The Press.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

Court an laskion.

Her Majesty and the Court have remained at
Windsor during the week.
His Majesty King Leopold came to town on
Tuesday, and visited the Duchess of Gloucester and
the Duke of Cambridge. In the afternoon his Ma-
jesty drove over to Twickenham and visited the
Duke and Duchess d'Aumale. The King returned
to the Castle in the afternoon. His Majesty will
take leave of the Queen and Prince Albeit this
morning at half past nine, on his return to Brussels.
The Court returns to town on Monday. Her Ma-
jesty remains at Buckingham Palace for a week or
ten days, after which her Majesty will visit the Isle
of Wight..
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cam-
bridge and the Princess Mary will remain at Cam-
bridge Cottage, Kew, until the close of the ensuing
week, and then return to SL James's Palace for the
season.

Mr. Albert Smith had the honour of performing on
Tuesday evening before her Majesty, the King of
the Belgians, and the party assembled at the
Castle.

The Earl of Eglinton has left town on a visit to
Lord and Lady Southampton, at Whittlebury-lodge,
Northampton.
Lord Stanley, M.P., is at present at Knowsley.
The Marquis of Northampton is at Castle AThby.
The noble marquis comes to town for the season the
week after next.

The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Mrs. Disraeli have
passed the week at Hughenden Manor, Bucks.

Sir James Graham, accompanie d by Lady and
Miss Graham, has gone to Netherby, his seat in
Cumberland, and does not return to town for a
fortnight.

The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk have left
Carlton-house-terrace for Arundel Castle, Sussex.
Admire! Sir Edmund Lyons is staying with the noble
duke and duchess.

The Duke of Newcastle has left Portman square
for Clumber park, Norte, where his grace will re-
main until the reaAsembling of Parliament.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry are
expected home from their tour in Italy towards the
close of the ensuing month.
Sir Robert Peel, Bart., and Lady Emily
Peel, passed through Turin on the 21st, and are
expected to arrive in town immediately.
The Earl and Countess Spencer, who have re-
turned to Althorpe-hall from town for the recess, are
entertaining a distinguished circle at their country
seat..

Earl Grosvenor has taken the late residence of
Viscount Canning, in Grosvenor-square, fot the
season.

MATIIRDAY,

Lord and Lady George Manners have joined the
family circle visiting the Duke of Rutland at llelvoir
Castle, Leicestershire.
His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Countess Persigny have arrived in town from
Warwick.
Sir John and Lady Lister Kaye and family have
arrived at their residence in Portland-place, from
their seat, Denby Grange, Yorkshire.
Mr. Ormsby Gore, M.P., is not suffering from con.
gestion of the brain. Mr. Gore was very ill for a few
hours, but is now rapidly regaining strength.
Viscount Palmerston has left town with 'Vis-
countess Palmerston for his seat, Broadlands, Hants.
Mr. Secretary Labouchere returned to town on
Monday evening.
_ _ _

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has left town for
his seat, Harpton Court, Kington, Hereford.
The Marquis of Exeter arrived in town on Thr.rs-
day afternoon, from Burghley, near Stamford.
Frances Countess Waldegrave, and Mr. Harcourt,
M.P., are expected in town today from Nuneliam.
Mr. Osborne, M.P. Se.:retary to the Admiralty,
accompanied by Mr. Lowe, M.P., is at his residence,
Newtown Anner, Ireland.

MARCH 29, 1856.

altogether insipid. (Laughter and cheering.) The ass°•
ciation might please a few
i disappointed electioneering cau-
didates—(laughter)--or t might be supported by people
who wished to be lifted into the House of Commons upon
the backs of constituents whom they would betray as soon
as they had taken their seats. Why, at a meeting of
this very association at Drury-lane Theatre, some time
ago, Mr. Tite, the member for Bath, avowed his ignorance
of politics, and said his studies had been directed to very
different objects ; but he (Mr. Finlen) supposed that,
when Mr. Tite was elected, the association considered that
he was the right man iu the right place." (Cheers and
aughter.)
An amendment to the original motion was then
moved, and created a laughable disturbance, till the
chairman, in a vain eft; t to put a stop to the
"row," put the amendment and the original reso-
lution to the vote, but declared that neither the
one nor the other were carried. The meeting then
separated without adopting either resolution.

