The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-14 00:00:00

818 O WOOD AND MB. STANSIELD AT

HALIFAX.

Sir Charles Wood and Mr. Stanefeld met their
constituents at Halifax, last night, the general intend of
the meeting being Maenad by the explanation on Indian
affairs which Sir Charles was expected to furnish. The
opinion of the right hon. baronet is that, if the manufac-
toren were willing to give a indlioient pries to induce people
to cultivate cotton, the people would do so. He added that
the present condition of India offers no obstacle to
cotton being taken to the sea coast and exported. Bider.
ring to the question of public works, he said he had really
authorised the expenditure of more mosey than the autho-
rities could spend. He bad authorised the expenditure of
three millions, and the answer was that it could not be
done, as neither superintrodenoe nor labour were to be had.
Sir Charles added, however, that 7,000 men were
now employed on roads which would be completed
in time to be of servic.! for the next oaten crop.
He denied that he had reversed the land lame policy of
Lord Canning. There was not the slightest truth in the
charges made against him on this point, and, indeed, it was
net correct to may that the policy was Lord Canning's.
The right hon. baronet said be would endeavour to
awry on the government of India on the principle of
the " greatest happiness to the greatest number."
With respect to the American war, the government had
deemed it its duty to observe the most perfect neutrality
and impartiality. We had been, as might have
been expected, blamed on both sides, namely, by the North
for what had been called a too early recognition of the belli-
gerent rights of the South, and by the South for not recog-
nising them altogether. He believed the British govern-
ment were right in both cases. In the lint place, it was not
done as a favour to the South, but because it was indispen-
sable for them to define the position in which the vessels of
the South stood towards us. Either they were belligerents
°easy Wile pirate', and hardly any man in England would
say that • vessel holding • commission from wen or eight
millions of people who formed • de facto state enold
be treated as a pirate. (Hear, hear.) On the other
hand, when the French government Invited the &Walt
government to interfere between the North and South,
they felt it to be their duty to decline, not became they
did not sympathise with the amount of human struggling in
the couutiv, or shrtnk from anything that would hold out
a reasonable prospect of Suttees in putting en cod to the
contest now raging, but that they believed that auy offer of
mediation which they made at the present time would be
sure to be refused, and prevent them taking such a course in
Ware, when they might think that there was a chance of
MOMS. That • better feeling might arise he could not but
hope, in which taro the government would hold itself
perfectly free at soy time to take • step which
it might think would be acceptable to both parties for the
sake of terminating this dreadful struggle. (Cheers.) He
wished that be saw any symptoms of the abatement of bit-
' terns, on either side, or any prospect of • speedy termina-
tion of the wee. Neither party seems to make mach
progress. After • struggle which had lasted a year sod a
half, both aides stood very much as they were at the tom.
menosment. The attacking party was always repelled, even
when, as on the last °minion, the utmost gallantry wee
displayed upon the part of the rosailants. One could
not but shudder at the rpirit in which the war
was being carried on, and would to God that
public expression of opinion could mitigate the horrors of a
sanguinary struggle between members of the same raos and
the same family, and of the same name, in which one party is
struggling for what,aa far as one could judge, seemed to be
hopeless—namely, the reconstitution and re-establishment
of the Union.
Mr. Sraeitiret.o, addressing the meeting, raid one ground
of confidence in our government was the cession of the lonian
Islands. The Turks were an anomaly in Europe, and gra-
drolly relaxing their hold. He was not blind to the
danger of a precipitate dissolution of their empire,
and could understand what bad been our past policy in the
Fast. It had been rather to defend Turkey than the Turks.
(Cheers.) But the peaceful revolution in Greece, which
gave signs of a tither to become the Piedmont of the East,
gave hope of • new and safer development of our policy.
His mecum might not be those of our government for ceding
tie island; but they were the reasons of the conservative
opposition to it. (Hear.) The most momentous event since
this parliament began was the American war. lie did not
attempt to grapple with that subject that night. He
entered not into the merits or demerits of the
various parties in America, but be should leave the plat-
form with • sense of duty unfulfilled, were he not to say
that he regretted with a profound grief the current of
public opinion, as interpreted by society and the press, of
the Southern canoe. The successes of the South would be a
triumph for our day sad generation of a system of society
founded on slavery. (Cheers.) The state of sympathy that
had been shown was not creditable to this country. (Cheers.)
Whatever might be its explanation, it was assuredly not the
child of charity nor the offspring of any principle nor of any
faith. (Cheers )
Several questibos having been put to the members and
answered apparently to the satisfaction of the meeting, a
vote of thanks to the hon. gentlemen passed unanimously,
and the meeting broke up at a quarter-past eleven.

