The Sun. — London, England, 1854-03-08 00:00:00

MOP! THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESIDAY EVENING, BANQUET TO SIR C. NAPIER AT THE REFORM CLUB. Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, K.C.8., who is appointed to the command of the Baltic fleet now assembling at Spithead, was last night entertained at a splendid ban quet by the members of the Reform Club. The dinner took place in the coffee-room of the club-house, in Pall mall, but, owing to its limited dimensions, accommoda tion could not be provided for more than 200 gentlemen. Many members of the club, however, who were unable to obtain seats at the dinner-table, crowded the ante chambers and the approaches to the coffee-room, in order to hear the addresses of the noble chairman and the in- vited guests. The only decorations of the dining room consisted of the French, English, and Turkish ensigns, . which were arranged alternately around the apartment. A considerable crowd had assembled in Pall-mall in front of the club, by whom Sir C. Napier, Lord Palmerston, and others of the guests were loudly cheered upon their arrival. The dinner was served in admirable style, and did full credit to the chef de cuisine of the establishment, Mr. Fidler, the successor of M. Soyer. The duties of toastmaster were efficiently performed by Mr. Higgs. Lord Palmerston took the chair ; and among the gen tlemen present we observed—Sir J. Graham, M.P., Sir W. Molesworth, M.P., Mr. Peto, M.P., Mr. Ferguson, M.P., Admiral Berkeley, M.P., M. Musurus, the Turkish Minister, Namik Pasha, Mr. K eogli,M. P., Solicitor-G ene ral for Ireland, Mr. Sadleir, M.P., Mr. Oliveira, M.P., the Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Sir J. Lillie, &c. Lord Dudley Stuart, M.P., and Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., acted as vice-chairmen on the occasion. The cloth having been drawn, The CHAIRMAN gave "the health of the Queen," observing, that, in doing so, he had to propose the health of a lady not less distinguished for her personal virtues —those virtues which would adorn a private station — than she was for those higher qualities which fitted her for the exalted position in which it had pleased Provi dence to place her. He had to propose the health of a Sovereign whose throne rested upon the firmest founda tions, because it was rooted in the hearts and affections of a grateful and admiring nation. The toast was drunk with the usual honours. The noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, "His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," said—lt is needless, gentlemen, for me to remind you of the claims his Royal Highness Prince Albert has upon the esteem of this nation. He is invariably the patron of' the arts, the encourager of industry, and the promoter of science —(hear, hear)—and he takes the liveliest interest in everything that can contribute to the welfare, the improvement, and the prosperity of the country. (Cheers.) With regard to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, early though his years are, it is yet gratifying to see that he is treading in the footsteps of his parents, and that he displays even already those qualities the fuller development of which in after life will, at a period, we all hope, the most remote—(" hear," and cheers)—qualify him, when that time comes, to conduct, as we trust he is destined to do, the fate and fortunes of this country. (Loud cheers.) The noble CHAIRMAN again rose and said,—Gentle- Men, this country is engaged in an alliance of no small magnitude and importance with our neighbours in France. (Loud cheers.) It has not often happened in the his tory of the world that these two countries have been so united for purposes of such energetic action. We have bad to do, during now more than 12 months of most difficult and complicated negotiations, with the Sove reign of F rance . W e have met on his part with the greatest straightforwardness— (great cheering)—with the most perfect good faith—(hear, hear)—with the most single-minded sincerity—(loud cheers)—and with an energy of purpose and a community of determination, which inspire in our minds that full confidence in him Which, I am proud to say, he has always expressed in us. (Prolonged cheering.) I therefore trust, gentle men, that yon will receive with satisfaction the toast Which I wish to propose to you—" The health of the Emperor and Empress of the French." (Loud cheers.) If, gentlemen, any words spoken by the subject of a toast could render that toast more peculiarly acceptable to Englishmen at one moment than another, I may refer You to those memorable words in the speech lately de livered by the Emperor of the French—words which, I trust, will create an epoch in the history of Europe— (cheers)—words which, coming from the lips of the Sovereign of a country which has not always practised the maxim they inculcate, may carry with them double weight,—l mean the memorable expression that "the age of conquest is past, never to return again." (Hear, bear ' and cheers.) That, gentlemen, is a sentiment no less honourable to the mind of the man who uttered it than re-assuring to the destinies of Europe,—a senti ment which, I trust, will not fail to produce an effect in another country more remote than that in which it was uttered. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I trust that the age of conquest having passed, we who must take an interest in the welfare and prosperity of our neighbours, whom, I hope, we shall long continue to call our friends as well as our neighbours—the age of conquest having passed, I trust we may hope, for the welfare of France, that its Augustan age is about to commence. (Cheers.) I now beg to propose to you " the health of the Emperor and Empress of the French." (The toast was received with loud and continued cheering.) The noble CHAIRMAN again rose, and said—Gentle men, I have brought to your notice one Sovereign with whom this country is acting in energetic alliance ; and I now wish to propose to you the health of another So vereign who, I am sure, must be an object of great in terest to this company, as he is not only to every other man in this country, but I may say to every honest man in Europe. (Loud cheers.) I wish to propose to you " The health of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan Abdul Medjid." (Great cheerin g .) There are two circum stances which are calculated, perhaps, beyond all others, to inspire interest in a man. The one is the good deeds of the man himself—the other is the evil doings of other persons towards him. (Cheering.) Now, I must say, gentlemen, that in both these respects the Sultan is pe culiarly entitled to inspire interest in the minds of the men of this country. (Hear.) That he is the object of evil doings on the part of others is a fact too notorious to require any explanation—(cheers)—for there never was a sovereign who was, more than the Sultan now is, the object of the most abominable injustice on the part of others—(loud and long-continued cheering)— an injustice which is only equalled by that described in the old fable of the wolf and the lamb. (Cheers.) This time, however, the wolf has been mistaken, for it is no lamb that he has had to deal with. (Renewed cheers.) Well, gentlemen, as to the • deeds of the Sultan himself surely, in the opinion of the members of the Reform Club, the fact that the Sultan has been a great reformer will give him some title to their esteem. (Cheers.) He has not, indeed, wounded the consciences and the pre judices and the habits of his subjects ; he has been too wise to go at that speed of reform which would have de feated his own purposes ; but, making allowances for those ancient prejudices and those rooted habits with which he had to deal, I venture to say that the Sultan has made greater improvements of all sorts and kinds in his wide dominions than it has fallen to the lot of any other Sovereign to make in a corresponding period of time. (Loud cheers.) The Sultan is now reaping the fruits of the wise course which he has pursued, for, while his powerful neighbour flattered himself that at the sound of his voice and at the beck of his finger half the subjects of the Sultan would rise in rebellion, we have seen all the subjects of the Sultan, Christian and Mahome dan, rallying round him with a common energy and a united patriotism, and exhibiting a spectacle worthy of admiration to the people of every country in the world. (Cheers.) There is one act of the Sultan which, I think, never can be forgotten by the generous people of England. In 1849, when the Hungarians were overpowered by the united armies of Austria and Russia, when the bravest of them were compelled to seek refuge in the territories of the Sultan, and when the Sultan, the Sovereign of a weaker State, was threatened With war by his two powerful neighbours unless he gave up these unfortunate fugitives to the vengeance of those whom they had offended, the Sultan firmly, bravely, and generously refused. (Loud cheers.) Ay, gentle