The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESIDAY EVENING,

BANQUET TO SIR C. NAPIER
AT THE REFORM CLUB.

Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, K.C.8., who is appointed
to the command of the Baltic fleet now assembling at
Spithead, was last night entertained at a splendid ban-
quet by the members of the Reform Club. The dinner
took place in the coffee-room of the club-house, in Pall-
mall, but, owing to its limited dimensions, accommoda-
tion could not be provided for more than 200 gentlemen.
Many members of the club, however, who were unable
to obtain seats at the dinner-table, crowded the ante-
chambers and the approaches to the coffee-room, in order
to hear the addresses of the noble chairman and the in-

vited guests. The only decorations of the dining room
consisted of the French, English, and Turkish ensigns,
. which were arranged alternately around the apartment.
A considerable crowd had assembled in Pall-mall in front
of the club, by whom Sir C. Napier, Lord Palmerston,
and others of the guests were loudly cheered upon their
arrival. The dinner was served in admirable style, and
did full credit to the chef de cuisine of the establishment,
Mr. Fidler, the successor of M. Soyer. The duties of
toastmaster were efficiently performed by Mr. Higgs.
Lord Palmerston took the chair ; and among the gen-
tlemen present we observed—Sir J. Graham, M.P., Sir
W. Molesworth, M.P., Mr. Peto, M.P., Mr. Ferguson,
M.P., Admiral Berkeley, M.P., M. Musurus, the Turkish
Minister, Namik Pasha, Mr. K eogli,M. P., Solicitor-G ene-
ral for Ireland, Mr. Sadleir, M.P., Mr. Oliveira, M.P.,
the Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Sir J. Lillie, &c. Lord
Dudley Stuart, M.P., and Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P.,
acted as vice-chairmen on the occasion.

The cloth having been drawn,
The CHAIRMAN gave "the health of the Queen,"
observing, that, in doing so, he had to propose the health
of a lady not less distinguished for her personal virtues
—those virtues which would adorn a private station—
than she was for those higher qualities which fitted her
for the exalted position in which it had pleased Provi-
dence to place her. He had to propose the health of a
Sovereign whose throne rested upon the firmest founda-
tions, because it was rooted in the hearts and affections
of a grateful and admiring nation.
The toast was drunk with the usual honours.

The noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast,
"His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," said—lt is
needless, gentlemen, for me to remind you of the claims
his Royal Highness Prince Albert has upon the esteem
of this nation. He is invariably the patron of' the
arts, the encourager of industry, and the promoter of
science—(hear, hear)—and he takes the liveliest interest
in everything that can contribute to the welfare, the
improvement, and the prosperity of the country.
(Cheers.) With regard to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, early though his years are, it is yet
gratifying to see that he is treading in the footsteps of his
parents, and that he displays even already those qualities
the fuller development of which in after life will, at a
period, we all hope, the most remote—(" hear," and
cheers)—qualify him, when that time comes, to conduct,
as we trust he is destined to do, the fate and fortunes of
this country. (Loud cheers.)
The noble CHAIRMAN again rose and said,—Gentle-
Men, this country is engaged in an alliance of no small
magnitude and importance with our neighbours in France.
(Loud cheers.) It has not often happened in the his-
tory of the world that these two countries have been so
united for purposes of such energetic action. We have
bad to do, during now more than 12 months of most
difficult and complicated negotiations, with the Sove-
reign of France. We have met on his part with the
greatest straightforwardness— (great cheering)—with the
most perfect good faith—(hear, hear)—with the most
single-minded sincerity—(loud cheers)—and with an
energy of purpose and a community of determination,
which inspire in our minds that full confidence in him
Which, I am proud to say, he has always expressed in
us. (Prolonged cheering.) I therefore trust, gentle-
men, that yon will receive with satisfaction the toast
Which I wish to propose to you—" The health of the
Emperor and Empress of the French." (Loud cheers.)
If, gentlemen, any words spoken by the subject of a
toast could render that toast more peculiarly acceptable
to Englishmen at one moment than another, I may refer
You to those memorable words in the speech lately de-
livered by the Emperor of the French—words which, I
trust, will create an epoch in the history of Europe—
(cheers)—words which, coming from the lips of the
Sovereign of a country which has not always practised
the maxim they inculcate, may carry with them double
weight,—l mean the memorable expression that "the
age of conquest is past, never to return again." (Hear,
bear' and cheers.) That, gentlemen, is a sentiment no
less honourable to the mind of the man who uttered
it than re-assuring to the destinies of Europe,—a senti-
ment which, I trust, will not fail to produce an effect in
another country more remote than that in which it was
uttered. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I trust that the age of
conquest having passed, we who must take an interest
in the welfare and prosperity of our neighbours, whom,
I hope, we shall long continue to call our friends as well
as our neighbours—the age of conquest having passed,
I trust we may hope, for the welfare of France, that its
Augustan age is about to commence. (Cheers.) I now
beg to propose to you " the health of the Emperor and
Empress of the French." (The toast was received with
loud and continued cheering.)
The noble CHAIRMAN again rose, and said—Gentle-
men, I have brought to your notice one Sovereign with
whom this country is acting in energetic alliance ; and
I now wish to propose to you the health of another So-
vereign who, I am sure, must be an object of great in-
terest to this company, as he is not only to every other
man in this country, but I may say to every honest man
in Europe. (Loud cheers.) I wish to propose to you
" The health of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan Abdul
Medjid." (Great cheering.) There are two circum-
stances which are calculated, perhaps, beyond all others,
to inspire interest in a man. The one is the good deeds
of the man himself—the other is the evil doings of other
persons towards him. (Cheering.) Now, I must say,
gentlemen, that in both these respects the Sultan is pe-
culiarly entitled to inspire interest in the minds of the
men of this country. (Hear.) That he is the object of
evil doings on the part of others is a fact too notorious
to require any explanation—(cheers)—for there never was
a sovereign who was, more than the Sultan now is,
the object of the most abominable injustice on the
part of others—(loud and long-continued cheering)—
an injustice which is only equalled by that described in
the old fable of the wolf and the lamb. (Cheers.) This
time, however, the wolf has been mistaken, for it is no
lamb that he has had to deal with. (Renewed cheers.)
Well, gentlemen, as to the • deeds of the Sultan himself
surely, in the opinion of the members of the Reform
Club, the fact that the Sultan has been a great reformer
will give him some title to their esteem. (Cheers.) He
has not, indeed, wounded the consciences and the pre-
judices and the habits of his subjects ; he has been too
wise to go at that speed of reform which would have de-
feated his own purposes ; but, making allowances for
those ancient prejudices and those rooted habits with
which he had to deal, I venture to say that the Sultan
has made greater improvements of all sorts and kinds in
his wide dominions than it has fallen to the lot of any
other Sovereign to make in a corresponding period of
time. (Loud cheers.) The Sultan is now reaping the
fruits of the wise course which he has pursued, for, while
his powerful neighbour flattered himself that at the sound
of his voice and at the beck of his finger half the subjects
of the Sultan would rise in rebellion, we have seen all
the subjects of the Sultan, Christian and Mahome-
dan, rallying round him with a common energy and
a united patriotism, and exhibiting a spectacle worthy
of admiration to the people of every country in the
world. (Cheers.) There is one act of the Sultan which,
I think, never can be forgotten by the generous
people of England. In 1849, when the Hungarians
were overpowered by the united armies of Austria and
Russia, when the bravest of them were compelled to seek
refuge in the territories of the Sultan, and when the
Sultan, the Sovereign of a weaker State, was threatened
With war by his two powerful neighbours unless he gave
up these unfortunate fugitives to the vengeance of those
whom they had offended, the Sultan firmly, bravely,
and generously refused. (Loud cheers.) Ay, gentle-
men, and he refused even before he was assured of that
support from England and France which, when once
demanded, could not for one instant of hesitation be
Withheld. (Renewed cheers.) Merit be to the Sultan
that he did not wait for that assurance, but bravely and
generously placed himself as a shield before these un-
fortunate men, and said that he would encounter any
extremity rather than be guilty of a breach of hospi-
tality. (Cheers.) I give you, then, "The Health of
the Sultan, Abdul Medjid," and I trust that, by the
manly support of England and of France, fighting hand
in hand in his cause, that injustice with which he is
threatened will be defeated, and that he will be placed
in permanent possession of those sovereign rights which
he exercises for the benefit and the welfare of his people.
(The toast was drunk amid great cheering.)
M. MIISHRHS said—Je suis heureux que l'honneur
d'assister a cette assemblee distinguee m'appelle h. celui
d'exprimer ma reconnaissance pour le toast porte par le
noble Vicomte h la saute de Sa Majeste Imp4riale mon
auguste Souverain—toast que vous avez accueilli avec
enthousiasme et des marques unanimes de vivesympathie.
Cette sympathie est le reflet de celle que la nation Bri-
tannique a manifests en faveur de rempire Ottoman h
toute époque, et notamment h l'occasion d'une noble
et juste cause qui n'a cesse d'être des le commence-
ment l'objet de la sollicitude ecla,iree du Cabinet
llritannique, et pour le triomphe de laquelle l'Angle-
terre et la France, sous les heureux auspices de Sa
Majeste la Reine de la Grande Bretagne et de Sa
Majeste l'Empereur des Francais, les augustes allies de
anon gracieux Souverain, vont maintenant deployer leur
puissance invincible; temoin les pr6paratifs irnposants
faits dans les deux pays, et la mission confer4e au brave
Amiral en l'honneur de qua nous nous trouvons reunis
ce banquet. (Cheers.) Ce que je regrette dans une
conjoncture aussi solennelle, c'est de ne point trouver en
moi le talent suffisant pour exprimer h la nation Britan-
nique et h son Gouvernement les sentiments de gratitude
de Sa Majeste mon auguste Souverain, de son Gouverne
anent, et de la nation Ottomane—(cheers) j'avoue
que ma niche e it ete acquitte avec plein succes si cette
gratitude eut eu pour interprete l'illustre et eminent
orateur le noble Vicomte, qui, d'ailleurs, comme it vient
de le prouver, connitit it fond les sentiments genereux et
les intentions paternelles demon auguste Souverain, et
qui, is ce titre, comme is bien d'autres, n'est pas moms
populaire en Orient, qu'en Angleterre. (Cheers.) je
me borne done is joindre mes vceux les plus ardents is
ceux que vous formez pour les succes victorieux du brave
Amiral appele 3 concourir au prompt retablissement
d'une paix durable et destinee h assurer au monde une
longue prosperite et les bienfaits de la civilisation.
(Loud cheers.)
- - -

The following is a translation of the Turkish Ambas•
sador's address, given above:—
" I am happy that the honour of being present at this
distinguished assembly calls upon me to express my
gratitude for the toast given by the noble Viscount to
the health of his Imperial Majesty, my august Sovereign

