The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-25 00:00:00

AL WRESS TO SIR JOHN LAWRENCE.

esterday afternoon, a public meeting was
held at Willis's Rooms, King-street, St. James's,
to present an address to the Right Honourable
Sir John Lawrence, Bart., G.C.8.. There
-was a very large and influential attendance.
Amongst the gentlemen on the platform were the
following noblenien and gentlemen :—The Bishop
of London, the Bishop of Durham, Marquis of
Westminster, Earl Bandon, Earl Ducie, Earl of
Shaftesbury, Lord Kinnaird, Rev. James Bagge,
W. J. Maxwell, Robert Hanbury, M.P., Rev. J.
W. Reeve, J. H. Bracebridge, Rev. S. Minton, Sir
John Ogilvy, Bart., M.P. Rev.. John Hodgson,
Canon Miller, E. M‘Naughlen, Rev. H. Beamish,
William Long, Earl Sandon, Lord Lyttelton, L.
H. H. Oliphant, Admiral Trotter, T. Nisbet, M.P.,
Canon Dale, Rev. H. Venn, Rev. Albert Rogers,
Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., M.P., A. Haldane, T.
Meadows White, Colonel Macdonald, Sir Culing
Eardley, Bart., J. M. Strachan, Lord Duncan,
M.P., Admiral Harcourt, Joseph Hoare, M.P., A.
Lefroy, M.P., Rev. Dr. Cumming, Monckton
Milnes, M.P. Sir John Logan, T. O'Malley, Q.C.,
J. Farish, Abel Smith, Esq., M.P., General Alex-
ander, Sir J. Kennaway, Rev. H. Latrobe, Hon.
A. Kinnaird, M.P., and Arthur Mills, M.P.
The Lord Bishop of London presided.
The meeting having been opened with prayer,
Sir CULLING EARDLEY explained the circum-
stances of the address. He had only a few observe.•
tions to make, which would not detain them more
than a few minutes. He was requested by those
who had convened this meeting to state a few facts.
The number of signatures appended to the address
was between 7,000 and 8,000, almost all of them
being the signatures of persons of education, and
capable of forming an opinion on the subject.
(Hear.) Amongst the signatures were those of three
archbishops, 20 bishops, 28 peers of the realm and no-
bler= c, and 71 members of Parliament. (Cheers.) In
wane with the classes now referred to, it was
rigat t o mention that the circular issued to the mem-
bers of both Houses of Parliament was only sent
out the day before yesterday, and that conse-
quently there were many answers not yet received.
A large number of persons in the military, and
naval services, and in a public position, had signed
the address. There was one element in the signa-
tures—namely, that there were those of lord
mayors, mayors, and provosts, of 300 places in the
I.Taited Kingdom, who had all, with the greatest
readiness and alacrity, desired that their names
might be appended to this document. cCheers.) If
it was desired to collect the public opinion of the
country, there were no better means than by ob-
taining the signatures of the chief municipal.autho-
rifles. The chief authorities of the boroughs and
counties had also contributed their quota of signa-
tures. He was also requested to state that the
document was signediby men of all shades of poli-
tical opinions, and by ecclesiastical persons of every
denomination. (Cheers.) The unanimity of all
classes upon this subject far exceeded anything of
the sort that he had seen within his experience.
(Cheers.) Indeed, many had expressed their warmest
gratitude for the opportunity of thus expressing
their appreciation of Sir John Lawrence's brilliant
services. Others had stated that they virtually
represented hundreds and thousands of their coun-
trymen. The following extracts were only from a
few of the letters he had. received :
From the Mayor of Durham. After expressing
great pleasure, he says :
"His (Sir John Lawrence's) conduct in India deserves
the thanks of every Briton, and especially for the enuncia-
dim of that great Christian principle, the removal of the
interdict under which God's Hely Word is placed by the
414rvernment."
From tke Mayor of Wells :
"Ira will, indeed, feel proud to add his mite of acknow-
ledgment of the noble patriotism, chivalric valour, and in-
domitable and persevering courage and ability of Sir John
Lawrence, to which, under God, we probably owe the pre-
servation of our Indian Empire."
From a place in the county of Meath :
" Enclosed is the address to Sir John Lawrence, from his
hearty well-wishers."
From the Vicar of Wellingborough :
"I trust every Christian in England will sign it. Eng-
land may justly be proud of such a man."
From Sir Brooke Brydges :
" I beg to thank you for forwarding me a copy of the
most excellent and valuable address proposed to be pre-
sented to Sir John Lawrence."
From the Rev. J. 0. Routh :
"Having a great admiration for Sir John Lawrence, and
fully coinciding in the admirable address to him which has
just reached me for signature, I have much pleasure in
signing it."
