The Press. — London, England, 1858-03-06 00:00:00

MIL bence, be numerically the most powerful empires upon the g l o b e , I say numerically, and of course in that reckoning I do not include India, because it can hardly be considered an element of strength in respect of popu• 'Aim. Now, of both these great empires I speak with so feeling of jealousy ; 1 speak of them both with respect ; I speak with sincere admiration and sympathy; as society is constituted, it must happen that independent stil l, d t e n peentent nations will have different interests. A position of inferiority is never satisfactory, and it is not always even safe. What I say therefore is, that if Western Europe—at this moment the very focus and centre of civilisation throughout the world—is to bold its own—is to hold in another generation the place which it occupies in the present, it must be by a cordial and friendly union among its leading powers. ( Hear, hear.) Such, gentlemen, is to us the value of the alliance with FralCe. Lord Stanley briefly recapitulated the leading inci dents of the attempt of the 14th January, traced the conduct of Lord Palmerston's Administration, and explained its overthrow. The question than re mained, what course of action did the present Go vernment intend to follow with respect to Lord Palmerston's Conspiracy Bill : To that I answer, we are in no sense pledged to the bill b r ought forward by Lord Palmerston, and with that bill we have nothing to do. Whether any change in the law of England he required is a matter in dispute among lawyers. Lord Campbell, one of the greatest living authorities, says that no change is required, and that the powers of the common law are sufficient. I hope, and shall be glad to believe, that be is right; but that is a question which will probably soon receive an authoritative decision, for it is one which must probably be raised and decided in the course of some proceedings now pending; and until it is so raised, and so decided, it is impossible to give any deci sive reply to the question as to what we intend to do. Of this only I am certain, that if it should be necessary to frame any measure for the repression of attempts at assassi nation, which I think—at all events, I hope—ia unlikely, it will be a measure, not founded upon the demands of even a friendly power, but based solely and simply upon a sense of what is required to make all residents in England amenable to the law of England, to that law which, while it affords them the protection and the rights of citizens, expects from them that obedience and duty which citizens are bound to render. ( Hear, hear.) Above all, gentlemen, never dream that at any time, under any Minister, there can exist even a question of surrendering—nay, nor even of modifying in the minutest degree that right of asylum which has been through all ages our proud prerogaive, and which has been claimed, and claimed successfully, by a candidate for the Imperial throne of Napoleon, by two members of the house of Bourbon successively, expelled by an indignant people, and by another class of exiles, men varying no doubt in character and in shades of opinion, but men by a great majority of whom I am well convinced no sympathy ever has been or can be felt with assassins or assassination—(cheers)—men who have left home and friends and property, and have fought and would have died for a hope which failed them, and for an idea which they could not realise, but a hope which, even in failure, was noble, and an idea which at least was unselfish. (Cheers.) Honour, I say, to the victims of political conflict, be they whom they may—honour to conrar, to self-sacrifice, and to misfortune, fur in self-sacrifice conscience is honoured, and it is that firm persistency in political convictions which we respect in others that to Englishmen has been the permanent security and the truest guarantee for their national rights and their constitutional freedom. (Cheers. ) I say, then, you need have no fear, whoever may conduct the government of this country, that that right of asylum 'hall be in any degree diminished. Whatever mistakes and misapprehensions may have been produced by the docu ment to which I have referred will, I hope, be removed by a friendly and temperate reply, and in the meantime we are not prepared to introduce any change into our law until we are well satisfied by actual right that the present law as deficient for the purposes of justice. (Hear, hear.) THE PRESS, nulcii 6, 1858. lewski's despatch, then, and not till then, be would be prepared further to consider the subject of amending the Conspiracy Law. Passing to the question of Indian legislation, Mr. Inglis expressed his entire confidence in Lord Ellenborougb and his conviction that the bill the Government would propose would give satisfaction to the country. With respect to Reform, or ratber a full consideration of the laws regulating the representation of the people, he thought the Government was asking no great amount of indulgence from the country if, upon a subject which required such earnest attention and deliberate consideration, they asked till the session of 1850 to bring forward the measure : That they will address their minds to the question honestly and earnestly I do not doubt, and I believe the result will be that iu 1839 this question