The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 31, 1863.

THE MEMBERS FOR HEREFORD.

On Thursday night a publics dinner was given to the mem-
bers for the city of Hereford—Colonel Clifford and Mr. Clive
late Under-Secretary for the Home department, at Hereford.
About 150 or 200 electors of Hereford were present. The
chairman, Mr. Richard Hereford, proposed " The health of
the two Members for Hereford city—Colonel Clifford and
Mr. Clive." (Cheers.) Colonel Clifford, in responding,
referred to the change which had recently taken place in
the state of parties and the political questions discussed by
them. There was just now a call for a reduction in the
national expenditure. The army and navy were cost-
ing the country £27,000,000 a year. It was difficult to say
what was an efficient force in respect of the army, but it
was said that the whole safety of England depended on
our navy. We should keep it in efficient condition, but we
should not be told, after expending so much money upon
it, that it is not efficient. As to the question of fortifications,
no doubt great mistakes had been made about it, and he
wished to see the question between stone and iron finally
settled. In referring next to the American war, he said
he wished he could see in the proclamation of President
Lincoln the downfall of slavery, but he viewed it merely as
a strategic measure dictated by the position of the North.
He (Colonel Clifford) went to Parliament intending to give
Lord Palmerston an independent but not a servile support.
The Government would probably be seriously opposed in the
course of; the approaching session by the Conservative party,
who now boasted of their strength. One question to be
mooted would be the cession of the lonian Islands, and he
believed he should have the approval of his constituents in
supporting a measure to accomplish that object if pro-
posed by Lord Palmerston, Any measure that might be
brought forward for doing away with church-rates should
have his support. As to the Poaching Act, he had voted
for the second reading, but it had been so altered afterwards
that he had withdrawn from supporting it further. Mr.
Clive said that the ballot was a question which should be
kept before the public. He did not believe in the perfect
efficiency of the measure, but he would vote for its trial.
With regard to church-rates, he saw no other mode of solv-
ing that question than by total abolition. As to reform, he
thought they should have an increase of constituents and a
decrease of small boroughs returning members. A larger
body of the population of the country should be admitted to
the franchise, and the House of Commons should be elected
by larger constituencies than it now is. In reference to the
question of national expenditure, he agreed with his hon.
colleague, Col. Clifford, that a reduction was necessary,and
that fortifications were unnecessary. Ile next spoke of
America. He believed the present war would ultimately
have the effect of abolishing slavery some way or another.
Further, he believed that there was no other course open to
her Majesty's Government than that of nonintervention.
With regard to the view Poaching Bill, had he been in the
house when it was read a second time he should have voted
for it. In its subsequent stages, however, it had assumed
be and must be repealed. Other local toasts followed.
quite a different character, and was now as bad as it could

SIR ROBERT PEEL ON THE AMERICAN QUESTION,
—Sir Robert Peel has been (1,1-. livering a lecture at
the Fazely Pending Club. It was de omnibus rebus, but
the ostensible subject was " Wood, with reference to the
Great Exhibition." The right hon. baronet managed to
connect with that subject the tollowing rather decided
opinions on the American war. He said he was one of
those who hoped, as an individual, to see the States ulti-
mately become separated and independent of each other—
(cheers)—for he was convinced that such a course would
tend to further the emancipation of the slaves. (Cheers.)
For this simple reason. If they saw the continent again
united, they would sce again confirmed the state of things
which existed before the breaking out of the war. Then
there was the odious and abominable proclamation of Pre-
sident Lincoln, in which he said, " You who are rebels
your slaves shall be emancipated, but you states that re-
main united shall keep your slaves." (Cheers.) He said
that if they followed the course of the battles which had
taken place, they might almost fancy that they saw the
God of battles fighting for the South. At all events, the
courage, vigour, and patriotism with which the South
had fought were certainly a strong proof of the existence
of a feeling on the part of the South that they were fight-
ing in a good and true cause. He should, as a member of
Parliament, be glad to be able to look back to 1863 end
say that he belonged to a Government headed by a man
who was the most popular statesman that ever ruled the
destinies of England, which by acknowledging the inde-
pendence of the South led also to the emancipation of the
slave. (Cheers.) They would, by recognition, put an end
to the most wicked and most abotriinable traffic, which he
believed in his heart the councils of hell imagined for the
degradation of a very large portion of the human race.—
(Loud cheers.)

SALE OF BRITISH STEAMERS AT ALARMING
SACRIFICE.—Messrs. Whitney and Hathaway have
purchased at New York the steamers Scotia and Angelia,
formerly employed in the Queenstown and Holyhead mail-
service. The price paid was an average of £2,180 for each
vessel, whereas each originally cost about £12,000.

THE BELLIGERENT RIGHTS AND BLOCKADE
QUESTION.—LIVERPOOL, LIVERPOOL, Jan. 30.—The result of
the voting circular of the members of the Liverpool
Chamber of Commerce was announced to-day. The report
of the scrutineers showed a majority in favour of Mr.
Spence's amendment, not to int, rfere with the present laws
of blockade, of 226 votes, and a majority in favour of Mr.
Spence's amendment, not to alter the laws of capture at sea,
of 186 votes. It appears that of the 606 members compos-
ing the chamber only 66 voted at the meeting to discuss he
question, but that by the circulars 2L4 votes of members
were obtained.

THE QUEEN'S PHYSICIAN.—On the occasion of
the christening of the infant son of Dr. Wrn. Jenner
yesterday morning, her Most Gracious Mojesty was pleased
to stand sponsor, being represented on the occasion by Lady
Augusta Bruce, Who, in obedience to the wishes of the
Queen, gave the boy the name of Albert Victor, accompanied
with the present of a magnificent tankard, bearing a suit-
able inscription, and asaßoyal recognition of the great pro-
fessional attention paid by Dr. Jenner to his late Royal
Highness the Prince Consort.
There is good news, says The Reader of to-day,
in the world of literature ;
Mr. Tennyson's new
poems, "Boadicea," and] "Enoch the Fisherman" are
complete. The latter is a dramatic subject, worked out in
powerful and even, it is said, harrowing detail.
We have reaFou to believe that the Address in
the House of Commons.' in reply to the Royal Speech, will
be moved by Mr. Calthorpe, member for East Worcester-
shire, and seconded by Mr. Bazley, member for Man-
chester.