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Leader (1850-1860), 19th August 1854, Edition 1 of 2, Page 770, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      these new elections , is as to whether the new Bribery Bill has been a failure or a success . Outwardly there Is a result . The elections are ' dry " and they are " slow "—there is no music , there are no banners , and there is less row . But it remains to be proved whether the wiorC quiet and more serious appliances of corruption have not in each case been brought into play . Mr . Coppock , the greatest of all authorities on British political villainy—a man who weeps over the sins of his country while making a comfortable iortutte out of the sinners—has emphatically declared , through tlie Times , that the Bribery Bill need not ,

      necessarily , in any degree , repress the old system . Mr . Coppock ' s letter , in fact , is as it were an . advertisement to all his clients , that he continues to undertake to return Jiis men . Mr . Coppock is probably right , and if Mr . Coppock has been the Liberal agent in any of the elections , we may safely infer that the purity has not been painful , and that if there has been any over-anxious avoidance of corruption upon the Tories' side it has been merely from bewilderment vvithrespect to the actual

      meaning and bearing of the new measure . In . regard to all these elections , however , there is this improvement : that the public tone about "bribery is greatly raised , and that on the hustings the homage which vice . pays , to virtue has been Temarkably exuberant . We riuist have taken a great step in political purification when we observe a man like Mr . Coppock finding himself sufficiently backed by public opinion to allow him to venture on so striking a sneer at the pi'etensions of the House of Commons as that with which he closes

      his remarkable letter—a sxieer which in . plies quite as much as " . The Stranger" has ever suggested . Mr . Coppock only reflects a now general tendency - —which for several years we have done our utmost to intensify—to face the facts of our civilisation . * We take from the same number of the Times which contained " J . C . ' s" letter , a sentence which suggests that a nation frequently glorying in reflections upon , the blessings of its reformed religion has not yet quite perfected its arrangements . " If the clergy , " says the Times , " are worth anything , why don't they try their hand with this scandal to their religion and their country ? ( meaning the corruption of their picked electoral body ) . Should they succeed , the people -will begin , to put a little more faith in them and their mission !"

      Great war events were due this week ; but tlie war , like everything else , is now in suspense . There is no news whatever of what Omer Paslm 5 s _ doing , or of what Admiral Dtindas is doing , or -what Lord Raglan is doing ; from the whole East we only get . a rumour that the Russians have gained a great victory over the Turlcs in Asia , and that a great French force , which was to have sailed on Napoleon's clay is about to advance into " the territory ( possibly tho Crimea ) of the enemy . " From the Baltic we only have news that a small force baa been landed in the Aland Islands , and that Bomarsund

      3 s to fall—this , after all , constituting but a slight operation , though a very necessary one in the course of a naval blockade , with which to close a season so elaborately arranged and so conspicuously misused . But "we have , at least , some prospective satisfaction . The circular of M . Prouyn de Lhuys ( which wo take for granted expresses the feelings of the English Government ) ut last announces to England ( it ia thus we got news of the movements of our

      own Government ) what England ia at war for , The French Minister for Foreign Affairs stipulates in advance with great clearness what arc the indispensable terms of a pence with Russia , These do not include all that English Liberals have hoped for ; they may probably bo greatly extended and enlarged by ovonta more influential than diplomacy ,- but , assuming thai , the French Gr » - vornmont is leading ours , they suffice to ease tlie English mind during the daily increasing pressure of the wnr .

      Franco has this week boon ono vast fete , tliia year ' s Napoleon ' s day being celobrated under auspices which indicate the firm establishment of the empire . The Emporor himself , as wo hoc in his artswor to the Bishop of Bayoimo ., has assumed tho language of the representative of an enduring dynasty : and tho manner in which ho is pusmng his " recess , " ' —in nil tho careless security oi serene and fearless royalty , and in those picturesque und domestic circumstances from which we take a new and pleusivnt view of his character—ia perhaps not aUogethonunHtudied for « libel ; on Europe . S \ n \ m ttloo Bubmita even in revolution to the exigencies

      of the period : taking a , political siesta . All the circumstances of that country suggest a speedy recurrence to disturbance . At this moment we consider JSspartero to have utterly failed , and we believe Espartero will drag down with him not only Isabella but O'Doimelk In Germany there is visible no political action whatevei" . From Italy we hear no more of the insurrectionary movements , which a fortnight ago seemed to signify so much . Garribaldi has repudiated any complicity in these premature " ebullitions , " we are in hopes that events will prove that the name of Mazzini has been used with as little authority .

