The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-29 00:00:00

liminary trial of machinery and speed. Should
everything prove satisfactory she will have her com-
passes adjusted, and immediately proceed to the
western ports for troop service.

The Ranger, 6, screw sloop, Commander Henry
R. Wratislaw, arrived at Spithead at a late hour on
Tuesday evening from the West Coast of Africa.
She sailed from Cape Coast Castle Aug. 21, and from
Ascension Sept. 9. At Cape Coast Castle she left
the flagship of the Commodore, the Rattlesnake ;
and at Ascension the Archer, 13, screw corvette,
Capt. John Bythesea, V.C. The Ranger brought to
England a few naval invalids from ships serving on
the station, who were transferred yesterday to her
Majesty's ship Victory. She has received orders to
proceed round to Woolwieh to dismantle and pay
oat of commission, and is expected to sail from Spit-
head this morning. Her boilers are in a very defec-
tive condition.
The Geyser, 6-gun paddle sloop, Commander
M. B. Pechell, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday
from Devonport with supernumeraries and seamen
and marines on liberty from the ships in the western
division of the Channel squadron.

Labourers and the seamen and marines belonging
to the ship have commenced scraping the composi-
tions off the bottom of the iron frigate Resistance
in No. 10 dock at Portsmouth, preparatory to it
being coated over afresh. The 7th proximo is the
date at present fixed for the ship to go oat of dock,
when she will be immediately succeeded by the
Warrior.

The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—N. G. Arquimban, master to
the Resistance; Henry B. Akaster, master to the
Asia for the Frederick William ; the Marquis of
Queensberry, midshipman to the Edgar.

THE ARMY.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, as
Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, held a Levee
yesterday afternoon at the Horse Guards. There
were above 160 officers present.

Alderman Salomons and his Constituents,

A considerable number of the electors and non-
electors of Greenwich assembled last night in the
Lecture-hall of the town to hear Alderman Salo-
mons address his constituents ; Dr. Purvis occupied
the chair, and prefaced the business of the evening
with a few remarks explanatory of the purpose for
which the meeting took place.

Alderman SALOMONS, who on rising was loudly
cheered, having returned thanks for the cordiality
of the reception which had been given him, pro-
ceeded to say that it was true the last Session of
Parliament was one in which no very large or im-
portant public measures had been passed. Such, he
might add, was likely to be the character of mauy
future sessions, for many great questions in which
the people of this country had rather deep interest
had happily been settled. The result was, that
the duty of Parliament at the present day
chiefly consisted in watching existing legislation
with a view to the improvement of our laws and
keeping an eye upon current events. Viewed in
that light we might, he thought, with satisfaction
look back upon the labours of the past session. He
found, for instance, that during its progress 12.5
public Acts had received the Royal assent, while in
1862 the number was but 114 ; the number of pri-
vate Acts being 238 in 1863 as against 227 in 1862.
Taking into consideration, then, the actual business
transacted by Parliament, we had, he thought, no
reason to complain of the session which had recently
closed. It saw taxes taken off to the extent of
nearly £4,000,000 ; it saw a reduction of sd. in the
lb. made on the tea and sugar duties, while the
income-tax was not only reduced from 9d. to 7d.,
but so far modified in its working as to admit of a
deduction of .£6O to be made from incomes under
£2OO a year. That being so, it could not tairly be
contended that nothing substantial had been done
for the benefit of the community at large. (Cheers.)
Among the other measures passed was that by
cvhich a liberal provision was made for the estab-
lishment of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and
all, he felt assured, who had a respect for the Crown
of these realms, and who desired that our heredi-
tary monarchy should be maintained with becoming
splendour, would be ready to sanction the sum
which had been voted for that purpose. (Cheers.)
Measures had also been framed consequent on the
great distress which existed in the cotton districts
—distress which had hitherto been borne in a man-
ner which must greatly raise the character of the
British people throughout the world, and which had
been largely alleviated by the spontaneous contri-
butions of all ranks and classes, from the humblest
workman to the Qneen on the throne. (Cheers.)
Having said thus much with respect to domestic 1
matters, he should pass to the wider field of foreign
affairs, simply observing before he did so that he was
now, as ever, prepared to vote for the total abolition
of church-rates —(cheers)— though the Church
was one which he had never refused, and never
would refuse to pay, and though the difficulties
connected with it were of a nature which Govern-
ment ought, in his opinion, to be able to settle, if
Dissenters and Churchmen would only consent to
meet on neutral ground. In the department of
foreign affairs two questions had mainly engaged
the attention of Parliament. These related to Poland
and America, and he could hardly say which was
the more interesting to the English people. The
subject of Poland was, no doubt, one of a very pain-
ful character. It was, moreover, a question replete
with difficulty. How far was it desirable that we
should run the hazard of bringing about a war
which might appear to be rather one of sentiment
than of real public interest and advantage ? The
treaties of 1815 would seem to have guaranteed that
that which was the Duchy of Warsaw should be
erected into a kingdom of Poland ; but the stipula-
tion had never worked well. Weakness on the one
side sought refuge in secret assassination, while on
the other side unbridled power, availing itself of the
force at its command, wore the aspect of having
shamelessly carried out its authority. The Govern-
ment of this country, thinking earnestly on the sub-
ject, had recourse to diplomacy; but it was not easy
to combat human feelings by well written letters.
We asked Russia to make certain concessions in the
six points which we submitted to her, but we
omitted, on the other hand, to add a seventh, and
that was that the Poles should give their adhesion
to the conditions proposed. That being so, he was
still of opinion that if the allied Powers were to in-
sist that the Poles should submit to these terms,
which they thought fair and equitable, there would
be some chance of bringing Russia round to a set-
tlement of the question. It was very easy to say,
"Failing to effect such a settlement, let us go to war
for Poland ;" but it should be borne in mind that to
do se would be the reverse of all we did up to 1815,
when we joined Austria,Prussia, and Russia, for the
purpose of combating France. The question of
Poland was, as he had said, one of great difficulty,
and all the more difficult because of the steps which
we had already
taken. We were, in short, now be-
set with aim ........„otati,B
whether we went forward or re-
treated, and for his
part he did not see how far
he could advance without war. He should nexotut plunging the country into
pect to the contest now
ea" a few words with re-
the Atlantic. Indeed, hoasgbing on the other side of
him-
self if he evaded expressing his opinion on the sub-
ject. He had, when he was 4 Young man, travelled
States, and he should
naegvoeord,
to
oetahl
eilnastthmem Uiletted of his life, forget a slave
sale which he there witnessed, and the sundering of
family ties which in consequence took place.
great was the made on him impression which it So
that
he went home and cried. Very little, even, Would
make him play the woman at the recollection of it
that evening. Let no man, therefore, taunt him With
being an advocate of slavery, nor from anything be
might say must it be supposed he wished this coun-
try to occupy any other than a neutral position be-
tween the contending parties, save in so far as be
might give expression to words of peace to both • The
fact was, however, there were two sides to the Ame-
rican question ; and he did not find fault with gen-
tlemen of great talent coming from the north side of
the Potomac, and pleading on behalf of that Union
which was naturally so dear to them, when they
looked back on the prosperity which it had brought
them during the last 80 years. It was no wonder
that the people of the North should look with aver-
sion on the disru" •
ption of their Government ; but it