men, and he refused even before he was assured of that support from England and France which, when once demanded, could not for one instant of hesitation be Withheld. (Renewed cheers.) Merit be to the Sultan that he did not wait for that assurance, but bravely and generously placed himself as a shield before these un fortunate men, and said that he would encounter any extremity rather than be guilty of a breach of hospi tality. (Cheers.) I give you, then, "The Health of the Sultan, Abdul Medjid," and I trust that, by the manly support of England and of France, fighting hand in hand in his cause, that injustice with which he is threatened will be defeated, and that he will be placed in permanent possession of those sovereign rights which he exercises for the benefit and the welfare of his people. (The toast was drunk amid great cheering.) M. MIISHRHS said—Je suis heureux que l'honneur d'assister a cette assemblee distinguee m'appelle h. celui d'exprimer ma reconnaissance pour le toast porte par le noble Vicomte h la saute de Sa Majeste Imp4riale mon auguste Souverain—toast que vous avez accueilli avec enthousiasme et des marques unanimes de vivesympathie. Cette sympathie est le reflet de celle que la nation Bri tannique a manifests en faveur de rempire Ottoman h toute époque, et notamment h l'occasion d'une noble et juste cause qui n'a cesse d'être des le commence ment l'objet de la sollicitude ecla,iree du Cabinet llritannique, et pour le triomphe de laquelle l'Angle terre et la France, sous les heureux auspices de Sa Majeste la Reine de la Grande Bretagne et de Sa Majeste l'Empereur des Francais, les augustes allies de anon gracieux Souverain, vont maintenant deployer leur puissance invincible; temoin les pr6paratifs irnposants faits dans les deux pays, et la mission confer4e au brave Amiral en l'honneur de qua nous nous trouvons reunis ce banquet. (Cheers.) Ce que je regrette dans une conjoncture aussi solennelle, c'est de ne point trouver en moi le talent suffisant pour exprimer h la nation Britan nique et h son Gouvernement les sentiments de gratitude de Sa Majeste mon auguste Souverain, de son Gouverne anent, et de la nation Ottomane—(cheers) j'avoue que ma niche e it ete acquitte avec plein succes si cette gratitude eut eu pour interprete l'illustre et eminent orateur le noble Vicomte, qui, d'ailleurs, comme it vient de le prouver, connitit it fond les sentiments genereux et les intentions paternelles demon auguste Souverain, et qui, is ce titre, comme is bien d'autres, n'est pas moms populaire en Orient, qu'en Angleterre. (Cheers.) je me borne done is joindre mes vceux les plus ardents is ceux que vous formez pour les succes victorieux du brave Amiral appele 3 concourir au prompt retablissement d'une paix durable et destinee h assurer au monde une longue prosperite et les bienfaits de la civilisation. (Loud cheers.) - - - The following is a translation of the Turkish Ambas• sador's address, given above:— " I am happy that the honour of being present at this distinguished assembly calls upon me to express my gratitude for the toast given by the noble Viscount to the health of his Imperial Majesty, my august Sovereign —a toast which you have received with enthusiasm, and the unanimous tokens of lively sympathy. That sym pathy is the reflection of that which the British nation has manifested on behalf of the Ottoman empire at all times, and especially on the occasion of a noble and just cause, which has never ceased from the first to be the object of the enlightened solicitude of the British Cabinet, and for the triumph of which, England and France, under the happy auspices of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, and of his Majesty the Emperor of the French, the august allies of my gracious Sovereign, are now about to display their invincible power, witness the imposing preparations made by both countries, and the mission conferred on the brave admiral, in honour of whom we now find ourselves united at this magnificent banquet. (Cheers.) What I regret in such a solemn conjuncture is, not to be able to find in myself sufficient talent to express to the British nation and its Government the sentiments of his Majesty my august Monarch, of his Government, and of the whole Ottoman empire--(cheers)—and I declare solemnly that my la bour would have been crowned with full success if this gratitude could have found its expression in the glow ing words of that illustrious and eminent orator, the noble Viscount, who, on this, as on all other occasions, has shown that he understands and appreciates the generous feelings and the paternal intentions of my au gust Sovereign, and who, on this claim as on many others, has proved his title to a popular appreciation, not less marked in the East as in England itself. (Cheers.) I will confine myself in conclusion to the expression of most ardent wishes, in which I am sure you join —(hear, hear)—.for the success of the brave admiral thus called to co-operate in the prompt re-establishment of durable peace—a peace destined to assure to the world a long continuation of the blessings of prosperity and civilisation. (Loud cheers.) The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, there are many merits in things, and among other merits novelty holds its place. Now, the toast I am about to propose to you is, I will venture to say, entirely a new one since the days of the Crusaders. (" Hear," and cheers.) I propose to you to drink to the allied English and French fleets and armies. (Prolonged cheering.) It is a new thing for any man to be able to propose that toast, and it is a gratifying thing that the day has come when the toast can be pro posed. (Cheers.) It is a glorious sight, and one that it does a man's heart good to look upon, to witness the union of two of the greatest and most civilised coun tries in the world, whose rivalship and differences have for centuries disturbed the peace of mankind—to find them at length united in cordial and generous alliance— (cheers)—fighting, not for conquest, not for selfish advantages, but for the liberties of oppressed nations, and for the establishment, I may say, of the freedom and independence of Europe. (Cheers,) I trust, gen tlemen, that that union will last as long as the differ ences which preceded it— (loud and continued cheer ing)—and I am well assured that the spirit of cordial friendship and of disinterested confidence by which both nations have been inspired in entering into this league—gives rn earnest that that wish may be and will be fulfilled. (Cheers.) If men unite—and the same may be said of States as of individuals—if men unite to per petrate wrong, to commit injustice, to violate the rights of others, whether they fail or whether they succeed, the principle of badness which is inherent in the princi ple of their union is sure to lead to subsequent dissen. sion. (Hear, hear.) If they fail, they throw upon each other the blame ; if they succeed, they dispute about the division of the produce of their guilt. (Hear, hear.) But, when men unite for honourable purposes, when they combine together to do good, whether they fail or whether they succeed, a union founded upon justice, upon right, upon honour, survives defeat, and flourishes under disaster. (Loud cheers.) I trust that this union to which I have referred will not have to survive in defeat. I am confident, on the contrary, that it will be crowned with success—(cheers)—and it will, indeed, be a proud thing for these two great nations to say that they have stood foremost to maintain right against wrong, that they have protected those who were unjustly attacked, and that, by the glory of their arms, they have esta blished upon sure and permanent foundations the inde pendence of nations and the permanent peace of Europe. (Loud cheers.) The toast having been drunk with the usual honours, Admiral BERKELEY said that in the absence of any officer of the French navy, he begged leave to return thanks for the united navies of France and England. He was proud to be allowed to return thanks for the gallant nation with which this country was now acting, as well as for his comrades in the British navy. (Cheers.) He could assure them that the English fleets would act in strict union and in honourable rivalry with the fleets of our gallant allies, and he hoped and trusted that that strict union and honourable rivalry might last for ever and ever. (Loud cheers.) Sir D. L. EVANS, in returning thanks for the armies of France and England, said that, as an old soldier, not unacquainted with the present state of the English or French armies, he might be allowed to express his con viction that the French army was not, even when com manded by one of the greatest captains the world had produced, in a more efficient state than it was at the present moment. With regard to our own army, he believed it had never been in a better state, either with regard to organisation, morale, or spirit. (Cheers.) The CHAIRMAN—There was a very remarkable enter tainer of dinner company, called Sir