The Express. — London, England, 1853-10-14 00:00:00

tnst w as, that I appear hen commons that I am opposing ehe ststv:t and w.ttled opinion. and convietions of the great ▪ of my toeustrymen. No ; the great some of my colas- menses this go, vies are now standing and observing, and lay Wady to hi sr, and Isom, sad be convinced. (Applause.) j ; . l I speak of these who, if we were nut hers, would take r4 „., 0n a the T.uhlie mind, and if they could appear to re que whole people, then the policy of the country moat r s g...w their views. I say, we have seen lately that it il.dicait to persuade the English people that others see e..m mg to attack them. Ido cot want to refer to what " co ned via moths ago tor the purpose of t.iumph or et -1;:a..00. I have never a,luded, that lam aware of, in the • of Commons ,ir elsewhere, to that consummate “.. 1 .% wh.C. this Conferesse• effected in the change the' has taken Vacs none we last met at Manchester on suSjeet f the French aggression—(loud cheers) —but i• I.:cowry that I shauld allude to that now, because the vet) woe peas are being dipped in venom to record their et a s an I sneers at this conference that we had to encounter se M incherter. Although I do not want to deny them the p; oure of either ahusing or caricaturing us, yet we have • right to wit that the people of this country shieuld estimate t to vaiae of the present attacks of those individuals by look mg at the vile. of their opinions and of the attacks which they cede upon tn sic months ago. (Hear.) But more, I of t!.at tie present position in which this country is placed w.:h Get to the Ronnie empire is distinctly to be traced ts the co:indite' which these foolish people pursued six or site months ago. (Hear, bear.) I do not speak vaguely or al.y. I spec:. from information short only of information feint the first parties acting in these proceediugs, when I sty that what ha: been done in the East by the Emperor of Ihus.ia was done on the deliberate calculation that it was impos.ib:e for France and England to unite to oppose him. (fileu, hear.) We all know that it is an old traditional p.iicy of the Russian empire to encroach upon the donsis mins of the Mohammedan people that are at their side. We know that that has been a maxim of the state policy of Russia for the last 1.30 years ; but we know, also, that the encroachments of Russia upon Turkey have been steadily rtsistcd, not as all times successfully, but still ed by the combined action of the western powers of Europe, who made it a part of the state policy of Europe to oppose the aggrandise meat of Russia in the East. The Russian Em peror saw, nit only in the public prints of this country, but he observed in the speeches of our statesmen in the House of Commons, expressions of opinion of mistrust and of horror of tee Christian character of the sovereign of our next neighbour, France. (" Hear," and cheers.) He saw that in the House of Commons we made pruoiaion for calling out the militia, avowedly in order to resist a French invasion. He heard this from men who now, we are told, are the very trustworthy peacemakers of the country. I heard them myself say that, in one night, the French might come from Cherbourg and land on our shores. We were told that for as, the peace party, to assume for a moment that the Emperor of France was not a brigand or • pirate, or to k rgse fur a moment that the French people were not. coming to throw themselves upon our shores, without • declaration of war, without notice, without any offence, like a body of buccaneers—to assume that that would not very long care—(loud laughtor)—becaus he declared that he did not believe that the French were coming over to in- rade us? Who has got the long ears and the fool's cap now ? (Loud cheers and laughter.) I have alluded to all this to show that there are a large number of people in this country who ate ready to believe anything they are told about some foreign foe coming to attack as; and the reason is this—we hare too many people in this country who are ignorant of the state of society in foreign euuntri. s, and who do not do justice to the condition in which the people are placed in other countries. They are too depreciating in their opinion, both as to their economical condition and also as to their moral qualities, or they would never believe these things. And it is to the ignorance of what is going on in other countries—it is to the fact that we are not suffi ciently informed, and cannot be sufficiently informed, as to what is the condition of other countries—that is one great reason why I argue against our lending ourselves to au interference in the affairs of other countries. In the first place, however wise we may be, we know moth more of our own affairs than thaw of other coun tries. The Spaniards have a number of wise sayings, and one of them is, that a fool knows more about the condition of his own house than a wise man knows of what is done in that of his neighbour. But now, you find fools getting together, and they call out—war with Rus sia about this Eastern question. I have seen with per fect amazement en amount of ignorance in regard to the condition of the Turkish empire just exactly parallel to that which was displayed in reference to the condition of France ; and some of those persons are those from whom I would have expected of all men in the world more knows ledge of these affairs. For instance, with regard to the condition of the Turks in European Turkey, and the condition of the Christian. population of European urkey the great body of our people, I should have thought, would have ►een actuated by demo. cultic notions in their syrnpstbies with other countries. I mean, I would have thought that the mass of the people of this country would have sympathised with the mess of the people of Turkey ; but I find that all their sympathies ars for the minority of the people of Turkey; for the dominant and tyrannical class, who are oppressing the majority of the people of that country. I do not say that this is any ground why we should go to war to remedy the evils that exist in Turkey ; but I mean to lay that, if you are going to war, it is of all things necessary that you should know what you are goiog to do, otherwise you may incur all the expense you have incurred in the French war, and which may end in totally failing to accomplish what you sought to effect. (Applause.) I tell you, from my knowledge of the Turkish empire, that not only not all the King's horses and all the King's men, but not all the horses and men of all the emperors in the world, can maintain the be their natural course of action, argued, we were told, that we were the most credulous and foolish fanatics in Britain (Laud cries of " Hear," and cheers.) The Emperor of Russia saw sad heard all that, and naturally concluded that it was utterly impcsinble for France and England again to unite and join in one armament to resist his encroachments an the East. These plans have been laid in the southerd par:s of Russia ever since last September and October, when this cry began. They were steadily pursued as the foi:ish spirit of hostility to our neighbours of France WY more and more manifested in high quarters. And now the cocsequese• Is, that the Emperor of Russia dads, when it is toe late, that the foolish people whom he mis toult for the people of Bogisad have entirely misled him. - What do we see? We were denounced as most credulous and foolish for saying that possibly the Emperor Louis Napoleon did not necessarily meditate ea lavainon of our shores. What do we se*? The very minister who talked of the French coming from Cherbourg in one night, with 