The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-30 00:00:00

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Itiop

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock,

PROPOSED IMPEACHMENT OF
MINISTERS.

Great Meeting this Day.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of the metropolis
took place this afternoon at two o'clock, at St Martin's-
hall, Long-aore, to protest against any peace being con•
eluded inconsistent with the honour and dignity of the
country, The announcement calling the meeting was
beaded, " Do the Men of Westminster desire Peace or
War," and was to the following effect :—" Sir, I am
desired to request the attendance of yourself and
friends at a publio meeting of the inhabitants et
Westminster, to be held on Wednesday next, the
30th instant, at St. Martin's-hall, Long-acre, to
protest against the conclusion of any peace on terms
inconsistent with the honour and dignity of this coun-
try. The chair to be taken at 2 o'clock, by Mr. C.
Westerton. By order of the committee, Jarnea Beal,
Hon. Sec."

Mr. C. Westerton took the chair at a quarter.
past 2, and proceeded to address the meeting. Re said
that as one who had taken a prominent part in
calling this meeting, it was necessary he should
state the grounds on which it had been called.
Those who acted with him felt that a crisis was at
hand, and that whilst the peace party were active in
disseminating their opinions and which were gaining
ground, that the opinions of the acting men of West-
minster being against a conclusion of a poste at any
price, they should have an opportunity of expressing that
opinion. (Loud cheers.) Their object was not to sup-
port any particular set of men who were in office, but to
declare their opinion irrespective of party. One resolu-
tion only would be submitted for their consideration,
embracing two.points, one that, they were determined to
carry out the war vigorously, and that ho armistice
should be concluded until the preliminaries of pew had
been signed, and the other that the war should not close

until they had secured-for Turkey her independence and
freedom. Loud cheers.) The Chairman read a letter
from Sir De Lacy Evans, sympathising with the object
for which the meeting had been called, and expressing
regret at his not being able to attend.

Colonel SMYTH VEMIKER then oame forward to move

the resolution. He said, as a moderate Conservati►e,
it gave him great pleasure in coming before them to-
day. He felt sure that men of every party would be
found to be united in their endeavours to carry the
war to a successful `conc!nsion. He felt that, looking
at the articles of peace, they were not at all satisfactory;
indeed the fifth article meant nothing, and the proper
course would have been to have embodied the whole of
the demands into one resolution, and ask Russia whether
she would accept such terms or not. The condition
that Bomarsund should not be rebuilt ought to be a sine
qua non after they bad drawn Sweden into the vertex of

the war. In these articles there was not the slightest
allusion to the re-building of Sebastopol. He thought
that such a thing ought to have been clearly put forward,
and that not only the south side should not be rebuilt,
but that the north side should also be given up. Cir-
cassia ought also tio be provided for as it would be ex-
ceedingly unjust to come to any terms that did secure
the independence of that brave nation. (Loud cheers.)
He thought that an armistice being signed before there
WAS a certain prospect of peace was decidedly objection-
able. (Loud cheers.) The expenses of the war had
been to a degree lost sight of, and ought certainly to be
enforced from Russia. (Cheers.) He begged now to
move the resolution which be thought they would pass
unanimously, it was as follows :—" That it is the
opinion of this meeting that to conclude an armistice
until the preliminaries of peace are signed, would be at
variance with the interests and wishes of the British
people, and that they consider no treaty will be satis-
factory which does not secure the allies an indemnity
I for the expenses of thews; and which does not guarantee
the integrity and independence of the Turkish Empire."
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. A. B. RICHARDS seconded the resolution. They
had had a sham war. (Loud cheers.) They had had a
sham blockade, and were *ow drifting into a sham peace.
(Cheers.) The Government did not want a peace, but
tia beguile and b4ool the people. The Government
throughout the war had talked about the integrity, and
honour, and interest of Russia, but not that of England,
and much less that of Turkey. (Cheers.) The tele.
graph wires had been asan halter round the necks of their
army, and also that of the brave Omer Pasha, for when
they had gained a success the wires were set at work,
and they made no use of their successes. With regard
to the fall of Kars, Lord Stratford de Radcliffe had been
in close communication with the Government, and he
did not think he ought to be made the scape-goat about
that failure, but they ought to know who gave him his
orders how to act, and what those orders were. He
understood that Lord Stratford de Redcliffe was coming
home to justify his conduct, but he thought no man
could justify the doing a wrong act. The speaker con-
tended that this war had not been declared and con-
ducted in accordance with the ancient custom of this
country. He entered at great length into the various
events of this war, both in the East and in the Baltic,
and how the war had been carried on. He condemned
our eye tern a recruiting, and in reference to America,
said that our conduct in recruiting for a foreign legion,
had been such as to insult America, by a deliberate act
contrary to the law of nations and the municipal law of
America. (Cheers.) He referred to the intention of
giving up a portion of the Turkish provinces,
to create another sovereign state a German
sovereign. (Cries of "No," and hisses.) They had de-
moralised Turkey by their conduct. They had forced
on her a debt against her laws, and bad given her money
when it was too late. Her army had been starved
by British interference, her navy demoralised, and her
ships rotting. This war had not been a war against
Russia, but a war against our allies. (Hear.) The ob-
jects for which the war was declared had not been accom-
plished. He said it was intended by Government to
prorogue Parliament to prevent being questioned on the
proposed terms of peace, but he felt satisfied the Govern-
ment would not dare to do it. He called upon the
people to boldly speak out. (Rear, hear.)
Major LYON said be had been unexpectedly called
upon to speak to the resolution. Before so doing he
would, with the permission of the meeting, make a few
remarks relative to the meeting held at Manchester for
a contrary purpose to that for which they-were assem-
bled, and he was sorry that so good a cause had fallen
into such bad hands. The speaker then proceeded to
allude to the speech delivered by Mr. Bright, amidst
marks of impatience from the meeting. He had lately
returned from the East, and all that had been said rela-
tive to the state of affairs there was true. Ho could
tell the meeting something relative to the entry of the
Black Sea by the Turkish fleet. (Hear, hear.) A
friend of his, a Turkish Admiral, was determined
to take his ships *into that sea, but the British
Ambassador in Turkey would not allow him. His
friend was determined to enter that sea, and Lord Strat-
ford de Redcliffe then told him that if he did so no re-

