The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-07 00:00:00

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL at OXFORD.
Sir W. Page Wood, her Majesty's Solicitor- Ge-
ieral, visited the city of Oxford, on Thursday, when
le dined with the corporation. The dinner was given
in compliment to the Mayor. Mr. Alderman Sadler
presided.
After the " Health of the Mayor," and the usual
complimentary toasts, had been
given, the chairman
proposed " the Health of the city Members."
Mr. LANGSTON first responded to the toast, and said
he felt that his services were of a humble nature
when contrasted with those of his hon. colleague, who,
he was glad to find, still continued to be their repre-
sentative, although he feared at one time that he
would be induced to accept a high office which was
offered him ; he was glad to find that he declined it,
and that he (Mr. Langston) had such a colleague,
and so long as the Solicitor-General represented that
city, it would not want a friend to uphold its in-
terests.—(Cheers.) He congratulated them on the
state of the country, which was more prosperous than
it was last year, and every year led him to hope that
that prosperity would continue to increase. For that
state of things they were deeply indebted to the mea-
sures which had been introduced in the last few
years , and every one who wished well to the country
must be pleased to witness the beneficial effect
which they had produced. With respect to the new
Reform Bill, which was to be introduced next ses-
sion, he reminded them that he had great pleasure
in supporting the first Reform Bill ; and he had
opposed various proposals only because that for
a time there should not be an annual Reform
Bill.—(Laughter.) Twenty years, however, had
elapsed since the passing of the first measure, and
during that time great changes had taken place in
every town; even in this city there was scarcely a
house which before let for 101. that was not now re.
duced to 81. The remission of the duties on bricks
and timber enabled persons to build cheaper; and if
persons obtained houses at a less rate, they were
equally entitled to be trusted with the franchise. He
was, however, quite in the dark with respect to the
measure about to be proposed, but, having voted for
the extension of the suffrage, he trusted that it would
be satisfactory, and pass into a law without encoun-
tering that trouble or difficulty which attended the
last Reform Bill.—(Cheers.)
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he felt more then
ordinary gratification for the way in which they had
received the toast, which had always been received
with the same manifestation of feeling ; on each oc-
casion his lion. Colleage had spoken of him in com-
plime nta ry terms, and he valued them as coming from
one who was their long-tried representative, and, if
he had valued such expressions from him and the
company on former occasions, he did more so now,
because he asked their confidence after taking a step
which he had never dreamt of when be first appeared
before them. When he first entered on public life,
he did so mainly because he felt that it was the duty
of every man who possessed the means to make
himself useful in a free country, and to con-
tribute his best services towards the advancement of
the public interest.—(Cheers.) That of which he
was most apprehensive in a country advancing in
civilization and art was a selfish feeling of luxuriance
which appeared to be growing up among the younger
members of the community, and made them abstain
from taking a part in public affairs. For that reason
he did not enter into public life until he felt that it
was his duty to do so, and until he had acquired an
independence ; and, looking to the long connexion
which his father had with Parliamentary life, he felt
a desire to fill a similar important position. He was
not indifferent to that reward—the approbation of
those who sent him to Parliament ; but any other
' selfish object he never entertained when be sought
their suffrages, and no one was more surprised than
himself when office was offered to him. It happened
that upon a motion made by Mr. Locke King for an
extension of the suffrage, in favour of which he voted
the Government were defeated, and shortly after, in
consequence of other defeats, the Ministry retired
from office, and Lord Stanley was empowered to
form an Administration, but declared his inability to
construct a Cabinet. When Lord John Russell re-
accepted office, he stated that he had prepared a mea-
sure of Parliamentary reform, which he had submitted
to some of his colleagues, and intended to introduce,
and it was after that declaration that the office
of Solicitor-General, which was wholly unsought
and unexpected, was offered to him, when
he felt that it was right, upon the principle which
guided him when he sought a seat in Par-
liament, to accept an office where he might be of
greater public utility.—(Cheers.) He knew that if
his constituents were not satisfied with his taking
office they would have the opportunity of expressing
their dissatisfaction, because he could not accept
office without appealing to them. He made that ap-
peal, and it was ra,,t without a dissentient voice, and
he was enabled to say that he held office with the
unanimous approbation of those who returned him to
Parliament, and he pledged himself that be would
hold it no longer than he could be useful to his
country.—(Cheers.) It was true that he might have
withdrawn from it, as a high and honourable office
had been offered him in connexion with the court of
law to which ho bad the honour to belong, and to
which be was still attached.—(Cheers.) He felt that
us a measure of reform was about to be propose, his
proper place was in the House of Commons. Ho
knew no more of that measure than his colleague,
and if he did he would probably be unable to divulge
it ; but he telt assured that Lord John Russell would
not make a pledge which he would not fulfil to the
very letter ; and, whether or not it would meet with
general acceptance, ho was convinced it would be a
substantial measure of enlargement of the franchise.