From a gentleman at Bake well :
" With the most respectable names in Bakewell, I trust
this small but hearty express ion of esteem for the noble
gentleman to whom it is addressed will not be unaccept-
able."

From a gentleman in Dublin :
" I return it with a few respectable signatures. However,
if it were necessary, or even desirable, hundreds more
might be very easily added."
In connexion with the circulars that had just been
sent to members of Parliament, he would read an
extract from the reply of the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer :
" 11,Toeming-street, Whitehall, June 23, 1859.
"My Dear Sir,—l thank you for your letter of the 20th
inst., and beg to assure you that I should be happy to join,
were I now able to act in my individual capacity, in any
testimonial expressive of the most profound respect and re-
gard for Sir John Lawrence ; but I think that- my official
position renders it inexpedient for me to sign any address
relating to public affairs, on which I may have to deliberate
in another capacity.
" Believe me, my dear sir, yours very faithfully,
" Sir Culling Eardley, Bart." " W. GLADSTONE.

The committee had requested him to state to his '
lordship that the box he held in his hand contained
the address, engrossed on vellum, which they de-
sired he would present to Sir John Lawrence. It
also contained the signatures of persons of every
class in the three kingdoms, who had requested
their names might be attached to that document.
His lordship's signature would be attached to it,
as chairman of that meeting. (Cheers.) There
was one more thing he was requested to state, that
in presenting this document to this noble and dis-
tinguished man, Sir John Lawrence, they had two
objects in view—the one was to do personal honour
to a man who occupied as great a position in public
estimation and respect as any man living—(loud
cheers)—on account of the services he had rendered
to his country, and especially of his services to the
cause of Christianity in that portion of the country
he had so admirably administered. (Cheers.) But
while they wished to do honour to the man, they
wished also to do honour to the cause ; and he was
desired to state on their behalf that they desire to
administer the Government of India in a manner
that would do honour to God and maintain the
honour of the country in India. (Cheers.) There
was no opinion more general than, whoever was in
office, India should be administered in a manner to
show that England was not ashamed of her colours,
and that the policy of Sir John Lawrence had
• supported was one to which all desired to give
their most cordial adhesion. (Loud cheers.) He
had been requested to say these few words, and
having said them he should resume his seat.
The Bishop of LONDON then rose and said—Sir
John Lawrence, I believe I shall best consult your
feelings, as certainly I shall best consult my own, by
being very brief in what I shall say on this occa-
sion. lam deputed by 7,000 of your fellow-coun-
trymen to express our thankfulness to God for
your safe return to your native country—(cheers)
—also our thankfulness for the services you have
been enabled to perform in that difficult period of
your country's history which, thank God, we may
now say is ended. (Hear, hear.) It would ill be-
come me to enter into any enumeration of your,
services. These are already matters of history,
and they have already been brought before the
British community in the two most august assem-
blies in the civilised world, by those whose privi-
lege Ms to award the praise and the honours as-
signed to meritorious individuals by the Sovereign
of the country. I should only fail if I attempted
to follow in the enumeration of the services which
you have performed, but, perhaps, if we do look
back for a moment at what you have been privi-
leged to do, we shall be best fulfilling our part, and
act more in sympathy with your feelings, if we say
that we are anxious on this occasion to express our
thanks, not to you, but to the Supreme Ruler of all
events;'who, having placed you in the position you
occupied in India in that momentous crisis, used
you as the instrument by which Christian power
was to be maintained on a large portion of that
continent. (Cheers.) When we look back to the
particular services you were able to perform—when
we turn our eyes a few years backwards, and ob-
serve that the country in which you were placed
was the battle-field of India—when we consider
how those tremendous armaments of India threat-
ened the very existence of the British name in that
country some ten years ago—heW the existence
and the organisation of those armaments were—
I will not say a terror to England, but a cause of
great anxiety, that if England were not fully
awake to the existence of that organisation,
• the Sikh power might destroy the power
of England in India ; when we remember that at
the commencement of the mutiny it was said that
one of the causes of our weakness was the necessity
of concentrating the British forces to keep the Sikh
territory in order—when we remember that through
your instrumentality that land which was our terror
became our strength—when we remember that in
the Punjaub, owing to the prudence of your ar-
rangements, you were enabled to dispense with the
British force, and send that force for the re-capture
of Delhi, and that tact weapon which at one time
was deemed-likely to deal a serious blow to British
power became, when wielded by your strong hand,
gas of QV firfAtwit deiSIMSi Rhea, Yie.. remember

that those very soldiers who, a few years ago, were
engaged th mortal conflict with the British forces,
had, by your direction, become our strongest and most
faithful allies—in fact, when we look at the whole
history of what was achieved in the Punj aub for the
deliverance of India, it so partakes of the marvel-
lous, that we should not render thanks to the human
instrument, but to the Almighty God by whom that
instrument was employed. (Cheers.) We are here,,
Sir John, to congratulate you on your return to
your native country, and when we thus express our
congratulations to you, our hearts must, of course,
turn to those who are not so privileged as you are
to return in health to their homes. (Hear, hear.)
