The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-06 00:00:00

SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE,

Yesterday afternoon a meeting of citizens of London,
was held at the City Terminus Hotel, Cannon-street, for
the purpose of expressing sympathy with France in her
present position. The meeting was promoted by the
committee, of which Mr. Merriman is the chairman, and
prior to the commencement of the proceedings, copies of
the memorial to the Lord Mayor, asking his lordship to
convene a meeting at the Guildhall, and which the chief
magistrate of the city declined to do, were circulated
throughout the room. Mr. Lockyer, of Mincing-lane,
was called upon to preside. Mr. Merriman condemned
the conduct of the Lord Mayor in refusing to grant the
use of the Guildhall for the meeting, and declared that, to
say the least of it, he was exceedingly ill-advised in ignoring
the wish of the citizens expressed in a memorial which S
second to none presented to a Lord Mayor for a similar
purpose during the past century. (Cheers.) Referring
to the war the speaker said thought it was alleged that
the French people were the aggressors, the Im•
perial correspondence which had since been dis-
covered clearly proved the contrary, and shewed that
the Emperor had been dragged into a war by
Prussia who for a long time before had been
prepared for it. If, as the King of Prussia said, he made
war against a dynasty, and not against the French peo-
ple, peace should have been concluded after the capitu-
lation of Sedan. Every Englishman must blush for such
a dynasty as that of Prussia, and for the connection of
English Royalty with it. The British taxpayer had to
pay heavily towards the support of Princes and Princelets
of a country which was carrying on this uncivilized and
unrighteous war. (Great cheering). He considered they
had a right to call upon the Government, after their
seven weeks' inaction, to take steps to bring about a
peace which should be consistent with the honour of France,
and with the true interests of European civilization. Every
pressure should be put upon Prussia to bring about this end,
and, unless success followed, it should be declared that
Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and other Royal
residences, should be closed against all connected with the
Prussian dynasty. He moved " That the meeting de-
clares its abhorrence of the war now waged by Prussia
in France. We do so in the interest of both
countries as well as on behalf of peace, justice,
and humanity, and in the conviction that equitable terms
can be more easily arranged at the present time than at
any future stage of this devastating conflict, we call upon
her Majesty's Government to press for effectual negotia-
tions between Prussia and France with the view
of procurir.g an honourable and lasting peace."
—Mr. Brindle seconded the resolution.—Mr. Solomons
moved as an amendment to add the words, "And that
Government should immediately respagnise the de facto
French Republic." He, however, withdrew it at the
request of the chairman, and the original motion was
carried with only three or four dissentients.—Mr. Solo-
mons then moved as a substantive resolution what
he had proposed as an amendment, and Mr.
Weston seconded it. The resolution was put
• and carried by a considerable majority, but the chair-
man declared it lost, and a scene of much confusion pre-
• vailed for some minutes. The meeting would not allow

the programme to be proceeded with until the resolution
was again put and declared by the chairman to be carried,
amid loud cheers and counter cheers.—Dr. Mackay
moved and Mr. Muir seconded a resolution expressing
earnest sympathy with the people of France in their
disasters, and admiration of their heroic conduct. Reso-
lutions were also passed, recording reprobation of the
policy of Prussia since the surrender of Sedan, agreeing to
call a meeting of inhabitants of the metropolis generally
to confirm the above resolutions, and appoint a deputation
to wait upon Mr. Gladstone with a memorial upon the
subject.