The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-11-05 00:00:00

OUR PUBLIC MEN.

nturCAL PUL, M.P. AT Wrrteenog.
Wednesday afternoon • large party of gentlemen assem-
bled at the linntingilon Tow'dial) to present General
Peel a portrait, to be play. d by the side of the portrait of
Lord Chief Baron Potheir. General Peel, IU acknow•
!edging the compliment. Addressed the meeting at
conliderable length, and in the course of his ri marks
said :—When we are told, "Look at the proud condition
of Englend, at the moral influence she poems's:* with
retard to other I believe I should not he
wrung ill said she is dislike' and detested by every
witiun under the sun. (Hoar.) No doubt she has that
reapest paid to her which her wealth and power will
always conimmul ; but it is respect accompanied by
dislike end distrust, and not by regard. We wore told
no; long ago that we were nut to rely upon the
Emperor of the French, hut to look to other allian es.
N-ow, I ask poi to ;mint out one single country which
wonlil not pref,r an alliance with France to an ulliance
ith our own, awl I wil also mils from whence proceed
all this iliatrust? No UM is hate thy everybody with-
out annie CAII.O. I, it from je douse, or from being
wane chat overhearing with others? I recollect long
mgi that a gentleman, who was notorious for constant
meddling and interfering with other people's affairs,
called upon aii.hiugtaiu.l,ehnublem an and j nage of t he world
to act as hie friend. The nobleman lint said, " Will
you fight? because if you will not, depend upon it. the
Do you iuterfere in the affairs of others the better it
will be for you." (Hear, and laughter.) If we were to
follow the admirable advice given on that occasion we
al Id be far more safe from drifting into another war.
(Hear.) Do not imagine that I am less jealous id the
honour of England or lees anxious to promote tl:c
interests of England than soy other man ; but I have
yet to learn that honour is maintained or interest ii
.proinoted by interfering with everybody on all
UCCUSiOn., and waking use uf overbearing language. On
the contriary, that man who walks the safest and most
nupected through a crowd avoids treading on ti a corns
of others. (Cheersand laughter.) If the snarifer in
mode and fodder in re is to be observed, it is to be
ob erred in dealing with tuitions as prowl an ourselves.
This sentiment is in seconliance with public opinion,
and no Government can safely depart from it. (Ilmir,
bear)
Mu. DV CANE, M.P. ON MECIIIANICIS' I:train:TU.-
0n Wednesday evening, Mr. Doi Colo delivered the
inaugural edsliess at the Witham Mechanics Institute,
on his being appointed president. lie BMA no One
could look around, and see the vast educational prepare-
Gunn which were made, without feeling that the poor
and the rich were in this raupeet brought near tonic!,
other. The superior quality of the instruction now
provided by the national system of education, and the
facitities affordeill through the cheap newspaper press
and the periodieul publications of the day for the
acquisition of knowledge, imperatively called for
greater :ma more Arenuous joie on the part of those
shove them, if they would maintain their ptace in the
ethical' status of the country. (('heers). And, owing
lox finaocial change, the abolit' of the paper duty
(which he might be allowed to may, ho opposed on
financial gmunsls only) not only would pipers, mid
periodical*, and hooks be much cheaper, but the pro-
prietors of papers entertained a hope that, by the capital
let loOdC by the abolition of the paper duty, they would
be able to employ writers not only of the higher, hut
of the highest, mental online which the country could
pnisluee. (Cheers). Therefore, he submitted that it was
nut the mechanical clads alone who should take an
interest in these institution!, but that all, however
exalted their positions, :night derive a benefit from their
establialiment. Here, at least, all parties and all
eeetiona could meet together; the greet foundation of
knowledge MIN opened to them all, end the deeper they
drank the greater would be their thirst, stud the more
they ailiouht comprelomil of that fountain's boundless
depth. In such institutions men could study as their
inclination hail them, for, if weeried with the burden
and heat of the clay, they could find, not!. stern monitor,
but a pleasant C01U141111.11 in works of poetry, or the
best writers of theism ; for lie was not likely to imbibe
that somewhat Puritanical doctrine that works of fiction
degraded the mind and created a bail taste, and there-
fore should have no piece on the shelves of a mechanics'
institute. He believed that works of that kind afforded
not only much innocent recreation and amusement, but
lie slid not hesitate to say that In the works of Scott,
Lytton lialwer, Dickens, Thackerey, and many others
of a similar kind, they found high awl noble thought,'
conveyed in high awl noble language. If they were led
to the study of biography, they could look to the lives
of those who had nobly mounted eheir banner" Excel.
oar,' Awl hail gone on with "a good heart within and
, God oserhead," and fought their way to en unperishable
renown and a country's gratitude. (Cheers.) Or if they
! wished tO italy Lim laws of thvir country, they should
epproaeli them in a spirit if reverence and love for
those who were the founders of their country's consti-
tutien—to those who bad watchsal over it with the
affection of a tender parent, and who had handed it
don't) from generation to generation, in the vigour of
I maturity and strength to its present posserson.