Berne Srßascra IN TURKISH DomnuoNs.—ln
the Gazette of hat night an order by her Majesty in Council
appears, the object of which is to revise the provisions of
►u order made in August, 1860, and to make further provi-
sion for the exercise of her Majesty's power and dominion,
and for the more regular and efficient

justice and the better maintenance of order amongst all
classes of British subjects, and of persons enjoying her Ma-
jesty's protection, resident in, or resorting to, the dominions
of the Sublime Ottoman Porte. Appended to the order is a
Wag list of regulations fur effecting the object in view.
THE PEEVMCHON OF COLIAMONA AT SEA.—.d
aeries of regulations for preventing isollitions at sea,
which, being the result of arrangements with the French
government, are of an international character, are published
in last night's Gazette.
MANSION-HOUSE Commtrrez.—The total amount
received at the Mansion-house in the course of the last
three days, in aid of the relief fond, was about 3.130 i.
Among the amounts were the engineers and workmen of the
Bilbao Railway, North Spain, 1171. ; Croydon, 10/. ; per
Messrs. Cassel, Fetter and Galpin, from the readers of
Cassers Paper and the Quiver, B of. ; Aldgate,&ll. 7s. 11d.
St. Dunstan's West, 101. ; St. Bride's, Fliset-street,;
154/. 15s. Ad. ; Mr. John Name, &1. Ills. Pd. ; officer..
officers, asd toes of the 2nd battalion of
Sal Regiment, stationed at Oilsultar, 621. • Harrow
100/. ; Society of Painters in Water Colours, 6til. 84. ;
Bridgewater, 50/.

kiIItIIINGHAW AND MIDLAND INNTITOTION.—The
annual meeting of eke masher's( this institution and this
distribution of prime to the students took place on Monday
evening; the Right HOD. Sir John Pakiogtos, M.Y. (the
president). in the chair. TMreport was geuendly Of a con-
gratulatory chanicter as to the operatioas of the institu-
tion. During the oast rear the number of memboa* hen
received "a considerable secession. The meeting was
addressed by the President, Lord Lyttelton the Rev. Dr.
and other gentlemen who have taken the most
active part in the promotion of the institute ; at.il Mr.
hcholedsld, 11. P., was elected president for the ensuing
year.

ACILICCLTCRAL HALL—A morning performance
of Blondin's wonderful feats on the low and high rope was
Om on Saturday, and, in consequence of the great mucosd
attending the same, another took place ”.i,terday, when
there was a large audience. In addition to Blondin, other
novelties were introduced, especially the astonishing per-
foraiance of Master Shapcott (oily four yews of age) ou the
drum. The playing of this &Oil is really very clever ; he
best, the drum with the precisise of a man, and crested ha.
wens. excitement. Two other morning performances this
week are announced.

DEATH OF BOATSWAIN SMITII.—The Rev. G. C.
Smith died at Penzance on Saturday morning, in bin sleeN
81 years old. For the past fortnight he bad bees ill with
the dropsy, but thought be would get over it. He was a
prince of good men, warm-hearted, and a bard worker. and
bad effected an immense amount of good in his day. There
were no missions to seamen before be took tits matter up,
and founded esainen's chapels, sailors' homes, city IL kf.lolll.
&O. The numerous orphans of senors and soldiers that he
reared up must bless but memory for a good taut in life.—
Western Morsting New.

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