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We keep up Ambassadors where no Ambassadors are needed ; we retain Consuls in a subordinate and uninfluential position . Evidently the best course would be to consolidate the whole corps , and to keep it as a species of staff , available not only to be sent to any place where its members mig ht be needed , but to i > e distributed frepiy and not according to the pM » ent set rule . ! Ehe 1 Iouse felt that the present state of things is not satisfactory , and in spite of Lord Palmebstojt ' s exp lanation * and Mr . Wise's ^ rish to retract Ms motion , it was called by 112 to 57 . * Mr . BEBKEXEr ' s motion for the ballot was not carried , but the respectable minority of 166 shows that the expedient for protecting the voter is not losing its support ; * nd , amongst its new advocates , was Mr . Abthob Gordon , son of Lord Aberdee i
n . > een . The extra Parliamentary movement for administrative reform continues to advance . Parliamen tary meetings have been held in several of the London districts , and in several of the principal towns committees are formed to act with the central association . As the ice forms in patches in the colder season , and gradually unites in one sheet , so the league is forming round the separate centres gradually to unite in one
whole . The minute of Council Directors , that all candidates for civil service shall undergo an examination , and appointing three commissioners for that purpose , is taken as a proof that the Government is yielding , and it has given a decided impulse to the movement . On the other hand , the leaders of the new party do not yet exhibit any complete mastery over their situation .
It is , perhaps , too soon since their last public act to expect a new step , but it is a fact that they have done nothing since . Bath is thrown vacant by the appointment of the estimable and successful Mr . Phihn to be Second , that is permanent Secretary to the Admiralty ; but we do not hear that the Central Administrative Reform Association seized upon the occasion to put a candidate of their own into Parliament .
Of the two objects put forward in the programme of the Association one , the reform of the public departments , seems now to have been taken up partially at least by Government , thanks no doubt to the efforts of the Reformers . The other object is one which must belong wholly to the people , and an admirable one it is—to purify
elections . Nothing effectual will be done till we have a better House of Commons . Let us , as the Association advises , unite together to throw off the influence of the party clubs and their agents—we will add of the landlords and other intimidators—and cries , humbug , and fanaticism to boot . Let us try on the next opportunity to send up a real representative House of Commons . The rest will very soon take care of itself .
It is all expectation , too , rather than performance , in the camp at Sebastopol . The new fact from Vienna is that expectation has ceased : nothing is expected from the Austrian ultimatissimum , not even by Austria herself . No new proposals remain to hold out the delusion of hope . There is nothing for it , as Lord Paxmeb 8 ton says , but to fight . The two camps , . English and French , are reported to bo in excellent condition , save some appearance of summer disease ; the
Sardinian contingent is mustering on the ground ; there are reports that the Foreign Legion also will shortly be mustering at the head-quarters of Shornoliff and Heligoland . Everything indicates that the Crimea , and the Crimea alone , is at present to bo the field of contest ; and bot h sides are mustering their Btrength for the event—with this difference , that the Allies command , an abundance of transport for men and storos , while the Russians have to drag every man , every weapon , every pound of provisions , across a continent . Our true disgrace has not lain in the Crimea , b ut at home . It is bad to be foiled in overcoming
Russia , but infinitely worse to be detected in success against our own fellow-countrymen . " The System" prevents us from starving the enemy at Sebastopolj but-tbe System starves poor creatures in Bethnjf Green . A wretched woman was brought up last week at Clerkenwell , for pawning some work which had been given out to ier by a clotting contractor ^ at wages just sufficient to starve upon . Hereas one of the beauties of the contract system . ? The State is cheated into paying too much money , and then the poorest of the ^ people are cheated in paying too little money . The exposure probably will do much good . Elizabeth Gibbs went from the dock , not a criminal , but a victim ; and the true criminal —the contracting system—will perhaps be called
to account in the proper quarter . What do we eare , however , for the contracting system , for Sebastopol or Vienna , for Whig or Tory hopes , in Epsom week ? The great question at the beginning of the week was , who was to be the winner of the Derby ? The great historic fact is , that it was neither of the favourites , but Wild Dayrell , " a dark horse , " '' reared by the gardener . " But Wild Dayreli has become a great name for the time in the contemporary history of the country . Men have their doubts as to the honesty of Lord Pax , merston , the consistency of
Lord John , the courage of Lord Debbt , but none whatever as to the virtues of Wild Dayrell . We have our hundred religious creeds , but on that article of faith there is but one sect in the country . The dinner of the Literary Fund on Tuesday went off pleasantly and well . The Bishop of Oxford , who presided , was in the fulness of his adroit eloquence , a postprandial Massillon ; his views of the Church broadening to latitudinarianism with the dessert . The Archbishop of DtTBiaN dilated with frank and inoffensive egotism on his own proceedings as an author and a patron . Sir Archibald Alison returned thanks for the
" Historians" in an historical speech of some ' pretension . " One feature" of the evening , as reporters say , was the conspicuous absence of our most popular literary men .
