The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-06 00:00:00

MR. CARDWELL AT OXFORD

The Right Hon. E. Cardwell, M.P., together with
the Earl of Abingdon, assisted at an entertainment in
the Town-hall of Oxford on Thursday evening to honour
the late mayor of that city, James Pike, Esq., who has
discharged the duties of that office in a very satisfactory
manner.
" The health of the two members for Oxford, Mr.
Cardwell and Mr. Langston" (the latter of whom was
absent on account of illness), having been toasted, the
compliment was acknowledged by the right hon. gentle-
man, who took occasion to allude in his speech to the late
mayor's having carried up to her Majesty the loyal address
of the Oxford corporatio i, when they congratulated her
upon the conclusion of peace. Mr. Cardwell re
marked that since the Russian war with all its
causes, sacrifices, and triumphs, its splendid manifesta
tions of martial intrepidity and female heroism, had been

terminated by the signature of the treaty, all questions
connected with it had passed away to that ultimate tri
bunal which would pass an irrevocable sentence on pub-
lic events the calm and impartial judgment-seat of
history. To him it was a peculiar satisfaction that when
the assembled powers of Europe signed that treaty, and
returned the nations of the world to the undisputed
sway of international law, they did not rest satisfied
with that great object, but they materially reformed and
improved that international law, so far as related to
maritime warfare, by mitigating its severity, enlarging
its humanity, and adding for the future to the safety of
property and security of commerce. The war had passed
away, but not, he trusted, that great alliance between
England and France to which the wisest statesmen of
both countries had always looked as affording the
best guarantee for the tranquillity of both nations,
and the good government of the world. (Cheers.)
Mr. Cardwell then referred to the changes in our own-
public establishments which had been rendered neces-
sary by the circumstances of the war, or by the transi-
tion afterwards from war to peace. Amongst the latter,
he observed, there would be the retrenching that expen-
diture which had become unnecessary, so as to afford the
opportunity of a just and kindly reduction of the public
burdens. Parliament !a ould also have to deal with queer
Lions of legal reform. They would be called on to con-
eider the reform of the Ecclesiastical Courts ; and ever
since he had the honour of a seat in Parliament reformers
had endeavoured to obtain that object. It reminded
him of that single snipe which for a long winter afforded
an old gentleman constant amusement in continually
firing at it, but never hitting it ; and, as far as his
(Mr. Cardwell's) experience went, they were continu-
ally aiming at the Ecclesiastical Courts. They were now
about to have another shot at the same bird, and he
trusted they would be able to accomplish what they had
in view: (Cheers.) Then there would be the question
of a reform in the criminal law, for the more effectual
prevention of those great frauds which had lately
startled the commercial world. There would be the
question of the paternal correction of juvenile offenders,
by a system which should not only deal punishment to
them, but afford those unfortunate children some moral
protection, and the means of deliverance from orime,
ignorance, and suffering. Parliament would probably
be invited also to consider some plan for the more con-
venient transfer of landed property. Nothing was more
common to hear than that the question of free trade was
settled ; and so it was as far as the tariff of duties upon
foreign commodities was concerned ; but the question of
free trade in land remained to be dealt with. It was a
difficult question, and he rejoiced to be informed it was
likely in the next session to attract the attention of Par-
liament. The right hon. gentleman then observed that
Englishmen ought to be thankful for the privileges they
exercised and enjoyed above what was the lot of any
other country in the world. (Cheers.) In this country,
our free
,institutioas, the expression of public opinion in
our representative assemblies and by the circulation of
the press, exercised an influence steadily and irresistibly
on the decrees of the Legislature, and supported or con-
stituted the deliberate and determined will of the people.
In that respect England exhibited a degree of strength
greater than that of the most ancient monarchy, whilst
the national interests were pnrirued with a keen vigour
superior to that of the youngest republic. (Cheers.) As
compared with past times, the position of this people
and its influence far exceeded tin it which Providence had
conferred on any other nation of the globe. Slavery had
long been wiped from our esctitcheons—(cheers)—and
our colonies were no longer u nited to us by chains of
legal compulsion, but rather by t he bonds of mutual love
and affection. (Cheers.) The result was that the
dominions of our beloved Queen constituted the most
united and most powerful empire that the world ever
yet saw, and those great results were, under Divine Pro-
vidence, due to the sobriety, energy, and indomitable
vigour which characterised the An Tio-Saxon race.
The health of the Earl of Abioga on, Lord Lieutenant
of Berkshire, was then proposed, a nd responded to by
his lordship, who referred amongst o they matters to that
of popular education, as to the desire; deness of which all
agreed, while at the same time we . all disagreed as to
how it should be carried out. Loo. 'sing to our rival
churches, our religious sects, and reli ,gious bigotry, he
could not see any probable satisfactor: r settlement of the
question consistently with the principles of religious
liberty.

