The Press. — London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

AUG. 4, 1855. SIR G. BROWN AT LEAMINGTON. SIR GEORGE BROWN having taken up his resilience at Leamington, the inhabitants of the town and dis trict determined to make a public recognition of his services in the East by presenting him with an address, congratulating him on his safe return to England. The address, numerously signed, was in trusted to a deputation consisting of the Hon. C. B. Percy, Lori Leigh, Lieut.-Col. Tryor, Major Hopkins, i&c., who on Saturday last waited upon Sir George at his residence, in Waterloo-place. The gallant general nturned a suitable reply, in the course of which he made some observations on the army in the Crimea. He said : With respect to the army, 1 may safely assert that its conduct has been beyond all praise, and that at no period in the history of this country has the nation had more reason to be proud of the conduct of its troops. I speak, not of the soldiers alone, but include with them the officers by whom they have been led. For the men of the army are indignant at the attempts that have been made by an unscrupulous portion of the press in this country to vilify their officers, and to separate their interests from their own. It is a mistake and a misrepresentation to assert that the officers of the army are generally and habitually inattentive to their duty, or that the condition of the troops would be improved by having a larger portion of the officers drawn from the ranks, for it is precisely because they are gentle men that the men are so much attached to them. Although, therefore, far from meaning to speak in disparagement of individuals who may have raised themselves by their own merits, many of whom I know to be in the highest degree respectable, I assert that the military service of this country would be less popular, and discipline would not be so well maintained, if the majority of the officers were of this description. Look at the proportion borne by the officers to the men, in the returns of killed and wounded, in all actions that have taken place. It is always nearly double what it ought to be. Look at the very last affair—that of the 14th of June —upon which we find a list of 93 officers to some 1,300 men; the number which would have answered for 3,0(X). And why is this? Because the officers, being English gentlemen, are accustomed to set an example to the troops, and the ►uen, although ready enough to follow, always expect to be led. Depend upon it, the less the constitution of the British army is interfered with, the better it will be for the troops, as well as for the country ; and I myself have always considered it a subject of regret, that the Committee of Inquiry which has been lately sitting, instead of examining witnesses who were not in a poiition to know much of what they were questioned about, had not sent to Paris, or brought over some French officers who had been associated with the English troops. The committee would have found that our allies have formed a very different estimate of the merits of our troops from that which has been funned by some of their own •nintrymen. BANQUET TO LORD CANNING. THE new Governor• General of India, Viscount Can ning, was duly sworn into office at a Court of East India Directors held on Wednesday last. In the evening, according to custom, the Directors gave a banquet to the noble viscount, at which they were honoured also with the company of most of the Ministers and a number of other distinguished pet sonages. The entertainment was of course of a most sumptuous character, its splendour and costliness being depicted to the imagination of the public by the significant information that all the resources of the London Tavern were called into action on the occasion. After dinner the health of the new Governor- General was duly drunk. After a complimentary speech from the chairman, Mr. Elliot Macnaghter, Lord Canning rose to reply. His opening sentences conveyed the customary thanks for the honour con ferred upon him, followed by a modest disclaimer of special merit on his own part. He then touched upon the general question of Indian administration, and proceeded:— It would be ungrateful in me did I fail to admit that there were some considerations that tended to reassure me, and to encourage me in the hope that I may be the instru ment of some usefulness in the sphere to which my des tinies are about to be transferred. You have already