The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-25 00:00:00

TICE COBDEN CLUB DIN:NKR

The ineinhere of the Cobden Club held they Aia.mnall
dinner on Saturday, et the'Ship Tavern, Greenwich.
Mr. GLADSTONE said they were met to commemorate
no mere empty name; but a name which is associated, in
the first pliteai, with the recollection of splendid services
performed by Mr. Oobilen on behalf of his own country and
of mankind ; and in the second with the anticipation, still
more brilliant, that the results of those services which he
rendered will extend far into the future ; fur he perceived
in their dim commencement and in their embryo the fore-
most ideas that must govern this great community,
Never was there a man who less required that some
special ilasoeiaticm should be formed to preserve his fame.
His fame, I need not say, carried with it its own pre-
servation, and as long as civilisation lasts it will not die,
In referring to the impending struggle on the Continent
the right hon. gentleman said—Within the last few days
there has gone forth, as with the voice of trumpets, the,
proclamation of war between the two greatest military
Powers of Europe, between two of the nations most
civilised and most distinguished ; two natsons whose
names are inseparably mixed up with the history of
all that is great and good in the past records of
Christendom ; two nations fisted with the apparatus of
destruction in d stot6 of perfectness higher perhaps than
it has ever been known before, and animated by those
motives of unshrinking patriotism in the masses of the
people, which, however innocent, however honourable;
hewever admirable they may be in themselves as they
dwelt In the individualbreast, yet we cannot witnesf with-
one cOtenniseratimm when we reflect upon the bloody re-
cords which so Much human energy will probably leave on
many fields of battle before this lamedtable war has ann its
course. It is not for tie Who are here assembled,,
still less is it for me in the office which I have the
honour unworthily to hold, to attempt to anticipate the
judgment of posterity upon the great ents which.
are now daily occurring • but this I may say without
assuming to myself the office of dispensing praise or blame
—to which I am totally unequal—that th pen of the his-
torian will, I believe, hereafter repeat that among all
the wars by which the 19th century has been chequered,
there Wag none more unspeakably tragic, more un-
mixedly sorro*fal, more full of painful associationf,
and more grievous in anticipation to those who love
their country and mankind than that war which is
at this moment breaking out. May it be tempered
by the humane spirit of civilisation, May it be
narrowed and restricted by the wisdom of those who are
mercifully exempt from its range, and may the
Almighty, who disposes the hearts of men, turn
towards peace and mercy the hearts of those upon whom
h Will depend how long rivers of human blood ore to flow,
and how long earth is to blush for the follies of those who
live from her breast. Nov, this association takes no
notice of national distinctions: We are here as Christians
amid as brother& Our ground has been marked out for us
by the Mari whose name is commemorated in the title of
this association. There are many assembled round this
boaid Who can testify to the breadth of character and
idea that belongs tb the Cobden Club, There are repre-
senia!+e4 of France and Germany, and I may say that
many other ifitiFtikus foreigners, including M. Michel Che-
valier, would have t hthi presented had not their approach
been intercepted by the calaititcus circumstances of war. I
rejoice to think that a country near to us, hunted in ex-
tent and consequently in population, but illustrious in
history and dear to Europe for the example she has. pre-
sented I I Mean Belgium—is represented at this board as
you would Wish list to be. I rejoice, also, to think that
a great Power Which has shown its capacity to weld an
entire Continent into state—l mean America
is also represented on this cession. Well, gentlemen,
I must say that our friend Mr, Cobden was a man
whose mind was too large to be confined to a narrow
range of subjects. I do not deny the, his, intense
interest in matters to which his intimate and powerful
intellect was applied was of an absorbing character; but
when we put together all the particulars of those various
subjects to which, at different times, he applied his atten-
' th,n, we see that nothing cobld be a greater error than to
treat Miff as a man of one idea, and while he elways felt
and expressed the deepest interest in the welfare of man-
kind; hc never failed in special attachment to his own county.
It has been said abroad that free trade is a good thin°. for
England, but a bad thing for the rest of the world. Ido
not think we are very much better or very much wiser
than our neighbours ; on the contrary, I am ready to
confess that in various important respects we are less wise
and in some respects inferior ; but I think that every
comintry has its own special work to do, and it seems to
be the especial design of Providence to employ each
country in solvfng its own social and political problems
for the advantage of Witte. Countries are put through
the fire, as it were, in order to try the effect of the pro-
cess, and when they come out the experience they haue
had has to be placed on reeird for the benefit of mankind.
No totintry went more deeply, more dispassionately, into
the system 6/ protection, none clung to it more fondly
than-mir own, and yet no country has ever felt or ever
can feel more deeply Lime mischiefs of the system.
The Lord Chancellor, the Hort. Mr. Bigelow, Mons. de
Laveleye, and other gentlemen tilao spoke,

THE WIMBLEDON REVIEW.

