5 MARCH 1864, Page 2

On Monday, Lord Palmerston and Mr. Disraeli fought a regular

Parliamentary duel. The House was in Committee of Supply, when the leader of the Opposition rose to ask for a little more information about British action in Denmark. He was more restrained than usual, and indulged in few sarcasms beyond remind- ing the House that in 1855 Earl Russell attended a Conference at Vienna held during war, and so muddled matters that the country compelled him to retire. He thought, therefore, "there was no- thing encouraging to the country in the report of a Conference, " or any of the proposals—" the diplomatic rubbish which cha- racterizes a Government of antiquated imbecility." He wanted "to know the exact position of the affair." Lord Palmerston, in reply, did not, of course, tell him ; but in a somewhat savage speech bade him wait for the papers, and remember that there was Parliamentary as well as diplomatic "rubbish." The House felt inclined to clap hands as the gladiators' swords struck fire, but remembered opportunely that the Speaker forbids the use of lorgnettes in the House because it is not a theatre.