The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-22 00:00:00

LOND,)N, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 22, 1856.

MONT BLAN C.-ARRANGEMENTS
for CHRISTMAS : —Monday, Dec. 22, Evening at Eight ;
Tuesday, Dec. 23, Afternoon at Three; Tuesday, Dec. 2S, Evening
at Eight ; Wednesday, Dec. 24, Evening at Eight ; Friday, Dec. 26,
Afternoon at Three ; Friday, Dec. 26, Evening at Eight ; Saturday,
Dec. 27, Afternoon at Three ; Monday, Dec. 29, Afternoon at Three ;
Monday, Dec. 29, Evening at Eight ; Tuesday, Dec. 30, Afternoon
at Three; Tuesiay, Dec. 3), Evening at Eight.

MISS P. HORTON'S POPULAR ILLIJS-
TRATIONS.-Mr. and Mrs. T. GERMAN REED will give
the above Entertainment, intrcducing several new Illustrations, at
the Gallery of Illustration, Every Evening (Except 'aturday), at
Eight o'clock. A MORNING PERFORMANCE. every Saturday at
Three o'clock. Stalls, 35., 28., ls., may be secured at the Gallery,
from 11 till 4, daily, and at Cramer, Beal, and Co.'s, 201, Regent-
street.

GYL L ROOMS.—LAURENT'S CASINf
Great Windmill-street, St. James's.—The above elegan
ooms are now open every evening for the winter season, with
Laurent's celebrated Orchestra. Principal Cornet-a-piston, M.
i'.oulcourt. The Proprietor begs to inform the public that this
fashionable place of resort has been entirely redecorated during the
ecess. Doors open at half-past eight, commence at nine. Admis-
,ion One Shilling.
you
DR. KAHN'S ANATOMICAL MUSEUM,
4, Coventry-street, Leicester-square.—Open (for Gentlemen
nly) from 10 till 10, containing upwards of one thousand models
.nd preparations, illustrating every part of the human frame in
ealth and disease, the race of men, &c. Lectures delivered at 12,
,4, and half-past 7, by,Dr. G. SEXTON, F.R.G.S. ; and a new and
ighly-interesting series of Lectures is now in course of delivery
y Dr. KAHN, at a quarter past 8 p.m. precisely. Admission. One
Catalogues containing Lectures as delivered by Dr. Khan
(grat is).

MR. W. S. WOODIN'S OLIO of ODDITIES,
with New Costumes and various Novelties, Vocal and Cha-
racteristic, will be given during the Christmas Holidays, in the
p,,ivgraohic-hall, King William-street, Charing-cross. Opening
Night, FRIDAY, Dec. 26th. First MORNING PERFORMANCE
en SATURDAY, Dec. 27, at Three. Private Boxes and Stalls may
be secnred without extra charge, at the Box-office. The Polygraphic
Hall is being entirely redecorated.

GENERAL TOM THUMB ! the American
Man in Miniature, will hold THREE LEVEES each day, for
a short thee only, at the REGENT GALLERY, Quadrant, Regent-
street, commencing on BOXING-DAY, 26th Dec. He will appear in
a great variety of NEW CHARACTERS and COSTUMES, SONGS,
DANCES, GRECIAN STATUES, &c., &c. His MINIATURE
CHARIOT and PONIES, with ELFIN COACHMAN and FOOT-
MAN, will promenade the streets daily.
Thirteen years ago the General had the distinguished honour of
appearing (by command) three times before her Majesty and the
Royal Family, at Buckingham Palace.
Hours of Exhibition—from 11 till 1 ; 3 till 5 ; and 7 till 10 o'clock.
Admission Is., without regard to age. Reserved Stalls, 2s. ; Children,
Is,

WIDOW LADY, thoroughly acquainted
with the routine of Housekeeping, is desirous of an engage-
ment as Domestic Companion to an elderly or invalid Lady or Gen-
tleman or Widower with young children, where one or no re servants
are kept. A comfortable home the chief consideration. Unexcep-
tionable references given.—Address C. G., Mrs. Powell's, 4, Trinity-
street, Blackheath-hill.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Die. 10.