will be discussed in a fair, dispassionate, and unprejudiced spirit, not only by the Government, but by Parliament and the country. (Hear.) I can only say in conclusion on this point that t is quite in vain to expect any satisfactory measure re garding the representation of the people, unless the Go vernment which sits down to prepare it does so in a spirit of perfect honesty and fairness. (Hear, hear.) If any Minister will approach this subject with a view to the promotion of party or personal interest, or to carry through any preconceived theory or project of his own, be will undauhtedly fail ; but if he come to the consideration of it with an unbiassed mind, having • single eye to the advan- tage of the country and the securing of those great ends of representation to which I have referred, be will by God's blessing prevail. (Hear, hear.) BUCUSGHAMSHIRE.—The nomination of a member for this county, consequent upon the acceptance of office by Mr. Disraeli, has been fixed to take place on Monday next at the County-hall, Aylesbury. Mr. Disraeli has issued the following address to the electors of the county of Buckingham : Gentlemen,—The Queen having confided to the Earl of Derby the duty of forming an Administration, her Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer upon me the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. I resign, therefore, into your hands the trust which, for ten years, you have extended to me, as your member in the House of Commons; but as you have thought fit on several occasions to renew that mark of approba tion, I beg leave to announce that on the day of election I shall solicit the honour of being, for the fifth time, your representative in Parliament. The circumstances of the country are, in many respects, critical ; and in none more so than in its external relations. Painful misconceptions have arisen with the Government of Ciat faithful and powerful ally who, in so many in stances, has proved his good feeling and fidelity to this country. Believing that a cordial alliance between Eng land and France is equally conducive to the interests of both countries, I shall express my hope and conviction that by measures, at once firm and conciliatory, these causes of misunderstanding may be speedily and entirely If the country will heartily support the Queen's Go. vernuient, at this conjuncture, a result so desirable for the peace and progress of Europe will be greatly facili tated.—Believe me. yours sincerely, . Grosvenor-gate, Feb. 2d, 1858. B. DISRAELI. was re- BELFAST.—Mr. Cairns, elected yesterday for Belfast without opposition. BRIDGENORTH.—Mr. Whitmore, Lore of the Treasury, was re•elected on Wedne%day without op position. Mr. Whitmore, who was received with much enthusiasm, addressed the electors in an able speech, justifying Lord Derby's acceptance of power, and asking for him a fair and impartial trial. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.—The Right Hon. S. H. Walpole was again returned on Thursday as the representative of the University in Parliament. As there was no opposition there was a very thin attend ance of electors, not more than a dozen besides the officials being present. COLCHESTEIL—Lord Henry Lennox, M.P., Junior Lord of the Treasury, will be returned this day without opposition. COCKERMOVTEL—Lord Naas was on Thursday re turned for Cockermouth without opposition. EAST SUFFOLIL-Sir F. Kelly, the new Attorney- General, has issued his address soliciting re-election to the electors of this constituency. The learned gentleman observes in the course of his address : " It would obviously be premature to enter at this early period into the views and intentions of a Go vernment which has yet scarcely come into exist ence ; but I may venture to assure you that if we are fortunate enough to enjoy tha confidence and receive the support of the constituencies of the empire we shall bring to a satisfactory conclusion the great question affecting the fate of our dominions in the East, and that we shall advance the cause of law reform and of the civil administration of the affairs of the State so as to satisfy the just expecta tions of the country. My sentiments upon parlia mentary reform are well known to you all." Flrmsonox.—General Peel, Secretary of State for War, was duly re-elected for Huntingdon on Thursday. The gallant general, in his address to his constituents, expressed himself in favour of Indian reform, and of a wise and j u di c i ous measure of parliamentary reform, and, with respect to the law of asylum, declared that foreigners who seek refuge among us ought to be perfectly free to come or to go as they think proper, so long as they are contented to yield obedience to our laws : know of no difference between Englishmen and foreigners in that respect, and, depend upon it, should there be any necessity for an alteration in our law of conspiracy, it will be made without reference to any such distinction. NORTH NORTHIJHBERLAND.—Lord Lovaine, upon his appointment as a Lord of the Admiralty, has issued the following address to his constituents in North Northumberland . THE LORD ADVOC&TE. STANFORD.