The Sun. — London, England, 1865-07-19 00:00:00

Mr. Gladstone in south Lancashire. Mr. Gladstone arrived in Manchester soon after two o'clock yesterday from Chester. He drove to the Palatine Hotel, where he had a conference with the Election Committee, and wrote the following address To TILE ELECTOILS OF TIIE SOI7THERN DIVISION OF TUE COUNTY OF LANCASTER. " Gentlemen,—l appear before you as a candidate for the suffrages of your division of my native county. Timefor bids me to enlarge on the numerous topics which justly en gage the public interest. I will bring them all to a single head. You are conversant—few so much so—with tholegis lation of the last 35 years. You have seen, you have felt, its results. You cannot fail to have observed the verdict which the country generally has within the last eight days pro nounced upon the relative claims and positions of the two great political parties with respect to that legislation in the past, and to the prospective administration of public affairs. I humbly, but confidently, without the least dis paragement to many excellent persons from whom I have the misfortune frequently to differ, ask you to give your powerful voice in confirmation of that verdict, and to pro nounce with s.ignificance as to the direction in which you desire the wheels of State to move. Before these words can be read I hope to be among you in the hives of your teeming industry. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obe dient and most humble servant, _ _ " W. E. GLADSTONE. " llftwarden, July 18." He afterwards went to the Exchange and walked round with Mr. Henry Ashworth. He was greatly cheered. Later in the afternoon he went to the Free Trade Hall, which was densely filled with people, who cheered enthusiastically. He was addressing the electors when our parcel was de spatched. LIVERPOOL. Last night the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer, addressed an immense meeting in the Royal Amphitheatre, Liverpool. The announcement that Mr. Gladstone would pre sent himself before the electors and personally can vass the constituency of South Lancashire had been made only on Monday at the nomination, and the meeting at the Amphitheatre had not been an nounced till yesterday morning ; buG the mere statement was sufficient to arouse the whole of this part of the division, and during the whole day the doors of the several committee rooms were besieged by thousands of persons anxious to obtain tickets of admission to the theatre. Large as the building is, it was impossible to admit more than a tithe of those who would have paid largely for the privilege. Long before 3 o'clock, the time announced for the com mencement of meeting, there were vast crowds of people surrounding the building, and every entrance was stormed. No one reached the interior without a fight, and the theatre was packed from floor to ceiling. The stage was occupied by the leading Liberals of the town and district. The appearance of Mr. Robertson Gladstone and the chairman of the committee was the signal for a tremendous burst of cheering ; but these demonstrations were completely thrown into the shade by the reception accorded to the Chancellor of the Exchequer him self : the whole assembly stood up and cheered Mr. Gladstone vehemently for many minutes, and the enthusiastic shouts of applause were allowed to sub side only after repeated appeals from the gentlemen on the stage. Upon the motion of Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, seconded by Mr. JAMES AIKEN, Mr.NVm. Rathbone, jun., was called to the chair, and the latter very briefly introduced the right hon. candidate to the meeting. Mr. GLADSTONE said—At 8 o'clock to-night,when I have the honour of appearing before this crowded assembly, the poll has been appointed to cease for the University of Oxford. The very last thing that .1 could think of would be to connect that circum stance at Oxford with one single word either of dis respect or indifference as regards that ancient, great, and venerable University. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, duiing 18 anxious years I have been the representa tive of Oxford. It has been my duty in her name to deal, as well as my feeble powers would permit me, with all the questions bearing upon the relation ship of religion and of education to the State which this critical period has brought to the surface. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I haVe endeavoured to serve that University with my whole heart ; and with the strength, or weakness, or whatever faculties Go.I has given me (cheers), it has been my daily arid my nightly care to promote as well as I could h!r interests, and to testify as well as I could my love. Long has she borne with me. Long, in spite of active opposition, did she resist every effort to displace me. At last she has changed her mind. (" Shame ! " and „roans for Oxford.) God grant it may be well with her, but recollections of her confidence, which I have so long enjoyed, and of the many hours and many years that I have spent in her service, never can part from me. (Cheers.) And if now, gentlemen, I appear before you in a different position, Ido not appear as a different man. (Cheers.) I have not forgotten my former existence in this free and happy country ; I know of no distinction between the various classes and various interests, and there is no reason why the man who has been, to the best of his poor ability, the faithful representative of the University, should not also to the best of his poor ability, if the constituency should be disposed to grant the trust, be the faithful repre sentative of the electors of South Lancashire. (Cheers.) In representing that University my task has been one of no small difficulty ; the desire of my heart has been to minister to her strength and to her prosperity, and I will not yield to my favoured com petitor in devotion to her truest interests. (Cheers.) As to the mode of promoting these interests, as to the best method of testifying to that attachment, there may be great differences between us—(hear, hear)—my earnest desire, my heart's prayer is that her future may be as glorious as her past,—yet more glorious still. (Cheers.) But if it is to be so, that result must be brought about by following a certain method of action, by enlarging her borders— (cheers)—by opening her doors—(cheers)—by in vigorating her power, by endeavouring to rise to the height of that vocation with which I believe it has pleased the Almighty to endow her—isreat cheers) —that as in other times the Universities of the land, and Oxford the first of them, led the mind and thought of the country upon the path of improve ment, so now they may still prove worthy of that high office. But if lam told on the other side that it is only by embracing the narrow interests of a political party that Oxford can discharge her duties to the country, then, gentlemen, I at once say I am not the man for Oxford. (Loud cheers.) I hope, sir, it will not savour of vanity if I detain you yet a mo ment longer upon this subject. (Cheers.) We see re presented in that ancient institution, represented , more nobly, per h aps, and more conspicuously than in any other place, at any rate with more re markable concentration, the most prominent features that relate to the past of England. (Cheers.) I come into South Lancashire, and I find here around me an assemblage of different phenomena. I find develop ment of industry—(cheers) —I find growth of enter prise I find progress of social philanthropy ; I find prevalency of toleration ; and I find an ardent desire for freedom. (Cheers.) But, sir, if there should be a duty more than another incumbent upon the public men of England, it is, so far at least as I am able to prove, the duty of establishing and maintaining a harmony between thepast of our glorious countryand the future that is still in store for her. (Cheers.) In my humble and insignificant person, on the one hand re presenting that ancient body, on thc other hand placed now for many years in the administration of the moat responsible offices connected with the progress and wellbeing of the country (cheers) —I have honestly, I have earnestly, although I may have feebly—(cries of no, no, and cheers)—striven to unite that which is represented by Oxford and that which is represented by Lancashire. (Cheers.) My desire is that they s'notill know and love one another. If I have clung to the representation of the University with desperate foi'dncss, it was because I would not desert that post in which I :Toned to have been placed. I have not abandoned it. I have been dismissed from 'it, not by academical, butby political agencies. (Cheers.) The great majority of the teaching body of Oxford, the great majority of those who devote their nighty and daysand the best years of theirlives in rearing youths have been at all times my supporters in the election, and have not now abandoned me. (Cheers.) don't complain of those political influences by which I have been displaced. The free constitutional spirit of the country