The United States' mail steamship Atlantic,
hence, had arrived at New York on the 9th inst.
The steamship Manchester, hence for Philadel-
phia, and out 20 days, had not been reported, and
much uneasiness was felt.

The Washington correspondent of the ew York
Times writes that the Message continued to be de-
nounced in the boldest language by men who stand
high as leaders of the Democratic party, and that
even some members of Mr. Pierce's own Cabinet
shrug their shoulders ominously when the subject
is mentioned. The friends of Mr. Buchanan are
said to be firm in their conviction that Mr. Pierce
had the deliberate purpose of kicking up a row
for the annoyance of his successor.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Herald announces that a new British treaty has
just been concluded by Mr. Dallas, and that it
will shortly be laid before the Senate for con-
firmation. That journal characterises it as one
of the most important documents that have lately
seen the light, and states that it has every reason
to believe that this new treaty, while affirming the
old principle of the Clayton-Bulwer Convention—
namely, that neither the United States nor Eng-
land desire to colonise or fortify for their exclusive
benefit any part of the territory on the isthmus or
in Central America—contemplates a much larger
field of operations than that memorable conven-
tion. It has reference, it understands, to Cuba
and the Spanish possessions, as well as Central
America, and its object is the consolidation of the
present political condition of these colonies, islands
and States, with a view to the general pacificatio❑
of that part of the world and the extension of
ide ; that it is, in fact, a commercial and eta,.
servative treaty ; if the United States depart
from their past policy in guaranteeing Cuba to
Spain, they do so, no doubt, in return for a grant
of commercial privileges, so extensive that in a
commercial point of view even annexation could
give them nothing more. It says it may safely be
assumed that the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada
has served the framers of this new treaty as a
guide, and in some respects a model ; and, as the
Provincial Legislature of Canada was a party to
that, by the act giving force to the royal treaty,
so, no doubt, the Government of Spain is a party
to this, and stipulates gratefully for the changes
by which she is by far the greatest gainer. It gives
Mr. Marcy credit for the scheme, and adds that a
treaty guaranteeing Cuba to Spain before Mr.
Buchanan's Administration would deprive that
gentleman of his most promising chance of glorifi-
cation ; and would clear the way in 1860 of many
obnoxious rivals,

The Governor of lowa in his annual Message
states that, as it had been currently reported during
the past summer that the President of the -United
States had failed to protect the citizens of Kansas
for the reason that no official intelligence of the
outrages committed upon them had been received
by him, he deemed it his duty to notify to the
President the crimes committed against former citi-
zens of lowa, and to demand the protection of the
Federal Government. He desired to reiterate his
opinion that it is the duty of the State to protect
her former citizens in Kansas when the Federal
authorities were unable to do so.

At Franklin, Tennessee, there was much excite-
ment, owing to a projected insurrection among the
slaves there. Twenty-four muskets and two kegs of
powder had been found in the possession of a gang
of negroes at Columbia, Tennessee. In Perry,
Tennessee, 15 negroes had been killed by their
owners. The Evansville Journal of the 6th inst.
learns that there was much excitement in the neigh-
bourhood of Dover, on the Cumberland river, among
the negroes. Many of the ringleaders had been
arrested and 11 hung. One white man, " disguised
ahse ad
ineedg rhoe,f'
e'
rhea
thed b ere
ene
asentenced t o
fullyoioeo lashes,
fiie t
ed .
Theu
whites were arming and organising for defence.
An opinion prevailed that a general uprising
would take place among the negroes during the
holidays. Escapes of slaves were unusually nu-
merous.
The New York Times, commenting upon the pro-
ceedings of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, while
repudiating any wish to attribute a sinister motive
to the British government for the course it has
thought proper to pursue relative to the under-
taking, " simply," as it terms it, directs attention
to the fact that with the telegraphic line completed
between Ireland and Newfoundland both ends will
be under its absolute control, and that this, in the
event of war, would be to the serious disadvantage
of the United States. This motive, it believes, has
induced our Government to enter into the project,
and it cannot see, as its services will be quite as im-
portant to that country as to any other, why the
exclusive control should be allowed to pass into the
hands of a foreign, though a friendly, Power.

