The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-02 00:00:00

rotrincial.

SIR EDMUND LYONS' HOME RECEPTION.
Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons on Monday last was
publicly presented with a congratulatory address
from the inhabitants of Christchurch, Hampshire,
in which town the gallant admiral was born
on the 21st of November, 1700. Admiral Lyons had
arrived at the residence of his cousin, Admiral Wal-
cot, M.P., at Winkton, on Sunday, and leaving the
house shortly after noon on Monday, drove in pro-
cession into Christchurch, where the Earl and Coun-
tess of Malmesbury, the Earl of Arundel and Surrey,
the leading residents of the neighbourhood, and
an immense concourse of people, were waiting to
receive the gallant admiral. On reaching the hustings,
Admiral Walcot in a brief but feeling introductory
speech expressed the highest admiration of his
gallant cousin's distinguished services, " which had
conferred reputation on his birthplace and honour on
the family name." The Earl of Malmesbury then, in
a speech of graphic power, reviewing the gallant ad
miral's services to his country, pointed out his
rapid and meritorious rise in his profession, his
high diplomatic services at Athens, Berne, and
Stockholm, and concluded by declaring that he
had only the other day heard the Emperor Napo-
leon speak of Sir Edmund in the highest and
most eulogistic terms. The ceremony of the presen-
tation of the address having then taken place, Sir
Edmund Lyons, in a speech full of genuine feeling
and manly sentiment, expressed his gratitude for the
honour, and for the cordial and generous welcome so
warmly given :
He could assure them that both soldiers and sailors—
officers as well as men—who were abroad in their country's
service were sustained by nothing so much as by the ap•
probation of their countrymen at home, and he could
safely affirm that the proud gratification which he now
felt at the honours which had been paid him would be
shared by thousands under his command now in the Medi-
terranean. The compliment they were now paying him as
their chief would be reflected on every man in the fleet,
and on the day when they received the news of the kind-
ness shown by the inhabitants of Christchurch to himself,
one common sentiment of gratitude would animate all.
Sir Edmund Lyons, resuming his seat in Admiral
Walcot's carriage, was then drawn in triumph by the
" blue-jackets " to the King's Arms, where luncheon
was laid for a hundred guests. The Earl of Malmes-
bury presided, and the usual toasts having been re-
sponded to, the noble earl, in proposing the health
of Sir Edmund Lyons, spoke of the neglected condi-
tion of the resources of this country at the breaking
out of the war, and related as an instance the positive
fact that, " when at the funeral of the Duke of Wel-
lington seventeen guns were required as an escort,
it was some considerable time before seventeen
gun-carriages could be found in the arsenals in a
sufficient state of repair to travel safely over the
London pavement:"—
Now, he did not conceive that the whole blame of such
state of things rested on governments. It was the people
who were to blame for allowing themselves to be deceived
by speakers and others, who strung together volumes on
false economy ; and if they listened to such teachers they
might be again reduced to the same condition, without
having the advantage of a strong, able, and faithful ally. by
whose assistance they might be enabled to brave the world
in arms. Such was the state of this country when the
present war broke out, and yet in twenty months, by the
extraordinary exertions of our officers, soldiers, and seamen,
the colossal power of Russia had been reduced to a point
of humiliation which never could have been expected to be
attained in so short a period.
With respect to the approaching peace, the noble
earl expressed his hope that it would be a statesman-
like peace which England could share with honour
and security. In conclusion, the noble lord briefly
touched upon the distinguished services of their
guest.

Sir EDMI'ND LYONS, rising to reply, gave a bril-
liant sketch of the whole operations of the war
in which the navy assisted, from the landing of
the troops, through the battles of the Alma,
Balaklava, and Inkermanu, down to the last
assault, expressing his high opinion of the
courage and endurance of the English troops, and
of the gallant and efficient services performed in
the Sea of Azoff and elsewhere, by the junior naval
officers under his command in the Black Sea.
Another cause, in additiun to those known of the
failure of the attack upon the Redan, Sir Edmund
Lyons explained .
There is another circumstance also which deserves to
be mentioned, though not generally known, but the truth
of which I assured myself by asking General Neil the

107

other day in Paris. When the French made their unsuc-
cessful attack on the 18th of June, it was discovered that
they bad only imperfectly spiked the enemy's guns, which,
in their retreat, were unexpectedly turned upon our allies.
A more positive order ou this subject was subsequently
issued, and on the Bth of September all the guns in the
Malakoff which enfiladed the intervening space between
Sebastopol and the Redan were too effectually spiked,
and thus rendered useless to prevent the Russians from
pouring their masses into the rear of the Itedan, and it
was utterly impossible to withstand the overpowering
numbers who rushed in.

