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    J 240 T H E L , E AD E R . [ No . 301 , Saturday , *^™ " '' - - - ' - ———^^^^^^ M ^^ W ^^ M ^^^ M ^ Wi ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ¦ ^ . ___ . _ __¦

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    PUBLIC MEETING . THE LORD ADVOCATE OP LEIIII ON POLITICS AND THE "WAR . A soiree took place in the Assembly Rooms , Leith , in the course of last week , when the Lord Advocate ( after prayer had been offered by the Rev . Dr . Stevenson ) delivered a very long and rather discursive oration on various matters of public interest . His more direct theme -was , " the responsibility of the British Parliament ; " and , ret . ferring to the composition and character of our Legislative Assembly , he observed : — " I have now been four years in Parliament , and I can assure you that it is a very remarkable and peculiar assemblage . It has many singular and curious characteristics which , I believe , no body of . men that ever met have possessed in an equal degree . There is that one singular placid kind of atmosphere which pervades the whole place , before which meanness and hypocrisy cannot stand . There i 3 a sense , there ia an instinct , of honour in that place which withers at once anything like an attempt at double-dealing or falsehood . If there is' a touchstone , one cannot say where it is , but as sure as the false metal rings , as surely ia the response heard at once in that House . ( Hear , Jiear . ) It is a place where pretension , hollowness , and the attempt to seem what you are not , or the pretension not . to seem what you are , is more rapidly detected than in any other place . It is a place where comparatively ability is second to honesty ; and where a man who is honest and earnest in hi 3 purpose , and who has taken the trouble to make himself master of the subject with which he deals , and who has a right to deal with the subject , is always certain of a hearing when your more flashy , more able , possibly more clever man , who intrudes himse ^ into matters with which he is either superficially acquainted , or has nothing to do , let him speak with a , tongtie of untold eloquence , will not command an audience for a quarter of an hour . ( Cheers . ) And therein lies ; i great deal of the wonderful influence of that assembly , or rather it is the true reflex—tho true reflection and reverberation of the principles of free government in the country . It shows how truly thero percolates through the constituencies a true and genuine ore of free constitutional government , and an long as that temperament belongs to that House , wo may fluctuate in men of talent—we may have an ago of Pitt and Fox for one generation—we may have a comparative lull of ability for another—but as long as thero ia that true , honest , hearty interest in the representation of the people , ho long , you may depend upon it , free institutions and free government will llourinli in thin land . " The Lord Advocate animadverted on the impropriety of a member of Parliament lying under continual fear of small sections of his constituency ; but admitted that a regard should be had for the wishes of the total constituency , and that a fear ot public opinion was at least a fault on tho right sidi ' , being much better than a total disregard oi it . With respect to the wnr , he dwelt on its justice and nccessit 3 ^ , adding , however , that he Jmd no illwill to the Russian people , whom he believed " susceptible of liberty . lie then diverged into an attack on the press / morc especially on the Jtmes . Vliliile acknowledging tlmt the freedom of the press is the life-blood of the nation , and while disavowing nil desire to circumscribe tlmt freedom , lie charged the press with groat fluctuations of opinion with regard to tho management of the war , iuhi with libelling many great and good men . _

