NEWS OF THE WEEK.
DE von) of any political mission for the time, Ministers have en- deavoured to save themselves from embarrassments by concen- trating their measures upon special objects : a course which would generally be recommended as "practical," the reverse of theoretical; yet it has had the effect, in some cases, of entailing rather curious complications.
Italy is a case in point - While the Western Powers were prosecuting the war in the East, they incurred obligations to- wards Sardinia for assistance given. It was in pursuance of that honourable understanding that they brought the subject of Italy before the Conference at Paris ; they thus became embarked in a policy of patronizing attempts to rescue Italy from her bondage under despotism, and to establish some new regime, which at that time was in no de:aft defined. Lord Clarendon, however, showed favour for the design which was advanced by Sardinia. Months have passed away without any fruit from the interven- tion of England,—France, apparently, having as yet taken little part ; and Parliament was about to separate without any expla- nations frOm Ministers as to the fulfilment of their word, or their intentions for the future. Lord John Russell and Lord Lynd- hurst, in the two Houses of Parliament on Monday, formally called upon Ministers for an explanation. In the House of Com- mons, Mr. Disraeli did his best to improve the difficulty for his own ulterior views : it was on the one hand a demonstration of Liberalism asking the Ministers de facto what they were doing - in their duty; towards Liberalism ; and on the other, Toryism ex- posing the compromised attitude in which the Government stands. Stated very briefly, the explanation amounts to this,—that they have made frienaly representation to Naples, with no effect ; that Rome has received some representations in a better spirit, but that nothing has been done, nor can be done, until the Emperor of the French, who is in suspense, can join in the action with England ; and that Ministers are far from contemplating any desertion of Sardinia, if Sardinia should be attacked without having provoked the attack. The Paris project of intervention appears to have completely fallen through. Our Government stands confessed as having interfered only so far as it is com- pelled for the sake of appearances, or for the expectations of the Liberal party here. It Would save trouble . and disappointment at once to avow that it does not intend any intervention ; an avowal that might perhaps induce these who are designing a move- ment in Italy to desist from a struggle in which they will be left unaided. to the overwhelming force of combined empires. It appears to have been gradually discovered that a compre- hensive reform is necessary with reference to the retirement of Bishops in the English Church. Theoretically the tenure of a Bishop is perpetual ; yet his income is not held as an inherit- ance for the honour of the possessor, but for the sake of the work to be done. The.o.ffiee is, or should be, a working post. Our comfortable times are highly conducive to ease, to longevity ; and bishops as well as judges grow old. Instances of episcopal superannuation have rather inconveniently multiplied ; and two prelates who occupy conspicuous posts, the Bishops of Lon- don and Durham wish to retire from duties which they can no longer fulfil. This is quite proper ; and since other cases already exist, and more may follow, the proper plan would be to intro- d,ace a general measure for enabling Bishops to retire, of course
with a pension suited to their social station. The Bishop of Durham expressed his desire for retreat in November last ; and a general measure, it seems, was prepared early in the present session ; but, from whatsoever cause—whether from diversities of opinion in the Cabinet, or from apprehensions aroused by pro- posing any comprehensive scheme, Ministers have given up the general measure, and have introduced one specifically permitting the Bishops of London and of Durham to retire with pensions. The practical object is too reasonable not to be viewed with ge- neral favour in the House of Lords. The objection of Lord Redes- dale against the technical competency to accept an episcopal resignation, can of course be overruled by that omnipotent pro- cess an act of Parliament; but the Bishop of Exeter's objection, that the specific provision has an air of purchasing a retirement of the two Bishops with a valuable consideration—that from its limited character it savours of simony—has considerable force. Backed by the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and by the practical considerations, the bill passed the Committee in the House of Lprds ; but there are so many debateable points iii the plan, that it would be sanguine to expect its pass- ing in the House of Commons within the remainder of time al- lowed for the session. The endeavour to contract the measure to the practical necessity of the immediate moment has had the effect of opening larger questions.
The Education schemes, again, have dwindled to a point—the creation of a Vice-Presidency of Education—a Minister of Edu- cation in the House of Commons. This is a good example of "the sharp point of the wedge " ; but, spoken of early in the session, the bill has been brought forward for the second. reading only this week. "The innocents" are this year massacred by degrees. Mr. Lowe's Partnership Amendment Bill, and the Lord Chancellor's Divorce Bill, have followed the Appellate Jurisdiction, the Wills, and others of the "dear departed."
A more happy instance of the specific treatment of great ques- tions is the plan advanced by Sir•Charles Wood for converting our Coast Guard into an effective reserve and auxiliary of the naval force. At present the Coast Guard is only the guard of the Customs : it will be transferred to the Admiralty, and will become a fighting force, weeded of the superannuated, manned with younger men, and rendered available at times of necessity in aid of the regular Navy. It is curious that while the Admiralty has been the opprobrium of public departments for unquestioned abuses, the improvement in the Navy has been making steady progress, and by degrees too the Navy has become popular. The power of putting on the waters a great force with seamen voluntarily en- listed, was a tangible proof of this ;.dvance ; and the same causes —improvement in the physical condition of the men, and further facilities for promotion, will no doubt continue to develop the strength of the Navy. Although France or Holland could out- number us on the spur of the moment, we need not stand in fear of either. Our only rival to apprehend is the Great Republic of the West, whom we could outnumber—at first.
The notice taken of a rather shabby subject has created for it an importance which it does not possess in itself. In the exer- cise of judicial duty, the Irish Master of the Rolls found evidence that James Sadleir was an accomplice in the fraudulent con- . spiracies of his brother John, and that he was still at large ; and Mr. T. B. C. Smith, a querulous man with bitter party feelings, pointed to the present -Attorney-General, Mr. Fitzgerald, as con- niving at the escape of James. For a moment even the mild and discreet Mr. Napier was induced to accept the story ; but Mr. Fitzgerald, by a full and clear statement of all the facts, has completely exonerated himself, leaving the Master of the Rolls in possession of a baseless calumny.
