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

EVEMNG, OCTOBER 10, 1861.

ASIIIPB OF WAR IiUILDING.

It may not be uninteresting to our readers to know that
there are 54 ships of war now under construction at the
Royal Dock and other private yards, many of which are in
a very forward state for launching. This return, which has
been carefully compiled, will show that these vessels will
carry an aggregate of 1,254 gnus, are of 10,930-horse-power,
and 95,255 tons. The names of these vessels, together with
the place of building, are as follows :
Ships. Guns. Ilse-power. Tons. Port.
Achilles .. 50 .. 1,2.50 .. 6,079 Chatham.
Africa 11 .. 150 669 Devonport.
Alligator .. 22 .. 400 .. 1,857 Woolwich.
Itelvidera .. • . 51 .. 600 3,027 Chatham.
Bramble .. .. 2 .. CO .. 236 Portsmouth.
Bruiser .. 2 .. 60 .. 236 Portsmouth.
Bulwark .. 89 .. 803 .. 3,716 Chatham.
Caledonia .. 50 .. 800 4,045 Woolwich.
Cherub .. 2 . • 60 .. 236 Portsmouth,
Columbine .. 11 .. 150 .. 669 Deptford:
Cromer .. .. 2 .. 60 .. 236 Portsmouth.
Crown .. • • 2 .. 60 .. 236 Portsmouth.
Dartmouth.. .. 36 .. 500 .. 2,478 Woolwich.
Dromedary.. 100 .. 400 Millwall.
Dryad .. 51 600 .. 3,027 Portsmouth.
Endymion .. • • 36 .. 500 .. 2,478 Deptford.
Enterprise .. 11 .. 150 .. 669 Deptford.
Favourite .. 22 .. 400 .. 1,623 Deptford.
Guernsey .. 4 .. 200 .. 695 Pembroke.
Harlequin .. 17 .. 200 .. 950 Portsmouth.
Hector .. 32 .. 800 .. 4,063 Glasgow.
Helicon .. .. 250 835 Portsmouth.
later .. 36 500 3,027 Devonport.
Jaseur .. 5 .. 80 .. 425 Deptford.
Menai .. 22 .. 400 .. 1,857 Chatham.
Minstrel 2 60 .. 233 Portsmouth.
Myrmidon .. 4 .. 200 695 Chatham.
Nassau .. 4 .. '2OO .. 695 Pembroke.
Netley .. 2 .. 60 23,? Portsmouth.
Newport .. 5 SO .. 425 Pembroke.
North Star.. .. 22 .. 400 1,623 Sheerness.
Ocean •. .. 50 1,000 .. 4,045 Devonport.
Orontes 600 .. 2,812 Blackwall.

- ,
Orwell .. 2 60 .. 233 Portsmouth.
Protector .. .. 2 60 .. 233 Portsmouth.
Rattler .. 17 .. 200 951 Deptford.
Reindeer .. 17 .. 200 .. 951 Chatham.
Repulse .. 89 .. 800 .. 3,716 Woolwich.
Robust 89 .. 800 .. 3,716 Devonport.
Royal Alfred .. 50 .. 800 .. 3,716 Portsmouth.
Royalist .. 11 .. 150 .. 669 Devonport.
Royal Oak.. .. 50 .. 1,000 .. 3,716 Chatham.
Salamis .. 250 .. 835 Chatham.
Sappho .. 17 .. 200 .. 950 Deptford.
Shearwater .. 11 .. 150 .. 669 Pembroke.
Sylvia .. .. 4 .. 200 .. 695 Woolwich.
Tamar .. 500 .. 2,812 Millwall.
Tartarus .. 4 .. 200 .. 695 Pembroke.
Triumph .. 50 .. 800 .. 3,716 Pembroke.
Tweed 51 .. 600 .. 3,027 Pembroke.
Tyrian .. 2 .. 60 .. 223 Newhaven.
Valiant .. .. 31 800 .. 4,063 MilNall.
Wolverine .. 21 .. 400 .. 1,623 Woolwich.
Zealous .. .. 80 .. 800 .. 3,716 Pembroke.
Total .. 1,254 10,930 95,255

LORI) ENFIELD, M.P., AND MR. HAN-
JIURY, M.P., ON ITALY, AMERICA, 4,c.

