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    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. THE NEW FOREST. The...

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    482 THE LEADER. Satubday,

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    The Parliamentary Story Of The Week Is A...

    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 stafl ^ available hot only to be sent to any place where its members might be needed , but to be distributed freely and not according to the priaaeet'aB ^ rule . 32 ie Hbuse felt that the present state off . things is not satisfactory , and in spite of LordJ Paxmebston ' s explanation and Mr , "Wise ' s wish to retract : Ms motion , it was carsgfcd by l &&* to 57 .

    Mr . Berkklex ' 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- ; andj amongst its-new advocates * was Mr . Abthub G 6 kdon , son ofTDord

    Aberdeen . The extra Parliamentary movement for administrative reform continues to advance . Parliamentary 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 adecided 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 . Phuto 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 . Nothinir 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 xest 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 holdout'the delusion of hope . There is nothing for it , as Lord Paxmebbton says , but to fight . The two camps , English and French , are reported to bo in excellent condition , savo 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-quartors of Shorncliff and Heligoland . Everything indicates that the Crimea , and the Crimea alono , is at present to be the field of contest ; and bot h sides arc mustering their strength for the event—with this difference , that the Allies command , an abundance of transport for men and stores , while tho [ Russians have to drag every man , every weapon , every pound of provisions , across a continent . Our true disgrace has not lain in the Crimea , but at home . It is bad to Bo foiled in overcoming

    Russia , but infinitely worse to be detected in success against our awn fellow-countrymen . " The System" preventstussfbom starving the enemy at Sebastopotybutittie ^ yjsttem starves poor creatures in BethnajiSreen . -A / wretched woman was brought up last . - week at Clerkenwell , for pawning some work , ¦ nfiich had beem given out to- Her by a clotiiing contractor , art * wages justosnmcient to . ' ' » ; ' ' ' i

    starve upim . Here ? is one of the beauties of the contract system . The State is cheated into paying tog »> much nitraey , and then the poorest of tHes people aroi crheated'in paying-ttoo 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 care , 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 Aveok 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 Dayrell 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 Paxmebston , the consistency of

    Lord John , the courage of Lord Derby , 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 Oxfobd , 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

    Dublin 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 .

    Imperial Parliament. The New Forest. The...

    IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT . THE NEW FOREST . 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 state , 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 tho land brought into cultivation . —Earl Guanville , in admitting tho truth of the statement as to tho number of fires , obaerved that two men aro now in prison , and that the deputy surveyor has been ordered ' to engage as many watchers as bethought

    necessary . The Intestacy ( Scotland ) Bill was read a third time , and passed . THE LATE CAPTAXR CHRISTIE . Ill the House of Commons , upon Mr . liorcnuoic giving notice that ho would tho next day move for certain papers connected with Captain Christie , chiefly for tho purpose of establishing tho date of the order for trying him by court-martial , Sir Jambs Guam Asr rose- to explain a statement ho had made on Friday night , % o tho efl'cct that tho court-martial was

    the result of Mr . Layard ' s attacks upon Captain Christie , and that he ( Sir James Graham ) had " yielded too much to popular clamour" in bringing that officer to trial . Ho now admitted that he was in error in this assertion , and that , as pointed out by Mr . Layard in a letter to tho Times , tho court-martial waa determined on beforo tho member for Aylesbury had expressed his opinion on Captain Christio . ( Sir James further stated , speaking from memory , and under correction of tho First Lord of tho Admiralty , that there was an indisposition on tho part of the naval authorities of tho Blaok Sea to try Captain Cristio ,

    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 theref 6 re moafcanxiaus that it should take place . Refer * Ting to tHattportion of Mr . Layard ' s letter in which ! itii » aissertfed ; that he ( Sir James ) " had not hesitated to state ,, calmly and deliberately , that which he oughtrto : > Havef } known to be absolutely false , " he appealed toothe character which he had held in that House fBwttiirty-seven years . JAPAN . LoKd Fas , mer » tok , in answer to a question by Mr 'WdUKsmi ; said that AHmiral Stirling had concluded witreaty / "Witto the government of Japan . By that treaty , 3 ritish vessels vrhse to be allowed to enter certain ports in > Japan for ptaneses of repair and refreshment . No commercial stipulations were contained in that treaty , with this exception , that British ships are-to be all 6 wed all privileges to which the vessels- of other ppjwers , ( excepting China and Holland ) are entitled * iSie 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 WHITSUN HOLIDAYS . Lord Falmerston , in answer to Mr . Frewen , announced that the Government proposed that the Hbuse should adjourn on Friday until the Monday week following . mr . milner 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 Palmerston , upon the answer to which would depend hia 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 , and regarded it as epecially the task of Austria to look for means of accommodation ; and that he hoped , therefore , that the 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 Palmekston 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 the negotiations are still open ; and thinking , therefore , that it would be incurring a grave responsibility to interfere with the Government under such circumstances , he ventured to ask Mr . Gibson whether he would not be exercising a wise discretion in postponing his motion to a period when circumstances may more fully justify an appeal to the House . Ho concluded by moving that tho House do adjourn . v Mr . Sidney Heiibeut repudiated all knowledgool tho course which Mr . Gibson would tako in consequenco of tho appeal which had just been made ; but said that , should he still consider it his duty to press his motion , Ire ( Mr . Herbert ) should feel bound to move tho previous question . ( At this intimation there were ironical cheers from tho Opposition . ) --Lord Hakry Vane , who had undertaken to second 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 . ViBiiAiHA , in dissenting from the suggestions of Mr , Gladstone and tho previous speaker , said : — " It ia a long time since tho House has witnessed mu-Ii a Bccno . So perfect a pieco of acting has ttoldom wi- " got up for our entertainment . ( Loud opposition ' " ^ " f I think that after tho extraordinary , and , »» l ) l ' ; ' moHt impolitic , request , of tho two right »<»' . ° " ' irontluinou who havo ho suddenly risen this evunW , ILouho of Commons and tho country havo n W " : ' demand from tho Government a much moro « M ' declaration on tho subject of thoHO negotiation * Ilian n"J we havo yet boon favoured with . ( Cheers . ) \\ o »" '

    482 The Leader. Satubday,

    482 THE LEADER . Satubday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 26, 1855, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_26051855/page/2/