R. Preston, who lived in the city, and who, when he gave dinners at Greenwich, after gorging his guests with turtle, used to turn round to the waiters and say, "Now bring din n%r." Gentlemen, we have had the toasts which cor respond with the turtle, and now let's go to dinner. (Cheers and laughter.) Now, let us drink the toast which belongs to the real occasion of our assembling here. (Loud cheers.) I give you "The Health of my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier," who sits beside me. (En thusiastic cheering.) If gentlemen, I were addressing a Hampshire audience, consisting f country gentlemen residing in that county to which my gallant friend and myseebelong, I should introduce him to your notice as an eminent agriculturist. (Laughter.) It has been my good fortune, when enjoying his hospitality at Merchis toun-hall, to receive most valuable instructions from him while walking over his farm about stall-feeding, growing turnips, wire-fencing, under-draining, and the like. (Laughter.) My gallant friend is a match for everything, and whatever he turns his hand to, he generally succeeds in it. (Cheers.) However, gentlemen, he now, like Cincinnatus, leaves his plough, puts on his armour, and is prepared to do that good service to his country which he will always perform whenever an oppor tunity is afforded to him. (Loud cheers.) My gallant friend, indeed, has made himself conspicuous upon every occasion, and in every place where he has had an oppor tunity of distinction. (Cheers.) I pass over those earlier exploits of his younger days, which are well known to the members of his profession ; but, perhaps, one of the most remarkable exploits ot his life is that which he per formed in that same cause of liberty and justice which he is now about to be engaged. In the year 1833, when gallantly volunteering to serve the cause of the Queen of Portugal against the encroachments and the usurpations of Don Miguel—to defend constitutional rights and liberties against arbitrary power—he took the command ot a modest fleet of frigates and corvettes, and at the head of that little squadron he captured a squadron far superior in force, including two line-of-battle ships, one of which my gallant friend was the first to board. I have been told that while my gallant friend was hanging in the shrouds and trying to get himself upon the deck, he was poked at by a Portuguese pikeman, and we very nearly lost the opportunity of meeting him here to-day at this board. (Cheers and laughter.) But on that occasion my gallant friend exhibited a characteristic trait. When he had scrambled upon the deck of this great line-of battle ship, and was clearing the deck of those who had possession of it, a Portuguese officer ran at him full dart with his drawn sword to run him through, My gallant friend quietly parried the thrust, and, not giving himself the trouble to deal in any other way with his Portuguese assailant, merely gave him a hearty kick and sent him down the hatchway. (Laughter.) Well, gentlemen, that victory was a great event---(much laughter)—l don't mean the victory over the officer who went down—(re newed laughter)—but the victory over the fleet, which my gallant friend took into port—(cheers)—for that victory decided a great cause then pending. It decided the liberties of Portugal; it:decided the question between constitutional and arbitrary power—a contest which be gan in Portugal, and which went on afterwards in Spain, when my gallant friend Sir De Lacy Evans lent his powerful aid in the same cause, and with the same suc cess. My gallant friend Sir Charles Napier, however, got the first turn of fortune, and it was mainly owing to that victory of his that the Queen of Por tugal afterwards occupied the throne to which she was rightfully entitled, and the Portuguese nation obtained that constitution which they have ever since enjoyed. (Loud cheers.) A noble friend of mine, now no more, whose loss I greatly lament, for he was equally distinguished as a man, as a soldier, and as a diploma tist—the late Lord William Russell—an honour to his country, as to his family—told me that one day he heard that my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier was in the neighbourhood of the fortress of Valenza, a Por tuguese fortress some considerable distance from the squadron which he commanded. Lord W. Russell and Colonel Hare went to see my gallant friend, and Lord W. Russell told me they had met a man dressed in a very easy way—(great laughter, in which Sir C. Napier heartily joined) —followed by a fellow with two muskets on his shoulders. (Renewed laughter.) They took him a w t h fi o r s s h t ou fo la r tßhoebseinsmonenCpi -(roars- (r to b o e a , rbs but t f t l h a e ug g h a t ll e a r n ) --t Ad miralbut on my right and a marine behind him. (Laughter.) "Well, Napier," said Lord W. R usse ll , " what are you doing here ?" " Why," said my gall an t friend, " lam waiting to take Valenza." "But," said Lord William, " Valenza is a fortified town, and you must know that we soldiers understand how fortified towns are taken. You must open trenches ; you must make approaches ; you must establish a battery in breach ; and all this takes a good deal of timesaid andyu a ml gallant must be friend,don,l h according ave n t o o rule." "Oh," my time for all that. (Cheers and laughter.) I have got some of my blue-jackets up here and a few of my ship's guns, and I mean to take the town with a letter." (Laughter.) And so be did. lie sent the governor a letter to tell him he had much better surrender at discretion. The governor was a very sensible man—(cheers and laughter)—and so surrender he did. So the trenches and the approaches, the battery, breach, and all that were saved, and the town of Valenza was handed over to the Queen of Portugal. Well, the next great occasion in which my gallant friend took a prominent and distinguished part—apart for which I can assure Government had which nm they official o capacity, p t a o c it y , and the belong, felt deeply indebted and obliged to him—was the occa sion of the war in Syria. There my gallant friend dis tinguished himself, as usual, at sea and on shore. All was one to him wherever an enemy was to be found, and I feel sure that when the enemy was found the enemy wished to Heaven he had not been found. (Laughter.) Well, my gallant friend landed with his marines, headed ' a 'Turkish detachment, defeated the Egyptian troops, gained a very important victory, stormed the town of Sidon, captured 3,000 or 4,000 Egyptian prisoners, and afterwards took a prominent part in the attack and cap ture of the important fortress of Acre. I am bound to say that the Government to which I belonged, in send ing those instructions which led to the attack upon Acre, were very much guided by the opinions which we had received of the practicability of that achievement in let ters from my gallant friend. Well, gentlemen, my gal lant friend was not content with acting successfully the part of Admiral and the part of General, but he must needs act the part of diplomatist too, and with equal success. He went in command of part of the fleet to Alexandria. He landed there, and he persuaded Mehe met Ali to sign a convention, which led to the peaceful evacuation of Syria by the remnant of the Egyptian forces. This measure saved an immense amount of human life, and prevented a great effusion of blood ; it accomplished the purpose we had in view, and it res cued Syria from the danger by which it was threatened. (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, the success of that campaign has no unimportant bearing upon the state of things which we are now considering, for, whereas at that time the ruler of Egypt directed the resources of Egypt—its fleets and its armies—in hostile attacks upon the Sultan, the result of the arrangements which were the conse quence of my gallant friend's successful campaign has been that we now see the troops and ships of Egypt rang ing themselves side by side with those of the Sultan, and we find the Pasha of Egypt as loyal, as zealous, as well affected a supporter of his sovereign as any other subject in his dominions, (Loud cheers.) Well then, gentle men, my gallant friend having had the good fortune to succeed in all his operations, I think we have good rea son to hope that he will be equally successful for the futnre as he has been in times past. (Loud cheering.) As bearing upon that point, I cannot refrain from repeating an observation which was made to me by a very discriminating, calm-minded friend of mine, who passed some time in the East at the period to which I have adverted, who saw a great deal of my gallant friend, and who, when he came to town, visited me to give me an account of what he had observed in the East, which, considering the position I then held, he thought might be interesting. When I mentioned to him my gallant friend (Sir Charles Napier), and praised his en terprise and boldness, his daring and his intrepidity, this gentleman said, "Yes, all that is very true, but