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St . Petersburg , attests their sense of the danger that Austria -would incur by openly siding against France and England . The subject which next to that of Russia engages public attention was that of Prince Albert ; and on this also Ministers were thoroughly explicit . Lord John Russell , in particular , relating on the authorityof the Prince i how the whole matter stands . We nave treated the subject in a separate paper . Here till , may observe ^ that
Prince Albert ' s position , a ^ gpuitable coadjutor of a female Sovereign , origin | J | y suggested bj # Jkord Melbourne , andj ^ nfi > medib ^^ 3 ir KoberA Ffcel " , has been recogniseJjfTby eve ^ successive' ^ Bnister . That the subject requires explanation , is admitted by the fact that the explanations are given . That the scandals have been suffered to anticipate the truth , proves the inconvenience and the disastrous moral effect of that secret system which haunts our official departments and our diplomacy . Both the Prince and Ministers have suffered in . the
public esteem , because a miserable etiquette prevented them from stating to the public-how they really stood until calumny extorted the confession . 5 ! lie position of Mi ^ te ^ in regard to reform , is not ? ao joWinct or strong . Several measures are to be produced ^ : a , bundle of them to prevent br 3 > ery . T ^ foi rnx oa | hs ^^ ltraii 8 £ er constituencies , and amend proceedings at . But there is ; , no ¦ j ^ s ^ t ^ a ^ te ^ , . ^ l ^^ jtojibing in the nature * ytto £ ^ , 4 ^ national suffrage is to he ^ adtotted . T ! he Constitution is once more
the dislionesty—of their position . Far and wide , hundreds are ready to ngree with Dr . Thirlwall that if Convocation be . not made a reality , it had better beiydporthwith abolished . In . fact the movement is _ flS 0 min ^ to a crisis ; and hence the unusual importance of the proceedings of Wednesday . Commi $ ees were appointed ; committees ha ' Te been appointed before | but now a committee has been * appointed , which , if it does not work , will coyer its 'movers wif ^ ridicule—a committee to f ^ ame a Jteform BijtlTfbr the Convocati on ; itsfelf . All men feel that its prosent constitution is a . bsuud an ^ -impracticable . Can it be made so ? That ' - ^ fhe question , 'the Bishop of London's committee will have to answer . ^ Strangely enough , the motion met with obstruction in the Lower House . Mr . Archdeacon Denison , the clerical Cleon of that assembly , opposed it;—and why ? Because he thought he saw in it a coup cFeglise , whereby laymen would be introduced . Therefore he marched through Coventry with the Low Churchmen , who eagerly joined aim and egged him on with flatteries . But he and they were defeated , and the Lower House appointed seven men to meet the committee of the Upper House , and devise a constitution .
The conference assembled by the Society of Arts to discuss strikes and lock-outs proved successful as an attempt to collect a -very respectable assemblage ; but it failed through the impossibility of bringing a discussion upon ten several propositions to a conclusion in one day . It shows that tbe society may meet with a response , though not in . the manner attempted . A few words or foreign news still challenge
notice . Spam , recentlysubject to a paltry coup d'etat ^ in which general officers , suspected of entertaining ; opinions , not complimentary to the Government , were exiled , is now promised a revolution * . . T ! he overt signs are the circulation of placardi , denouncing the prostitution and pillage in 'Court and Government , ** ' and prognosticating an union of Spain , with , Portugal , under the present £ ing of Portugal , "Pedro V . " The idea is to give the throne of Portugal to Pedro ' s second "brother Luis , and to unite the two kingdoms federally in one " empire . "
From America we liave somewhat disagreeable intelligence . After an irritating debate in the Senate , Mr . Clayton gave notice of a motion ' that , unless Lord Clarendon should " reconsider " his late despatches on the subject of Central America , naval and military means should be placed at the disposal of the President to enfbre the evacuation of the' Bay of Islands , under penalty of war . It is not to be supposed tfcat ^ the Senate will pass this motion . The difference has not yet attained such a stage . Supposing
America could engage England in so disastrous a dispute , it is not likely that American citizens would desire to do so . . There are other interests besides those of America in question . If England ' s hands were full now , what would become of liberal interests on the Continent ? American politicians will see the wickedness as well as the folly of raising a great quarrel about a small matter , in which the English people certainly would not sustain its Government , if that Government should refuse reasonable propositions .
