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Leader (1850-1860), 16th June 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 2, Tub (jrAJ-LisitY oj<' Ih.ustua'I'Ion in ...

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      The Journals Of The Week Authenticate An...

      number of twenty , over and above the inmates of a private dwelling-house , for religious worship . The act belongs to a series for putting down Nonconformists and other proscribed sects . Itvis now useless except to preventethe memfeers of the Church of England , who must be the most guarded in infringing state discipline , ' from emgating with each other , or ¦ withumembers of olsESer persuasions , to promote evangelical movements among the heathen . Lord Shaftesburt found no resistance to his plan for encouraging ,

      missionary enterpr ise , among , the 5 ^ , 000 :- heathens in England , except" from the Bishops , who held a meeting in the morning on purpose to declare war against the pious Earl . However , he carried the day against the bishops , and a contest between mitred obstructives and Lord Shaitesbury is likely to revive , the question as to the real power and influence of the prelates in the House of Lords . The position of Mr . Lowe perplexes people niore than the peculiar treatment of the Australian Constitution Bills . The story of the bills is a

      romance of Parliamentary life . In 1850 the Crown gave assent to a bill permitting the Australian colonies to frame constitutions for themselves , under certain limitations . Lord Gbet had been for some time trying to tinker the colonies , and the bill of 1850 was the enactment of a grand " peccavV The gracious colonies received it in very various modes ; but every one of them has treated its restrictions as sportsmen treat fences : the higher the merrier . The Colonial Bills are enacted on the steeple-chase principle , and are sent home , where they are duly subjected to a great shaking of the head , for their audacity ; and then they

      are incorporated in schedules of bills laid before Parliament , in order to sanction the greater part of the colonial enactments , with some reserve to save the Imperial dignity . Here Mr . Lowe steps in , objecting to the whole transaction . He cannot "bear to see the colonies placing the Imperial authority in contempt ; he cannot bear to see the Imperial Government interfering with local business . So , he proposes that the bills be sent back , and that the governor he empowered to give the assent to any bills that the local Legislatures may pass . There would be two very obvious results from this course ; imperial dignity would not be saved and colonial business would be

      hindered . No one ought to know that better than Mr . Lowe . It would be to get a colonial triumph at the expense of an immense colonial inconvenience . Yet Mr . Lowe , who lately tried his hand as Secretary to the Board of Control and then retired , ia held to bo an independent statesman , walking the hospitals of the public departments , as the study for a future professional career in hiffh

      politics . He is supposed to have had some deep design in view—something that will make him appear to the British Empire wiser than all other statesmen whatsoever . His present course , however , is so wise , that ordinary folks cannot understand it ; and they assume him to have been , like Mr . Gladstone , engaged in some wonderful Oxonian mystery , intelligible only to the initiated .

      The Professorship of Civil Law at Oxford , v aoated some time ago by the death of Dr . Phim imoiuc , has been conferred on Dr . Tkavisrs Twiaa . We owe Db . Twiss a grudge for bringing his Pupjpendohfs to the aid of despotism and injustice in his pamphlets on Hungary and Sehloswig Holstcin . But hois a luarnod and eminent civilian , and the

      appointment is a just one , if tho Professorship ia to bo , as it has hitherto been , a sinoeuro and a more decoration . Wo had hoped , however , that , tho study of Civil Law having boon revived at O xford in connexion with tho History School , tho Professorship would bo a sinecure no longer , and that tho Professor would bo required to resido and superintend tho working of his school . Parliament , is rather at a discount juat now . Ministers have succeeded iu damping tho Adminiat

      trative Reform movement , and the censorious motions on .- the war ; by adopting a highly warlike tone , a » d carrying out some show of departmentaLxssfowns . Of these * ,. the most conspicuous is the : new onganisatiom of the War Department , with a ; plan o # examination for admitting , young men to , commissions ami high studentshi p * in artillery and * engineering ? , at Woohvicl v by pa & lic examination . If members have been active in attacking Ministers through Parliament , they have received a . severe rebuke from . Prince Albebt , who was chairman at the dinner of the Trinity