60,000 men, to attack us, I heard myself say that now France and England were united—that they had now one common bond of interest, and were actuated by sentiments of metal confidence and esteem—that they wen • power suited against which it was is vain for Russia to contend, fer all Europe would be powerless against such an ins usable combination. (Cheers.) And what did I hear at the end of the session ? The Queen's Speech was as if framed to give the climax of triumph to the peace party. Not only does the Queen in her speech to her parliament, ere it sepa rated, declare that she is on the best terms of amity with the French nation, but she rather goes out of her way to add thatch, is also on the best footing of friendship with the Emperor of France. (Loud cheers, and laughter.) Now, I have thought, suppose ea intlie'dual had bees or dued, se many persons are, for the benefit of their health, to leave oar shores last January, sad to take a voyage to Australis, and that he was to return again without remain ing there, and should snake • circuit of the globe for the benefit of his health. He left Ragland preparing her militia, fortifying her coast, and general oaken writing to me offering to lay • wager that the French IMO eaniag. (Loud laughter, and prolonged cheep.) And be saw our inspectors of cavalry and artillery moving about the southern coast, and deputations from the railway companies waiting upon the Admiralty and the °Masses to see how soon the connaisarist sad adman supplies might be near nutted from the town to Dover and Fortemsoutk. (Renewed laughter and cheering.) He left Ragland is the midst of all this preparatioa for • French lands& Wall, be makes the circuit of the globe. He sees no newspaper, as be could see none—for one of the motives for sending these individuals on such a voyage is to keep them away from politicians and the Post-offiee. He comes beck to Eng land in September ; and the first thing he reads when be takes up a newspaper is, that the French and English fleets axe lying side by side, broadside to each other, in Lesika Bay. (Cheers and laughter.) He might say, when In Mil all this, " There is going to be &greet battle Dow." (Reamed cheers and laughter.) He tune to a leading article of the very peps that Mid him, whin be left Eng laid, that the French Emperor was • brigand sad • pirate, aid that the Frank people were maths to invade as without notice sad without a declaration of war; and the tint thing he sees is • stateliest that Ragland and Frame an sew medially united—that their essabised fleets are lying at Basins Bay, under the assassin& of Admiral Dundee—end that we ue prepared, If sammery, to .send unsay ts be plead under the eammand of the Fronk ' 1 general ; sad that we are going into action, peobably $0.1•0170W, with the Ruda& Seat. (Applause.) Well, then, the first thing that individual would naturally ask would be, " But eau you Mist thisindividual, of whom you were eryiag when I left that he was a beiges/ and • pirate ? (Cheers.) Has anything happened to prove that these peace people were right and that you were wrong? (Renewed cheers.) What chugs hie takes placel What has this man dame? What guarantee has he given that, when you go into action with the Russian fleet, he has not previously had an understanding with the Emperor of Russia; and that, Jutted of joining you in Bring his broadaides into the Russian fleet, and demolish lag it, ,he will not join the Russian fleet in demolishing yours ; and that—ualsee he has undergone a great change, which you cannot explain—his fleet, after having joined the Ear also in demolishing yours, may not come bask to your coast, ravage your towns, barn down your houses, seise the Bank, and carry off the Queen. (Loud cheers.) All these things you said be would do." (Renewed cheers.) Now, I muse confess—l my it with the greatest regret--that my experi ence of late don't maks me think more highly than I used to do of the ability of the statesmanship of this country. (Continued cheers.) Because if them men, having the conduct of public affairs, were in earnest in whet they told us six or nine months ago regarding this Ooverament and this individual—if they were in earnest—if they were ;not charlatans imposing apes us se to what they said and did at that time—what is the meaning of this kaleidosoope sort of exhibition? There is nothing off the stage—then iq nothing but • panto mime that ever equalled it. (Load cheers) They have given no reason for the change which has come over them in this matter. The same men are now in office who were in during the calling out of the militia and the increase of our armaments ; at least, they advocated that increase for the purpose of providing against the attack of this individual ; and I say, if they were earnest in these things, how can they justify themselves is trusting our ships lying side by aids with the ships of such • man; and if they were not in earnest what sort of men have you got in office ? (Lead cheers.) I want to hoar an explanation about this." (Renewed chem.) Well, we need not say anything more about these people, because they ere sufficiently humiliated. (Hear and cheers.) If did not pity all those people who were so talking sin coonths ago—if I had not the spirit of • friend of peace, and wanted to forget and forgive—l could not have a gloater triumph than to have brought down with me the hopers and read extracts from them of what they were crj'ing about as when we met at Manchester, and then to have anticipated what they will be getting ready for us in a few days. Don't you remember the cari cature in which your bumble servant was represented with •pan Turkey ; and there has been sent abroad the most aa to the condition of the Turkish population in Turkey. I must con ks. I never was more astonished in my life than on hearing a nobleman who has been for ten or twelve years Foreign Minister in this country, and who, if any man in England ought to know the condition of Turkey in Europe, ought to know some thing about it, say in his plate in parliament, '' I assert, without fear of contradic tion, that Turkey, so far from having gone bank within the last thirty years, has mode gre►ter progress and improve ment, in every possible way, than perhaps was ever made by any other country during the same period. Compare the condition of Turkey now with what it was in the reign of the Sultan Mahmoud, either with regard to the system of government u bearing upon the interests of the inhabi tants, the state of the army and navy, the administration of justice, the condition of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, or religious toleration. I venture to say that in all these respects Turkey. has made immense progress dur ing the period I have mentioned." (Hear, hear.) Now, I say, where are the proofs of that? (Loud cheers.) Con sult any writer who has visited Turkey. Consult Lord Stratford de Redclifft, who, when be left the embassy on leave of absence 18 months ago, was entertained by the British population at Constantinople to a banquet, and who there referred to " the corruption which eats into the very foundations of society, sod a combination of force, fraud, and intrigue, which obstruct the march of pro gress, and poison the very atmosphere in which they pre veil." And again, he alludes, with the profoundest grief, to the signs of weakness and error which surround him—to the financial embarrassments of the government—and the great charter issued by the present Sultan being di'credited by the non-eseention of its promises. This is the opinion of a great and experienced diplomatist on the subject; and if be could say as