The Press.
London, England, 1858-10-02 00:00:00

THE PRE S Si OCTOBER 2, 1t35.8.

their hands, and the first was the great constitu-
tional difficulty that arose with respect to the dispo-
sition of the patronage. No doubt there was a
natural reluctance to throw so much additional
patronage into the hands either of a Whig or a Tory
Government. The other circumstance which con•
tribute,l to maintain the East India Company in
their position as rulers of India was one which was
highly honourable to themselves. It was the feeling
which undoubtedly existed that they had evinced a
determination to do all in their power to govern well,
and it was the natural and common sense view taken
by almost all perfons that it was better to let well
alone, and that as 1 mg as they continued to govern
that country well, so long, however absurd, anoma•
lous, or unconstitutional, the existence of such a
power in their hands might be, it was not wise
to disturb the course of things. But when in the
early part of last year a great mutiny broke out, and
that great Bengal army, through the instrumentality
of which the greater part of our Indian conquests
had been effected, had inched away, it was high
time that the Legislature should interfere and
transfer the government of that mighty empire to
the Queen. That had now been done, and he could
not help remarking that, as it seemed to him, almost
every principle contained in Lord Palmerston's first
India Bill had been adopted. Recently an event
had happened with respect to which he must be
allowed to otter a few words of congratulation—
namely, the termination of the war with Chins. To
Lord Elgin he thought the highest praise was due
for the manner in which he had conducted the
negotiations. The ultimate results of that war, he
thought, would prove of enormous advantage to
England ; and not only did lie anticipate a vast in-
crease in commerce, but he believed that it would be
a means of introducing Christianity, truth, and civili-
zation into China itself. In conclusion, lie said,
that, though in the conflict of political opinion that
prevailed he was not so sanguine as to suppose that
every step in his political conduct would prove
acceptable, yet lie should always be found a firia
friend to the agricultural interest.
The health of the Marquis of SALISBURY having
been drunk, the noble marquis, after returning
thanks for the enthusiastic manner in which his
name had been received, said :
It is not, i sin sore, expected of me to follow my hon.
friend at the bo:toin of the table through all the points of
the rather discursive speec:i which he has just made upon
politics at an agricultural meeting. I sin fully aware
of the very natural anxiety felt by every Englishman
filling the position he occupies whenever an opportunity
offers of entering upon those somewhat delicate ques-
tions. My hon. friend promised not to enter inn► poli-
tics, and I admit fully that be abstained from any
lengthened discussion en the subject ; but at the same
time he certainly touched upon many of those question.
that have agitated the public mind for a considerable
time, and not only did he touch noon what was p tat,
but upon that which is to conic. With respect to that
which is past I will only make one observation, and that
is, I am delighted to find the present Government receives
such full approval nt the hands of my hon, friend. i am,
indeed, rejoiced to find that he approves of the measure
that has been passed under the guiJauce of the present
Government :Or the better government of India, and
that he thinks the treaty with China likely to
produce very great commercial advantages. Having
said thus much with respect to the politics or the past, with
all due deference to the hon. gentleman I shall say no
more. I have only one word more to say, and that is that
as it appears to me my hon. friend rather misunderstood
my right hon. colleague in promising a new Reform Bill
which should be pleasing to all parties. I say, however,
with perfect confidence, that I do not doubt that great ad-
vantages will spring from the measure which was passed
last session for the government of India, and also from the
conclusion of peace with China. On occasions like the
present it is highly desirable to avoid politics. We meet
together for the advancement of one great object—namely,
the promotion of the agriculture of tine countrj, for if agri-
culture does net prosper I ant confident taste and maim-
tictures will follow in the wake and suffer. It is quite
evident that since these societies were first instituted, a
quarter of a century ago, very great improvements have
taken place in the science of agriculture, and although
fanners undoubtedly know their own business better than
any one else does, yet they now and then receive very good
hints from what they see and hear at these meetings. My
hon. friend also allotted to a subject of vt ry great importance
and one which will always hold a very high place in the
thoughts of otiose who attend agricultural gatherings—
namely, the beat mode of improving the agricultural
labourers. I can itaj, from experience, that these societies
hive done much in that way, as is visible from the greet
improvement that has taken place in the militia recruits.
It is my sinee.e wish that agriculture may continue to
prosper, c niviticed vs I am that there is no more important
interest in the country•.

Various other toasts were druuk, and the pro
oeedings were brought to a close.