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THE HEW FOUE 8 T . The Earl of Malmesbuet , on Monday , called the attention of the Government to the incendiary fires which have lately taken place in and adjoining the New Forest , and by which not only the grass and underwood , but a large number of the royal plantations , have been destroyed , while the landholders in the neighbourhood have also suffered to a great extent . From January to May , 1854 , the number of fires was twenty-four ; yet the keepers have been reduced , and four policemen recently employed have been dismissed . Three weeks ago , three or four miles of the forest were in a blaze . The country
being in a very wild and lawless 3 tate , a large number of squatters have fixed themselves in the forest , where they claim certain rights of pasturago and turf-cutting . There has also been a great increase of poaching ; and there is some danger of all the game in the forest being destroyed . Lord Malmesbury thought the Government should consider whether the New Forest ought not to be disafforested , and the land brought into cultivation . —Earl Granvii ^ le , in admitting the truth of the statement as to the number of fires , observed that two men are now in prison , and that the deputy surveyor has been ordered to engage as many watchers as he thought necessary . The Intestacy ( Scotland ) Bill was read a third time , and passed .
THE LATE OAFTAIN CHRISTIE . In the ITouse of Commons , upon Mr . Koebtjok giving notice that ho would the next clay move for certain papers connected with Captain Christie , chiefly for the purpose of establishing the date of the order for trying him by court-martial , Sir James Ghaham rose to explain , a statement ho had made on Friday night , to the effect that the court-martial was the result of Mr . Layard ' s attacks upon Captain Christio , and that ho ( Sir James Graham ) had
" yielded too much to popular clamour" in bringing that officer to trial . He now admitted that ho was in error In this assortion , and . that , as pointed out by Mr . iLayard in a letter to the Times , the court-martial was determined on before the member for Aylosbury had expressed his opinion on Captain Christio . Sir James further stated , speaking from momory , and under correction of the First Lord of tho Admiralty , that there was an indisposition on tho part of the naval authorities of tho Black Sea to try Captain Criatio ,
and that the order was repealed ; but he added that he thought the court-martial was the fairest mode of treating the deceased officer , and that he was therefore tnm * 4 uuuous that it should take place . Refer " ring to that-portion of Mr . Layard ' s letter in which it i * asserted that he ( Sir James ) " had not hesitated to state , : calmly and deliberately , that which he ought to hare known to be absolutely false , " he appealed to the character which he had held in that House for thhty-seven years .