WASTEFUL DISPOSAG OF GOVERMENT
STORES.

LIVERPOOL, Dsc. 20.

At the weekly meeting of the Council of the Liverpool
Financial Reform Association on Thursday the follow-
ing beautiful specimen of official thrift and ingenuity was
laid before the council as authentic :—There is now a
ship in Liverpool which carried a cargo of rum to Bala-
klava, with orders to return in ballast. The war having
ceased, and the rum not bein required for the troops,
g
it was sold at Constantinople
at the rate of sd. per gal-
lon, or thereabouts, and the vessel returned to England
in ballast, as originally intended. The quantity thus
disposed of is said to have been 800 puncheons, or about
85,000 gallons, the worth of which in England at the
present moment would probably be about ss. per gallon.
Of course it never occurred to the official mind that all
the labour and expense of discharging the cargo and
taking in ballast might have been avoided, and some
17,0001. saved in the purchase of a similar quantity of
spirits, simply by bringing the rum back to England ;
or, if it did, the official instructions must have been the
insuperable obstacle in the way, when common sense dic-
tated the possibility of such a course of proceeding.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills
preferable to [all other Medicines for the Cure of Bad
Legs.—Mrs. Bayley, of Wheeler's-lane, Great Cohnore-
street, Birmingham, bad a bad leg for a considerable
time ; she obtained he best medical advice in the town,
and tried a variety of other remedies, but without effect-
ing any good whatever. Holloway's Ointment and Pills
were then made use of, which, in a brief space of time,
effected a perfect cure. Mr. Hobson, chemist, 45,
Horse Fair, Birmingham, can testify to the accuracy of
the case.—Sold by all medicine vendors throughout the
world, at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244,
Strand, London, and 80, Maiden-lane, New York ; by
A. Stamp, Constantinople ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna ; and
I, Muir, Malta.

DINNER AT GREENOCK TO ADMIRAL
SIR TIOURTON STEWART, K.C.B.

On Friday evening a banquet was given by the corpora-
tion and community of Greenock to Admiral Sir Houston
Stewart, K.C.8., in testimouy of their personal respect for
his character and public approbation of his gallant and

patriotic services (luring the late war. The entertainment

took place iu the Town-hall, an elegant, commodious, and
stately edifice, just completed at a cost of 20,0001., and of
which the proceedings on Friday may be considered as the
auspicious inauguration. The hall floor was tastefully de-
corated with shrubs, and its walls with wreaths of laurel
interspersed with fruit, stacks of armour, and colours ar-
tistically displayed ; while the gallery was filled with
ladies, among whom were observed the Duchess of Argyll,
and Lady Octavio, Shaw Stewart. The entertainment was
first class in character, and in all its appointments was most
creditable to the taste and liberality of the corporation.
The chair was taken at 8 o'clock by Provost Hunter, who
was supported on the right by the gallant guests of the
evening. Admiral Sir H. Stewart, the Duke of Argyll, Sir
R. M. Napier, Admiral Montgoruerie, Lieut. J. A. Stewart
Nicolson (Grenadier Guards), Mr. J. M. Shaw Stewart,
Captain R. F. Shaw Stewart (Scots Fusilier Guards); and
on the left by the Esri of Glasgow, Sir M. S. Stewart,
M.P., Sir Archibald Alison, Mr. Hall Maxwell, Major
Darroch, Sheriff Tennent, Mr. Scott, of Finnart, and Mr.
Tasker. Mr. R. Steele officiated as vice-president. The
company, numbering about 200, besides the members of
the council, embraced the clergy, Capt. Frere and several
other naval officers. Capt. Latham and several militia offi-
cers, the Dean of Faculty, Mr. David Crawford, and other
professional gentlemen, Mr. M. Brown said the leading
merchants of the town, Messrs. Steele, Caird, Scott, and
the other representatives of the great ship-building yards
and engineering establishments for which Greenock is cele-
brated, with Bailie Macgregor, and some highly respect-
able gentlemen from Glasgow.
After the cloth had been removed,

The CHAIRUAN gave " The Health of her Majesty,"
particularly adverting to the deep anxiety which the Queen
was known to manifest during the war for the welfare of
the brave soldiers and sailors who were fighting our battles,
and especially the maternal soiioitude she displayed for the
care of their sick and wounded, as forming additional
claims on our patriotic attachment and enthusiastic admi•

ration.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.

