The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-01 00:00:00

PATRIOTIC FUND.

CITY OF WESTMINSTER.
The public meeting of the city of Westminster in aid
of the Patriotic Fund, adjourned from the 16th of No-
vember, was held yesterday in St. Martin's hall ; Mr.
F. Smedly, High Bailiff of Westminster, in the chair.
The attendance at the commencement of the proceedings
was rather small, but became larger towards the conclu
sion, and there was a considerable muster of ladies in the
galleries. On the platform were the Bishop of London
Sir J. Shelley, M.P., Admiral Bowles, the Rev. Mr.
Cureton, and several other gentlemen connected with
the city of Westminster.

The HIGH BAILIFF, after stating the object of the
meeting, observed that he had received a letter from
Lord Aberdeen, expressing his great regret that he was
unable to be present in consequence of a Cabinet Council.
He had also received a letter from the Duke of Due-
clench, in which it was stated that his absence from town
prevented his being at the meeting, but requesting that
his name should ho put down, as High Steward of West-
minster, for 25b1. (Cheers.) lie had obtained, he might
say, piles of letters from other noblemen and gentlemen,
assigning as a reason for their not attending their ab-
sence from town, and stating that they had subscribed
in their own localities. There were deputations present,
he vas happy to say, from several of the most important
parishes of 'Westminster, and he had no doubt that, in
the matter of subscriptions, all of them would do their
duty. (Cheers.)
Mr. Haiesann, the printer, announced a subscription
on the part of the workpeople in his employment.
The Bishop of LONDON moved the first resolution,
which was as follows :
"That
life this m
occasionedeet i meeting,
hwhiley tn
e w deeplyar, deresppl oo rnidn
sg
withthe loss
o
of-
valuable
tions of love; loyalty; and 'gratitude to the call of her
Majesty for the formation of a Patriotic Fund to mitigate
the sufferings of the and the orphan ; and is at
the same time desirous to record its deep sense of grati-
tude to Almighty God for His past mercies and its de-
vout dependence upon Him for the future, imploring
Him, in His own time and way, to mitigate the horrors
of war, and bestow upon us the blessings of peace."
The right rev. prelate said he was glad to see so many
present, though the attendance was not, perhaps, so
numerous as might have been expected from the large
and important city of Westminster. (gear, hear.) But
it ,vas to be remembered that some of the most influen-
tial persons whose assistance they depended upon were
detained by engagements of the highest importance,
while many others who resided in Westminster were
employed in trade and commerce in other parts of Lon-
don, and had already liberally subscribed to the fund.
lie did not, therefore, regard the comparatively scanty
attendance as indicative of any want of sympathy with
the object for which they were assembled. (Hear, hear.)
He was sure they would all cordially respond to that part
of the resolution which referred to the debt of gratitude
they owed to her Majesty for the establishment of the
Patriotic Fund, and the appointment of a Royal Com-
mission, which enabled the public to contribute without
any misgiving as to the liberal, equitable, and discreet
distribution of the money intrusted to their hands. They
owed also to her Majesty an acknowledgment of the deep
sympathy she had on all occasions expressed towards those
of her subjects who were engaged in fighting her battles ;
and he might, without impropriety, state that he had
been honoured with the sight of a private letter from
her Majesty, speaking in the most feeling manner both
of the pride which she felt at the gallantry and self-
devotion of her army and navy and of her deep sorrow
at the heavy loss they had sustained. (Cheers.) They
had, indeed, to deplore the loss of many valuable
lives, and it was grievous to think how many familiee
had been placed in mourning by the casualties of
the war ; but that many more such casualties would
occur it was impossible to doubt, when they looked at
the manner in which the war was carried on and the
fearful odds against which our brave soldiers had to con-
tend—odds which they had hitherto been able to over-
match by the indomitable valour, perseverance, and
energy which they bad displayed. The losses we had
sustained excited the deepest feeling of sorrow in
every English heart ; but with that feeling had mingled
pride and thankful exultation at the manner in which
our English soldiers had maintained their ancient repu-
tation—aye, and even exceeded it—by defeating armies
many times their number, with the highest honour to
themselves and ignominy and confusion to the foe.
(Cheers.) They desired at the same time to record their
deep sense of gratitude to Almighty God for his past
mercies, and their devout dependence upon Him for the
future. If there was a nation in the world which ought
to express gratitude to the Supreme Disposer of all
Events it was Great Britain, seeing the many signal in-
terpositions of Providence on our behalf—at one time
overpowering great naval armaments that seemed des-
tined to crush our freedom and our church—at another,
in the early part of this century, interposing to shield
our country from the Power which then threatened to
destroy us. (Hear, hear.) At the present moment we
were standing forward in behalf of the liberty of Europe,
and no one could say that we were actuated by selfish
purposes .or by any desire of aggrandisement ; and it
was to God that we owed all the success which had
hitherto attended our arms. We were at the same time
to implore Almighty God, in his own time and way, to
mitigate the horrors of war, and to bestow on us the
blessings of peace. ‘Ve were apt to look upon war as
being lees of an evil, less of a scourge inflicted on us by
God, than it really was. Exempt by our insular posi-
tion from painful experience in the worst calamities of
war, we were apt to think more slightly of those cala-
mities than we ought. We heard the echoes of the
thunderstorm from a distance, but did not feel the
flash of the lightning, or the power of the bolt. Yet
how many families among us were feeling the horrors of
war in being mutilated of their most precious members,
and who mourned with only the consolation that their
relatives and friends had fallen on the field of glory and
in their service of their country, and, it was hoped, with
the consolations of religion in their dying hour. (Hear.)
They ought, then, to pray that these horrors should
cease ; and who could tell what would be the effect of
the united prayers of a Christian nation addressed to the
God of Peace to put an end to that which, no doubt for
his own good purpose, he had inflicted on the nations of
the world ? (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, the right
rev. prelate expressed a hope that in the contributions
to this fund all classes would join, even the humblest and
poorest, according to their means. In the parish of
Fulham domestic servants and labourers had cheerfully
contributed, and even the inmates of almhonses had
given their sixpences to the cause. (Hear.) What was
thrown into the treasury would not be judged of by the
amount, for it was the motive that gave value to the
, gift. (Cheers.)

