The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 29, 1863.

jealously prevented by his successor, and thus the

present sufferings of the people of Lancashire and
Cheshire have been wantonly aggravated by the
overweening dictatorship of our Indian Secretary.

The Earl of CARNARTON made a most interesting
speech last night at Southampton, on the subject of
the Working Men's Institutions. He observed
that, whenever he addressed assemblies like the one
before him, it had generally fallen to his lot to
propose some new plan, or to suggest some change
in the constitution of the Society; but, on the pre-
sent occasion, he was happy to find that so complete
was their system, and so harmonious its working,
that nothing needed alteration. The system seemed
to combine two objects which, apparently distinct,
were not so in their case. Personal freedom of
action and great recreation, with that degree of self-
restraint which was essential to all much under-
takings. The noble lord then adverted to the
chief points of importance which distin-
guished their rules. He thus alluded to
the primary principles of their foundation :
"Putting aside religion, which is enthroned above
every other consideration, there are but three great
influences probably by which men are much moved.
These are their minds, their bodies, and their own
substantial material existence, and the principles of
these associations tend to attain all these three ob-
jects. In your reading-rooms, in your work-rooms,
in your libraries, and in your classes you have laid
down some of the principal elements which go far to
refine, to cutivate, and to improve the mind. Be-
sides these, you have what is commonly called a
discussion class. That I consider a most valuable
class, but it is valuable only on one condition, and
that is, that you have the self-control and self-
restraint to abide rigidly by the laws which
you have already laid down for yourselves
and never allow any political questions
whatever to creep into your debates." This
last hint was a most serviceable one, and the
noble lord went on at some length to explain his
meaning by stating that while every man in this
land had a right to his own opinion, politics often
engendered such angry feelings, and so much irri-
tation of spirit and manner that it was never aught
but deleterious to peace and order to allow their
discussion into such places as that before him. Next
Lord CARNARVON passed on to minor topics, and
made some amusing remarks on the subject of smok-
ing. Of this practice he evidently entertains a ,
good opinion, and deprecates the unfortunate pre-
judice of confounding "the moderate use of that
divine weed with the immoderate indulgence of
the vicious taste of drinking. I might cite the
gravest writers, I might quote the most learned
philosophers, I might bring forward the deepest
divines, I might appeal to the poets who have sung
so sweetly, and they would each and all subscribe
to the sovereign virtues of that wonderful plant."
He then summed up the various items referred to,
and declared the most satisfactory result therefrom.
He said that these workmen's halls, with their
games, privileges, and advantages, create relaxations
and indemnities for the toils in which many
are engaged. After descanting upon the ad-
vantages of some break and interruption to
monotonous labour, or else the continuity of inces-
sant toil would occasion the most disastrous effects,
the noble lord thus forcibly advocated the merits
of such interludes, at the same time acknowledging
the great and good effects of work, exemplifying
the truth of the motto Laborare eat °rare :—" They
make you, by the very force of contrast, appreciate
that work; for after all, no matter what that work
is—whether menial or mental—it is one of the pre-
scribed conditions of our human nature. No man
who attempts to do his duty, however imperfectly,
however feebly, can dare to escape it. Work is not
only not inconsistent with the duties of religion,
but, if it be honestly, fairly, conscientiously
done, it is region itself. I believe it to be the
very salt and savour of life, without which life
' itself would be miserable and meaningless."
Lord CARNARVON next alluded to the benefits pro-
mulgated by such institutions in bringing different
classes of society into contact with each other.
This union, he truly said, was productive of the
greatest benefits, and resulted in the most inestim-
able advantages. There must always be inequali-
ties of fortune and position. It was idle to attempt
and presumptuous to assume the responsibility of
altering them, but the more the separate classes
came into any communion with each other the
better for the welfare of all concerned. "It re-
moves prejudice, misapprehensions van ish,sympathy
is created on either side." Finally, Lord CARNARVON
complimented and congratulated the members of
the institution on their happy and honourable
combination of the true characteristics of English-
men, which combine obedience to the law with
perfect self-independence. He then forcibly con-
trasted the difference that existed between the
sublime endurance of the Lancashire people
and the reckless outrages of the Anglo-Saxon race
across the Atlantic. The former had been a
populations
lowest possible depths of poverty.
The other, on the first whisper of alarm, rushed into
a s
ped
n t r
rich beyond compare, and had now
the
open warfare, and were having recourse to all kinds
of unconstitutional measures for the furtherance
of their plans and designs. In the course of his
concluding remarks his lordship alluded to personal
character, and foremost amongst private individuals
who on public affairs he
mentionedhave WELLINGTON. No one was
t sethe Duke
er 0
f stamp
ever more impressed with a sense of duty than was
this illustrious man, and hence his vast influence
and the secret of his important services. Though
dead, he still speaks to us in the voice to which we
can never be indifferent. Also, wisely added, his
lordship, desirous of improving the opportunity, he
has left us an example which we may all follow in
the active discharge and zealous performance of the
duties devolved upon us, and which without
any great gifts or shining talents, on our
parts we can conscientiously perform :—" It
is given to each and all of us, if we would ac-
cept it, to discharge those duties which come upon
us within the sphere of our own private life, in that
way in which, if hie life had been cast in private
paths, he would undoubtedly and unquestionably
have discharged it ; and in so far as we in our per-
sonal lives give force and effect to those principles
—in so far as we interweave them with the objects,
the interests, the institutions, of other men—so far
we are adding our fraction of labour towards the
accomplishment of those great ends at which society
is ever aiming; We are fulfilling the law ofour own
being, and are each, to the best of our power, be-
queathing those parts of the constitution under
which it has ben the boast of Englishmen to live,
and under which it is their constant prayer to die,"

This speech of Lord
CARNARVON reflects the
greatest credit
upon him, and there can be no
doubt that all who were privileged to hoar his
eloquent and Etirring
address agreed in the truth
of. its statements, the force of its arguments, and
the eloquence which characterised and ornamented
its delivery.
Those in high ranks who come for-
ward to aid and assist the advocacy of
such societies, confer a great benefit upon
the classes which are intimately concerned, and
also reflect the highebt lustre on their own order.
" Noblesse oblige" cannot be forgotten without
serious detriment to all branches of the community,