—(Loud cheers.) He contrasted the present un-
paralled prosperous condition of the country with the
pericd when he first solicited their suffrages, and
when the most gloomy state of things prevailed. At
that time the vast accumulation of capital tempted
people to embark in large speculations, which
brought on a commercial crisis, which involved in
ruin many large firms which were based on a rotten
foundation, and fell when the first touchstone was
applied. There was then a famine in the sister
country, and a fearful plague prevailing in this, in
addition to which provisions rose to such a price that
a loaf was then sold for 11 d. which could be pur-
chased for slid. now. It was impossible to have a
more gloomy state of things, but it was some satisfac-
tion to know that they were struck by the hand of
God, and not by the hand of man. At the present
moment he believed that the whole mass of the com-
munity never was in so flourishing a condition ; they
had been blessed with abundance, were free from dis-
tress, and had a surplus revenue. The removal of
the brick duties had caused more substantial houses to
be substituted for those of lath and plaster, and added
to the comfort of the labouring classes, while through-
out the whole extent of the country they had bene-
nefited greatly by the cheapness of provisions, and
employment had beenmore.general, as was evinced by
the fact that there were from 15 to 17 per cent. fewer
inmates in the workhouses than there were last year.
In addition to that they had had the window-tax
taken oft; which could not fail to promote their ge-
neral health and comfort. The representatives were
not insensible to the necessity of a reduction of ex-
penditure, but they knew the difficulty of providing
for the security of the empire, and the dangers that
would accrue if that security were not given ; but,
notwithstanding that, the expenditure had been
diminished by 3,000,0001. per annum.—(Cheers.)
They had
ne and would have a still
ted to find that there was
go. a greatßut he surplus,
regret
one class—the agriculturists—who were labouring
under depression. It was difficult to devise a remedy
for it ; and Mr. Henley had admitted that he could
not see at the present moment such an amount of
facts as would justify a reversal of that free trade
policy of which they complained. It was, however,
encouraging to know that the various interests of this
country were so blended that one could not continue
to prosper without the other participating in that
prosperity ; and therefore he believed that the agri-
cultural class would, ere long, share in that prosperity
which other interests enjoyed. If, as he firmly be-
lieved, the large mass of the people
was
irnkbaouseal
pros-
perous condition, fewer persons in their
ew
that they were perfectly justified
in
justify them in
and the labouring classes in
.r employ,Tamnhdegyhntk
continuingant hhr.ei.wsce ot
ahnnse iddeeffdreietescio
pursue a policy until facts
earose
barometer
was set fair,
reversing it.—(Cheers.) Th
but no one could tell what storm
disasters which then pre-
vailedplace the present state of
tion
nothing enabledpert of Europe but the confi-
dence in almost every .
thisof the
country l as treeneecehpeßetvhoeu
in the stability of their institutions, which confi-
dence bad been increased by the steps which were
taken 18 years previously to reform those institutions.
He had never been a destructive, but he believed
that the best conservatism was to keep their institu-
tions in a progressive state, to watch the inroads made
in them by time, to adapt them to the age, and to be
prepared to meet those difficulties which had befallen
other countries, and which' might at any mo-
ment befall their own.—(Cheers.) Whatever might
be their views of the course which he had adopted,
his object had always been to strengthen and ex-
pand their institutions to the mind of the people,
whose skill and energy had been brought to a climax
in the Great Exhibition.—(Cheers.) That Exhibit
tion had shown the advance of intellect infthist coun-
try,the and they had reason to be thankeful theth
a people
period had arrived when the great bulk
and their .
dustry, to witness their institution!,
and pursued the
was enjoying a large amount of prospweritihtyt.heTirhiej
had invited the whole world to compete
cheers.) regardeers.)lf
rthigehyt
for them till their Sovereign.—(Loud
were
nstelr'e'esst's of the community,
and exciting their industry,
it would have the effect
urersbe,utetturduyeintog
tthheemi
not only of promoting loyalty and obedience to the
d to d
people to be contented
ha.t
had
pleated
law, but afford the greatesttheir lot, no their
encouragement to a
with
duty in that station of which