much, and if every recent writer on the subject, up to the latest, gives the same opinion, what must the prevent condition of Turkey in Europe be? I must mien that I never was more astonished in my life than oa hearing that statement of the noble lord. It appears to me that we are running, from some cause or other, precisely the same course as Ia the French invasion panic. Fur a moment of temporary triumph, for • mere momentary cheer, we have statesmen making statements of this description—and I re cord here my deliberate and solemn conviction that what I have read here of the speech of Lord Palmerston was the very thing in his speech which, of all others, he would be mat reluctant to see reproduced on this or any other occasion. But I say, what can be the motive of misleading the people of the country on this or any other subject ? (Hear, hear.) Are weso be expected to go blindly into a war to accom plish an impossibility ? (Cheers.) Does any body that knows Turkey believe that a war with Russia would ever leave the Tusks remaining as a people in Europe, with I three times the number of Christians around them, and these possessing all the wealth and all the enterprise of the country, though totally disarmed ? I say, why are we pro posing to rush blindly into this war ? (Cheers.) There may be one interpretation of it. It is possible that our go vernment has told Turkey, that if Turkey will resist these attempts of Russia, we shall support her ; and I have no hesitation in saying that, if our government has said this. they are bound to support Turkey. If I were not standing here, I would say that if you take a feeble man and tell him that, instead of yielding to the strong man that is coming against him, you will join him in fighting him—whether it is the case of a nation or an individual—l say that he is a skulking scoundrel that runs away after giving that ad vice. (Hear, hear.) But we are not going to have war now. (Cheers.) Wars do not happen on the Danube in November or October. We have got till April at leaet,:and in the meantime, all this matter will be so changed in posi tion, it not totally reversed, that we can take a new choice of attitude upon the eastern question. The sooner the people of England understand the position of Turkey the better. It is not a question of Russian invasion on us. It is an invasion, no doubt, on an unoffending power. Russia has no quarrel with the Turkish government; but is it on that ground that we are called upon to exercise vengeance upon Russia—because Russia encroaches on Mabommedan power in Europe ? Why, we have ourselves got the Great Mogul, a Mahommedan sovereign, who rules over three Mahommedan population of Turkey in Europe. (Applause.) There are the seeds of deny sad dissolution, founded in the very nature of things, which you cannot combat against by fleets and armies. It may be said, why are you so presumptuous as to know that? I can only say that I hays been there to judge for myself. I have born for twenty years or more engaged, more or less, in pay ing attention to the subject. I do not profess to know more on this subject than other people might know, if they would inquire. It is now very nearly twenty years when there was the same outcry against Russia in con nexion with the Eastern question. I studied this ques tion then, as Mr. Tait the publisher can state. It does not follow that, because I then began to write about the Turkish question, I know more about it than other people. But, from that time till this, I have not only paid a visit to Turkey, but I have endeavoured to Enke myself acquainted with all that has been written en the subject. I confess I see with utter amazement the prevalent Ignorance that exists in this country, as to what they an going to fight about. (Hear, hear.) They are going to fight for the maintenance of Mahommeslansm in Europe. (" Hear, hear," and applause.) I say that the [laws of the Koran an in opposition to the laws of nature, which are the laws of God, and that the Mahommedan people being subject to that Koran, natant be perpetuated in Europe alongside of • Christian population. (Cheese.) Mind, Ido not say that I want • religious war. I want them to be left alone; and if you leave them alone you will see the operation of that law. You have got in Turkey in Eaton three or four millions of Turks, and you have get ten or twelve millions of Christians. I state only what le generally admitted, because no census Lever taken in that country to enable you to speak with any accuracy. Well, the Turks have been for 400 years the dominant race. They have had all the power in that country—they have administered the laws—they have been the sole part of the population who are armed ; and the Christians are treated like dogs, and they are called dogs. They have no equal status whatever. The Roma acknowledges no relationship between the Malumundans sad the Chris tians but that of muter and slave; and It enjoin than either to kill the Christian, or to make him pay tribute. There is no relationship between the Christian subject and the Mahommedan ?other than that which I have de scribed. But, in spite of all this, what is the result at this moment? Why, the Turks are a constantly de caying people. If there was any man disposed to be friendly to the Turks, that man was Lamartine ; and yet what does he my ? He says, Turkey is perishing for want of Turks. (" Hear, beer," and applause.) Not withstanding all their advantages, the Turks are declining and diminishing in numbers, whilst the Christians are constantly increasing by their dd.. Bat not merely that. All the wealth, all the accumulation of wealth, all the enterprise, all the Intelligence, all the progress, in fast, whether moral or material, belong to the Christian population of European Turkey. Now, you may hear of a warier ram governing an inferior race, as in the case of our Indian empire ; but that is when all the power of wealth all the Latelligence, and an the resources of power an on the lido of the dosalasat race—(hear, hear)—bat you never yet saw, sad never will see, • race perpetuating its rule over another where these conditions are all ra vened, se in this ease they an. (Cheers.) This being the condition of things, the Emperor of Russia steps in, and be says, "I intend to harm to these Christiaas in Europe —I intend to insure to the Christine' under the authority of the Pasta-the same treatment which those Christians having the preteens:la of the French government have in Turkey." This is what he asks. Now, England and France step in to resist this, and they advise the Sultan to oppose it, bemuse they my that Russia medi tates MEM slash and aggreadve design. That is yes, tree; but let me tell you that the people of this world —that is, the unprivileged manes' of all countries—who ever gained their privileges and franchises, were lifted up by soma nobles or mime tyrannical kings, who bad a sinister object is view in enlisting their sympathies. (Hear.) They wanted to gain something out of them ; and it was by catering for the sympathies of the millions by nobles and kings in this country, that the mass of the pee_ pie were lifted from their serfdom into citisenship—(ap. plaims)—and no doubt the Emperor of Russia had the same sinister object in view. He wishes to establish an imperium in impssio in Turkey, and I have not the least doubt that be will succeed. I speak with great diffidence, because I do not think that anybody not there on the spot, and having the best opportunities of knowing what is thy condition of things there, is capable of speaking with authority ; but from all I can learn, there Christians are glad to get