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    THE KING OF SARDINIA AND THE SCOTCH PROTESTANTS . An act of gross impropriety on the part of about three or four hundred persons in Edinburgh , assuming to represent the Protestant interest , has drawn forth a calm but severe rebuke from the King of Sardinia , with respect to whom the impropriety was committed . A thinly-attended meeting at Edinburgh of some rabidly fanatical " Anti Papists "—a meeting over which the Lord Provost had the ill taste to preside—adopted , during the recent visit of Victor-Emmanuel , an address to that monarch , congratulating him upon his efforts in favour of civil and religious liberty . So far , so good ; but the address went on by showering the strongest expressions' of contempt and indignation against the present Pope and Papacy in general—expressions which may be perfectly justifiable in themselves , but which were singularly indecent when transmitted to a Roman Catholic monarch . To this document , the King has transmitted , through the Marquis d'Azeglio , the following reply : — " I cannot conceal from you thaifit is with extreme regret that his Majesty has been informed of the expressions of contempt ( expressions de mejpris ) by which your address stigmatises the Court of Rome . The King , as well as his predecessors , has considered it a duty to maintain the civil power in his hands intact . He may have deplored profoundly the line of conduct which the Holy See has thought it its duty to adopt towards him of late years . But , descended as he is from a long line of Catholic princes , and sovereign of subjects almost entirely Roman Catholics , he cannot admit of words of reprobation thus severe , and , above all , injurious toward the head of that Church on earth . He cannot share . in these contemptuous thoughts , which not only could not enter into his heart , but , above all , could never find place in a reply such as I have the honour to address to you . " Your addres 3 further expresses the hope that hia Majesty may extend to his subjects of all creeds the same privileges which have been conceded to the Vaudois . I am happy in being able to inform you that your wishes are already accomplished . King Charles Albert , in emancipating the Vaudois , desired to extend this measure not only to the Protestants of all denominations , but even to the Israelites , who in his states enjoy in common the same rights , civil and religious . " In thus indicating the well-known sentiments of the King , I have no doubt that I have secured for him an additional title to your e 3 teem ; for , as a Roman Catholic sovereign , he has proved that , in his eyes , religion is the symbol of tolerance , of union , and of liberty , and that one of the principles which form the basis of his government is liberty of conscience . " Accept , gentlemen , tho assurance of my high consideration , " Marquis V . E . D'Azeqlio . " We . are happy to add that the majority of the citizens of Edinburgh protested at the time against the ill-felt address which has called forth this reply . The unchecked repetitions of such sectarian antics could have no other effect than to bring the good cause of genuine Protestantism into opprobrium and contempt .

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    THE TUNNEL QUESTION AND THE TURNIP TEST . Mr . F . O . Warp ' s turnip still swims gallantly on the troujbled waters of controversy ; and hia engineering antagonists seem considerably diumayed at a test by which the public at largo can try the value of their algebraic arcana . Mr . Burnell , an hydraulic engineer , has been put forward to pelt the turnip ; which he does , to do him justice , with considerable adroitness . Mr . Word points out , however , in a reply aa brilliant in composition as it is cogent in reasoning ( an analysis of whioh we shall give next week ) , an admission which seems fatal to Mr . Burncll ' a case—viz ., that tho turnip will swim down tho Fleet at tho rate of ton milos an hour assigned by Mr . Ward . If bo , what becomes of tho formula , whioh assigned us the true spood of tho Fleet Iosh than two miles an hour' ( Unless Mr . Burnell can explain thin discrepancy , ho virtually admits that Stephenaon ' s colossal tunnels have boon deaignod on nn undor-estimato of discharging power ; and that the tijnnelw of Mr . Ward and his friend , " plain John Roe , " will answer all tho purpoeo at loss than half the cost . We shall look out with interest for tho reply of " MeHHrs . Stophenuon , Cubitt , Heywood , and Bazalgotto ; " who are at present , like Shadraoh , Mesoheoh , and Abodnego , in tho burning flery furnace—with lesa ohanoe , we fear , of escaping unscathed from the ordoal . Tho rejection by the Metropolitan Board of Works

    ^ of Mr . Jebb ' s candidature for the chairmanship , and their election of Mr . Thwaites in his stead , is a significant fact . For Mr . Jebb , it is well known , backed the eminent engineers , " while Mr . Thwaites , siding with no parties whatever , supported Mr . Ward in demanding fair play-for all . Mr . Ward concludes his letter with a song of triumph on " Richard Jebb ' s fall , " and " John Thwaites' accession to power . " Mr . Ward ' s supporters will no doubt heartily chorus thi 3 poean ; of which his enemies will possibly question the taste . No one , however , will deny that Mr . Ward has fought for his principles gallantly , and settled , during his short term of office , a series of important questions ; such as tubular drainage , Combined works , &c . The tunnel campaign , in which he is now engaged , opened with a numerical defeat in the Court of Sewers ; a defeat which he has retrieved by transporting the ' battle ground to the columns of the press , and there beating his adversaries at every point . The late chairman ' s exclusion from office in the new metropolitan assembly is a practical ratification of Mr . Ward ' s success ; and brings his brief Oommissionersliip to a brilliant conclusion .