The next toast was dedicated, along with the Prince
Consort, to the Prince of Wales, as Baron of Renfrew, and
was followed by " The Health of the Lord-Lieutenant of
the County," to which the Earl of Glasgow appropriately
responded.

The PROVOST, in giving the next toast, said—l feel
assured that the toast of " Her Majesty's Ministers" will
be cordially responded to by men of all parties present,
(Cheers.) The responsible advisers of the Crown have at
all times most onerous and difficult duties to perform, and
whatever may be the political opinions of the Ministers,
we are entitled to believe, from the high standing of
British statesmen, that they are guided by honesty of pur-
pose and a sincere desire to advance the interests of the
empire. The present Government deserves the thanks of
the country for the energy they displayed in bringing the
late war to a successful termination ; and, whatever
may be %the nature of the present diplomatic difficul-
ties, I have so much confidence in their skill and firmness
that I do not fear but they will surmount them all,
and carry out the treaty of Paris in all its integrity. (Loud
cheers.) I have the pleasure of coupling with this toast the
name of a distinguished member of the Cabinet who has
this evening honoured us with his presence—(cheers)—one
whose name is associated with the liberties and religion of
Scotland, and who is himself a most able and efficient
Minister—his Grace the Duke of Argyll. (The toast was
drunk with all the honours, and one cheer more.)
The Duke of ARGYLL, who was received with loud cheers,
said—l am glad, Mr. Provost and gentlemen of Greenock, on
account of the early opportunity which this toast affords
me of assuring you how heartily I sympathise in all those
feelings which I believe this great banquet was intended
to express. (Applause.) Whether the feeling be regard for
the family to which my gallant friend belongs—a family
which was never more worthily represented than at the
present moment—(applause)--whether it be respect and
admiration for the professional services of the gallant
admiral himself, or whether it be love for that noble pro-
fession of which he is a distinguished ornament, I heartily
sympathise in them all. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, in regard
to the family to which my gallant friend belongs, I believe
there are few families which have given such a handsome
contribution to the public service of this country during
the late war as the family of Ardgowaa in my gallant
friend, and in that distinguished lady who was a worthy
companion of Florence Nightingale. (Much applause.) As
regards the professional capacity and character of my dis-
tinguished friend, I am enabled to inform this company of
what, no doubt, they are well aware, that in the depart-
ment of the Government which presides over the navy of
England the highest confidence was placed in my gallant
friend in one of the most difficult and responsible positions
in which a naval officer could be placed—(cheers)—l mean
in that position in which he had the charge, during many
months, of the groat, most arduous, and most difficult nava 1
preparations in the island of Malta. I have been assured by
the First Lord of the Admiralty that of the exertions of my
gallant friend in reference to that service it is impossible
to speak in too high terms ; and the admirable efficiency of
all the arrangements which were made in respect to the
Black Sea fleet was due, in a great measure, to the personal
head and hands of my gallant friend, now your guest.
(Loud cheers.) In regard to that noble profession to which
he belongs, I need not say one word, I am sure, in any
company of Scotchmen, to recommend it to your hearty
applause. During the late war the services of that navy
wore called for under circumstances of peculiar difficulty
They were not, indeed, called on to meet the enemy on the
seas, because the enemy was too wise to meet them ; but
they were called upon for most arduous exertions, and I
need not tell you that in the naval brigade the navy of
Great Britain contributed one of the most efficient corps
towards the reduction of the stronghold of Sebastopol.