      Elder-Brothers on Saturday , and who read to such obtrusive members a lectui'e on the inconvenience of representative Government in- warfare-against an autocrat that can keep his own secrets and issue his own orders . The country , said Prince Albert , ought to have confidence in Lord Palmerston , whose health he was drinking . So they have , said Lord Palmerstojj , in returning thanks ; for he did not admit the premise—the want of support . Three questions are suggested by Prince Albert ' s admonition : Are the members more prying than politic , -when 2 they drag out replies that convey information to the enemy , ? Are Ministers justified in yielding to parliamentary pressure disclosures that really damage the country with the enemy ? Is the Prince Consort

      of the Queen exactly the person to make this appeal on behalf of Ministers from the Houses of Parliament to the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House ? Prince Axbert talks exceedingly good sense ; but we have yet to learn that exalted personages with royal privileges have a right to talk sense when and where they please . Decidedly it is a subversive innovation which adds dangerously to the privileges of the order . On the other hand , of course , the same objections cannot ba entertained to Prince Albert ' s appearance in Copenhagen-fields , as the Augur opening the new cattle-market . He is himself an authority in stock , and the example of George the Third has almost compelled the British Sovereign , by self or proxy , to combine the calling of Cincinnatus with other constitutional duties .

      The occasion , indeed , was the more striking , since the Corporation had sedulously resisted every attempt to remove the market from Smithfield . They had pertinaciously resolved to take their pigs to another market ; and now they invited the Prince to commemorate tlie occasion of their bringing their pigs to Copenhagen-fields . He praised them heartily for what they had endeavoured not to do ; and they departed exulting in the duty that had been forced upon them . Crops and commei * ce are upon the whole in fine condition . The rain would look ug \ y , if it were ripening time ; but , as the short old gentleman in the omnibus says , with a bejuvnng forgetfulnoss of self , " these warm rains make everything grow . "

      And the Bank has just reduced its discount from four to three-and-a-half per cent . ; which places that laggard establishment only in the rear of every other firm in tho metropolis ; so that it is still safe , with something of discount yet to spare . The manufacturing districts arc improving rather than otherwise . The onlv check to tho generally fair report is the astounding appearance of Sir John Dk . vn Paul in tho JJmikruptcy Court , as one of tho firm of Sthauan and Co . But a . firm that ia in fashionable society , and speaks Italian , is therefore , in courtesy , bound to speculate in Italian Railways , and is very likely to find ita West-end liabilities compromise it with its coinmarcini liabilities . Such incidents are but

      commonplace . In London tho fall of one house drags others with it ; people talk si good deal ; the fewness of tho shillings in tho pound constitutes tho wonderment of the day ; uu < l ( . hen commerce goes on as before . If Paul and Co . have failed , the bank discount is lowered half per cent ., and the Allies are getting on famously in the Crimea ..

      554 The Leader. [Satukday,

      554 THE LEADER . [ Satukday ,

      Tub (Jraj-Lisity Oj<' Ih.Ustua'i'Ion In ...

      Tub ( jrAJ-LisitY oj < ' Ih . ustua'I'Ion in indofaligablci in following up tho ovontH of tins war , which , almoHt « h soon « a they occur , aro hero brought pictorially boforo tho oyo of tho public . Amon # tho rooout addit . iona wo iiotico — " Englinh Mortar H . iUory ; tins liuriitn « nd Riflo-pitB ; General Poliiwier'H Night Attack ; and Mr . Forgufjson ' fl Now System of Fortification . " Tho lecture by Mr . Stocquolor on tho Kvorits of the War « till continues ; and those who hnvo onco hoard that guntluinaii ' clear , ( straightforward , and unaifautod modo of inalrueting bin audience , will nood no further guarantee that ovory requisite clement iu mi « l » u dincouruo in forthcoming .

      Immkial Parliament. The Fermotf Peerage....