requires that the voice of the majority should prevail. (Cheers.) I lope the majority will prevail in South Lancashire. (Cheers.) I don't for a moment complain that it should have prevailed in Oxford. But, gentlemen, I come now to ask you a question, whether, because I have been declared unfit longer to serve the University on ac count of my political position, there is anything in that position, there is anything in what I have said and done, in the arduous. office which I hold, which is to unfit me for the representation of my native county. (Great cheers.) It is sometimes said, but I really know not whether it is said in jest or in earnest, that the present Parliament has been dis tinguished by a series of attacks upon the Consti tution, on Church and State. (Laughter.) I am not aware that any of these attacks have been made ; if they have, they have not much fallen under my notice or knowledge. I don't mean to say that I concur with every opinion that is pronounced in respect to the Church in the House of Commons, and he would be a very ingenious man who could concur with them ; but I do say, gentlemen, that we, as a Government, and that I, as the representative of the University, have not been unmindful of our and my duty to study the interests of the Church. (Cheers.) I admit that this is the special duty of those who are chosen to that high trust, and I want to know in what respect the interests of the Church have suffered during the administration of the Go vernment and during the progress of legislation through the last six years. There never was a time at which the Church enjoyed freedom of speech in the degree in which she now possesses it. (Cheers.) Her bishops and her clergy are permitted, accord ing to the old formation of the constitution. It is quite true that they do not exercise coercive 'powers, and I am sure that they are too wise to wish it ; but, at any rate, that freedom of speech, permit me to say, is of itself a valuable privilege to a body which must necessarily depend upon its moral influence ; for it cannot be defended by mere professions, written law, or prescriptions from a former time. (Cheers.) If the Church of England is to live among us, she must flourish, and she must grow, and God grant that she may do all by making herself beneficently known in the licharge of her Apostolic offices, by the faithful custody of the word which she has received, by making her ministration the friend and consoler of every man of every rank of life, by causing herself to be felt by each one of you in those actions wherein her assistance can be available—these are the functions in which I have cordially desired to promote her usefulness, these are the functions in which I believe she is growing stronger from day to day ; and on my part, as the representative of Oxford, on the part of those who have been honoured with the confidence of Parlia ment, we say we have in no respest betrayed our duty with regard to the Church of England. But, sir, there is another view conscientiously entertained. I have no doubt there is another view as to the pro per mode of promoting the interests of the Church of England, from which we essentially differ. If it is thought that the Church of England's interests are to be promoted by maintaining some odious stigma, I care not whether it be upon Protestant Nonconformists, or upon our Roman Catholic fel low-countrymen, I disclaim and repudiate such party modes of defending the Church. (Great cheering.) And I say that the misguided persons who, in their folly, would use such weapons for the purpose which they have in view are merely contributing to defeat their own dearest wishes, and are not to be reckoned, as far as their acts are concerned, among her friends, but among her foes. (Cheers.) 'Therefore, sir, I hold that the promotion of the civil and religious freedom of our fellow-countrymen, so far from being a sign of disloyalty, is a very sure proof of that affectionate and intelligent service which a body like the Church of England ought to desire at the hands of her children. (Cheers.) Well, gentle men, I will not go into details. I will not trouble you by arguing questions which have lately been under the consideration of the Legislature—questions about the qualification of Dissenters; questions about oaths of Roman Catholics. These are measures, with re spect to which, in my opinion, a generous and conci liatory policy is the only policy of wisdom, and, whether I sit.for Oxford, or whether I sit for South Lancashire, or whether I don't sit at all—(laughter) —I desire and I intend to act upon that policy so long as my life shall last. (Cheers.) But now, sir, I turn to secular matters, and will make observations upon one or two of the opinions that have been lately brought copiously before the attention of the public during the election ; and, sir, I will endeavour to do so in a manner as respectful and considerate as I can towards the feelings, not only of those who hear me, but towards the feelings of those out of doors who differ from me. (Cheers.) The issue, gentlemen, which is before you I take to be this : lam a mem ber of a Liberal Government. (Cheers.) lam in association with the liberal party. I have never swerved from what I conceived to be those truly conservative objects and desires with which I entered life. I am, if possible, more fondly attached to the institutions of my country than I was when as a boy I wandered among the sand-hills of Seaforth or the streets of Liverpool. (Cheers.) But experience has brOught with it its lessons. I have learnt that there is wisdom in a policy of trust, and folly in a policy of mistrust. (Cheers.) I have not refused to re ceive the signs of the times. I have observed the effect that has been produced by Liberal legislation, and if we are told, and we are now truly told, that all the feelings of the country are in the best and broadest sense Conservative—that is to say, that the people value the country and the laws and institu tions of the country ; if we are told that, I say honesty compels us to admit that result has been brought about by Liberal legislation. (Cheers.) Therefore, I may presume to say that, since the year 1841, when Sir R. Peel, who was then at the head of her Majesty's Government, thought fit to place me in a position in the Board of Trade which brought me into direct, immediate, and responsible contact with the interests of the country, that - from that time onward I have not swerved nor wavered, but have striven to the best of my ability in the work of im proving the laws and promoting whatever could tend to the advantage of the people, I have been delighted to witness the progress made in their condition and their growing attachment to the laws under which they live—(cheers)—every year has brought with it its reward. We have seen the result of what has been done, not only in the growing wealth, but in growing contentment, in growing industry - , in grow ing morality. (Cheers.) A blind individual must that man be who, after having been once privileged to take part in processes such as these, withdraws his hand from the plough—(cheers)--Lturns back his eye from the noble prospect that is before him, and returns to those obstructive ideas which are so detri mental to the real advantage of the country and to the permanent maintenance of its institu tions. (Cheers.) I venture to put it to this meeting that although we may have been—l mean the members of the present Government may have been—the members of a party, yet that in associating ourselves with this work of beneficial legislation and endeavouring to the best of our power to carry it forward, we have not been labouring for the mere interests of the party, but for those of the country at large—(cheers)—and I may, perhaps, without impropriety be permitted to say g that now, wh en th e elections have been for eight days in pro gress, thatat truth, the country o a u n n d t r has iabietseovaprileoaussoddtivoissoioanlsouhr conduct srecog hriaeoa ,h with the verdict of its general I wish to set b e f ore you more particularly Cheers.) But one ft the points upon whi c h they are disposed tomake or tv a lo o claim to confidence, on the ground that they have effected some retrenchment in the expenditure of the country. (Cheers. ) Now, on the other side, I have obs erve d t hi s answer made , that we have not reduced the expenditure of the country since the year during which the party now in Opposition were responsible—(cheers and laughter) —and their point is this, that the expenditure of the country in that year— namely, 1858-59, WAS under £ 65 , 000 , 000 , and that it is now over X 66,000,000, and therefore that we have not really re duced, but have increased, the expenditure of the country, and if we have made a diminution of taxes it has been made, as some ingenious gentleman has stated, by taking off taxes . which we had first put on. (Oh, oh, and laughter.) Now," gentlemen, let us see how that matter really stands, and be fore I enter into it I will not say that I am not satisfied, as far as lam