The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-26 00:00:00

The Berkshire Conservatives,

Mr. E. A. Leatham, M.P., at Huddersfield.

On Tuesday evening a public dinner was given in
the Town-hall, Reading, to Mr. Benyon, M.P., by
the Conservative electors of Berkshire. The com-
pany numbered 45Q. Among the invited guests of
the evening were—Col. Loyd Lindsay (who is to be
brought forward as a second candidate for the county
in the Conservative interest at the next election),
Mr. G. Hardy, M.P., Archdeacon Wordsworth,
D.D., Mr. Forsyth, Q.C., Mr. Malins, M.P., Mr.
Beach, M.P., and Mr. D. Griffiths, M.P. The Right
Hon. J. R. Mowbray officiated as chairman, being
supported on the right by Mr. Benyon, M.P., Sir C.
Russell, V.C., the Hon. G. Barrington, the Mayor
of Reading, and Col. Vyse ; and on the left by Col.
Loyd Lindsay, V.C., Sir P. Hunter, Sir G.W. Hayes,
Mr. Lygon, M.P., and Rev. A. P. Cust.

Mr. E. A. Leatham, M.P. for Huddersfield, delivered his
annual address to the electors and non-electors of that
borough, last evening, in the Philosophical Hall, Hudders-
field. The hall was crowded in every part. The chair
was occupied by Mr Mathew Hale, Mr. Leatham, on mak-
ing his appearance, was received with long continued
cheering. The Chairman congratulated the meeting that
at the commencement of another year this great country
was at peace. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Wright Mellor proposed
a resolution expressing great satisfaction with the able
advocacy and unswerving support which Mr. Leatham had
given to liberal measures, and pledging the meeting by all
constitutional means to secure his return at the next elec-

After the cloth had been removed,
The CHAIRMAN stated that it had been the wish of
many Conservatives that he should invite his right
hon. friend, and their distinguished leader in the
House of Commons, Mr. Disraeli, to be present at

this great banquet. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Disraeli's
reply was as follows :

" Hatfield, Dec. 26, 1864.
Dear Mr. Mowbray, —I feel truly honoured by the wish
of my friend Mr. Benyon, and of Col. Loyd Lindsay, that
I should be present at the dinner which is to be given
to them on the 24th January. But for many reasons, with

which 1 will not now weary you, but which are entirely
- - - •

of a public nature, I have long been obliged to decline at

;ending public dinners except in my own county.
" I sincerely hope your gathering will be very success-
ful.—Faithfully yours, " B. DISRAELI.

" The Right lion. J. R. Mowbray, M.P."
The right hon. gentleman also read apologies for
absence from the Marquis of Downshire and Lord
Barrington, the former owing to the death of a near
connection, and the latter in consequence of per-
sonal indisposition.

The usual loyal and patriotic toasts were given
after dinner—Sir CHARLES RUSSELL, V.C., in re-

sponding for " The Army and Navy," describing
the toast as a Conservative one, the training which a
soldier received tending eminently to Conservatism.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast of the
evening. In doing so he understood the meaning
of the present gathering to be that in the approach-
ing election the men of Berkshire said, as the farmers
of Devonshire said last week, as the tradespeople of

Hastings, as the working men of Leeds, and many

other populous towns and counties, had lately done,
that they were prepared to rally round the Conser-
vative flag. (Cheers.) They believed that Conser-
vative principles were entitled to be popular, because
they rested on a much broader and more liberal basis
than those of mere Whiggery. (Cheers.) They be-
lieved they offered greater freedom to the people

than was compatible with the tyranny of a democracy

They believed that the humblest man in the com-
munity was equally interested with the highest in
the support of hereditary monarchy. They knew
that the permanence of the former was guaranteed
by the existence of the House of Lords, whose doors
were open to all. There was a constant infusion of
new blood, and the son of the tradesman, the peasant,

or the artisan might win his way by force of talent
and character to a place among the peers of England.
(Cheers.) Theybelieved that the House of Commons,
representing the varied intelligence of the country,
was keenly alive to enlightened public opinion,
and prepared to do justice to all classes. (Cheers.)
They believed that a national establishment of reli-
gion carried with it a blessing to the State which
was sanctified by the alliance. (Cheers.) But they
desired to see this Conservatism sober, rational, and