Mn. Wings, M.P.—We understand that the bronchial
I affection from which Mr. Cobden suffered so much last
winter has again shown itself, and that the great wive.
cats of free trade contemplates spending sonic of the
eu!,ler ))))) labs Ili a warmer climate.

•
Mit. W. J. Fox, -Th • following letter has been
reea wed from Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P. fur Oldham, in
answer to a communication from some of his 'multi-
lummts at Itoyton : —"3, fiessex•place, October 24, 1861.
--Dear Sir,—ln answer to your kind inquiries. I can
only my that my health is feeble, as might be expected.
after. succession of illnesses sudi es; I have experienced,
but that I have hopes of experimenting in attendance
when Parliament again meets. My chief suffering is in
my eyes, for, thongh they partially reeovered from the
par mlysis of the oldie nerve to which I was subjected
two years ago, tho sight is still weak and occasionally
confused, a. that I SW sorely reatrioted both As to read-
ing and writing. There is talk of A dissolution of "air-
liament in the spa ing, in which case I shall certainly not
eland again, and my constituents may rely on my relin•
imishing the seat earlier whenever I tind myself incapa-
citated for its dune., but I am unwilling to ye our
connection until thus made necessary. I shall never
cease to feel the kinduese and forbearance which have
been tlioVni use, and the generous and steady adherence
of iny Suyton friendalm particular. gacuse ice writing
more with my own hand ; and with best remembrauces
and regards to the friends for whom you write, I aru
yours truly, W. J. Fox."
HIM STAPTOIND NORTHCOTE, M.P. ON NATIONAL
EDTCATION.—At the jubilee of the National Society,
held at Birmingham on Tuesday, Sir Stafford Northcote
said that the real business of the educational movement
depended upon themselves and upon such religious
bodies as that in whose CAD, they were tmet. Time
National Society Was the organ of the Church of Eng-
and in the main be believed that it had faithfully
represented the principles of that church. ~Ife had
heard wishes expressed that it might not become the
organ of orY imart‘, awl he heartily joined in those
wish..., for lie well knew that if the church was divided
into those sections, the whole of those sections taken
togother would not have near the worth, or influence
of the church united in one holy. And let the present
threatened change be • warning to them not to rely on
Government and Parliamentary aid, as distinct from
their own exertions. Let them remember that they
must work, that they had the means of workirg, and
this encouragement to work in the knowledge that in
what they had done they had received God's assistance
and favour, amid that upon thein annul rest the responsi-
bility of carrying the work ou.
ADDLIII.T. M.P. ON NATIONAL EDUCATION.—
Alter Sir Stafford Northcote hod cat down, Mr. Adderly
emoved a re..dmition expressing the obligations which the
town of Birmingham felt to the National Society. In
the course of Imis speech lie defined the principles of the
society to be as follows: " First, the voluntary agency
and management of national edneation ; second, that
the basis of this education of the poor must be religion;
and third, that the education .4 the poorest was the
primary object or the systems. And he humbly cueeeived
that the spirit of the revised admeine of public grants
was in accordance with those three principles. tie did
not think that the plan was perfect, lie did not know
that it MSS practicable, and he saw much in the details
that would rcquiru alteration, but in Boole three pinta
the sy:rit cf the change was consistent with the Natieual
Socb•ty.
Time DI'ES OF ARGTLE ON THE WAR IN AMERICA.
—The Doke of Argyhe was entertained at a grand
banquet in Inverary, on Friday evening, by his tenantry.
The I, mnquet wee held in the Argyle Angl lintel; the
Rev. Colin Smith, D.D., in the chair. Nearly eighty
gentlemen sat down to an elegant repast. The Duke of
Argyle took occasion to advert to the present state of
affairs in America. He said : We have now learned, I
think, all of us, whatever political party we may have
forme:ly be'moged to, that we most look for the pros-
perity of agriculture to the prosperity of the MUlR-
facttii ing indimstry of the country. So long.. they are
prospernis and the demand is great, there is no question
whatever that agricultural ioduotry will prosper and
Reamed. l'nfortunately, it is too true that there are
eAtr,e, at pr. ernt In operation which seem to cast some
gloom over the prospects of the isanufaeturert of Our
it‘ Taal ;conVeletti mi.sn which iterYoorein rerrcknilaesgaltiaehae.l la!