individually concerned. lam not satisfied that the expenditure of the country has yet been reduced to the lowest point consistent with its honour and security. (Cheers.) Therefore I will say this, and say it without the smallest doubt, that if the electoral body of this country de- S LO sires that reduction shall be effected in that expenditure they have only to send to Parliament men who sympathise with that view, and the result which they wish for will be infallibly attained. (Cheers.) But now-we are upon a point of fact, and the allegation made is this, that 65 millions only was.the public expenditure during the year for which the Government that preceded us was responsible. Now, how does that matter really stand ? Pay a little attention to the dates. In the month of April, 1859, on the Ist of the month, a new financial year began. We were not then in office. Another Government was in office. That Govern ment when challenged upon its general conduct called for a vote of confidence and thanks fromthe House of Commons upon the ground that, discovering the inefficient condition of our military and naval establishments, they had set on foot what was rather pompously called the reconstruction of the navy ; that was in the month of May or April, 1859, and it was not until June, 1859, that we came into office. It was not until July that the new Parliament were able to examine the condition of the finances. We had then before us the boast of our predecessors that they had set on foot the reconstruction of the navy ; and nowl make the asser tion, to which I challenge contradiction, that when we came into office in 1859 we found the expenditure going on and the Estimates of the year fixed, and three months of the year already gone by, not at the rate of 65 millions, but at the rate of 69 millions a year. (Cheers.) Now I con fess I am surprised to see that some of the very persons who glorify themselves and take credit to the country for the immense energy they displayed in setting on foot the building of a number of perfectly worthless wooden line of-battle ships (laughter) can actually think that we have forgotten all these boasts—that we are disposed to go back with them to the expenditure of a former year, from which they themselves claim the greatest credit for having de parted. (Cheers.) It was at 69 millions a year, and not 65 millions, at which we found the expenditure proceeding when we came into office. In truth, gentlemen, the legacy which was bequeathed to me as Chancellor of the Exche quer—and most earnestly do I hope that no one of all this vast assemblage ever may have such a legacy left to him, by his friends (cheersandlaughter)--thelegacy bequeathed to me in the month of July, 1859, when between three and four months of the year were already past, and a corre sponding portion of money already spent, was how to find the means of meeting a deficiency of between four and five millions of money. (Cheers.) Well, but then that's not all, gentlemen (laughter), because we are told, and told truly, that the expenditure did not stop at 69 millions, but in the year 1860 went up to 72 millions of money, nearer, I think, to 73 millions ; but why was that ? Why, gentlemen, to the very same reason—we owe it to the kindness of our predecessors. (Cheers.) In the exercise of their diplo matic wisdom—(cheers and laughter)—they had to instruct an ambassador to sign a treaty with China, and it appeared to them that the • signing of a treaty was 'an operation whic could not possibly be performed in a satisfactory man ner without alarge fleet. (Cheers and interruption.) The people of China, in some way or other, did not understand the necessity of a large fleet for the signing of a treaty, and thought that this large fleet must probably have some other object in view. However that may be, as you know, a great disaster happened in the month of June, 1859, at the mouth of the Peiho, under the instructions of Lord Malmesbury, and before tho present Government had as sumed their office, or, at any rate, had been able to take any step in reference to China. (Cheers.) The consequence of that disaster was that we had to find £6,000,000 of money in order to reetore our position with China. Therefore, I say that the undivided credit of the expenditure of from £72,000,000 to £73,000,000, which we rose to in 1860, is not with your humble servant, but those who preceded us in our office. (Cheers.) (A Voice—" That's a nut for Dizzy to crack.") Well, gentlemen, since that time we have effected'something in the way of retrenchnient. The ex penditure, which was in 1860 nearly £73,000,0 1 30, is now re duced to, I think, between £66,000,000 and £67,000,000. (Cheers.) I don't say whether that is satisfactory. I don't say whether it is all that could be done ; but I think I may say this, that it was something. (Hear, hear.) And now the question is—How has this been done ? And here, again, I have read, with considerable astonish ment statements that this reduction of expenditure which has taken place has been forced upon her Majesty's Go vernment by motions made from the opposite side of the house. tOh, oh.) Now, gentlemen, upon the opposite side of the house there sit many excellent, and sensible, and enlightened men. (Hear.) In this happy country all parties, fortunately, entertain much of sound principle and of sound opinion, yet still we have preferences among our selves—(hear)—and specially so when we speak, not of the character of individuals, but of the action of parties. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I venture to say, without fear of contradiction, that the influence exercised from the oppo site aide of the house has not been influenced to reduce, but an influence to increase the expenditure. (Hear.) I know that that could be proved on careful examination of the re cords of Parliament. The adoption of motions and the questions of divisions would show how, beyond all doubt, the powerful influence which has been exercised from the opposite side of the house in promoting the giving of pub lic money to Mr. A, or Mr. B, or Mr. C, or whoever wanted it—to every class or every clique, in fact—it has been an influence not favourable, but adverse to retrenchment. (Cheers.) I will give you, gentlemen, a single instance— I quote the name of the person because I quote it with re spect. Ho is an old member of Parliament, and a man of considerable ability—a man respected by all, ono of the most respected members of the opposite party, whom any body might be proud to call his friend—Sir John Walsh, member for Radnorshire, who had been in Parliament for 30 or 40 years, and should know what he is about. But, gentlemen, I tell you this. in 1861 or 1863, I forget which it was,' Sir John thought the reduction made by the Government in the Navy Estimates so alarming that he deemed it his duty to make a special speech on the subject, and I assure you—for my own ears heard it—that he did not only state the Navy Estimates, such as they are now were totally unequal to the wants i►nd necessities of the country, bukthat the proper way to .bring them up to those wants and necessities would be to double them. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is quite true that upon ono occa sion—l think in the year 1862—the House of Commons took a step in favour of retrenchment. By whom was that step taken? A motion was made recommending that at tempts should be tried to reduce the public expenditure. That motion was made by Mr. Stensfeld. (Cheers.) I never saw the face of Mr. &aneroid on the benches opposite. (Cheers.) Those who sit on the benches opposite don't seem to me to have bad any great love for Mr. Stansfeld—(hear) —or to have appreciated the services he rendered to the cause of retrenchment, if we may judge from the stops which they afterwards took to procure the removal of that excellent man from office. (Shame.) Gentlemen, what I do claim is this—that to the efforts of the Government and the efforts of their friends, and also occasionally, I admit, and gladly admit, of enlightened men on the Opposition side of the House, is due the retrenchment that has boon effected. 