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    tbe Crimea , where are they to come from ? Certainly not from the retreating army . The Crimea does not cover Odessa and the line of the Pruth . fc > The position in which the Oxford University Bill has been placed is very unusual . It will be remembered that of the two clauses moved by Mr . Hevwood last week , one abolishing the oath on the admission of students to Oxford University , was carried by a decisive majority , while the other , abolishing the oath on the taking of degrees , was negatived . On Monday night , the bill having come to the third reading , Mr .

    Heywood reproduced the second resolution , so modified as to preserve its essential part , but not to include necessarily the admission of Dissenters to professorship and other posts in the University , which are in the general acceptation supposed to be essentially connected with the Church of England , as by law established . Lord John Russell , who was disposed to waive resistance to the second resolution last week , now declared that Government would positively support the amended resolution ; but he claimed two or three days to consider the subject , and Mr .

    Heywood willingly gave him till Thursday . The delay did no disservice ; after a brief debate the resolution was carried by 233 to 79 . The debate on the law of . limited liability in partnership , is an example of those " discussions" in the House of Commons which are becoming frequent . It does not enlarge the knowledge of the subject in the slightest degree , nor does the result of the successful passing of a resolution in favour of the measure constitute hriy practical advance . This was shown "b y the willingness on both sides to avoid a division . Why ? Evidently because the opponents of tie measure would have been beaten for a time ; and yet ,

    because the advocates of the measure would have shown that the zeal which brought them down to the House , had not-been able to secure them a strong muster . The so-called debate consisted of a series of lectures by the friends of tbe measure , with a few systematically expressed doubts from its opponents , whether the change could be safely introduced into our trading system , and a formaf representation from the President of tbe Board of Trade and the Home Secretary , that in the divided state of public opinion , Government could

    notJae expected to declare which side was right ; because we suppose Government always discovers that that side is in the right which can . contribute to sustain the Government by numbers or influence . If , indeed , the new debate should allay the apprehension which so often prevents Ministers from deciding upon any subject , if ; will not have been in vain . Like many other propositions for the benefit of a considerable number , the law of limited liability stands over until some Government can be honest and resolute enniinli

    to do wfcat the people want . The bill by . which Sir Thomas Wilson is endeavouring to set aside the will of the last Lord of the Manor , forbidding building upon the Hampstead estate , has passed the second reading in the House of Lords , and Hampstead is threatened with the bricklayers . The subject is one' important to all parties of a country where the inhabitants , especially the humbler classes , retain any common lands for purposes of recreation . However it may be fashionable amongst the vulgar part of " the silver-fork school" to sneer atJHatnpstead Heath as a Cockney resort

    , it is a piece of broken ground of singular beauty , and itif destruction would be an irretrievable loss to the metropolis . The pretence that Sir Thomas Wilson has soriie kind of equitable right to build upon it is counter to the fact , and the public have shown far too little jealousy of this invasion of coirimon lands * . ThVtltles of landbtmors must be construed strictly , since they nrp all of them in the position of invaders * Let us remember tlmt the land-owner is an enoroacher upon tlio national rights representing the old land-lord , who hold land in occupation * not ownership , On condition of

    perforfainff suit and service for it . The purchase - money roally represents the goodwill of the occupancy ( and landlords Sow perform no suit and service for their lands . What mornl right have they * thorn to claim the lands expressly belonging to the public because they have by encroiiehment established a formal hold upon land -nrhish thciy fowne . yly held , in . fealty to the Crown ? Tlua Week again the Raverond Joseph Brown , Heotpr of Christ Church , Blnokfriara , led forth Ihb pawpnlonerd to their annuiU picnic , last year the onmversiuy was marred by a doincBtio calamity

    which had visited his home , but this year exhibited continued progress . We observed that the number was greatly increased—it was somewhere about 3000 . The place selected was Sir Culling Eardley ' s g rounds , near Erith—a beautiful park-like enclosure . At the subsequent out-of-door collation given to the more influential parishioners , several facts were stated which show how completely Mr . Brown is reconciling the opinions of a divided parish ; not by controversial zeal or by asserting clerical supi'emacy ; but by inducing fellow-Christians to unite in the common work of doing good . Here we find a gentleman of the independent persuasion offering the grounds in which an established clergyman leads , his parishioners , of all sects , to pass a day in the enjoyment of nature , not without worship for their common faith .

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    Lorp Aberdeen is the hero of the week . As our readers know , he determined to anticipate Mr . Layard , and to explain his speech of the -19 th on Monday—three days before Mr . Layard ' s menaced motion . It is an evidence of the great interest taken by tlie public , and even the House of Lords in this Eastern question , that not only were there crowds gathered outside the House of Lords , on Monday evening , but that the Peers themselves mustered in great force , that " ladies" plentifully garnished the galleries set apart for them , and that the strangers ' gallery was rather too full for comfort . In addition to tliis , it is remarked that the House postponed private business , in order to get at the main question of the day .

