The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-18 00:00:00

Vbe Court.

WINDSOR, OCT. 17.
The Queen, with the Princess Royal and the
Prince.. Alice, took cauestrian exercise 1U the Riding
House this morning.
Prince Albert, attended by Colonel the Hon. Charles
Grey, Lieut.-Colon, I Francis Seymour, and Lieut.-Colonel
Biddulph, left Windsor at ten o'clock this morning, end
proceeded to London by a specie' train of the Great Western
Railway. His Royal Highness drove to Buckingham
Palace, ani subsequently vi•.ited the Duchess of Ulo.ceater,
and returned to Windsor C.i,tle at a quarti.r put two.
--
Lady John Russell and (sillily arrived from Roseneath,
Dumbartonshire, on Saturday evening, and joined Lord
John Russell in Chesham-place.

TILE EASTERN Q CESTION.

0

Last night a public meeting of the inhabitants of
Finsbury, very numerously attended, was held at the
National Hall, Holborn, "tor the purpose of taking into
consideration the important subject of war between
Russia and Turkey, and discussing the question—what part
ought England to take in toe event et a European war of
principles with its inevitable consequences ?" Mr. I.
Irrouito LoexHaßT in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN raid that the present meeting was got up
by a few working inert, who wished to express thtir views
on the momentous question of peace or war between Russia
and Turkey. It was as desirable that the working classes
should have an opportunity of expressing their feelings as
any other class. (Hear, hear.) The first thing put before
them as against Turkey was that she was not a Christian
state. It was true that Turkey was a Mohammedan state,
and that Mohammedans called Christians " dog.," as Mr.
Cobden said. But they did not, fur all that, treat Kenneth
like a dog. On the contrary, they protected him from
the Christian dogs, who were thirsting for his life.
The Turks did not murder Battliyani or Robert
Blum. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright
took a commercial view of the question, but there
were ether and higher interests than that of commerce
iavelved in its solution. There was no man who was not
desirous of peace. That was not the question. The gun-
Lion was, whether they would bow down their necks at the
demand of an arbitrary tyrant? Refer the question, said
the members of the Peace Society, to arbitrators. That
woald be all very well if they could get arbitrators. (Hear,
hear.) But would not the arbitrators, or at least a part of
them, be the very men who promoted this aggression on
unoffending Turkey; and who was to force these to keep
the peace ? (Hear, hear.) He believed that Turkey was
in a position to meet Runic If a war once commenced,
the cause of the people would be promoted throughout the
world, for no one could suppose that the Austria' empire
or the Castle of St. Angelo would remain long in existence
after that war commenced. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRONTRIARR O'luest, after explaining the origin of
the meeting, said that the question they met to discuss was
that of the war between Russia and Turkey, and the pro-
bable consequences of that war. The working-men who
got up the meeting were anxious that that question should
be fully and freely discussed. The view which he took
of it was embodied in the following resolutions.
Mr. O'Brien then read two resolutions, which he drew uo,
to the effect that the occupation of Moldavia and Wal-
lachia by the Russian armies, to enforce demands incom-
patible with the independence of Turkey, was a gross in-
fraction of public law—that this meeting therefore rejoiced
at the declaration of war against Russia by Turkey, and
relied upon the people of England and of Europe to sus-
taia the Turks. But they warned the Turks to guard
against the perfidious conduct of the great powers, and to
prevent any of them from interfering in the internal affain
of Turkey, uader the pretence of religion, law, and order.
He knew there were certain so-called respectable people,
who would not concur in some partsof these resolutions, but
these were the parties who never would assist in passing any
resolution that would really promote the liberty of the people.
There was no doubt the conduct of Russia was a violation
of public law and public justice. But in the name of all
that was decent what right bad England and France to
tell Russia that she must not invade the Turkish territory,
or dictate to the Sultan, when they themselves sent a por-
tion of their fleet to keep down the Turks ? (Hear, hear.)
If the people of Turkey wished to adopt a certain line of
policy what right had they to act as police for the Sultan?
(Hear, hear.) If these governments wished to interfere or
to prevent interference, why did they not interfere on be-
half of Hungary, when they could do so with effect?
(Hear, hear.) Why did not England interfere when Louis
Napoleon sent an army to Rome to keep down the inhabi-
' tants of that city ? They did not prevent the seizure and
occupation of Aleuts. (Hear.) Did they not actually mite
with Russia herself to separate Greece from Turkey, after
destroying her fleet at Navarino? (Hear, hear.) Yet they
kad the audacity to say that all ney were anxious for was
to preserve the integrity of Turkey, and to prevent any
other power from interfering with her. (Hear, hear.)
There was a great deal of double-distilled nonsense spoken
and written on this subject. (Hear, hear.) The fact was,
that they themselves interfered or abstained from interfer-
ence jut as it noted their commercial interests, and it was
not for them to say to others "you shall not interfere."
(Hear, hear.) The result of the interference of France and
England was to prevent the Turks from rising en masse
and driving out the Russians, which they were well able
to do if they were only left to themselves. But for the
presence of the fleets the Turks would be up; the Hun-
gariats would be up, the Italians would be up, and kings
and emperors would he on the tramp again, which was
precisely what the people wanted. Let them, by all means,
send their fleets to Crunstailt and Sebastopol, but let them
not occupy Constantinople, for if they did it would be only
to force the Turks to adopt a system partly Russian, partly
French, and partly Englieb. (Cheers.)
Mr. MIRRY and Mr. NICHOLI.B addressed the meeting
in support of the resolutioos, which were adopted.

ELECTION OF COUNCILLOR FOR BROAD-STREET
WAYn.—Yesterday a wardmote was held at the Broad-
street Ward School-room, London-wall, fur the choice of a
common councilman in the room of Mr. Stephen Baker,
deceased. Sir John Musgrove, the alderman of the ward,
presided. On the motion of Mr. John Chalmers, seconded
by Mr. J. S. Pidgeon, Mr. William Hartridge, of 80, Broad-
street, was unanimously elected to fill the vacant office.
Mr. Deputy Conley then moved • resolution expressive of
the regret the ward kit at losing their late councilman Mr.
Baker, and of sympathy and condolence with his widow.
Dr. Abraham seconded, and the resolution was unanimously
agreed to. The usual vote of thanks to the worthy alder-
man for his conduct in the chair was then paned, after
which the court was "cried off."

II ARBITRATION BETWEEN COALOWNERS AND PIT-
MM.—The workmen of Seaton Colliery, near Beaham
lisr-
hour, abrut two months ago, requested certain additional
advances of wages; the proprietors having during the pre-
vious fortnight given a considerable advance, declined to
grant them, but stated their willingness to refer the matter
to disinterested parti. a. The workmen declined this, and
in consequence a strike of Leven weeks' duration resulted.
We are glad, however, to be able to state that the work-
men, having seen their error, agreed last week to refer all
matters in dispute, and, accordingly, Mr. T. E. Forster, of
New castle. was appointed on behalf of the owners, and Mr.
John Taylor, of Haswell, n behalf of the workmen These
gentlemen met at the colliery on Friday last, and have made
as award of prices, &e., satisfactory to the respective parties.
It is much to be desired that this may be the commence-
ment of a better understanding between the owners of col-
lieries and their worktden, end that the latter may see that
great misery end crime—the inevitable results of protracted
strikes—may be averted by at once referriott their disputes
to arbitration.—Notecoatlt: Journal.