The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-26 00:00:00

TILE QUEEN OF WIDE AND SUITE.

SOUTHAMPTON, Aua. 25.
Arrangements are about to be made for the speedy
departure of the royal family of Oude from Southamp-
ton for London, where magnificent apartments will be
fitted up fur them. The Queen Mother of Oude has told
Mrs. Brandon, her interprelrees that the visit of the ladies
of Southampton on Saturday gave her much pleasure.
The two Piincee went out for a drive this afternoon for
the first time since lauding. They rode out in a four-
horse barouche, driven by postilions. A number of
eunuchs and naive gentlemen followed in flys. A large
crowd assembled to witness them leave the hotel.
The whole number of servants of all grades attending
on the royal family and suits are 71, viz , 51 male and
21 female servants, 3 of the females devote thernselves
entirely to the cooking for the Queen and princes. No
Brahmin has come over with the Royal family. A 111001-
wee, or priest of an inferior order, is, however, in their
suite. His Sabbath is our Friday. Amongst the gentle-
men also in their suite is a Parsee, or fire-worshipper.
The Hants Independent gives the following as the'ad-
dress made by Major Bird to the crowd who assembled
in front of the hotel at Southampton on the occasion of
the arrival of the Queen of Oude. With the King's bro-
ther on bis right hand, and the heir apparent on his left,
the Mayor of Southampton and several of the officials of
the Royal suite standing around, Major Bird stood for-
ward and addressed the public in the following terms :
"I am deputed by her Majesty the Queen Dowager
of Oude, by his Royal Highness the King of Oude's bro-
ther, and by his Royal Highness the heir apparent, son
of the King of Oude, to tender you their heartfelt
thanks for the kind and warm manner in which you
have welcomed them on their arrival in Great Britain—
for your cheers, for your smiling faces. But, you will
naturally ask, what is the cause of the advent of these
reyal personages ? --why have they left their country and
kingdom to visit Great Britain ? And the inquiry is,
under the circumstances, one the reply to which is
likely to enlist your sympathies. You will pardon me
while I picture to ycu an aged Queen (nearly 60 years
old), breuent up in all the pomp and luxury of the East,
the soles of whose feet were scarcely allowed to tread
the ground, laying aside the prejudices of travel, and
undertaking a journey of some 10,000 miles, with the
King's brother in one hand, and her grandson (the heir
to the throne of Oude) in the other, and coming to the
people of great Britain a suppliant for justice. Yes,
fellow-countrymen, the royal family of Oude has come
to appeal against that act of the East India Company
which has deprived them of their throne and country.
They have left the country of their birth, to beg at the
hands of the people of Great Britain a full and impar-
tial inquiry into the causes which have led to the an-
nexation of the kingdom of Oude by the East India
Government—an act which, lam sorry to say, appears
to have been partially adopted by the British Govetn-
ment. It is not intended to conceal from you the diffi-
culties incidental on a retrograde step. There is no at-
tempt proposed to conceal anything, or to shrink from
saying where wrong has existed ; but I claim from you
a free, full inquiry, and justice, based on the conduct of
Oude through a series of years towards that very Go-
vernment who have now taken the kingdom of Oude fri a
that royal race whom the Marquis of Dalhousie, in his
proclamation, acknowledges to have been ever faithful
and true to their friendship with the English nation.
What was the conduct of Oude during the Cabul dis-
aster, where thousands of our fellow-countrymen pe-
rished ? What was her conduct during the war with
the estate of Gwaliur ? What position did she main-
tain during the wars with the Purjaub—that critical pe-
riod when victory was doubtful—when the Government
securities fell to the lowest rate ever known— when in-
ducements to turn against the East Indian Govern-
ment were not wanting in the whispered propo-
sals rife throughout India. At that very time the
King of Oude denuded his cavalry of horses, and spared
men from his own regiments, to fill up the ranks of the
Beet India Company's army ; and not only so, after
every great military undertaking the government of Oude
have contributed largely towards the expenses of the
wars carried on by their ally, the East India Govern-
ment. These contributions were not by hundreds, nor
by thousands, but by millions of pounds sterling. At
this very time the East India Government are indebted
to the amount of two and a half millions sterling, for
the loans made by the Kings of Oude at various times ;
and this is the return—to deprive that royal faithful ally
of his throne and kingdom. But, you will say, what is
the plea ? The excuse put forward for this act is the
deliverance of the people of Oude from the oppression
and misrule under which they had suffered. Fellow-
countrymen, let us suppose that the Emperor cf the
French, or some potentate more powerful than Great
Britain, were to break existing treaties and deprive our
most gracious Majesty of her throne, to save you from
what that power considered misrule—methinks I
hear you say "we would rather right ourselves." But,
again, suppose your home and hearths should be inter-
fered with—suppose a more powerful neighbour was to
deprive any of you of your homes and firesides, because
you mismanaged your house—would you allow this ?
(Cries of " No.") Will you, whose fathers and brothers
have shed their blood to save Turkey from the aggression
of Russia--will you, who have poured forth the magni-
ficent resources of this country to repel Russia from the
annexation of two small provinces, will you permit the
East India Government to take from this royal family a
kingdom as large as Belgium, over which the uncle of
our most gracious Queen presides ? Will you not grant
a free inquiry into this act ? It is through the people of
Great Britain alone, borne on their shoulders, that the
cry for justice will be adulated. To you this royal family
appeal for sympathy and support ; and, if you are will-
ing to give it, show your willingness by joining me in
Three cheers fur the Royal Family of Oude.'
Tae Major's address was warmly applauded through-
out, and, at its close, in response to the appeal made to
them by the gallant gentleman, three hearty rounds of
claveriug were giyen.