to Ke unaettfed without t > eing settled , and we « grett with Lord Grey % as well as the Opposition , mat ^ e-present is not & time for entertaining ; J ^^ T nag ^ E&Bfprm Jims , . jPTor such a time , but " ^ e $ SP ^ mv ' 'Bffl ' ' ^ iitdJ ^^ £ <» c ^ a Reform BiH ^ feclMiig 1 &a £ : the ^ e ^^ ansd the -ejitire ratio ^^ re idenifcal . ¦ ' ^^ l *^ 4 ^ feS ^^^ i ^^ M J ? ech are much ^ BSS fiSS ^ JFS * $ *™ spmft doubt Mmm& : Pe < wmm : ^ : m coast ^ hipping
tracte ; l > ut that , unquestionably , the great difficulty under -which commerce at present labours is . | h aait , : pf sufficieiit . freight . The transfer of Jttri £ d& ^ i * £ n matri y aQnial ; and testamentary cases : j ||> mJ € Iie ecclesiastical to the civil courts , is & , measure much needed ; The -whole urgency of tite case / a * well as the probabfo nature of the lefcgm ia regardsto-- will s ^ is indicated in a new ^ mphliMfc jby ¦ v . ftf&r ; Dxywiping B : ruc % whose cxer-Jiop » h ± ve > greatlcontributedto expedite the
y _ J p ||| . , ; .. € » nojwire . of . the \ Will RegistriLtiott , ytjCfS ^ i ^ "' . . . " ? i Hie , re ^ drgamsfttaott of ^ the € rvi ! Service , bv ~<§ Mpo »* il f « open all primary admission , to public ^ oompetituK ^ irith an examination , ^ based upon a trepor ^ iiomrspecial commissioners , whom the Treasure ^< d * en £ rusted . 5 rith inquiry into the subject —Sir CoWrles Trevelyan and Kr Stafford Northcdtel Besides those measures announced in the
Sfoeech * Mr ; 6 Iad 8 ton&has introduced another to ptfteer tlift charge ? off collecting the revenue under ike control of Parliament , Mislead of letting- it remain to be deducted by the department or executive ; and Lord Palmerston has again promised to introduce a Bill for reconstituting the Sewer ( Commission , infusing- the principle of local administration . 1 h » Universities of Oxford and Cambridge have fairly provoked the interference of Government , and , before many weeks are passed , the Ministerial scheme for Reform at Oxford will be
laid" ( before Parliament . By superior obstinacy Oxford has gained this precedence . It m 3 L be propped to . open that university to persons who have hitherto been excluded , to amend its constitution , reform its studies , and bring it within an easy distance of the wants and tendencies of the nineteenth century . The restriction on fellowships will doubtless be removed , but it is not apprehended that the abolition of tests will be
included in the Government plan . For our own part , until that horribly subversive condition be complied with , we can never regard the Universities as national institutions . We do not expect any thorough measure of reform . We know that an effete compromise of eccleeiasticism must still remain a while a distinguishing characteristic ° J ° aristocratic educational cloisters ; but we gladly hail a movement which , to say the least , IB better than stagnation .
Next to the opening of Parliament , perhaps the most important fact of the week is the meeting of Coavocation , truly for despatch of Wr . ess The aptat . on ami stirnng-up of this question has caused "both Bishops and clergy deeply to feel the anomalj—may we say with the Bishop of Oxford
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. THE PARLIAMENT OF THE WEEK . The Parliament of England , so anxiously looked for by the country , was opened on Tuesday , by the Queen in person . The weather -was fine ; the state of our foreign relations , and the calumnious reports respecting Prince Albert , attracted aa unusual crowd , which congregated on the whole line of the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster .
There must have been more than ahundred thousand people . The windows and balconies were likewise full , and as the Queen passed along with her splendid escort , the long , loud , and thrilling cheer of the multitude saluted her . Calumny had , however , so far worked upon the lowest of the mob , as to cause a few slight hisses at the name of Prince Albert . The Turkish Ambassador , on the contrary , met with quite regal clieers—he heard the true British hurrah 1
was the noise they made , that a part of the speech could not be heard ; a row ensued between two Members ; the Queen paused ; there was a cry- of " Hush , " and her Majesty continued to read the fqllowing speech : —¦ My Lords and Gentlemen , I am always happy to meet you in Parliament , and on the present occasion it is with peculiar satisfaction that I recur to your assistance and advice . The hopes which I expressed at the close of the last session that a speedy settlement would be effected of the differences existing between Russia and the Ottoman Porte bare not been realised , and I regret to say that a state of warfare has ensuedi
I > have continued to act in cordial co-operation with the Etnperoip ' of the French , and my endeavours , in conjunction with my allies , to / preserve arid to restore peace between thfr contending . parties , although hitherto unsuccessful , have been unremitting . I will not fail to persevere in these endeavours ; jbut as the continuance of the war may deepl y affect the interests of this country and of Europe , I think it requisite to make a farther augmentation of my naval nnd military forces , with a view of supporting my representations , ana of more effectually contributing to the restoration of peace . I have directed that the papers explanatory of the negotiations which have taken place upon this subject shaJl bo communicated to you without delay .
