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Leader (1850-1860), 17th April 1858, Edition 2 of 2, Page 1, ' ^^^f^^^/^^&p a*/ , Sk^ G^k*^ Jkl£ ULUC...

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    • 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.

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      ' ^^^F^^^/^^&P A*/ , Sk^ G^K*^ Jkl£ Uluc...

      ' ^^^ f ^^^/^^& p a */ , Sk ^ G ^ k *^ Jkl £ ULUCT A POLITICAL AM ) LITERARY REVIEW .

      "The One Idea Which History Exhibits A3 ...

      "The one Idea which History exhibits a 3 evermore developing itself into greater distinctness is the Idea of Humanity—the noble endeavour to throw down all the barriers erected between men by prejudice and one-3 ided views : and , by setting aside the distinctions of Religion , Country , and Colour , to treat the whole Human race as one brotherhood , having one greatobject—the free development of our spiritual nature . "—H ~ . i-. nboldt's Cosmos . ' ¦

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      Review Of The Week- .-Aok Gathering From...

      REVIEW OF THE WEEK- .-aok Gathering from the Law and Po- Parliamentary Buefcsl . oosh 374 . ^^ iTher Reformation fjf K ^ ffi ^ . r :::::::::::::::::::::: S M ^ S ^ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: i ? ' ££ 22 S ^« S «* fcto * " i ^^ .===: | » S £ Sit ::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ^ ^ ToteiL- 371 i ^^ St &^^ sy ^^ i ! K ^^^^ kx " Io State of Trade ... 366 The Dutv of tlie Liberal Pirtv 371 ' The Straits Settlements 375 j THEARTSAccidents and Sudden Deaths 36 U a . r ^ , 7 i % Jliot i The House of Commons in New- Her Majesty ' s Theatre 380 Ireland 30 ( 5 PUBLIC AFFAIRS- t ( J 376 Royal Italian Opera 381 America 367 Emancipation of tho Liberal Party ¦ A Word or Two on the Navy 376 Miss Arabella GoddaTd ' s Soirees ... 381 Continental Notes 367 in Parliament 372 ; , ¦ , ___ ,, .,.. „ _ . rftiuiMcpriai ArcxkiRQ — The Trial of Bernard 363 The Intrigue and the India Bill ... 373 . LITERATURE- COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS TheAssizes 370 JJalaucc-Slieet of the Anglo-French ' Summary 3 / 7 ; THe Gazette dsi Central Criminal Court 370 Alliance ? . 373 Shelley 377 City Intelligence , Markets , & c 381

      Vol. Ix. No. 421.] Saturday, April 17, 1...

      VOL . IX . No . 421 . ] SATURDAY , APRIL 17 , 1858 . . Price jl ^^^ SSSS ? * -

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      JWurcui of tjjt Wnk . A

      Rphe Parliamentary Proceedings On The Fi...

      rpHE Parliamentary proceedings on the first night X again exposed the mendicant condition of Lord Derby ' s Government . The illustration of the drowning man clutching at straws always carries with it a certain amount of compassionate interest , but really Mr . Disraeli ' s wild dash at the straw thrown to him by Lord John Russell to keep his head above water on the wreck of the India Bill is too ludicrous an incident to be contemplated with any sort of gravity . Lord John proposed that before proceeding with either of the bills—Mr . Disraeli's or Lord Palmerston ' s—resolutions embodying the principal suggestions should be laid before the House , in order that the Commons might be actually taken into consultation . It can be seen at a glance how this course removed a dauger for Ministers , an opportunity for the late Ministers ; Mr . Disraeli seized it with unconcealed gratitude . His bill is pronounced from one end of the kingdom to the other to be a miserable failure ; but it is the very best that the present Ministry can offer , and they snatched with delight at the means put within their reach of getting free from the resjjonsibiUty of defending the indefensible . One thing has been especially remarkable since the reassembling of the House , and that is the bold and direct speaking of the foremost speakers on all the leading topics of the week . Lord John Russell ' s speech on Monday was a strong example . He went at once to the point , and dealt , with the Derby Indian Bill as if everybody ' s mind were made up to reject it in its present form . Mr . Disraeli appeared to have nothing to say against that assumption , but eagerly foil in with Lord John ' s views , and , in fact , he has to thank Lord John for keeping him in office—for a while longer . The course taken by Lord John will bo better understood if wo bear in mind that he is just now holding aloof from the party of which ho is the uatural head , but that ho represents tho general opinion of tho country on tho Indian question . That that opinion will prevail is not to be doubted ; -hi 8-polioy-ia- 'fav-seeing'then-when-ho , plaoc 3 ., hiinacjiC at tho head of public opinion , whioh will shapo aud control tho aotion of tho Liberal party , and ultimately call upon him to tako the oommand of H . To follow tho course suggested by Lord John Russell -will bo to ensure a moro complete and unbiassed disouBsion of tho moaauro called for by the country for the transfer of tho government of