Now, gentlemen, allow me to thank you in my official
capacity for the manner in which you have received the
toast of " Her Majesty's Ministers." It would, indeed, be
most ungrateful of any one who has been connected, as I
have had the honour to be during the last four years, with
both the Governments which during that period have been
responsible for the administration of public affairs, if I did
not cordially thank you for that support which the public
and Parliament of Great Britain have, under all circum-
stances given to the Ministers of the Queen during that
anxious and eventful time. Gentlemen, in 1853 we had to
thank the people and the Parliament for the support which
was given to a Government formed under very peculiar cir-
cumstances, and with a peculiar task before it ; and it was
owing to that support that, before the commencement of the
war, we were enabled to pass through what was, I trust, an
active and useful session, and to leave permanent marks on
the financial policy of this country. At a later period of the
same year we had to thank them for the patience and for-
bearance with which they waited for those efforts of diplo-
macy which we thought it our duty to exert, in order if
possible to avert the calamities of war; and, although I
know that it was the opinion of many of those efforts
were obviously useless, or were misdirected, yet, neverthe-
less, they were efforts which it was clearly our duty to
make. (Applause.) And again, gentlemen, at a still later
period, we had to thank the people and the Parliament of
this country for the noble public spirit with which they
bore the heavy burdens necessary to a state of war, under
a conviction which they entertained that that war was
both necessary and just. (Cheers.) And again, at a still
later period we had to thank them—l had almost said,
more than all—at a moment when their strength was but
well gathered up ; at a moment when the armies and navies
of Great Britain were brought up by great exertions and
through great sacrifices to a state of unparalleled power and
efficiency ; at a moment when, under the excitement of
war, great hopes were entertained of the result of it—we
had to thank them for the calm and conscientious good
sense with which they received our determination, come to
in conjunction with the Government of France, that it was
our duty to accept a peace which, although it might not
fulfil all the expectations which had been held under the
excitement of war, though it might not fulfil all the condi-
tions which some politicians think still ought to have been
made, nevertheless did fulfil those objects for which the
war was originally undertaken, and which, therefore, the
Governments of France and England thought it their duty
to accept. For all these things we have to thank the pee.
ple and Parliament of this country ; and let me tell you
that Governments in this country are very much what the
good sense and public spirit of its people enable them to be.
And now, gentlemen, I believe we shall have to thank you
yet again for the support you will give when the time of
reckoning, which is not far distant, comes—l mean when
Parliament meets. I believe we shall have to thank you
for the support you will give to those exertions which have
been made by my noble friend at the head of the Govern..
ment, and by my noble friend Lord Clarendon, to carry
out the conditions of the treaty of peace in their entirety
and integrity. I can onlythat it is my be-
lief that, struggling in
this war for
say,ebeen gentlemen,th
ro u
a
objects which are not selfish, for objects n which England had
s
hav
we
no primary concern, which affected almost more the interests
of other States, we have thought it our duty to be strenu-
ous in support of the liberal terms and obligations of that
treaty, and I cannot doubt that those exertions will be
crowned with success. (Loud cheers.) I believe they have
been conducted in that spirit at once of conciliation and of
firmness in which the foreign affairs of this country have
been uniformly conducted by my noble friend Lord Claren-
don. (Cheers,), And no , gentlemoo, I do trust that,

