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

CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

MANCHESTER.

A meeting was held at Manchester on Tuesday even-
ing, at the rooms of the Peace Society, in Nowall's-
buildings, to consider the general policy and the com-
mercial and social effects of the present war. The cir-
cular convening the meeting was signed by Messrs. Geo.
Wilson, R. H. Greg, Thomas Thomasson, W. Rawson,
Edmund Ashworth, W. B. Watkins, W. Harvey, W.
Biekham, and Sir Elkanah Armitage, and, in addition
to these gentlemen, about 70 or 80 others, several of
them large employers of labour, were present.
Mr. GEO. WILSON, who presided, alluded to the nego-
tiations at Vienna for the restoration of peace, and said
it was incumbent on every one to aid in establishing it
on an honourable and lasting basis.

Mr. ROBERT HYDE Gnia said that no doubt every
man would express himself in favour of a " safe and
honourable peaee," but very few could agree what
that meant ; and although the basis of a peace
had been agreed upon, he was very sorry to see that
we had been very tardy in commencing negotiations ;
although the terms had been accepted by Russia, he
believed, in perfect good faith. The only point un-
settled was, as to the extent of diminution of the Russian
power in the Black Sea, and it was understood she had
freely consented to some. But, as we were not propoi-
ing to dismember the Russian empire, nor to raise up a
powerful kingdom in Poland or Hungary, he did not see
how it was possible for Russia to give what seas called
" material guarantee," even if she really desired to do so.
Mr. T. THOMASSON, of Bolton, said, we could not ex-
pect Russia to negotiate with us in the Crimea, anymore
than we should consent ourselves to negotiate with a foe
upon our own territory. But the Russians were, never-
theless, so far frank that disposition, that -their plenipo-
tentiary had now been waiting for our negotialor more
than a month at Vienna. It was altogether erroneous
to suppoee that this war had come upon us on account
of our insufficient military preparations, or because Mr.
-Cobden had succeeded in reducing our peace establish-
ment ;- for he defied any one to point to a single instance
in which Mr. Cobden had been able to do so.
Mr. E. ASHWORTH entered into various statistics to
show the.inwortance of our commerce with Russia, and
ar„uad that the war injured trade by interfering with
the money market. Having shown how the price of food
had been increased by the wa-, Mr. Ashworth concluded
by expressing a hope t'tat we should be satisfied with
the war sueeesses already rained, and with having braught
the Russian Emperor to be willing to negotiate on our
terms ; and that the thir,t of England for glory and
honour being appease'l, we should be wi:ling to hail
Lord S. Russell with all the popular acclamation which
would attend him if he came home announcing peace.
The CHAIRMAN said it Ra3_not intended to take any

action at this meeting beyond preparing the public mind
for the conclusion of the negotiations. It had been sug-
gested that they should meet again on Tueiday evening
next.

The proceedings then terminated.

PRESTON,

Oa Tuesday night a meeting was c )nvened at the Ex.
change Assembly Rooms, Preston, " for the purpose of
considering the present war, expressing indignat,ion at
the infamous misma.:-agement which has been dis:-
pbyed, and demanding a searching revision of our mili-
tary system, and an unsparing inquiry into the causes
which have led to the f(arful decimation of one of the
finest armies that over left the shores of England."
Two resolutions in accordance with the object of the
meeting were agreed to, and a petition to Parliament,
embodying the substance of both, was adopted.