—a toast which you have received with enthusiasm, and
the unanimous tokens of lively sympathy. That sym-
pathy is the reflection of that which the British nation
has manifested on behalf of the Ottoman empire at all
times, and especially on the occasion of a noble and
just cause, which has never ceased from the first to be
the object of the enlightened solicitude of the British
Cabinet, and for the triumph of which, England and
France, under the happy auspices of her Majesty
the Queen of Great Britain, and of his Majesty the
Emperor of the French, the august allies of my gracious
Sovereign, are now about to display their invincible
power, witness the imposing preparations made by both
countries, and the mission conferred on the brave admiral,
in honour of whom we now find ourselves united at this
magnificent banquet. (Cheers.) What I regret in such
a solemn conjuncture is, not to be able to find in myself
sufficient talent to express to the British nation and its
Government the sentiments of his Majesty my august
Monarch, of his Government, and of the whole Ottoman
empire--(cheers)—and I declare solemnly that my la-
bour would have been crowned with full success if this
gratitude could have found its expression in the glow-
ing words of that illustrious and eminent orator, the
noble Viscount, who, on this, as on all other occasions,
has shown that he understands and appreciates the
generous feelings and the paternal intentions of my au-
gust Sovereign, and who, on this claim as on many
others, has proved his title to a popular appreciation,
not less marked in the East as in England itself.
(Cheers.) I will confine myself in conclusion to the
expression of most ardent wishes, in which I am
sure you join—(hear, hear)—.for the success of the
brave admiral thus called to co-operate in the
prompt re-establishment of durable peace—a peace
destined to assure to the world a long continuation of the
blessings of prosperity and civilisation. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, there are many merits in
things, and among other merits novelty holds its place.
Now, the toast I am about to propose to you is, I will
venture to say, entirely a new one since the days of the
Crusaders. (" Hear," and cheers.) I propose to you to
drink to the allied English and French fleets and armies.
(Prolonged cheering.) It is a new thing for any man
to be able to propose that toast, and it is a gratifying
thing that the day has come when the toast can be pro-
posed. (Cheers.) It is a glorious sight, and one that
it does a man's heart good to look upon, to witness the
union of two of the greatest and most civilised coun-
tries in the world, whose rivalship and differences have
for centuries disturbed the peace of mankind—to find
them at length united in cordial and generous alliance—
(cheers)—fighting, not for conquest, not for selfish
advantages, but for the liberties of oppressed nations,
and for the establishment, I may say, of the freedom
and independence of Europe. (Cheers,) I trust, gen-
tlemen, that that union will last as long as the differ-
ences which preceded it— (loud and continued cheer-
ing)—and I am well assured that the spirit of cordial
friendship and of disinterested confidence by which
both nations have been inspired in entering into this
league—gives rn earnest that that wish may be and will
be fulfilled. (Cheers.) If men unite—and the same may
be said of States as of individuals—if men unite to per-
petrate wrong, to commit injustice, to violate the rights
of others, whether they fail or whether they succeed,
the principle of badness which is inherent in the princi-
ple of their union is sure to lead to subsequent dissen.
sion. (Hear, hear.) If they fail, they throw upon each
other the blame ; if they succeed, they dispute about
the division of the produce of their guilt. (Hear, hear.)
But, when men unite for honourable purposes, when
they combine together to do good, whether they fail or
whether they succeed, a union founded upon justice, upon
right, upon honour, survives defeat, and flourishes under
disaster. (Loud cheers.) I trust that this union to
which I have referred will not have to survive in defeat.
I am confident, on the contrary, that it will be crowned
with success—(cheers)—and it will, indeed, be a proud
thing for these two great nations to say that they have
stood foremost to maintain right against wrong, that
they have protected those who were unjustly attacked,
and that, by the glory of their arms, they have esta-
blished upon sure and permanent foundations the inde-
pendence of nations and the permanent peace of Europe.
(Loud cheers.)
The toast having been drunk with the usual honours,
Admiral BERKELEY said that in the absence of any
officer of the French navy, he begged leave to return
thanks for the united navies of France and England.
He was proud to be allowed to return thanks for the
gallant nation with which this country was now acting,
as well as for his comrades in the British navy. (Cheers.)
He could assure them that the English fleets would act
in strict union and in honourable rivalry with the fleets
of our gallant allies, and he hoped and trusted that that
strict union and honourable rivalry might last for ever
and ever. (Loud cheers.)
Sir D. L. EVANS, in returning thanks for the armies
of France and England, said that, as an old soldier, not
unacquainted with the present state of the English or
French armies, he might be allowed to express his con-
viction that the French army was not, even when com-
manded by one of the greatest captains the world had
produced, in a more efficient state than it was at the
present moment. With regard to our own army, he
believed it had never been in a better state, either with
regard to organisation, morale, or spirit. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN—There was a very remarkable enter-
tainer of dinner company, called Sir R. Preston, who
lived in the city, and who, when he gave dinners at
Greenwich, after gorging his guests with turtle, used to
turn round to the waiters and say, "Now bring din-
n%r." Gentlemen, we have had the toasts which cor-
respond with the turtle, and now let's go to dinner.