there is another quality that Sir Charles Napier possesses, which is as valuable as any of these, and as important an in gredient in his success. I never saw any man in my life who calculated so many moves beforehand." (Cheers and laughter.) Now, gentlemen, when a man can cal culate his moves beforehand, and has, to execute those moves, the spirit and genius which are possessed by my gallant friend, I think any country that places its fate and fortune in his hands may feel confident of success. The toast was drunk with three times three, followed by prolonged cheering.' Sir C. NAPIER was received with loud and prolonged cheering. He said,—My lord and gentlemen, I can scarcely find words to express to you my gratitude for the very handsome manner in which you have received my health. I am rather singularly situated at this mo ment, for I have on my left a noble lord who was one of the Lords of the Admiralty when I began my career in the navy, and on my right I have my right hon. friend who is now the First Lord of the Admiralty. The noble lord has entertained the company by some allusions to my agricultural pursuits, and has given me credit for having devised some plans for improving the agriculture of the country. He has, however, omitted one plan that I recommended to him as a means of getting young lambs early. (Great laughter.) I will not repeat it here, but I shall be extremely happy to explain it to any gentleman who will apply to me on the subject. (Laugh. ter.) The noble lord has also followed me to Portugal, and where he has found all his amusing stories is quite astonishing to me. (A laugh.) On one point I must correct him, because he has given me credit which belongs to others. He stated that I was the first who boarded the Portuguese line-of-battle ship. My gallant captain, Captain Wilkinson, now no more, and my son who was lost in the Avenger, were, however, the first persons who boarded that vessel. The noble lord has alluded to my campaigns in the north of Portugal. There, fortunately, as well as in Syria, I was successful, and I hope to be so in the expedition upon which we are now about to embark. I cannot say we are at war, because we are still at peace—(great laughter)—but I suppose we are very nearly at war, and probably when I get into the Baltic I'll have an opportunity of declaring war. (Loud cheers, laughter, and cry of "Bravo, Charley.") Certainly, if I have that opportunity, I hope it will end in a prosperous war, for I may safely say that this country never sent out such a splendid fleet as will sail for the Baltic in a very few days. I think my right hon. friend (Sir J. Graham) and his coadjutors at the Admiralty deserve the greatest credit for having fitted out such a fleet in such a manner after so long a peace. (Cheers.) My hon. friend the Surveyor of the Navy has corrected the faults and errors that had been committed for a great number of years ; and I don't think we could now point out a single fault in the con struction of our ships. We have now enormous line-of battle-ships that, with the screw, will face wind, tide, and every element. I do not mean to say that our fleet is yet in order, but I believe, considering the officers who have been appointed to it, that it very soon will be. With the force, then, that we have, although it is not equal to the Russian force, I believe that by the assistance of the screw we shall be able to attack a very superior force, and I have not the slightest doubt when we do that, that every sailor and every officer in our fleet will remember the words of Lord Nelson, that "England expects every man to do his duty." (Loud cheers.) The gallant Admiral concluded by proposing " the health of the First Lord of the Admiralty," which was received with great applause. Sir J. GRAHAM said—Gentlemen, my noble friend in the chair has spoken to you of happy foreign combina tions and of energetic action which are now to be anti cipated. I confess to you that I was greatly honoured and gratified by your invitation to be present on this occasion. I thought that that invitation spoke of do mestic alliances, of energetic action at home, and I was rejoiced to be invited by the members of the Reform Club, with my noble friend and colleague the Secretary of State in the ch&r, to celebrate the appointment of my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier to take the command of the Baltic fleet—a happy combination abroad, firm and united councils at home, and an officer selected in whom the confidence of the Government and of the country on a great occasion is happily united. (Loud cheers.) My noble friend the chairman has spoken to you of some early exploits of my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier. Now, it does so happen that at a still earlier period—at the close of the last war—l had the pleasure and the honour, in the Mediterranean, of first making the acquaintance of my gallant friend. He then commanded the Thames frigate, in the fleet of Lord Exmouth ; and, even in his presence, I may tell you that in that fleet, composed of the most distinguished naval heroes, and of officers whose fame is still recorded in our history, there was no officer, with out any exception, who more entirely possessed the con fidence of Lord Exmouth, and who was more generally admired for his distinguished gallantry than my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier. (Cheers.) I will not weigh the precise ingredients of valour. My gallant friend was distinguished for remarkable daring and bravery ; but even then, in the early part of his career, he veri fied that praise which my noble friend has said was awarded to him at a later period—he constantly looked several moves beforehand—and, in my humble judgment, he is not only a gallant, but I must add that I lookupon him as a discreet, commander. (Loud cheers.) He possesses my entire confidence—(hear, hear)—and I have rejoiced in the opportunity on a great occasion of commending him to the approbation and choice of my Sovereign. (Loud cheers.) That selection I believe has been approved by the country. (Renewed cheer ing.) I believe also that it is approved by the profes sion ; and, although the propelling power of the fleets may be changed, although naval tactics may be altered, yet he goes forth the commander, not of a pressed body of men—(cheers)—but of volunteers for this splendid service. All these things way be changed, but one thing is unchanged—that is, the gallantry and power of command of my gallant friend. He does not go forth under any hypocritical pretence of conducting a religious war—(cheers and laughter)—but to assert the independence of Europe, to maintain the balance of power, and to resist—and, I hope, successfully to resist —as lawless a spirit of aggression and of reckless aggran disement as ever disgraced any country. My gallant friend says, when he goes into the Baltic he will declare war. (Laughter.) I, as First Lord of the Admiralty, give him my free consent so to do. (Loud cheering.) I hope that that war may be short, and that it may be sharp. (Cheers.) I am sure that, guided by my gallant friend, it will be decisive, and although politics are ex cluded generally from the naval profession, yet we, as Reformers, may be proud that the honour of the British flag in the Euxine and the Baltic is intrusted to two such champions as Admiral Dundas and Sir Charles Napier. (Cheers.) They will prove true to their country in the last extremity, and I sincerely hope the time may not be far distant when you, perhaps, will kindly invite me again to celebrate the return of my gallant friend. (Loud cheers.) This evening is an evening of happy augury. When we next meet I hope it will be to celebrate a brilliant success. (Loud cheering.) , Sir W. MOLESWORTH asked permission to propose a toast that ho was sure would be drunk with enthusiasm, "the health of their illustrious guest the Turkish Minis ter"—a gentleman well known to them, and much re spected, esteemed, and regarded by all to whom he was known, both on account of his excellent personal quali ties, and as the representative of the Sovereign in the defence of whose territories against unmerited aggres sion— in the defence of whose just and violated rights, the united people of France and England were now arming and sending forth the mightiest fleets that the ocean had ever borne on its surface. (Cheers.) To pro tect Turkey from unscrupulous violence—to maintain intact the territorial arrangements upon which the sta bility and well-being of the system of European States mainly depended, to prevent the dangerous aggrandise ment of Russia at the expense of the Ottoman empire— these were the sole and disinterested objects for which the people of France and England had combined. De termined at all risks and at all hazards to attain these objects, they had at first expected to attain them with out the calamities of war—(hear, hear)—they had placed some reliance on the personal and oft-repeated assurances of the Czar, that he was most desirous to