      From America comes information assuring us of the rapid accumulation of difficulties towards the Cuba crisis . The English people are helplessly withheld by the hands of secret diplomacy from taking their part in insisting that the crisis be left to the uninterrupted arrangement of Spain and the States alone ; hut knowledge of the very positive and clear views of the English public on this matter will , let us trust , deter our Government from , the madness of attempting in any manner to save Spain from losing a territory to which she

      has only the right of a proprietor whose lands are to be traversed by a railway-r-the right of sale at a valuation . There has been a ready ratification of Lord Elgin ' s reciprocity treaty - ^ -a great and happy act which should-constitute a precedent for all future difficulties' between , the two Governments—and the successful Govexnor-General of Canada is about to return home triumphant . The story in Montreal is , that he is to be the Lord -Lieu tenant of Ireland . May he be as successful there as in Canada .

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      NOTES ON THE WAR . Esglasd lias obtained an important document in the letter of M . Dronyn de . Lhuys to the French Minister at Vienna : this , prospeetively , informs us what the war is for . M . Prouyr \ de Lhuys specifies the indispensable conditions of peace : — : " It may be said , I think , that the common interest of Europe demands this . " 1 . That the protectorate exercised up to that moment by the Imperial Court of Russia over the principalities of Wallacliia , Moldavia , and Servia cease for the future , and that the privileges granted by the Sultans to those provinces , as dependent on their empire , by virtue of an agreement concluded with the Sublime Porto , be placed under the collective guardianship of the Powers . " 2 . That the navigation of tho Danube , to its mouths , be freed from all restraint , and subjected to the application of the principles established by the acts of the Congress of Vienna .

      " 3 . That the treaty of July 13 , 1844 , be revised in concert with the high contracting powers , with a view to establishing an European equilibrium , and of limiting the power of Russia in the Black Sea . " 4 . That no Power claim a right to exercise an official protectorate over tho subjects of the Sublime Porto to whatever sect they may belong , but that'Franco , Austria , Great Britain , Prussia , ami Jiua » ia , shall lend their mutual aid to obtain in tho initiative from tho Ottoman Government a respect for and observance of tho religious privileges of tho different Christian communities ; and to turn to advantage in tho reciprocal interests of their co-religionists , tho generous intentions manifested by his Majesty the Sultun , without there resulting any attempt to ooatrol tho dignity and independence of the crown . "

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      Tho present fact of the war is , tlmt thoro has been an attack on Boinnrsund , and a landing of troops in its neighbourhood . " Tho landing of tlio expeditionary corps was effected on the morning of tho 8 th , at ! i . o ' clock , without roslutsincu , at two pointH of the Isle of Lumpur , situated to tho north of tho Archipelago of Aland . A battery of five guns was quickly destroyed by the French stomn corvette 1 'lMgo'ton and H . M . S . Amphion . Tho guns , which had boon covoied

      with tlio debris of the carriages , and with tho earth torn up by tho bulls , were afterwards spiked by Uio men of the two fillips . The troops marched ou tho heights which crown tlio fortifications . Admiral I'arsovid was about to establish communications with tho General-in-Chiuf in order to bo ablo to for ward him tho materiel necessary for currying on operations . 'J'lirco thousand French infantry and Eiiglioli marinoH luul landed at tlio north of tho island . Two or three ships were attacking tlio forts which cover Homartsuud with guns of very largo calibre "

      " It Iwfi beou announced from tho pulpits of all tho churches in the Isles of Aland tlmt tlio Uuwtian Nwny is at an end , Tlio HuNsian authorities nro flying from thn Alum ! Isles ; tho peasants tlircatiin them and pTaco thorn hi fear . Homo of thorn aro at tliiu place . No ciimioumliiig was heard last ni ^ ht . " " Tlio position of tlio inlands is valuable to ii foroo ongayod , hh the combined llcuts nro , in Lhu prosouuliou of a sytttoinof mivid bloclcitdo ; find , further , it iiU ' ortltf a point U ' appui ) in the event of more active opcratioriH , for the troopN who now farm ho ccwaldornbloiui clement in Uio fUltio expedition . "

      Untitled Article

      From Iho Kint tlio news i « U'bh decisive , but honc-Ail . No news yet what has become- of the great

      force which left Varna ; but the Crimea is looked to , and the address of Marshal St . Arnaud promises a gre a * undertaking . This is Marshal St . Arnaud ' s address to the allied armies : — " Soldiers of 4 he allied armies ! We shall soon advance into the territory of our enemy . I rely on your obedience , on your bravery , and steadiness in the fi ^ bt . The ta . sk we have to complete is no light one . Tlie enemy we have to encounter is strong and numerous . The 40 years of pe ; ico passed by us in ftromoting commerce , industry , and the arts , liave been spent by him in the studj of the art of war and in military preparations . From your bravery and energy France and England awiiita victory . The eyes of all Europe are on you . Show yourselves the worthy sons of your brave fathers . We march into the land of the enemy , resolved on victory . As conquerors liuist we see our fatherland , or never more return . "