twee,, the in.ot distant regions of the globe, that we
Are nnw in co:older:tido anxiety arising from events
taking place many thousands of miles from tom across the
Atlantis. I are that there has been Pelle, fear expressed
lately that time inconvenience which is likely to arise in
this coutitry from the contest in America is so great
that More *ill be a pies ore put upon the Government
to interfere in that contest, or at least to take sonic
steps which may ultiniately involve us in it. I have
too high an opinion of time good sense and of the public
priuciple of the people of this country to believe that
any such pressure will be put upou the Government ; and
I niust add that I have too great confidence in the firm-
ness and public principle of thee Government and
Parliament of this country to believe that they will be
willing to submit to such pressure if it were put upon
them. It is our absolute duty, I need hardly tell you.
to remain entirely neutral in that contest--(applause)—
and not only is it our duty to remain neutral ras regards
action, but I think it is to • very great extent oar dutg
even to abstain from offering edema, though it might
be conceived in a kind and friendly spirit No good
whatever GAD arise from offering such advice as that,
I for example, which was lately offered, I hare no doubt
with the best intentions, by the Emperor of Russia to
the contending parties in America. The answer which
the Americans infallibly give to any such interference
will, however civilly expressed, virtually amount to
this—" We are much obliged to you for your kind ad-
vice. Wo have no doubt that it is conceived in the
Ixst spirit, and with the best intentions; but there is a
general rule in this world, that every man should attend
to his own affairs. And there is this additional reason
for doing no in the present case, that it is quite evident
that you don't understand ours."
Ste J. PARINOTON ON CONSERVATISM AND MINIMA.
—At a Conservative banquet held at Woreester, on
Wednesday night, Sir J. Pakington, in responding to
the toast of the House of Commons, descantediifollows
on Conservatism and the American question. He was
not sure, be said, that Couservative opinions were not
the opinions at the present time of • large majority of
the menibers of the House of Commons, and if he
desired a proof of the truth of this notion of his he only
had to look at the present constitution of the House.
The fact was, there were a large number of men in that
House who were so bound by party tics and party con-
nections that they bad not tho courage to give utter-
anoe and force to those Conservative principles by
which they were really influenced. So strong, in fact,
was the Oonservative undercurrent in Parliament that
they were asked on every hand if they had not a Con-
srrates° Prime Minister. (Cheers and laughter.) That

was a question conveying an assertion whlnh, though
very plausible, was very &tugerotte to !vitt, in. (Uttar,
hear.) Lerd Palmerston was now an 01.1 loan, aud in
the ourse of his long life he had sin oiony great
political changes, and he hail now b,, it his duty te
ally himself with the ljtoual otatesieen of the •sy.
lint there was A time- nod thet won when the iinll
lord had missile-el the 'nature ago of 41 or 45 yearo—
when lie felt it right to ally himself with the Tory
Government. With that party he had been long cois.
fleeted, soil he (Sir John) entirely believed that down
even to the present time the noble Premier had .wt
forgotten the lessons he lied imbibed f his cunnee-
tMti with that party, nor the principles he ha I then
professed. (Cheers.) Rot at the name time lie (Ste
John) thought it right to toil them that he dil not put
the slightest trust in hind Palineroton'a Conservstive
opinions, and thet for this very excellent and snanient
reason—that Lund Polinerston could not himself trust
In thone °protons. (Laughter and cheers.) Did they
minify a confirniation of this opinion it wine only
necessary to look carefully to the history of the two
last session., of Pmliainent, mid they would have it at
ones., mid they would also gut a conlirmation of the
IllAtcolost that men of Conservative opi ll ill OA were so
bound and fettered by their party ties that they dared
not give their opinions utterance. The budget of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer of IWO, and again in 1861,
were proofs in point. Mony men who went with the
Government in those matters were Conservatival in
principle, but were 00 bound handl and foot by party
that they were so longer able to maintain that high
charactcr of lions sty, consistency, and public principle
which ought to be the leading characteristic of English
statesmen. (Chet's.) Whot they as Conservatives
wanted was to NCO an end put to this state of things.
That it win tone to do so was evident from all things
around them. Looking especially at America what did
we see there? In that fearful struggle of father
against son, and brother against brother, we saw the
most frightful animosities aroused, and the most deadly
of ellelllitH made, and what fur (Cheers.) What was
the principle for which they were contending? It was
not slavery, although many fondly thought it was.
It was not the qnestion of tariff, although many were
ready to contend that it was. It was the struggle of
democracy—(cheens)— but it arose from • very smell
cause indeed. It was his sincere belief that the real
actuating motive of the present war was the shame the
American Government felt that the world should wit-
ness the disruption and the failure of that great experi-
ment of democratic Government embodied in the con-
stitution of the UMW.' States. (Cheers.)