The annual Wimbledom review on Saturday was a
success, but a gloom seemed to overspread those present
in consequence of the catastrophe at Lord FlchO's. His
Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was present, but
it is understood that, out of respect to Lord Elcho, he left
early, and the review was curtailed somewhat of its fair
proportions and compressed within narrow limits of time.
A force of volunteers, amounting in the avegate to
11,736 inen,kwere to have attendedthe review, but of these
two battalions were absent altogether—namely` the Lon-
don Scottish, out of respect to Lord Elcho, and the St.
George's Rifles, which, if represented, did not appear as a
distinct corps. This defection, and the poor muster which
for some reason always characterises the Wimbledon Re-
view, reduced the number present to below 10,000 men.
The force was drawn up, prior to the commencement of
the sham fight, on the south side of the plateau in front
of the Grand Stand, facing to the west. The flying
columns of the regulars occupied the post of honour, the
7th Dragoon Geards being drawn up in advance,
with the battery of Horse Artillery on their right,
the infantry in line of columns, with the En-
gineers on the right, followed in order by the
13th Light Infantry, the 33d Regiment, the 42nd
Highlanders, and the battalion of the 60th Rifl es
The plan of action suppoSed an enemy to be making his
way from Combe-wood and Kingston-bottom towards the
line of butts. To find out his strength a cavalry re-
connaissance was made in the direction of Kingston,
and, the head of the enemy's columns being
seen, the Horse Artillery received the word of com-
mand, " Action front," and were soon blazing
away. They were quickly strengthened on the left
by the field battery of Royal Artillery, and very soon the
volunteer batteries moved .up in support, and the fight
fairly commenced. When the whole of the field bat-
teries were engaged with the enemy, the cavalry retired
through the line of butts on to the plateau, and, accom-
panied by the Horse Artillery, moved to the right of the
position. The 60th Rifles then doubled out into skirmish-
ing order covering the whole front of the position, and
one of the prettiest sights of the day was the admirable
style in which these fine fellows took advantage of the
excellent ground to cover themselves as much as possible
while rapidly advancing and maintaining a capital fire.
Covered by their advance, the brigade of regular infantry
deployed, and followed in a line, which, in spite of the
trying character of the ground, remained unbroken until
sections had to be broken off while passing between the
butts. Preserving their formation as well as the thick
growth of gorse beyond would allow, they swept onward
until within reach of the enemy, and then, skirmishers
being recalled, the rolling fire of the Snider became
general. As the regulars advanced, the two leading
brigades of the volunteers deployed and followed in
support. When they had taken a position in advance
of the line of the butts, the regulars, who were
supposed to have received a check, retired through
the volunteers, who then opened fire on the enemy.
The volunteer advance was well supported by artillery
fire from both flanks, the volunteers vying with the regu-
lar artillery in the rapidity and precision with which
they used their guns. The volunteers were 'supposed to
meet with no better success against the enemy than the
regulars, and therefore they were in turn withdrawn,
the two reserve brigades being advanced to cover the
movement, and the artillery fire being redoubled while
it was being effected. A succession of company volleys
from the newly deployed line was supposed to check the
enemy sufficiently to allow the whole force to be safely
withdrawn to the east of the butts, and there, according
to the programme, a change of front should have
been effected, an advance made towards the north,
and a succession of cavalry charges delivered in
full view of the Grand Stand. This, however, was
omitted. The change of front was duly made, but it was
only to draw up the whole force in order for the march
past ; for rifles were emptied ; the bands of the regulars
were massed opposite the saluting base ; the General com-
manding, Sir Hope Grant, took up his position, accom-
panied by Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar and his staff,
and 'an interesting defile commenced. Each battery,
splendid body of regulars, with their grand divisions, the
weak companies of volunteers shewed to some disadvan-
tage ; and even the admirable dressing and distance of
the London Rifle Brigade did not receive the usual
amount of recognition. Every corps, however, acquitted
itself creditably, and in some instances this was duly
recognised by a cheer front the spectators.