1 read in the report of the speech of Mr. Disraeli —and I speak of him with all the respect due to his posi tion and talents—l road in the report of his speech a state ment that retrenchment had been forced upon Government by motions from his side of the House. I cannot explain that extraordinary statement, which he will have the op portunity, perhaps, hereafter of doing, if ho thinks fit, on the floor of the House of Commons. (Applause.) I really thine that the reporter of that speech must for once hate been asleep, or some of the "heavy wet" of Buck kinghamshire must - for a moment have bewildered his brain—(laughter)--for lie must in some some way or other have turned inside out and upside down in the report of tho speech an assertion that had been made by Mr. Disraeli. (Cheers.) But then, gentlemen, Igo from retrenchment to principles, and it is very fairly said that good harvests are not the work of her Majesty's Government. That, gen tlemen, is perfectly true, but I recollect a time when in stead of good harvests we had bad harvests ; and when, in consequence of the miserable harvest of the year 1860, there was a deficiency in the proceeds of the public revenue as compared with the estimate, did I hoar anything of the sound doctrine that the harvests are not the 'work of the Government ? At that time, Ido assure you, the Govern ment, and especially the unfortunate Chancellor of the Exchequer, were held responsible forth° harvest. (Cheers and laughter.) Timms was not a, waterspout opened in the heavens :which he had not discharged upon the, fields be neath ; it was he and ho only that made them, and what a progress, gentlemen, it is in civilization that a body of most excellent and respectable persons, who in 1860,when there was a bad harvest, were really so much bodarkenod as to suppose that harvest, was the work of the Government— they said the deficiency was its work, so it was the same thing—see what progress they have made, when in 1864-5 there happened to be good harvests, and thus they have awakened to the perception'of the important truth that the harvest is not made by this or that Administration, but comes as it pleases Providence to send it. -(Cheers.) Well, but gentlemen, somehow or other, there is a word called luck, which has an immense effect upon the minds of Men, and they say that the Government is the luckiest of all Go vernments, and that the Chancellorof the Exchequer is the luckiest of all Chancellors of the Exchequer. (Cheers.) It seems that all the circumstances of the country since we took office have been so excessively favourable to economy, to saving, to moderato expenditure, to large revenue, that to that source alone is to be ascribed the happy state of things which exist. But now let us consider what our state has been. I have told you our friends who preceded us left us a legacy of six millions of expenditure in thOwar with China. That I don't call a remarkably good good piece of luck. (Laughter.) Well, then, the country, gentlemen, went into a state of groat and real apprehension, whether well founded or not, in the year 1860 with regard to its defences, and it determined to have a large expenditure upon fortifications for the security of our arsenals. Well, under the measures taken for that purpose, we have spent some millions of money. However right or otherwise such expenditure may be in itself I am not now considering. It was the great de sire and wish of the people of the country, and sure I am that the people of England will spend their money when they wish to expend it ; but you will admit with me it was not to be considered a groat piece of luck for the Chan cellor of the Exchequer. But that is not all, for besides the energetic administration of the navy in 1859 it . set about that remarkable work, "reconstruction of the navy," which was a very favourite• phrase at the time, though you do not hear 'quite so much of it now. Well, that' is an expensive description of amuseinent for the First Lord of:the Admi ralty? that recoustruettou of the navy—that building use- DON, WEDNESDAY EV less line of battle ships, which was really an attempt at re construction, rendered wise and necessary by transposition of the use of wood for that of iron in the building of vessels which has been a most costly provision for the defences of the country. That is not luck for the finances of the coun try. Well, gentlemen, four years ago by an awful visitation of Providence which rent for a time in twain the great republic so nearly and deeply associated with us, beyond the waves of the Atlantic, there came upon Lancashire that which is'familiarly known by the name of the Cotton Fa mine. When we look back upon the Cotton Famine, and when we consider the noble qualities that were displayed in the times of that affliction—when we recollect how we then awakened to the consciousness of what treasure we possessed in the factory population of this country, we re cognise the wisdom of Providence in drawing good from that which seemed to be unmitigated evil. (Cheers.) But that is not my present point. I want to know how that Cotton Famine was to be considered as a piece of financial luck. I find, on the contrary, it cut down our revenue when it was at its greatest intensity by from one to two millions, and, beyond that, it was one of the most special inflictions, from its special nature, to which the Exchequer of this country ever has been subjected. (Hear.) Further than this, I thankfully join with you in acknowledging the bounty of Providence vouchsafed to us in the abundant products of the earth. I don't admit the doctrine that it is owing to luck, but I do believe that we are enabled upon the period of a dissolution to show our faces before our fellow countrymen, and not to blush for the financial con dition of the country. But the points on which I have last been addressing you—l admit points that more or less touch our distinctive professions as we sit on the right hand or the left hand of the Speaker's chair—l am not ashamed of them, I don't lament, I don't regret, I don't mean to abandon the political associations in which conviction has placedme. (Applause.) But I do say, wadi say th roug h you to the people of South Lancashire, that to th e Libe ral l generation, those members of like Sir R. Peel, w h o pre f erre d the Conservative of vat the fva present party, the interests of their country to their place and power— (hear)—has been committed the extraordinary grace and favour of being enabled while they have held office, to ad dress themselves, and to address themselves with effect, to the promotion of measures which ascend far above the height and descend far below the depth of every party con ' sideration whatever. (Loud cheers.) There are objects, gentlemen, which belong to our common country—to this England in which we live. (Applause.) We have around us vast populations ; they live under that dispensation which affects human kind, and by which we find that it is really possible for the mass of the community to secure to themselves abundance of the first necessaries and the first comforts of life. Wo know that in this free country that we admire and love so much, a century ago, the peasantry were ground down to the very dust, the manufacturing population was tainted with a disaffection that it is unfor tunately too easy for us to understand, and too difficult for us to condemn. We know that at that time few were the labouring Englishmen who could see their wives and their children decently lodged, sufficiently fed and clothed, and tolerably educated. What is now the state of things ? Much may yet remain to be done. My belief is that there will always be ample scope for all the best ener gies and all the best gifts of legislators and public men ; but something, at least, we have carried. Education has gone forth through the length and the breadth of the land. Voluntary institutions, the best of all, have sprung up in multitudes. Wise laws abolishing the mischievous re straints upon capital and labour—(hear)—have enormously added to the wealth of the country. (Hear.) In the last ten years the commerce of England has become nearly double what it was. With this series of acts relating to the material condition of the country have been joined, as I have said, numbers of others bearing upon its moral And social condition,' and tending to set the masses of the community free in some degree from necessary and servile attention to the bodily wants, of the wants each day as it arose, to that of their higher interests, of the cultivation of their intolloot, of their position as rational, as moral, and as spiritual beings. (Cheers.) But, gentlemen, this is no party matter. Oh, what folly it has been that there should be any party in the State that has allowed to its rivals and • opponents the glory of almost monopolising the prosecu tion of such a work. (Hear.) But how happy, on the other hand, are they who have been permitted to take part in it! (Hoar.) Never can Ibe too thankful that, not owing to any deliberate choice of my own, but rather to the circumstances in which I have been placed, it has boon my absolute duty to enter into that beneficent work, and to make the prosecution of it the main study and purpose of my life. (Loud cheers.) It has been a work felt throughout the United Kingdom—felt not only in the United Kingdom, but felt, I rejoice to say, upon many a foreign shore (hear, hear); and those who formerly re garded England with jealousy or with hatred aro now by degrees unlearning their ancient prejudices, and are glad to follow the beneficent example that has been set them by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. (Loud cheers.) It has been felt, then, through the world, it has been felt through the dominions of the Queen, it has been felt through those islands in which we live, it has been felt, if in any one place more than another, in the very place in which we stand. (Choirs.) In Liverpool, in Manchester, in every industrious haunt and hive of this industrious country has been felt the impetus thus given to the indus try of man and the influence thus brought into play for bettering and improving his position. (Hear.) Gentle men, it would bo the height of arrogance in mo were I to forget that I am a young, a late, a feeble labourer in this happy, I will say, in this holy cause. (Cheers. A Voice : "You're the hest pf tem.'") Many have gone before me, many have.exceeded mo ("no"); but, with sincerity of heart and purpose, I have given myself to the prosecution of the work ; and I coma before you who haire known it in its beginning, known it in its progress, and its more ripe results, and I ask you to pronounce whether those who have been privileged to take part in such a work are or are not disabled or disqualified from sitting in the Par liament of England, from receiving the suffrages of elec tors of the community of Lancaster. (Immense cheers.) The right bon. gentleman resumed his seat amid enthu siastic cheering, which was continued for several minutes. Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE was loudly called, anclasked the meeting to join with him in the opinion that they owed a deep debt of gratitude to the noble University of Oxford, which, in its wisdom and in the superfluity of its learning, had thought. proper to dismiss a practical man from its re presentation. Mr. WILD BLUNDELL, the leader of the Catholic party in South Lancashire, addressed the meeting; an d , i n answer to repeated calls, Mr. W. 11. GLADSTONE, M.P. for Chester, spoke briefly, regretting that the University of Oxford had thought fit to divorce itself from the link which alone was able to bring it into harmony with the requirements of the tim es . (Cheers.) One or ti n tw , the proceedings, gentlemenha wing subsequently a dd resse d the m g hich h a d b een remar k a b ly • e, unanimous throughout, terminated. The Detention of Hr. William Koons by Italian Brigands. ------ o Groat misapprehension appears to exist in the public mind as to this most distressing affair, owing to the incor rect accounts published by some of your contemporaries. Ono loading journal has adopted as true an absurd story published in the Union continental paper, While a writer in a minor weekly pnblication, apparently ignorant of the situation of Paestum and of all connected with it, treats with vulgar levity the terrible misfortune which has fallen on Mr. Wm. Moens. Having had excellent opportunities of becoming acquainted with all the facts of the case, I venture to send you a short statement, which will, I hope, enable you to understand the present state of affairs. The brigand chief who captured Messrs. Aynsley and Moons on the 15th of May, on the high road near Peastum, is named Mauzo Giardullo, who was captuied the other day, never had anything to do with the two English gentlemen. Mauzo has since been joined by two other chiefs, Cerino and Cianci, and their united bands amount to about 40 persons, of whom five are women. The sum originally demanded for the ransom of the two gentlemen was 50,000 ducats, or £8,500. It was settled be tween the captives by lot that Mr. Aynsley should go to get the ransom, Mr. Moans remaining as hostage in the hands of the brigands. ' The Italian Government has been making the most stren uous exertions to capture the brigands or to starve them into surrender ; but to those who know tho nature of the country—which is faithfully described in Count Maffei's book, lately reviewed in your columns—it is by no means surprising that the brigands continue to •baffie•their pur suers. But though the [severe measures at present prac tised by the military and civil authorities in the province of Salerno have hitherto failed to bring about the capture of the brigands, they have placed immense difficulties in the way of Mr. Moons' friends communicating with his captors. Notwithstanding those difficulties, however, Mr. I<ioens friends have succeeded in paying a largo sum of money to the brigands, who still hold out for the sum originally de manded, and they now see another opportunity of paying such further sum as it is in their power to pay. It must bo remembered th a t th e money has to be paid in gold, at the time and place appointed by the brigands ; that their mes senger can only carry a certain amount, and that he has to pass through the cordon of troops surrounding the district, at the risk of his life.; that the brigands themselves are fre quently unable to meet their messenger, owing to the vigi lance of the troops; and that, whorl so battled, they gene rally disappear from the neighbourhood for a fortnight or so, after which nothing can be done till they make another appointment. Our last news from Mr. Moons was dated tho 29th ult. His position was then very critical. He wrote himself, describing his sufferings, and the threats held out by his captors to enforce the spaedy payment of more money. We can only trust that these wild men, knowing.that their prisoner's friends are exerting themselves to the utmost to pay the money and to mitigate the severe measures taken by the military authorities, will refrain from carrying into execution the awful threats which they have uttered from time to time, But apart from this, the most terrible danger of his position, the miseries and hardships which Mr. Moens has undergone during the last seven weeks are sufficient of themselves to paueie the deepest anxiety to his friends should his captivity be much further prolonged. !;Nll\o l JULY 19, 1865 SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. NOTTINGHAM RACES•-TUESDAY. The July meeting, which commenced yesterday (Tues day) ,on " Morrie Sherwood," proved successful. The sport provided by Mr. James Bradfield, the clerk of the course, included nine races, for which some large entries had been secured, though, at the same time, the fields were not very numerous. The weather was fine, but the air somewhat sultry, and though, in addition to the late rains, a terrific downfall took place over night, the course (which is on a sandy soil) had benefited little, and the " going" was pronounced hard. Full particulars of the racing will be found below : The Trial Stakes of 5 sous each, with 40 added, for all ages; weight for age, with selling allowance. One mile. Mr. E. Buckley's Success, 3 yrs, Bst 111 b (not to be sold (J. Grimshaw 1 Marquis of Hastings's Sisyphus, 3 yrs, 7st 111 b (£2OO (Loates 2 Lord Westmoreland's Brahma, 3 yrs, Bst 21b (£600) (Morris) 3 Mr. Ballinger's Sergeant Pacquot, 2 yrs, sst 121 b (£600) (Key 4 Mr. G. Angell's Mazurka, 2 yrs, sst 71b (£200) (Huatable) 5 Betting—Even on Brahma, 5 to 2 agst Success, and 5 to 1 agst Sisyphus. Success, Sisyphus, and Brahma ran nearly abreast to the Mansfield turn, where Sisyphus took the load, Brahma going on second and Success third, the other two several lengths in the rear. Nearing the dis tance, Success came through his horses, and won very cleverly by a length. Brahma was third, two lengths from Sisyphus; the other two beaten many lengths. The Shorts Stakes of 5 soya each, with 40 added; for all ages; weight for age; with selling allowances. Half a mile. Mr. Saxon's Bonnie Lass, 8 yrs, 7st 121 b (Clement) 1 Mr. Rigby's Chance Shot filly, 3 yrs, 6st 41b (.£5O) (lluxtable) 2 Lord Stamford's Gulnara, 4 yrs, 9st (£5O) (Carroll) 3 Miss Polly, Brighter, and Lady Mary also ran. Betting-6 to 4on Gulnara, 4to 1 agst Bonnie Lass, and 6to 1 agst Chance Shot filly. Tho latter, previous to the start, overpowered Huxtable, and, after running the circuit of the course, jumped the rails, throwing the lad, who was, fortunately, not injured. They were started on good terms, Chance Shot, with a slight lead, immediately took up the running, and held a clear lead, the others lying in a cluster to the distance, where Bonnie Lass and Gulnara came out. Mr. Saxon's filly gradually overhauled the leader, who swerved within a few strides of the post, and was beaten by a head. Lord Stamford's mare two lengths from the second ; Brighter was an indifferent fourth, Miss Polly fifth, and Lady Mary last. There was no advance on the selling price of the winner. The Bradgate Handicap of 7 sovs each, 3 ft, with 100 added, for 3-yr-olds and upwards ; winners extra. One mile. Lord Batsman's Moulsey, 4 yrs, Bst 12Ib (J. Grinishaw 1 Mr. Payne's Beadle, 4 yrs, 7st 7lb (Clement 2 Mr. H. Savile's Spice, 3 yrs, sst 101 b (11uxtable 3 Mr. R. 0. Naylor's Quarantine, 4 yrs, 7st (Sayers) 4 Marquis of Hastings's Tippler, 5 yrs, Bst (Challoner) 5 Mr. Barber's Cutaway, 4 yrs, 6st 121 b (Ward) 6 Betting—Even on Moulsey, 5 to 1 each agst Beadle and Tippler, 6 to 1 agst Cutaway, 100 to 15 agst Quarantine, and 10 to 1 agst Spice. Moulsey jumped off in front, but was soon pulled back into third place, Cutaway making play, closely followed by Beadle and the favourite into the straight, where Lord Batsman's horse went to the fore, and without being again headed, won in a canter by two lengths ; a neck separated the second and third. Quarantine was fourth, Tippler fifth, and Cutaway last. The County Members' Plate (Handicap) of 50 sovs added to a sweepstakes of 5 sovs each. Winners 61b extra. T.Y.C. - Lord Stamford's Gownsman, 4 yrs, Bst 101 b ...