(Cheers and laughter.) Now, let us drink the toast which
belongs to the real occasion of our assembling here.
(Loud cheers.) I give you "The Health of my gallant
friend Sir Charles Napier," who sits beside me. (En-
thusiastic cheering.) If gentlemen, I were addressing
a Hampshire audience, consisting f country gentlemen
residing in that county to which my gallant friend and
myseebelong, I should introduce him to your notice as
an eminent agriculturist. (Laughter.) It has been my
good fortune, when enjoying his hospitality at Merchis-
toun-hall, to receive most valuable instructions from him
while walking over his farm about stall-feeding, growing
turnips, wire-fencing, under-draining, and the like.
(Laughter.) My gallant friend is a match for everything,
and whatever he turns his hand to, he generally succeeds
in it. (Cheers.) However, gentlemen, he now, like
Cincinnatus, leaves his plough, puts on his armour,
and is prepared to do that good service to his country
which he will always perform whenever an oppor-
tunity is afforded to him. (Loud cheers.) My gallant
friend, indeed, has made himself conspicuous upon every
occasion, and in every place where he has had an oppor-
tunity of distinction. (Cheers.) I pass over those earlier
exploits of his younger days, which are well known to
the members of his profession ; but, perhaps, one of the
most remarkable exploits ot his life is that which he per-
formed in that same cause of liberty and justice which he
is now about to be engaged. In the year 1833, when
gallantly volunteering to serve the cause of the Queen of
Portugal against the encroachments and the usurpations
of Don Miguel—to defend constitutional rights and
liberties against arbitrary power—he took the command
ot a modest fleet of frigates and corvettes, and at the
head of that little squadron he captured a squadron far
superior in force, including two line-of-battle ships, one
of which my gallant friend was the first to board. I have
been told that while my gallant friend was hanging in the
shrouds and trying to get himself upon the deck, he was
poked at by a Portuguese pikeman, and we very nearly
lost the opportunity of meeting him here to-day at
this board. (Cheers and laughter.) But on that occasion
my gallant friend exhibited a characteristic trait. When
he had scrambled upon the deck of this great line-of-
battle ship, and was clearing the deck of those who had
possession of it, a Portuguese officer ran at him full dart
with his drawn sword to run him through, My gallant
friend quietly parried the thrust, and, not giving himself
the trouble to deal in any other way with his Portuguese
assailant, merely gave him a hearty kick and sent him
down the hatchway. (Laughter.) Well, gentlemen, that
victory was a great event---(much laughter)—l don't
mean the victory over the officer who went down—(re-
newed laughter)—but the victory over the fleet, which
my gallant friend took into port—(cheers)—for that
victory decided a great cause then pending. It decided
the liberties of Portugal; it:decided the question between
constitutional and arbitrary power—a contest which be-
gan in Portugal, and which went on afterwards in Spain,
when my gallant friend Sir De Lacy Evans lent his
powerful aid in the same cause, and with the same suc-
cess. My gallant friend Sir Charles Napier, however,
got the first turn of fortune, and it was mainly
owing to that victory of his that the Queen of Por-
tugal afterwards occupied the throne to which she
was rightfully entitled, and the Portuguese nation
obtained that constitution which they have ever since
enjoyed. (Loud cheers.) A noble friend of mine, now
no more, whose loss I greatly lament, for he was equally
distinguished as a man, as a soldier, and as a diploma-
tist—the late Lord William Russell—an honour to his
country, as to his family—told me that one day he
heard that my gallant friend Sir Charles Napier was in
the neighbourhood of the fortress of Valenza, a Por-
tuguese fortress some considerable distance from the
squadron which he commanded. Lord W. Russell and
Colonel Hare went to see my gallant friend, and Lord
W. Russell told me they had met a man dressed in a very
easy way—(great laughter, in which Sir C. Napier
heartily joined) —followed by a fellow with two muskets
on his shoulders. (Renewed laughter.) They took him
awthfiorsshtoufolar
tßhoebseinsmonenCpi -(roars- (r
to boea, rbs
but
tf
tlhaeugghatllearn) --t
Ad-
miralbut on my right and a marine behind him. (Laughter.)
"Well, Napier," said Lord W. Russell, "what are you
doing here ?" " Why," said my gallant friend, " lam
waiting to take Valenza." "But," said Lord William,
" Valenza is a fortified town, and you must know that
we soldiers understand how fortified towns are taken.
You must open trenches ; you must make approaches ;
you must establish a battery in breach ; and all this
takes a good deal of timesaid
andyu a
ml
gallant
must be
friend,don,l h accordingave nt
oo
rule." "Oh," my
time for all that. (Cheers and laughter.) I have
got some of my blue-jackets up here and a few of
my ship's guns, and I mean to take the town
with a letter." (Laughter.) And so be did. lie sent
the governor a letter to tell him he had much better
surrender at discretion. The governor was a very
sensible man—(cheers and laughter)—and so surrender
he did. So the trenches and the approaches, the battery,
breach, and all that were saved, and the town of Valenza
was handed over to the Queen of Portugal. Well, the
next great occasion in which my gallant friend took a
prominent and distinguished part—apart for which I can
assure Government
had
which nm
they official o capacity, ptaoc it y , and
the belong,
felt deeply indebted and obliged to him—was the occa-
sion of the war in Syria. There my gallant friend dis-
tinguished himself, as usual, at sea and on shore. All
was one to him wherever an enemy was to be found, and
I feel sure that when the enemy was found the enemy
wished to Heaven he had not been found. (Laughter.)
Well, my gallant friend landed with his marines, headed
' a 'Turkish detachment, defeated the Egyptian troops,
gained a very important victory, stormed the town of