A MONSTER MEETING was held at Hanley, in
Staffordshire, on Tuesday, to consider the best mode
of carrying out the free-trade principle with France
with regard to the exportation of pottery and im-
portation of wine. Above 12,000 persons, represent-
ing the different district potteries, were present, and
this immense mass of people formed in procession
and marched through the town of Hanley to
the marketplace, where the proceedings of the day
were opened by the High Bailiff. Mr. Smith Bodley
then rose and moved the first resolution :
That this meeting, considering the introduction of an
abundant supply of wholesome beverages into this
country, while calculated to yield an increase of revenue,
would tend to the advancement of our international rela-
tions, as well as the improvement of the moral and social
condition of the people, is of opinion that an immediate
and considerable reduction of the duty on foreign and
colonial wines is indispensable, and pledges itself to press
the importance of such a reduction on her Majesty's Go-
vernment.

He then explained the object of the meeting :
The object they had in view—and when the resolution
spoke of the reduction in French and continental wines,
that was not the only object they had in view—that was
not all—they did not mean to have free trade only on one
side; but what they aimed at was this—they asked France
to take their pots, and they in exchange would take
French wine, and in order to honour the wine would
drink it out of their own pots. It might seem egotistical
in him to refer to his visit to Paris (most of them were
aware of it), as he had already borne testimony to the in-
terest excited in the minds of the French people upon the
pottery question—for it was to be remembered that at the
Paris Exhibition, wherever you went (said the speaker ), you
might pass stall after stall, and see the persons looking.
'irking no questions ; but when you went into the Stafford-
shire potteries department—gentlemen were there who
could testify to the truth of his assertion—when you went
into the Staffordshire pottery department, what did you
find? Why you found that every Frenchman wanted to
buy everything. There was a friend of his there—he
thought his gr mdmother must have been Irish—(loud
laughter)—labelled all his pottery " sold," and when he
asked him why lie did so, be said the reason why he
ticketed" sold " was that he could not answer all the ques-
tions that were put to him. Such was the fact, and he be-
lieved in his heart the Emperor of the French intended
that the French people should themselves be gratified by
having their products whether there was free trade with
France or no.

Mr. Smith Child, M.P., seconded the resolution, and
quoted the well-known passage from " Coningsby"
explaining that the origin of the excellence of Lord
Monmouth's dinners at Paris lay in hot plates. as a
proof of the superiority of English porcelain, and the
advantage the French would derive from its use.
Mr. Oliveira completely identified himself with the
object of the meeting, and explained the various
steps he had taken with the view of obtaining a re-
duction of the wine duties in this country. The
French Government, he was convinced, were most
anxious to carry out a reciprocal international reduc-
tion of the tariff; and in every part of Europe, in the
wine districts of Spain, Portugal, Germany, Sicily,
and Italy, he had met with but one respobiie to his
proposition, that they were ready to reciprocate by a
reduction of the duty on our goods, and that the
English market was the great object. The Hon.
F. L. Gower proposed the second resolution

That in the opinion of this meeting the relaxation of the
high duties imposed by Great Britain on foreign wines
would induce the countries benefiting by an increased de-
mand for their productions to modify the restrictions on
British manufactured goods—particularly in France,
where our local manufacture is all but prohibited—would
give an impetus to the industry of this and every other
staple manufacture of the kingdom—the beneficial effect of
which it is at present impossible to foresee.
Mr. Macgregor, M.P., supported the revolution. He
thought the reduction of duty upon all wines would
open a market for pottery of inconceivable extent in
France and Hungary. He regarded the duty upon
wines its a premium upon adulteration, for he was
convinced, from statistical facts, that two-thirds of
the wine drunk was adulterated. These resolutions
were proposed and carried unanimously. Several
other resolutions in accordance with the object of
the meeting welt: also proposed and carried, and a

THE PRESS.

petition embodying the spirit of the whole drawn up
for presentation to the House of Commons.

