The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TRIIRSDAY EkENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1855,

LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.

DEATH OF JOSEPH 13UME,',ESQ., M.P.

His speeches alone, during 37 years, occupy volumes of
Hansard. In some Mr. Humes speeches occur in 150
pages, on various political and legislative questions.
We cannot attempt even an analysis of the chief sub-
jects of his active and busy discussion. He is the
modern Prynne, who defies all reprint comments or
review. In this age of levelling legislation on social
interest he was always "on his legs." He spoke
oftener, and frequently made longer speeches, than
any other member of the Commons since England
enjoyed a House of Commons. In the Court
of Directors and in Parliament he stood for
many years almost alone contending for the
freedom of trade against the East India monopoly. He
proposed sweeping and repeated plans of reform of
the army, navy, and ordnance, and of almost every
civil department, of the Established Churches and eccle-
siastical courts, of the civil and criminal laws, of the
system of public accounts, of general taxation, detieci,
and customs. He early advocated the abolition of mili-
tary flogging, naval impressment. and imprisonment for
debt. He carried, almost single-handed, the repeal of
the old combination laws, the prohibition of the export
of machinery, and the act preventing workmen from
going abroad. lie led forlorn hopes against colonial
abuses, against town and country municipal self-elmt
goverument, election expenses, the licensing systems.
the duties on paper, print, " on tea, tobacco, and snuff."
He assaulted and carried by storm Orange lodges and
close vestries, to say nothing of his aid of Catholic Dnan-
cipation, the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts,
and the Reform Act of 1832. He was the unrelenting
persecutor of siuecurists, drones, an I old men pretend-
ing to do the work of the young in the State. Out of
doors he was a member of every Liberal and Radical
club and association. He occupied foe years the throne
at the old Crown and Anchor Tavern, in Palace-yard,
and in Covent.garden meetings.
Mr. Hume worked not fur Whigs or Tories. He
laboured for his country—for the world at large. He
never put his fa,th in Sovereigns or in Governments.
If he ever attached himself to any school it was that of
political economy. In fact, he was indebted to James
Mill, David Ricardo, and Francis Place for such initia-
tion in many of his principal legislative labours, and be
early adopted their instruction. Mr. Hume never denied
his obligations ; his own individual merits were ample
enough for any vanity. Mr. Hume had his faults and
occasional errors as a public man, but we are now ill-
disposed to detract from his incomparable service to his
country. We view him as a whole. His pardonable
weaknesses and occasional want of judgment, his very
foibles, formed the man, and constituted his character
and singleness of purpose.
Mr. Hume was twice Lord Rector of the University
of Aberdeen. His present successor and old friend,
Lieut.-Colonel W. H. Sykes, in his Aberdeen inaugural
address last year, paid the following just tribute to Mr.
Hume, and with the extract of which we cannot more
appropriately close our obituary :
"But we need not go to eastern antiquity for an exam-
ple, when you have had a Lord Rector from the East, who
held himself up to your predecessors as an example—and
happily a still living example —of the sure and necessary
rewards of perseverance, when the path chosen has been a
right one, and tenaciously held to, even under contumely,
ridicule, calumny, malice, and all uncharitableness—when
principle has been the guide, and the good of the common-
wealth the object. A man of the people and from the
people, a countryman of your own, he has, by his own
energies and singleness of purpose, caused his bitterest
opponents to adopt and to give effect to political, financial,
and economic reforms, as from themselves, which in their
original proposition, were looked upon as almost allied
with treason against the State. By his ceaseless labours for
the public good for more than 42 years in the House of
Commons he has won the respect of the representatives of
Great Britain, and an admission from Sir Robert Peel—
one of England's greatest Ministers, lately lost to his ceun-
try—that he was one of the most useful members who had
ever sat in Parliament. That person, who recommended
his motto of ' Perseverance' from this chair, is Mr. Joseph
Hume."

