On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (7)
-
¦ • *# ^^^^ /^/^^^ / $At$k r/w' ^ifc^r ¦...
-
'* The one Idea ¦which History exhibits ...
-
©ontcnts.
-
" ¦ MEWS OF THE WEEK— page A Gretna-gree...
-
VOL. V. ¦' No, 247.] SATURDAY, BECEMBER ...
-
jf^ptft^ rt j H33lM^ jiAWAXJ* V* 44Jv WvViV*
-
T)ARLIAMENT has not, as yet, become of a...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
¦ • *# ^^^^ /^/^^^ / $At$K R/W' ^Ifc^R ¦...
¦ * # ^^^^ /^/^^^ / $ At $ k r / w' ^ ifc ^ r ¦ ¦ ¦ ir —* " / - V 4 " » I ¦ . ¦ ' # ¦ /
'* The One Idea ¦Which History Exhibits ...
' * The one Idea ¦ which History exhibits as evermore developing itself into greater distinctness is the Idea of Humanity—the noble Jp endeavour to throw down all the barriers erected between , men Tiy prejudice and one-sided views : and by setting aside the distinctions " of Religion , Country , and Colour , to treat the whole Human , race as one brotherhood , having one great object—the free development of our spiritual nature . "—Humboldt ' s Cosmos .
©Ontcnts.
© ontcnts .
" ¦ Mews Of The Week— Page A Gretna-Gree...
" ¦ MEWS OF THE WEEK— page A Gretna-green Marriage 1187 Extend the Militia ! USD Naval Novels 1194 i « . n » i , ii ) , » i !< , m »^ tito An Aristocratic Insolvent 1187 The Purchase System 1191 Literature of tho War 1195 ^ rwA ^ ^ t" :::: "Z : Z l ^ t Ch ffihfnt FelOy ASaillSt 1187 OP £ N COUNCIL- Books on our Table 1195 ContinentalNotes , 11 S 6 Advertising Extraordinary " ... 1187 Xord Derby ' s Historical Know- THE ARTS- ' Election Intelligence 1186 A Sue 7 Shin Canal 11 S 7 ledise . 1191 Bailws y ^ ih India ,.,.. 1186 V ^ ti £$£ f ^ : \ Z : 'rZ" ::: US 8 Xouis NapoieonandtheCourt Theatres 1198 Brrfcish ^ ospenty in India ...... 1186 Postscript .. 1188 of Austria 1191 - — ^^ vilisaKdn .. .,. ; ""' . ' . !!!!; " ;;! 1186 PUBLIC AFFAIRS- LITERATURE- COMMERCIAL AFFAIRSDeath of Lord Frederick Fitz- The Parliament ..... 1189 Toreign Policy 1192 City Intelligence , Markets . Adclarence ........ 1187 The Foreign Legion ...... 1190 Ihp Rose and the Ring 119 S vertisements , & c . 1198-1200
Vol. V. ¦' No, 247.] Saturday, Becember ...
VOL . V . ¦' No , 247 . ] SATURDAY , BECEMBER 16 , 1854 . [ Price Sixpence .
Jf^Ptft^ Rt J H33lm^ Jiawaxj* V* 44jv Wvviv*
¦ Mtm ' t £ tjre Witt
T)Arliament Has Not, As Yet, Become Of A...
T ) ARLIAMENT has not , as yet , become of any X . public benefit : for it submits to being treated by the Government— "which it ought to dictate to —as a constitutional formality not entitled to interrupt the course of the Tule of England by Downing-street- But Parliament may improve in time-Ministers have not been happy . They have shown no confidence in Parliament ; and Parliament may begin to return the compliment . The defence of ministerial failures made by the two friends and co-Ministers of War , the Duke of Newcastle and Mr . Sidney Herbert , were complete io . one sense : they proved earnestness of purpose , great desire to do well , and more success in what
-was attempted than the public have been inclined to suppose . The Duke of Newcastle , copiously precise on all the minute facts of His administration , satisfied his hearers that he was a very highminded man , and a vexy good man of business . Mr . Sidney Herbert , a groat favourite with the House of Commons , and with his class , charmed his audience by a graceful confession of faults , and by an obvious anxiety to win approval for all that he had done , and by his genuine eloquence in speaking of the army of which he had sought to make himself -worthy . But neither of these Ministers dealt with the general question of the policy pursued during the last twelve months , and , in fact , none of the Ministers attempt a vindication of the half-and-half measures which have
been the consequence of a Cabinet without a chief—of a Cabinet divided against itself ; What IJord Aberdeen said on Tuesday in reference to the Austrian alliance amounted to nothing : it was a statement , and a negative statement , not a defence , and not an explanation . What Lord John Russell said on the same evening , would be important coming from any other Minister , but it is Of little account as coming from Lord John Russell , who has punctually commenced this Session with one of his habitual displays of utter scnilitj ' , his declaration about the insignificance of the Austrian alliance having compromised his colleagues , astonished France , and disgusted Vienna . The
Opposition made » vigorous attempt to force the Government into the humiliation of being frank ¦ with the country . But the Opposition failed for two reasons ; in the first place , because the Opposition was confined to mere talk , and was made up of talkers of antagonistic intent—for whore is the bond between Mr . Layard and a Colonel Dunne ? — and in the next place because the talk wna of a petty character , personal in allusion , spiteful in purpose , and was confined to criticisms on the past . jLord Derby said nothing which the newspapers have not said : ho had no now facts , no new news ; and his best point wna in the established sneer , that Lord Aberdeen prefers the Orloana to the Napoleon
family . Lord Derby is always small in statesmanship : his speech on Tuesday was contemptible . In the other House , Mr . Disraeli was not more successful . Certainly he was very dull—spoke wearisomely and wearied . Like his chief , he seems to have passed the recess in accumulating newspaper paragraphs , —like his chief , he talked his common-place with the utmost coolness , as if it were even fresh common-place , —and , like his chief , he so far failed that , competing with the members of the Coalition for the lead of thfi
