The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-19 00:00:00

THE HAVELOCK MEMORIAL

MEETING THIS DAY.
public meeting, to found the proposed Havelock
memorial, was held this afternoon in Drury-lane
Theatre, which had been gratuitously placed at the
service of the committee by the enterprising lessee,
X. T. Smith, Esq.

Amongst those present we observed the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Lori John Russell, Earl of Cardigan, Sir
W. F. Wi!Home, Bart., of Kars, Marquis of Westmeath,
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, M.P., and a great many
ether noblemen and gentlemen.
The chair was taken at two o'clock by his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief.
The noble CIAIIIMIN, in opening the business, said it
became his duty shortly to explain to the great assembly
he then saw before him the object of the meeting. It
was to award a mark of respect to the memory of one
who had deserved well of his country. (Loud
cheers.) He regretted, as it was one of his duties
to give a short history of the services of the
general, that he was not in the position of several
of the illustrious personages by whom he was sur
rounded, and who had had the honour of enjoying the
friendship of so brave and honourable a gentlemen. (Hear,
hear.) The late Sir H. Havelock entered the army 43
years ago, in the 93d Regiment, and from that time
up to the unfortunate circumstance that led to his
death, he bad distinguished himself in no ordinary
manner. (Loud cheers.) In many wars in India he
was foremost in the fight—(hear, hear)—and by his
daring achievements in Afghanistan he had set an
example worthy of imitation by every young officer in
her Majesty's service. (Cheers.) The recent mutiny
in India had in the first instance been greatly checked
by the illustrious Havelock, and he felt certain that it
would be ultimately put down by the exertions of his
gallant friend Sir Colin Campbell. (Immense cheering.)
lie considered the first dawn of returning prosperity
dated from the success of Sir H. Havelock—(hear, hear)
—and it was on that account chiefly that Englishmen
felt bound to do him honour. (Cheers.) He it was
who at the moment of the greatest anxiety, uncertainty,
doubt, difficulty, and danger, was selected by the Indian
Government to lead that column of troops who at first
made a most successful advance on Cawnpore, was then
momentarily checked at Lucknow, but ultimately by
perseverance, courage, and fortitude, led by the Ales-
kiwis deceased, succeeded in relieving that distinguished
garrison—(cheers)—and joined with it in its defence up
to the moment of its ultimate relief. (Cheers.) The
merit of those operations were entirely due to the ill's-
trious general to whose memory they were met to do
honour ; and if there was a man that deserved well of
his country, and should be honoured by the people of
England, that man was Sir H. Havelock—(sheers)—
who had to a great extent, though not exclusively,
turned the tide of our Indian misfortunes in our
favour. (Hear, hear.) On that occasion he thought
it right, however, to state that the greatest cor-
diality, and more than that, the greatest for-
bearance, was shown by another illustrious officer,
Sir James Outran—(cheers)—to Sir Henry Have-
lock, who, instead of standing on his rights of
position, might have superseded that gallant general
in command if he had wished to lead in the second at-
tack on Lucknow, but instead of claiming that right Sir
J. Outran], feeling that proper military spirit—that
honourable bearing which he (the Duke of Cambridge)
thanked God existed between military men, and whisk
he hoped would long continue—(cheers)—waived his
claim in favour of his distinguished friend, Sir H. Have-
lock ; and as he had gained the first glory connected
with the attack, so he wished him to carry eat his plan
and reap the full reward. (Hear, hear.) It was a state-
ment he felt more gratified in making from Sir. J. Out-
ram not being an officer belonging to the East India
Company, as showing the advantage of that cordiality
which it was essential for the interests of all it was
desirable should exist between the officers of the differ-
ent services. (Cheers.) He now came to the most
painful part of the duties that devolved on him as chair-
man of that meeting. (Hear, hear.) A.fter all these
successes he came to that sad and painful moment when,
in the hour of victory, and when that gallant officer,
after 17 days of perpetual and constant embarrassment,
when every officer as well as man in the garrison had to
shoulder his musket and stand to his post day after day,
watching with intense anxiety that relief all so eagerly
wished fur, relieved the garrison of Lucknow—and when
he had succeeded in bringing away from Lucknow
every man, woman, and child that had been so long shut
up, and saved the honour and reputation of England,
besides saving the lives cf the English women and children
so long shut op there—in that very hour of victory, and
when his services were being fully appreciated by his
countrymen, then death with his withering hand