Sidon, captured 3,000 or 4,000 Egyptian prisoners, and
afterwards took a prominent part in the attack and cap-
ture of the important fortress of Acre. I am bound to
say that the Government to which I belonged, in send-
ing those instructions which led to the attack upon Acre,
were very much guided by the opinions which we had
received of the practicability of that achievement in let-
ters from my gallant friend. Well, gentlemen, my gal-
lant friend was not content with acting successfully the
part of Admiral and the part of General, but he must
needs act the part of diplomatist too, and with equal
success. He went in command of part of the fleet to
Alexandria. He landed there, and he persuaded Mehe-
met Ali to sign a convention, which led to the peaceful
evacuation of Syria by the remnant of the Egyptian
forces. This measure saved an immense amount of
human life, and prevented a great effusion of blood ; it
accomplished the purpose we had in view, and it res-
cued Syria from the danger by which it was threatened.
(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, the success of that campaign
has no unimportant bearing upon the state of things
which we are now considering, for, whereas at that time
the ruler of Egypt directed the resources of Egypt—its
fleets and its armies—in hostile attacks upon the Sultan,
the result of the arrangements which were the conse-
quence of my gallant friend's successful campaign has
been that we now see the troops and ships of Egypt rang-
ing themselves side by side with those of the Sultan, and
we find the Pasha of Egypt as loyal, as zealous, as well-
affected a supporter of his sovereign as any other subject
in his dominions, (Loud cheers.) Well then, gentle-
men, my gallant friend having had the good fortune to
succeed in all his operations, I think we have good rea-
son to hope that he will be equally successful for the
futnre as he has been in times past. (Loud cheering.)
As bearing upon that point, I cannot refrain from
repeating an observation which was made to me by a
very discriminating, calm-minded friend of mine,
who passed some time in the East at the period to which
I have adverted, who saw a great deal of my gallant
friend, and who, when he came to town, visited me to
give me an account of what he had observed in the East,
which, considering the position I then held, he thought
might be interesting. When I mentioned to him my
gallant friend (Sir Charles Napier), and praised his en-
terprise and boldness, his daring and his intrepidity, this
gentleman said, "Yes, all that is very true, but there is
another quality that Sir Charles Napier possesses, which
is as valuable as any of these, and as important an in-
gredient in his success. I never saw any man in my
life who calculated so many moves beforehand." (Cheers
and laughter.) Now, gentlemen, when a man can cal-
culate his moves beforehand, and has, to execute those
moves, the spirit and genius which are possessed by my
gallant friend, I think any country that places its fate
and fortune in his hands may feel confident of success.
The toast was drunk with three times three, followed
by prolonged cheering.'
Sir C. NAPIER was received with loud and prolonged
cheering. He said,—My lord and gentlemen, I can
scarcely find words to express to you my gratitude for
the very handsome manner in which you have received
my health. I am rather singularly situated at this mo-
ment, for I have on my left a noble lord who was one of
the Lords of the Admiralty when I began my career in
the navy, and on my right I have my right hon. friend
who is now the First Lord of the Admiralty. The noble
lord has entertained the company by some allusions to
my agricultural pursuits, and has given me credit for
having devised some plans for improving the agriculture
of the country. He has, however, omitted one plan
that I recommended to him as a means of getting young
lambs early. (Great laughter.) I will not repeat it
here, but I shall be extremely happy to explain it to any
gentleman who will apply to me on the subject. (Laugh.
ter.) The noble lord has also followed me to Portugal,
and where he has found all his amusing stories is quite
astonishing to me. (A laugh.) On one point I must
correct him, because he has given me credit which
belongs to others. He stated that I was the first who
boarded the Portuguese line-of-battle ship. My gallant
captain, Captain Wilkinson, now no more, and my son
who was lost in the Avenger, were, however, the first
persons who boarded that vessel. The noble lord has
alluded to my campaigns in the north of Portugal.
There, fortunately, as well as in Syria, I was successful,
and I hope to be so in the expedition upon which we are
now about to embark. I cannot say we are at war,
because we are still at peace—(great laughter)—but I
suppose we are very nearly at war, and probably when
I get into the Baltic I'll have an opportunity of declaring
war. (Loud cheers, laughter, and cry of "Bravo,
Charley.") Certainly, if I have that opportunity, I hope
it will end in a prosperous war, for I may safely say
that this country never sent out such a splendid fleet
as will sail for the Baltic in a very few days. I think
my right hon. friend (Sir J. Graham) and his coadjutors
at the Admiralty deserve the greatest credit for having
fitted out such a fleet in such a manner after so long a
peace. (Cheers.) My hon. friend the Surveyor of the
Navy has corrected the faults and errors that had been
committed for a great number of years ; and I don't
think we could now point out a single fault in the con-
struction of our ships. We have now enormous line-of-
battle-ships that, with the screw, will face wind, tide,
and every element. I do not mean to say that our
fleet is yet in order, but I believe, considering the
officers who have been appointed to it, that it very soon
will be. With the force, then, that we have, although
it is not equal to the Russian force, I believe that by
the assistance of the screw we shall be able to attack a
very superior force, and I have not the slightest doubt
when we do that, that every sailor and every officer in
our fleet will remember the words of Lord Nelson, that
"England expects every man to do his duty." (Loud
cheers.) The gallant Admiral concluded by proposing
" the health of the First Lord of the Admiralty,"
which was received with great applause.
Sir J. GRAHAM said—Gentlemen, my noble friend in
the chair has spoken to you of happy foreign combina-
tions and of energetic action which are now to be anti-
cipated. I confess to you that I was greatly honoured
and gratified by your invitation to be present on this
occasion. I thought that that invitation spoke of do-
mestic alliances, of energetic action at home, and I was
rejoiced to be invited by the members of the Reform
Club, with my noble friend and colleague the Secretary
of State in the ch&r, to celebrate the appointment of my
gallant friend Sir Charles Napier to take the command
of the Baltic fleet—a happy combination abroad, firm
and united councils at home, and an officer selected in
whom the confidence of the Government and of the
country on a great occasion is happily united. (Loud
cheers.) My noble friend the chairman has spoken to
you of some early exploits of my gallant friend Sir
Charles Napier. Now, it does so happen that at a still
earlier period—at the close of the last war—l had the
pleasure and the honour, in the Mediterranean, of first
making the acquaintance of my gallant friend. He
then commanded the Thames frigate, in the fleet
of Lord Exmouth ; and, even in his presence, I
may tell you that in that fleet, composed of the most
distinguished naval heroes, and of officers whose fame
is still recorded in our history, there was no officer, with-
out any exception, who more entirely possessed the con-
fidence of Lord Exmouth, and who was more generally
admired for his distinguished gallantry than my gallant
friend Sir Charles Napier. (Cheers.) I will not weigh
the precise ingredients of valour. My gallant friend
was distinguished for remarkable daring and bravery ;
but even then, in the early part of his career, he veri-
fied that praise which my noble friend has said was
awarded to him at a later period—he constantly looked
several moves beforehand—and, in my humble judgment,
he is not only a gallant, but I must add that I lookupon
him as a discreet, commander. (Loud cheers.) He
possesses my entire confidence—(hear, hear)—and I
have rejoiced in the opportunity on a great occasion of
commending him to the approbation and choice of my
Sovereign. (Loud cheers.) That selection I believe
has been approved by the country. (Renewed cheer-
ing.) I believe also that it is approved by the profes-
sion ; and, although the propelling power of the fleets
may be changed, although naval tactics may be altered,
yet he goes forth the commander, not of a pressed
body of men—(cheers)—but of volunteers for this
splendid service. All these things way be changed, but
one thing is unchanged—that is, the gallantry and
power of command of my gallant friend. He does not
go forth under any hypocritical pretence of conducting
a religious war—(cheers and laughter)—but to assert
the independence of Europe, to maintain the balance of
power, and to resist—and, I hope, successfully to resist
—as lawless a spirit of aggression and of reckless aggran-
disement as ever disgraced any country. My gallant
friend says, when he goes into the Baltic he will declare
war. (Laughter.) I, as First Lord of the Admiralty,
give him my free consent so to do. (Loud cheering.)
I hope that that war may be short, and that it may be
sharp. (Cheers.) I am sure that, guided by my gallant
friend, it will be decisive, and although politics are ex-
cluded generally from the naval profession, yet we, as
Reformers, may be proud that the honour of the British
flag in the Euxine and the Baltic is intrusted to two such
champions as Admiral Dundas and Sir Charles Napier.
(Cheers.) They will prove true to their country in the
last extremity, and I sincerely hope the time may not
be far distant when you, perhaps, will kindly invite me
again to celebrate the return of my gallant friend. (Loud
cheers.) This evening is an evening of happy augury.
When we next meet I hope it will be to celebrate a
brilliant success. (Loud cheering.),
Sir W. MOLESWORTH asked permission to propose a
toast that ho was sure would be drunk with enthusiasm,
"the health of their illustrious guest the Turkish Minis-
ter"—a gentleman well known to them, and much re-
spected, esteemed, and regarded by all to whom he was
known, both on account of his excellent personal quali-
ties, and as the representative of the Sovereign in the
defence of whose territories against unmerited aggres-
sion— in the defence of whose just and violated rights,
the united people of France and England were now
arming and sending forth the mightiest fleets that the
ocean had ever borne on its surface. (Cheers.) To pro-
tect Turkey from unscrupulous violence—to maintain
intact the territorial arrangements upon which the sta-
bility and well-being of the system of European States
mainly depended, to prevent the dangerous aggrandise-
ment of Russia at the expense of the Ottoman empire—
these were the sole and disinterested objects for which
the people of France and England had combined. De-
termined at all risks and at all hazards to attain these
objects, they had at first expected to attain them with-
out the calamities of war—(hear, hear)—they had placed
some reliance on the personal and oft-repeated assurances
of the Czar, that he was most desirous to maintain the
integrity and independence of the Ottoman Porte, and
that he wished for no increase of the power or authority
which had been conceded to him by treaties. (Hear.)
They also put some faith in the word of this Sovereign
whose boast it was that, with the power of an Autocrat,
he possessed the feelings of honour of a gentleman.
They sincerely and earnestly hoped that the difficulties
of the Eastern question might be settled by means of
peaceful negotiations, and they held it to be, for the
interest of Turkey, of Europe, and mankind, that they
should not draw the sword as long as they could keep
it with honour in its scabbard. (Cheers.) Their efforts
—first to preserve, next to restore peace, had been nobly
Seconded by the Ottoman Government, which bad din•