JAPAN . Lord Paxmejuston , in answer to a question by Mr . Wjuwtbr , 4 » id that Admiral Stirling had concluded a . treaty -wHh > the gormrnment of Japan . By that treaty , British . vessels < wexe to be allowed to enter certain ports in Japan for purposes of repair and refreshment . No commercial stipulations were contained in that treaty , with this exception , that British ships are to be allowed all privileges to which the vessels of other powers ( excepting China and Holland ) are entitled . The United States in the course of last year concluded a treaty with Japan , giving them the right of trading in certain ports ; and to the benefit of this treaty this country would be entitled under Admiral Stirling's treaty . He ( Lord Palmerston ) was not aware of any treaty having been entered into between Russia and Japan .
THE WHIT 8 UN HOLIDAYS . Lord Paljibbston , in answer to Mr . Frewen , announced that the Government proposed that the House should adjourn on Friday until the Monday week , following . MR . BHLNER GIBSON ' S MOTION . Mr . Sidney Herbert , in anticipation of the motion of which notice had been given by Mr . Gibson , said , he wished to put certain inquiries to Lord Paltnerston , upon the answer to which would depend his own course upon that motion , as well as that of other members . He found , in the protocol of April 21 a paragraph stating that Count Buol did not consider the different modes of solution exhausted , andfregarded it as epecially the task of Austria to look for means of accommodation ; and that he hopedtherefore , thatthe Conferences would meet
, again as soon as any of the members should have any new propositions to make . The questions Mr . Herbert proceeded to put were these : — " Does the noble lord at the head of the Government consider , or not , that the different modes of obtaining a pacific solution of the present state of affairs have been exhausted ? does he consider all negotiations to be at an end ? and does Austria consider it to be her part still to look for some means of accommodation ? Furthermore , is the Conference completely dissolved , or is it still in such a state , that any of its members may make new propositions to the allied powers ?"
Lord Palmerston said , her Majesty ' s Government did not consider that all the modes of solution of the question were exhausted ; that the Conferences , though suspended , were not finally closed , but would be ready to assemble upon any proposition being made likely to lead to a satisfactory result ; and that Government would feel it to be their duty to give the most favourable consideration to any proposition coming from Austria , with the view of bringing the war to an honourable and satisfactory termination . Mr . Gladstone said that , as Lord Westmoreland had stated his instructions were exhausted , Mr .
Gibson was justified in believing that the negotiations were absolutely at an end , and consequently had acted with perfect propriety in bringing forward his motion . But the answer just given by Lord Palmerston showed that tho negotiations are still open ; and thinking , therefore , ' that it would be incurring a grave responsibility to interfere with the Government under such circumstances , ho ventured to ask Mr . Gibson whether he would not bo exercising a wise discretion in postponing his motion ton period when circumstances may more fully justify an appeal to the House . He concluded by moving that the House do adjourn . all oi
Mr . Sidney Herbert repudiated knowledge tho course which Mr . Gibson would take in consequence of the appeal which had just been made ; but said that , should ho still consider it his duty to press hie motion , ho ( Mr . Herbert ) should feel bound to move tho previous question . ( At this intimation thoro wore ironical cheers from the Opposition . ; --Lord Hahuy Vane , who had undertaken to sccoi a Mr . Gibson ' s motion , agreed with Mr . Gladstone in pressing tho member for Manchester , under tho circumstances , to withdraw his motion for a time . Mr . Dishaeli , in dissenting from the suggestion * , of Mr , Gladstono and tho previous speakor , emu : —
« It is a long time since tho House has witnessed buc a scone , So perfect a piece of acting kiia seldom be > irot tin for our entertainment . ( Loud opposition cIhmW 1 think that after tho extraordinary , und , as 1 ^> most impolitic-, request of tho two ritf ht ho omnW gentlemen who have ho nmldonly rwon this ° v « ii" > h . » IIoiiho of Commons and tho country have a ««¦»• donmnd from tho Government a much nioro e . \ > doolarAtlon on tho subject of theao notfotwiUoim tin n a vfo have yet boon favoured with . ( C' / tcc / vj . ) W u J "
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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT .
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482 T H E LEADER . Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), May 26, 1855, page 482, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2092/page/2/
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