(Carroll 1 Mr. G. Angell's Attach 6, 3 yrs, 7st 81b (Perry) 2 Mr. Giubilei's Gannochy, 3 yrs, 6st 21b (Key 3 Lord Bateman's Danaus, 4 yrs, 7st 61b Grimshaw) 4 Betting-7 to 4on Attache, 3to 1 agst Gownsman, and 7to 1 agst Danaus. Half way up Gownsman headed Mr. Angell's horse, and won easily by a length ; six lengths separated second andthird. Danaus, beaten off, was stopped on the post. The Nottinghamshire Handicap of 20 goys each, 10 ft, and 5 if declared, with 200 added ; the second to receive 50 sovs ; winners extra. One mile and three-quarters. 65 subs, 39 of whom paid 5 sovs each. Lord Westmoreland's Auditor, 8 yrs, Gst 121 b (J. Grimshaw) 1 Mr. S. Thellusson's Veluti, 4 yrs, Est 101 b (Grace 2 Lord Stamford's Spring Gun, 3 yrs, sst 131 b (car gst 21b (Carroll 3 Mr. Barber's Lady Bohun, 4 yrs, Est 101 b (Ward 4 Mr. G. Angell's Dunkeld, 5 yrs, Bst 41b (Perry 5 Betting--5 to 4 agst Auditor, 3to 1 agst Spring Gun, 6 to 1 agst Veluti, and 10 to 1 agst any other. Spring Gun led the way, Lady Bohun lying at his girths with Dunkeld next, and Veluti last. After going about 100 yards, Veluti rushed through his horses and carried on the running, fol lowed round the Mansfield turn by Dunkold, Spring Gun, and Auditor, Lady Bohun bringing up the rear. Those po sitions were maintained along the straight to the commence ment of the enclosure, where Auditor passed Spring Gun and took third place. In the next half mile Dunkold was beaten and dropped back, leaving Auditor in close attend ance upon Veluti, with Spring Gun running well up with Lord Westmoreland's colt. At the distance Auditor ran alongside of Veluti, whom ho headed in a few strides, and maintaining his advantage to the end, won cleverly by half a length. Spring Gun was third, a length in the rear of Veluti, Lady Bohun fourth, and Dunkeld last. A Soiling Race of 40 SOW, added to a sweepstakes of 5 sous each, for all ages ; weight for ago, with Bolling allow- ances. T.Y.C. Marquis of Hastings's Sisyphus, 3 yrs, 6st 111 b (£5O) (J. Grimshaw) w.o. The Stand Plate of 50 sous, added to a handicap sweep stakes of 5 soya each, 2 ft ; for all ages ; winners extra. Half a mile. Mr. 11. Savile's Ln Mechante, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Heartfield 1 Mr. Raldiff's Cranbury, 4 yrs, Bat 121 b (Pearson 2 Lord Bateman's Gipsy Girl, 5 yrs, 7st 41b (J. Grim.shaw 3 Marquis of Hasting's Catalogue, 3 yrs, 7st 41b...(Morris 4 The following also ran :—llesper, Gil Bias, Lady Mary, Tring, Saladin, and Romola. Betting-5 to 2 agst La Mechante, 3to 1 agst Saladin, 5 to 1 agst Cranbury, 100 to 15 each agst Romola and Hesper, to 1 agst Gipsy Girl, and 10 to 1 agst Catalogue. Moro than half an hour was cut to waste in false starts ; at length a straggling start was effected, when Cranbury, two lengths in advance of everything, made play, followed by Romola, Catalogue, Hesper, and Gipsy Girl, who formed the vanguard until nearing the distance, where Cranbury still hold the load, but was joined on nearing the stand by La Mechanto and Gipsy Girl, a splendid race between the three ending in favour of La Mechante •by a neck; a similar distance separated the second and third ; Cata logue was a bad fourth, Hesper and Romola being next, and Lady Mary brought up the rear. The Robin Hood Stakes of 10 soya each, with 50 added , for two-year-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies and geldings, Bst 71b ; winners extra. T.Y.C. Marquis of Hasting's King Hal, 9st 81b (inc. 71b extra) (Custance) 1 Mr. GI- Crook's Aunt Polly, Bst 71b ............ (Ohalloner) 2 Mr. Thell's Acttoa, Bst 71b (Deacon) 3 Betting-6 to lon King Hal, who made all the running. and won in a canter by six lengths; Actlea beaten off. The Sherwood Handicap of 5 soya each, with 40 added, for three-year-olds and upwards ; winners extra ; gentle men riders ; professionals, 61b extra. One mile and a quarter. Mr. IL Savilo's 011erton, 3 yrs, 9st (Mr. W. Bevill) 1 Mr. Watchhorn's Robin Hood (h b), 4 yrs,._lost 41b (in 61b ex) ........................................ : ....(. lement) 2 No betting. Won in a canter by 20 lengths. WINCHESTER RACES-TUESDAY. Considering that this fixture clashed with the important Nottingham gathering, and that the inhabitants of the neighbourhood were thoroughly excited and taken up by the electioneering business of the county, the attendance on the course was larger than could bo expected, but most of tho members of the ring had evidently bestowed their attention on the morn important meeting at Nottingham. The day turned out fearfully wet and disagreeable, so that Mr. H. Goator, the clerk of the course, under the unfavour able circumstances, may congratulate himself on the issue of the undertaking. The fields were insignificant through out the day, as will be seen by the return of the running, and a steady rain falling during the whole of the afternoon rendeied the meeting ono of the most uncomfortable of the season. The Citizens' Plate of 60 BOYS, for all ages ; entrance 2 Boys each ; - winners extra. Half a mile. 59 subs. Mr. P. Temple's Jack Jukes, 3 yrs - Est 71b ((Hoskins 1 Mr. A. Heathcoto ns Juliet, aged, Bst (Fordham 2 Lord Portsmouth's Cordelia, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b (Morden 3 The following also ran :—Lovelace, Medea, Wade, Bow Bell, Allan-a-Dale, and Retribution. Betting-2 to 1 agst Juliet, 3to 1 agst Cordelia, and 6to 1 each agst Jack Jukes and Bow Bell. Cordelia took up the running with a slight load, followed by Juliet, Jack Jukes, and Allan-a-Dale to the distance, whore Juliet and lack Jukes headed her, the favourite having a slight lead ; but, halfway up the cords, Jack Jukes challenged Juliet and won, after a splendid finish, by a head ; Cordelia, three lengths in the rear of Juliet, third. Bow Bell was fourth, Retribution fifth, and Allan-a-Dale sixth. The Hampshire Stakes of 10 sovs each, h ft, with 50 added; winners extra. One mile and five furlongs. 33 subs. Mr. Reeves ns Filbert, 3 yrs, 6st 81b (Hoskins) 1 Mr. Brayley's Pelios, 4 yrs, 7st Bib (inc. 81b extra, car. 7st 41b) (Cannon) 2 Mr. Williams's Defy, 3 yrs, Gst (Hartley) 3 Sydmonton was scratched at 1.80. Betting-6 to 4on Folios, and 7to 4 ngst Filbert. Defy made play with a long lead, Polios lying next for nearly a mild. The favourite then took the lead, followed by Fil bert to the enclosure, where the latter came out and won by a length; a bad third. Tho Railway Plate of 40 SON'S, added to a sweeptakos of 3 soya each, for all ages ; selling allowances. About five furlongs. Mr. Temple's Jack Jukes, 3 yrs, ist 31b (MO) (Hibberd 1 Mr. King's Bow Bell, 3 yrs, 7st 31b (£3O) (Davis 2 Mr. Retford's Atlas, 5 yrs, Bst 51b (L3O) (J. Mann 3 Mr. Notley's Kill'em and Eat'em, 3 yrs, 7st 31b (.£3O (Morden 4 Betting-2 to 1 on Jack Jukes, 4 to 1 agst Bow Bell, 5 to 1 agst Atlas. Bow Bell made play, followed by Jack Jukes, Kill'em and Eat'em lying off. At the distance the favourite came out and won by a neck. There was no ad vance on the selling price, and the winner was eventually sold for 14 sovs. The Grange Stakes of 15 sous each, 10 ft, with 50 added for two-year-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies, Bst 61b; win ners extra. T.Y.C. (about five furlongs). 27 subs. Mr. R. Kelso's Gretna, Bst 101 b Mr. G. Rigby's Abergeldie, Bst 101 b (J. Mann 2 Lord Portsmouth's Midia colt, Bst 101 b (Wells 3 Betting— 7t02 on Gretna. The favourite lay off to the distance, when she passed the pair, and won with the greatest ease by throe lengths ; a similar distance separat ing second and third. The City Members' Plate of 50 sovs for three-year-olds and upwards ; selling allowances. Five furlongs. Mr. H. Goatees Fairy Land, 3 yrs, Est 71b, £3O (Scorey) 1 Mr. Redford's North End,.4 yrs, 7st 91b, £30...(j. Mann) 2 Mr. Notley's Kill'em and Eat'em, 3 yrs, Est 71b, X3O, (Davis) 3 Betting-6 to 4on Fairy Land, who took up the running immediately after the start, and won in a canter by four lengths. Kill'em and Eat'em a bad third. The winner was bought by Mr. Starkey for 42 guineas. The First Year of the Winchester Biennial Stakes of 1C sous each, with 50 added, for two-year-olds ; colts, Bsl 101 b ; fillies and geldings, Bst 61b; certain allowances. . _ About five furlongs. 28 subs. Lord Portsmouth's Robin Hood, Bst 71b (Wells 1 Captain Gray's Chronometer, Bst 7lb Mr. R. Kelso's Gretn a , B s t 61b (1 Adams 2 (J. Goater 3 Mr. Starkey's Kin gs l e y, B s t 71b (Fordham 4 Betting-7 to 2on Robin Hood, who came away with a slight lead, which he increased opposite the stand, and won in a canter by six lengths ; Chronometer defeated Gretna by half a length for second place ; Kingsley a bad fourth. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas, for three-year-olds and upwards. Two miles. Lord Portsmouth's Sydmonton, 3 yrs, Bst 31b (F'ordham) 1 Mr. H. Goater's Filbert, 3 yrs, Bst 3lb . (7 Mann) 2 The following also ran Jam and The Gunner. Betting-5 to I. on Sydmonton, who made all the run ning, and won in a canter by ten lengths, Filbert being ,second; the other Lwo were pulled up before reaching the post. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—Some very important elections were de cided yesterday, and the Liberal party maintains its ascendancy in the contest. The gains have been four seats, of which three are in Scotland. In Stir lingshire Admiral Erskine has been elected in the room of Mr. Blackburn • in Renfrewshire Mr. Spiers has displaced Sir M. Shaw Stewart ; and in Bute shire Mr. Lamont succeeds Mr. Boyle. In England one county seat has been won by the substitution of Mr. More for Sir Baldwin Leighton in South Shrop shire. The losses have been two seats—East Nor folk, where Mr. Reed, the Conservative, supplants Col. Coke, and Oxford University, where Mr. Hardy has been elected in the place of Mr. Gladstone. Thus, the gain to the Liberal party on the polling of the day is two seats. The elections of East Kent and East Surrey are also highly satisfactory, as in both these important divisions the Liberals have kept their position, though attacked with all the strength of their opponents. These results promise well for the numerous contests which will take place during the present week. There is little reason now to doubt that the Liberal successes will exceed the most sanguine anticipations. One division of the United Kingdom, Scotland, will support the Govern ment by an overwhelming majority. The boroughs have always been Liberal, and now the Tory do minion in the counties has been attcked with vigour, and in many places overthrown. Never since Scot land has had a real representation—that is, since the year 1832—has it been so nearly unanimous in its political principles. In Ireland the gain may be already estimated at nine seats, and it is probable that two or three more will be won, or steady Liberals substituted for some who were not to be relied on. The principal gain of the Liberal party in that island is, however, to be found in the break-up of the so-called Catholic-Conservative alliance, and the return of the Catholic popula lation to juster views as to their political position and duties. Even the chiefs of the Church are said to have given their countenance and help to the Liberal candidates, while their flocks have been animated by a spirit far more praiseworthy than that which, in the early days of Italian liberty, induced them to give their support to the English Tories. The result of the elections promises well for the future contentment of Ireland, for it gives a death-blow to the hopes of the party which would purchase the right of oppressing and humiliating Catholics at home by pandering to the prejudices of the most extreme of their body with respect to foreign policy. Turning to England, it is impos sible not to be interested by the important contests which are to be decided during the present week. In Berkshire and in West Kent the Liberals should use all their efforts to secure the representation, and to show, as was shown in East Surrey yesterday, that the heart and understanding of the country are on the side of rational progress. But not even these elections equal in importance that which is to be decided to-morrow in South Lancashire. To gain a great and decisive victory here every nerve of the Northern Liberals should be strained. They have now a rare opportunity of showing their attachment to the principles they profess, and at the same time of rendering an important service to the country, by placing in Parliament one the most eminent statesmen of the time. They can not have a more worthy declaration of principles than that which was made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Liverpool last night. Just at the time when the poll which excluded him from the representation of the University was closing, Mr. Gladstone advanced to address an immense assem blage of the people of his native county. Those who imagine that the verdict of Oxford is likely to prejudice him in the eyes of the nation may be in vited to consider the reception which he obtained on the platform of the Liverpo Al Amphitheatre. The mass of people who awaited eagerly Mr. Gladstone's coming, and welcomed him with such long continued applause, saw in his rejection by the University the inevitable penalty which liberality of thought and honesty of purpose must at some time or another suffer at the hands of a University constituency. There was, we will venture to say, not a single unfriendly critic of the old English seats of learning who did not feel a secret satisfaction that Oxford should have shown precisely the spirit which its enemies charge it with, and given the scoffer so ready an occasion for his sneers. But the meeting, though it would doubtless have assented eagerly to any disparaging remarks on the University which had rejected him, was destined to hear none from Mr. Gladstone. Nothing could be in juster feeling and better taste than his allusions to the event which had just taken place, and his_declaration of continued respect and affection for Oxford. In the tribute which he pays to the more liberal part of the con stituency, which, as may be supposed, comprises the greater part of the resident body, the putlic will readily join. " I have been dismissed," says Mr. Gladstone, " not by academical, but by political agencies. The great majority of the teaching body at Oxford, the great majority of those who devote their nights and days and the best years of their lives in rearing youths, have at all times been my supporters in the election, and have not now abandoned me." This we believe to be the case, and it is the best defence for the Universities, when charged with ostracizing their Most eminent mem bers, that the deed is done not by thos e w h o are the intellectual representatives of the place. Passing from the subject of the University election, Mr. Gladstone gave an able sketch of the financial history of the Government, in reply. to the charge that the only reductions they had made in taxation were where they had themselves imposed it. This allegation had been made more than once during the elections, and the Chancellor bf the Exchequer's time was not lost in refuting it. We rejoice, how ever, especially to hear from him that in his opinion the expenditure of the country may be still further reduced, and we hope that the country will adopt his advice, and not fail to send up members who will enforce on the Government the duty of retrench ment. Mr. Gladstone is beyond a doubt right in saying that the influence exercised by the Opposi tion has not been i n f avour of economy, and for this among many others reasons we hope that the electors of South Lancashire will do their best to return him and his two colleagues . It is only by giving a substa n ti a l ma j or i ty to the Liberal Govern ment that it will be strengthened sufficiently to take a bold and patriotic course on this most important portion of national policy. lIERALD.--The press has not had a more pleasant office for some time than to write up Lord Derby's project for an Exhibition of National Portraits. There must be always the beau ideal of a good thing in his lord s hi p ' s recommendation, but the collection he is now recommending to us is exactly the good thing itself coming in good season. It will supply us with much more than a record of the progress of British art, though even under that aspect it will be inconceivably interesting. It will be history speak ing to us by a new voice ; philosophy teaching and taught by portraits. It is the charm of portraiture that it sums up a good part of a great man's bio graphy. The life is photographed on those sensi tive plates of the face which have mirrored through so many years the play of every emotion, and pas sion, and experience. It is not an idle curiosity that excites us to desire to know of what form was the man that accomplished great things. His face is part of the res gestx of his life. It explains why and how he was what he proved himself to be ; and opening to us phases of character not suggested by his actual achievements, gives perhaps the only key that was wanted to open to us the concordance be tween the one and the other. As a record of the progress of British art the ev-idence would have been more pleasant if, while showing our advance from the ridiculous to the sublime by very slow grada- tions, it might:not show also that nothing was in digenous. Though the earliest of our artists—we speak of our masters—Hogarth, was at the same time homebred and the greatest, we had to wait for him till the middle of the 18th century. Up to his appearance we could hardly boast a portrait, except in miniature, worth having from an English artist. Holbeiu, Zuccaro, Powebus, Rubens, Vandyke, Mytens, Vander Plaas, Lely, and Kneller, were all foreign men. Whatever we were born, whether sailors, or poets, or merchants, or soldiers, or ora tors, it is certain we were not born portrait painters. For centuries we were content to have our art as we had our merchandise, by buying