The 25th annual general meeting of the South-
West Middlesex Agricultural Society was held yes-
terday at Hounslow, and was very numerously
attended. There was great competition in plough-
ing and steam cultivation, and the business of the
day was conducted with great spirit. In the even-
ing the members and friends of the association dined
at the Town Hall, Viscount Enfield presiding, sup-
ported by Mr. R. Hanbury, M.P., Major-General
Wood, H. Pownall, Esq., and the principal gentry
of the neighbourhood.
The cloth having been drawn, and the loyal
toasts disposed of,
The Noble CHAIRMAN gave " The Army, the
Navy, and the Volunteers," and in doing so said he
hoped the company would forgive him if for a few
moments he ventured to pay a humble but sincere
tribute to the memory of the late Lord Herbert of
Lea, who was one of those men who, in the language
of the poet,
,t Was one to whom a thousand memories call,
Not being less but more than all,
The gentleness he seemed to be."
Therefore he felt that it was impossible to separate
the `name of the late Lord Herbert from this toast,
who had devoted every energy, both of mind and
body, and they all knew what those energies were,
to promote the welfare, the comfort, and the dis-
cipline of the soldier ; and eventually he sunk under
them in the discharge of his duty. He (Lord
Enfield) had had the greatest pleasure of listening
in the House of Commons to Lord Herbert in his
exposition of the affairs of the army, when it was
his duty to propose measures for the welfare of his
country, and to promote the comfort of the soldier.
He (Lord Enfield) had also the happiness of sharing
his hospitality, and in private life he was equally
amiable, devoting himself to the duties, and he died,
although a civilian, in that which was the desire
of every soldier, in the service of his country. He
(Lord Enfield) had ventured to touch upon this pain
ful subject, but he thought it would not be out
of place at that meeting of his constituents to offer
that feeble but sincere tribute of rapect and grati-
tude to his memory. As to the two services of the
army and navy, he believed they were never in a
more efficient state, and the men amongst them were
quite equal to those who had gone before, whether
it was as regarded the Peninsula, Waterloo, the
Crimea, or China ; and it was with great pleasure
that he should call upon his gallant friend who
sat on his left (Gen. Wood) to respond on behalf of
those services. He had a few words to say as to the
volunteers, but having the honour to command a
corps of volunteers of the county of Middlesex, he
wished to observe that he hoped they would not be
led away by the praises which had been showered
upon them, but would take that good advice which
had been given to them by his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge, Col. M'Murdo, and Lord Clive,
and he hoped they would take those words to heart
and follow it out in their discipline, and become
what their best friends said they were at present.
He trusted that they would not be led away by the
enthusiastic praise which they had bestowed upon
them, which rather indicated what they should be
than what they were at presant. He should call upon
Mr. Watson to return thanks for the volunteers.

Gen. WOOD returned thanks for the army and
navy, and thanked the company for the compliment
which they had paid him in associating his name
with those services, and fully confirmed those eulo•
gies which their noble chairman had passed upon
the energies of the late Lord Herbert, who, although
having to learn the duties of a War Minister, had
most ably administered the affairs of that depart-
ment.

Mr. WALKER returned thanks on behalf of the
volunteers.

Several other toasts having been given and re-
sponded to,

3lajor-Gen. WooD, in highly complimentary
terms, proposed the health of their county members,
Lord Enfield and Mr. R. Hanbury.
Mr. R. HANBURY, M.P., said he wished to return
thanks for the manner in which the health of him-
self and his colleague had been proposed, and for the
general goodwill with which it had been received,
and the feelings which it had elicited demanded their
warmest gratitude. As his noble friend (Lord En-
field) would have frequent opportunities of address-
ing them in the course of the evening, and would
probably have the advantage of something like 15
speeches, he begged in the first instance for a few
moments to claim their attention. They had but
few opportunities of meeting their constituents of
this great metropolitan county, and therefore they
were bound to make the most of those they had.
Although it was the language of all speakers at
agricultural meetings to say that politics were
strictly excluded, yet politics were considered to be
interesting by every man, woman, and child in the
kingdom, as they referred to matters which were
going on in every part of the world, they would
forgive him if for afe w moments he touched upon
politics, not in a party but in a conciliatory spirit.
The constituency of Middlesex were an enlightened
body, and when they met on such occasions as the
present they could not exclude politics, in which all
were so deeply interested. The prominent subject
which occupied their minds at the present time was
that of gratitude to Almighty God for the blessings
of an abundant harvest, and if they looked back to
the past year and the severe calamity which then
fell upon them, they could not sufficiently estimate
the blessing they then enjoyed, when they remem-
bered that during the last session of Parliament the
Chancellor Pf the Ezchequer had stated in the Howe

PRICE 4d
STAIUPED sd.

