The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-01 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1. 1855.

MR. CARDWELL AND MR. HENLEY ON

THE WAR.

The annual Council dinner given at Oxford to the ex-
Mayor took place in the Town-hall on Thursday evening.
The quaint old hall, hung with evergreens and flags, was
tastefully decorated in honour of the occasion, while a
goodly show was made upon the tables by the corporation
plate, including the coronation cup of Charles 11., toge-
ther with the splendid pieces of plate presented to Alder-
man Sadler by his fellow-citizens, and to Alderman Spiers
upon the termination of his mayoralty. The chair was
occupied by the Mayor (Mr. Pike), and among those pre-
sent were the Earl of Abingdon, the Vice-Chancellor of
the University, the ex-Mayor (Mr. Alderman Sadlet), Mr.
Henley, M.P., Mr. Cardwell, M.P., Mr. G. G. Harcourt,
'M.P., Colonel North, M.P.; Mr.- J. H. Langston, M.P.,
Sir James Fergusson, M.P., Sir H. Versey, Major Reed,
M.P., the Registrar of the University, the Senior and
Junior Proctors, Professor Johnson, Dr. Ac;and; the High
Sheriff of Oxfordshire (Mr. B. Whippy), Aldermen Thorpe,
Spiers, 13roFning, Dudley, &c.
The cloth having been withdrawn, .

The MAYOR pledged the company in the " loving cup,"
which then circulated with the toast peculiar to the loyal
city-:-" May God preserve the Church and State, and
prosper the good city of Oxford."-
After the usual loyal toasts,
The MAYORrose to give "bar gallant Allies." With
the health of the Emperor and Empress of the French they
roust not forget that of the King of Sardinia, who would
be welcomed on his arrival in this country by every lover
of civil and religious liberty ; and that of the Sultan, who
had-proved himself well worthy of the assistance given
him by the Western Powers. (Cheers.)
In proposing " The Army and Navy," the MAYOR
Coupled with the toast the name of Sir James Fergus-
son, who.had, but- lately returned from the Crimea.
fie happened to know, that it had been the intention
Of the honourable 'b'aronet, on coming to his estate, 'to
leave the army ; but Sir James had, in the most noble
'manner, refused to do so when war was declared ;
had shared in the dangers of Alma and Inkerman ; and
(though there was less eclat, but not less credit attaching
(,0 this) had served during the whole winter in the trenches.
(Drunk with three times three.)
SirJ. FERGIISSON (who woro the Crimean medal and
was most warmly received) said, the manner in which the
toast had been drunk showed that the enthusiasm which
prevailed throughout every part of this country had not
found cold hearts to respond to it in Oxford. It was thus
that every soldier was received on his return home ; it was
„hat the great heart of the nation spoke forth on every oc-
;asion ; and it was thus that our armies would be sent on
from year to year to fight gallantly for their country. He
was now no longer in the army, because other duties called
nim, and therefore he could the better appreciate and join
in those praises which had been so justly bestowed upon
t. Although we had no longer that gallant band to fight
or us who went forth from their country last year ; al-
though he who commanded them was laid low, sacrificed
').y his proud sense of duty and by devotion to his coun-
ry ; though the footsteps of that army might be traced
)y those frequent mounds which marked the last resting-
dace of so many gallant hearts; though the force now in
the East consisted, perhaps, mainly of young and untried
,coops, yet the spirit which animated the warriors of Alma