played great moderation, forbearance, and Self-denial,
together with courage, rnagnatiirnityl and good
offering thereby a remarkable contrast to their grasping
and imperious assailant. Our peaceful efforts had, how=
ever, failed. The fairest offers had been scornfully re-
jected. On false and flimsy pretexts two provinces of the
Turkish empire had been invaded, and their revenues
confiscated ; incendiary proclamations had been issued to
excite religious fanaticism ; blasphemous appeals had
been made to the Almighty; a crusade had been preached
to disguise the lust of dominion ; the words of Scripture
had been quoted to justify acts of aggression ; and the
feelings of humanity had been outraged by scenes of
unnecessary carnage and cruelty. (Hear, hear.) The
time for negotiation was therefore past ; the time for
vigorous action had come. (Cheers.) The summons
had been sent ; the answer must be war. The com-
bined fleets and armies of France and England were
ready, eager to display their prowess, and to make the
shores of the Baltic and Euxine resound with their deeds
of military and naval daring. (Cheers.) France and
England now expected every man to do his duty. Their
expectations would be fulfilled. (Cheers.) The gallant
admirals present and their brave brethren in arms would
soon awaken the Czar from his dream of vain glory, and
irresistible might would teach him that he could not
break his word with impunity, would inflict well-merited
chastisement upon this wanton disturber of the peace of
the world, and would make him bitterly repent the
wrong that he had done to the monarch whom France
and England were bound and resolved to protect.
(Loud cheers.) Our quarrel was a just one, and, as
the poet said—