assured me this day of the generous confidence and co operation of the Court of Directors. I thank you for that assurance, and I rely on it implicitly, for I know that the body of which you are the head, are, whenever they bestow their confidence, no niggards in supporting those who serve them honestly and faithfully. I feel that I can also rely on the cordial support and sympathy of my noble friend at the head of the Government, and of all those colleagues with whom I have had the proud satisfaction of serving as a Minister of the Crown, but above all I delight in the co operation—for on that 1 must daily and hourly rely—of those two admirable bodies, the civil service and the army of India. (Loud cheers.) I hardly know whether there is any feature of our Government, any portions of our in• stitutions upon which Englishmen may look with more honest exultation than those two noble branches of our Indian service. The men of those branches have done much for the advancement of India, and have sent forth from their ranks men who were efficient in war and peace, in numbers of which any monarchy in Europe might be proud, and who have rescued their countrymen from charges for merly, and not unjustly, levelled against them of dealing sometimes too harshly with those whom they were bound to succour and protect. It is the possession of such men that •sables you to exhibit a spectacle unequalled in the world's history—that of 100,000,000 of people submitting in peace and contentment in a country teaming with wealth to THE PRESS. the government of strangers and aliens. But your yoke is so easy, and the security so great, that there is no Govern ment of a native prince that can for a moment compare with IL (Hear, hear.) With such choice of instruments for the person in whom, with the sanction of the Crown, is vested the chief responsible government of India, there can be no excuse for failure or shortcoming. He has but to choose fearlessly, without favour, on public, not private grounds, and he is sure to be well served. It is, perhaps, no great boast to make, but I may state that I leave these shores unencumbered by a single promise or pledge to any expectant, and that I have no claimants to meet on those posts o: trust and honour of which you make me the repo. sitoy, except those persons who shall prove themselves best able, by their talents, character, and experience, to effi ciently serve their adopted country. (Cheers.) I hope and pray that we may not reach the extremity of war. I wish for a peaceful time of office ; but I cannot forget that in our Indian empire that greatest of all blessing 4 depends upon a greater variety of chances and a more precarious tenure than in any other quarter of the globe. (Hear.) We must not forget that in the sky of I tuba, serene as it is, a small cloud may arise at first no bigger than a man's hand, but which, growing larger and larger, may at last threaten to burst, and overwhelm us with ruin. What has happened once may happen again. The disturbing causes have diminished certainly, but they are not dispelled. We have still discontented and heterogeneous peoples united under our sway; we have still neighbours before whom we cannot altogether lay aside our watchfulness ; and we have a frontier configuration that renders it possible that in any quarter, at any moment, causes of collision may arise. (Hear, hear.) Besides, so intricate are our relations with some subsidiary States, that I doubt whether ii► an empire so vast and so situated it is in the power of the wisest Go• vernment, the most peaceful and the most forbearing, to command peace. But, if we cannot command, we can at least deserve it by taking care that honour, good faith, and fair dettbig are on our side, and then, if, in spite of us, it should become necessary to strike a blow, we can strike with a clear conscience. With blows so dealt the struggle must be short and the issue not doubtful. (Hear, hear.) But I gladly dismiss from my mind apprehensions that may not he realised, and joyfully recognise a large arena of peaceful usefulness, in which I hope for your kind assist. ance and co-operation. The maintenance of the revenue on a solid and wholeson e footing, the extension of public works, and the completion of those lines of social and commercicl intercourse now in progress, will be objects well worthy of our attention. Those great operations necessary to pro tect us from the dread effects of drought, and, lastly, the