      India from the Company to the Crown than would be possible , considering the position of the Government and of the Opposition , with its conflicting feelings on the question of a leader . The Is avy estimates moved by Sir-John Pekington on Monday -night opened up the question of our national defences , and showed , almost beyond dispute , the wastefulness of a too restricted expenditure . Whatever the need for looking closely into the disbursements of t he country with an eye to saving , the efficiency of all the national services is a subject of more vital intei-est , and it was not unnatural that , at the present time , when there is good reason for looking into the state of our coast defences , aud of our naval power , Mr . Williams should find only twenty-five supporters of his views , according to whicli we should at this moment reduce the expenses of our army and navy to the standard of 1 S 35 . The voice of the public would decidedly be raised against a reduction which would react upon the safety of the country . What we want is , that the national defences should be placed in a state of completeness , but that , whatever the sum required , it may be laid out in such a manner as permanently to secure the object for which it is given . The country never begrudges money for money ' s honest worth . Among tho weak points in the present Government , of that class which belong to essential discord between the several members of it , is the difference of sentiment even more than opinion on the subject of law reforms . Tho present Attorney-General is one of the most active men in promoting a very extensive reform in our law , in a consolidation of the statutes ; and no roan has done moro to render that course possible and intelligible than Sir Fitzroy Kelly . Ho is supported , it would appear , by the Solicitor-General ; for Sir Hugh CaiunsIuis this week introduced a very excellent law reform . It ia a bill to extend the powors of the Court of Chancery by enabling ii ; to award damagO 3 , to take oral evidence , and to use tho assistance of a jury . This is a grand stop towards a simplification of our judicial system . It goes some way towards removing tho useless distinctions botween f law' aud ' oquity , ' and , -UmmCPi'fipJ ^ IfiJ ^ lii boUor classification of those " courts in which tho suitors , pliunt'i'ffsToT pTo' 9 ' Oo ' utorsr would most ; naturally range thoinsolvos—namely , courts dividing amongst thorn different kinds of business , but mainly undor tho guidanoo of tho some fundamental principles of law and justice . Above those two jnon , —good reformers in their own way though thoy are Cto » 9 WVft t ivP 8 ~< -t < l > 0 n > is

      placed one who has been a very powerful advocate and consistent politician , with commanding presence aiid a high respectable personal character ; but since he has been elevated to the woolsack , that statesman ' s actions have not justified the hopes that the intelligent Tory barrister Thesigeu would develop himself , as the Lord Chancellor Chblmseord , into a Law Lord fit to take his place amongst the reforming Broughams , Lynduursts , and St .-Leonards , who have forgotten the distinctions of party in the one desire to amend their profession . Lord Campbell has been very active in improving the law of libel . He had a bill before the House of Lords which would have extended the immunities of the press by enabling any defendant under an action to plead —except where positive injury had been inflicted —that the alleged libel was part of a bond fide report of p roceedings before some constituted public body—namely , the two Houses of Parliament , Town Councils , or any meeting convened by a corporation under Act of Parliament . Ko doubt there are other meetings to which the same immunity should be extended ; but this bill recognized a progressive extension of the principle , and it would have been easy , in a later session , to accomplish more by another act . Lord Lyndhuust showed up the bill for its shortcomings ; but Lord Chancellor The-SIGer put his thumb upon it , and extinguished it , because he objects to all such reform whatsoever . Mr . Locke Kino has improved the occasion afforded by the prosecution of Mr . Auchjmuty Glover to announce abill for abolishing property unification , a step that will , in all probability , be - iikcn sooner or later—later rather than sooner . Parliamentary reform is slow of progress ; indeed , there is an almost constitutional dislike in tho House to meddle with the question , of which wo had an example on Tuesday evening , when the opinion of the leading members was strongly opposed to the measure suggested by Sir John Trelawny , declaring it a , high breach of privilego for a number to receive any spocics of reward in consideration of tho exercise of his Parliamentary influence . This was a wry mild and fitting sequel to tho proceedings in tho caso of Mr . Butt and Mouaad Am ; but how raany-nron-aro-thoi'o--iJi-tho _ naua «^ vJxQ _ Hr . o _ con ^_ n scions of agency , and who resent any infringement on ' free trado' in Parliamentary influence ! How . over , one stride has boon taken on the road to reform , iu the passing of tho Jew Bill , which once moro Jcrtvpy the Lords responsible . Tho subject to which Lord Claiucnce Paget ( V > ' J-: n . * ' * LV f- ^ ' ) fr Z ; r- * ff A i /* : a ^ swM ^ w ^^ mpWS < £ j * Ky ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 17, 1858, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17041858/page/1/