came on and put an end to that existence--
there was no doubt, if it had been permitted
to continue, would have proved itself further wor-
thy of the bonen:, respect, and esteem of his
countrymen. (Hear and cheers.) He believed that two
days after the relief of Lucknow Sir H. Havelock died
of disease, and what was it ander the circumstances the
people of England should do It was not a question of
Government favour or protection, but for the nation to
decide what they should do to honour that illustrious
man who up to the hour of death proved himself worthy
of the country from whence he sprung and the country
which he served. (Loud cheers.) Under these circum-
stances he (the Duke of Cambridge) could not hesitate
to take the chair on so interesting and important an oc•
casion, and he was gratified to find he was supported
not only by so many noble and gallant friends as he saw
immediately around him, but by so liberal and gracious
a public as he saw before him. (Cheers.) He felt satisfied
they would cordially support the resolutions that would
be submitted to them, and help those who had ori-
ginated the movement in erecting such a monument
to the memory of Sir Henry Havelock as would
be worthy of the country that presented it, and would
be worthy of the man whom it was their wish to honour.
(Cheers.) Her Majesty's late Government, with that
liberality of feeling and high spirit of honour which they
possessed, had presented to the gentlemen who originated
the movement a proper site for the erection of a monu-
ment in Trafalgar-square. (Cheers.) Should anything
be left from the bounty and liberality of a generous
country after providing the proposed monument, it would
be a matter for those gentlemen and noblemen who had
taken the matter up to consider on a future occasion.
His Royal Highness then called upon the Marquis of
Lansdowne to move the first resolution.
The Marquis of LAISBDOWNE, in a very eloquent
speech, moved the first resolution, in doing which he
said the gallant deeds of the illustrious Havelock had
in a great degree checked the mutinous outbreak, and
he, by his gallantry, had shown that England, with
an army numerically small, compared with the extent of
territory they had to occupy, was strong enough to hold
in check and ultimately crush one of the greatest muti-
nies that ever broke out in India. The great general whose
memory they were assembled to honour had left a name
that his country might well be proud of. (Immense
cheering.)
General Sir D. M`DOUGAL seconded the resolution.
The gallant general said it was the opinion of all old
soldiers that the name of Havelock ought to be enrolled
amongst the peers of England. (Immense cheering.)
His ROYAL HIGHNESS then put the following roiolu-
tieu to the meeting, which was carried in the most
enthusiastic manner, namely
That the eminent services rendered by the late General
Sir ca Fleury Havelock have lied for a suitable testimonial
from a .
atefui country.„
HighnessEarlof
Royal The
AtraeDlT:N said, after the speech of his
t to follow
it would be presumptu-
ous in him to attempt
in the same strain. The
name of Havelock in India would in future call to recol-
loction some of the mightiest deeds every performed, and
the honour that was now about to be conferred on his
memory was more than justly due. He therefore begged
to move the second resolution, which was as follows :
"That independent of the material testimony borne by
Parliament to the late General, it is desirable that the
British people should have an adequate opportunity of
showing their gratitude for his distinguished services."
The resolution, which was seconded by Admiral
Hargood, was carried unanimously.
Sir W.
pleasure
'n Goismu said he felt an inexpressible leasure
'n moving the third resolution, for n• one could enter-
ta‘ tau ii.igh_er4 opinion of the military skill of the late
follows ; velock than he did. The resolution was as
"That her Itaiest
press sanction or he??:1. Government having., with the
square for a statue, ertYi, gra
rnted a site in Trafalgeaxr:
be promoted as la,tgly asll;tc,-,70- monument should
all classic of her Niajosty's subject..., the contributions of

chairman to second the resolution, °7 the la
peeled to have had the honour n! " hik,l
(~ auureas nat eX-
a meeting, but be hesitated not for a moment compan t,'
with the call of his Royal Highness. Ttll4: eg"t"
Bullock, at whose very nause the heart throbbed,' bad
t
performed in India services without parallel in te an
nals of Eogland. (Cheers.) Mather they looked at the
military or civil services of the.late Sir Hl
. Havelock, b
The
oth
were worthy the admiration or a gratefu country:
despatches he wrote proved how great were his literary
attainments, and in one nen tence in thedocurn en t, descri
beb-
ing the career of his son at the engagement for which
- recommended him for the Victoria Cross, Sir Henry said
:through all the dangers of that siege —" On went Lieut.
laveloalc:." (Cheers.) That sentence will set forth the career
of Sir Henry. (Cheers.) On he went through dangers
aid difficulties of no ordinary kind. It afforded hin