maintain the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Porte, and that he wished for no increase of the power or authority which had been conceded to him by treaties. (Hear.) They also put some faith in the word of this Sovereign whose boast it was that, with the power of an Autocrat, he possessed the feelings of honour of a gentleman. They sincerely and earnestly hoped that the difficulties of the Eastern question might be settled by means of peaceful negotiations, and they held it to be, for the interest of Turkey, of Europe, and mankind, that they should not draw the sword as long as they could keep it with honour in its scabbard. (Cheers.) Their efforts —first to preserve, next to restore peace, had been nobly Seconded by the Ottoman Government, which bad din• played great moderation, forbearance, and Self-denial, together with courage, rnagnatiirnity l and good offering thereby a remarkable contrast to their grasping and imperious assailant. Our peaceful efforts had, how= ever, failed. The fairest offers had been scornfully re jected. On false and flimsy pretexts two provinces of the Turkish empire had been invaded, and their revenues confiscated ; incendiary proclamations had been issued to excite religious fanaticism ; blasphemous appeals had been made to the Almighty; a crusade had been preached to disguise the lust of dominion ; the words of Scripture had been quoted to justify acts of aggression ; and the feelings of humanity had been outraged by scenes of unnecessary carnage and cruelty. (Hear, hear.) The time for negotiation was therefore past ; the time for vigorous action had come. (Cheers.) The summons had been sent ; the answer must be war. The com bined fleets and armies of France and England were ready, eager to display their prowess, and to make the shores of the Baltic and Euxine resound with their deeds of military and naval daring. (Cheers.) France and England now expected every man to do his duty. Their expectations would be fulfilled. (Cheers.) The gallant admirals present and their brave brethren in arms would soon awaken the Czar from his dream of vain glory, and irresistible might would teach him that he could not break his word with impunity, would inflict well-merited chastisement upon this wanton disturber of the peace of the world, and would make him bitterly repent the wrong that he had done to the monarch whom France and England were bound and resolved to protect. (Loud cheers.) Our quarrel was a just one, and, as the poet said— 50 50 20 20 " Thrice is he armed that has his quarrel just, And be bur, naked, though locked up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted." Sir W. Molesworth concluded by proposing the health of the Turkish Minister. (Cheers.) The Turkish MINISTER acknowledged the compliment. Lord DUDLEY STUART said,—My Lord Palmerston, Sir C. Napier, and gentlemen,—Th e diffidence which I feel as to my ability to do anything like justice to the toast which has been placed in my hands, is naturally increased by the lateness of the hour, but I have full confidence that the subject has that within itself which will draw from you as hearty andenthusiastic a response as ever was given ; for who is there having a heart to feel for justice, and to admire military skill and indomi table bravery in a great and good cause, will not feel his bosom glow at the name of the Turkish Navy and Army? Such is the toast I have to propose to you, and with it I am to couple the names of Admiral Slade and Omer Pacha. Admiral Slade is an officer well known in our own service, and I am sure that I shall be borne out by those Turkish noblemen whom I have the honour and gratification of seeing here as our guests, when I say of him, that by his skill, his patience, his good temper, his good sense, and untiring assiduity, he has conferred be nefits on the Turkish navy, and placed it in a position to render good service to the country. (Loud cheers.) In speaking of the naval officers of Turkey, one naturally revert to Sinope. That, indeed, was a day of disaster ; but it was disaster without disgrace. The Turkish flag at Sinope met with no disgrace—the disgrace was for the Russians. Europe has proclaimed its opinion of that inhuman butchery, and the page of history will ratify this award. But the Turks, both officers and sailors, gave proof of the most indomitable bravery, and, I hesitate not to say that, in defending themselves as they did against a force so out of all proportion to their own, they exhibited a courage, a daring, and a devotion, which has rarely or ever been equalled, a n d cer tainly never surpassed. (Hear, and loud cheers.) On Omer Pacha—that great commander—the eyes of all Europe are directed, and he has the prayers of all good men for the continuation of that glorious suc cess which has hitherto attended his arms. (Cheers,) I myself have had the good fortune to see both the Turkish fleet and the Turkish army, and though I may not be considered competent to form a judgment, as not being a professional man, I yet bear testimony as an eye-witness. I know that the fleet is composed of noble ships, and manned by men determined to do their duty. (Cheers.) I know that the Turkish army is composed of as fine men as it is possible to see ; that they are well armed, well fed, well equipped, well trained, and all, from the highest to the lowest, animated by the best spirit—a spirit which will cause them to shed their blood, and to die, if need be, to the last man in defence of their country. (Cheers.) And if you want to know whether these are only words and empty boasts—the Turks never boast—l will refer you, besides Sinope, to the glorious days of Oltenitza, Machin, and Citate. These gave results very different from the expectations of the vain-glorious and arro gant expectations of the enemy. At Sinope the Russian Admiral expected that the Turks were going to haul down their colours, and that he should have nothing to do but take possession of their ships ; and the Russians and their friends were perpetually telling us that the Turkish army was nothing but a horde of fanatical and undisciplined barbarians, who would be scattered by the troops of the Czar like chaff before the wind. It has been common to hear military men demonstrate that such must be the case ; but it so happens that in every encounter the Turks, those undisciplined barbarians, have, with inferior forces, beaten the Russians, and put them to the route. (Cheers.) Then, too, we have been told that the Turks could fight well enough behind walls, but would prove no match for the Russians in the open field. It is true that the Turkish artillery is in excellent order, admirably worked, and second to none in the world, and the illustrious Omer Pacha used it with consummate ability and effect at Oltenitza, ; but as to the inferiority of the Turks to the Russians in the open field, that is a delusion which was completely dispelled at the battle of Citate, for there the Turks engaged the Russians at the point of the bayonet, and though in inferior numbers, these undisciplined barbarians were so stupid that they would not stir ' render, but they charged their enemy with irresistible valour, and drove them from the field. (Loud applause.) I have spoken now of the regular army ; but be sides this Turkey has a large force of irregulars. These men are volunteers, who find their own arms, their own horses ; and when I saw them, some from the remotest parts of Asia, crowding with their numbers the Bos phorus, where boats could hardly be found enough to ferry them over to Constantinople—when I saw the road from the capital to Adrianople, and again from Adrianople all across the Balkan, covered and bustling with these horses, I could not but feel how great and how noble a spirit pervaded the subjects of the Sultan. Shall I be told that this is a spirit of fanaticism ? Where is the man who does not honor a people ready to defend their religion, and who does not feel that there cannot be a greater or a nobler motive for men to take up arms ? But this is no spirited fanaticism ; it is one of patriotism, deter mined to resist the attempts of a foreign power to destroy the independence of the nation. It has been said that we are leagued in this war with the enemies of Chris tianity ; but that statement comes from those who, having " exhausted every modification of untruth, con cealment, and evasion, have ended with assertions of positive falsehood." We need not therefore attend to it. A. war against Christianity ! Why, I have myself seen a corps composed of Christian subjects of the Porte, com manded by a Mussulman Pacha, marching towards the Danube, to do battle for the Sultan, and bearing a banner, on which appeared the Cross side by side with the Crescent, and I have seen the p o p u l a ti on , Ch r i s ti an and Mussulman, coming out to receive them and encou rage them. This is nota war ag a i ns t Ch r i s ti an ity, b u t it is a war to resist unrighteous aggression, and to de. fend the independence ofT . urkey and o fE ur