We, all feel that it is one of the saddest parts of the
history of the mutiny, that so many of those whose
names had become illustrious in that awful struggle
and who gave the brightest promise that for years
they would be the strength of their country, have,
in God's mysterious providence, been cut off in the
middle of their strength. And while we express
thanks to God for your safe return—one out of the
few who have been privileged to return, our thoughts
are directed to him who is most near and dear
to you and to whose exert
exertions great part of the
security of the Sikh te rritary is due (Sir H. Law-
rence). He has not lived to return home and re-
ceive the /honours that would be naturally awarded
to him, but his name will certainly live in the
annals of his country—(cheers)—not only for the
I part he borein that bloody strife in which his life
closed, but still more for what he did in the days

of his health and strength in the cause of peace.
(Cheers.) He was known not only for those great
and brave qualities which distinguish the soldier—
not only for those sterner qualities, but also for his
loving heart. (Cheers.) His name will live long
in India in the affections of the soldiers, whose
friend he pre-eminently was. (Cheers.) le was
privileged in his time to do that great part of mis-
sionary work which is certainly not the least im-
portant part of our duty.in India, for, like him, we
should take a lively Christian interest in our own
soldiers , and their children, as well as in the
heathen whom God has committed to our trust. If
other institutions were to perish in India, I believe
that the memory of the " Lawrence Institution"
would long survive. (Cheers.) And while we con-
gratulate you, sir, on being thus spared to return
to your friends, it is not unnatural to ask—and,
doubtless it is a question which you have asked
yourself—for what purpose are you spared P It
has been said by the first speaker that we are
anxious to-day, even more intimately than has been
dcne before, to associate your name with the spirit
of real Christian principle in the government of
India. But you would much mistake, I think, the
feelings of this meeting, and of those who have
signed their names to this address, if you could
for a moment suppose that we are desirous to
pledge you, more than you desire, to any par-
ticular line of policy with regard to the
management of India. We have come here to-day
not to pledge you to anything, but to express our
trust in your manly and straightforward Christian
principle—(prolonged applause) to say that we are
thoroughly satisfied with the declarations you have
made, and to hope that, using your right as a
Christian statesman, you will apply the general
principles which you have laid down. (Cheers.)
We are not of those who would make this question
of the Christian government of India a party ques-
tion. (Cheers.) Far from that, we believe,it to be
a question in which the whole country is interested.
We do not believe that it is a question which be-
longs to one party more than another ; and if we
deplore from time to time the difficulties which
beset the Government of the country, causing them
to giye expression to sentiments which seem to
speak, in an objectionable sense, of the neutrality
to be observed as to Christianity on the one hand,
or heathenism on the other, we feel confident that
those expressions do not find an echo in the heart
of the country. (Hear, hear.) We have a confi-
dent hope that the more questions connected with
this subject are examined—the more calmly they
are looked into—the more all the difficulties of the
question are faced, the more will all good and
patriotic Englishmen feel convinced that it is on
Christian principles the Government and education
of India must be carried on. (Cheers.) Now, as
to this matter of the introduction of the Bible into
our Government schools in India—anxious as we
are to make our solemn appeal to the nation in
favour of what we believe to be right—we do not
think we shall be right in overlooking any of the
difficulties that present themselves in the way of
accomplishing the objects we have in view. For
my part, I hail with satisfaction the publication
of those documents to which your name is
attached, because they seem to me to answer
the only objection that could be urged against
what we earnestly desire to see introduced.
