The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-02 00:00:00

whether steam or sailing, will, with a little strength-
ening of their deck, carry easily a long chase gun
on the poop, and one gun, well handled by experi-
enced gunners, will probably render the ship safe
against privateers, the principal class of vessels
which they have to fear in case of war.
The wisest course, therefore, for the packet coin.
panies and shipowners to adopt, would appear to be
that they should prepare their ships for a long gun
abaft, and that the officers for the naval reserve
should set to work at gunnery without loss of time;
for whether we have peace or war, it is more than
probable that the seas may shortly be swarming
with the privateers of the two contending parties
on the other side of the Atlantic.

THE BIGRT 1.10. N. B. IV, CARD WELL,

N..P., AT OXFORD.

OXFORD, JAN. 1.
The annual dinner of the Druids' Society took
place this evening at the Town-hall, Mr. Alderman
Saddler presiding, supported byMr. Cardwell, M.P.,
Mr. C. Neato, Sergeant Gazcice, Mr. Sheriff Carr,
Captain Mallam, Captain Fane, Lieut. Holmes, Mr.
Hussey, Alderman Dudley, Alderman Towle, Mr.
Bacon, Mr. T. North, &c. The Town-hall, as is
usual on these occasions, was densely crowded. Mr.
Langston, M.P., was absent through serious illness.
On the removal of the cloth,
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing "The Health of the
Queen," observed that that excellent lady, whose
health had been for so many years given as the
pride and glory of the land and the nation at large,
had been deprived by the hand of Providence of a
most affectionate husband, who was at once a most
indulgent husband, a wise friend, and an able coun-
sellor. The grief which the whole nation felt at the
demise of Prince Albert could not be surpassed, and
he trusted that the general sympathy of the people
would to some extent alleviate the grief of their
Sovereign, and that, although widowed and her
children fatherless, she would still be enabled to
perform those high duties which her august station
imposed upon her, with the same energy and fide-
lity that had hitherto made her alike a model
mother and a model Queen. (Cheers.)
The next toast was that of " The Prince of Wales
and the rest of the Royal Family," in giving which
the CHAIRMAN expressed an earnest hope that the
Prince would ever follow the excellent counsels of
his illustrious mother.
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast was one which
was always drunk with enthusiasm at that meet-
ing; it was the health and prosperity of our brave
defenders by sea and by land. (Cheers.) At the
present moment that was a toast which was pecu-
liarly applicable, because we knew not, speaking
literally, what a day or an hour might bring forth.
He was happy to say that the intelligence which
had that day been received was of a more peaceful
character than any which had preceded it, at the
same time they must remember that it was not of an
official character, and although they earnestly
prayed that peace might be preserved, yet at the
same time it was the duty of the country to be pre-
pared for the very worst: (Cheers.) Thank God,
not only had we a Ministry, but an army and a
navy, who were prepared to vindicate the honour

of the country, and if, unfortunately, we should, we
should drift into war, they would find'that both the
army and the navy would, when called into action,
prove themselves fit to carry the banners borne by
those who had shed immortal glory upon the his-
tory of this land. (Cheers.) But there was one
moat important body which he should be sorry to
omit from this toast—he meant the Volunteers.
(Cheers.) If in case of a war the Government felt
it incumbent to call upon that body, he was sure
that that call would be answered with alacrity,and
that the Volunteers would render essential service
by performing those duties at home which were
now fulfilled by the army, and thus increase its
efficiency. Ho gave them with the utmost cor-
diality, " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers.'
(Cheers.)
Captain FANE returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The health of the
City Members," expressing great regret at the ab-
sence of Mr. Langston, who was prevented being
present by serious illness ; but he was happy to
say that he had not long since received a telegram
stating that considerable improvement had taken
place in the hon. gentleman's condition. He
thought it necessary to mention this to quiet the
apprehensions of those who had been disturbed by
certain rumours which had been current during the
day.