it from the foreigner, and it is so far fortunate for us now that we are col lecting our acquisitions that they were made with so much judgment that their exhibition will repay any conceivable cost it may put us to, and leave a heavy balance of obligations to the noble lord to whose taste and energetic initiative we shall be in debted for it. The division of the project into two or three exhibitions, taking place in as many years, follows from the national wealth in portraits. The Earl of Derby proposes that not more than about 800 portraits shall be exhibited together, and that none of the exhibitions in the series shall extend beyond the four or five months of our summer sea son. The chronological order is naturally preferred to any arrangement founded on social status or pur suits, and this all the more that the latter arrange ment may be easily made subsidiary to the other. But the difficulty arises as to the period at which we shall begin—and end—the series of portraits. At the meeting over which Lord Derby presided at the South Kensington Museum it was the general feel ing that we should not begin before the reign of Richard 111. or Henry VII. For our part we fail to see the necessity of fixing a date or epoch for the commencement. At Hampton Court we have por traits which are alleged to be those of Fair Rosa mond and Elizabeth Woodville, on authority winch ought at least to be respectable. In other of our collections, national, semi -national, or private, we ought to have hundreds of historical poFtraits of anterior or contemporary dates, not probably in worse preservation than those which trace back for us the artistic history of Italy, France, or the Western Empire. True, the art may be for the most part contemptible, but for the earlier epochs our desire, perhaps, should be less to exhibit art than to elucidate history—though indeed from very early periods our church windows show some admi rable specimens of artistic ability that imply something in favour of whatever may remain of contemporary portraiture. Even an unmeritable performance may have an interest in showing the state of art, which it may want as a contribution to political history. The fixing such a date as the reign of Richard 111. may abridge the responsibility of the committee of selection, but might exclude, perhaps, the most interesting " trouvaille" offered the collec tion. And here arises a suggestion for extending the exhibition and its uses. As the chief riches of our earlier historical portraiture consist of the statuary and painting which adorn our ancient ar chitecture, might we not have their reproduction by photography as a part of the first of the collections There are not wanting the eminent artists, assisted by able archaeologists, to form a sub-committee who would enable the connoisseurs to place under a single examination nearly all the personal celebrities con nected with the earlier history of the country. The difficulty of fixing a date for ending the series is more easily understood. Art has its " irritabile genus" as well as poetry, and how stave off any liv ing artist who has painted a great man if you do not shut out all ? It may be painful to exclude the productions of Landseer's delicate and discriminat ing pencil; especially when they are of such extra ordinary interest as his Walter Scott, but how, ad mitting him, exclude any portrait of Walter Scott, by any contemporary whom the great man privi leged by sitting to ? No rule is probably possible but that of admitting only deceased celebrities by deceased artists ; but that rule once adopted, there does not seem any ground of limiting it by fixing that anterior term of ten or twenty years which for some time had the sanction of the trustees of the National Portrait Gallery. Had the Prince Consort, for example, or the Duke of Wellington died but yesterday, the absence of their portraits from the Exhibition would be as conspicuous as that of the busts of Brutus and Cassius from a celebrated procession. It is because they have just passed away from among us that the general sentiment asks to be satisfied by the presentation of their effigies. COITNTRY MARKETS ......................A.p.0....v.....—..... LIVERPOOL-TUESDAY. At this day's market there was a thin attendance of the town and country trade, and very little business was done. Wheat and flour met with a limited retail sale at about the prices of this day week. Oats and oatmeal in moderate demand at full prices. Indian corn inquired for, and a fair business done. American advanced is per qr. since Friday. BRISTOL—TUESDAY. At our market to-day there was about the usual attend ance. Wheat met a steady sale at last week's prices in consequence of the unsettled state of the weather. Barley in good demand for grinding at fully last week's prices. Oats Gd lower. Beans and peas firm. NEWCASTLE - ON-TYNE.-TUESDAY. At to-day's corn-market the show of wheat Was tolerable and the demand was firm, at late rates. New white realised 44s to 48s; new red, 39s to 445 . per 36 stone. There was not much barley shown, and prices wore the same as last week. Oats and beans a small show, and not much altered in value. LEEDS —TUESDAY. The arrivals continue anything but large. We have only a small business passing in wheat to-day, with prices rather inclining downwards. Oats and beans without any material change. The average prices for the week ending July 17 were Wheat, 43s Did per qr. ; barley, 27s 6d; and oats, 235 71d. MELTON MOWBRAY.—TUESDAY. White wheat, 43s to 478 ; red, 388 to 43s per 36 stone. Barley for malting, 32s to —s per qr ; feed, 27s to 30s per 30 stone. Oats. 22s to 28s. Beans, old, 41s to 44s ; now, 368 to 43s per qr. M ONMOUTHSIIIRE--MoxDAY. At the markets of this county there has not boon a large attendance of either buyers or sellers for the past six or seven days, and the business transacted was considerably below the average. For English wheat there waa a mode rately good inquiry, at last week's prices. Foreign in fa vour of buyers. Barley dull, and only a small quantity changed hands. Oats in average request, and quotations maintained. The following aro the average quotations :—Wheat, 5s Od to 5s 6d per bushelo; barley, 2e lld to 3s 6d ; oats, 15 10d to 2s sd. Toretn Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton July 19. Ditto, via Marseilles Aug. 12. Brazil and Cape Verde. by British packet Aug. 4. Ditto, by French packet • July 22. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena July 22. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Sou hampton July 19. Ditto, via Marseilles July 27 . Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton . July 19. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon. via Southampton July 19. Ditto, via Marseilles . India (Bombay), via Southampton.' July 26. Ditto, via Marseilles Mauritius, via Southampton ... Aug. 10. Ditto, via Marseille3 ~Aug. 4, Newfoundland July 19. Portugal . .....Aug. 4. Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon... United States and British North America, by Bri tish packet . ...July 27 Ditto, by United States packet, via Southamp ton Ditto, ria Cork . _ ..... Ditto, by Canadian packet, via Londonderry July 21. West Coast of Africa..hladetra, and 'A:Partite Aug. 10. West Indica and Pacido (except Bahama', Cuba, and Mexico ................... . .................. July 29. Bahamas, yia New York. July 27. Bermuda. ditto ..................... . .............. Aug. 2. Cuba and Mexico ............... July 9 Births. CAREY.—On the 18th inst., at Cadogan-road, Surbiton, the wife •f E. Carey, Esq., of a son. MIALL.—On the 17th inst., at Forest- hill, the wife of Mr. Arthur Miall, of a daughter. HALE.—On the 19th inst., at Brighton, the wife of Captain Geo. H. Hale, ll.M.'s Indian Army, of a daughter. STUART.—On the 15th inst., at Kempston Lodge, Beds, the wife of Lieut.-Colonel Stuart, M.P., of a son. Marriages. CIIAFFEY—FOL—On the 17th inst., at the Church of St. Ann and St. Agnes, Aldersgate, E. Chaff e y, E sq ., o f Coombo-hill, Aeinton, Mandeville, Somerset, to Ellen Ann, eldest daughter of Henry Fox, Esq., of St. John street, London. FINUCASE—FONBLANQUE.—On the 17th inst., Colonel Geo. Thurles Finucane, to R os i na Caroline, only daughter of Albany William Fonblanque, of No. 44, Connaught square. Deaths. ---- ENFIELD.—On the 16th inst' 7 Anne, the wife of INilliam Enfield, Esq. HOWSON.-011 the 14th inst., at Huntingdon, Jas. Howson, Esq., aged 72. MADGWICK.—On the 17th inst., Mr. Thos. Madgwick, for merly of Finsbury-pavement, aged 58. MALDEN.—On the 15th - inst., James Malden, Esq., Dengio Hall, Essex, aged 81. PARIS.—On the 14th inst., at Trent Lodge, in her eighty eighth year, Margaret Jane, widow of Archib a ld P ar i s , q Es. RANSOME.—On the 16th inst., at Stoke Newington, Shep pard Ransom°, formerly of Ipswich, aged 46. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM ANDE dWEi. of No. 112, Strand, Piinter, at Tztz SUN Office, No 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savov, In the County of 1111ddlesex.—Weauesclay, July 19, 1885.