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.— -{This Day.)

---M-.

LONDON, Dec. 6.—Wind this • day at noon, S.W. ;
very strong.
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 5.--Wind 'S.W.—Arrived—Caro-
line, from Quebec ; Catapitco (s.s.:), London, for Valpa-
raiso. Off the port—Conflict, from Bombay.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 3.—Wind: S.B.W.—Arrived—Oscar
M
Vidal, from oulmain, with 'toss o f bowsprit and cut-
water, having been in contact with the Newcastle.
FALMOUTH, Dec. s.—Wind S.W „ fresh and squally.—
Arrived—Thendun, from San to Cr uz ; Nordstjernen, Ce-
phalonia, for Antwerp. Put ba ck--Ellen, for Jamaica.
HULL, Dec. s.—Wind N. E.—Arrived—Secret (s.),
from Bremen ; Equator, St. Jo hn's, N.B.
SWANSEA, Dec. s.—Wind N .B.—Arrived.—Beethoven,
from Coquimbo.
PILL, Dec. b.—Wind W.S.I. P. —Arrived—Meldon, from
Quebec.

(PER EL/41,5TU10 TELEGIMPH.)
LIT arooL, Saturday Morning.

Wind S.W.
Arrived—Mirage, from To tocorin ; Arracan and Jessie
Munn, Calcutta ; Ardencr Singapore ; Austin Ellen,
Benin ; Shamrock, Onta tie ; and Joseph Jones, New
York ; Morning Star, Wi ad sor, U.S. ; Highland Brigade,
Richibuctoo ; Harriett S aphia, Pugwash ; Aurora, Dant-
zie ; Vilking, Droback ; Spirit, Rotterdam ; Minho, Lis-
bon ; Jane, Patras.
Sailed—Henrietta Col frtelia, for Adelaide ; Sincerity,
Cherbourg; Sarah, Patrt ks; Co'quette, Sierra Leone.
QITEENSTOWN, Dec. 4.

Wind S.S.E.
Arrived—Tempio, fr l'aaanrog ; Ann and Jape, Bic)
Grando ; Marchioness cf B r:adalbano, Odessa; Victoria,
Galatz ; Cavalina, St. zybe7i,.

-
(By Bußmiatir a; AND BRITISH TELEGRAPH.}
Wind, S.W. ; tide, ' GB AVESEND, Saturday, 10.2 a.m.
Arrived, Nov. 5. —.34 b.ours' ebb ; strong, and light rain.
Fr'
"ka from St. Michael's ; Helena,
Seville ; Unity, Rot;, 'a.
Sailed, Nov. 6.- --L, atCl. :en. (s.), for Harborg ; London (s.),
Gothemborg.
DEAL, Saturday, 9.50 a.m.

Wind strop
Passed—lsland QllOOl igbfrom westward ; Centaur, Mauri•
tins ; Queen Sheba, Mt Gras--alt for London.

Damage to the ex tent of 5400d013 had been "ca'
tioned at St, Louis 1 py