Mr. CARDWELL, M.P., on rising to respond to
the toast, was received with loud cheers. He said,
. Gentlemen, I thank you from the bottom of my heart
for the kind and cordial manner in which you have
received the toast of my health and that of my ex-
cellent colleague, Mr. Langston. I assure you, gen-
tlemen, that it is with the most sincere regret that
I stand alone to-day to return thanks for this toast
which has been drunk by this numerous meeting of
our constituents and friends, because we know very
well that nothing but the overruling hand of neces-
sity would have prevented him from being among
us on this occasion. Let us hope that the excellent
tidings which we have beard may be borne out, and
that he will speedily recover, and come again among
us. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, the departed year has
gone down, like a winter's sun, in gloom, and with
an anxious augury for the future. It has left us
mourning a loss at once inscrutable and irrepar-
able; for the nation grieves not only as a loyal
people, tendering, as it must ever tender, the hom-
age of its sympathy to the deep nffliction of a most
honoured and a most loved Sovereign, but, beyond
that, every household in the lend, from the highest
to the humblest, feels the great calamity we have
sustained as a domestic and personal bereavement.
Such is the tribute which English hearts have paid
to the high endowments and the sterling virtues of
the Prince Consort—the tribute of genuine gratitude
and sincere affection. It is a sorrow too deep to be
expressed in words, and it will not be effaced by
time. (Cheers.) But we bow to the hand of Him
who rules in wisdom and in mercy the kingdoms of
men. Gentlemen, we saw with sorrow a civil war
break out between two parts of one great country
—the inheritors of our blood, of our literature, and
of our glory—(cheers)—and, gentlemen, we should
regard it as little less than a civil war among our-
selves if any unhappy circumstance should arise to
involve us in hostilities with the people of America
(Hear.) Our chairman has told us that the tele-
gram of to-day says that there is hope of an ami-
cable settlement, provided the demand of England
has not been made in such a spirit and in such a
temper as to render it impracticable; and I trust
in due time, when all the correspondence shall be
laid before the public, that they will be of
opinion that those who are entrusted with the
powers of State have acted in a manner worthy of
them, and consentaneous with their own principles
and feelings. .I believe there never was a spectacle
of which Englishmen might be less ashamed in the
face of Europe and of the world than the demeanour
which England has shown in this great trial of her
fortunes. We have sustained an injury such as we
could not possibly pass by if we meant to retain the
name and the position which Engrand has heretofore
enjoyed among the nations of the world. (Cheers.)
The law, and, as we see, the opinion of civilised Eu-
rope, have been declared on our side. Our contest
is for freedom and for the peaceful rights of com-
merce. (Cheers.) The issue, then, gentlemen, does
not rest with us, but upon the answer we may re-
ceive. How has the English people comported itself
under these circumstances ? Has England shown
that irritation and excitement which usually accom-
panies weakness; or that quietness and confidence
which can spring alone from a consciousness of right
and a consciousness of power ? We have been deter-
mined to do right, but we have been equally deter-
mined not to suffer wrong. (Cheers.) The Americans
may find an apt description of the conduct of Eng-
land, and by that I mean not the English Govern-
ment merely, but the English people at large, for
there has been no party feeling in this matter; what
has been done has been the act—as it always is in
circumstances where the honour of England is at
stake—it has been the act of a united people, speak-
ing and acting as ono man. I say the Americans
may find the best description of the attitude of

England at this moment in the words of her own
popular poet in describing fortitude, as
"Serene and earnest—and still, and calm, and self-
possessed."
I trust that the news of to-day may be ratified by
more full intelligence, and that we may find men
on the other side of the Atlantic influenced )y a
spirit like our own, and that these occurrences may
not only pass over without leading to the great ca-
lamity of hostilities between two kindred nations,
but that, by the explanations that may follow, the
danger of a state of war may be so far removed
and smoothed away that there may arise HO other
circumstance calculated to involve us in the like
danger for the future. (Cheers.) A country can
afford to be peaceful in its tone, and moderate in
its language, that stands in the happy position in
which we now stand. (Hear, hear.) Never was
our army or our navy in a more efficient state. We
not only raise without a conscription an army and
a navy sufficient for the defence of our own shores
and our great colonial possessions, but we raise a
militia without ballot. (Hear.) And, in addition,
there has been exhibited during the last three
years a spectacle which no other nation ever exhi-
bited before, in the magical rise of that great army
of Volunteers which has earned the gratitude of
their own country and commanded the admiration
of every other nation. And while speaking of
them and the great debt of gratitude which the
country owes to them, let us not forget the Naval
Volunteers, whose example at this period of doubt
and anxiety has attracted to them the notice and
approval of their countrymen. (Cheers.) I speak
of the Naval Volunteers with peculiar interest,
for I was ono of those who had the honour
to advise the adoption of this special force.
At the time the subject was under discussion we
were told by these who professed to speak authori-
tatively that it mould be impossible to raise a corps
of Naval Volunteers, because such were the feelings
of alienation between the naval service of the coun-
try and the merchant service that all efforts to raise
a Naval Reserve from the merchant service must
necessarily fail. But those to whom the inquiry
was intrusted did not take that view. They said, if
there be that feeling of ollematiou between the navy
and the merchant service, let us inquire what is the
reason and whose fault it is ? Does it not arise from
the recollection of old times and ancient grievances,
when you relied upon impressment for manning
your navy, and when your appeals to the merchant
service were made by the agency of force ? We said,
try the naval Englishman as you do every other
Englishman in every other position of life. Don't
use force, but appeal to his patriotism and generous
feeling ; invite him to come forward and rally round
his country, and see if he will not be as ready to
give his service towards the protection of the coun-
try and the maintenance of its honour as they are.
And what has been the result ? It is not yet three
years since that advice was humbly tendered to the
Crown by those who conducted that inquiry, and all