lief would be sent to him. Hie friend went, and he had
as narrow an escape as the commander who followed
him. Lord Stratford de Redeliffe was, therefore, not
an English ambassador, but a Russian at heart. (Im-
mouse cheering.) If they were to have a peace, let
it be an honourable one, but the way to it is
thatsof the war had
those expenses
to keep the sword out of the scabbard until you get it.
(bieonntainiluneddedethoe.eriNngo.)w
beT
heexpense
thought
should be repaid by Russia. '(lmmense cheering.)
Indeed he thought the latter part of the resolution was
as impirtaut as the first, and that a satisfactory indem-
nity must be insisted on. (Loud cheers.) He most
cordially begged to support the resolution that bad just
been moved.

Mr. S. ROLLAND rose to support the motion, whoa
two gentlemen presented themselves to address the
meeting, amidst cries of chair and order.
The CHAIRMAN asked for a fair and patient bearing
of all. Mr. Harris would submit an amendment to the
meeting. (Hisses and laughter.)

Mr. HARRIS said that, notwithstanding the manner
move
nwhich the resolution
amendmentesolutionhadb :eel rzietivt ined, he should
the following
the judg.
ment of this meeting the terms offered by the Allies
and by Russia will form the basis of a satisfactory
peace. (Hisses, and cries of "No, no," sad great
confusion. The chairman appealed to the meeting, and
asked the question if the speaker should be heard, which
was met with overwhelming cries of " No, no." Mr.
Harris then retired amidst loud cheers.

Mr. ROLLAND again attempted to address the meeting,
when Mr. Pinion stood forward to move another amend-
ment, but the meeting refused to hear bin. Mr. Rol-
land then said that he thought they would net have been
so desirous of hearing him had they known what he
had to say. He entertained no very high respect for the
resolutions of a public meeting. They knew the adage
tkot htli Tom par:4 with god reAvtimp,". 94 the

LAW INTELLIGENCE—(This Day.)

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
THE QUEEN V. HODHSON--CRIMINAL INFORMATION.

Mr. Wilde, Q. 0., moved for a rule calling on the de-
fendant to show cause why a criminal information
should not be filed against him under the following cir-
cumstances :—/t appeared that Hodgson was an assist-
ant to the late Mr. Isaac Higgs, surgeon, of Cradley,
in Staffordshire, who died a short time since. Hodgson
having got possession of Higgs' diploma struck out the
latter and inserted his own name, and by which he had
succeeded in obtaining the appointment of surgeon to
the Dudley Union.
Lord Campbell said the Court in this case declined to
Avail itself of its powers and interfere, considering it
would be better for the cass to be disposed of by indict-
ment in the usual way.
Rule refused.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.
JEDGIIENT..—TEN NEW SUCCESSION DUTIES ACT;
Baran Alderson gave judgment in a case relative to
the Succession Duties Act, in which the Earl of Corn-
wallis was concerned. The question for the decision
of the court was whether the estate of that nobleman
was liable to the duties ender the New Succession
Duties Act, cr those of the old act. The learned
Baron said that as the annuibies in question Were pur-
chased prior to the passing of the above act, the duties
should be charged according to tho old rats,
Jurrigmtnt alcordiugiy.