Leman and improved toleration end security against lissoulman wrong and violence, be it by the in tervention of Raisin or of any ethos power. Tau one fact which has transpired since this hubbub began. It bag acme out that, until ItuaU made this interference the Christian population of Turkey in Europe could nod give evidence in a court of law against Mussulman murder or theft, or any one who committed any act of violence, either in the family, or on the persons or property, or any of them. That is • state of society worse than even negro slavery in Arcerka. But we an told that sine the inter ventka by Russia, an edict has emitted from the Sultan, giving to the Christians the right to give evidence against • Maasuhnan in • court of law. Does anybody doubt that the Christians will attribute this great boon they have re ceived—a boon which for the first time for four centuries gives them the rights of citizenship—to the intervention of the Emperor of Russia? (Hear, hear.) My opinion is that from the first there has been • great mistake in this mat ter. If we intended to interfere in the matter, we should have done what I beli e ve we will come to do yet. We should have joined Russia in insist ing on the fullest religious liberty and perfect social equality for the great majority of the Christians in Turkey in Europe; this is, if we interfere at all—for my opinions are too well known to render it possible for me to disguise them. What I would say is, leave them to theimelves ; but if you interfere in any way at all, the en lypresticable way in which you could hope to accomplish any good is, to join with Russia, as you have joined with him whom you were not one whit more sincere, in obtain ing those rights and franchises which the Christian people of Turkey demand. But there seems to me to bo a lean;ng EVENING MEETING. towards the Turks in this matter which would have age The Conference resumed at seven o'clock, when the hall peered to me as very extraordinary unless I had been ac customed to see those paging fallacies and hallucinations was quits crowded. Mr. Cowan, M.P. for Edinburgh, pre that come over the English people from time to time. The sided. Alter some remarks from the chairman, leaning in this country seems to be on the side of Turkey The Rev. Joan Ennui' (London) moved—" That the simply because Russia is coming with some sinister design standing armaments, with which the governments of times the dominion of the Sultan, divested of his autho rity, and shut up as a puppet in Delhi. We have tram pled down as large an empire in Burmah, and with as little ceremony as a ruffian would go into the market place and kick down an apple-stall. (Laughter and Alien.) Are we who do these things in the face of the world to exercise God's vengeance on any other country for doing the same things ? (Loud cheering.) No! That is not a ground that we can take up. There is not hypo crisy enough extant to say that we are bound to go to war to prevent injustice to the Mahonamedans in Europe, when we have done far worse to Mahommedans when they are nearer home—l mean in Asia. (Cheers.) But they say it is because we have treaties with the Turks that we are going to fight their battles. lam just throw ing those things before you ; you will have plenty of time to consider them, as we ars not going to have a fight on the Danube in the month of November. The opposing armies there will have to fight, not with one another but with pes tilence and swamp, and cold, and starvation, and fever— they will be too much occupied with these grim enemies to contead against each other. You are not going to fight for treatise; you have no treaties to fight about. Look into say of these newspapers that are raising the war cry, and telling for the fulfilment of our treaties with Turkey. They do not know but what we have a treaty which binds us to fight for the maintenance of Turkey—that is, to keep the lines on the map the same as they now are, though I hardly know anybody who knows what the bounds of Tar key are. The thing is an absurdity. We have no treaty with Turkey. There have been settlements from time to time, as that in which Turkey milled en Erases and England to reuse her from the Puha of Egypt. There was a treaty defining certain conditions on which the Puha of Egypt should have Egypt hereditary la his family ; and there are ether treaties of a similar kind to which we were parties. Bet we are not bound by any treaty to defend the Integrity of the Turkish empire. If America were to take Turkey to-morrow—if she were to take pommies of Asia Minor, sad keep it for her debt, we are not hosed to go to war with America. And so in regard to other arguments we have heard. We are not bound in say way to be parties to myth*/ that may happen is Turkey. We are not bound to interfere either externally or internally. We are bound not to violate the treaties we have made, by upsetting the settlement which we have been parties to; but we are not bound to fight to preserve those territorial arrangements, if other people choose to interfere with them. It has been settled with regard to the greatest territorial treaty that ever was mitered into—the treaty of Vienna, by which the whole boundaries of Europe were defined—it has been settled by the Earl of Aberdeen and the Duke of Wellington, by the Whig party, and all who were partite to it, that while we are bound not to violate that treaty, we are not bound to go to war to maintain the integrity of the eountries whose boundaries were find by that treaty. Therefore, if you hair anybody filling up a phrase about a treaty uk him to tell you where that treaty is, the date of it, and where to find it. (Hear, hear.) And so it is in regard to the word ally." We are bound to go to war to defend our ancient ally. (Laughter.) We have had more treaties with Russia then with Turkey, and we are not bound by any treaties whatever to maintain Turkey, any more than to maintain Tuscany, or Holland, or any other power. (Hear, hear.) Divest the question of these points that touch the honour of the nation, and then you bring it to what it really is—to a question of salf-interest. lam not going to enter into that subject—l am sorry I have tree passed so long upon your time—(cheers)—bet I am going to enter into that subject to-morrow at the public meeting. Let us have as large a public meeting as we an have, and Let us have the matter talked over here, and throw down the truth before the public ; and I have no doubt that they will be more disposed to take the truth from you than they will be to take error from those who proved themselves so unworthy to be their guides seam six or eight swaths ago. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) - - - The LORD PROVOST then pat the resolution to the meeting positively and negatively, when it MA unani mously adopted. -- - • - -• . . °Roma HADMILD, Esq., M.P. for Sheffield, then moved the second resolution, which wu as follows : "That as an appeal to the sword can settle no question on any principle of equity and right, it is the duty of governments to enter into treaties on behalf of the nations they respec tively represent, binding the parties, instead of assuming an attitude of armed and mutual menace, to refer to the decision of competent and impartial arbitrators such differ ences arising between than, as cannot be otherwise amica bly adjusted, and to abide by ssah decision." The Res. Dr. Joszna Biows (Dalkeith) seconded the resolution, which was also adopted. . - The Conference adjourned at • quarter to four o'clock till the evening. THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 14, 1853. Europe menace each other, amid professions of mutual friendship and confidence, and which have greatly increased even during a time of peace, being a prolific source of social immorality, financial embarrassment, and national suffer ing, while they mite constant disquietude and irritittion among the nations, and jeopardise the continuance of peace, this 4:out:fence would urge upon the governments the ne cessity of entering, by mutual consent, upon a aimultaneoua reduction of their armaments." Mr. Joni! Baiour, M.P., seconded the resolution. While they asserted that the probability of war was annually becoming lase, the expenditure has increased to an incredible amount. It is stated on good autbori'y that the nations of Europe are spending more than one hundred millions per annum—l suppose that it is probably a great deal nearer one hundred and fifty millions per annum—in maintaining armaments which they all along tell us they don't intend to use. If military expenditure in creases, as a matter of course taxes must increase also ; for all this military expenditure must come out of la bour, and the sweat of men who toil from sunrise to sunset, an fto whom all their labour gives but a very moderate share often of the necessaries, and always of the luxuries of life. (Applause.) And taxes and ex penditure are generally followed by something ap proaching bankruptcy. Legal are constantly being re quired. It is not long since Russia required a loan; and it is a hundred chances to one but Russia must come for another loan in a vary short time. The 'expenditure she is undergoing now, although she is not actually engaged in war—an expenditure which is wholly unnecessary —which tomes merely from an ungovernable ambition—that expenditure will force Russia to come for another loan. The loans of Austria are just as many and as often as Austria can find dupes to lend her anything. France is partly in the same circumstances , — not so inexplicably involved, because, whatever opinion be entertained of the absolutist government of France, there is in that country n vast production, • fine soil, a fine climate, and a people actively engaged in producing articles of great value ; but still it is rumoured that France finds herself so involved that a new loan must soon be naked for. Then we come to this country—we are not asking for loans yet ; but if we allow Turkish semi -hirbarism, and men of infirm understandings and of robust consciences to drive this country to war, you will see the government coming for a loan ; and then you may bid adieu I. further years of re duction of taxes, and Mr. Gladstone's next visit to Scotland and to Manchester will not be at all one of that cheerful character, which it has so lately been, Ind such as, I believe, he is now enjoying. (Applause.) England is less military than the other nations of Europe. Her constitution has made that necessary and inevitable. Her position, also, is different We can have no kind of need for a great standing army in this country, unleu our government be at war with our people, and I am happy to believe that, from year to year, there is • greater feeling of accord springing up and strengthening between the government and the people in every portion of the United Kingdom. (Applause.) Yet this country is suffering more, I believe, to be added to its military expenditure every year than any other country on the face of the earth. (Hear, hear.) I suspect that we have borne the burden of that debt so long, that we begin to fancy it is not really so heavy as it is—like a man who has a portion of his income set aside to pay off some of his old incumbrances, and is of that happy disposition that he forgets it, and pleases himself with the notion that the rest of his income is all that he ever possessed. But we do pay 28 millions for the unfortunate policy of our forefathers. and there may come a day when that burden will just make all the difference between us and the great rival nation on the other side of the Atlantic. (Hear, hear.) We have no necessity for a force to keep down the people, and to enforce obedience to the law; and yet our govern mint, by a succession of tricks, by juggling the people, by the people permitting themselves to be frightened now by one story then by another, have persuaded the people to permit them to raise our military expenditure from eleven to seventeen millions a year, from 1836 to 1863. Now suppose we again brought down our military expenditure to eleven millions, what a great deal might be done with the six millions in the way of draining our towns, or erect ing our public buildings. All this, and a hundred other things might be undertaken, the very least of which was infinitely better in my view than all the greatest glory that , we could possibly have from the most glorious war. (Cheers.) Why cannot we be at any rate as rational as the United States ? They have got a population of from 24 to 26 mil lions, and I have ao doubt that by the next census their population will be equal to that of the United Kingdom. And it is a fact, taking into consideration the expenditure of the federal and the general government of the American Union, the expense of the 32 or 33 states of the union—taking into account all that they spend for the payment of duties, the support of education, and the cost of the army and navy —the whole annual expenditure of that country is not more than fourteen millions sterling. We spent upon the army and navy alone, after 38 years of peace and seeing that we are told that every year of pesos makes war less probable— we are spending upon this item alone, apart from India, three millions sterling more than the American Union spent for ell their civil and military, general state, and educa tional purposes, with a nearly equal population; and with a far greater extent of territory, and a trade nearly approaching to ours.. (Hear, hear.) Lord Aberdeen is for peace. (Cheers.) I believe him. Lord Palmerston is for peso*. I don't believe he wishes to go to war. (Laughter.) Them men don't want war at this moment. I believe honestly that the government is endea vouring to avert the horrors of war. But although they don't want war, they allow themselves to be the promo ters of a Nee opinion, and the servants of that great and powerful interest which we have allowed to grow up in this country. (Cheers.) And whilst they tell us in parlia meat =dont of it that peace is their Orient, and that al most at all hazard they will preserve pease, they still in sist upon it that sixteen or seventeen millions sterling a year is the very lowest upon which they can maintain a peace eetablishrosat. (Cheers.) Mr. Bright concluded by asking whither they would submit to thecontinuanoe of such • sorts of things ; and whether, with all the elements they now had fde ascertaining the truth and spread ing information, it was sot possible for them to create a counter opinion in this errantry, sad to my to the go vernment, govern wisely, govern well ? They required ao military throe to keep the pesos of England. Treat all foreign matrons courteously, justly, sad honourably, and adhere to tho groat principle of non-intervention. (Cheers.) He also urged the government to make some definite, tangible proposition to the Preach government, by which the rival navies of the two nations might be diminished in amount, and therefore in coat, sad dated that every each diminution would tend to preserve ram between the two countries; and that • similar diminution of the army would tend to induce in the Wads of their people a love of pesos. (Applause.) Bailie Fru supported the motion; which was unani mously agreed to. Mr. 