50
50
20
20

" Thrice is he armed that has his quarrel just,
And be bur, naked, though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted."
Sir W. Molesworth concluded by proposing the health of
the Turkish Minister. (Cheers.)
The Turkish MINISTER acknowledged the compliment.
Lord DUDLEY STUART said,—My Lord Palmerston,
Sir C. Napier, and gentlemen,—The diffidence which I
feel as to my ability to do anything like justice to the
toast which has been placed in my hands, is naturally
increased by the lateness of the hour, but I have full
confidence that the subject has that within itself which
will draw from you as hearty andenthusiastic a response
as ever was given ; for who is there having a heart to
feel for justice, and to admire military skill and indomi-
table bravery in a great and good cause, will not feel
his bosom glow at the name of the Turkish Navy and
Army? Such is the toast I have to propose to you, and
with it I am to couple the names of Admiral Slade and
Omer Pacha. Admiral Slade is an officer well known in
our own service, and I am sure that I shall be borne out
by those Turkish noblemen whom I have the honour and
gratification of seeing here as our guests, when I say of
him, that by his skill, his patience, his good temper, his
good sense, and untiring assiduity, he has conferred be-
nefits on the Turkish navy, and placed it in a position to
render good service to the country. (Loud cheers.) In
speaking of the naval officers of Turkey, one naturally
revert to Sinope. That, indeed, was a day of disaster ;
but it was disaster without disgrace. The Turkish flag
at Sinope met with no disgrace—the disgrace was for
the Russians. Europe has proclaimed its opinion of that
inhuman butchery, and the page of history will ratify this
award. But the Turks, both officers and sailors, gave
proof of the most indomitable bravery, and, I hesitate
not to say that, in defending themselves as they did
against a force so out of all proportion to their own,
they exhibited a courage, a daring, and a devotion,
which has rarely or ever been equalled, and cer-
tainly never surpassed. (Hear, and loud cheers.)
On Omer Pacha—that great commander—the eyes of
all Europe are directed, and he has the prayers of
all good men for the continuation of that glorious suc-
cess which has hitherto attended his arms. (Cheers,)
I myself have had the good fortune to see both the
Turkish fleet and the Turkish army, and though I may
not be considered competent to form a judgment, as not
being a professional man, I yet bear testimony as an
eye-witness. I know that the fleet is composed of noble
ships, and manned by men determined to do their
duty. (Cheers.) I know that the Turkish army is
composed of as fine men as it is possible to see ;
that they are well armed, well fed, well equipped,
well trained, and all, from the highest to the lowest,
animated by the best spirit—a spirit which will cause
them to shed their blood, and to die, if need be, to the
last man in defence of their country. (Cheers.) And
if you want to know whether these are only words and
empty boasts—the Turks never boast—l will refer you,
besides Sinope, to the glorious days of Oltenitza,
Machin, and Citate. These gave results very different
from the expectations of the vain-glorious and arro-
gant expectations of the enemy. At Sinope the
Russian Admiral expected that the Turks were going to
haul down their colours, and that he should have nothing
to do but take possession of their ships ; and the
Russians and their friends were perpetually telling
us that the Turkish army was nothing but a horde
of fanatical and undisciplined barbarians, who
would be scattered by the troops of the Czar like
chaff before the wind. It has been common to
hear military men demonstrate that such must
be the case ; but it so happens that in every encounter
the Turks, those undisciplined barbarians, have, with
inferior forces, beaten the Russians, and put them to
the route. (Cheers.) Then, too, we have been told
that the Turks could fight well enough behind walls,
but would prove no match for the Russians in the open
field. It is true that the Turkish artillery is in
excellent order, admirably worked, and second to
none in the world, and the illustrious Omer
Pacha used it with consummate ability and effect at
Oltenitza, ; but as to the inferiority of the Turks to the
Russians in the open field, that is a delusion which was
completely dispelled at the battle of Citate, for there the
Turks engaged the Russians at the point of the bayonet,
and though in inferior numbers, these undisciplined
barbarians were so stupid that they would not stir-
' render, but they charged their enemy with irresistible
valour, and drove them from the field. (Loud applause.)
I have spoken now of the regular army ; but be-
sides this Turkey has a large force of irregulars. These
men are volunteers, who find their own arms, their own
horses ; and when I saw them, some from the remotest
parts of Asia, crowding with their numbers the Bos-
phorus, where boats could hardly be found enough to
ferry them over to Constantinople—when I saw the road
from the capital to Adrianople, and again from Adrianople
all across the Balkan, covered and bustling with these
horses, I could not but feel how great and how noble a
spirit pervaded the subjects of the Sultan. Shall I be
told that this is a spirit of fanaticism ? Where is the
man who does not honor a people ready to defend their
religion, and who does not feel that there cannot be a
greater or a nobler motive for men to take up arms ? But
this is no spirited fanaticism ; it is one of patriotism, deter-
mined to resist the attempts of a foreign power to destroy
the independence of the nation. It has been said that
we are leagued in this war with the enemies of Chris-
tianity ; but that statement comes from those who,
having " exhausted every modification of untruth, con-
cealment, and evasion, have ended with assertions of
positive falsehood." We need not therefore attend to it.
A. war against Christianity ! Why, I have myself seen
a corps composed of Christian subjects of the Porte, com-
manded by a Mussulman Pacha, marching towards
the Danube, to do battle for the Sultan, and bearing a
banner, on which appeared the Cross side by side with
the Crescent, and I have seen the population, Christian
and Mussulman, coming out to receive them and encou-
rage them. This is nota war against Christianity, but
it is a war to resist unrighteous aggression, and to de.
fend the independence ofT. urkey and ofEurope--and there-
fore the fleets and armies of England and France are
combined to render assistance to those of Turkey. The
union-jack and the tri-colour which now adorn these
walls, float over forces united in this good cause. The
shots in the Black Sea, and on the Danube, will be echoed
back from the Baltic. That sound will boom all across
the Continent of Europe, while it will raise the hopes,
and I trust more than the hopes, of all oppressed
nations, who will recollect what they owe to the
brave army and navy of Turkey, which alone up to
the present time, has offered resistance to Russia, and
has given that example, which followed, as it will be, by
our illustrious guest and his comrades by sea and by
land, will have for its result the peace, the security, and
the welfare of the world. (Loud cheers.)
The following toasts were afterwards given and duly
honoured :—" The Chairman," "the Vice-Chairman,"
" Narnik Pasha," "Admirals Hamelin and Dundas, and
and " the Reform Club
andsuececsosnttionutheed crormosbpienreidtyflteoet::,