Leasing Closing Priest Bush ess
Ethr• Paid. RA/LwAyr;
Compans. Ulu day. this day.
50 all Bedford and London &
Bletebley N. West
St. 100 Buckghamsh. L.&N.W. ! 6 98
St. 100 Clydesdale dc Caledon... 7 99
25 24 Col. Stour Vy, E. Un. &
Sod. and Hal. E. C..... •• •
St. 100 E. Lincoln gr.
per cent. Gt.Nrthp. 134 136 1351 41 5
St. all Glas. Barr. & Caldonian.
Neils. Direct ••• •••
St. all Do. New Do ••• •••
25 all Glstrok Dn.Ft Gt. Wes .;1
100 all Irtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New.
Railway & Berw.
50 all Hull & Selby Y. &Nll, 105 107 106 51
25 all Do. 1 Shares. Do.
121 ;J1 Do. I Shares. Do
12i all Lon.&Greemi, 8. Easter, 124 .131
20 all Do.Prcferenee Do 23 ';'4 23
10 all Lon., Til., &S. Peto &Co. 101 j 114 11
St. 100 Lowestoft gr.
4 per cent. Norfolk —
St. WO Do. 6 per et. a•• •••
5A all Aanch. Bxtn 14.& N. W
and Matloel & Midld. 21
50 all Ifiddleibro' Atekton &
Redcar . ..... Darllngt
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10( all lidld.Bradfd ‘fidland 92 94
50 all Northern
Easternsp.e. E. Count. f 8 63
50 all Do. 6 per et. D 0...
50 all Do. Fixeds p• Do — •••
23 all Prost. & Wyr, L. &N. W
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121 all Do. 1 Shares. Do
St. 100 Uoystn.k. Hit. GtNortby 133 136
25 1.8 Shef.Roth am Laneasb&
Gooleg.s p.c. Yorksh.
12 91 S. Staffordsh, Vl.MClean 21 —2 d
50 all WearValleygr 3tockt. &
6 per coat_ Darliugt
25 all Do
St. 100 Wilts&gomrst ItWestn 9O 92

The living political reformers of Great Britain have
lost their oldest leader—Joseph Hume is numbered with
the dead. Mr. Hume had been visibly declining in
health for a year past. During the last few weeks a
disease of the heart gradually reduced his strength, and
gave warning that his end was drawing near. He ex-
pired at six o'clock on Tuesday night at his seat, Burn-
ley-hall, Norfolk.