progressive. (Cheers.) They had no class inte
rests to serve. They would see every proved abuse
corrected, every real grievance redressed. They de-
sired to see legislation practical and effective, un-
dertaken in a friendly spirit towards existing insti-
tutions, but having reference in all its details to the
wants of the age in which they lived. (Cheers.)
They believed that no such useful and practical le-
gislation had proceeded from the Conservative
party whenever they had been in office for the last
30 years, whether during that short and brilliant
administration of Sir Robert Peel in 1834-35, or the
powerful Government, which lasted from 1841 to
1846, or the shortlived Ministries of Lord Derby in
1852 -and 1858-9. (Cheers.) The speaker pro.
ceeded to attack the conduct of Liberal Ministers
for many years back, blaming them for high esti-
mates, though one of their mottoes was economy
and retrenchment, and making similar charges.
The present re'ginte of Lord Palmerston could not
last for ever, and there was admitted danger from
attacks upon the Constitution. He alluded especially
to Mr. Blight's democratic spirit, and to the danger
of Mr. Gladstone's taking the lead in the attempted
He concluded by eulogising Mr. Benyon,
whose estate showed the sense of responsibility he
felt attached to the owners of large properties, and
Col. Loyd Lindsay, a gallant soldier, who had gone
through all the sufferings and struggles of the
Crimean campaign. As to the latter he said :—lt
remained only that they should add to the decora-
tion of the Victoria Cross, which had been bestowed
on him by his Sovereign, the magic letters M.P., as
the decoration of the people. (Cheers.)
Mr. BENYON, in responding, repeated the Tory
common-places about the Government's abandon-
ment of the -Reform measure they came into office
to carry through, and about the malt tax.
Col. LOYD LINDSAY, in responding, gave a defi-
nition of " True Conservatism." True Conservatism
was neither reactionary nor destructive. It did not
advocate class privileges, nor did it deem all existing
things as good as need be, and resist all change.
Such a line of policy would inevitably revolutionise
society, and could not with justice be attributed to
true Conservatism any more than a desire to intro-
duce an American form of constitution could be
attributed to the more moderate among the Liberals.
He had no wish to point out what he conceived to
be the errors of their political opponents. Rather
would he endeavour to seek the right path for their
own guidance. Whatever might formerly have
been the case, selfish inaction was no longer the
besetting sin of the Conservatives. Would he could
with equal justice say that selfish agitation was
equally unknown on the other side. Let them,
therefore, inquire what was the wisest course of
action that they could pursue. Was there no ground
on which they could claim a share of the noble name
of Liberal, so wisely assumed by the popular party ?
Was there nothing Liberal in their mission to sup-
port those time-honoured institutions, to which
England owed her greatness and her freedom, or to
guide, control, and regulate unavoidable and pro-
gressive changes ? Was there nothing that kindled
patriotism in the determination to uphold in full
efficiency the national armaments, the pledges of our
independence, and to seek to maintain in their rela-
tions with foreign countries the proud position of
champion of justice and liberty which England's
moral influence had won for her ? Was there
nothing that appealed to a generous spirit in the
thought of supporting the Church and the clergy
who labour among them in the disinterested spirit
of true ministers of the Gospel ? Was there nothing
Liberal in the conduct of those ratepayers who
came forward year after year—not to claim exemp-
tion from .a tax, but permission to continue to pay
it? The church rate, which was borne exclusively
by the land, for whose benefit was it borne? Surely
for that of the poor man, who justly considered that
he had as much right to his place in church as he
had to breath the pure air of heaven.
The toast of the " House of Commons" was pro-
posed by Mr. H. J. SIMONDS, and responded to by
Mr. G. HARDY, M.P., in an eloquent speech.
Mr. MALINS, ALP., replied to the toast of " The
Conservative Members of the Boroughs in Berk-
shire."

reform.

ME SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 1865.

should cease that day to be a reformer ; he should not dare
to entrust so much to hands so feeble ; and he should wait,
at all events, till they felt strong enough to stand without
a Permissive Bill. (Applause.) He owed a great grudge to
this measure, because it had taken a great deal of zeal and