The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-01 00:00:00

The CIcIAT,IIMAN said that three.shirt years had not yet
elapsed since he became the humble instrument in their
hands of introducing to the constituency their able and
talented representative Mr. "Layard—(cheers)—whose
varied and extensive knowledge and eshose great indepen-
dence of character, combined with walaunted energy,
formed-a sufficient pledge that howeuld prove abicidadtly
worthy of their choice. That was the first political occa-
sion on.WhiclrXr.-Layard had. appeared there in public
since he stood before-them in that hall a candidate for their
suffrages. It must be admitted on all sides that Mr. Lay-
ard's conduct had been such as-to call forth expressions of
the warmest admiration, not exclusively from his own im-
mediate supporters, but even many of those who were for-
merly-opposed to him, by their presence there to-day,
offered' a silent recosnition of his qualifications far the lie-
pertrt trust confided to his care.atthis usomentoUs crisis.
(Cfeneral Cheering:) Mr. Layitrd was anxious to explain
his reasons for the course which he had pursued, in Parlias
meet, and without detaining them further he would at
ogee Call upon the hon. member to proceed with hisaddress.
Mr. LAYARD then presented himself and was very
warmly recAved by the meeting. After a few preliminary
remarks expressive of his gratitude to a constituency who
had left him to pursue his political career unfettered by
pledges, and from whom he had always received the utmost
consideration and kindness, the lion. member said—Before
going into political questions let me give you alittle chap-
ter of my own autobiography, which it is necessary for me
to trouble you with- since I have been placed in a some-
:what invidious Position: If 1 were addressing the House
of Commons, and not a local constituency, Ishould not
think i-i, necessary to osplain any privat.-nr pexwmal-mnt-
-4,r,4,o)atif,A.rne.w4Dr of l'atdiament hai,lseen the ietim
Of miseepresentetions, it is his duty to sethimself right with
his constituents. (Hear.) I refer to a matter 4vhich has
been much talked about is the gossipiug world, and which,
if I may judge from home paragraphs iii your local news-
papers, is not. unknown to you—l mean the unfortunate
affair between Admiral Dlindas and nes self. (Hear.) As
the think looks upon the face of it, it would appear as if I,
were to blame; but when I show you what has really
occurred you will be of opinion that, although I have, per-
haps, been guilty of some little indiscretion—though that, '
I think, is doubtful—l have done what I thought right, and
what, I hope, will meet with your approb etiom. I happened
to go to the East with a gentleman whose friendship I then
formed, and with whom I have since been. on terms of the
greatest possible intimacy. He is a gentleman well known
in London, of high influence, of very great ability, and of
high character. When he quitted me two or three days
before the battle of, Alma he asked me to write to him
very freely upon what was passing in the Crimea. I com-
municated with him as a friend, and not as a gentleman
connected with the public press. So far as the paper is
concerned with which that gentleman is, connected—the
Times—you will not forget that on my entrance into public
life I had alittle fight with that newspaper: I was not in
the East as a reporter,and I had no political connection
with that journal. I wrote to that gentleman freely, but
by an unfortunate mistake, for which he was not to blame,.
something I wrote appeared in that paper. That letter
contained some reflections upon Admiral Dundee' which I
did not mean should appear before the world. When that
letter was published I did what every gentlenian in my pOei-
tion, and every man of honour ought to do. I said that
I was sorry that anything written by me should appear
to convey reflections against the private character of any
man, and that I was willing to explain that against
the
.private character. of Admiral Dundas I•had - no-reflec-
tions to make. I have never seen him—l should not
know him from Adams • I have never 'been on board- his
ship—and what I said involved no breach of confidence
on my part. (Hear.) I only said what I thought, and
what every one was thinking of the public character of a
man commanding -a large -branch of the public service.
