with insanity ; Nor can I quite believe the Crystal Palace is to win More souls from crime or sorrow than our ancient Christianity, Or that the Elgin marbles are to purge the land from sin.  The thin end of the wedge, I fear, if once they get inserted, All reverence for Sacred Things they'll chisel soon away. Sir Joshua locks angry, and Jem Heywood disconcerted, But I should not do my duty if I did not tell them nay.  At the same time I would warn you, the severity Judaical With which some keep the Sunday is a very great mistake; If you carry this too far you will disgust the body laical, For the bow if strung too tight, you know, is:very apt to break. 

Article type: Incident