1d of fnkerman was not less alive in that army now ,

i',ach man who came home testified to this. They might
fall into excesses to which all armies were liable; they
might have their faults ; but everybody bore witness to
t le eagerness with which the men clamonred to bo led to
v ctory, and to the diligence with which these young sol-
lrers laboured to fit themselves for the duties for which
they were destined. He would not believe that one defeat
,u,312 as they had suffered at the Redan—and he would not
;all it a defeat, since the object for which they fought was
,btained there, although for the moment our troops were
repulsed—but call it what they would, he did not believe
this would shake the confidence of England in her brave
.oldiers. She knew well that in the hour of noel they
.vould be found at their posts, ready to fight her battles
Lnd to shed their blood in the cause of their country.
(Cheers.)
The Earl of ABINGDON proposed the health of the wor-
thy alderman who had just, for the third time, passed the
civic chair, and whose conduct throughout his public career
eminently entitled him to the confidence of his fellow-
dtizens.
Alderman SADLER returned thanks, and enumerated
:ome of the works of improvement ant of progress in which
ne had been enabled to assist during his year of office.
The MAYOR, in giving the next toast, said that at the
,resent eventful period those present would doubtless like
to hear from their representatives something of what was
ving on in the world of politics, but as this was a social
entertainment, and not an arena for discussion, he was
afraid they must endeavour to restrain their curiosity. He
proposed "The Health of the two members for the city,
Langston and Mr. Cardwell." (Cheers.)
Mr. LANGSTON briefly returned thanks.
Mr. CARD WELL, in acknowle iging the toast, said that,
having been absent from England during much the larger
portion of the Parliamentary recess, he was sincerely re-
joiced at being enabled to return in time to b 3 present at
this splendid banquet to the oldest personal friend of whom
,e could boast among the citizens of Oxford. After refer-
ring to the recent visit os Alderman Sadler to the Paris
2ahibition, Mr. Cardwell continued—l am sure that our
tiend conveyed to Paris not only an expression of your
Impathy and satisfaction with the great ceremony which
wok him there, but also an expression of those deeper feel-
lags which animate you when you contemplate that now
,nd firm brotherhood in arms which unites us with our
ueighbours across the Channel in the vindication of the
iberLies of Europe. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I shall observe, I