Gentlemen of the Hodsk of Commons , The estimates for the year will be laid before you , and I trust you will find that , consistently with the exigencies of the public service at this juncture , they Lave been framed with a due regard to economy . My Lords and Gentlemen , In the year which has just terminated , the blessing of an abundant harvest has not been vouchsafed , to us . / By this dispensation of Providence the price of provisions has been enhanced , and the privations of the poor have been increased ; but their patience has been exemplary ; and the care of the Legislature , evinced by the reduction of taxes
affecting the necessaries of life , has greatly tended to preserve a spirit of contentment . . I have the satisfaction of announcing to you that the commerce of the country is still prosperous ; that trade , both of export and import , lias been largely on the increase ; and that the revenue of the past year / hae been more than adequate to the demands of the public service . I recommend to your consideration a bill which I lave ordered to be framed for opening the coasting trade of the United Kingdom to the ships of , all friendly nations ; and I look forward with satisfaction to the remeval of the last :
legislative restriction upon the use of foreign shipping for the benefit of my people . Communications have been addressed bj my command to the Universities of Oxford , and Cambridge with reference to the improvements which it may . be desirable to effect in their institutions . These communications will be laid before you , and' measures will be proposed for your consideration with the view of giving effect to sncli improvements . The establishments requisite for the conduct of the civil service , and the arrangements bearing upon its condition , have recently been under review ; and I shall direct a pLan to be laid before you which will have for its object to- improve the system of admission , and thereby to increase the efficiency of the service .
The recent measures of legal reform bare proved highly beneficial , and the success which has attended , them may well encourage you to proceed with further amendments . Bills will be submitted to you , for transferring from' the ecclesiastical to the civil courts the cognizance of testamentary and of matrimonial causes , and for giving increased efficiency to the superior courts of common law . The laws relating to the relief of the poor have of late undergone much salutary amendment ; but there is one branch to which I earnestly direct your attention . The law of settlement impedes the freedom of labour ; and if this restraint can with safety be relaxed , the workman may be enabled to increase the fruits of his industry , and the interests of capital and of labour will be more firmly united .
Measures will be submitted to you for the amendment of the llaws relating to the representation of the Commons in Parliament . ' Recent experience has shown that it is necessary to take more effectual precaution against the evils of bribery , and of corrupt practices at elections . It will also be your duty to consider whether more complete effect may not be given to the principles of the act of the last reign , whereby reforms were made in the representation of the people in Parliament . In recommending this subject to your consideration , my desiro is to remove every cause of just complaint , to increase general confidence in the legislature , and to give additional stability to the settled institutions of the State . I submit to your wisdom the consideration of these important subjects ; and I pray God to prosper your counsels , and to guide your decisions . This "being ended the Queen left the hall , the Commons returned to their hall , and both Houses adjourned . T / iie Address . In the evening they ro-assembled ; the Commons at four ; the Lords soon after five o ' clock . New writs having been moved for , the debate in the former was fairly commenced by Lord CASTLmnossE , who , in a dull speech , moved the address in reply to the speech , and which wna itsolf only an echo of the speech . Mr . Thomson IIankey , the seconder , did not succeed much befctor , but he sustained his subject longer . His staple was tho blessings conferred by peace since 1815—a reduced debt , reduced taxes , better lawa , free trade , and so on—all of which war would arrest . Thorefore was ho doubly , thankful Ministers had taken such pains to avoid war . For the rest ho followed his text—the speech from tho throne .
As usual the guns announced the Queen's arrival at tho House of Peers . Tho whole interior of tha . t gilded hall was filled with peeresses ^ J . hoir children , and relations ; the corps diplomatique , among whom the Russian Ambassador was not ; half-a-dozen ministers and a few peers . As the Queen was entering , down slid the gay coverings from tho white shoulders of the fair spectators , and tho whole of tho brillia . nt company , glancing Avith all the hues of tho rainbow , rose and stood , until the Queen , seating herself , told all to sit . Then the Commons were summoned , and thoy seem to have come rushing in like schoolboys , to the great amusement of the Queen . But so great
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98 THE LEADER . r SATURDAY , ^^ MjJII ^ p ^^^^^^^^^^^^ J ^ J ^ E ^^ BIJ ^^^^ E ^ J ^^^ JJ ^ J ^^^ B ^ I ^ J ^^^ I ^^^ J ^^ KJ ^^^ JJ ^^^^ B ^^^^^ EtJJ ^ JJII ^^ F ^^^^^^ p ^ JIJB ^^^^^^^^^ K ^ B ^^ E ^ EJ ^^ P ^^ K ^^^^ B ^ B ^^ CM ^ t ^^ BB ^ B ^ B ^ BMi ^^ B ^ W ^ B ^ fcilBJ ^ KM ^ flMC ^^ J ^ tt ^ M ^^ B ^^^^^^ B ^ M ^^ F ^^^ W ^^ B ^ M ^ g ^^^ M ^^^ r' ^ p ^^ K ^^^^^^^^^~~ "*^^^^^^^
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 4, 1854, page 98, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2024/page/2/
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