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    - ' among themselves about indifferent subjects fashions , of the character of their absent friends . But not the slightest allusion to the war is heard , and the young men though burning with the desire to speak or get information , dare not open their lips for praise or blame . In spite of the powers of dissimulation attributed to these people , it is easy to see that they are not at their ease . " Add to this , that the Finlanders are repining at the total stoppage of their trade , at the war levies made among them , and at the heaviness of the war imposts , and that the Mussulman populations of the Tamida and Astrachan have shown symptoms of malcontent , and it will be seen that the position of Russia is fraught with peril to herself . Another American view of the position of Russia as regards the war appeal's in the Neio York Meraldj which publish the opinions and statements of Colonel Tal . P . Shaflner , an American who has been travelling over a large part of Russia ( where we are told he was received with the utmost enthusiasm ) , and who now undertakes to enlighten the world an to the results of the war . Hi 3 views are , of course , like most of Americans , in favour of the Czar ; and everything , therefore , is placed in the most rose-coloured light . We append a few extracts : — "It has been reported that the nobility are becoming tired of the war on account of the levies which are made upon them for men ; and that they are beginning to display their opposition to the Government already , though in what way we have not been informed . So far , however , from this being the case , they are among its most strenuous and ready supporters , and have signified their willingness again and again to sacrifice all their wealth before -they will consent to yield an inch . There is only one sentiment among them , and that is a determination to carry on the war so long as there is a rouble in the treasury , or a man to . shoulder a musket . The means of transportation , contrary to the statement of the allies , have not been cut off , nor have they suffered any interruption from the capture of Kertch and the destruction of the ' immense * quantities of grain in the Sea of Azof . The grain , it now appears , instead of belonging to Russia , was the property of Greek merchants , who had offered it for sale to the Russian Government at such an exorbitant price that they refused to puschase it While travelling through the wheat-producing districts , Colonel Shaffner saw crops whioh , he said , were as extensive as any that had been reaped for many years before ; and so slight has been the draught on tho agricultural population by the raising of new levietf , that it will not in the least diminish the next year ' s produce : The bombardment of Sweaborg , of which so much has been said by the English press , cost the allies 25 , 000 , 000 dollars , while the loss to the Russians did not exceed 150 , 000 dollars . Jn fact , from what Colonel Shaffner tells us , we think it has been rather more profitable than otherwise , so for as the Russians are concerned , With the exception of tho small loan which has been mado since the commencement of the war , the whole expenses have been defrayed from the revenues of the country . There is no lack of means ; and , as a proof of this , it is only necessary to state that the public works which were commenced last year are carried on with unabated vigour , and on tho same extensive scale on which they were begun . The effects of the war are scarcely perceptible , and so little dread is entertained of the Allies , that tho Government ia making preparations for a ten years' war . The means of the Imperial family alone would bo sufficient to carry it on at its present rate for several years , without calling upon the nobles to make the sacrifice of what they have half promised We wero also informed that tho reports which have been circulated as to a feeling of jealousy and disliko existing betvveon tho members . of the Imperial family are entirely without foundation , and that they are bound to eaoh . other by tho closest ties of affeotion . " We are also told that " tho yield of tho silver , gold , and platina miues this yenr has oxceeded that of any former year by 3 , 000 , 000 dollars . In addition to this , the Government have forbid tho exportation of tho preoioun metals ; the Mint is kept in constant operation night nnd day , and the paper rouble , passes as current , now aB ever . " Tho plains are bettor tilled than over ; and manufactures , espeoially of iron , are in a inont flourishing oonditiou . Tho Government is expending millions on stately eocloaiautioal edifices . tb . o like of whioh , for splendour of gold and jewels , wero never yet behold ; nnd tho war cmtlay , being all uponfc within tho einpiro , in nob lost to tho state . An evacuation of South Sobaatopol had beon long contemplated by the Russians ; thoy prepared three bridges , not one , oh generally statod ; nnd thoy passed to and fro over and over again , carrying away all their wpvmded . An American lady has contributed Home Sobaatopol goftaip , in whioh tho only bit- worth repeating is tho assertion that " there is a great deal of ill-feeling between the soldiera of the English and French army , and , though the English permit tho French to pass

    through their pax « t of Sebastopol , they will not return the compliment . "

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    PuoirESSon Owhn , F . K . 8 . — Thin « li « tiuguwl » o «> naturalist haa just received tho dooomtion 01 i . i » French Legion of Honour , in whioh order ho horn * the rank of Chevalier .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 29, 1855, page 1240, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2121/page/4/