Mr. Home was a native of Montrose, and born in Ja-
nuary, 1777. His father was the master of a coasting
vessel trading from that town. Mrs. Hume was early
left a widow with a large family, of whom Joseph was
a younger son. The mother, ill-provided, established a
retail crockery-shop in that burgh, and by her industry
and management reared and educated her children. Her
memory was ever honoured by her family—all indebted
to her sound sense, moral courage, and parental ex,
ample. To this maternal care and influence Mr. Hume
used to ascribe his own success and 'good fortune in life.
Mr. Hume's elementary education was obtained in the
local schools of his native town. Reading, writing,
" accounts," and a smattering of Scotch Latinity con-
stituted the sum total of his "schooling,;" About the
age of 13 he was placed apprentice to a surgeon-apothe-
cary of Montrose, and he remained with his master
about three years, chiefly occupied in compounding pre-
scriptions. It has been generally reported that he gra-
duated in Aberdeen, but he entered the medical classes
of Edinburgh ill 1793—continuing. in that university till
1793, when he was admitted a member of the College of
Surgeons of the modern Athens. On reference to the re-
cords of the College of Surgeons of London, in Lincoln's-
iun-fields, we find that he passed as surgeon of an India-
nian on the 2d of February, 1797, at a meeting of the
Court of Examiners of that corporation. There is no regis-
ter of his Scotch or other certificates, but it is believed
that he had previously " walked the hospitals" of this
metropolis. We have heard that, with the interest
of the late Mr. David Scott, M.P. for Forfar, he
entered as assistant-surgeon the marine service of the
East India Company, and in that and the following
year made a voyage out and home, being absent from
England about eighteen months. At the India-house
we first trace him in the Company's Board's records as
elected a full assistant-surgeon, nominated by the then
chairman, Mr. J. Bosanquet, being reported Nov. 12,
1799, for the ship Houghton and--Presidency of Bengal.
His patrons, the Scotts, of Dunninald, Forfarshire, were
politically connected with Montrose, where the Humes
are said to have supported their interest. Mr. David
Scott was in the East India Direction from 1788
to 1802, and other members of his family, in high civil
offices in Bengal. But, whoever aided the young Scotch
surgeon in these his first steps in life, Joseph Hume, by
his own talents amsd perseverance, was the meritorious
architect of his own subsequent fortunes and celebrity.
India only gave scope to his native power and energy of
mind. We have heard that in his second voyage out, in
one of the " ancient Arks" of the company, crammed
with passengers of all classes, conditions, and pro-
fessions, he volunteered, on the accidental death of the
purser, to supply the duties of that deceased functionary
during the remainder of the voyage—that his assiduity
and good temper in that vocation gained him many
friendships ; and that on the arrival of the vessel in
Calcutta the captain, officers, and passengers gave him
a public testimonial in acknowledgment of his gratui-
tous services. Thus, the young surgeon landed with a
ready-made reputation. His keen instinct led him im-
mediately to observe that few of the company's servants
acquired the native languages. He lost no time, there-
fore,
in setting to work and mastering that difficult ac-
complisbment. Labour was to him a pastime, especially
if any rupees could be gained by it. Mr. flume, more-
over, early studied the religions of the East and the su-
perstitions of that vast and mixed Asiatic population,
whose succession of creeds, moulded into so many sects,
is so essential a knowledge for the rule of India.
The authorities early recognised in young Hume
a valuable and laborious servant. In 1802-3, on
the eve of Lord Lake's Mabratta war, much consterna-
tion at the seat of Government occurred. On a disco-
very that the gunpowder in store was useless from damp,
Mr. Hume's knowledge of chemistry fortunately Caine
in aid of bad administration. He undertook the restora-
tion of this all-important munition of war, and he suc-
ceeded. Attached in his medical capacity to a regiment
in the expedition, he was almost immediately selected by
Major-General Powell as the interpreter to the Com-
mander-in-chief. But our space will not permit us to
follow this industrious map throughout his Indian career.
Sufficient it is to mention, that he not only continued
his medical duties, but filled successively important
posts in the offices of paymaster and postmaster of the
forces, in. the prize agencies, and the Commissariat. So
recently as the late Select Committee of the House of
Commons on the Military, Ordnance, and Commissariat
expenditure (of which be was an active and valuable mem-
ber) he astonished his colleagues by the intelligence and
acuteness of his examination of witnesses. On some ex-
pression of surprise in the committee, he observed, "You
forget I was once Commissary-General to an army of
12,000 men in India !" Not only did he gain high re-
putation by these multifarious civil employments, but he
realised large emoluments. Peace concluded, within
five years Mr. Hume returned to the Presidency, and
with a sufficient private fortune to justify his retirement
from his profession,-and, much sooner than falls to the
lot of most men in the service of the East India Corn-
pany, he resigned his civil employments. and arrived in
England, the possessor of an honestly-earned fortune of
30.0001. or 40,0001.
The best proof of Mr. Humes worthy possession of
affluence was his use of pecuniary competency. On his
arrival in Europe he continued his active pursuit of men-
tal improvement and practical knowledge. In 1809 he
made a tour of the United Kingdom, visiting all the
principal ports and manufacturing towns of England,
Scotland, and Ireland ; and, as " fact-hunting" was
bis pleasure, he devoted the greater portion of the
years 1810 and 1811 to tours on the Continent,
extending his travels to Spain, Portugal, Turkey,
Greece, Egypt, the lonian Isles, Sicily, Malta, Sar-
dinia, &c. .

The two ultimate objects of Joseph Hume, thus inde-
pendent in circumstances, and in the prime of life, were
the acquisition of seats in the East India Direction and
in Parliament. We believe that at this period his poli-
tical convictions and earlier associations had been those
of a "Tory," but that home politics had been a secondary
interest in his mind during his struggle in India for
ways and means of pecuniary independence. Certain it
is that ithe future Radical first entered the House of
Commons as a Tory. The borough of Weymouth and
Melcombe-Regis was the cradle of our aspiring legisla-
tor. The patron of the borough and one of its members
(Sir John Lowther Johnstone) having died, Mr. Hume
succeeded to the vacant seat in January, 1812, the last
session of the Parliament. , A Scotch solicitor, trus-
tee of the deceased baronet, "introduced" Mr. Hume
to the constituency for a valuable consideration.
Mr. Hume had bargained for a second return.
The new member took his seat on the Trea-
sury bench, supporting the Perceval Administra-
tion. His Ministerial votes were ne►er abandoned
for Liberal minorities. On the dissolution of Parliament
the following autumn the patrons of the seat refused
him re-election. We have reason to believe that the
ex-members reforming and progressive tendencies
having broken out in occasiotal visits to his constitu-
ents (which Hume thought it his duty to make, but
which the trustees deemed works of supererogation),
and at which he advocated schools and other social be-
nefits, the Duke of Cumberland and his co-trustees—
the patrons--determined to provide a substitute. Mr.
Hume, we believe, on an arbitration, obtained some re-
turn-money for breach •f the contract. It is by no
means unlikely that experience of the " borough sys-
tem" opened the eyes of the Indian Reformer to the
defects in the representation.