Of the heroic bravery displayed on that day, he
spoke in high terms ; and to future successes, if
peace were not concluded, he looked with confi•
dence :

It may be said of these gallant men what Lord St.
Vincent said of Lord Nelson, after his want of success in
his gun-boat attack on Boulogne--" It is not in mortals to
command success; but you have done more—you have
deserved it." The result of all these heroic deeds is that
the allies stand on vantage ground on the eve of negotia-
tions. If these negotiations terminate in a safe and
honourable peace, and comprise effectual guarantees for
insuring its performance, then all the objects of the war
will be attained. We must not forget the proverb—
Si via pacem pars helium.
There!will be no relaxation on our parts in preparing for a
continuance of the war, so that if the enemy will not
listen to reason, and prevents peace from being concluded,
we may look confidently, through the blessings of God and
a righteous cau►e, to another campaign.

With a concluding compliment to the service of Miss
Nightingale, Sir Edmund Lyons resumed his seat
amid the most enthusiastic cheers ; and the party
shortly after broke up.

THE OXFORD WORKING M&ws' EDUCATIONAL IN.
STITUTE is making great progress. A meeting was
held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday for the
ourpose of explaining publicly the course of instruc•
tion adopted. From the report of the secretary, it
appears there are now four classes—viz., an elemen-
tary drawing class, with fifty-nine pupils; an ad-
vanced drawing class, with twelve pupils ; a class for
English language, with Latin, forty-two pupils ; a
class for the French language, thirty-six pupils.
Classes in chemistry, mathematics, anatomy, geology,
botany, and biography are about being formed.
THE SWORD OF HONOUR TO SIR COLIN CAMPBELL,
we learn from a meeting of the committee, which
took place within the Sheriff's Chambers on Friday
week, has been subscribed for to the amount of
2801., which, deducting the expenses of advertising,
boxes, leaves a lalance of 2501. to be expended on the
sword and belt. The blade, of pure Scottish steel,
and forged in Scotland, will bear the names of no less
than twenty battles, all of which were victories in
which Sir Colin bore an:honourable and distinguished
part.
A NEW RAILWAY TUNNEL underneath the Channel
has been projected by Mr. Austen, of Messrs. Peto

and Brassey's establishment. The tunnel is to be
sunk sixty feet below the bed of the ocean, which is
only 140 feet below the shore level. A triple way of
three oval arches, securely locked by inseparable and
indestructible blocks of masonry, is the main point
of the plan proposed. The cost is estimated at
6,000,0001., and the time for construction seven

years!
A MEETING OF RAILWAY SHAREHOLDERS Was held
at Liverpool, on Monday, to hear Mr. Malins, upon
the proposed association of shareholders for the pro-
tection of railway property. Mr. Heyworth, M.P.,
took the chair, and explained that the time had
come when something must be done to prevent the
vast property invested in railways from being utterly
ruined. He regarded much of the mischief done to
railway property as arising from ruinous extension
and branch lines, and immoral competition, which
prejudiced the interests of the shareholders, and
entirely absorbed all the profits. Mr. Malins then
addressed the meeting at great length, repeating the
same facts and arguments he used in support of his
case at the great London meeting, on Saturday last,
and concluding with an earnest appeal to share-
holders to combine earnestly, in order to obtain
their manifest right, to have at least a voice in the
general management of their own property. Several
gentlemen addressed the meeting to the same effect,
and resolutions pledging a co-operative movement
in Liverpool were unanimously passed.
THE LIVERPOOL JUVENILE REFORMATORY Asso-
CIATION held a meeting on Tuesday at the Council
Chambers, to receive the report of the executive,
and to consider the necessary steps to be taken to
advance the interests of the institution. The meet-
ing was fully attended. Mr. Heywood, Mr. Hodg-
son, and Mr. Brown, M.P., spoke in favour of
adopting the report, which stated that the committee,
though not yet able, from want of funds, to conclude
the purchase of land for agricultural operations, had
succeeded in obtaining the frigate Achbar as a float-
ing reformatory, wherein boys might be trained for
sea service. Mr. Fwart, M.P., and other gentlemes,
then addressed the meeting, when several resolu-
tions in accordance with its oiijects were unanimously
passed.