whether the Government of this of ,untry is to be in the
present or any other hands, Governrs ent will still have the
support of its people in times of pre found peace. I hope
those times are coming, for great to , may be the triumphs
of war, they are costly triumphs, and we look, as lam
sure the people of this country look , forward with anxiety
and hope to the time when we ma 3, be the rivals of other
nations in nothing else than the arts of peace. (Ap-
plause.) And I would say, in COD oglusion, that I hope we
shall be able in future, when the, transactions connected
with this war are wound up and closed—l hope we shall
be able to resume terms of amity sand friendship with that
brave and gallant people with w - Li ch we have lately been
at war. (Applause.) There ar a circumstances which I
think are hopeful. A young err iperor has just succeeded
to the throne, not insensible, I 1 rave reason to believe, of
the weight of his responsibilities; and the difficulties of his

task. There can be no reason VI hy, with his vast empire,
he should desire its extension ; r and if he is a wise man he
will rather direct his exertions t, o the development of that
people in the arts of industry nr.d peace. I trust sick will
be the case,and I have no doubt that in these circumstances
the Government of this count, •y will bo able to turn its
attention to those many meaisr tres of social reform which
are so much needed by a grer►t and an advancing people.
The noble duke resumed his !seat amid much applause.
The CHAIRMAN—I have meow the great honour and plea-
sure of proposing to you the• toast of the evening, " Our
distinguished guest, Admiral Sir Houston Stewart." It
is now 50 years since he jollied the navy, but I will not
attempt to give an epitome, far less a history, of his event-
ful life. The name of C hs.rles Houston Stewart, of the
Benbow, is to most of us. familiar as a household word.
(Cheers.) . We all remember that at the siege of Acre,
although last in getting lap, he placed his ship first in re-
tweet of nearness io that:almost impregnable fort, which he
assisted effectually to demolish. (Cheers.) Admiral Stew-
art's energy and decision. of character made his services in_
valuable to any Government, and hence his nomination to
ono of the most important appointments on shore. His
able, admirable management of the service at Malta during
the war entitles him to the lasting gratitude of his coun-
try. (Cheers.) Fleets of transports were arriving every
day with thousands of troops and their baggage, and they
were despatched with the utmost regularity. Had his
energy, forethought, and provision for contingencies
been displayed in other quarters the country would
not have been bowed down with shame at the neglect, suf-
fering, and death of many of her bravest sons. (Applause.)
The Government saw and appreciated Admiral Stewart's
services, and appointed him to the fleet in the Black Sea.
Unfortunately that fleet had a conspicuous want—the
want of a foe. Sunk in the harbour of Sebastopol lay the
great Russian fleet. With all the gallant admiral's ac-
quirements in the science of war, he has never yet learnt
the art of scuttling his ships and building them behind
stone walls. (Cheers.) When his ship sinks it will be
with her colours nailed to the mast, and her gallant crew
will go down with her. (Cheers.) Admiral Stewart has
again been appointed to a most important command,
which may require net only the quality of a great naval
commander, but the ability and astuteness of a statesman
and diplomatist. I have no fear of the result. (Cheers.)
I trust that Providence will spare him to return with fresh
laurels to the bosom of his family, and to receive the gra
titude of his country, that he has not only done his duty,
but, by his example, taught others to do theirs.
The toast was drunk with much enthusiasm.