Commons, till elected forue Aberdeen
_s in . 1818, Mr.
exclusion from from the House of
-During his six years'
Hume was not idle.
w an active member
aPI interests of the working
of the Central Committee of the Lancaste 'a
School system. At this period
forming friendshiprill
Westminster,a he be-
camewit
moralh the
anlda
deeplyte i
nFtre
interestedal
lnecci
promotion of the
classes, and in the improvement of their physical
condition, and he also published a pamphlet advo-
cating the establishment of savings banks and on the
principles of their subsequent foundation. Mr. Hume's
natural ambition for a seat in the East India Direction
honour and interest.
found him now at liberty also for the untiring pursuit
Althoughnof
thisse
iconnvdariobajbeicyt of
unsuccessful,persenal it incensed his con-
stant exposure of Indian abuses in each periodical meet-
ing of the proprietary. , His canvass for the Direction
also, by one of the fortunate accidents of life, was des-
tined to have great influence on his further prosperity
and happiness. On one occasion Mr. Hume had ob-
tained access to a proprietor enjoying four votes—a gen-
tleman of great influence, but of peculiar aversion to
canvassers for the Direction—the late Mr. Burn-
ley, of Guilford-street. Nevertheless, Mr. Hume
effected his visit, and his forcible representation of
Indian abuses, and of tlio efficacy et his curative
prescriptions, if elected a director, and of the con-
sequent advantages to stockholders, established him
in the good graces of the old gentleman, and,
what was of more value, in those of the daughter.
Although he failed to force the India-house,
he won and wedded, the lady—the present amiable and
excellent Mrs. Hume-
We resume Mr. Hurne's public and Parliamentary
career. He continued unstated till his return to the
Parliament which met on the 14th of January, 1819.
We then find him representing the "-Aberdeen District
of Burghs," comprehending his native town of Montrose
eum Brechin, Inverbervie, and .A.berbrothock. The
whole electors of these self elect burghs, members of close
corporations, did not then exceed 100 persons. The
neighbourin; Peels and Lairds were the half-dozen
p.itrons. i r.
m Hume, aided by the late Lord Panniure
and by the Liberal party of the North of Scotland, in a
desporatet.truggle beat the boroughniongers, and WC-
eeeded in obtaining the return. This was the stepping-
stone to his permanent and independent position in the
House of Common,.
In 1830 Mr. Hume relinquished the Scotch burghs,
being returned with the late Mr. liyzig, unopposed,
for Middlesex. lle continued to sit for the metro-
politan
litacounty till the dissolution of 1837, when in
July Colonel Wood defeated h'in by a small majority.
Mr. O'Connell in the same month returned him for
Kilkenny. In the new P.aliamient of 1841 Mr. Hume
was again defeated at Leeds. In 1842, on the retire-
ment of Mr. Chalmers from Montrose, Mr. Htime re-
turned to his own political 1• . I love and he has died in the
service of his fellow-townsmen.
. __

• • -
How are we to characterise or even note tbe Hercu-
lean labours of this prodigy in representative govern-
ment ? It is impossible, within the limits of volumes,
to record his innumerable speeches in Parliament, his
motions, his returns, his select committees, his reports,
i
his personal and party contests n the House, of Com-
mons, much less his various Agitations "out of doors."

,__.~~ .

MR. R. LO WE, M.P., AND HIS CON-

STITUENTS.

