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    no eoercioa ^ addressed to St . Petersburg , would Lave been , effectual in stopping the process . Such a mode of encroachment , however , is impossible to Russia , because it is possible only to a State whose citizens are individually free . JKor similar . reasons the encroachment of the Americans is not , as the encroachment of the Russians has been , dangerous to civilisation . On the contrary , it substitutes for a people who cannot maintain international relations , a people who can develope those relations into their best form . Any kind of intercourse with Texas was a theory or a joke , until the " Lone Star" was absorbed in the Union , and rendered

    administering tbjswhupgh of England business throughout ( jihe country . Where so many young Peers wassfe their time in idle levities , the Marquis can be only applauded for endeavouring to render himself useful . It is some compensation which may go down to the credit of the house of Marlborough . But he is endeavouring to strengthen the tenure of a sect which is not at present doing much to identify itself with the whole body of the people of England . There is , therefore , actually , some dissenting jealousy at the new project for

    the traiftc Kof the Great Northern by a prepos terously lav xate of fares ; and the Great Northern is evading the engagement of its own officers with the North Western , while the Great Western , overlaid with extension and competitive schemes , proclaims a dividend of 2 | per cent , where it formerly divided 8 . A strange romance of real life is supplied by the Court of Arches . A husband brings an action of divorce against his young wife , and is met by

    incontrovertible evidence that the wife is still , in every sense of the word , a girl , while it is affirmed in court that he positively eucouraged the intimacy that formed the subject of the accusation . The refutation of the charge against the young lady proves that , in point of fact , the marriage has from the beginning been null and void . In law , therefore , as well as in fact , the offeuce is proved to have been an

    impossibility . The case , however , is exceptional in its nature , though it does not stand aloae in the recent annals of the law courts . We do not take it as a real illustration of" our civilisation "—it only shows what relations may be possible under cover of the law ; for nothing hut the grossest indiscretion could ever have brought this half ludicrous , half tragical romance before the eyes of the world . '

    That dignified and respectable corps of contemplative philosophers in . plush , styled in the language of Imperial courtesy , " The French Senate , " has received a solution of the enigmatic article in the Moniteur , to which we recently alluded . Their special function , says the Minister of the Interior , will be to examine and approve the measures of the Departmental Councils General . Imagine our House of Lords "being requested to confino thai * initia . titro tnt . he discussion of British roads and turnpikes I

    strengthening the supports of the Church of England , and the Marquis is met with many resistances from the Liberal party . Now , it should have been the part of Ministers to take their choice , and either to carry the Marquis ' s bill , as a proper thing upon established grounds , or to refuse the discussion of a measure not intended for completion . But they trim ; they receive the bill to gain credit with the Conservatives and the Church ; they will challenge it to p reserve credit with the Dissenters and the Liberal party ..

    A large quarrel is forcing itself upon the Government and the country . The organised agitation to compel a dismal observance of the Sabbath is making virulent exertions to extend its organisation , to get up recruits in all classes , and to overcome Ministers . The Archbishop of Canterbury , with a large retinue , visits Lord Palmbrston , and overwhelms him with exhibitions of arcMepiscopal emotion ; while Lord SHAFTESiBtTRY threatens the Premier with a

    demonstration from "the mothers " of the United Kingdom . Lord Shaftesbury has been holding meetings in the suburbs , as a recruiting sergeant for the Lord ' s-day observance meeting ; and the deputation to Lord Palmekston particularly begged the Premier not to think of opening Museums , National Galleries , and other places of amusement , on the seventh day . The public , they assevt , desire to be prevented . Nine-tenths of the people would abstain from opening their shops if the remaining tenth would desist . According to this argument nine-tenths of the English people

    would most formally adhere to the path of salvation , and would , in fear of external perdition , observe the manifest ordinances of their faith , if they were not afraid of losing their business and the profits of trade on the seventh day . According to the argument , these earnest Christians , whom Lord Shaftesbury represents , deliberately prefer the money that they can take over the counter to their assurance of eternal bliss ! This is what we call proving too much . If the people of England really desire the kind of pbscrvance dictated by Lord Shaftesbury , it would be their

    custom spontaneously , and the fe w who should persist in breaking the law would find the profits thafc they snatch insufficient to compensate the odium that they would incur . A very bitter contest is rising , but there seems every probability that the broad Church , with its moderate views , and the advocates of a decent liberality on the Sabbath , will combine and defeat the sectarians both within and without the Church .

    The papers this week teem with evidences of the social conflict . Railway is again arrayed against railway , while each is exposing how its dividends are kept down by the competition . In this country of law , shnveholdoi-B are complaining—and justly—that the capitalists who buy preferential shares over then- heads keep them from the control of their own property . The South Western directors propose to consult the shareholders before entering into larger expenditure , and it appears the expenditure is already made ; the North Western , which is honestly trying to avoid that stylo of management , is trying to boat down

    capable at once of developing * an Anglo-Saxon trade in produce , and acting with an Anglo-Saxon sense of obligations . The instruments for effecting this new conversion are not the best , but it is quite clear that th ey will do tie work—that Walker will be the Houston of Nicaragua . Ultimately , too , we may foresee taatr placed between the new " Lone Star" and the

    Union , the Spanish advocates of annexation in Mexico will be greatly strengthened as a party . Ministers hold the game in their hands , when it depends upon the WenslEydale patent ; but they are trying to control the whirlwind when they attempt ^ to jusethe Clayton-Btjlwertreaty in "topping the march of events on the lands of Central America .