i.)ust, with perfect certainty the rule which has been laid
iown by the worthy Mayor and those who have preceded
,ue, and I shall not refer to any-topic which can give rise
o difference of opinion at this festive board ; but I think
I. should misinterpret your feelings and desires if I ab-
ained from all reference to those engrossing topics of
.vhich alone you think in your solitude and which alone
you celebrate in your festive public meetings. These are
rational and not party topics ; they are the sentiments
Lot of parties among Englishmen, but of United England
—(hear)—and I shall, with your permission, say a few
cords upon the subject which now fills your thoughts.
leutlemen, that great Exhibition in Paris, conducted in no
small degree by the cordial co-operation of England and
France, was closed by the Sovereign of that mighty king-
dom in words relating not to that peaceful assembly but to
be alliance of England and France in arms—words worthy
if the occasion on which they were spoken, and exciting, I
relieve, a cordial sympathy in your hearts. The appeal
.vas made by the Emperor of the French, as to the final
abitrement of the great struggle in which we are engaged,
to the universal voice of Europe, to public opinion, and to
iliblic law. For, gentlemen, as there is a municipal law in
3very well-governed kingdom, and as when that municipal
aw is invaded by aggression every private citiz .n becomes
civil officer to put down the wrong and restore the right,
ea there is in civilised Europe an international law ; and
,vhen that law is invaded for the purposes of guilty ambi
time, then other countries become the lawful and the just
instruments for vindicating the liberties of Europe and
or maintaining the peace of the world. It would be a
waste of time, and worse than a waste of time, to recur te
she long past occurrences which led to the origin of the
war ; but this at least is clear—that the guilty act by which
the peace of Europe was disturbed, and the law of nations
broken, was the act of our enemy, Russia. Deep was that
;wilt, and signal already have been the consequences. In
our security at home it is difficult for us to estimate what
`lave been the consequencas to Russia. We can form but
I very inadequate idea of fields deprived of their cultiva-
tors by a ruthless conscription, which has already involved
a very large proportion of the whole people ; we know
nothing of nascent manufactures cut up by the roots, nor
of deep wounds inflicted upon her commercial and social
irosperity, which the present generation, in all probabi-
lity, will never live to see healed. The scourge of war must
uo doubt fall on all who are engaged in it. I believe
It was a saying of the Duke of Wellington that there
.vas no greater calamity than a battle won except a battle
lost, and so the guilty ambition of Russia has made Eug-
lish women widows and left English children fatherless ; it
oss cost us in one year of war more public treasure than we
had saved 40 years of peace ; and it has done somewhat
;.o retard the wonderful development of our great commer-
cial power but it has left us conquerors in pitched battles,
captors of fortresses believed to be impregnable, and un-
disputed masters of the sea. The Emperor of Russia, on
the other hand, has to refer to fleets cowering behind for-
resses from fear to meet the enemy, or sunk to the bot-
tom of the sea by the hands of him who framed them as
the instruments of his power, Tale looks to Sebastopol
given up in ensanguinod ruins to his enemy, and he sees
that even Sweaborg, the outwork of his capital, has felt a
foretaste of our strength. (Rear ) This has been the result
of the campaign of 1855. This is the way in which Provi-
dence has blessed the arms of the Allies. In terms of na-
tural eloquence, which 1 am sure went to the heart of every
member of this vast assembly the gallant officer who re-
turned thanks for the army, spoke to you of the achieve-
ments of our army, and of the duty of citizens at home. I
apprehend that there cannot be any difference of opinion
at home as to our duty. Our duty is to give the most vigo-
rous support to the Crown of England, shrinking from no
sacrifice and sparing no exertion for the successful prose-
cution of the cause. (Cheers.) Justice to our soldiers,
who for our sakes have shed their blood like water, fidelity
to our Ally who has mingled his sacrifices with ours—a
wish to impress upon our enemy that feeling of desire for
peace, and to give us just satisfaction, which is the first
essential condition of a return to peace—regard for the
honour, for the prosperity, and for the safety of our coun-
try—speak to us in terms not only so clear and decisive as
to carry conviction, but I believe as to exclude all possible
difference of opinion. Gentlemen, with regard to the
future, there can be, I apprehend, no doubt that the
feeling of this country is one of sincere desire for the
earliest attainment of a safe, honourable, and satisfactory
peace. (Rear.) What a private man would do when
engaged in a mortal conflict in which he believed he was
in th right —what you did when you began this conflict—
what the Emperor of the French spoke of when ho ad-
dressed his assembled subjects—what is the firm and
settled character of the English people, namely, a resolute
and calm determination to attain just objects by vigorous
exertions—is, I believe, the unanimous opinion of those
whom I have the honour to address, and I conceive it to
be the universal feeling and opinion of the English people.
(Cheers.) With regard to what these terms shall be,
doubtless terms of peace must vary with the events of
war • but of this I am satisfied, that, as you went to war
for Objects of international law and for the vindication of
public liberty, as you have conducted it with the highest
and most exalted courage, so you will maintain it to the
end in that same spirit ; resolved to attain the same ob-
jects for which you engaged in conflict and determined to
maintain your cause. (Loud cheers.) [A Voice—" And
make Russia pay the piper."] (Laughter and applause.)
I know not that it is possible for any of us to form a clear
conception of the terms upon which peace may eventually
be concluded, but of this I am sure, that whenever it shall
be possible, whenever terms shall be offered which promise
you that satisfaction for which you entered into the fight,
it will be the duty of every man, whatever be his station,
without reference to any other object, to let all the ends
ho aims at be his country's, his God's, and truth's, and
with a single purpose, for the vindication of European
liberty and the safety and honour of England, to determine
• upon the questions laid before him. This being, as I be-
lieve, the universal feeling of Englishmen, I look forward
with earnest hope to tho time when, by the blessing of
r Providence upon the gallant exertions of our troops and on

the noble sacrifices that have been made in arms, it shall
be the wisdom, the policy, and the determination of the
enemy to submit to just and satisfactory terms of peace. I
trust we may then sheathe the sword, having added another
chaplet to the imperishable laurels of England, having
vindicated before Europe, first, the forbearance with
which you entered into the war, next, that invincible ob-
stinacy and courage (which is the in•born virtue of the
English people) with which you have sustained it, and
lastly, that sense of public duty and that firm regard for
justice with which you shall be permitted to close it. If
that be your fortune, you will have added another page to
the glorious history of England, and you will have ac-
quired another title to that highest place in the records of
fame :

" For there stand heroes who through loud alarms
In bloody fields pursued renown in arms ;
And chief were those who not for glory fought,
But with their toil their people's safety bought."
That this may be the glorious privilege reserved for Eng-
land must be the sincere prayer, the earnest desire, of every
man who has witnessed, as we have witnessed, those im-
perishable deeds of glory by which the army and the navy
of England have added in the course of the present year to
the greatness of our name. (Cheers).
" The Health of the Vice-Chancellor and the Members of
the University," next given, was responded to by the
VICE-CHANCELLOR.