Mr. IL Lowe addressed his constituents at Kidder-
minster on Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time
the music-hall in the newly-erected public rooms had
been used for any purpose, and the large and handsome
apartment was filled by an assemblage of all classes, the
galleries being occupied by ladies. Among the company
were Lord Ward, Mr. F. Knight, M.P., the Mayor, &c.
Mr. Lowe: said—lt is the usual practice when a
member of Parliament accepts office under Government
that he shall be sent back to his constituents to ascer-
tain with what views they regard the change in his posi-
tion. i YI 'was not subjected to that ordeal, because of the
peculiarity of the office which I held ; but I think that a
member upon resigning office may very properly be ex-
pected to give an account of how lie has discharged it ;
duties ; I, therefore, having not resigned, but declined
to accept the office 'infer the present Government
which I held under their predecessors, am come to tell
you what I have done since we last met, and simply to
explain how matters stand with inn. Only six weeks
after I had the honour to take a scat in Parliament as
your member the Government/of Lord Derby was broken
up, and a new Government, combining alinoet all the
emieent men who had given their services in the
cause of free trade, was formed. In that Government
I, though so young a member of Parliament, had the ho-
nour to be offered a situation, and I felt myself ex-
tremely honoured by that cffer, because that was no or-
dinary Government—it was a coalition, which comprised
the distinguished men of ail parties, and in which men
who formerly held high office were content to hold sub-
ordinate ones. I had at that time not been long in
England, and had many things to learn, and I thought
that a little official experience, and in the service of a
public office, would enable me more effectually to do my
duty as a member of Parliament, and if subsequently I
should be called to fill a higher office I should fill it with
greater efficiency to the public service and greater credit
to myself. Therefore, heartily approving the principles
on which that Government started, and having lent my
humble aid to winning the battle which placed them in
power, I had no difficulty in accepting the office which
I have held now for two years, and I have no reason at
all to repent the experiment which I made. During
that time the India Board was presided over by a gen-
tleman of great administrative ability, who I am happy
to state continues to preside over it - and I believe that
the administration of Sir Charles ilrood, in which I
humbly took a share, not only originated more useful
reforms and swept away more abuses than any previous
administrations, but also laid the foundation for a reform
of the greatest consequence both to India and to this
country. We had not only the very large and difficult
question to grapple with of whether to renew the India
Charter Act, but to consider the question how far the
public interest could be reconciled with the exclusive
powers of the East India Company. I cannot say that
the bill on that subject came up to my wishes and desires ;
but still it is a great advance towards that which is most
desirable for India, that its Government should be respon-
sible to Parliament, and not be placed in the bands of
a company, to whom it should be farmed out on leases
for 20 years. But I will not weary you with the details
of India* administration. One change, however, was in-
troduced with my most cordial assent, about which I
will take the liberty of saying a few words. The East
India Company possesses certain appointments called
writerships, which, in fact, comprise all the higheroffices,
judicial and executive, in that country. These have
hitherto been given merely by favour and patronage, but
the India Bill of 1853 established a principle which I
trust will be fruitful in further legislation, and by which
these offices will be no longer given by favour or patron-
age, but be thrown open to the whole of her Majesty's
suhjects, so that every man, however poor and devoid of
interest, but able to vanquish by the force of his abilities,
may secure an appointment, the lowest salary being
4001. a year, till in the higher classes the salaries are
5,0001., and one class as much as 10,0001. I look back
on this reform with the greatest pride and satisfaction,
not only because of the great and noble advantages it
will confer on the people of this country by throwing
open situations, forty of which will be open to public
competition every year, but because it is the inaugura-
tion of a system destined to bear fruit in after years. I
believe that the people of England will soon require that
all appointments, not only in the civil service in
India, but all public appointments requiring ability and
knowledge in their discharge, shall be thrown open to
full, free, and fair competition. I cannot but re-
gard this as a step in the right direction, going to the
root of evils which I shall have to touch upon in other
parts of my address, and one destined to become more
and more popular in this country. Perhaps you will
ask me the reason why I ceased to hold office. It was
uot- from any dissatisfaction with the Government just
formed, which 1 am most anxious to support, and which
I believe upon the whole to be the best that could be
found under existing circumstances, but I thought that
I had held office long enough for the purpose for which I
took it—that was to gain an insight into official life, and
tit myself for any higher office hereafter. Moreover, I
did not see that anything more of importance remained
to be done, and was not disposed any longer to surren-
der my privilege of free speech as an independent mem-
ber. And I trust that, as constituencies are often very
indulgent to members when they show great willingeess
to accept office, you will not be less indulgent to me,
when, of my own motion, in order to return to my po-
sition as an independent member of the House of Com-
mons, I lay that office down. (Cheers.) I must also
take the liberty of explaining to you another mats'',
which I dare say sonic of you, who are not familiar with