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      A contemporary is thus informed , under date of Yienna , Wednesday : — " Yesterday evening Prince Gortschakpff received'despatches ¦ from' St . Petersburg , and there is reason to believe that he this morning informed Count Buol that , as long as the Turlcs -were in NVallachia , the Russian troops would ,, retain certain strategic points in the Principalities . "

      Untitled Article

      There has been a slight" affair" at Sebastopol . A letter in the Times describes it in a naval way : — Early on the 2 Gth we arrived off Sebastopol . As we hail neyer appeared in so small a line of battle—18—many of tlie ardent indulged in visions of glory , and thought that at length the Italian would coine out of bis den and fight it out ; but our i ' oux" screws were quite enough to shut him up there . The Fury , Terrible , and a > French steamer were purposely sent in somewhat ahead , so as to arrive at early dawn . The moment they showed themselves there were commotion and preparation in the harbour ; steamers sent up tall columns of smoke , to help out the large ships , which unfurled sails , &c . But before they had sallied , out to chase away these impertinent foes with an overwhelming force , to be recorded in a magnificent despatch as a grand victory , the

      signalman on the lulls above descried the fleet coming in ; so the steamirs moved up into the dockyard creek and put their fires out , the ships furled tlicir sails , and we were tranquilly allowed to make a narrow examination of them and their prison from sunrise to sunset of a beautiful clear summer s day . Before we came up the Fury , Terrible , and Frenchman had ventured in rather near to tho north &ido of tho harbour , and several shots were fired at them . The distance might have been about a mile and a half , and the Russian fire was so good that the rigging of the Terrible was cut immediately , and the little Fury was hullcU just below tho waiter , tlio ill-conditioned shot destroying two jars of tho midshipmen ' s butter in their berth . Luckily nobody was touched . The lire was returned , and the stoamers moved on . The works on the northern shoro have been much

      strengthened since rny lust look at tho place , and tho strength of the sea butteries is undeniable . Inside the Kuasiuns have , of course , a complete sense of security at present . No sea force could damage them without exposing itself to destruction . With telescopes wo could see the men bathing from tho t \ vo or three liners behind tho booms at tho harbour ' s mouth . Tho sailors wero in ecstney at tho beauty qC Bomo of these whipa ^—after 1 'inglmlt modolH , but longer nnd himdsoinor , and preserving < iuuint old fashions of ri s ing , &c , in uso with us thirty yem'd ago . In the owning we Ktoul out to sea , and at night tho Fury was . sent back to rou . so them up hi the middle of tho night by ( iring a gun . ( Japtain Tathnm cleHciibca tho olToct as very beautiful . In im instant all tlio huge triple stouo butteries wero lighted up , and all hands under arms .

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      ELECTIONS . Tun elections for tlio " corrupt boroughs" aro great incidents this week . Tlio re-election of Sir TJ . Hull for Marylobone , which does not come under that category , churns precedence in narration . It took pluco on We < lix * adny , and was easily managed . " Twelves o ' clock wan Iho hour appointed for thologul proceedings connected with tho nomination , and whortly bttbio that Umo 1-ord Dudley Stuart ., aocoiupunio ; l by Lady Hull of Lliinovor , tho Unju of ( Joorg , attired in his upk-ndld lull , ( hvBH EaHtom costumo , and accompanied by nttoiulanlH ,

      toguthor with u lurgi ) number of other Indies and g entleiuni arrived , anil took up tliuir Hliitions on llio balcony at- the : irmiiNiou of 3 Mrn . fciturgo . s , vliouu family nro connoctcil will tlio Iiouho of During and ( Jo . , at tho north-cabtorii cu-noi of l ' ortland-plm- 'u and 1 ' urk-ercHcont . Tho ladicn auti ' uftired in wlifui with splendid pink lUibnna , tho column ot t liu lion , liiuonet , whilst nil Jno gentlemen word on Ihi'li breasts very nimtly miido urtlilciul roscH of llio mmiiiii ln » ' '> -About a quarter buforu twelve o ' clock llio cliocrs uf tli < : people announced tho arrival of Hli * Benjamin Hull . Tin

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      The Russians are reported to have gained a great battle over the Turks in Asia . " Advices , dated St . Petersburg , 14 th inst ., announce that the Russians , under Gen . Wrangel , were victorious at Bayazid or . the 1 st of August . The liussian version says that 80 . 00 Turks were slaiiij four guns , seventeen colours , and two camps captured . The Russians , says the same story , subsequently occupied Bayazid . The expected , battle thus appears to have been fought , but beyond this the Russian despatch is harUly to be relied on . We were lately told , on the same nuthoritv , that KarsAvas invested , and then tbut it had fallen . "

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      Schamyl is said to offer the Porte 50 , 000 men , if it will recognise the independence of the Caucasus .

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      770 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 19, 1854, page 770, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2052/page/2/