The MAYOR proposed " The Health of the three County
Members—Mr. Henley, Mr. Harcourt, and-Col. North."
Mr. HENLEY, in returning thanks, said that, in spite of
the warning given them from the chair to avoid political
subject-e it was impossible for all present not to feel that
they were met together under somewhat anxious circum-
stances. (Hear, hear.) We were engaged in:a great war
in tho East, end he wished he could say that the West was
altogether free from clouds, and that the horizon in that
direction was quite clear and serene. He believed there
was no one who would not be glad to see .what in the cant
language of the day was called Meesiecure and honourable
peace" (a-term of which, by the way, be had.. never yet
heard any man give a defieiteee4) Ai,,e_e;perience
led him to the conclusion that, ;ven Awo*-4.trong-peruant
fell out, unless by some provident) t I interposition the mind
of one of them was changed—which did not very often hap-
pen—nothing came of it until one or the other got a very
good thumping. (" Hear, hear,"Aertiefaughter.) This al-
ways produced some effect, and thee things which to the
defeated seemed unjust, became just and admissible, un-
palatable conditions were swallowed, and a secure and
honourable peace was the result. Ho c nctirred in every-
thing which had been said in praise of our noble army, and
he did not believe, whenever this struggle terminated, that
England would find the prestige of her army weakened, or
her glory diminished. (Cheers.) The country throughout
seemed anxious to afford the Government such support as
should enable them to carry on the war and secure the ends
for which it was commenced ; ho saw nowhere any signs
of flinching. From one end of the land to the other no-
body seemed to dispute the justice of the grounds upon
which we went to war ; no one pretended to say that the
causes of the war had ceased to exist, or that the future
was secure ; and he did not believe the people would give
up the struggle into which we had entered with our ally
until the object for which we had commenced it was se-
cured, and safely secured. (Cheers.) If this country were to
bring the war to a conclusion before it had good grounds for
doing so, all the blood and all the treasure which had been
spent (and this was not a little, as they had been reminded)
would be wasted ; and then, though he might not survive
to witness it, many a man present would live to see the
fight begin over again, and as much more blood and trea-
sure would have to be expended. (Hear, hear.) The hall
in which they were now met was wont to be used for other
purposes, and he recollected an incident which took place
there so apposite to the subject which now occupied every
mind that he could not help recalling it. A landed pro-
prietor of that county went to law—he believed about
nothing more than the turning a goose or a jackass upon a
piece of waste. There was an array of bigwigs in the hall,
and no end of fees. It was in the days of old Serjeaut
Ludlow. At last the case came on, the jury was sworn,
the people is court wore gaping to hear, and the wretched
plaintiff stood behind his counsel. The barristers whis-
pered one to another, two words came from the judge, and
then a verdict was taken for the defendant upon six
pleas and for the plaintiff upon six pleas, with leave to
move. (A laugh.) Of course the uninitiated wondered
what it all meant, and the wretched plaintiff. leaning over
to his counsel, said, " Serjeant, what have I got ?" Ser.
jeaet Lud ow immediately turned round to him and said,
" You've got nothing, and you've lost all your money."
(Laughter) Now, that would be exactly the case if this
country were to make au unsafe peace—we should have
gained nothing and lost all our money. (Cheers.) He hoped
this would not be done It must be recollected that we had
entered into a great European struggle—in intimate alli-
ance, thank God, with another great European power. In
this struggle, reckoning Sardinians, Turks, French, and
English, it was nu exaggeration to say that 100,000,000 of
people were arrayed on the one side and 60,000,000 on the
other. It was a fearful struggle, and he thought they
ought to rejoice at the language used at the closing of the
Paris Exhibition by our great ally, who when he said that
the decision of this struggle was an European question,
clearly had in his mind Ihe idea that principles of justice
and equity must obtain in settling this great quarrel, and
that neither France nor England nor the allies together
must be led away by any false glory to ask for terms
which the interests of Europe did not demand, but that it
must be looked apon with large views, with an eye to the
common interests of all Europe. In his opinion the honour
of this country would be eventually secured if, after so
lavish an expenditure of blood and treasure, we should
prove to Europe that we had ;been actuated by no selfish
.natives, that we had been stractling to accomplish no low
and unworthy objects, butthat we had been lighting in be-
half of the security and the welfa,ve of the whole civilised
world. (Choe, 8.)_ _