13•111:111. BOWBT, Gloucester, proposed the fourth mediation, which was to the effect-0. That the Con ference, believing that the intervention by threatened or actual violence, of one country in the internal polities of another, is • frequent cause of bitter and desolating wan, maintains that the right of every State to regulate its own affairs should be held absolute and inviolable, and that this country ought to abstain from 'atonal! into any treatise or alliances binding the government to inter fere by form of arms in the domestic concerns of any other r. W. Btrioe, M.P. for Newport, seconded the resolu tion, which was unanimously agreed to. The Conference adjmarned shortly after tan o'clock. MR. GLADSTONE AT MANCHESTER. At the conclusion of the proceedings at Manchester on Wednesday, which we reported very fully yesterday, Mr. Gladstone returned to Mr. Hartar's residence at Higher Broughton, where he met a large circle of the leading in habitants at dinner. The company included the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Archdeacon Wilberforce, and the Mayor of Manchester.: The right hon. gentleman yesterday morning was at the oonsecration of the new church at Denton, about five miles distant from Manchester, where the Bishop of Oxford and Archdeacon Wilberforce were to assist the Bishop of Man chester in the *mica. The church is a handsome, but small edifice, in the early English style of architecture, at a cost of abouts,oool. It has been mainly promoted and built at the cost of the Rev. Richard °tomell, tutor of Worcester College, Oxford. It was in order to visit his friend Mr. Oresewell, we believe, and to be present at the consecration, that Mr. Glad/Mae undertook his Isurney on this occasion into lamoodsks. The awe was isainglagly erowded by a aagreg frestadlog. besides the Right Hon. the Chancellor of the awl Mrs. Gladstone, many of the most wealthy and fami li es of the neighbourhood. Ansen the.. were Lead Robert Gros venor, and the Earl sod Oeudres of WUtset.• laws attend ance of the clergy of kLeasheeter took pert is the ceremony. The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of OXFORD preached the consecration sermon from the text, " For I have much people in this city." The service concluded about a quarter after two o'clock, whoa the principal portion of the congregation retired to the school opposite, where a lunch had been prepared. About four o'clock the company left the school-room to proceed to the site of some new schools, of which the Bishop of Oxford and Mr. Gladstone were to assist in laying the foundation-stone. BILL DISCLOSURES. - Yesterday, at Guildhall, Edward John Pickering was again placed at the bar, before Alderman Muggeridge, charged with obtaining a bill of excLange fur 6001. under &be pretences. tipon this occasion Mr. Hodge, to whom the prisoner bad originally said he had taken, or intended to take, the bill for discount, was called, and said he knew nothing of the prisoner, and had spoken to him in his life. Mr. J. C. Cooke, a commission agent, deposed that in the early part of September the prisoner offered him a bill, drawn by Scott and accepted by Micklekam for discount, but he returned it to prisoner within an hour. J. Collingwood Kerr, of Hans-place, said—l am • so licitor. The prisoner was introduced to me by Mr. Evans as a very respectable young man, who was engaged upon a work, for which, when complete, he would receive • large sum of money. Evans said he had advanced prisoner some money, who, having some gentlemen's bills to discount, had arranged to re-pay Evans by dividing the commission upon the transactions. The prisoner brought me the bill, and I made terms with some parties in the city, which the pri mmer afterwards agreed to. The terms were 501. in cash, and security for 5001. I asked him if he had full authority to deal with the bill in this manner, and to assured me he had, and instructed me to carry out the arrange ment. I then met the parties I had communi cated with, and they gave me 401., a bill for 291. 10s , and security for the balance. I also arranged a sum of 101. I was indebted to the same parties. Inc se curity consisted of a bond for 5001., drawn by Dr. Wright, and payable on the death of the Rev. Peter de Beauvoir, who was at present 86 years of age. I gave the prisoner 201., and arranged to give him 301. in the course of the week, or as soon as I got the 291. 10s. bill discounted. He gave me this receipt, " Received of Mr. Kerr the sum of 201., on account of • bill for 6001. E. J. PICKERING." I saw the prisoner sign this, and I believe I told him it would be necessary to have the drawer of the bill present at the assignment of the bond for 5001. I know the acceptor. I believe his father war a man of large property. Cross-examined—l only gave prisoner 201., and immedi ately after doing so be was given in custody, and I stopped the Wane* of 301. and the assignment of the bond. The prisoner said he was entitled to the 201. for his commission, but he would give it to the drawer if he saw him. Re-examined—The remaining 201. out of the 401. Ire calved for the bill I kept for my commiuion, as my instruc tions from the prisoner were to give him 601. and the bond, and keep all I could get over that for myself. Mr. R. Voss, of the firm of Philips and Vow, solicitors, of !Nee-lase said—l produce the bill in que s ti on ( or 6001., which I h ave just received from a client of mine at Brighton, who has a claim upon it for 1001., and will give it up on payment of that sum. Mr. Wood applied for the bill to be impounded. Alderman Muggeridge—The witness's instructions were very clear, and there was not sufficient to induce him to impound the bill. James Scott was then recalled, and said—l have never given the prisoner any other instructions than these I have already sworn to. He never told me he was going to take the bill to any of the parties through whose hands it has since passed. I never authorised him to do so. He never brought me a shilliog back. I was aware Evans sometimes discounted for him, and when he mentioned his name I told him the bill for 6001. was too large for Evens to get dis counted. This paned at the same time that prisoner said he would get Hodges, the distiller, to doit. Cross-examined—l live at Gravesend in lodgings. I have lodged there about three months. I have no place of busi ness in the city. I had an office some 12 or 14 years ago in Little Diataff-laae, where I passed as Mr. Sampson, in part nership with Mr. Edwards, who is since dead. I assumed the name of Sampson because a gentleman of that name ad vanced money and authorised me to do so in carrying out a patent. I never carried on business under the names of Cubed or Lampelow, and never had an office in Lau ' rence Ponutney-lane or Knightrider-street. I have been is custody twice, but not six times. 