The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-15 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

Lieut.-Col. W. St. L. A. Stawell, commanding
the North Cork Rifles, wishes us, in justice to the
men of his regiment, to insert the following placard,
inasmuch as a court of inquiry is now sitting by
order of the commandant on the subject of the dis-
turbances of which Sheerness has lately been the
scene :
" Sh

Caution to the Inhabitants.—Whereas
numbers of people have paraded the streets of Sheerness for
several nights past in a riotous and disorderly manner,
hooting and annoying the military, tending to excite fear
and alarm in the minds of her Majesty's subjects :
" All persons are hereby cautioned at their peril not to
take part in any such illegal proceedings, but are strictly
enjoined to aid in preserving the peace.
" By order of the Justices,
" JAMES TASSELL, Clerk to the Justices.

" Oct. 12."

THE ENTERTAINMENT ON BOARD
THE PACIFIC.

A telegraphic report has been forwarded of the
entertainment given at Galway on board the Paci-
fic, on Monday. Some further particulars may not
be without public interest.
Mr. J. 0. LEVER, in returning thanks for his
health, proposed by Viscount Bury, said—Maps of
the globe were being continually produced, but he
believed it was quite unknown to the Government
that this was the shortest route to the Indian ter-
ritory and to China. As soon as the railway run-
ning across North America to the Pacific was finished
it would bring Galway into connection with such a
population as seemed fabulous, namely over six
hundred millions of human beings. (Hear.) In
conssa.....s• tha r.onnt opening in China it was
of the utmost importance to the men of Manchester
to foster their line. They were about to export large
quantities of cotton fabrics to that part of the world,
and they would see at once that it was for their in-
- terest to adopt the shortest and most economical
line. It was an undoubted fact that a saving in
time was also a saving in money, and the time oc-
cupied in passing from Liverpool to New York and
Halifax had already been reduced by their steamers
from twelve days to six. (Applause.) As had been
stated, their line was the next best thing to the
Atlantic telegraph ; and although when the latter
was completed information would be sent by its
agency in six minutes, which it now took six days
to accomplish, there was no question that passen-
gers could not be sent by electric telegraph. (A
laugh.) The effect of the electric telegraph when
perfected would be to increase postal communication
sixfold, and where telegraphs already existed a new
and better class of steamers had always to be pro-
vided. (Hear.) There was one little statement which
had been put into the papers which showed a desire
on the part of others to misrepresent, and to make it
appear as if the selection of the port of Galway was
a doubtful matter—it was to the effect that in con-
sequence of the westerly winds they feared they
would not be able to continue running from Galway
during the winter months. Whoever had originated
this insinuation ought to be called to account (hear,
hear), for with the knowledge of the winds in the,
port which he possessed he had purchased the James
Baines to act as a breakwater. They would remem-
ber that that vessel had been selected for her Ma-
jesty to visit, as the representative of the mercan-
tile fleet of Great Britain, and that she had unfor-
tunately had her deck burnt off since. This ship
would be anchored in the harbour as a depot, and
would contain over 2000 tons of coal. One of the
steamers belonging to that company had now gone
over to Liverpool to bring her to Galway. (Hear.)
He might say that Government, aware of the supe-
rior nature of that port, was affording them all the
assistance they legitimately could, and they for their
part would ask them to do nothing that was con-
trary to the interests of the nation. He would now
propose "The Diffusion of Commerce in our North
American Colonies—may it increase and prosper
through the means of the short route by Galway."
In connection with this toast he would propose the
"Health of Mr. Roebuck, 111,P." (Loud applause.)
Mr. Roebuck, M.P., in responding, said, we have
America—we have Australasia—we have Afriea—
we have India. That is the English empire. Through-
out the world we stretch our dominion, and spread
our language, we give to mankind our institutions
and our literature. Through all these we influence
the happiness of mankind ; and one great step that
we have to accomplish is to unite in a federal combi-
nation with our great North American colony. It
stretches now from Halifax to Vancouver's Island.
Up the St. Lawrence—along allthe Lakes—through
the Saskatchewan—across the Rsekv Mountains,
and down to Vancouver's Island, the flag of Eng-
land is predominant. The language of England
goes from Halifax to Vancouver's Island ; the in-
stitutions of England will reach from thence so far
as habitable land goes—even to the poles ; and we
shall have a dominion such as the world has not
yet seen. And to return again to the point from
which I started, I look upon this as the first great
step which unites England with our North Ameri-
can colonies. And now, sir, I come nearer home.
lam addressing Irishmen—l am addressing Eng-
lishmen—l am addressing Scotchmen. The very
heart and lifeblood of this great empire is in these
islands, and the dominion of this great country is
not to be confined to any one part thereof, but Ire-
land is the real sister of England, and as the one
flourishes so will the other be prosperous (Cheers.)
My object has been through hfe to maintain justice
to Ireland. (Hear.) I must acknowledge—and I
do so with a contrite heart—that England has been
unjust to Ireland. (Hear.) When I say England,
I do not mean the people of England, but the Go-
vernment of England. The Government of Eng-
land was transferred to the people of that country
by the Reform Bill. Old habits predominated
for some time ; and I recollect fighting the good
fight for Ireland by the side of that great man, with
all his faults—l mean Mr. O'Connell. (Hear.)
'Within the last ten years a great change has come
over the feelings of the people of England with re-
gard to Ireland
keep alive old feelino.,o discontent ; and anybody who attempts to
be-
tween the two countries is and hate
an enemy to both. (Hear.)

Depend upon it that the wisest policy is to let by-
gones be bygones. (Applause.) We have but two
countries to unite. How can they best be united ?
Why, by that golden link of commerce which
unites men together of different feelings in regard
to politics and religion. We, each and all, wish
well to our country, and we worship God according
to our intelligence. (Hear, hear.) Well, then, sir,
-if we would adopt that wise principle—let every
adopt that wise principle—if we would we would
man judge for himself in those particulars, and if
we should unite Englandwith Ireland—" the Percy
and the Douglas both united are confident against
the world in arms." (Applause.) Well, sir, Eng-
land and Ireland united, what may we not expect ?
Greatness to all, happiness to all ; and we shall make
England and Ireland's name the admiration and
the veneration of the world. (Hear.) Depend upon
it that he who attempts to sow dissensions between
the two countries is a poor-hearted creature—he is
not a great-hearted man; he knows not what belongs
to mankind's happiness ; he is a despicable creature
and deserves our contempt and hate. There are such
men—l won't name them. Wherever they come,
depend upon it the brand of our indignation will
be put upon them, and they will feel themselves
disgraced by their own conduct, by which alone a
man can be disgraced. (Hear.) Well, then, sir, I
drink,and I return you thanks for the great sentiment
that you have proposed—" Benefit to commerce, and
happiness both to England and to Ireland,and to our
colonies." Ido not look upon Ireland as a colony. I
look upon her as a part of the empire. But I know
—and I am an old politician—the misery and mis-
chief that has been created by attempting to sow
dissensions between the two. My object through
life has been to make England just to lieland—to
bind Ireland to England through the thorough-
going honest conduct of the English people ; and
if you will trust to the English people we shall be
one with Ireland. (Applause.) Sir, I thank you.
(The hon. gentleman resumed his seat amid warm
applause.)