The Express.
London, England, 1855-07-30 00:00:00

SIR GEORGE BROWN AT LEAMINGTON.

Sir George Brown having taken up his residence
at Leamington, where Lady Brown has occupied a man-
sion for some time past, the inhabitanta of the town and
district determined to make a public rcelinition of his
services in the East by presenting him with an address,
congratulating him on his safe return to England. The
addreu, numerously signed, was entrusted to a deputation
consisting of the Hon. C. B. Percy, Lord Leigh, Lient.-Col.
Tryor, Major Hopkins, &e., who on Saturday last waited
upon Sir George at his residence, in Waterloo-place. The
Hon. C. B. Percy, in presenting the address, said they were

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not so presumptuous as to think that by that expression of
their feelings they could add anything to the nobly earned
reputation which had been gratefully ecknowledged by
parliament and the country, but they were &animas to tee-
City their gratitude towards those who, through the aoeu-
.

mutated borron of wer and diseue, had shown a noble
endurance and an heroic sense of duty which even the im-
patient dcubts and murmurs of the country, stimulated by
a presumptions and irresponsible press, could not impair.
The address having been read, and handed to Sir George,
be deli d the following reply :
Gentlemen,—l thank you most sincerely for the congra-
tulations with which you and your fallow-townsmen have
bees so good as to receive me on my return to England, but
the flattering terms in which your address is expressed, see

so far beyond any personal merit that I can claim, that I am
sure I shall only correctly interpret them as the eapression of
your sentiments of admiration at the conduct of the gallant
army with which I have been associated ; for, in reality,
I have done throughout this war nothing more than carry
out, to the best of my ability and judgment, the orders and
instructions which I hate from time to time received from
our highly respected and much lamented chief. With
respect to the army, I may safely assert that its conduct has
been beyond all praise, and that at no period in the
history of this country has the nation had more te&S)11
to be proud of the conduct of its troops. I speak
not, mind you, of the soldiers alone, but include with them
the officers by whom they lave been led. For, gentlemen,
he men of the army are indignant at the attempts that
have been made by an unscrupulous portion of the press in
this country to vilify their officers, and to separate their
interests from their own. It is • mistake and a misrepre-
sentation to melt that the officers of the army are generally
and habitually inattentive to their duty, or that the con-
dition of the troop. would be improved by bas-
ing • larger portion of the officers drawn from the
ranks, for it is precisely because they are gentlemen
that tho men are so much attached to them. Although,
therefore, far from meaning to speak in disparagement of
individuals who may have raised themselves by their own
merits, many of whom I know to be in the highest degree
respectable, I assert that the military service of this coun-
try would be lees popular, and discipline would not be so
well maintained, if the majority of the officers were of this
description. Look at the proportion berms by the
officers to the men, in the returns of killed and
wounded, in all the actions that have taken place.
It is always nearly double what it ought to be. Look at
ihe very last affair—that of the 18th of June—upon which
we find • list of 93 officers to seme 1,300 men; the num-
ber which would have answered for 3,000. And
why is this ? Because the onions, being English gentlemen,
are accustomed to set an example to the troops, and the
men, although ready enough to follow, always expect
to be led. Depend upon it, the leers the eonstitutien of
the British army is interfered with, the better it will
be for the troops, as well as for the country; and I
myseU have always considered it a subject of regret, that
the Committee of Inquiry which has been lately sit.
ting, instead of ezemining witnesses who were not in a
position to know much of what they were questioned about,
bad not sent to Paris, or brought over some French officers
who had been associated with the English troops. The com-
mittee would have found that oar allies have formed a very
different estimate of the merits et our troops from that
which has been formed by some of their own countrymen.
The deputation then retired.

RIOT AND LOSS OF LIFE NEAR GODALMING,

SURREY.

For some time put a number of men hays been
engaged tog the ground at Heselmo's, a few miles
from Godsluring, in order to form the New Portsmouth
direct line of railway. Several of the navvies on Saturday
night, as wee their usual custom, proceeded to a beer stop in
the neighbourhcod, when after drinking for some time they
became inebriated, and, as is frequently the case under
similar circumstances, a quarrel ensued. Things at last
began to assume such a threatening aspect that the landlord
of the house thought it advisable to mud for the assistance
of the police. In a vary short time the inspector of the
Huebner, district arrived, followed by two or three of
his men, who endeavoured but in vain, to quell
the disturbance. The navvies, to prevent their com
panions from being taken into custody, commenced
it fearful onslaught upon the police, knocking them
on the heads with anything they could lay their hands
upon. The inspect,,r, it is stated, received but one blow,
but of such a violent character, that he was instantaneously
stunned. Medical assistance was promply obtained, but
whilst the surgeon was attending to the unfortunate *Meer
the navvies reo.mmenced their work of cruelty undsevesely
beat the medical man. Some of the men were apprehended,
but several managed to eat away, and eventually, the riot
was quelled The unfortunate inspector of police lingered
in great pain for little more than one hour, when be died
from the injuries inflicted upon him. Yesterday the police
were actively engaged looking after more of the offenders,
and every navvy that passed in the neighbourhood was
stopped and unless he could give a good account of where
he was the preceding night was taken into custody on sus-
picion of aiding and abetting in the riot. The melancholy
catastrophe has caused a painful degree of excitement
throughout the district.

NEW BILL ON CROWN SUITS.—Lut week was
printed a government bill, brought forward by the Atter-
ney-Ci e 1, for the payment of costs in proceediega
instituted en behalf of the crown In matters r. lining to the
revenue, and for the amendment of the procedure and prac
tics in crown suite in the Court of Eschtguer. The object
of the bill is to usimilat• the law as to the recovery of coots
by or on behalf of the Grown to that in force as to between
subject and subject. The bill provides that costs are to be
recovered in crown suits where suoeesatul. Defendants are

to be entstied (for the first time) to costa, if successful. It
appears that the proceedings on behalf of the mown in the
Court of Exchequer are dilatcry, and require amend-
ment," and it is desirable that the same should be ennui-
'kW as dearly as may be to the course of practice and
procedure now in fore* between subject and subject.
Therefore the Court of Exchequer may make general rules
for such snits, and they ars not to take effect before the
expiration of three Months after the saw have been laid
before parliament.
CILTBTAL PALACIL—FIVE SHILLING DAY, JULY 28.
Admission on payment, 469; ditto by season tickets, 1,6761
total, 2,144.