The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-11 00:00:00

THE SUN•
LONDON, FRIDAY, OCT. 11, 1861.

The annual banquet of the Mayor of the city of
Oxford is seldom inferior, as respects the after-
dinner part of the entertainment, to a banquet at
the more pretentious Mansion House of the City
of London. Indeed, though we heard much, re-
cently, of the Lord Mayor's claim to re-election on
account of his festive hospitality, we do not re-
member that anything was said of his having con-
trived to secure the best speaking which the coun-
try could afford. The Mayor of Oxford had at
least two men of mark last Wednesday evening—
men whose opinions are always listened to with
attention ; unfortunately its ministerial member,
though he had hastily left Switzerland to be pre-
sent, was detained at home by sudden illness.
Sir W. P. WOOD seemed to regret that his ac-
cepting a judgeship had excluded him from the
line of politics. The recollection of days when he
had been a Parliamentary representative was evi-
dently grateful to him. Almost with a sigh he
said to his audience—" The time has now passed
when I could take any active part in the struggles
of party. It is one of the regulations of judicial
life in this country, and it is not for me to cavil at
it, that only one judge, the Master of the Rolls,
shall be permitted to occupy a seat in Parliament.
At the same time my interest in the political
questions which spring up from day to day has not
ceased, and never can. On the whole I think the
opinions I entertained when I had the honour to
represent you have been confirmed by the events
which have since occurred." So quiet had his life been
for eight or nine years, that he seemed to wake up
as from an absence from the old city of as many
weeks rather than of years. And he glanced
back to the Russian war as quite a natural
topic. The results of both that contest and of
the Italian struggle he adverted to with pleasure.
Russia had been compelled to turn her attention
to domestic improvement and the emancipation
of her serfs, " which conferred so much honour
on the present EMPEROR ;" while in Italy, " a
great constitution had started into existence in a
country which has long been distinguished by
its love for fine arts, its genius, and its poetical
temperament, but which for many long years has
been kept down, and the aspirations of its people
crushed by foreign despotism. For more than 500
years—from:the time of the poet DANTE—there has
existed the most ardent desire on the part of the
people of Italy for liberty and independence,
which it is to be hoped will be attained by the
conversion of petty states and sovereignties into
one great kingdom. If, however, Italy is to
enjoy real independence, anl to become happy
and prosperous, its actions must be unfettered by
party squabbles and animosities, while at the
same time it must be left entirely free
from foreign intervention." Mr. HENLEY
also expressed strongly his satisfaction with
the prospects of Italy, and affirmed that
there was no Englishman, whatever his political
feelings may be, who would deny to any other
nation a participation in those blessings which
this happy country now enjoys. It is one of
those mercies which

" is twice blessed :
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."

The American war could not be overlooked. A
speaker recently illustrated the " wisdom of Par-
liament" by its refusal to discuss the merits of the
great quarrel between our relations across the
water; but wisdom does not, it seems, forbid in-
dividual speakers, any more than editors, from
giving expression to their thoughts. Sir W. P.
WOOD'S sympathies were with the North, yet he
observed that " it must be a great public principle,
be it right or wrong, which can actuate so large a
body in the South in carrying on the struggle.
They must feel they have grievances which require
redress, and there must be some strong reason to
induce 180,000 or 200,000 men to band themselves
together and make sacrifices, not only of life
and property, but of the future material interests
and prosperity of their country." It is cer-
tainly not very difficult now to determiw
what are the public principles which actuate both
sides. Ills view of the issue was this :—" It has
been said that Liberal institutions were on their
trial, Nothing of the kind. What is really on its
trial is whether an enormous continent like America
can be governed by one government, and I cannot
conceive how Liberal institutions can be said to be
on their trial in any other respect. Each party is
willing to be governed by a central power. Instead ,
of one government you have now two, one in the
north and one in the south ; whether or not two
ought to be continued seems to be the real issue."

IFrance had her turn at Oxford ; Sir W. P.
WOOD contrasted our municipal self-government
with her centralisation, spoke with pride on our
having given an asylum to four French kings, and
yet having refused to deliver up.-a political offender
accused of participation in an atrocious act :—‘, The