Col. NCieTts, f'dlowing up the remarks of his right hon.
colleague, said, that certainly no war had ever been entered
into by this country with greater fairness or with less of
persoe al feeline than the present. It was undertaken to
gratify no ambition, but to establish the freedom of the
whole world, and he for one hoped the Englishman was
not yet:born who would wish to see peace brought about
unless it redounded to the honour and glory of his country.
(Great cheering.) Our countrymen had shed their blood
nobly abroad; at home the people had not been behind-
hand in furnishing the sinews of war ; and ho was sure
considerations of money would never induce them to desire
a hasty and insecure peace. In the French nation we pos-
sessed a noble ally, as anxious as we could be for peace
when it crnlld be honou,rablyobtained, but also determined
never to terminate the contest until they could insure such
peace as would reflect honour on those nations which had
undertaken the war against the common foe. (Cheers.)
Mr. G. G. HARCOURT said if Mr.Cobjen had been there,
and had denied the justice of the war, and declared that
the negotiations of Vienna ought to have brought about a
pacific solution, he might have •,isen tempted to enter into
an argument in order to combat such a notion. His right
hon. friend (Mr. Cardwell) had, however, laid down so
distinctly, and so eloquently, those principles of interna-
tional law and public morality upon which the justifica-
tion of this war was rested by Parliament and by the na-
tion—ho had stated so properly that the aggression on the
part of the Ca sr was perfectly
of lynnwo.rraut
spoken so truly of the determinationerfe thisbiLTityhatdo
prosecute the war to a satisfactory termination, that he
(Mr. Harcourt) hoped the members for both the city and
county iu the next session of Parliament would be found
unanimous in their determination to give a vigorous sup-
port to such measures of military policy as might be brought
forward by the Government • that they would unani-
mously supply those means which, although burdensome
to the country, were, in this unfortunate condition of
affairs, necessary to carry the war to a successful termina-
tion ; and that it would be found there was no more diffe-
rence of opinion than prevailed, he was happy to say,
among those now present. Upon the subject of the war,
then, he would really, in the expression of his opinion, adopt
the language of his right hon. friend : he could not speak
more justly—he could not speak inure distinctly. At the
same time let no man doubt that he (Mr. Harcourt) was as
much impressed as any one with the calamities under which
we were suffering in consequence of this war. Three
years ago Parliament had hoped to continue its progress
in financial reform, and in gradually lightening the bur-
dens of the people, while during the last two years it had
been their painful duty to increase those burdens. He
was convinced, however; that if the reasons adduced by the
Government for the continuance of our present taxation,
and possibly for its augmentation, should be satisfactory,
he should gratify his constituents much more by giving his
assent even to that increase, if necessary, than by shrink-
ing from the sacrifices required to place our military and
naval for,;es upon thst footing which alone could insure to
us a safe and honourable peace. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Alderman SADLER said the people of Oxford would
never desire to see the sword sheathed, whatever burdens
might be imposed in consequence, until the aggressive ten-
dencies of Russia were repressed, and a safe and honour-
able peace was arrived at. Ho concluded by proposing
"The health of the Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire, the Earl
of Abing_ ion."
The Earl of ABINGDON, in returning thanks, observed
that we were on the eve of welcommg among us a Sove•
reign who, at a time when popular and constitutional
principles were almost unknown on the Continent, had
secured to his country a free and constitutional Govern-
ment, and whose troops had proved themselves worthy,
by their achievements in the field, of the great alliance
Ley had formed, and of the companionship of French and
English soldiers. He hoped that, with such allies, we
should inflict upon the enemy that signal chastisement—
that "good thumping," to use the homely phrase of his
right hon. friend—which would bring about, not a hollow
truce, but a glorious and successful issue of the war and a
permanent peace (Cheers.)
" The health of the High Sheriff of the county" was
next drunk, and duly responded to.
Mr. LANGSTON was delighted not only at the opinions
which had been enunciated by the various speakers with
reference to the war, but at the feelings so unequivocally
expressed on the part of those present. (Hear, hear.) He
proposed " The health of the Mayor."
" The health of the Proctors" was given by the MAYOR;
and
The SENIOR PROCTOR, in acknowledging the toast, con-
gratulated the city functionaries on the cessation of
" Town and Gown" rows.
The VICE-CsANCELLOR of the University then proposed
"The Aldermen and Magistrates of the City," which was
spoken to by Alderman BROWNING.
In responding to the toast of " The Visitors,"
Sir H. VERNEY observed that it was with the greatest
delight he saw that all classes were animated by one feel-
ing alone, and that was a determination to carry on the
present contest until a safe and honourable peace was ob-
tained. He passed a high eulogium upon the Bing of Sar-
dinia for his efforts to emancipate that country from
priestly dominion, and to uphold there the cause of civil
and religious freedom. It was a most interesting sight
when other States were cowering at the feet of despotic
sovereigns, to see Sardinia, as he had seen it during his
late stay in Italy, rising above its neighbours and throw-
ing itself heart and hand into the struggle which was
taking place in Europe. They could not feel too grateful
to his Majesty for the part taken by him in the endeavour
to check the ambition of Russia, and to fight the battle of
liberty against despotism. • (Cheers.)
Major REED was happy to see that the sentiments put
forward by that small section of the community called the
Peace-at-any-price party found no echo in the City of Ox•
ford. ,(Hear.) The people of England hail evidently arrived
at the conviction that this war, to be brought to a just and
honourable conclusion, must be prosecuted with the great.