country , he objected to their policy without producing a policy of his own . It is true he objected to an Austrian alliance before he had been informed of the terms of it , but this was a trick of debate to catch Liberal cheers , and possible Liberal votes ; and it was a trick , suggested by the unmodified Eastern intellect of Mr . Disraeli , unsuited to our political climate , every one knowing well that if Mr . Disraeli were in power he would accept this Austrian alliance . The speech of Mr . Layard was marked by great fullness of knowledge , and some positive propositions , as in his reference to the inevitablcnesa of a campaign in Asia , and doubtless it will be read " of doors " with more deference than it obtained in the House
—Mr .- Layard not taking the trouble to study House of Commons' elocution , and being too eager to lecture when he addresses that assembly . Lord Grey was cold and brief , but he said enough to sustain his position as the most statesmanlike num of his class . This was the Opposition ; for Lord Clanricartle was not present—which is a surprising fact , only to be explained on the assumption that the Czar ' s present to him of Lord Dunkcllin has assuaged the vindictiveness of a veteran diplomatist who , had ho been War Minister , would have charged Russia like a true Irish Peer , much after the fashion of Lord Lucan at Ralaklava . He appeared last night , but it was very Russian work bis abuse of Austria .
Parliament has met to deal with two bills : both of which have been promptly introduced . The Militia Bill is safe . The Enlistment of Foreigners Bill is not safe . The tone taken by Lord Ellenborough in regard to it bus been generally echoed . Even granting that the principle on which the Government is proceeding in the matter were a sound one , wo should bo disposed to suspect their statesmanship , from the circumstance that their plan is on so small a scale- Lord Aberdeen ,
melancholy and mox-ose , complained at the interruption the measure had mot with , for , askou his lordship , why do you tell us to conduct the war with vigour , and then oppose our vigorous bills ? The bill maybe objected to precisely because it is not a vigorous bill . Tho Quoen'B Speech alludes to a li grout war , " and the Ministers fneo tlio great war with u Foreign Legion of 15 , 000 men . Hero wo rouognitio , with dismay , thu same small conception to which may bo attributed tho disastrous victories
and the long siege , of the Crimea * Lord Derby says the maxim of the Government is " too late ; ' ' but , on the other hand , it is always too little . The debate in the Lords last night damaged the bill , and the narrow majority with winch they ' escaped a defeat in this first week recals to the Government the catastrophes of last Sessions , and warns them to be careful . On its general policy , foreign and home , tho Government is secretive . A variety of questions have been asked , and a variety of no answers have been given . The facts of the Axts
trian treaty are communicated , when they' can be of no use—that is , when the Treaty has been ratified . Ministers expect to get through the work they have allotted for the short session by next Thursday . But circumstances may disturb the patriotic inefficiency in which a polite House of Commons has sunk itself . The Austrian Treaty is fixed—but it may be disapproved of , and then at least we shall have debates . The Foreigners ' Enlistment Bill may take time , or be thrown out . Thus the cry may be raised—and in Parliamentwhy separate for another Recess ?
In talking about the war , the war itself seems somewhat overlooked . This is because the war is stationary . But a winter campaign in the Crimea would seem to be intended by the contribution of Oma * Pacha ' s force of 35 , 000 men to Lord Raglanil army . Meanwhile , our troops and those of General Canrobort , reinforced into efficiency , are ' hutting" for the winter . The tone of our army will bo greatly improved by the democratic measure of the Government in deciding on rewarding valour and skill in the ranks with commissions . It is a wise
and an honest reform ; aud wo trust the Government will make it complete by adopting tho hint of Lord Grey . There is no use in giving Brown a commission unless you give him tho pay that will enable him , without fortune or credit , to compete on equal terms with " officers and gentlemen . " It is , unhappily , notorious that when Brown becomes an adjutant , quarrels with the men and that officer increase , and this may be
because Brown is not promoted into a clearly bottoiposition in point of comfort and competence Tho duty , and it was not a formal one , of thanking tho » nny for its groat deeds , has boon well done by both Houses . Very properly the French shared in the compliment ; and Mr . Sidney Herbert took care not to repeat tho distinction , to which ho committed himself on Tuesday , between tho conscript soldier and the volunteer soldier .
Some elections uro in progress ; but , cither ius to persons or principles , tho results « ro not likely to bo of any importance . Tho grout borough of Marylobono seems husitutmp ; between a dull gentleman who is a Druggist , and a dull gentleman who is si Lord . Sir G . Napier hcoidh to have decided on not presenting himself . Why ?
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 16, 1854, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16121854/page/1/
-