50
40
25
25

812s1

64
25
50
20

10
26f
13i
20
20

St.
10
St.
25

5
10
St.
5

St.
16
St.
20
12i
St.

FIRE AT ST. JAMES'S-PLACE.—Yesterday morning,
at four o'clock, a fire broke out at Mr. G. A. Walker's
Vapour Baths, 11, St. James's-place, St. James's-street,
Piccadilly, and was not extinguished for several hours.
A. great amount of property was destroyed. The cause
of the fire is not known. the property was insured in
the Sun Office.

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN A POLICE STATION.—
Last evening a young man was lodged in the police-
station, West Smithfield, charged with robbing his em-
ployer. While the necessary statements were being
made for entry on the charge sheet, the prisoner sud-
denly leaned towards the prosecutor and discharged a
pistol point blank at his head,
.the ball grazed the ear of
the intended victim, and passing through the window,
lodged in the shutter. The prisoner was instantly dis-
armed and secured, and being closely watched and
guarded, the charge of attempting murder was first en-
tered, and subsequently that of embezzlement, upon
which he was taken in custody. After the charge sheet
had been signed he was placed in a cell, and orders
were issued by the inspector to keep a strict watch over
him during the night.
BANK NOTE ROBBERY.—Yesterday afternoon a gen-
tleman residing at 6, Christopher-street, Finsbury-square,
was robbed in the City of 1,6751. in bank notes. On
discovering his loss he apprised the police of the circum-
stance and stopped payment of the notes, the numbers
of which he know. A reward of 1001. has been offered
for the recovery of the property or apprehension of the
thief.

UKASE AGAINST THE HEAD-DRESSES OF JEWISH
WOMEN.—We read in the Posen Gazette :—" The ukase,
prohibiting Jewish women in Russian-Poland from
wearing false hair, has been aggravated by a new order
prohibiting them from wearing any kind of head-dress
under their bonnets. Their husbands or relatives are
made responsible for obedience to this order, and, in
case of infraction, are to be punished with fine and im-
prisonment. Several have already been punished. The
Rabbis are ordered not to perform the marriage ceremony
for any woman who disobeys these orders, and the of-
fending Rabbis, if young men, are to be sent as private
oldiers to a penal colony."

10
25
10
1.0.1

GLASGOW AND Sorrn-WEszEns.—The directors recommend
that a dividend at the rate of 31 per cent. be declared on the
ordinary stock, leaving a balance of 1,9231. The total expen-
diture amounts to 4,161,758/. ; the receipts for traffic in the
half-year ending January 31 last to 130,387/. ; and the work-
ing expenses t 057,893?" leaving a profit of 72,494/.

SHARE MARKETS.
(THIS DAY.)
1

100
8i

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Closing Prices
yesterday.

201 -20 ii
4i -- 5i

8 9
12 —lO die

16 - 18
- 5:4

100
1100
all
all
' all

93 - 95
51 - 554
15 - 16
12i •

4~ - 46

7i - 8

4 - 4h
12g - 12
-
36 40
24 - 26

8i
100
100
54
100

63 - 65
61 - 63

ii 7---- 26

100
100
100
100
100
100

90 J 91
78 80
124 - 126
94 - 96
791 - 79

92 -- 95
123/4 -134 p
12 -- 13 p
67 -- 674
6i -- GNI

13 - 13.

84 8i
par—gyp
96 —97
LO2 -102 i
par p
*
4 d
78 80

11 10 /I,
10 9d

21i
- .61.4
34 - 36

A d par
5i
2f 2i

6 - 8
47 - 49
3$ 31(1
32§ 33

li - li
6i - 7
52 - 55
i -BP

It 3;1

..6i
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- 5i
7f - 7f

2/ 2s
100
100
100
100

31 - 33

88 90
54 - 56
58 - 60

55 60
3 2d,

16 - 18
8 - 9
12 - 13
3i - 323,1

all
' 51s.
100
20

14 16
62 63
35 36
2 d par
4 5

29 - 3.1

2i - 2i
154 15i
54 -
24 - 26
4 - 6

6 - 7

68 69
8k - n 4
44 4 d
48 -- 49

1E SHARES.

si.

12j i

ii :- 101

6i -- 6
3 -- 31
4 -- 4A
i fp
---
lit
13i —l3fixd
22i -23 A

24 i

791 9

66i i

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96 g
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22 I li
61 60i

33s 2i

31 - 31

11.6 -1:117xd1

105 —lo7xd
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98 100
90 95
94 96
id
136 138

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6 96 • 1076
par ipad

136 138
li —id ad
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••• xd
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••• ad
••• xd

100 -- 102
p
9A --10'
16i -- 17
10 -- 10
12 --14+
id -- p
23i -- 24
100 -- 102
17 -- 19

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