est vigour. Gentlemen of different political opinions had
that evening expressed the one universal feeling as to the
prosecution of the war, and he wassatiefied that whatever
Government might be In power the House of Commons
would unite in giving them a most cordial support in car-
rying on this contest* He did hope, however, that the
Government would take the earliest opportunity of placing
before the country proper light the position towards
us of some other nations; with regaid to which an ex-
planation was highly necessary. (Hear,liear.) The King
of Sardinia desorved the warmest encomiums tar his spirited
conduct, and would meet, no doubt, with the most enthu-
siastic reception. But what was to be the position of some
of the neighbouring nations? Were they to consider Aus-
tria as an active or a passive ally? For his part he could
not understand that a nation' should call itself our ally
without really acting in alliance with us. (Hear, hear.)
His opinion would best be expressed in the words of
Pope :
" A generous friendship no cold medium knows,
Burns with one love--with ono resentment glows;
One should our interests and our passions be;
My friend must hate the man who injures me."
Mr. CARDWELL proposed " the Health of the Sheriff of
Oxford."

Mr. CASTLE, in responding, declared that the opinions
of a certain portion of the members of the House of Com-
mons on the subject of the war were by no means in har-
mony with those, at all events, of the inhabitants of Ox-
ford. The citizens there were strongly opposed to the views
expressed by. Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Cobden, Mr. Bright, and
others, and the conduct of that party had been arraigned
in a manner which was not to be mistaken. (Hear, hear.)
He entertained no doubt as to the valour of our soldiers
and sailors, or as to the means possessed by England and
France to bring the war to a satisfactory termination ;
and on the part of the people of Oxford ho was sure he
might say that no sacrifices would be grudged to bring the
war to a conclusion which should be honourable to this
country and satisfactory to the world at large. (Cheers.)
The Health of the Stewards, and thanks to them for
their valuable exertions," spoken to by Me. Ablerutih,
Spiess, —brought the- Bsts'of toasts tati-nottchksicock,Aild
night had nearly elapsed before the speeches terminated
and the chairman vacated his seat.