1 was once at Marl borough-street police-court, and once at this court. I was also in custody a third time, but never on any other occa sion.. n sion. I was custody a fourth time, which I had for gotten. It was for stealing a bill, upon which Harris, the person who charged me, obtained au advance of 11., and could have had his hill uck long since upon repayment of that amount. I generally transact my business at hotels. When I called on the prisoner he did not tell me he had the bill back. I have had other transactions with prisoner, and he had always returned the bills; but I received any money from him. On one occasion when I was given into custody it was for stealing my own bill, or at least, one of which I was the drawer and when Harris charged me I was immediately dischar ged by the inspector at the station; and when I was given in custody for stealing Mile Chatten'a bill, Alderman Lawrence heard the case and awarded me 11. for my expenses, which has n been paid, and I still hold the bill for 1701. Re-examined—The prisoner told me ha could get 6701. front Hodges, the distiller, for the 6001. b il l, and we were to divide the 701. between us, and hand over 6001. to Mr. Johns, of Dilates, who was to have 1001., and 4004 was ultimately to be given to Mr. Mickleham, the acceptor. I did not know Kerr until the prisoner was in custody, but I did know Evans. Mr. Wood said this was the case for the prosecution, and he thought there was a prima facie case made out upon which to send the prisoner for trial. Mr. Wagtail addressed the magistrate for the defence, and called the tollowleg witnesses: John Henderson said—l am an uphohterer, of No. 27, Gower-street. I know the prisoner, and was present when Scott felled est him. I heard prisoner say that the 6001. bill was in the hands of a Mr. Clark, but be could not get it done theft& him, sad he expected the bill back on the following day. Scott told him to do the best with it, and get as mach cash as possible. Cross-examined—l have been bankrupt, and I surren dered in Jersey. I was treated in the court as an abscond *henry 4 bankr uppt uraith, of 16, Dowell-street, said the prisoner was a photographic artist, and I was in his employ at the time he was apprehended. About three days after the interview spoken of by the lest witness between Scott and the pri soner, I went with a message from the latter to the former. I saw him at a public-house in Abchurch-lane, and told him Corbett took the bill, but prisoner did not let him keep it, and was going to another party to get it discounted. Scott said he hoped prisoner would not keep him in the dark, but that he would either give him the money or let him know what he was going to do with the bill. Crossumnined—l was present at the interview between Scott and the prisoner, but I do not recollect the name of Hedges being mentioned ; but I believe it was, as he was in partnership with Clark. Re-examined—l have humidly taken money from Hodges for bills he had chattounted for the prisoner. Hodge, lives at Carlton-hill Rut, St. John's Wood. Daniel May, the detective officer in the cue, said the two last witnesses were in the house in which, slid at the time, he apprehended the prisoner, and they betk denied him ; and the last witness on one 0001111i011 disposed of a 2W. bill that the prisoner had received from a man of the name of Tills, for three feather beds, which he soon afterwards pawned for 61. The prisoner here said the Hodges that he was connected with was three times Lord Mayor of Dublin, and he trAttutdentood he was in some way interested in the .- ITraodges, the distiller of Lambeth, said he never heard of say lord mayor of Dublin or of any other distiller of that name. In answer to a question from the City Solicitor, Scott said it was upon the representation that Mr. Hodges, the distiller, was to discount it that I parted with the bill to the prisoner. Alderman Muggeridge said he should be very glad if he could have been of any assistance in forwarding the ends of justice, but having devoted all his attention to the facts of this case, he had arrived at the conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence to induce a jury to =win the prisoner of obtaining the bill in question under false pretences. All the parties concerned named to be mixed sip together in a most extraordinary manner, and he did net think he should he doing right in sending the case for trial without then was a probability of a conviction. He these fore discharged the prisoner. Daniel May here said there was a fresh charge of a similar nature against the prisoner, but which he thought would be made one of conspiracy. Evidence was then given in a second ease, which was very much like the first. After hearing the principal witnesses, Alderman Mug midge discharged the prisoner, but bad scarcely done so when William Scott, the prosecutor, was placed at the bar upon a charge of stealing • bill for 301., which had been entrusted to him for the purposes of discount. The prisoner said he could save the court some time by stating that the bill in question was given up by Pickering soon after he was charged with fraudulently obtaining the 6001. bill. ---.. --- Daniel May said—l bold that bill; but Evans, from whom I received it, has advanced money upon it to Picker ing, whose name is upon it. Primer—l gate it to Pickering, with the 6001. bill, and Evans has given it up rather than come to this court; and I am willing that it should be restored to the prosecutor on payment of my expenses. Mr. Robert Powell, the prosecutor, said—l want my bill, or I must press the charge. The prisoner said—The officer may give it op. Alderman igmfte said—lf he does he will do it on his owns spea, for he may render himself liable to an Letitia from cane of the parties. Daniel May said—l cannot see how I can give it up. It forms the subject of a charge of felony, and es an officer I am bound not to part with it until that charge is dis posed of. Alderman Muggeridge said—Very well. It is not my intention to become a mediator in bill transactions of thin nature, so let the case proceed. The prosecutor then produced the prisoner's receipt for the bill in question, and stated as follows: On the 9th of Sep tember the prisoner brought a wine merchant's cart to his door appropriately loaded, and in the cart was a gentleman whom the prisoner introduced to me as a discounter of bills, who would be able to assist me. I first knew Scott through a swindler, who was in prison, and who undertook to become my partner and advance 1,0001. ; but the only means be had of doing so, I ultimately found, was by bill • 1 discos:n:4.g, which I entirely scouted. Sc.itt, soon after was intrcdueed to him, cams to me and prepriord to do business in the hill line, and I suggested that I should draw upon Lis frond Richard Nadler, who was then in White tress-street l'riaon. Stott subsequently informed na. that Hustler wiadd do two bills for 301. each, and accordingly on the following day I gave Scott one of the bills, and he promised to bring the money in two hours ; be, however, said he had not been able to see the party who we. to dis eount it for him, and I have en him since, and the ' only clue I had of him was what I obtained through the newspapers. The prisoner, as a last resource, said the bill nas not given to him in the City, and the magistrate thercl're had no jurisdiction. The City Solicitor Paid, the magistrate has you before him, and, under all the circumstances, he has the power to deal with the ease, although it be a county one. Alderman Muggeridge said—l shall certainly adjourn this case, that I may ascertain in what manner the bill has been put in circulation. I believe the bill has been oht.i:ned upon false representations, and if the pri as will lend their aid in giving publicity to these proceedings, I think it extremely probable there will be other charges against ' the prisoner. The prisoner objected to a long remand, and wi.l ed the case might be called on again on Friday or Saturday, by which time, he said, nearly all the world will hare read the newspapers. Alderman Muggeridge said—lf yeu can give bu,i, I will accept two sureties in 2.51. each and your own recogosances in 50/. The prisoner was then remanded, and ultimately removed to Newgate to await the next examination. THE CHOLERA. Mora the Omits) Board of Health. Oct. 13.) METROPOLIS. Mr. Hall, of the Poor Law Board, and Dr. Milroy, medical superintending inspector of the General