The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-13 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND THE WAR.

ST. PANCRAS.

Last evening a meeting was held in compliance
with a numerously signed requisition of the inhabi-
tants to the vestry of St. Pancras, at the Vestry-
hall. for the purpose of ascertaining the feeling of
the parishioners as to the propriety of presenting a
memorial to the Queen, praying her Majesty to
sanction no interference on the part of this country
in the war commenced on the Continent, and to
sanction the employmet of the British forces for no
other object except the defence of her own domi-
nions.
The county and borough members were adver-
tised to attend, and there was consequently a very
full meeting.
Mr. ATTENBOLOTIGH, the senior churchwarden,
Presided, and explained the object of the meeting.
Letters bad been received from the borough mem-
bers which would be read. Sir B. Hall stated that
he was in Wales, where he intended to remain
until the session, but stating himself decidedly in
favour of neutrality ; and Mr. E. James said that
he having so recently expressed his opinions fully
to the constituents of the borough, should prefer to
reserve any future statement of his views until he
was in his place in the House of Commons.
Mr. GARVAT moved a resolution to the effect—
" That in the absence of Parliament it is expedient
that the inhabitants of this parish respectfully ap-
proach the throne, to express their solemn convic-
tion that this country ought not to be implicated in
the war which has commenced on the Continent.
'That .this meeting is deeply convinced that the
British people have no sympathy with any of the
belligerent powers, and do not believe that the
present war is calculated to promote either the
liberty or civilisation of Europe ; and therefore
that, whilst the meeting thinks that Great Britain
should scrupulously abstain from intermeddling
with foreign quarrels, she should be fully prepared
to defend her own shores from aggression."
He was for a policy of perfect neutrality—for while
these great military states of the continent were
-fighting they were weakening their power of ag-
gression against this country. Referring to the
cost of war, and its effect in increasing the burdens
of taxation and raising the price of the poor man's
loaf, he observed that Mr. Disraeli, at Aylesbury,
treated the cost of war as a very light matter, and
laughed at the idea of £800,000,000 of a debt
caused by unnecessary wars, calling it a flea-bite.
If it was a flea-bite, it was like that described by
Thackeray—

" When all the fleas of Jewry,
" Got up and bit like fury.

(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) He did not desire to
bind any ministry, but he considered it right that
whatever Government was in power, it should know
-yrhat the feelings of the people really were. (Hear.)
Mr. Churchwarden CAMERON seconded the re-
solvtion.
Mr:. HUDSON moved an amendment to the resolu-
tion that this meeting is of opinion that the aggres-
sive policy of the Emperor of the French is inimical
to the peace of Europe, and expresses a wish that
the alliance with him should cease. (Loud cries of
No, no. That is war, And much interruption.) He
believed the alliance of this country with France
had been injurious to the liberties of Europe • and
even in this war in Sardinia he proclaimed that he
was carrying on the policy of his uncle, which was
_a policy of war and conquest. He went to Sar-
d,:nia ostensibly to set the Italians free, but his
obj.,9et was no doubt to strengthen his own power,
so th.at he might be the better able to cope with
this ceuntry ; and depend upon it Napoleon 111.
would never rest until he had conquered this
country, or this country had conquered him,
(Oh, oh, and cheers.) If Ms object was really to
promote the cause of liberty, could he have a better
scope for the exercise of that intention than in his
own country ? The aggressive policy of the Em-
peror of the French was already seriously injuring
this country, and causing the outlay of immense
sums in military preparations which otherwise
would be unnecessary.
The amendment was put and negatived, four
_hands only being held up for it, after which the
original resolution was put and unanimously
carfied.
_ . _

GOODNYIN proposed that a memorial be pre-
pared in accordance with the previous resolution,
and that it be forwarded to the Earl of Derby for
presentation to her Majesty.
Mr. FARRAR seconded the resolution.
The resolution was unanimously agreed to, and
the memorial was read and adopted.
The Rev. Mr. AINSTIE moved that the church-
wardens and Messt s. Gervay, Goodwin, and Farrar
be appointed a deputation to wait upon the Earl of
Derby with the memorial.
Mr. T. L. BAKER seconded the motion, which
passed.
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
business.