ope--and there fore the fleets and armies of England and France are combined to render assistance to those of Turkey. The union-jack and the tri-colour whi c h now a d orn th ese walls, float over forces united in this good cause. The shots in the Black Sea, and on the Danube, will be echoed back from the Baltic. That sound will boom all across the Continent of Europe, while it will raise the hopes, and I trust more than the hopes, of all oppressed nations, who will recollect what they owe to the brave army and navy of Turkey, which alone up to the present time, has offered resistance to Russia, and has given that example, which followed, as it will be, by our illustrious guest and his comrades by sea and by land, will have for its result the peace, the security, and the welfare of the world. (Loud cheers.) The following toasts were afterw ar d s g i ven an d d u l y honoured :—" The Chairman," "the Vice-Chairman," " Narnik Pasha," "Admirals Hamelin and Dundas, and and " the Reform Club and suece c s o s n t ti o nu th e e d crormosbpienreidtyflteoet::, 50 40 25 25 812s1 64 25 50 20 10 26f 13i 20 20 St. 10 St. 25 5 10 St. 5 St. 16 St. 20 12i St. FIRE AT ST. JAMES ' S - PLACE. — Yesterday morning, at four o'clock, a fire broke out at Mr. G. A. Walker's Vapour Baths, 11, St. James's-place, St. James's-street, Piccadilly, and was not extinguished for several hours. A. great amount of property was destroyed. The cause of the fire is not known. the property was insured in the Sun Office. ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN A POLICE STATION.— Last evening a young man was lodged in the police station, West Smithfield, charged with robbing his em ployer. While the necessary statements were being made for entry on the charge sheet, the prisoner sud denly leaned towards the prosecutor an d di scharge d a pistol point blank at his head, .the ball graze d t h e ear o f the intended victim, and passing through the window, lodged in the shutter. The prisoner was instantly dis armed and secured, and being closely watched and guarded, the charge of attempting murder was first en tered, and subsequently that of embezzlement, upon which he was taken in custody. After the charge sheet had been signed he was placed in a cell, and orders were issued by the inspector to keep a strict watch over him during the night. BANK NOTE ROBBERY.—Yesterday afternoon a gen tleman residing at 6, Ch r i s topher-street, Finsb ur y- square , was robbed in the City of 1,6751. in bank notes. On discovering his loss he apprised the police of the circum stance and stopped payment of the notes, the numbers of which he know. A reward of 1001. has been offered for the recovery of the property or apprehension of the thief. UKASE AGAINST THE HEAD-DRESSES OF JEWISH WOMEN.—We read in the Posen Gazette :—" The ukase, prohibiting Jewish women in Russian-Poland from wearing false hair, has been aggravated by a new order prohibiting them from wearing any kind of head-dress under their bonnets. Their husbands or relatives are made responsible for obedience to this order, and, in case of infraction, are to be punished with fine and im prisonment. Several have already been punished. The Rabbis are ordered not to perform the marriage ceremony for any woman who disobeys these orders, and the of fending Rabbis, if young men, are to be sent as private oldiers to a penal colony." 10 25 10 1.0.1 GLASGOW AND Sorrn-WEszEns.—The directors recommend that a dividend at the rate of 31 per cent. be declared on the ordinary stock, leaving a balance of 1,9231. The total expen diture amounts to 4,161,758/. ; the receipts for traffic in the half-year ending January 31 last to 130,387/. ; and the work ing expenses t 057,893?" leaving a profit of 72,494/. SHARE MARKETS. (THIS DAY.) 1 100 8i BRITISH RAILWAYS. Closing Prices yesterday. 201 -20 i i 4i -- 5i 8 9 12 —lO die 16 - 18 - 5:4 100 1100 all all ' all 93 - 95 51 - 554 15 - 16 12i • 4~ - 46 7i - 8 4 - 4h 12g - 12 - 36 40 24 - 26 8i 100 100 54 100 63 - 65 61 - 63 ii 7- - - - 26 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 J 91 78 80 124 - 126 94 - 96 791 - 79 92 -- 95 12 3 / 4 -134 p 12 -- 13 p 67 -- 674 6i -- GNI 13 - 13. 84 8i par—gyp 96 —97 LO2 -102 i par p * 4 d 78 80 11 10 /I, 10 9d 21i - .61.4 34 - 36 A d par 5i 2f 2i 6 - 8 47 - 49 3$ 31(1 32§ 33 li - li 6i - 7 52 - 55 i -BP It 3;1 ..6i • - - 5i 7f - 7f 2/ 2s 100 100 100 100 31 - 33 88 90 54 - 56 58 - 60 55 60 3 2d, 16 - 18 8 - 9 12 - 13 3i - 323,1 all ' 51s. 100 20 14 16 62 63 35 36 2 d par 4 5 29 - 3.1 2i - 2i 154 15i 54 - 24 - 26 4 - 6 6 - 7 68 69 8k - n 4 44 4 d 48 -- 49 1E SHARES. si. 12j i ii :- 101 6i -- 6 3 -- 31 4 -- 4A i fp --- l i t 13i —l3fixd 22i -23 A 24 i 791 9 66 i i 8} I 96 g Ol§ 12k 12 -- ad 22 I li 61 60i 33s 2i 31 - 31 11 . 6 -1:117xd1 105 —lo7xd id —parad 7 —Bl xd .. ad 98 100 90 95 94 96 id 136 138 15i 62 3 / 4 i ,• • ''"— e.• ~ .., ad 21 --2 i id ii - 13 6 9 6 • 10 76 par ipad 136 138 li —id ad ••• x d ••• xd ••• ad ••• ad ••• xd 100 -- 102 p 9A --10 ' 16i -- 17 10 -- 10 12 --14 + id -- p 23i -- 24 100 -- 102 17 -- 19 ... - ~ ••• ''''' •' •• • d 92 95xd' 3i —4 ad id RAILWAYS. Aberdeen A.Tob-g. Nottng. Bost and Basta. Junct Belfast & Ballymena Birming. Wolverh. & Stour Valley Birkenhd. Lancsh. & Cheshire Junct Do. Chesil. & Birk., £5O and £25 Cons. Do., ....... Blyth & Tyne original £25 (issd. at £45) Bristol and Exeter Caledonian Chester & Holyhead 1 Cork and Bandon 1 Cork, Black, & Pass Cornwall Crieff Junction Dublin&BelfastJuuc Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junation Do. New East Anglian Do., (XlB E & Eastern Counties Eastern Union, A Stock Do., B. Stock Do., New A East Lancashire Edinburgh& Glasgow Edinb. and Peebles Edin. Prth. & Dundee Forth & Clyde June. Glasgow & S. Western treat Northern Stk. Do., A. Stock Do., B. Stock Gt. Sth. &West.(lre.) Great Western Irish South-Eastern' Lancaster & Carlisle Do., Thirds Do. New Thirds Lancash.anclYorksh. Do., Fifths D a. , Wst. Riding I.Tn Leeds Northern Liv.Crsby.&Southpt London & Blackwall Lond. Tilb. & Sthend. Loud. Bright & S.Cst. Loud. and N. Westn. Do. Fifths Do.lo/.5h.,M&8...0 Do. Eighths London and S. Westn Do., £5O Do., £4O Lndndrry& Coleraine Lndndrry. & Ennisk. 'Manch.Shef.& Lincln Do., Man. & Lin. Un Midland Do. Birmng. & Derby Midid. G. West. (Ira.) Do. Half Shares Newcastle & Carlisle. Newmarket Do., Bury Extension. Nwpt.Aberg. & Hrfd. Newry & Enniskillen Newry Warrenpoi.nt and Rostrevor. . Norfolk Northn.Counties Un. North British North Devon, No. 1. Do., No. 2 Do., 1 A Deferred Do., I B Guaranteed North London IDo. New £lO N. &S. Wstrn . ,Hamp. stead, and City Jn., North Staffordshire , North Western N. & S. Westrn. June, Nuneaton, Hinckley ; and Leicester Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverhampton Portsmouth Scottish Central Scottish Midland Shrewsbury & Bi i mg Do. L. & N. Western Guaranteed Steak Shrewsby. & Herefd Shrewsby. & Chester (N. W. Min , Do. Halveso. e Do. Oswestry Shropshire Union Do. A, B, C,& D,fully paid up at per cent South Devon South Eastern South Wales S. Yrksh. & Riv. Dun Do Staines, Wok & Wok Stockton & Darling. Stockton & Hartlepl Taff Vale Do. £lO shares Do. Pref., No. Thames Haven Dock and Railway Vale of Neath Waterfd. & Kilkenny WaterforchtLimerick West Cornwall. West End of London and Crystal Palace West London Wimbledn & Croydon York Newctl.&Berw. Do. Extensions Do. G.N.E. Purchase York & N. Midland PREFEREN I 'Aberdeen Do. No. 2, 7 p. c. Blyth and Tyne 10 per c. pref. (issd. at 50/) Bris. & Ex. 4 p. c. St. Do. 4 p. c. Shares Caledonian £lO Chester & Holyhead Guar. 5} per cent Cork &Bandonslp.c Dundee Perth &Aber deen Junction EastAnglian (£3los) 6 per cent Do. (£5) 7 per cent Do. (£7l7s) 7 p. c Eastern Counties Ex tension, 5 p. c. No. 1 Do. No. 2 Do. New 6 p. c. St. Eastern Union, Scrip Guar. 6 per cent... Do. 51., 10 per cent. Do. 101. Debentr.Sh- East Lancash. 6 p. cts. East and West York- all all LOO all shire June. Pref... Edinb Pith. &Dundee 5i per cent. lasgow & S. Western Guar. 5 per cent Great Northn. 5 p. e Do. 5 p. c. Redeem., at 10 p. c. prem... Do. 4i p. c. Scrip Gt.N. of Scot. Ist Pref Gt, Southn. &Westm. (Ireland) Eighths) Do. 4 per c. Pref. Sh Gt. Westn. (Berks & Hants Ex. 5 p. c) Do. cov. red. 4i p.c Do. con. red. 4 p. c Do. irred. 4 p. c Lan. &York. F. £2O Do. 6 p. c. Stock Leeds N. 6 p. c. No. 1 Do. Quarters, 1848 London and Brighton Guaranteed 5 p. c Do. Prof., 5 p. c. St. o. Convertible, 5 p. c., 1852 Do. New Guar.6 p. c. Lon. &N. W., Coy. & Nuneaton London & S. Western Con. Thirds Londonderry& Coler. all all 100 100 100 100 100 100 all 100 15 all all all Shares Londy. & Ennis. Sh Shef., & Lin., i Shares, No. 1. Do. New, £lO Do. £6 Karypt & Carl. 4 p.c Do. 4 per cent Do ... Consol.6 p.c.St Do. Consol. Bristol & %rm. 6 per cent Do. Pref. 4i per cent Norfolk Debenture Do. Prof. 4 p. c. Stock Do. 5 p. c. Est Do. 5i per ct. pref. Do. Way. Val. 5 p. c North British North Staffordshire Oxford, Worcester, & Wolverh. £l5, 6 p.c. Do Scot. Cent. , New Pref Shrews. &Birm.N.G. Shrewsby. & Chester (Nor.W.Min), S p.c. Do. 5 per cent South Devon Ds. fixed, 4i per cent S. Eastern (Reading Ann.) of £1 Os. 6d. Do. 4iper cent. S.Yorksh.4p.c.Guar Stockton and Dar- lington, 4 per eent, Do. do. do, Stockton and Hartle• York&N. Midland'', and 8. Punch pool, guar. 5 p. c. till Ist July, 1856 Waterfd.