The Press.
London, England, 1858-09-18 00:00:00

THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 18, 1858.

those an which no differences of opinion were likely
to arise. Having congratulated them on having
empty workhouses and gaols, which afforded evidence
of increased prosperity and diminished crime, the
right hon. gentleman passed on to subjects of public
interest :

Our prospects in India, where there is scarce a man
among us who has not some relative or friend about whom
he is anxious, are much more cheering than they were
when we met on a similar occasion twelve months ago.
Our women have, at least, been all removed to a place of
safety, and, so far as I can judge from the accounts which
we receive front the disturbed districts in that distant
country, there is every reason to believe that things are
growing daily better and that the trouble is fast subsiding.
(Hear, hear.) It is also a matter of congratulation to us
that the war with China, however it may have been begun,
has terminated. A war with 3J0,000,000 people at that
vast distance must always have necessitated the main-
tenance of a large naval force at a considerable distance
from this country. I do not intend to say a word about
Cherbourg, for the simple reason that I was not there;
but with every disposition to believe in the good intentions
of our neighbours and the good feeling which it is the
mutual interest of both countries to maintain towards
each other, 1 honestly confess that 1 think it is a great
relief to every Englishman to find that about a fourth part
of the naval forces of the country, which has hitherto
been occupied some 15,000 or 10,000 miles away, will, in
consequence of the treaty with Chine, be enabled to return,
and, at all events, if not altogether discharged, be engaged
in cruising nearer home, ready for any emergency. The
entering into a war with 300,000,000 people at such a
distance was a serious responsibility, and no human being
could have foreseen when such a war would be terminated.
Fortunately we have now reason to believe that it ia ended,
and that circumstance alone is a matter of mutual con•
gratulation for all of us.
Mr. Henley in reference to the position of the
Government said :

Perhaps it would not be becoming in me, in the office
which I have now the honour to fill as a servant of the
Crown, to touch upon any general political topics, nor
would it be in accordance with the rules of this society.
Nevertheless, there are some questions upon which we don't
disagree, on which I may possibly be excused if I say a
few words. At many of the meetings which have lately
taken place in various parts of the country there has been
a considerable quantity of loose talk by what I might
almost term louse fish in reference to the Government.
Persona who are now occupying similar positions to that
which I have the honour to fill have been subjected to
somewhat coarse remarks. Some have abused us for
being Conservatives, and others have abused us because
they soy we are Liberals. Now, I am old enough to
rememoer when the name " Conservative " first came up,
for unfortunately lam not a young man. I believe, how'
ever, that the three points which were then raised, and the
defenders of which were called Conservatives, are now
scarcely known. At any rate they have long ceased to be
attacked. Those three points were, first, an indiscriminate
attack upon the Irish Church; secondly, a demand for
Church property to be put into secular pockets; and, thirdly,
the independence of the House of Lords. Those were
the three points on which the Conservatives stood. Two
of them were attacked furiously fur many years, but now
all of them have died away. I certainly don't see why we
should be abused for being Conservatives and for not going
whooping and hallooing snout these matters when nobody
makes any attack upon them. Ido not think we have
any right to be abused because we have stood still solely
because those parties who were opposed to us have given up
attacking the questions which originally constituted
Conservatism. If similar questions should ever be raised
again I do not think that the Conservative party will be
found wanting in their defence.

In alluding to the question of Parliamentary Reform,
Mr. Henley thus spoke :
With regard to the future, I am sorry that I cannot pre-
tend to say anything at all. You know very well that the
Government are in this position. The parties who made
the Reform Bill have chosen for the last six or seven years
to find fault with their own work. Mind you, it was no
work of the Conservatives. It was no child of ours, and
therefore we have had nothing to say to it; but the parties
who constructed it have been themselves the very men who
have amused themselves tor the last six or seven years in
singing out all over the country that it must be altered. In
fact, they have dirtied their own nest to such a degree that
they have felt most uncomfortable in it. (Laughter and
cheers.) They have never attempted to mend it them-
selves, but nevertheless they still sty it wants minding.
The cry has now gone on for some years. As I said before,
the Reform Bill was no child of ours ; but, at the same
time, if there is any possibility of our mending it so as to
satisfy all parties, I see no reason why we should not make
the attempt. (Hear, hear.) I hope I. have not trespassed
on the rules of the society in what I have said. (Cheers.)
I don't think, as a public man, appearing before many of
my constituents, that it would have been fair fur me to say
less. I can only say that so long as I have the honour of
being in a position to serve the county I shall be most
happy to d) all in my power to promote your interests,
and to do my duty according to the best light that God
gives me. Hitherto I have always experienced a kind
reception from all my friends in this county and neighbour-
hood, and I have no doubt that so long as I hold the same
course and " keep the dish even " I shall be similarly
received.
The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amid
loud cheers.
Colonel NORTH, M.P., and Colonel CARTWRIGHT,
M.P., also responded.