education of the native population, and as a necessary con sequence the opening to them of public employments — all these things present a large field for peaceful triumph, long enough for a life, great enough for the most insatia ble ambition. (Cheers.) In such a field Englishmen may be giants for good or for evil, but, for my part, J shall be well content to take up the course which has been com menced by Lord Dalhousie, and if possible to carry out his views. (Cheers.) The health of the Prime Minister being afterwards proposed: — Lord PALMERSTON, in returning thanks, observed that, although at all times the responsibility of administering the affairs of this country was great, it had never been greater than at the present moment. lint there was one part of the empire in which the cases both of Sovereign and Ministers were light, and that was the portion admin istered by the gentlemen at whose hospitable board they were then assembled. (Cheers.) He congratulated the Court of Directors on he selection, and said it was a great gratification to his noble friend's colleagues to know that, although they were deprived of his society, he was about to be removed to a sphere of such extended usefulness. Having warmly eulogised Lord Canning's ability, firmness, and aptitude for the government of a great empire, the noble lord remarked upon the curious fact that, whereas of old all civilisation came from India, through Egypt, now we, who were barbarians, were bringing back civilisation and enlightenment to the parent source. Perhaps it might be our fate to confer on the countless millions of India a higher and holier gift than any mere human knowledge, but that must be left to the hands of time and the gradual improvement of the people. (Cheers.) Other toasts were drunk and responded to, and the company did not separate until nearly midnight. EXPERIMENTS were made on Tuesday at Vincennes with a balloon, intended to be used at the bombard ment of cities. The inventor claims the power of directing his balloon wherever he wishes. It is to be charged with shells, which are to be fired by an electric wire at the moment of descent. The experi ments took place in the presence of the Emperor. The balloon on this occasion was charged with rockets only, in order to prevent accident. THE ANNUAL CONTEST, from the Swan at London bridge to the Swan at Chelsea, for Doggett's coat and badge took place on Wednesday, and was one of the best races for many years past. To the livery and badge given to commemorate the accession of the family of her present Majesty to the throne has been added, arising from interest upon South Sea Stock, 4/. 10s. for the second man, and 2/. 14s. for the third, besides presents from the Fishmongers' Company of one guinea with the coat; a guinea and a half for the fourth man, and a guinea each for the fifth and sixth. The competitors reached their destination in the following order :—Henry James White, Mill-stairs, Bermondsey, 1; Thomas Adcock, St. George's-stairs. Hot selydown, 2; William Ling, Tower-stairs, 3; William John Wallin°, jun., Tower stairs, 4; Thomas Fitzgerald, St. James's-stairs, Wapping, 6; John Osman, Horselycloan, Zile 3rnil• WAR DEPARTMENT, Juicy 27. The Queen has been graciously pleased to give orders for the appointment of the following Officers of her Majesty's Land Forces to be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the Third Class, or Companions of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Major-General Henry William Barnard. Colonels Charles Richard Sackville, Lord \Vest, 21st Regiment ; Clement Alexander Edwards, 18th Regiment. Lieutenant- Colonels Arthur Horton, 9th Regiment ; Stuilliolrue Brown rigg, Grenadier Guards ; Charles William Dunbar Staveley, 44th Regiment ; George Vaughan Maxwell, 88th Regiment; John Douglass Johnstone, 33rd Regiment; Arthur Lowry Cole, 17th Regiment; Robert Parker Campbell, 90th Regiment ; Henry J. Warre, 57th Regiment ; Alexander Macdonell, Rifle Brigade; Robert Nigel Fitzhsrdinge Eingscote, Scots Fusilier Guards. Officers whose names were omitted in the list of deceased Officers of the Army and Navy, published in the Gazette of 10th July, who would have been recommended for the honour of the Third Class of the Order of the Bath, had they survived : Colonel the Hon. Francis Grosvenor Hood, Grenadier Guards; Lieut. Colonel Charles Francis Seymour, Scots Fusilier Guards; Lieut.