of Commons that no less a sum than 4U millions
sterling had left their hands to buy food to supply
the wants of the people of this country. As the har-
vest had been so bountiful, they were now enabled
to keep their money at home and have the corn as
well. As to the affairs of Europe, he thanked God
they were now in a state of peace, both at home and
abroad. They were now at peace with their neigh-
bours—not that the policy of her Majesty's Govern-
ment as at present carried out had brought about
this happy state of things, but it was the policy
of the people of England, and whether Lord
Palmerston or Lord Derby was at the head of the
Government, or Lord J. Russell or Lord Malmes-
bury was at the head of foreign affairs, no varia-
tion or interruption of that policy would for a mo-
ment be admitted by the people ofEngland. (Cheers.)
Then, if they were to cast their eyes over Europe
at large, they might look with feelings of proud
admiration at those countries who were endeavour-
ing to raise themselves from thraldom and slavery
—they saw Italy, who having lately followed our
example, not through the interference of statesmen,
but through her own indomitable will, had thrown
off the trammels of bigotry and oppression, and
now enjoyed for herself the blessings of a free con-
stitution. (Loud cheers.) They could not, also, hide
from their eyes the fact that the Emperor of Russia
would indeed really become the greatest imp
in the world if he (Arnie(' out the policy of the abo-
lition of serfdom which he had so well inaugurated.
He had now a painful subject to allude to; - which
was indeed a painful one, this was the preient state
of America; and, although unwilling to take one 1
side or the other, he wished her well out of her
troubles, and trusted that in the end the constitu-
tion might be both purified and strengthened. He
did not give any opinion as to the curse of these
unhappy dissensions, bat he believed the abolition
of slavery was necessary before she could take her
right place amongst the nations of the earth. As to
slavery, he did Rot believe in the efficacy of the
present restrictive system to put it down, or if they
doubled their present force they could put it down ;
but what he would advise them to do would be to
go into the land from whence the slaves came, and,
like Livingstone, teach the natives that the culti-
vation of the sugar-cane and cotton would be more
profitable to them than following a trade in human
flesh—that it would be their true policy to keep
their slaves at home, and work with them, and not
to sell them as beasts upon their land. As to the
state of things in Ireland, they saw by the articles
in the press the progress which was being made
there, and she was now becoming what she ought
to be ; and most gratifying was it to see at home
the good will which animated all classes, for they
found all classes, from the highest to the lowest,
mixing and uniting together for the good of the
whole. They did not stand apart, but joined hand
and heart to carry out those great principles, and
to maintain this country in its proper and lawful
position. He held that such were the principles
of free trade, and he trusted that the commercial
treaty would not only be carried out by the pre-
sent Government with reference to France, but
with every other country in the world, and if that
were done, wars with each other would almost be
rendered impossible. It was the great object of
Government to bring together a friendly exchange
of the products of different countries, rather than
filling the minds of each other with anger and ill-
will. So much had been said as to the Volunteers,
it was not for him to enter into that topic, and he
must say that he rejoiced at the movement, as it
tended to keep them in peace, and at the same time
showed a determination on the part of Englishmen
to stand by their own. Their position was one of
defence, and not of defiance ; and he might say
with the pet—