-Mr. Inglis, the Lord Advocate of Scotland, was returned for this borough on Wednes day without opposition, in the room of Sir Frederic roesiger, elevated to the office of Lord Chancellor. The Lord Advocate upon his election being duly declared addressed the electors. He had accepted (dee, be said, under Lord Derby and his colleagues because lee firmly believed that their measures, wherever they were developed, would be such as not only to deserve but to commend themselves to the general slipped of the country. Glancing at the effect of the recent vote of the House of Commons, which in his opinior_ had vindicated the honour of the country, Mr. Inglis remarked upon the present Position of affairs :-- There is, I am quite sure, no quarrel and no cause of (panel between the people of England and France—( Hear, hritc)—tior can it be said with truth that there is any sub stantial disagreement or misunderstanding between the two Governments, and above all I think there is no dif ference of opinion between the House cf Commons and the country on this subject. (Hear, hear.) On the con trary, th e only conflict, the only disagreement, was that which arose between the late Government and the House of Commo ns , and I think that in that conflict the House Columons faithfully and fully represented the feelings of ►he people. (Hear, hear.) AS soon as full explanations had been 'given by the French Government of the meaning of Count Wa- TO THE ELECTORS OF THE NORTHERN DIVISION OF THE COUNTY OF NORTHUMBERLAND. •G ntl emen ,—ln consequence of my having accepted an office in the Administration of the Earl of Derby, I again appeal to you for a renewal of the trust you have for the last sir years done me the honour to repose in me. If the result of his past conduct in office, and his lordship's declaration, had not justified the assurance that his measures would be directed with a wise and prudent attention to the amelioration and maintenance of the laws and institutions of the country, and that necessary changes should be undertaken and carried out in a spirit of prudence and deliberation ;—if I were not convinced that his resolution to uphold the dignity of this country is only equalled by the ardent desire that we should enjoy the blessings of peace and amity with surrounding nations, it would not have been necessary fur me to addr as you, and to ask you, as 1 now do, to ratify by my re-election your approval of the conditions untie' which I am about to take a part in the adminis tration of the affairs of the nation.-1 have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obedient and faithful servant, London, let March, 1858. LOVAINE. His lordship will be unopposed. NORTH WILTS.—Mr. Sotheron Estcourt, who has accepted office as President of the Poorlaw Board, has issued an address. The election will take place at Devizes, and no opposition is expected. NORTH LEICESTERSHIRE.—Lord J. Manners, Presi dent of the Board of Works, will be re-elected without opposition. At the close of last week Mr. C. H. Frewen issued an address to the electors, soliciting their suffrages as an opponent of the grant to May nootb, and stating that he should have supported Lord Palmerston in the recent division. Mr. Frewen, however, has deemed it wise to retire from the field. O. .Mr. Henley, President of the Board of Trade, solicits the suffrages of the electors of the county of Oxford. No opposition will he offered. AVENLOCK.—The Hon. Colonel Cecil Forester, Controller of the Household, was re•elected ou Wednesday without opposition. INDIA. APPROACHING INVASION OF OUDE BY SIR COLIN CAMPBELL - CAPTURE OF THE FORT RAT GURH, AND RELIEF OF SAUGOR. FOREIGN•OFFICE DESPATCH. THE following telegram, from Mr. Acting-Consul- General Green, was received at the Foreign-office, vii Malta, March 1, 6.15 a.m. : ALEXANDRIA, Feb. 24, 1858. The Pottinger arrived from Bombay at Suez yes terday evening, and the following intelligence has been telegraphed to me. The commander-in-chief, at the head of the force of 250 (25,000 ?) men, with about sevenq pieces of ordnance, continues collecting supplies and means of conveyance at Futtyghur. He is expected to move on. Oude -►ill be invaded by masses of troops ad vancing on all sides about the 25th. The enemy are fortifying Lucknow by this time in great strength. There are about 100,000 of them in arms. They are said to be losing heart, and anxious to negotiate. Sir James Outrun has been left undisturbed since the 16th. He was reinforced on the 22nd by her Majesty's 34th from Cawnpore, a convoy of stores. A party of Rifles have taken up a post ou the Luck now road, one march from Cawnpore, where they will remain to keep open communication. Sir H. Rose, with Central India Field Force, cap tured the strong fort Ratgurh on the 29th, the enemy having escaped over the walls. He relieved Sangor on the 3rd, and released about a hundred Christian women and children. The garrison had been shut up for six months. The Rajpootana Field Force captured Avas on the 2:3rd; it was the strongest town in Rajpootana. The garrison escaped over night in a frightful storm of thunder and rain. The cultivators busily employed everywhere cul tivating their winter crops, and the revenue being collected in the districts around Delhi as if nothing had happened. The 72nd Regiment arrived at Bom bay on the 7th, and the 18th Regiment reached on the same day, via the Cape. This telegram arrived at Malta, from Alexandria, by the French steamer, 4113th February, at 6.50 p.m. L'xons, Admiral.