of you know that not only have we an efficient force
ready and zealous to come forward if our navy
should require their services, but, as my noble friend
the First Lord of the Admiralty told me the other
day, of men who constituted the cream of the mer-
chant service. It is an honour and an ambition to
belong to the force, and so it will ever be for a body
of Englishmen to come forward for the defence of
the country when you speak to them as Englishmen,
and appeal to their patriotism, to their generosity,
and to their highminded feeling. But that is not
all. That which I regard with the greatest satis-
faction in witnessing the progress of that force and
their conduct is that the barrier which did exist
between the navy and the merchant service is
broken down, and we now find the merchant ser-
vice animated by the same spirit which pervades
the rest of the community. Ancient jealousies are
forgotten, and all Englishmen are ready to unite
in defence of the country. I am glad to
find the feeling of England is unanimous in enter-

taining an earnest hope that the blessings of pew:*
will be continued. (Hear.) No man would depre-
cate more than I would any recourse to war, with
all its attendant horrors and miseries; but, while
I am most anxious to avoid war, I am gratified in
knowing that in any event our noble and beloved
Queen may confidently rely upon the patriotic and
enthusiastic spirit in England and Ireland—(cheers)
—in Scotland and in our colonies—of a brave, a
loyal, mid a magnanimous people. (The right hon.
gontleman resumed hilt seat amid loud and pro-
tracted cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the toast of
" Prosperity to the University of Oxford," coupling
with it the name of Mr. Neate and Mr. Sergeant
Gaselee.

Mr. NEATE, after a few introductory remarks,
observed that he was not ono of those who would
advocate the cause of the Americans ; but, at the
same time, so long as they were not our actual
enemies, he felt bound to treat them as our brethren.
He could not help thinking that the justice of our
cause would be so manifest that, although he did
not concur altogether with those who spoke of the
enormity of the offence, the Government of the
United States would hesitate before, by a refusal to
comply with our demands, they plunged the two
countries into a war. If however a war did take
place, nothing would give him so much conscious-
ness that they were engaged in ajust quarrel as the
fact that his hon. friend, occupying he as did a
high position in the councils of his sovereign,
agreed
with the rest of the Ministry that it was absolutely
necessary ; for he believed that no position whi ch
the right hon. gentleman filled would induce him to
assent to a war which was not a righteous one.
(Cheers,) At the same time he must express his
opinion that the constant use of irritating language
upon the part of the press of this country when
speaking of American institutions was much to be
deplored, and he regretted to say that the leading
newspapers of the kingdom were too much in the
habit of indulging in comments upon American in-
stitutions which could not fail to be most offensive.
Thay would remember that it was the practice
of the people of Sparta to set a drunken man before
their children to show them how absurdly he be-
haved, end thus to warn them against the vice of
drunkenness, and it seemed now to be the practice
of a large portion of the English press to place all
the defects of the American institutions before the
English people with a view of warning them against
the errors of democracy, and he could not help
thinking that this was done chiefly for the purpose
of decrying popular institutions in this country.
Whatever might be the evils of democracy, he did
not think that the present was a time when irrita-
ting comments upon American institutions ought to
be made. It was quite plain to him that the political
history of Oxford since the passing of the Reform
Bill was a history of the triumph of Liberal princi-
ples, and they had in their right hon. member and
the right hon. gentleman the member for the Univer-
sity two signal instances of that triumph. No consti-
tuency could be more essentially aristocratic than was
the University of Oxford, and therefore, it was with
the greatest possible satisfaction that he witnessed
the return for such a constituency of so eminent a
member of the Liberal party as the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. In conclusion, he observed that it was
his ardent wish that peace should be maintained,
but an honourable peace could only be maintained
so long as we preserved unsullied the honour of the
empire. (Cheers.)
Mr. Sergeant GASELEE also returned thanks, ex-
pressing his regret that Mr. Cardwell had not
thought fit either to give them a retrospect of the
session, or to state whether the Government were
prepared to carry out in its entirety that progres-
sive policy to which they had pledged themselves
upon taking office.
Various other toasts of a local character were
drank, and the proceedings were brought to a close.