    PARLIAMENT OF THE WEEK

    Lord Aberdeen moved for a copy of a despatch addressed by himself to the British Ambassador at St . Petersburg , anent the treaty of Adrianople . As the occasion was great , and the speech of unusual interest , we give it verbatim , from the admirable report of the Morning Chronicle . " My lords , I have taken a somewhat unusual course upon the present occasion , but perhaps your lordships will not think it altogether unjustifiable or unreasonable that I should be desirous of availing myself of the earliest opportunity to remove the misapprehensions which have taken place , and which have led in consequence to great misrepresentations of some observations which I addressed to youv lordship in the course of the last week . My lords , I could wish that those who express an opinion upon the observations in question

    would take the trouble to read the report of that speech . I have done so myself ; and although I declare that I have nothing to retract or to contradict , nevertheless , I readily admit that , from the imperfect manner in which I always address your lordships , there may probably—there may undoubtedly—be reason for some explanation , and some further development of that which I intended to address to the House , with a view to bring fully and clearly before your lordslips the views and opinions which I entertain upon the subject to which my observations referred . My lords , I feel that I can do so with e ; reat ease , and , fortunately , in a very short time—otherwise , from the indisposition of the moment , I should not attempt to address your lordships upon the present occasion . My lords , the . despatch for which I intend to move was first referred to in this House by the lato Lord

    Grey , very shortly before he became minister . It has been mentioned at other times , both hero and in the House of Commons . It has also been moved for , but it has been hitherto withheld for various reasons . It was likewiso referred to by myself not very long ago , and I have now resolved to produce it , because I understand there has proceeded from a very high authority in another place the astounding declaration that I have recently claimed the honour of framing the treaty of Adrianoplo . Now , my lords , the production of the despatch in question will show you how fur I wns instrumental in framing tlmt treaty , and what was my opinion , and tlie opinion or the Government whoso organ I was on that occasion , of that unfortunate and disastrous treaty . " My lords , it has been said—or , at all ovents , it lias been infold from what I said a few days ago—that I regarded the treaty of Adrianople with approbation , or , at least , with lnoilteronco

    . Mow , my lords , tho faot is , such was tho impreBsion produced by that treaty —such was tho alarm excited by its conclusion—such wero tho snpposed dangers whloh wo dreaded to tho exietenco of tho Turkish empire , that the wholo policy of tho British Government wns changed oh a most material point in consequence ot that treaty . I hnve already , 1 think , referred in this House to tho fact , which your lordships well know , thnt at tin beginning and during tho progress of tho Greek involution , Mr . Canning nover contemplated tho existence of Greece as « n independent kingdom , neither did tho Uuko or Wellington over contemplate tho oxistenoo of Greece aa an independent kingdom , but sololy us a vassal stuto under tho suzerainty ot tho Porto , Homowhat similar to the provlnooa of Wallftohin and Moldavia . When , howovor , the treaty of Adrmnonlo si

    was gned , it appeared to mo , nnd my noblo friend ut tho hoad of tho Government at tho timo agreed with incr , tlmt tho condition of tho Turkish empire was so porilouH in itHelf that it , would bo oxtromuly unwiso to crcato ft atnto nnd to place it under tho protection and Biissorainty of an empire whioh itself was exposed to extreme peril , und whoae existence was prolonged for a time only . Ihoroloro wo agreed to propoeo to our uIIIcb to convert that ; vassal atato into an indwnoixlont kingdom . Our allies nercod with , rend tho Porto at lust nsaontodto onr pvopotml . Honee 110 ojtiBfconco of Greece ns mi lndopondont kWdom ia duo to ttio impressions produced upon uafy tho torniH of tho treaty of Adrianople . My lords , wlmt , 1 havo now mid allows at lf ! Tl" ? Wero our » ni P ro » Bi ° n « I ««

    and sincere . I fully admit that the apprehensions which we then felt have turned out to be greatly exaggerated . However disastrous the treaty of Adrianople , and however mischievous its conditions , nevertheless we have tho experience of the last 25 years to assure us of the continued existence of the Turkish , empire ; and more than that , we have had proof of the vigour , of the energy , and of the courage and perseverance with which the troops of that empire have maintained the integrity and independence of their country . ( Cheers . ' ) It is obvious , then , that we were under the most exaggerated alarm for the consequences of the treaty of Adrianople . Now , my lords , I do not mean to say , although fortunately we were someivliat mistaken as to the amount of tho danger to be apprehended from the treaty of Adrianople , that that treaty was not , hi the highest degree , dangerous jind prejudicial to the interests of Europe . I have never said so , either here or elsewhere . My noble and learned friend ( Lord Lyndhurst ) called it , I think , an * unfortunate ' treaty . My lords , that is not a word sufficiently strong to describe the character of that treaty .