THE QUESTION OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS was
entered upon by the Right Hon. Hamilton Nisbet
and Mr. Bsnks Stanhope, members for North Lin-
colnshire, before a meeting of their constituents, at
the Corn Exchange, Boston, on Wednesday last.
The Right Hon. Hamilton Nisbet briefly stated his
views upon the various measures which had at dif-
ferent times been brought forward respecting agri-
cultural statistics in general. With respect to Lord
Stanley's bill be said:—
If the bill were an honest bona-fide measure, a simple
enactment requiring the acreage under cultivation to be
returned in a fair way, there would be no objection to it,
and such requirement would be reasonable. They would
do what was fair and right, but they ought to avoid placing
themselves under the centralising control of any arbitrary
authority, especially when they might have the power of
choosing their own persons to make competent returns.
He thought it was not intended to embody the propositions
contained in the recommendation of the committee, and
that in the bill there would be no direct enactment in-
sisting upon the compulsory return of the amount of pro-
duce; but he found, on looking over the act, that there
were provisions which it was necessary the farmers should
consider; and he, for one, should not give his consent to
the bill in its present shape. (Hear.) The only diffi.
culty he felt with respect to it was, how he could support
any part of it. On looking at the preamble from the be.
ginning to the last clause he found it proposed to effect a
return of the acreage and of the stock held by each occu
pier; vet the manner in which it was intended to set about
obtaining that information was so insidious and su de-
lusive that be wished the farmers to be on their guard
against the measure. In general, any measure relating
to property, and which proceeded from the Board of Trade,
imposed pains and penalt►es unless the provisions of that
measure were complied with ; and he therefore looked
with extreme jealousy upon any bill emanating from that
Source.

Upon the whole he thought the bill would have an
injurious effect if it were not carefully considered and
amended :--

He did not despair of having a fair bill that would be of
benefit to the country ; but they ought nut to let the l'resi-
dent of the Board of Trade think that they were not fully
alive to their own interests. By a very simple machinery
they might obtain the average quantity of corn grown in
this country without having recourse to the schedules of
such a bill as the one proposed. ( Hear.)
After expressing an opinion that he did not think it
was requisite to make any return of stock—there
was nothing to be gained by such a return—Mr Nis-
bet concluded by observing that what was required
was a bill founded on clear and comprehensive prin-
ciples, with no Board of Trade to override it and in.
troduce additional enactments, without first going to
Parliament for fresh powers. Mr. Stanhope ex-
pressed similar opinions with regard to returns of
stock. As to the bill, he thought its objectionable
feature was that the returns were to be sent to the
Poor-law Board; by which means l►e feared many
persons would get more information respecting the
affairs of their neighbours than Nas desirable. He
thought the most proper way would be for occupiers
to have the power of sending their returns in a sealed
envelope through the country guardians to the Board
in London.

THE MANCHESTER SUPPORTERS OF THE LOCAI.
DUES SHIPPING Bn.t. held a meeting on Thursday,
at their Town hall, to organise an association for
continuing the agitation of this question, and " to
obtain the right of appropriation of the Liverpool
town dues." Resolutions expressing regret at the
withdrawal of Mr. Lowe's bill by the Government,
and calling upon the manufacturing districts to co-
operate with the Manchester Corporation " to secure
the abolition of these unjust exactions," and foi the
organisati At of an association to attain that object,
were severally proposed and unanimously passed.
A PETITION AGAINST Slit G. GREY'S POLICE Btu.,
particularly with reference to the Ist Clause, hand-
ing over to the chief constable the appointment of
the county constabulary, has been agreed upon by
the poor guardians of the York Union.

rttrapplitan.

THE LORD MAYOR'S EASTER BANQUET.

THE annual Easter banquet given by the Lord
Mayor on Monday last was attended by his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, 31alor-General
the Earl of Lucan, told M aidstone, Lord Wodehouse,
Lord W. Lennox, Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Sir
J. Pakington, dm, and upwards of 230 guests. The
Duke of Cambridge, after returning thanks for the
health of the Royal Family, responded to the toast of
" The Army and Navy" :
He hoped and trusted—though in this matter be spoke

without any authority—that they were now on the eve of
peace. Such a wish might perhaps aornd somewhat sin-
gular coming from the mouth of au officer responding to
the toast of " The Army and Navy ; " but he oould assure
all present that it was a great mistake to sulpose that the
army and navy wished for war for war's sake. They were

297

ready to make any sacrifice of personal feeling and intsrest
iu the performance of their duty, but no Men won d more
rejoice than the members of those two services if their
exploits during the recent campaign should conduce to the
establishment of such a peace as the country bad a right
to expect. (Applause.)