      IMMKIAL PARLIAMENT . THE FERMOTf PEERAGE . The EarLoff Derby , on Monday , called attention to the circumstances under which Mr . Roche had latelybeen elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Fermoy ; According to the Act of Union , the Crown has the ; pp . wer of creating a new peer in Ireland whenBirer tlirwa .- of the existing peerages become extinct . But , * , int the present case , two of the three titles which have lapsed hove been held by one person . Lord Derby therefore contended that the creation is illegal ; and he also objected to Mr . Roche as having been a very violent opponent of the Established Church of . Ireland ,, and an energetic partisan

      of the repeal agitation ; of 1843 * He concluded by moving that the subject bereferred to the consideration of a Committee of Privilege . —Lord Granville , in reply , stated that the Government had referred the question to the law officers of the Crown in Ireland , to one of the law officers in England , and also to the Attorney-General of Lord Derby ' s administration ; and they all concurred in the opinion that the creation could be legally made . He defended the character of Mr . Roche . —A legal argument followed , in which LoTd St . Leonards , Lord Biiougham , the Lord Chancellor , the Earl of Wicklow , Lord Campbell , and the Earl of Hahdwicee , took part : and finally the motion was agreed

      , ABSENCE OF THE SPEAKER . In the Commons , at the forenoon sitting , the Speaker thanked the House for the arrangements by which his absence had been provided for during his recent illness . He adverted to the circumstance of doubts having arisen as to whether Lord Haddo and Mr . Tite had taken the oaths and their seats according to law in his absence ; and , after quoting the words of the act , declined to offer any opinion of his own , but suggested to the House to consider what

      course should be adopted lest actions might be brought against those members for assuming their seats without having taken the oaths in the presence of the Speaker . —Sir Geohge Grey- mentioned that he had consulted reveral legal authorities ; and , their opinion being that the point is doubtful , he thought a bill should be immediately brought in to prevent any legal proceedings taking place . —This course met with general approval ; and , in the evening sitting , leave was given to bring in a bill in accordance witli the suggestion . It was then brought in , and read a first time .

      ADMIRAL DUNDA . SS DESPATCHES . In reply to Mr . Ellice , Sir Charles Wood said , that the Government despatches to Admiral Dundas , quoted by Mr . Sidney Herbert , in the debate on the war , would be laid on the table of the House . Extracts from the answers of Admiral Dundas would also be produced . EDUCATION ( NO- 2 ) BILL . The debate on the second reading of this bill , adjourned from the 2 nd of May , was resumed by Mr . Addehlev , who objected to reading the bill , together with Lord John Russell ' s and Mr . Milner Gibson ' s bills , pro forma , and then referring them to a select committee . The principle of a measure should

      always be discussed at the second reading , a committee not affording a proper opportunity for such discussion . He approved on the whole of the measure introduced by Sir John Fakington ; but he dissented from the new school clauses , because the existing religious bodies , if they are provided with sufficient means ) , will maintain schools enough , without its being necessary to create new ones by means ot these clauses . He disagreed with Mr . Henley that the proposals of Sir John Pakington and Lord John Russell would supersede the existing system . 'Ihey would do no more than supply its deficiencies , lne effect of the bill would be to stimulate , assist , ana directprivate charityas tho Poor-law 1 ms done .

      , , The present system of education ia deficient , ana never ean be made complete , lint from the two Mis of Sir John Palcington and Lord John Russell ft measure might be struck out which would be Si } tl 3 ' factory to the country . The proposal of Mr . JUUncr Gibson , that the teaching at national schools sliouia bo entirely exclusive of religion , Mr . Adderloy conceived to be so utterly mistaken that ho declined to argue it . —Mr . Kvklvn Dknison pointed out what l" « coneeived to be a material omission—namely , tlmt tnerc wan no provision to enforce ) attendance upon schools . bill before t 1 c

      —Lord John Mannkiw opposed the House ( that of Sir . John 1 ' ukington ) , saying that iw felt great pain in doing so , but that lie was co » vinoed of tho mischievous nature of the moiw « " - » which would introduce religious contention and ui » order . An educational rate would be consult ret burdensome ; and it is known that free schools « u sometimes worse attended than any others , » Jt ' "" tho people do not set tmy groat valuo J'P . "' which they do not earn or purchase lor l- » " , i Tho prusont system , if lot alone , would hupp ; y ' the defect * imputed to it . Two millioiw of cln I ^ are now being educated by private charity ; aim

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 16, 1855, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16061855/page/2/