Mr. JOSEPH Woonseconded the resolution, which was
put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
The next resolution was proposed by Sir J. SI:INUIT :
That this meeting, with a view to record its sense of
the obvious duty devolved upon it to provide for those
who have lost husbands or fathers while nobly defending
the cause of its country and that of her ancient ally, do
form a coininittee to raise funds in aid of the Patriotic
Fund." The hon. baronet sail that he rejoiced in having
the opportunity of lending his humble aid in support of
the Patriotic Fund, and he believed that such a spon-
taneous and voluntary subscription would be more grate-
ful to the feelings of British soldiers and sailors than
any sum that could be voted as the result of a debate
in the House of Commons, and of a cold calculation of
what amount would be sufficient. (Cheers.) Being
assured that there was not a man who needed any incite-
ment to contribute to the full extent of his ability to the
Patriotic Fund, he might content himself with simply
moving the resolution he had proposed, if it were not
that he felt he now stood in a peculiar position as their
representative—though he would not say unfortunate
position, for no elector of 'Westminster, he felt certain,
begrudged to the country the able services rendered to
it on the field of bittle by his gallant colleague. (Loud
cheers.) They all saw as they passed along the streets
the anxious crowds perusing the announcements of the
latest intelligence from the seat of war, and they might
be sure that Westminster, with its numerous inhabitants,
looked with an anxious mind to the lists of those who
suffered from casualties, to ascertain whether that brave
old man who had been so long its honest representative
had suffered any misfortune. (Hear.) Many an anxious
father and mother read the Gazette with the fond hope of
finding some beloved name mentioned with honour ; and
in this respect Westminster had not been disappointed,
for scarcely a despatch had been received from
Lacy Lord
Raglan in which the name of General Sir
(Applause.)
At was not honourably distieguishedin
disease, plauws )
At length the brave old man, succumbing g
the first sound of
as
compelled to leave his post ; yet,ha
sickness, not selfishly to take fromo
his
withi his counsel
the trumpet and roar of cannon, ehq.sui.ttoendiohritshbeeoodmo!
'nand, but: to assist that gallant
of
country.so d
frequent asse ion
(Cheers.) It was a
and judgment for the benefit their
finless he belonged to some mullf
rise in the British army t a
long common
n o m
list of friends with
of influence, or couldboinas of
the case of Sir De Lacy
great interest ; but
Evans they met with a
direct contradiction to that
assertion.
The recommendations which placed
Sir De Lacy Evans in the proud position he occu-
pied had been his own good sword, his gallantry, in.
domitable courage, and those eminent qualities whit%
constituted him one of the best of soldiers. (Loud cheers.)
In the course of his career Sir De Lacy Evans bad had
six or seven horses killed under him, had received five
wounds, had led many forlorn hopes, and, what he be-
lieved was unparalleled in the British army, Sir De Lacy
Evans rose from the rank of simple lieutenant, through
all the intermediate grades, to that of lieutenant-general
in the short space of One year, receiving eachpromo-
tion on the field of battle in the face of the enemy.
(Loud !cheers.) In concludinz, the hon. baronet ex-
pressed his conviction that the House of Commons would
show, by the readiness and liberality of its votes, its
anxiety to strengthen the haeds of the executive Go-
vernment so long as the latter exhibited a determination
to bring the war, by vigorous efforts, to a speedy and
successful termination. (Applause.)
Admiral BOWLES seconded the resolution, appealing
to the ladies to promote, by their influence and exertions,
the work of charity now being commenced, and feelingly
alluded to the noble devotion exhibited by seine of their
countrywomen in tending the wounded and sick at the
hospitals of the East.
The resolution was carried unanimously, after a few
words from Mr. D. Nicoll in its favour.
The HIGH BAILIFF, in acknowledging itt
A vote of thanks to the chairman having been passed,
that already in Westminster a number of g men
business firms had puttributors
down their names as eon
Patriotic Fund, and he
enPleobserved
and
to the amount of 5,0001. to the
expressed a hope that that sum aught be raised to
50,0001._