With respect to the state of the Army and Navy, his
Royal Highness observed that their present efficiency
had never been equalled, and he hoped would not be
again permitted to be seriously weakened.—

If peace were established, the country ought not
to revert to those limited establishments which existed
previous to the outbreak of the recent war. He trusted
that the lesson in this respect would not be thrown
away, and that they would henceforth look on the
maintenance of the army and navy as one of those neces-
sary evils without which a great empire could not possibly
maintain its position in Europe. He regarded the money
spent on the army and navy in the light of money laid out
in some necessary investrnen., and it was just as necessary
to provide for the security of the empire by maintaining an
army and navy as it was to insure one's house agains fire
or any other calamity. At the same time he would defend
no extravagance, but only such outlay as was necessary to
keep up the efficiency of the services.
Lord Wodehouse, in replying to the toast of "Her
Majesty's Ministers," touched upon the immense
responsibility involved in the conclusion of peace :

In the important transactions in which the Government
were at present engaged—and more especially the noble
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who was conducting negotia-
tions in Paris—it was only the feeling that they were sup-
ported by a great nation like this country which would carry
them through all their difficulties, and which would enable
them to support those difficulties and to surmount them.
The aspect of England—one of calm dignity, waiting for
the result of the negotiations—had been such as to inspire
great confidence in the Government and great respect for
this country throughout Europe. Relying on that support,
the Government had pvrsevered through two years of war;
and although there might exist in the country a very
natural regret that the war should not be continued some-
what longer, until England had the opportunity of putting
forth all its strength and resources, yet he was convinced
there was no desire on the part of any class to prolong war
for one moment beyond the actual necessity of the case,
and that when peace was concluded it wonld be hailed by
the people of this country in the at ms rational, fair, and
honourable spirit which had characterised their sentiments
throughout the contest. (Cheers.)

Sir John Pakington, in proposing the health of the
Lord Mayor, alluded to the promised reform of the
Corporation, and remarked that he hoped it would
not interfere with those agreeable hospitalities for
which the chief magistrate of the City had so long
been celebrated. Mr. Gladstone, in returning thanks
for the House of Commons, alluded to the arduous
duties of the house within the last two years, which
he thought, on the whole, might be regarded satis-
factorily. He thought we might consider peace as
substantially attained, and, if it were so, the late war
would stand conspicuous in history for the purity of
the motives from which it originated, for the fidelity
and honour of the great alliances by which it had
been carried on, and for the rapidity with which the
moral and political objects had been achieved.
Among the many duties now devolving on the House
of Commons, he regarded there-establishment of the
equilibrium of the public finances as the most impor
tant

It would be the duty of that house to consider bow the
heavy burdens imposed upon the people could be wise y
alleviated, to institute a thorough, systematic, and search-
ing investigation into the state of the public establish-
ments, and to make wise:circumspect. cautious, but, at the
same time, bold and vigorous efforts to bring them back
into the state into which they ought to be, so that during
peace, while making adeqnate provision for the security of
the country, members of Parliament might be able to
grant to the labouring population that relief which they
had a right to expect, and, at the same time, if unhappily
they should live to see the day when it would again be
necessary for England to buckle on her armour and to draw
the sword, her establishments might be found in a con-
dition thoroughly fitted fur the work the) were expected
to perform, and the heart of the conn•ry might not again
be wounded and torn by calamities which could not be re-
lieved, bat which it was felt might in great part have been
avoided.

A SPECIAL Count OF COMMON COUNCIL was held
on Monday for the purpose of considering the pro-
priety of passing a resolution of congratulation to the
Emperor and Empress of the French upon the birth
of an imperial prince. After a brief discussion the
motion was put and carried unanimously. The
following resolution was then agreed to :

That this Court tenders to their Imperial Majesties the
Emperor and Empress of the French its hearty congratu-
lation on the auspicious birth of a prince--an event of
momentous importance to the general interests of France,
and conducive to the domestic happiness of their Imperial
Majesties. That this Court tecals with pleasure the
gracious visit of their Imperial Majesties to the (iuildhpll
of this ancient city, and it now renews the hopes and
aspirations then expressed by the Corporation of London
for the long life and happiness of their Imperial Majesties,
and that France may continue prosperous, in intimate
alliance with this country, and in amity with all the nations
of the world.

The Lord Mayor has communicated the resolution yo
the French Ambassador•