That offer of explanation was not accepted, ,and various
threats ivere made, but I would not give way. I said I
would not retract what I said_ and thought upon Admiral
Dundas's public character, but that I was willing to ex-
plain everything that might seem to reflect upon his
private character. That offer was accepted, the terms
were 'arranged,' and you have seen the correspondence in
the paper. I still retain my opinion- of the public cha-
racter of Admiral Dundas. It Is'`noi a favOnriblei, and
I will not conceal that it is a strong opinion. ~ (Hear,
hear.) I wish now exactly to explain to • you my pre-
sent position. You have heard thar, the. G-overuraent
have offered' an office to me which I have declined to
accept, and that I am still unconnected with the Goirero-
ment. Some time before I became representative for
Aylesbury I had returned from the East. - I. Was a mem-
ber of the diplomatic pi ofession, ands Lord Granville offered
me the post of Under-Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. I accepted that otfices and served for a Ahab.
time Under Lord' Greniille In the Foreign-office. The
of -which Lord Granxille. WAS asMetiabstr—;
Lord Rumen GOvernment----was of short duration,
and they went out about three weeks after I had ,beenins
the Foreign-office. Of course it was my duty to go out
wit ~the golfornmestit.: LordeDirhy,-Lowivera who,,-suc-
ceeded, behaved to me in the most handsome and honour-
able manner. He made me an offer that I siMuld remain)
in the.-Porfilgu:,o4co tit ,ZAi# ,10:4 ...r tamed from- India,
and he said he ivonid then eithen' giver me a position in
public, life equal to that which I then held, or, if not, that
he .would: give me a diplomatic mission upon the conti-
nent.., That wan a ;very haudsomo.offer ou the part of
Lbrd herby—(hear)—which I might have accepted with-
mit, cotavennisingsmy r)olitical. character. -I could not,
perhaps, have joined Lord Derby's Government, but I
might heve.taken a. diplonlatio ,miseion ahroed,--alid ser-
ved his Government for a time under the circumstances
I. hwireeekplained, -(Hear.)'- All MY WitiChl "riinds
thought I ought: to have accepted that offer. . Lord J,
Russell alone expressed a contrary opinion. When I keen,
that, I did not hesitate for a moment,. and, I rejectedthe
Offer Of Lord' Derby. I felt that I: could not join iiis.Go-
vernment, -since, upon mapy points, I, differail from.hira.'
in opinion, but I might fairly have accepted his offer,
since, as a diplomatic man, such a.diplonlatiemiheion, was,
almost the height of my, ambition, (Hear, hear.) When,
however, :Lord-j. Russell' 'give 'thie-tillitileti';'''Vdid" not
hesitate to retire at once,. and to throw myself, as I may
say, being then without a profession, upon the world.
Lord Derby's" .Governments Only lasted for a short time,
and 'Lord Aberdeen succeeded, him. Lord J. Russell then
said that, having contested', this herdugli and .ghee up
office.when his Ministry went out, I was ostititled to a
pnaititnl in the Governmebb thensfortneksend the'Under-
• Secretaryship of the Boatel of Control was offered.mes
That was generally Understood in' London 'to be the office
' given to me,. But -a day or two afterwards Lord J'. Rue•
sell sent for ene'and said, that a gentlernari was al.-nisi-OW eti
for whose abilities and long public serviees!gate him claims
' on the- Government, and he threw himself upon me to
withdraw my claims and to• resign my office in favour of
. that gentleman. I felt that if. any man had greater
' claims than myself, it Was my duty to the Government
Ana to the public. to give up any small claims that I might
have, and accordingly Sir Thomas Redingten was ap-
pointed Under-Secretary to the Enid of Control. (Hear.)
• Lord J. Russell then ofl'(ired ine a consulship in Egypt,
which I declined 'on several grounds, but chiefly 'that
' after-a contested election it would have been unfair
. tolessysepier constituents to fight another. battle In the
election. (Cheers.) After that offer Wise made the
the whole Sorld arose
Constantinople as Arribassithit: He Was a'n'xious that I
greatio thoqn es
East,ti o
and
that a
Lordt is
nBorratrtstlitldne g Rodcliffe was sent to
should accompany him, knowing. that' I was acquainted
with the affairs of the Best. This I did at greet I.',ersonal
inconvenience, and you knew, enongli Of the.cireumetauces •
of the 'case to alloy' me I'd Absent myself for a ehort period
from Parliaratht.' I went out almost at,my own expense,
thritting- that I Might be of some use, not so nauch,oLord
Stratford, though personally -I owed him couch, brit tb the
public. Well, various questions arose in Connekion with
this great topic, and upon genie sof them I differed from
,Lord Stratford; I found i Cott )d be of noferther.usesan
irrettatuett to this 'chantey. I then tOokthat'line of which
Tom are all aware in the Rouse of commons, and of course
I. toad .'sna thsd'extiebtsii4iliini fro& ". theGOVern Molt.
On .refusing •to accept the consulship in Egypl-sttord .t.
