The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-08 00:00:00

THE AFFAIRS OF GREECE,

On Saturday afternoon an influential and im-
portant meeting of noblemen and gentlemen inte-
rested in the welfare of the Greek nation, took
place at No. 11, Charing-cross, far the purpose of
establishing a Philhellenic Committee, having for
its primary object the enlightenment of the English
people as to the wishes and aspirations of the
Greeks ; and to aid in giving a moral support to all
enterprises calculated to develop the material and
moral resources of that country.
Mr. A. B. Cochrane, M.P., occupied the chair,
and amongst the noblemen and gentlemen, many of
whom were present who were announced to have
enrolled their names as members of the committee,
were the Earl of Coventry, Lord Stratheden, Lord
H. Lennox, M.P., Lard Fermoy, M.P., Sir Robert
J. Clifton, Bart., M.P., Sir P. O'Brien, Bart., M.P.,
Mr. A. S. Ayrton, M.P., Mr, F. Coningham, M.P.,
Mr. Wm. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Crum Ewing, M.P.,
M. J. P. Hennessy, M.P., Mr. J. F. Maguire, M.P.,
Mr. G. Onslow, 111,P., Mr. J. P. Brown Westhead,
M.P., Mr. J. White, M.P., Mr. J. Wylde, M.P.,
Mr. H. M. Seymour, M.P., Rear Admiral Burney,
Major-General Bower, Mr. N. G. Lamber, J.P.
(Bucks), Mr. E. Trelawne, Mr. T. Page, E.E., Pro-
fessor Blackie (Edinburgh), Mr. Digby Wyatt,
F.S.A., &c.
The GIIAIR3IAN, in opening the proceedings, ob-
served that the great object to be obtained in estab-
lishing a Philhellenic Committee, was to make the
people of this country really acquainted with the
requirements of the Greek people, and of contribut-
ing to the moral and political advancement of that
country, an event which could not fail to be of ad-
vantage to England also. (Hear.) It taking this
step they were not attaching themselves to any sec-
tion or party ; a fact established by the circumstance
that the movement had the sanction of the Greek
Provisional Government and Miuistersof State, who
had empowered Mr. Stephanos Xenos to aid in the
formation of the Philhellenic Committee,aud in whom
they ha'l the greatest confidence, as he had under
all circumstances displayed the noblest and most
patriotic sentiments. (Hear.) With these remarks
he begged to introduce Mr. Xenos to the meeting,
who would more fully explain its objects. (Hear,)
Mr, S. XENOS having expressed the honour he
felt in addressing a body of such distinguished Eng-
lish gentlemen as those he saw present, observed
that the main object to be achieved by the formation
of this Philhellenic Committee was to make the re-
lations between England and Greece as intimate as
possible. It was not his province to espouse the
cause of any particular party or interest, its sole ob-
ject being to enlighten public opinion in Great Bri-
tain as to the wishes and aspirations of the Greek
people; to act as intermediary, if necessary, between
the Governments of England and Greece; to give a
moral support to all enterprizes that would tend to
develop the material and moral resources of the
Greek nation ; and to advocate, in case of need, the
cause of Greece in the Press and Parliament of this
country. (Hear,) For these purposes they pro-
posed to establish a bureau of information in their
committee rooms, in which would be filed all the
official documents of the Greek Government and its
diplomatic agents. Although he (Mr. Xcnos) had
had the promises of many mcmlnrs of Parliament
and influential gentlemen to aid him in this project,
for some time he had abstained from calling them
together in consequence of the very unsettled state
of Greece, and the question of the succession to the
throne being unde,,ided, fearing that any step, under
such circumstances, might be construed into one of
a revolutionary character. (Hear.) But now a
new epoch had arrived. That Greece had now a
constitutional King was a matter of fact, and there-
fore the est..4blishment of a Philhellenic Committee
in London would, in his opinion, he at this moment
of immense service to theiryoung King and his ad-
visers. (Hear.)
The committee was then formed, and with a view
to its proper organisation,
Mr. MAGUIRE, M.P., said he would move that
kr. )(Enos be requested to accept the post of their
hon. secretary, as he was sure the greatest reliance
could be placed in his patriotism.
Admiral BURNEY seconded the resolution, and
it was carried unanimously.
Mr. MAGUIRE said he had now a gentleman to
Zopose as their Loting secretary ; he alluded to
O'Brien,r. John for whom he could vouch as a
hada muche
gentleman of
Mr. LAMBERT
who was fully cony great ability, and
high education and
were about to undertake
with the subject they
pleasure in seconding
this resolution, as
he knew Mr. O'Brien's great