    " True , my lords , I have said that , disastrous as tho treaty of Adrianople was , Russia has made no great territorial acquisitions in consequence of that treaty . I said so as the simple truth . I was induced to say so , perhaps , afc tiro moment , in consequence of a declaration , most exaggerated and most unfounded , that my noble and learned friend had made , that the Russian empire had doubled its territory in Europe in the course of the last fifty years . That I hold to be completely incorrect , and , with the recollection of the treaty of Adrianople before me , I certainly did refer to it in proof that no such extension of territory had takon place as that asserted by my noble and learned friend . But , my lords , although I knew perfectly well , and indeed I think there can be no doubt of the fact , that no considerable extension of territory has taken place in

    consequence of that treaty , nevertheless I was not at all tho less aware of the importance of the acquisitions that have actually been made since 1829 . I know perfectly well the importance of the acquisitions which Russia has made with respect to the navigation of the Danube , and I am equaKy sensible of the importance of the posts which she has acquired in Asia . Although small in extent ; those acquisitions , from their character , are of the highest political importance . My lords , as the despatch for which I intend to move is longj , and will be immediately upon the table of tho House , I will not fatigue your lordships by reading it in extetiso , but I must trouble you with a single extract , to show that , although I dwelt strongly the other evening upon the limited extent of the territorial acquisitions made by Russia I did not in the slightest degree mean by that to invaliuatc

    the political importance of the acquisitions actually made by Russia . The passage is expressed in these terms : — ' It may not be easy to accuse , of want of generosity the conqueror who checks the unresisted progress of success , and who spares the defenceless capital of his enemy . Nevertheless , the treaty in question—certainly not in conformity with the expectations held out by preceding declarations and assurances—appears vitally to affect the interests , the strength , the dignity , the present safety , and future independence of the Ottoman empire . The modes of domination may be various , although all equally irresistible . The independence of a state may be overthrown , and its subjection effectually secured , without the presence of a hostile force or the permanent possession of its soil . Under the present treaty the territorial acquisitions of Russia are small , ib must be admitted , in extent , although most important in their character . They are commanding

    positions , far more valuable than the possession of barren provinces and depopulated towns , and better calculated to rivet the fetters by which the Sultan is bound . ( 4 Peer : ' What is the date ? ' ) The despatch is dated the 31 st day of December , 1829 . My lords , the extract I have read shows that the small extent of the acquisitions made by Russia did not blind me to tho importance of their character ; andy therefore , when the other ni ght I dwelt upon the absence of nny very great territorial acquisitions , of course it was with a view to-contradict the assertion of my noblo nnd learned friend , and to state what may be termed a geographical truth , but without the slightest reference to the undoubted political importance of those acquisitions which have actually been made . My lords , tho conclusion of the treaty of

    Adrianople was the commencement of a change of policy on tho part of Russia . It ia . highly probable that if that trenty had been made by tho Empress Cntherine , great acquisitions of territory would have taken place . " But , « h I have said , at that timo Russia commenced n change of policy which has boon ' carried on to tho present day with over-increasing vigour , and which accounts , to a certain extont . for tho absence of those territorial acquisitions which in other circumatanccs would no doubt havo boon made . That change of polioy consists in this—Russia , instead of pursuing tho polioy which was followed in tho preceding century , has , slnco tho conclusion of tho treaty of Adrianoplo , looked to tho extension of her politicnl influence rather than to tho acquisition of territory . A very prudent mid politic change it has been . Wo havo all heard that

    Siitan ' i ) grown viaer than of yoro ;' and , perhaps , the lino is not inapplicable to tho Emporor of Itaasin , in having determined to pursue the same objects by clifloront moans , and means calculated not so greatly to nlnrm . tho European rowers . I believe this is tho secret of nil thnt hnu tnlion p hico in r « cont years . Take , for example , tlio treaty of Unkiar Skolessi , concluded wlwn a Russian nnny was in nousosHion of Constantinople . There can bo no doubt that if Lho former policy of tho EmprcHS Catherine bad boon followed upon tlmt occasion groat territorial ocquiaSUona would liavo been mado , and they could not havo been resisted in tho relative positions of tho two powora ut tho time ; but in conooquonco , aB 1 boliovo , of tho change of policy commenced by tho treaty of Adrianoplo , tlio demands ol UuHrin at , tlio conclusion of tho treaty of Unklur Skcleaai , though they woro unquestionably of tho highest importance both to RuwhIu and tho Porto , did not assume the character ot territorial i \ ggruiidiHoinont . So with tho mission of Prliico Mcnschikoff himself . Russia waa In « position in whioh eho might have mudo demands of tho moat pressing nature upon Aurtcoy . fcho hud Homo reason for Adopting that counsel

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    602 T H E L E A D E R . [ Saturday ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 1, 1854, page 602, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2045/page/2/