(Cheers.) We have been told from time to time
that it was all very well to think of Christianising
India, but that it was obviously true that the first
condition of Christianising India was to retain pos-
session of it, for that if, by a mistake in the manner
of Christianising it, our troops should be swept into
the sea, then there would be an end of Christianity
in India. We were also told by men of great experi-
ence, that however desirable it was to give a Chris-
tian character to India, we should be cautious lest
it should produce an outbreak such as we had re-
cently witnessed. For my part, I felt anxious to
hear what could be said on that subject by one who
had practical knowledge of the matter; and, Sir,
when we bad your testimony that there was no such
danger, I felt in my mind that the question was
settled. (Cheers.) And I believe that this is the
feeling of this country. (Cheers.) There is no man
from one end of England to the other who does not
desire that the education of India should be Chris.
tian. Sir, your testimony in this matter is of great,
value. (Cheers.) lam aware that in that docu-
ment which you laid before the public you spoke
with the caution which becomes one in your posi-
tion. You stated, as a qualification to the intro-
duction of the Scriptures into the Government
schools of India, that you must first find competent
teachers. I heartily coincide with you in this. I
do not think any great good would arise from the
heathen giving lectures on the New Testament. In
looking at China, I see there a strange mutilated
form of Christianity, which is a mockery to the
name. (Hear.) I hope that in taking the subject in
hand we shall do so on those statesmanlike Chris-
tian principles which you have so ably enunciated,
and that we shall endeavour to make the instruc-
tion we give in the Scriptures real instruction, so
that the learner shall not be merely acquainted
with the dates and geography of the history of our
Lord, but that he may have Christian principles
imbued into his mind, and real Christian morality
made the basis of his future life. (Hear, hear,
and cheers.) I cannot help, Sir, indulging in the
hope that in the position in which you are
placed in the Indian Ccruncil, you will endeavour
to settle this question in such a manner as will carry
every party and section of the country along with
you. (Cheers.) I trust the day is gone by when
it was necessary to have any agitation on this
question. Ido believe that, aided by your counsel,
it will very soon appear to all statesmen of all de-
partments and all castes that we must make an
effort to have our Christian Scriptures spread
throughout the length and breadth of India.
(Cheers.) I have already detained you too long,
and I shall now do no more than read this address,
which, I am to sign in the name of the present
meeting and those who have signed it. (Cheers.)
His lordship then read the following address :
"ADDRESS TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN LAWRENCE,
BART., G.C.13,1
"SIR JOHN LAWRENCE,—We, the undersigned, taking
a deep interest in the moral and religious welfare of the
people of India, beg to approach you, on the occasion of
your happy return to your native country, with our most
respectful and hearty congratulations. It has pleased
Divine Providence to relieve our nation from the solici-
tude, into which it was lately plunged, by the state of our
Indian Empire • and to fill us with thankfulness for the
recognise the restoration of tranquillity and the complete establishment
of the Royal authority in every part of the country.
" In you, Sir John, we, in common with the great body
man, this never-to-
of your fellow-countrymen, gratefallY
instru-
ment raised up an all-wise Providence, to hear a. part equal,
if not superior to that of any living
be-forgotten service to the British nation. Placed, as
ruler, in a country where you were isolated by rebellion
from the three Presidencies of India ; and by nature from
the sea,—the ordinary reserve of a British Governor;
having a dangerous frontier on one side, the chief seats
of rebellion on the other, and a turbulent popu-
lation immediately around you ; it was your sinci
gular happiness, in conjunction with the illustrious band
of men, trained' in your own school, not merely to hold
the recently occupied Punjab, brit in a spirit of the noblest
self-devotion, to strip it of a large portion of its European
garrison, and bring all its resources, and its old Khalsa sol-
diery, to bear upon the conquest of Dslhi, and the recovery
of our Indian empire.
" We rejoice that your valuable life has been preserved;
whilst so many who shared with you the burdens and merits
of the conflict have fallen before its close. Among the very
foremost of these, your countrymen will bear in memory
the great qualities, theinestimable services, and the patriotic
end of your illustrious brother, Sir Henry Lawrence.
" With especial gratification we call to mind how, in the
very midst of the struggle, and of greater dangers than
ethers have deemed sufficient grounds for shrinking from
every avowal of Christianity, you advised its frank profes-
sion. You laid down the principle that, having endea-
voured solely to ascertain what is our Christian duty, we
should follow it out to the uttermost undeterred by any con-
sideration.' You knew that the tolerant spirit and benign
precepts of our religion provided a permanent guarantee for
the rights of all, especially in matters of conscience, which
could not be furnished by temporising policy. You knew
that ' if anything like compulsion enters into our system of
diffusing Christianity, the rules of that religion itself are
disobeyed, and we shall never be permitted to profit by our
disobedience.' You have recorded your conviction that
Christian things done in a Chlristian waywill never alienate
the heathen. About such things there are qualities which
do not provoke nor excite distrust, nor harden to resistance.
It is when unchristian things are done in the name of Chris-
tianity, or when Christian things are done in an unchris-
tian way, that mischief and danger are occasioned. These
words are memorable. Their effect will be happy not only on
your own age, but on ages to come. Your proposal that the
A9ly bible 4644 In retie led cm the ititordiqt udox