Russell • promieed, mo the, first place vittent• in the Gce
van:neut.. Its has, 'teen - said . that I :at) acting froth
-personal and disappointed motive% bilt yeti will see that
: the -fours°. which •/ ,hatte -edilselentiously- taken effeCtu-
ally prevented the possibility of my holding, office.; while,
if I:had chosen to. remain silent, the .next is ffl e,,-,., that
'fell vacant would have been mine. (11;;;;r, heso Holt:
ever, I took that line from a coniictlun bt. iluk;T ana
.and have continued it fez. - tw° yeas.. Lord, f!alnlei-st,A
succeeded Lord kbeideen nb the heacht the GoVent ;
.but, although theta was .11'6111111A, i 1 etisige ,of Govern-
ment, yet, al the leiter hetoillei of those who had forined
the previous Goveteashent remained iiiit 66 ife*Aridlll6
old GovernMents were pretty flinch the iamb thing.. (Hear,
, hear.) On Monday we*„ it fa*" houribefOre I 'made that
speech of which 'ysettprobably, have heard; -Lord Paliner-
sten offered bee the Clerkship of the Ordnance. Now
l
having VOled that I had no confidence in Ilse 00!eisFOlen
---that being the interpretation which dal) C-C•rerniainiit
chose to put upon that IsofeteY t're'e Wefficient grounds
'why I should net accept office under the Men who
formedspart 'ol that Government. Secondly I tell
that it is the duty of the Governtient, At the', i'.,:eWelis
.neement to put ' the right "Mei hi thi 'right places.
(Cheers.) I was not ,ecAne,inted - with the Ordnance;
, 'and I thought I bliould be at once betraying my own
principles. end my duty to the public if I - accepted an
. f 'Office in which I could not serve the public to the best of
my ability. I therefore refused that offers ' Op the roi-
, loWing day those members of the Governisient With whom
I had more especially ditagreed igired,'andLord Palmer.' 'ston began to form a hew Government. Last Friday Lord
Palinerstoh. sent for, me and offered me the post of Under-
-1 Secretary of War. Although I was not over anxious to
I take that office, yet, having expressed. strong opinions on
'the war and on the conduct of the war, I thought, if I did
. not accept office, I might expose myself to the imputation
I of having been ready enough to criticise others, but ofbeing
afraid ofincurring any responsibility myself. When there-
, fore Lord Palmerston offered me the Under-Secretaryship
of War, I made some few conditions—that I should have
' certain influence, and that those views which I had ex-
pressed should be carried out, and I thereupon accepted
' office under Lord Palmerston. On the following day Lord
Palmerston told me that for certain reasons he could not
hohi to :that.' offer, and that he had' to'withdraw it,
but, in its place he, at Lord John Russell's request,
Offered me the'Under-Secretaryship of the Colonies. Now,
there was another offer which . placed me in; the. same
: position as that in which I Previously found-myself. I was
not acquainted particularly with the colonies. In a tine
of peace I should have been glad to accept an office of that
nature, which would have made me more fit t 6 be yOue re-
' presentative and a more efficient member of Parliament.
But the present is a great national emergency,' and" it ap-
peared to me that I should be betraying my own prin-
ciples, and shotild be false to' you, to my country, 'and to
myself, if I took an office for which I was not capable,- if
there were one which I was more capable of fulfilling.
. Vl2(l' steoazeri ) Jinhtrtosir thatii Tfe'i ifilondnlVisugatiesrnteen I
I
merited the confidence of the people and ~my. own. confi.