The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-18 00:00:00

mised.

Lord ROYSTON, though sympathising with the French,
believed the Government had assumed a policy which was
in every way a sound one, and one which was generally
approved by the nation.
Mr. HORSMAN hoped the hon member (Mi. Herbert)
would not drive the House to a division, as it would com-
pel the Government to abandon the position they had
taken—a position which was in accordance with the feel-
ings of the country.

Sir H. BULWER, while sympathising with the senti-
ments of the hon. member for Nottingham, deplored the
motion. Prussia was determined to act with justice and
moderation, and if the resolution was passed, the House
would be merely holding out a threat and menace which
would frustrate the object it had in view.

Sir H. HOARE contended that it was the ,duty of the
Government to use all the moral influence it possessed to
secure terms of peace for France.
_ _

Mr. Baillie Cochrane, Mr. Muntz, and other members
having addressed the House,
Mr. GLADSTONE thanked the House for the temper in
which the intentions and general policy of the Govern-
ment during the disastrous war had been judged. The
speech of the right hon. member for Tamworth (Sir R.
Peel) was the only one in the debate which was intended
to assail the proceedings of the Government. He did not
object to the criticism, and he would venture to remind
his right hon. friend that, whether among States or
whether among individuals, moderate language was in
itself becoming, and would be found upon the whole to
answer best. He defended Earl Granville's despatch of
the 16th October; and asserted that it was only the un-
toward manner in which it was received by Russia which
precluded the Government from developing the proposals
for peace negotiations. He greatly regretted that Lord
Lyons's departure from Paris had been designated an un-
generous and unmanly flight, for it was done under the
direct injunctions of the Government. (Cheers.) If,
after the iron circle had been placed around
Paris, Lord Lyons had been instructed to re-
main, the Government would have been depen-
dent for their communications upon the chances of
passing through the Prussian lines, which, to say the
least, would have been an impolitic course to pursue.
The ,hon. member for Finsbury had intimated that the
proper time for the Government to intervene in favour of
peace was after the battle of Sedan, and that in the event
of failure we should withdraw our representatives from
Germany. Had the Government interfered and failed, it
would have been very difficult indeed not to proceed
further. (Hear, hear.) The time might come quickly
when the services of the neutral Powers would be
required ; but, as he posnted out the other evening, up to
this time neither of the belligerents had as yet expressed
any wish that the neutral Powers should interfere. It
had been asserted that England had lost her influence
abroad, but he, on the contrary, thought that in every
respect England had reason to lie satisfied with her posi-
tion. Whenever the good offices of England were
required they would be given, and it would be a satisfac-
tion to the Government if, after this long time of social
trouble and disorder, after such great revolutions, Europe
would enjoy a period of peace and tranquillity.

The motion was then withdrawn. -
NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Lord HENRY LENNOX drew attention to the conditions
in which the administration of naval affairs is now placed,
and urged that for six months we had been without any
naval administration.

Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, stated that he had refused to
accept Mr. Childers's resignation, thinking that the incon-
uenience the Government would experience from Mr.
Childers's absence,for two or three weeks, would not be so
great as if he had resigned. There was no period in our
history when our naval supremacy was so secure as at
present.

After some further discussion, the subject dropped.
Mr. FORSTER postponed his bill for amending the pro-
cedure at municipal and Parliamentary elections until
Monday.

The House adjourned at ten minutes past twelve.

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT

RACE.

OXFORD, Friday.
The secretary of the boat club, Mr. S. H. Woodhouse,
(University), who was absent on Wednesday, in conse-
quence of his College athletic sports requiring his attend-
ance on that day, retured to the bow seat yesterday
afternoon, when the crew were out, as usual, twice over
the short course ; the president, Mr. W. D. Benson,
Balliol College, and the ex-president, Mr. J. C. Tinn4,
University College, alternately coaching from the bank
on horseback. The crew is now considered stationary,
being composed as 'follows :—first, S. H. Woodhouse,
(University), list. 41b.; second, E .Giles, (Christ Church),
12st. Mb.; third, T. S. Baker, (Queen's), 13st. 61b.;
fourth, E. C. Malan, (Worcester), 13st. Mb.; fifth, J. E.
Moss, (Balliol), 12st. 101 b.; sixth, F. Payne, (St. John's),
12st. 101 b.; seventh, R. Lesley, (Pembroke), 12st. 21b.;
stroke, J. W. Bunbury, (B. N. C.), 12st.; coxswain,
A. H. Hall, (Corpus), 7st. 61b. This afternoon they make
their second journey to Abingdon, a distance of about nine
miles.