Board of Health, had interviews, yesterday, with the Boards of Guardians of Lewisham and St. ()laves, Southwark, with reference to the adoption of pre cautionary measures for the preservation of the public health. In each instance, the guardians appointed their medical officers to be sanitary inspectors of their respective districts during the existence of the order in council, putting in force the extraordinary powers under the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Act. Two deaths from cholera have been reported this day to the Board of Health by Mr. Yardley, of the Metropolitan Police-office. HEX HAM. On the 11th inst. Dr. Gavin and Mr. Ihrst, the Poor-law inspector of the district, met the guardians of the Hezham Union, on the preventive measures to be adopted pursuant to the regulations of the General Board of Health, and are stated to have sue. ceeded in establishing a cordial union of action be tween the Ilexham Sanitary Committee and the committee of the Board of Guardians. MIDDLESIIRO% The threatened outbreak of cholera in this town has been soalarming, that three medical visitors have been stationed there to carry on daily an active house to house visitation. FELLING. An outbreak of cholera is reported to have taken place in this township, and an immediate inquiry on the spot has been made to ascertain the real facts of the case. AVARKWORTH. Dr. Gavin, in company with the Poor-law inspec tor of the district, Mr. Hurst, visited this town on tho 12th, in order to arrange with the Board of Guardians the measure rendered imperatively neces sary by an outbreak of the epidemic. GATESHEAD AND NEWCASTLE. The epidemic, though kept in check and deprived of its force, still lingers in its favourite haunts in these towns, and unremitted vigilance is still required in watching it. Twelve deaths from cholera and one from diarrhoea were registered in Gateshead on the 10th, and the visitors discovered in New castle, on the 11th, 125 new cases of diarrheei and three approaching cholera, additional information, illustrative of the intensity of the localising causes in both these places, continuing to be recorded. NEWCASTLE .UPON-TYNE. Oct. 11.—Cholera 2 Diarrhcca The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea in Newcastle, during the present outbreak, has been 1,477. In the same period (viz., the first 41 days) during the prevalence of epidemic cholera there in 1831.2, the number of deaths was 280. GATESHEAD. Oct. 11.—Cholera The total number of deaths from cholera and diarrhcea in Gateshead, to the present date, has been 498. During the like period (viz., the first 33 days) in 1831-2, the deaths amounted to 144. ULVERSTONE. .—. Oct. 11.—Diarrhcca . 1 The return from Coldingham given yesterday made it appear u if there had been 3 deaths from cholera. The fact is, that there were 3 cases, only 1 of which bad proved fatal at the time the despatch left. ROYAL MAIL STEAM•PACKET COMPANY. The ordinary half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yesterday at the Lon don Tavern, Captain SHRPHERD in the chair, who, pre viola to the commencement of the business, apologised for the absence of Mr. Colville, the chairman of the company, on the ground of ill health, and of two others of his col leagues, Messrs. Baring and Ellice, the former in COnle quence of the dangerous illness of a near relative, and the latter on the ground of the death of his brother. The report of the directors, which has been already pub lished in the Express, was then read, after which The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, observed that it had gone fully into an explanation of the various circumstances which had tended to operate disad vantageously on the working account of the company end ing the 20th June last. They were told in that document that they had had to contend with a large increase in the price of coals, the enormous rates at which freights had ruled, and the unprecedented high price of wages and stores. Not only that but they had also had to de plore, as affecting their receipts, the fatal effects of that terrible scourge the yellow fever, which had checked the passenger traffic and caused a reduction in that item and freights of 20,0001. The most gratifying intelligence he could have to announce to them was, that the fellow fever had entirely disappeared both from their ships and the ports which they frequented. He hoped therefore that the confidence of travellers to the West Indies and South America would be revived, and that the next half-year would be more favourable in its results. He was happy aha to say that the rate of freights bad reached its higheat,for whilst they had been paying as mush as 355. a ton for the conveyance of coals to St. Thomas's, they were now paying only 265. (Hear, hear.) He thought, therefore, as stated in the report, that the present unfavour able circumstance* were only of a temporary character, and that they would be justified in paying the usual dividend of 21. per share for the half year, free from income tax. Mr. lIVIELTINE thought the report was most satisfactory under the circumstances. He wished to know, however, whether there was not a clause in the government contract entitling the company to extra payment in the event of the price of coal being greatly enhanced The CHAIR/lAN said that no doubt there was such a clause in the contract as the hon. proprietor had referred to, but it was not of a very defined character. It stated that in the event of war or circumstances of a national character occurring to raise the price of coals, the rate of freights and insurance above a certain point, the company should have a claim on the government, provided it did not exceed in all 75,0001. The subject had not escaped the directors, but under all the circumstances they did not think that the present was the time to moot the question, especially as the Interpretation of what were circumstances of a " national" character rested with the government. In reply to another PROPRIETOR, The CHAIRMAN added that the company had a contract with Mr. Russell, of Wales, for supplying coal for their steamers ; but, in consequence of the strike of the colliers, he had been unable to furnish the quantity required ; and acting under their solicitor's advice they had extended the time to Mr. Russell, and had allowed him le. per ton mere for his coals than the oontratt price. The great cause of the increase in the item arose from the enhanced charge in the price of freight. The report was then unanimously adopted. On the motion of Mr. Mltte thanks were voted to the board, and the proceedings terminated. NATIONAL GALLERY.—The Earl of Onelow has u d M a r m . Morels Moore M at oo e se ve nie wit i tt e h n e te s r u ta m in o s f o o f u th e e k i r rvi dr em ad rendered u r n o a e i dn ee a rs : t e by Mr. Moore to the public: and to err, by hie uncompromising exposure of the proceedings at the National Gallery. MELANCHOLY RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—Aoother of these constantly.recurring accidents has just taken place on the Chester and Holyhead liae. A highly respectable and much esteemed young man, 24 planet age, named William Wright, of Mostyn, near Holywell, was returning from a visit to some friends near Cheater, when it is supposed he sat down on the line, about a mile from Queen's Ferry Station, to change hie boots. A cattle train immediately came up, ran over him, and killed him on the spot, shock ingly mutilating his remains. WATERFORD AND KILKENNY RAILWAY.—Retont of traffic for the week ending Oct. 8, 1663 —l9Ol. 84. 54. (29 mike). Corresponding week last year, 6G/. Is. 7d. (13 miles). I