&Kilk.6p.c. York, Newcastle,aud Berwick,4 p.c. Pref Do MARCH 8, 1854. Business done this day. 68 11l ad 10 ad 95 , LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS. Closing Prices Business Shr. Paid. Ratr.weis• Leasing yesterday. this day. Compans. 50 all Ledford and London & Bletchley.... N. West ..• St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&N.W. 98 100 50 all Clydesdale Jc. Caledon 48 —5O St. 100 E. Lincoln gr. 6 per cent. Gt.Nrthn. 140 142 25 all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian. Neils. Direct ••• ••• 25 all Do. New. Do -- 25 all Glstr.& Dn. Fr Gt. Westn 28 30 100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New. Railway & Berw. 50 all Hull & Selby Y. &NMd 104 —lo6xd z d 25 all Do. Shares. Do 52 —53 „ x d 124 all Do. 4 Shares. Do 26 —27 , z d 13i all Lon.&Greenw S. Eastern 13 13 20 all Do. Preference Do 24 —2slxd z d 20 100 Lowestoft gr. 4 per cent. Norfolk — 20 WO Do. 6 per et. 5 all 'lanch. Bxtu. and Matlock & Midld. 24' 50 all %iiddlesbro' & Stckton & Redcar. Darlingt. x d z d 1001 all Aidld.Bradfd Midland 95 97 95 1 50 all Northern and Easternsp.e. E. Count. 57 59 50 Do. 6 per et. Do •• -- 50 all Do. Fixeds p« Do 25 all Prest. & Wyre L. & N.W &Ln&lrk 122 12 Do. Shares. Do — St. 100 Roystn,&,Hit. GtNorthn 137 139 St. 100 Do.Shepth.St Do — 25 18$ Shef.Roth.and Lancash & Goole c , .5 p.c. Yorksh. 12 NS. Stafrordsh. 11.MClean 21 1/.1 50 all Wear Valleygr Stockt. & 6 per cent... Darlingt. ad a d 25 all Do Do 29 —3O , d St. 100 Wilts&Somrst GtWestn 94 96' FOREIGN. 10 5 20 20 7 3 8 2s. Antwerp&Rotterdam Belgian Eastn. June. Beziers to Graissessac Bombay, Baroda, and Central India, Scrip Central of Italy Charleroi & Erquelin Demerara Dijon and Besancon Dutch Rhenish East Indian Do. Extension Gt. Indian Peninsula Gd. Junct. of France' Grd. Trunk of Canada' Do. Debentures Do. do 3i 3d 1 1. id -LA) ... - 20 25 190 100 20 201 all 10 10 30 all ... - Gt. Central of France Gt. Westernof Canada Shares Do. Bonds (Ist is.)'s7 Hamilton & Toronto Do. 6 per cent. Lake Const. & Basle Lucca & Pistoja 5 p.c. ii -- 3d 2t —34 p --: 1.1)1 2O 100 20 pref Luxembourg Do. (Railway) Do. Pref. . Do. (Canal) Do. 6 p. et. pref Lyons and Geneva Lyons & Mediterran. ..._ . 5 - 40 Niadras Maria Antonia Do. do. New Melbourne Dk. & Ry Namur & Liege (with interest) Do. (ex interest) Northern of France Do. 201. 3 p. c Bds (fmy. B. & Ams. Shs. ) No rwegianTrunkPref Paris and Lyons Ditto Bonds Paris and Orleans Paris and Rouen Paris and Strasbourg ParisCaen & Cherbrg. Quebec dr Richmond Rouen and Havre...., Royal Danish Royal Swedish Sambre and Meuse Do. 54 p. cent. Pref Southern of France St. Andrew's and Quebec (A) West Flanders Do. 51 per c. Pref Western of Franco._ West. of Switzerland Wiesbaden Zealand ... -. - 3 --: 2§...d 21a 22 1 - lip 7 - 9 pl dia 6i -7; - 1 - L 1 - 1. 1} - - I'd 7- ... - •• • - 71 - 29# - 29 74 -- 8i 12i -- 12ip 42 —44 34 —36 xd 2E q —28 i pm 3 1 d lei par d 8i * ... -pm 3i 4i • .2: - 3 1 4.d5 a Aqua Fria Anglo Austrin. Gold Anglo Californian Australasian Australian Australian Cordillera Australian Freehold Ave Maria Baden (Gd. Duchy of) Blaenarvon Ir. & Coal British Austrin. Gold i British Iron Brazilian Imp. (issue dl at £5 pm Do. Cocaos & Cuiada Do. St. John Del Rey Carson's Creek Clarendon Con. Min Co. of Jamaica Cobre Copper Colonial Gold Copiapo Copper Min. of Eng Do. Pref. 74 p. cent English and Austrlu Copper Smeltg. Co General Great Nugget Vein Do. Registered Great Polgooth Liberty Linares Lond.diCaliforn.Goldl Quartz Crush. Co Mariquita Mexican&S.Amerien New Granada New Linares Mining and Smelting Co Nou:eau Monde Pontgibaud Silver Lead MM. & Smelt Port Philip Quartz Rock Ethymney Iron Do. New Santiago de Cuba Fouth Australian Tin Croft United Mexican Waller West Granada West Mariposa Worthing Mining 01 Australia Yuba JOINT-S' Australasia British Colonial Bank and Loan Company British N. American Chartd. Bank of Asia Chrtd. Bnk. of India, Australia, & China Colonial Commercial of Lond English Scottish and Australian Lond. Chart. Bk. of Australia London and County London Joint Stock Lond. & Westminster National Provincial 50 50 100 100 20 50 20 25 20 10 20 35 all all 2 10 -- d 2 lid 3i -- lid 1 -- id of Englaud Do. New National of Ireland New South Wales Oriental Bank of Corporation ••• - ... 40 - 42x(1 Do. New Provincial of Ireland Do. New 46 - 47 Royal Australn.Bkg. & Gold Imp Co , (South Australia Union of Australia Do. New ,Union of London 40 - 42 67 - 68 7 - 671 7 ST. PETERSBURG.—The letters from St. Peters burg to the 27th ult., and confirm the rep ort of p roh ibition the that vessels at of the export of grain. It seems , ho wever, Odessa loaded or loading will be allowed . to leave with their cargoes. The other politica l news indicates extensive preparations for war, and great reports are still circu lated of patriotic contributions fro m individuals. BILL STAMPS.—The alteration proposed by the Chan cellor of the Fxchequer with regard to bill -stamps-- name ly, the substitution of an ad valorem scale at the rate of 3d. for 251. in place of the present rates, prohi bitory on small bills and light on large ones, has long been desired by the great mass of traders. They have looked for it, however, with little hope, owing to the small probability of its being recommended or countenanced by the great houses likely to be con sulted on the matter, to whom the existing system gave a sort of monopoly of the money-market. Under these circumstances, therefore, the introduction of the measure is regarded with great satisfaction, as an act in which the interests of the public at large have alone been consulted. At the same time, the advantage to the commercial world generally, from the simplicity of the new scale, and the introduction of adhesive in place of die stamps, will be exceedingly great, not only by removing all inconvenience din procuring them, but also by preventing the mistakes constantly occurring from the use of stamps of wrong amount. THE NEW BUILDINGS IN BROAD-STREET.—The build ings now going up with great rapidity on the site of the Excise-office are for chambers. These are being erected under the superintendence of Mr. Tite and Mr. E. N. Clifton, by Messrs. Piper. They will all be fire-proof. A. small steam-engine has been set to work to mix the mortar and to grind the mortar and rubbish of the old brickwork to make the new mortar. The site is about one acre and a quarter, and was bought by ten gentle men, who are erecting the buildings in question, for 108,2001. The buildings themselves will east ; per haps, another 100,000/.—Tlts Builder. - 1 p d— 4 d d —2;. id id id id 11 i d 9 i 11 - 2 29 - 31 42 - 44xd Ad— Ap 11 —l3 60 —7O 4 - 6pl li -2, 4 d par li 14 $ d L. 12 - 6 - - id 16 - 18 d !8 p 8 - 10 3 - 4 " - 3 4i - - - o d 1 BANKS. all 15 i all all all all all all 15 I.oi all die id THE BANQUET TO SIR C. NAPIER. Last evening a memorable dinner took place at the Reform Club. This entertainment was given to Ad miral Sir Charles Napier, to commemorate his ap pointment to the command of the Baltic fleet. Lord Palmerston took the chair, and was supported by two of his colleagues, members of the Cabinet, Sir William Molesworth and Sir James Graham. All three of these ministers will gain credit by their readi ness to do honour to the occasion. Complimentary dinners, under ordinary circumstances, are common enough, and do not stand out with peculiar prominence amongst the events of the day. The peculiar feature of the present dinner, however, is that it celebrates the union of the two greatest powers in the world for the pur pose of keeping the peace of Europe. France and Eng land have hitherto contributed by their animosities many a dark page to the annals of history. Their flags are now to float together peacefully as their fleets move onwards in concert to the Baltic to redress injustice, and to restrain the mad efforts of an ambitious tyranny. The combined Baltic fleet then is a great fact. It affords evidence of a progress in the history of the world. It shows that rival nations may outgrow the petty passions which have induced war and bloodshed between them. It gives rise to a hope that the time may come when a guarantee of peace shall be afforded by the consolidation of the great powers of Europe, which will ensure all those blessings which peace societies have vainly endea voured to obtain. The Baltic fleet, of which Sir Charles Napier takes command, will be one of the most powerful armaments ever sent to sea. In 1807, indeed, the fleet that was got ready for service in the same quarter might have been numerically larger, numbering ninety pendants, but there can be no comparison between the efficiency of the vessels of that day with those of our own. In the number of