" Coma one, come all, this rock shall fly
From its firm bsse as soon as I."
(Cheers.) His noble colleague would address them
at some length as to the House of Commons, and
who so ably took part in his public duties. He
thanked them sincerely for the great honour they
had done him, and also for the forbearance of those
friends who had placed him in his present position,
and so long as God should give him strength to
carry out the duties which devolved upon him so
long he would do so ; and if ever ho should lose
their confidence he would place the trust in hands
that would be more able to carry out the views of
his constituents than he had been able to perform.
(Cheers.)
Lord ENFIELD said, by the favour of the com-
pany for the fifth time, he had then the honour to
return thanks for the compliment which had been
passed upon him as one of their county members,
and at the outset of his observations he would
disclaim a doctrine which appeared to be
almost universally promulgated at meetings
of agricultural societies—that politics are to be ex-
eluded when the health of the county members is
proposed. If by politics it was meant that county
members should introduce topics which should ex-
cite angry and invidious comparisons or provoke
party feelings, then he could well understand why
politics should be excluded; but if politics meant
something higher, whatever their particular views
might be, then ho considered, if the health of the
county members was drunk, that it would be unbe-
coming, and they would be shrinking from their
duty, ii they did not say a few words on politics—
not party politics, but on those which concerned the
welfare of the great body of the people. (Cheers.)
At the close of every session of Parliament they
generally had one pleasant and one dark side of the
picture—one of what had been done, and one of what
had been left undone. On the dark side were end-
less speeches and personal interruptions to disturb
the general prosperity; and the longer he sat in the
House of Commons the more he was impressed with
the belief that those who spoke the most seldom were
those who were not the least attended to. He
would mention, for instance, on financial questions
the hon. member for Huntington and the hon. mem-
ber for Kendal were eagerly and respectfully list-
ened to. If it was a commercial subject, the mem-
bers for Liverpool, Manchester, and Stockport, were
listened to with the greatest attention. When the
subject of the navy came under discussion, there was
no member in the House of Commons who was
listened to with greater respect than the hon. and
gallant member for Devonport. If it was the army,
the hon. and gallant member for Huntingdon, who
had practical experience of the subject upon which
' he spoke, was also listened to; and therefore he
said, it was not necessary that a member of that
house should be continually on his legs, and
jumping up on every occasion, to secure the atten-
tion of the house, or to be esteemed by his consti-
tuents out of doors. He had not mentioned parti-
cular names, but had taken them at random from
the list who were always listened to in their
place in Parliament ; and therefore it was not neces-
sary, for a man to do his duty to his constituents,
that he should be constantly interrupting the time
of the house by speaking upon every question.
(Hear, hear.) Although the press had done some-
thing in respect to these endless speeches, yet there
had not been much legislation, and they should take
care that a proper and salutary remedy was applied;
but what that remedy was he was not prepared to
say. They had heard of the collective wisdom of
Parliament, and although some people were inclined
to carp at the expression, yet this year he was struck
with it when it was proposed that the unhappy dis-
solution of the States of America should come under
discussion. it was the united sense of the House of
Commons that declared unanimously that so deli-
cate a subject should not come under discussion,
which spoke well for the wisdom of Parliament and
the good sense of the members, whatever their feel-
ings might be in regard to America ; and although
they had been ostentatiously told that they ought.
to assimilate the institutions of this country
those of America, springing from the same ste: as
ourselves, yet there was but one feeling--that 1t
grid to such a
wari their duty if possible to put an n

NEWSPAPER
• ›.
melancholy, fratricidal, and intquito 1.44
to him a matter of congratulation thalt9 tiA,7
Commons; had Preserved a discreet silene.;,,
no party feeling entered into their forsolgNo
At the.risk of offending some who were in 11 , roo ,
he looked with satisfactioriat the liberation of Italy,
and he hoped by- prudent, sensible, and constitu-
tional institutions, that liberty would be consoli-
dated, and that the liberty of-England and iii ly
would be synonyMous became, whatever vy-ce
their party feeling-8, whatever 'were their imperfe-
tiODS, their institutions possessed the elements of
happiness, not only to those who enjoyed them, but
to those who came within their magic influence.
Therefore they might well look to them 'with
pride and saiisfactlun, for he believed at home
they had all the aspects of a united and happy
people. They had a Parliament that fully and
freely represented the people, and although he
was not one who would put back the hand of
the clock, yet there was not a more zealous •
Congervative in his respect for their institutions,
and although he would go as far as any one to
ameliorate them, he would 6 so with a gentle hand.
Let them look at America—there liberty had col-
lapsed ; he there found liberty under the hands of
despotism ; and when it was said that wars were
entered into by this country as a sort of out-door
relief for the aristocracy, those who made that as-
sertion were ignorant of the genius of this country.
After some further observations, he said he trusted
the honour and dignity of this country would never
be tarnished, and assured them that he would never
be backward in supporting their local interests, or
in coming forward whenever the honour or dig-
nity of the country was imperilled. (Loud cheers.) '
Some other toasts having been given, the com-
pany separated soon after eleven o'clock.
The dinner teas by Mr. Biggers, of Brentford,
and gave general satisfaction.

211 E EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND TILE
XI.Ni.; OF PRUSSIA.

(From. the Paris Correspondent of the Times.)
Accounts from Compiegne speak of a great influx
of strangers, among them numerous representatives
of the French and German press, but hitherto there
are' only few traces visible of their activity. Most
of the notices are mere amplifications on the para-
graph of theillioniteur which 4 sent you yesterday.
It is like dressing up the official puppet in crino-
line, so as to set it off to the greatest advantage.
Reading one is very like reading the other, and the
only important difference which has struck ma
hitherto is whether the actors of the Comedie Fran-
coise represented on Alonday evening the Due Job
or Le Bougeoir.
In the meantime, I can tell you from private
accounts that the interview passed off beyond all
expectation. Not only does there seem to have
been no contretemps, but every one seems to have
been charmed with every one else. The King has
become quite a favourite among the entourage of the
Emperor, pleased every-body and seemed disposed to
be pleased with everything. Not a trace of coldness
or suspicion as.was apprehended. His manners have
quite created a party in his favour at Court.
With all this one can scarcely believe that the
long and intimate conversations between the two
Sovereigns were merely a means of paying reci-
procal compliments, so we must suppose that politics
are not altogether banished from this ceremonious
visit.