    It is become doubtful , indeed , whether they can hold their own in the House of Commons . Already they show signs of giving way . Sir George Grey encounters a growing opposition to his County and Borough Police Bill , and he meets with combined interests against it . The boroughs resent the proposal that the Secretary of State should be charged with the more direct

    interference in the management of their police ; and they are justly jealous of the intervention . The county representatives have a far weaker case , since they are unquestionably responsible for maintaining watch and ward efficiently ; but they take their stand on the great modern principle of inertia , and with the assistance of the borough members they seem likely to impede ministers with a very stubborn obstruction .

    Nor do Ministers take such a position as would give them complete moral strength . There never was a session in which they might , if they had pleased , make a more decided advance towards real dictation to Parliament . They have enjoyed a licence of negative legislation and of suspended initiative ; and they might , under the circumstances of the session , have forbidden other members to record projects that were not to become law . When Mr . Napier , for

    example , proposes to establish a Ministry of justice , in order to revise the process of adding new laws to our statute-book , he makes a proposal , sanctioned by some of the best authorities '; but it is perfectly clear that no such measure can be carried during the present session : and , if ministers had been resolved to show that they intended to keep the management of Parliament in their own hands , they would have forbidden him to record a blank resolution , solely on the ground of the

    insincerity of the record , and the inexpediency of encumbering the session with projects that aro not to , rpault in substantial measures . They leave bilk fyfyt rp , ay bo carried—for beginning the consolida-!§ 8 Jr 9 $ our cllttOticftUy accumulated statutes—to ¦ % lM oir Kan . Lv ; aa if aucceas itself in a really 'P ^ fe wprp a thing for which they dared not je jeapoM ^ ie , Thus , too , with Lord Blandpord ' s bill ,. Vrom the mev 0 Church of England point of view , tho young ^ arquip has a rf , * tQ } 10 T ° f f PW ! 8 h ^ t » Miatribution of duties , the titles of tho incumbents , and the m 0 ( le of

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    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT-

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    _ * 46 THE jLEAPER , [ No . 308 , Saturday

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    Monday , February Ilt 7 i . THE CRIMEAN REPOKT . A debate took place in the Hoose op Lords ou tk ' e Bubject of the imputations cast on some of tlio Crimean officers by the recent report of Sir Jolm M'Neill and Colonel Tulloch . Lord JLuoan complained of th o strictures that had been made on has conduct , and also that a letter be had addressed to Lord Paxunure , rebutting those strictures , had not been published . —Lord Cardigan intimated that to should on the following day transmit , to tho War Office a reply to the charges against him . —Lord Pa , nmuke said it was not tho intention of the Commissioners to attack the character of Lord Cardigan

    , but meroly to offer an opinion on some points iu tlio administration of the anny . Tho charges agninat Lord Luoan were proved by returns received on tlio spot , aud published with tho report ; but hih Lordship ' s letter had boom referred to oue of tho Comnufiflionors . Iu answer to Lord Disnu y , Lord Panmube said that the solf-dofonco of any officers who hud no access to Parliament would be laid on the tublo ot th . o House ; and , replying to an . observation of tho Earl of Hakdwickb , ho remarked that the decorations lately reorived by Lords Cardigan anil Luoau were given for gallantry in action , and he tliorel'oro hoped thum p offioors would continue to wear thorn , and uot consider that they wore bound to return them to tho Queen .

    A DJP&OMATIO DrSOJlKPANOV . Earl Grey called attontion . toadiscropanoy bolwoou a despatch from Colonel Rose , of March 2 fith , 18 C 3 , and another from Lord Stratford do Ilodolill ' u of tho 27 th of May in the wimo yoav ; tho ono containing «» assertion by M . Pisaui , tho interprotwr of tho English Embassy at Constantinople , that Riliuit 1 ' iwha had communicated to him tho mibHtanoo of a mle verbals prosontod to tho Turkiuh Go > vonunonl < by

    Princa MoaBolukolT ; the second utivting , on tho authority of M .. Piauni , that Rifaat Pacha , would novor bo brought to acknowledge tho © xiatonoo of uny such note . — Lord Clarendon i-opliod that ho had tolographed Lord Groy ' o question to Uonataujtinoplo , und tlmt M . Pisani Btill awsortod tlmt Rifaivt Paiolm would nut admit that tho nofco existed at all , Ho had no doubt tlio Turkish Ministers wore intimidated by tlio language of Prince Monsokikoil ^ and w ^ ro iuduoinl V » y him to ooncoal tlio existence of tho note from tlio

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 16, 1856, page 146, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2128/page/2/