Admiral Sir H. STEWART, who was loudly cheered, said
he was quite sure he should have the sympathy of all his
good friends present when he acknowledged that at that
moment he felt himself an embarrassed man. (Cheers.)
He was embarrassed, because he felt it impossible to
render adequate expression to the gratitude he felt for the
cheering reception they had given him; and he was em
barrassed by another but sadder feeling common to every
man who, having left his country for foreign service, re-
turned after the lapse of years. He saw many a smiling
face around him, but he could not shut his oyes to the fact
that he missed many a dear and once familiar countenance.
Ten years had gone by since he last saw Greenock, and ten
years made gaps in friendship which could never be filled
up again. And how was he to tune his feeble pipe after
the magnificent address of tke M'Callum More ? (A laugh.)
The Duke of Argyll had told them, and the Provost had
told them, that he had done his country good service at
Malta. He did his best, as every man must do who had,;
his work before him ; but he had been supported in such a ,
manner as insured success. He had a governor, a gallant
Scotchman (Sir Wm. Reid), the hero of a hundred Penin-
sular fights, whose heart was in the service of his country.
(Cheers.) He had another gallant Scotchman, Sir James
Ferguson, with eight clasps on the medal he wore, and who
was as anxious as he himself to send forward every musket
gun and cartridge to support Lord Raglan. He ventured
to say no better public servants could be found than he
found in the superintendent-engineer and master-ship-
wright of the dockyard, and they exerted themselves iu a
manner and displayed resources which entitled them to
public credit and reward, and he was glad to pay this testi-
mony to their merits. (Cheers.) With such means of sup-
port, with such instruments to work with, he claimed no ,
farther merit than an anxiety to exert every nerve and put
forth every faculty he had in the cause. (Cheers.) No
doubt the Government had been blamed—it was the privi-
lege of Englishmen always to growl and find fault. The
Government bad been sadly blamed because they were said
to have been taken by surprise and were not prepared for
war, not having got the gunboats and flat-bottomed boats
and mortar-boats which were found necessary. But, with
a free press and an Argus eye in every seaport and colony,
how was it possible that any preparations of that kind, if
made, could be kept secret from the world ? Had we begun
to make our gunboats, flat-bottomed boats, and mortar-
boats, would it not have embraced diplomacy ? Would it
not have been said we were going to war ? Various opi-
nions were given about the war, but, as the noble duke said
justly, we tried to stave it off till we could no longer pre-
serve peace with honour to the country. (Cheers.) Well,
then, knowing the intentions of the Government, was it
not the duty of those on foreign stations to do what they
could, to use every energy, to press forward preparations ?
Malta was half way to the seat war, and they had nothing
to do but to send on all the men and materials they could.
He must do the Admiralty the justice to say that never
was man more cordially and liberally supported than he
had been in all he had done. Sir James Graham, then
the First Lord of the Admiralty, was an admirable man
of business, and a liberal applauder of a man who did his
duty. Sir Charles Wood, who succeeded him, was the
same; and, as to the navy, the review of last year at Spit
head showed the world what England could do after a
little time. (Cheers.) Speaking generally, we were a
peaceful and commercial nation, and could not come out
like the nations whose occupation and delight were war—
England stood on a different footing from them. We were
called a nation of shopkeepers, but when the row began we
shut our shops. (Cheers, and a laugh.) Well, then, from
Malta he had the good fortune to be allowed to go up to
the Mediterranean fleet, and, whatever they bad heard to
the contrary about badly manned and equipped vessels, he
would say, and he had been 50 years at sea, a finer fleet
never left the English shores than the Mediterranean fleet,
nor was it ever under a more gallant, patriotic, and accom.
plished officer than Lord Lyons. (Cheers.) The Provost has
said that in his new appointment he might have to act the
part of a diplomatist as well as an admiral. He hoped not
but ,if he did succeed it would be from the cordial friend:
ship and confidence he had with Admiral Lyons, who
united the skill of an export diplomatist with the gallantry
of an accomplished naval officer, who would make war if
it could be made, bat would not ran risks which no pru-
dence could justify. It had been said we could not get our
enemy out to meet us in the Black Sea. That was quite
true, and he thought they were very wise. But it should toe
recollected that they had no screw ships—no ships with
two decks and steam. Steam had made a vast, an enormous
difference in the art of war, especially of naval war. They
might talk as long as they pleased about ships and atone
walls, the one versus the other, but he had lived long
enough to know that, considering the combustibles and the
immense increase of weight of metal with which ships would
be met if they came in contact, they would have little
chance. Unless they could place a ship of war within 30
yards of a stone battery the wooden walls would not have
the best of it. They might probably allude to Acre and
Algiers, but they must recollect the sage remark of the Duke
of Wellington after the bombardment of Acre, in which he
bore a humble part. At Algiers they allowed the ships to
take up their position. The Queen Charlotte, with Lord Ex-
mouth, was actually within yard's length of the quay. Lord
Exmouth, before he would drop anchor,actually waved to
the people to get out of the way. No doubt they would in
such a ease make precious work with the battery. At Acre
we put buoys upon the shoals in the night time to show
where they were. The Egyptians thought these were the
spots on which we were to anchor our ships; they lowered
all their guns for these buoys, and blocked up the embrasures
with sand bags to prevent our shot touching them. What
was the consequence? They let us pass the shoals and
then opened fire, but not until we were past them, and
three times their batteries were manned and destroyed.
That was taking up a position before they began. With
respect to ships and stone walls, then, it was very easy to
talk of the Baltic fleet and say it ought to have sent Cron-
stadt to the devil, but they should, after all, consider that
it was much more easily said than done. (Cheers and a
laugh.) Now, with regard to the bombardment of Sebas-
topol—he was not present on the 17th of October—the
same argument was illustrated there. A gallant attack
Twhaes
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ended so well that Lord Raglan had left the parapet where
he had been observing our fire, and was going to communi.
cute with the French General in order to arrange the as-
, a ault when the French magazine blow up, and to MO the