AN IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—Last evening as Mr.
M'Rao, of Ludgate-hill, was driving through Stamford-
street, Blackfriars-road, a clever thief abstracted from
the boot of the phaeton (driven at a rapid rate), by means
of a false key, several articles of value, and got clear off.
So quickly was it done that he was not even seen.

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old or obstinate, to their power all eventually yield.

THE WINDHAM CASE.

The proceedings in this case were resumed yes-
terday morning in the Court of Exchequer, West-
minster, before S. Warren, Esq., and a special jury.
Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., Mr, Field, and Mr. H.
Williams appeared for the petitioners; Sir H.
Cairns, Q C., Mr. Karslake, Q.C., and Mr. Mil-
ward for the alleged lunatic; Mr. Coleridge, Q.C.,
for Mrs. Windham ; and Mi. Charles Russell for
Lady Sophia Giubelei, the mother of the alleged
lunatic.

Dr. Forbes Winslow recalled and cross-examined
by Mr. Coleridge, Q.C.—I saw Mr. Windham only
on two occasions for the purpose of conversing
with him. I consider this a very remarkable case,
but not unusual. Iu some of its features it might
be unusual. I have had a large experience in cases
of this sort for 20 years, and extensive practice. I
have 70 or 80 patients in various diseases under my
care every day. I class this as a case of imbecility-
There are well known conditions of mental dis-
orders. It is a case in medical language of "amen-
tia." I have to inspect persons who are to be placed
in lunatic asylums under lunatic acts. I examine
them, and if satisfied I give a certificate.
Re-examined by Mr. Chambers—l rank this as a
case of imbecility under the class of amentia. Not
absolute idiotcy or lunacy, but between the two. It
is a numerous class. If I was to confine my opinion
to the two interviews with Mr. Windham I should
decline to sign a certificate to confine him in a lu-
natic asylum; but he requires some control. He
requires some restraint, :but not to be placed in a
luilatic asylum. I have noticed certain acts which
led me to the conclusion that he is of unsound mind.
I mention as an instance of this his continued friend-
ship for Mr. Roberts, although he told him of his
having connexion with his wife before marriage.
There was a paralysis of the moral sense of decency,
no apparent sense of shame, and I could not make
him understand that it was an act of indecency that
a man should live with his wife almost up to the
day of her marriage.
By the Commissioner—This is a condition of
mind between lunacy and idiotey, incapable of ma-
naging himself or his affairs. That was the defini-
tion of unsoundness of mind as laid down by Lord
Eldon in Lord Portsmouth's case. In my opinion
the state of mind of Mr. Windham is such that he
is incompetent to manage his affairs. Tha jury, as
laymen, are as well qualified to determine this
question as myself. The type of this case is most
difficult to analyse, on account of its subtle nature.
The boundary line of amentia is so difficult to as-
certain that you must be guided more by the action
of the persons than by your own observations. In
a case like this, in order to come to a right conclu-
sion, you cannot disembarrass your mind of the
history of the case.
By a Juror—He appeared to be insensible to
shame. When lam called upon to examine pa-
tients frequently the details of the case are laid
before me. The general practice is to have placed
before me certain facts. lam guided to my con-
clusions by what I saw and what I have heard in
court. A combined action from both. I attribute
as much importance to one as the other. It is the
usual practice to give the medical man a statement
of facts by which I was to test the capacity of the
person to be examined. No proper investi-
gation could take place without it, or it
would be like calling upon a chemist to test a cer-
tain liquid without giving him the means to test it.
By the Commissioner—lmbecile persons are re-
markable for their cunning. They are capable of
understanding a certain amount of tutoring, and
for a time would be able to answer the questions.
The impossibility of fixing the attention on any
given subject only for a short period of time, was a
distinguishing characteristic of this species of im-
becility. Deadness or insensibility to moral obliga-
tions is also a frequent concomitant to this species
of insanity.
Dr. Thomas Mayo, examined by Mr. Chambers
—I am president of the College of Physicians. I
have given my attention to disorders of the mind to
a great extent, and early in life I wrote a work on
the subject. I was present on two occasions with
Dr, Winslow, when we had interviews with Mr.
Windham. I was in court yesterday, and heard
what Dr. Winslow said. He has substantially given
a very accurate account of those interviews. I formed
an opinion of the state of mind of Mr. Windham
from these interviews. I had interviews with him