MR. HUTT, M.P., ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
At a grand public banquet given by the Mayor of
Gateshead, at winch Mr. Hutt, the member fur the
borough, was present, the honourable gentleman, in
returning thanks for his health, made a speech on

political affairs. Commenting on the dulness which pervaded foreign topics, Mr. llutt said :
Every country of Europe is at peace. The Indian in.
surrection, which some of our un.friends on the Continent
hail hailed as the beginning of the end of the British em.
pire, has been effectually put down by the courage of our
soldiers and the energy and skill of our civil and military
commanders. We have a treaty of peace and alliance with
the Emperor of China; and that almost mythical per.
sonage of former times, the Brother of the Sun and Moon.
is apparently about to be admitted a member of half of the
orders of knighthood in Europe, and probably ere lone to be
dubbed by the University of Oxford a Doctor of Civil Lill%
Having observed that he did not find in the conduct
of the present Ministers much occasion for critickin
or complaint, Mr. Hutt proceeded to give his views
on Cherbourg, to which, however, lie bad not gone,
for personal reasons, lie said :

Gentlemen, the visit to Cherbourg has called a great
deal of attention in this country to the formidable steam
navy which has been created in France at a time of pep
found peace, and at a crisis when the state of its finances
seemed little to favour such an expenditure. Such prem.
rations and pretensions have filled some persons among
us with dismay. They see in these things a design, not
merely on our security, but on our existence as a nation,
and they accordingly call for immense and immoderate
measures of defence. Such is the feeling of one party.
But there is another which seems seriously to believe la
the bong of " Rule Britatmia," to regard any attempt
among Frenchmen to create a navy as something ridicu•
lons, and to consider the specimens exhibited of it at
Cherbourg as not fit, either in regard to the ships or the
sailors, to hold a candle to ours ; and these gentlemen are
backed by the peace party, who look upon all war as im-
possible, and all invasion of our shores as an absurdity.
There is, depend upon it, much blindness and folly in all
such exagderations. Between two powerful nations,
jealous of their honour and past history, and daily brought
in contact on various points of rival and jarring interests,
there must always be the possibility of war, however re•
mote or undesired ; and it would be the height of folly, it
would be a perfect abdication of reason in us, to act as if
we bad any patent of superiority in war, either by land or
sea, over other nations, except in those prudent prepsra•
Lions and in that science and discipline on which all war
like superiority must ultimately depend. At the same
time, Ido not admire panic fears; and Ido not believe in
the ambitious projects so freely attributed to our ally, the
Emperor of the French. I sus convinced, on the con-
trary, that when he told the people of Bordeaux, " L'Ety-
pire c'est la pais," be announced the settled policy of his
firm and sagacious mind ; and I don't think he is the man
to be driven from that policy of peace because certain pat-
ties in Franco hostile to his power—Socialists, Orleanists,
and Legitimists--are always labouring to involve him in
war, and especially in war with England. What would the
Emperor of the French gain by war? If his forces suf-
fered a reverse, it would be the ruin of his fortunes. if
they were victorious, do you suppose it would be fur his
interest to divide with their successful commander the
homage and the confidence of the French people? From
every calculation, thetefore, of self interest, as well as
from every consideration of an enlightened and generous
policy, I telieve that the Emperor of the French will held
firmly to the British alliance. Gentlemen, we must all
desire it. The alliance of France and England is the test
security for universal peace, as well as for the progress and
civilization of mankind.

The hon. member resumed his seat amid land cheers.

MR. ALCOCK, M.P., ON CHINA.

Ar the annual dinner of the East Surrey Agricultural
Association, held at Croydon, The Health of the
County Members "having
been drunk,
111 r. ALcocw, M.P., responded, sad having ex-
plained that the absence of Ilia lion. colleague, Mr.
Locke King, was caused by severe illness, from which
he was now recovering, proceeded to advert to the
Chinese question. Since the last meeting of the
association peace had been concluded with China
upon terms highly favourable to this country.
lie
thought we were justified in expecting great advan-
tages from the resumption of our intercourse and
commerce with China. Up to the present moment
our commercial relations with China bad been ex-
ceeding!y %hulled in extent. With one or two ever
Lions, tea was almost the only article which we ob-
tained from that country, and though the e \ ports
from the United Kingdom to the world at large
amounted to about 115010,000/. annnally, 014
about one and a quarter millions went to China, Dot•
withstanding that that empire formed more than
three eighths of the entire universe. He truste.l, and
he thought it not unlikely, with a man of the original
ideas of the present Chancellor of the Exchequer,
that advantage would be taken of the altered state of
our relations with China to reduce the duty on tea,
-o as to extend our commerce, and to render an
article which had now almost become one of the
necessaries of life more accessible to the humbler
classes of society. At the present moment tea was
more heavily taxed than almost any other article of
general consumption. The duty
was no less thin
Is. ltd. a pound, though the price of tea itself in bout,
was only Is. 4a. a potted. CollSequently a du:) of.
&hunt 110 per cent. V% 114 levied, and the result a-as
that the consumption of tea was much more limit, d
Om its importance as as article of general ConauulP-