-Colonel Exhorn S. T. Swiney, 63rd regiment; Major Thomas Norcliffe Dalton, 49th Regiment. WAR-OFFICE, .IttLy 31. BaavE•r. To have the local rank of Lieutenant• General in Turkey —Major•Generals Henry Barnard, Lord Itokeby, Sir W. J. Codrington, K.C.8., Frederick Markham, C. 8.; the Hon. Sir James Yorke Searlett, K.C.B. to command the cavalry. To have the local rank of Brigadier. General inTurkey— Colonels Robert Garrett, Maurice Barlow, Charles Warren, C. 8., Charles William Ridley, Duncan Alexander Cameron, C. 8., Charles T. Van Straubenzee, Hon. Augustus Almeria Spencer, C. 8., John Lawrenson, William Parlhy, Charles Trollope, Lord George Paget, C. 8., Horatio Shirley, C. 8., Henry K. Storkes. 4tith Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant H. G. E. Welby, to be Captain; Ensign Edward Benbow, to be Lieutenant; Cyril ltlackburne Tew, Gent., to be Ensign. (18th Foot—Ensign Cyril B. Tew, to be Ensign. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE. Tuesday, July 31. BANKRUPTS.—THOMAS EMMET, Skiuner-place, City, mer chant—DE(lßa¢ HOOFER, Arbour.square, Commercial•road East, shyowner—WlLLlAM Grottaz HRowe, Dartford, Kent, clothier —IIIOMAS BACON, Colchester, FoileX, printer FREDERICK GADD, Chichester, Sussex, grocer—JAMES STANDINO, Batters terrace, Peckham, china deaIer—EDWARD Coma, Edmonton, timber merchant—EDWAßD Davis, Bromley and Tottenham, licensed victualler—W ILLIAM QUINTON, Birmingham, builder— WILLIAM FARMER, Birmingham, nail manufacturer LEWIS HENRY MEAKIN and JOHN FARRALL, Shelton, Staffordshire, earthenware manufacturers—Aunom OAKI.EY, Derby, rope ma• nufacturer—WlLLlAM CANUTE BODLEY, Exeter, ironfounder--- HENRY Ewa SKINNER, Tiverton, Devonshire, saddier—JAMES HENRY MILLS, Horton and Bradford, stuff merchant—Maar TOPPER, Manchester, provision dealer—JOSEPH JAMES BRIER LEY and HOBERT ARROWSMITH, Jun., Manchester, silk menu racturers— PETER JAMIZsON, Staleybridge, Lancashire, tailor— JAMES EDWARD DAWSON, Manchester, money scrivener. Friday, August 3. BANKRUPTS.—SAMUEL GAWAN, Kent-street, Southwark, victualler—doemen Havvramn, Church-court, Old Jewry, woollen warehouseman—JAMES MITCHELL, Jane Keighley,roanu facturer—JAMEB W:Leos, Bowling, Yorkshire, innkeeper— JOSEPH Pnorerrr, Oldbury, Worcestershire, grocer—Joan Starr, Nottinghun, grocer—Hummer Ligoacm JAMLS tad JOHN JAMES, Leadeuliall-street, engineers—WlLLlAM SCUDDI, Blackheath, livery stable keeper—Or:owls PELL, Welford, Northampton, act ivener—WILLIAM THORKK, Queen-street-place, City, railway contractor—WlLLlAM LiREOORY, Sheffield, toy manufacturer — Vona SAtmort (known as Salmon and Cu.), 831 Brick•lane, bpitaltields, boot and shoe manufacturer—Wu-Liam 'l'eeoo, IU, Ounter's•grove, West Bromptou, builder—JAMES 11• LL, Nottingham, broker—WALTER JAMES PALMER, Hotwells, Bristol, cattle deaIer—RICHARD HARDEE, Kingston-npon.Hull, merchant—GZOßGE ARMITAOK, JOHN FRANKIRH, W. FRANKISH and THOMAS BARKER, Sheffield, railway carriage manufacturers —BRYAN KIKIINAN, MLOCheafkr, clothier—J 08E1.H TRAVIS, Green Bridge, near Newchurcb, Lancashire, woollen manufac turer and printer. r, after y resi• THE EARL OF SEFTON expired on a protracted and painful illness, at the deuce in Belgrave-square. The deceased, Charles William Molyneux, Earl of Sefton and Viscount Molyneux of Maryborough, in the peerage of Ireland, Baron Sefton, of Croxteth, county of Lancaster, in that of the United Kingdom, and a baronet of England, was eldest son of William Philip, second earl, and Maria, second daughter of William, sixth Lord Craven. He was born 10th July, 1730, and married, in June, 1834, Mary Augusta, only daughter of the late Mr. Robert Gregge Hopwood, by whom his lordship has a youthful family. The late earl, like his father, was a Whig in politics. When Viscount Molyneux, he was returned to the House of Commons at the general election of 1832, in con junction with Mr. G. W. Wood, for the south division of Lancashire ; but at the next general election, in 1835, was defeated, after a very severe contest, by Lord Francis Egerton (now Earl of Ellesmere) and the Hon. R. B. Wilbraham. He succeeded to the earldom on the death of his father, in November, 1838. On the demise of the late Earl of Derby, in July, 1851, the Earl of Sefton was appointed Lord Lieutenant and Vice Admiral of Lancashire, which now becomes in the gift of the Premier. The deceased is succeeded in the family honours and estates by his eldest son, Viscount Molyneux, now in his twentieth year, lieutenant i n the Grenadiet Guards, 739