ninety above mentioned the great portion were transports and brigs of various sizes. There were, it is true, 27 sail of the line, but many of these were not so formidable as a moderate-sized war screw steamer of the present day, and not one could be compared to such a ship as the monster steamer the Duke of Wellington, carrying 131 guns, and capable of being manoeuvred more easily than a gun-boat of 1807. The fleet is to consist of abut 50 ships ; of which 20 are to be ships of the line, and it may fairly be said that they will be more than a match for any vessels they can meet with. The power of screw war steamers has yet to be tested, but is thought by many that they will be able to effect far more than was anti cipated at their first construction. A consideration of the circumstances under which we formerly sent a fleet to the Baltic—as compared with the present expedition —presents some curious contrasts. In 1807 the great fleet that sailed to the Baltic went there for a purpose which, however justifiable in the eyes of those who sent it, has not been considered in any such favourable light on the continent. But there is no doubt in the European mind as to the justice of the step we are now taking. In 1807 we were at war with nearly the whole continent. Austria, Russia, the Porte, Prussia, and Denmark were added to the number of our enemies in that very year. Now, we have almost the whole Continent with us. We have not only triple armour which surrounds those " who have their quarrel just," but we have nearly a whole world on our side, and a material force that has never been matched. We are not sailing to carry fire and sword amongst a people nominally at least' at peace with our selves ; we are proceeding to tie the hands of a marauder who has begun by bullying, and ended with robbery. There can be no doubt of the issue of a contest under such conditions. The physique and the morale are all on our side ; what more can we desire ? Nothing as a means of success, although it must be confessed there is some thing to be desired when we think of 1807, the year which has been quoted. In 1807 the Parliament in the midst of the most terrible war that ever convulsed Europe, with the greatest captain of the age and all the great powers of Europe against us, abolished the Slave Trade. In 1854, with an irresistible naval force, and the neutrality or alliance of all the great powers, our statesmen seem afraid to pass a Reform Bill. ud as was the din of arms, the English statesmen of 1807 were not to be shaken in their attempts to do justice to the natives of Africa. In 1854 English statesmen allow the far-off braying of a trumpet to affright them from their inten tion of being just to their countrymen. Oao of the most cheering features of the difference be tween the aspect of affairs now and in 1807 —or, in fact, at any period during the last war—is the comparative ease and quiet with which our ships of war have re cently been manned. Our ports are not now crowded with detachments of sailors intent upon seizing almost indiscriminately every able-bodied man who comes in their way, and forcing him to served on shipboard. Sailors are not hiding themselves in lofts or cellars, and dreading the approach of ruffians prepared to do violence in the Queen's name. Parties are no longer stationed on the roads leading to the seaports to seize upon all men who cannot, in the technical phrase, " give a good account of themselves," and send them to the hold of a man-of-war. There is now no lack of volunteers. In spite of the great competition for seamen, our ships-of-war are getting their complements of men in a less space of time than could have been effected under the old system. One chief reason of this change for the better is, that sailors are now better paid, better fed, better lodged, and more kindly treated in the royal service than was the case during the last war, and they enter the navy now, not as a last resource, nor because they are en trapped or forced into it, but because it is " a good service." These changes have improved the men themselves. Formerly the period of fitting out a man-of-war for sea, at one of our great ports, was a time of uninterrupted debauch and violence in the streets. The thoroughfares were rendered almost impas sable by the fearful riots which blocked them up continu ously. The men had but one desire, that of passing the few hours left to them on shore in reckless indulgences, utterly careless of the consequences of the pennilessness that might result from their extravagance. The improve ments in the navy have told upon the seaman, and while his gallantry has not diminished, his sobriety and forethought have increased. The type of the sailor has improved with the type of the vessel. We shall go to sea now with better ships, better crews, better weapons, better modes of manceuvring them, and above all, with a better cause than we have sometimes had before. Who can doubt the issue '? We may, therefore, surely go calmly forward with our legislative duty of doing justice to our countrymen at home—confident that our fleets and armies will do justice to our friends abroad. I) a ily News. MARKET NEWS-(THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. To-day's market was very moderately supplied with home-grown wheats. All kinds were in fair request, and Monday's prices were well supported. The show of foreign wheat was good. Red Baltic par cels sold at extreme rates. Most other parcels were quite as dear as last week. Floating cargoes commanded very little attention. Barley was in moderate supply, and fair request, at extreme rates. The malt trade was firm, at full quotations. We had a fair inquiry for oats, at full quotations. Beans, peas, and flour were dull, but not lower. The arrivals continue tolerably good. Wheat. 1,560 ARRIVALS THIS WEER. 1 Barley. Malt. 1,750 6,060 English .. Oats. Flom'. 340 980 4,100 3,780 1,330 sks 680 brl Irish •• •• Foreign .. I 12,370 1,950 WHITECHAPEL. The trade ruled inactive at this market, as follows : Beef from 3s Od to 4s Os ; mutton, 3s Od to 4s 6d ; veal, 3s 10d to 5s 2d; pork, 3s 4d to 4s 10d per 81bs by the carcase. BOROUGH HOP. The demand for fine hops has improved, and prices are very firm. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) LONDON, March B.—Wind this day at Noon, 5 . . W.; strong breeze, and cloudy. The Thermomoter is ng. S O UTHAMPTON, March 7.—Sailed— Tagus (s), Gibraltar. P L YMOUTH; March B.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Flying Fish, from Palermo ; Ranger, Corunna. FALMOUTH, March 7.—Wind, S.W., moderate breeze. Arrived —Temperance, from Palermo ; Betsy, Terra Nova ; Flora, do., for Bristol. B R ISTOL, March 7.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Francis Yates, from Mauritius ; Mimosa, Buenos s Ayresaned_ ;JEarineenddes Cooper, New York ; Galeed, St. Michael's. L O WESTOFT, March 7.—Wind, S. Increase, for the North, after repairing. SUNDERLAND, March 7.—Arrived—Thetis, from Rotter• d a m ; Augusta, St. Valery. HULL, March 7.—Wind, S.W. Arrived—Nijverdal, from Zwolle. Sailed—Produce, for Memel. DUBLIN, Mardi 7.—(Per Magnetic Tel.)—The Robert Kelly, from Liverpool to New York, with passengers, has struck on Arklow Bank. Two steamers have been sent to her assistance. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) LIVERPOOL, Wednesday, 10.30 a.m. Wind, W.S.W. • fresh breeze, and fine. Arrived—Genghis Khan, from Bombay ; Lively, Odessa ; Orient, New York ; Queen, Smyrna ; I. 0., yarns ; nova, Marseilles ; Vittorina and Fernando Louis, Bilboa ; Mongo, Antwerp ; Timandra, Laguna; Scotland, Sa vannah. (BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Wednesday, 10 a.m. Wind, S.W. ; tide, three hours' ebb ; hazy. Arrived, 7th—Edinburgh (s), from Hamburgh. Sailed, 7th—Lord Strangford, for Guernsey; Alar (s), Dunkirk ; Seine (s), Boulogne; Mary, Fernando Po ; Belgium (s), Ostend. DEAL, Wednesday, 9.20 a.m. Wind, W. ; fresh, and hazy. Anchored—Antelope, from New York, for London. Passed—Orion, from Buenos Ayres, for London ; cent, from Cadiz, for London ; Cathorina Isabella, from Am.terdam, for Lisbon; H.M.S. Melarnpus, from west ward, to the Nore. Sailed—Patrick Henry, for the River. LORD RAGLAN.—The day after the battle of Water loo, at which Lord Raglan (then Fitzroy Somerset) lost his right arm, the Duke of Wellington wrote to the Duke of Beauf or t—" You are aware how useful he (Lord Fitzroy) has always been to me, and how I sh a ll feel the want of his assistance, and what a regard and affection I feel for him. I hope, however, that your brother will soon be able to join me again, and that h e will long live to be, as he is likely to become, an h onour to his country, as he is a satisfaction to his family a n d friends." As Commander-in-chief of the Eastern expe dition against Russia, Lord Raglan, WO trust, W il l realble L this encomiastic prediction. in, a 3li 0 The en fend nous nay nave unto 3ia ; ) be )y a lady be- , it 301- Ivo rid, or is ler ,ti- Lfi- 50 1 20 35 1 10 1 1 all all all all 12s. ~ j