Of course it would be difficult to say what passed
between the two Sovereigns, but we shall be able
to guess from the turn which, above all, Italian
affairs will take in a short time. As I said before,
the decision will be very much influenced by the
circumstance whether Prussia recognizes the new
kingdom or not. If she does, the solution becomes
easy, and may be carried out in a normal way.
The great majority of the Powers who gave back
the Papal States in 1815 will have recognized and
sanctioned the loss of the greater part of them. The
only international right of the Pope to his estates
is based on this treaty. This is one of the greatest
difficulties and one of the chief causes for caution.

There is every disposition here to settle the
matter at last. It cannot remain as it is without
producing dangerous agitation both in Italy and
here. While in Italy it would be playing into the
hands of the Mazzinians, here it would be encourag-
ing the clerical and anti-dynastic parties. As it is
it has been carried to excess. At the provincial
conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
at Lusignan, the Bishop of Poictiers has made
one of his violent harangues against everything
existing, denouncing the present state of society
as an enemy of the Church, showing religion in
danger, and complaining of the persecutions,
thus leaving no doubt about the aspirations and
tendencies of a large party of the clergy. Be-
sides this, the same doctrines are taught and pro-
pagated in the schools, which are for the most part
in the hands of the clergy. This cannot be much
longer tolerated, especially as these encroachments
of the clergy have aroused a strong feeling against
everything connected with the Church among the
mass of the intelligent workmen in the towns, and
above all in Paris. It seems incredible, but it is
nevertheless certain, that the check the clergy
would suffer by the abolition of the temporal power
would be one of the most popular things which
could be done with this class. They are heartily
sick of the violence, hypocrisy, and interference of
the clergy in family affairs, and would almost for-
I get the dearness of bread if they were delivered of
this incubus.

(From the Paris Correspondent of the Morning Post.)

•
The King of Prussia was to bid adieu to his im-
perial host on Tuesday. Thus ends this much
talked of visit ; but political speculation will not
cease. Wonderful efforts have been made by the
German agents of royal personages to find out if
any political conversation has taken place between
the two Sovereigns. This is remarkable, for the
Germans at least ought to know that King Wil-
liam is no statesman. Prussia's King is simply
one of his dynasty, and nothing more. I was
present at the conversation of two important
personages (not French), when one said—" The
Emperor is so clever that he will make the King
believe anything; he is sure to get the better
of him." "Do not trouble yourself," was the
reply, " th© King is not bright-minded enough even
to understand Louis Napoleon." The fact is the
royal visit to Compiegne will have little effect on
the politics of Europe. No harm, however, can
come of it; and if the meeting of the Sovereigns
and the interchange of civilities between the Govern-
ments and military which have lately taken place
should counteract certain intrigues to create a bad
feeling between Prussia and France, a positive good
willreopaerrwivieiednatthae periodpeople
arein the
political ical accrue.bis
torlyVeofilEauy
be-
ginning to understand the real cost and real value
of dynastic ambitions and jealousies.
There may
be fights for better Governments ; there may be wars
to emancipate a nationality
from foreign bondage;
but even the Emperor Napoleon could not invade
Germany if he • h wis ed. When will people read
the history of our day without prejudice ? Europe
is certainly in an unsettled state. We cannot ex-
pect that a large empire like that of Austria should
break up without the crash and shock being felt.
A united, progressive, and liberal Germany cannot
be formed without sacrificing certain dynastic in-
terests ; because the first question the German peo-
ple will ask is—" What need have we for lots of
small reigning'princes, who are simply:expensive and
utterly useless ?" These are precisely the royal people
joined with the Austrian Court and the exiled .13o.ur-
bons of Italy who are moving heaven and earth: b nsaving
discord g
about a war in Europe as the only
meanso
their cause. Wherever they can create they
do so. To make France hated and suspected is the
main aim of their agents, and those agents are at
Ministersabout pap anderspoliti with
cal men, and seeking- t.o
insl'hey know that if they
their hypocritical polities.
do not make the great Powers soon fall out and go
to war with each other, the people's cause in Europe
liberal
will soon triumph; that.. Government with
constitutional rulers will alone exist ; that great
armies, kept up either to oppress a nation at home
or serve dynastic ambitions abroad, will no longer
be tolerated. All this is seen by certain imperial
and royal families, and that is the reason they are
just now so actively intriguing, and I must say
often duping, English statesmen
as well as London
kpress mon,