the terms on which offices are held under Government,
may look upon with some dislike and distrust. I can-
not expect that all the votes I have given, or abstained
free; giving while in office, have been satisfactory to you;
and, indeed, I honestly confess that all of them have Lot
been satisfactory to myself. The terms on which Govern-
ment is formed—when formed of honourable men—are
that every inau who joins it agrees with the general line of
action which the Government pursues, and is prepared
to sacrifice his individual prejudices to general duty. It
is his duty—not a matter of tenacity of office, but his
duty—not rashly, or for slight cause, or even for serious
cause, to separate himself from Government, because
every member of that Government joined it iu expec-
tation of receiving the support of all the others. I
would not have joined the last Government if I had not
had every confidence in its members, and especially had
there not been connected with it a nobleman whom the
Dissenters of England and those who consider them-
selves to be under civil disabilities look to as the ex-
ponent of their views and feelings. The nobleman who
fought the battle of the repeal of the Test and Corpora-
tion Acts was supposed to impersonate, as much as any
man could do, the feelings expressed by the phrase `civil
and religious liberty.' Of course, I mean Lord John
Russell. (Applause.) I supposed, therefore, I was safe
from being asked to vote or abstain from voting on
questions affecting the interests of Dissenters, such as
the questions of church rates, and admission to the
Universities, but to my regret I found that such questions
were not dealt with in the spirit I could have wished.
During the session of 1853 I was called on on one occa-
sion to vote against the admission of Dissenters to the
Universities—those seats of learning which I have the
strongest conviction present in my mind should be open
to all, and on another occasion to resist a bill for the
abolition of church rates, brought in by Sir W. Clay,
which I thought a wise, right, and beneficial mea-
sure. (Hear, hear.) The course which I took,
after mature consideration, was this—l did not think it
consistent with my duty to my constituents and with
my personal honour to vote in the manner Government
wished, nor did I think it my duty, as a member of the
' Government, to vote against them ; I thought it was
not right on matters not of vital policy to pick a quart el
with them for the sake of parading my independence.
The course I took therefore, whether right or wrong—
though I am prepared to defend it as right, and I hope
you will so consider it-was to abstain from voting on
those questions. If there is any gentleman dissatisfied
with my conduct in this respect, I think he ought to
have taken objection to my taking office at all. When
once I had taken office I had to reconcile may own pri-
vate feelings with the wishes and feelings of Government,
and, in order to do great things, every one pretending
to be a statesman must be prepared to sacrifice the
former class of considerations to the latter. " And
now," continued Mr. Lowe,. " I suppose you will
expect me to say a little on a topic which engrosses
all attention—the great and momentous war in which
we are engaged against Russia. I have leo difficulty
in stating my opinions on this subject with the utmost
frankness. I think the time is come when every man
should speak out clearly, without envy, hatred, or passion,
what he thinks on the matter. I consider the state of
affairs to be extremely grave and critical, such as may
well raise the apprehensions of the most resolute man
and excite the fears of the most prudent. It is no time
for me to shelter myself under petty delicacies or official
reticence. lam prepared to tell you what I think, and
what I hope you will think also, whatever effect it may
have on any political party or on my own political
prospects. I, for one, cordially approve of the war with
Russia. (Cheers.) She had been represented to us as a
weak Power, and I fear we have found her a strong one.
But, whether weak or strong, I think the war just, wise,
and expedient. If she be a weak
Power, it is intoler-
able that she should set up pretensions in order to break
faith, violate treaties, attack her weaker neighbours, and
disturb by her wanton and inordinate ambition the
peace of Europe. If this is intolerable in a weak Power,
how much snore dangerous and necessary to be prevented
must it be in a stronger Power—one not only able to
conceive vast schemes of aggrandisement, but to carry
them out by aid of innumerable legions, the resources of
inexhaustible arsenals, and all the machinery which bar-
barism knows how to put in motion in its conflict with
civilisation l I hold that we are wise in meeting this
danger in time—it would not be wise to wait till Russia
had acquired as her own the Turkish empire, till she had
spread Ler arms around the Black Sea, and obtained the
eminnand of the Dardanelles and Bosple sus, by which
that sea is entered. It would not be wise to wait till,
having enclosed Austria in this iron net, she dismeal-
berec(lor province by province as she took Bessarabia
from Turkey, and, eating like a caulser into the heart of
Germany, established herself oil its great arterial river,
the Danube. We see bow difficult it is to rouse and unite
Europe in arms, how difficult it is to stimulate Prussia, the
very country m0.,,t, likely to be absorbed, to union and
action beCaltzC her peril is so extreme that she has almost
lost the hope of existence, and therefore, when Lord
Aberdeen's Cabinet determined on Char with Russia, I
think they came to a wise and magnanimous determina-
tion, and it was the duty of the country to second them.
That Government had shown unexampled ability, and
had conducted with great success the Administration of
this country in pacific times. The session of 1853 was
i one of the most laborious, useful, and Lrilliarit in I,afic h rira
'unitary annals. The great ineamres of reform w
were effected and carried out remain as a monument of
Parliamentary industry and a strong tribute to the merit
of representative government. The same success did