on the 13th and 14th of November. The first in-
terview with him, accompanied by Dr. Winslow,
was about two hours. I had a second interview.
Dr. Bright was present on both occasions. I could
see in Mr. Windham a very weak intellect and an
impure mind to the extent that I should expect him
to turn out of very unsound mind. What I ob-
served was perfectly consistent with the mass of
evidence I have heard in this court. Speaking of
his intellectual s3lnptoms, I should say he was
childish and inconsequential under circumstances in
which a man of intellect would be serious. Helinade
disjointed remarks. Speaking of the ethical part
of the case, by far the most important, my attention
was most attracted to the mode he received and
treated the relations between himself and his wife.
All that took place on hat subject has been
correctly stated by Dr. Winslow. There was an
utter childishness and shamelessness. I would
particularly specify the indifference with which
he treated the question, whether he had said he
had had connexion with the female whom ho
afterwards married before marriage and that
that had satisfied him. He said he had
only made the remark to blind people as to his in-
tended marriage. When asked by me whether he
had ever been in bed with three women at a time,
ho treated this question with levity. He denied it,
but laughed. The adhesiveness he showed in his
attachment to Roberts, in spite of his admitting a
low opinion of him, was another circumstance of
his indifference to moral obligations. He had an in-
capacity in regard to the management of his affairs,
for such a man would be sure to have bad assn•
ciates, and a mind so weak would be sure to give
way to them. Those were the principal points
leading to the opinion I have expressed.
Mrs. Llewellyn re-called and cross-examined by
Sir H. Cairns—l have seen my brother, Conway
Dignan, in the streets begging once since my
mother's, death last summer. In September, Octo-
ber, November, or December, I did not meet my
brother and speak to him in St. James's-street. 1
did not meet him and say, " Ah, Conway, how are
you, and what are you doing ?" I did not see him
in St. James's-street. In the month of July I saw
him begging, and I was so shocked that I asked my
solicitor to get him a situation. The only time I
spoke to him was while I was in a cab in the Vaux-
hall-road. He came to me, and 1 said " Conway, be
a good boy." I never said, in any shape or form,
" I know of a capital thing you can do nicely. Did
you ever hear of young Windham ? His uncle the
General has begun to try to bring him in insane,
and if you would swear for the General it would
be the making of you, and you would not require a
situation." I never said so, nor did I say two words
to him. I never heard so base an accusation, or that
I ever said, " The General will have the money,
and not his nephew. What you will have to swear
is this, that you lived with Llewellyn as his clerk,
and had ample opportunities of hearing Mr. Wind-
ham's noises and mad ways." My brother never
said, " Oh, Augusta, how can you try to bring
a younger brother into such a mess ? You
know 1 neither know young Mr. Windham
or the General, and I would not get myself
into trouble by false swearing for you or twenty
Generals." I never said anything of this, or did I
speak two words to him. I deny every word of the
following ; every word is totally false :—" You are
very foolish. You know as much as other people
who are on the General's side." I deny having
said, " Will you go with me to a solicitor ?" I never
spoke but a few words to him at the latter end of
June. Ile did not say, " I will not do anything of
the sort, and I would sooner stop in my present
position: than try to injure a young man I know
nothing about." I did not say, " If you do not com•
ply with my wishes I cannot do anything for you ;
you are very foolish." He did not say, "I would
not go into any court to forswear myself, or injure
my family's name." I deny having spoken to him
since the month of June. I did not say, " You can
take your own course. What does it signify if you
do bring in young Windham insane ? it will not
injure you, but will be the making of you. You
don't suppose I am doing this for nothing, do you ?"
I never said anything of the kind.
Re-examined by Mr. Chambers—My brother
begged of passers by like a ragged man, thinking
to get money out of Mr. Llewellyn to support him
in idleness. He never earned a shilling in his life.
The last day I saw him was the day before Christ-
mas day, opposite our house in Duke-street, hooting
and pointing at it, and getting a mob round him,
Mr. Llewellyn went to Vine-street for the police to
watch him, and he went away. I tried to get him
a situation twelve months after my mother's death,
as I was horrified at his appearance. That was I
think in May, 1861, when I tried to get him a place
at my mother's solicitor's. I took him in a cab with
me ; and once I was going to my sister's, when he
stopped me whilst I was in a cab, and said, " Oh,
Augusta, I hope you will forgive me." I said, "Be
a good boy," and that was all that passed be-
tween us.

By the Commissioner—My brother, for his bad
conduct, was expelled by my husband from the
house. Before I came into court to-day I had not
the most remote idea of the questions that would
be put to me, and I say solemnly, and in the pre-
Nence of these 23 jurymen, under the obligation of