The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-06 00:00:00

GEN. INGLIS AT SOUTHAMPTON.

On Saturday afternoon the heroic defender and
present Governor of Lucknow, Major-Gen. Sir J.
Inglis, took his departure from Southampton for
India on board the steam-ship Ceylon. The Town
Council had -agreed to present the gallant general
with an address, and on his arrival at Southampton
he proceeded to the Town-hall, which he reached at
12 o'clock. He was accompanied by Lady Inglis,
Lady Chelmsford, Mrs. Higgins, and Mrs. Tinling.
They were met at the foot of the staircase by the
mayor and corporation in their official robes, and
conducted into the hall, where a large and select
party of ladies and gentlemen had taken their seats,
being admitted by tickets. The presence of the
general and his party was the signal for a round of
cheers, which continued for several minutes. The
ladies were then conducted to seats set apart for
them, whilst the gallant general; with Capt. Tin-
ling, occupied a seat at the right of the mayor.
Silence having been restored,

The MAYOR, in an appropriate speech, in which
he alluded with much feeling to the heroic devo•
tion displayed by- Lady Inglis during the siege of
Lucknow, then presented the following address :
" SO MAJOR-GEN. SIR JOHN E. W. INGLIS, K.C.B.
Sir,—We, the mayor, aldermen and burgesses
of the town and county of the town of Southampton
cannot allow you to take your departure from this
port for the scene of so many of your heroic actions
and noble exploits without expressing to you the
high admiration we feel, in common with the rest
of our_ countrymen, for those great and excellent
qualities by which you were enabled, with the as-
sistance of Divine Providence, through unprece-
dented toil and danger, difficulties and privations,
to maintain the honour of England, to preserve a
small garrison besieged by overwhelming numbers,
and to win for yoursel a name that will go down
to posterity in company with the most illustrious of
our Indian heroes. _

" We feel how utterly inadequate are words to
express the genuine outpourings of the heart on
such an • occasion as the present, because in after
times, when the story of the gallant defence of
Lucknow is related to our children's children, to the
latest generations of Englishmen, the name of
Brigadier Inglis, and that of his noble-hearted
wife, will ever be associated with that sad yet glo-
rious episode in the history of our Indian empire.
" We are aware, sir, that you have for more than
a quarter of a century, served your country with
distinction in both hemispheres of the globe—enter-
ing upon that successful career,. in Canada, which
culminated in the Residency of,Lucknow. Under
such distinguished commanders as Colborne, Mait-
land, and Gough, you have won those honours of
which a British soldier is so justly proud ; but
though in the campaigns of the Punjaub, at the
siege of Mooltan, and on other memorable fields of
action, you have served with honour to yourself
and advantage to your country, it is your intrepid
conduct in the defence of the devoted' little band of
men, women, and children at Lucknow, yoiir pru-
dence and sagacity, your energy, bravery, and
perseverance for 87 days in the face of a merciless

and •pow4wfal-eagomyr.4l}o4,-have-epeeisity en-
deared your name to the people of England, and
made it a household word in every English home.
_" There never has been told a tale," says the
Governor-General of India,' which has more deeply
stirred the hearts of our countrymen and country-
women, than the simple earnest narrative of Briga-
dier Inglis in his despatch which records the heroic
achievement of the defence of the Residency of
Lucknow.'

" To testimony such as this not a word need be
added in the shape of further commendation. It is a
tribute, and a just one, of which you, sir, have much
reason tote proud ; and we pray that the Almighty
Disposer. human events may grant you, Lady
Inglis, and family many years of health and happ:-
n
est to enjoy your nobly earned reputation. Had
time and your own inclination permitted it we
should have wished to give expression to our feelings
in a more public manner; but as it is otherwise we
take the opportunity-of bidding you a sincere fare-
welloind wishing you God speed in the great work
before you in the East, of aiding, after the suppres-
sion of an unparalleled rebellion, in the promotion of
contentment and loyalty, justice and good govern-
ment, happiness and prosperity, among nearly two
hundred millions of our fellow-subjects in British
India.

•
" Given under our common seal, at Southampton,
the Ist day of December, 1858."
On the address being handed to the gallant gene-
ral by the Mayor he rose to reply, and was received
with great applause. Three hearty cheers were
then given for Lady Inglis and Lady. Chelmsford,
they, with deep emotion, bowing their acknow-
ledgments.

General INGLIS then said—Mr. Mayor, alder-
men, and burgesses of the town and county of the
town of Southampton—The very kind reception
you have given me here, on the eve of my departure
for India, calls forth my warmest and sincerest
gratitude. You have been pleased to express in
the highest terms your admiration of my conduct
since I entered the army in 1833, throughout which
period I have been actively employed, and I trust
as far as lay in my power have maintained the
honour of my Queen and country wherever the
duties of the service called me. I held, as you know,
owing to the melancholy death of Sir Henry Law-
rence, a responsible position during the siege of
Lucknow, and was enabled, under God's providence
and the assistance of the gallant little band com-
posing my garrison, to withstand the repeated
efforts of the enemy to- carry our weak position
until reinforced by the persevering and brave
Generals Outram and Havelock and their heroic
troops. (Cheers.) I must now, as our time is
short, once more express my heartfelt thanks for
the high honour you have paid me, and I may add
Lady Inglis also, this day, which has made, and I
assure you will ever make, a deep and lasting im-
pression on our hearts—(cheers)—and I take leave
of you, Mr. Mayor, aldermen, and all here present,
with an earnest wish that every happiness, prospe-
rity, and success may attend you. (Cheers.)
Mr. FALVEY, editor of the Hampshire Indepen-
dent, on the invitation of the Mayor, addressed the
assemblage, and congratulated the people of South-
ampton upon the proceedings of that day, because,
although the fame and heroic actions of the gallant
general who had that day honoured them with his
presence belonged to the whole people of the United
Kingdom, they were particularly dear to the hearts
of the inhabitants of this town. (Cheers.) Sir J.
Inglis was connected by marriage with a family
long resident at Southampton, and universally
honoured and respected, and therefore, while the
whole nation felt proud of his services, the people
of Southampton felt a special interest in them.
(Cheers.) Those services were now a matter of his-
tory, and he need not refer to them at length ; but
this he would say, that when in after times the
story of Lucknow is related, the dangers, sufferings
and ultimate triumph of that devoted little band of
men, women, and children—the memories of Sir
John Inglis and his heroic wife—(loud cheers)—
more heroic than any Greek or Roman matron
whose name is recorded in history—a true-hearted
English lady—their memories, he said, would be
honoured and revered to the latest posterity.
(Cheers.) Lady Inglis, by her noble example on
that sad yet glorious occasion—by her patience,
endurance, and fortitude, had added one more in•
stance to the many on record of the superiority of
woman on great and trying occasions to those who
are sometimes called lords of the creation. (Loud
cheers.) Lady Inglis and her gallant husband were
in every way worthy of each other, and their names
would ever be indissolubly connected with one of
the most memorable and glorious defences of a be-
leaguered garrison recorded in the annals of heroism.
(Cheers.) In conclusion he begged, in the name of the
people of Southampton, to wish Sir John and Lady
Inglis a safe and prosperous voyage to India, and
when they again returned to their English homes
he hoped they would be spared in the evening of