The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-14 00:00:00

SIR JOHN P ARINGTON ON CHINA.

WORCESTER, THURSDAY.
The annual meeting of the Worcestershire Agri-
cultural Society was held yesterday, and, after a
morning occupied in the inspection of stock, award
of premiums, &c., a party of about 100 noblemen
and gentlemen set down to dinner at the Guildhall
Assembly-room, under the presidency of Sir E. A.
H. Lechmere, Bart., the Hon. F. Lygon occupying
the vice chair. Among others present were Lord
Ward, Earl Beauchamp, Viscount Elmley, M.P.,
Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, Bart., M.P. ; Sir
T. E. Winnington, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. F. W.
Knight, M.P. ; and Mr. Holland, M.P.
After the usual toasts followed that of the " Army
and Navy."
Earl BEAUCHAMP briefly responded on behalf of
the army, which service, he said, he felt proud of
being thus honoured.
Sir J. PAKINGTON being called upon to respond
on behalf of the navy, said that while he had the
honour of being at the head of the navy he had
used his best endeavours to strengthen that great
arm of the public service. (Cheers.) He did not
consider that he should be justified on that occa-
sion in making any references to party politics, but
he believed there was no set of politicians in England
that did not feel that the prosperity of the British
navy was essential to the prosperity of the country.
(Hear, hear.) It was, therefore, the duty of all
parties and of all Governments to take care that
that great arm of our strength should not be
weakened or impaired. As reference had been
made by the chairman to the unfortunate affair at
the mouth of the Peiho, he (Sir J. Pakington)
thought it impossible that he could, in acknow-
ledging the toast, pass it over altogether. They
would recollect that the policy of England with
respect to China became not long ago the subject of
a great party struggle ; but he hoped that would
not be the case now. Whatever might have been
the cause of the great and unfortunate disaster—
for it would be folly to deny that it was a great
disaster—whether or not mistakes had been com-
mitted, and if so, by whom—however that might be,
he hoped the British public would consider these
as matters of comparatively no importance ; and he
hoped that instead of our policy with respect. to
Chin]. bein4 as had been heretofore, the subject of
party struggles,
.all parties and the great mass of
the British public would be of opinion that any de-
feat of British arms was a thing that must be re-
dressed. (Cheers.) We could not afford to have our
prestige impaired nor our honour doubted, and e
believed that the general feeling of the public would
be that this unfortunate reverse must in some way
or other be redressed. Before he sat down he de-
sired to do justice to those brave men who fought
at the Peiho. Many of them were perPonally
known to him, and he was proud to be able to call
Admiral Hope his friend. He had had the honour
of appointing him to the command in the Chinese
Seas, and lie had selected him solely because he was
well known as a man of great ability, and an officer
of great experience and skill. It was unnecessary for
him to add that he was also a man of the most un-
doubted bravery. (Cheers.) He (Admiral Hope) had
been doubly unfortunate in that engagement of the
Peiho in suffering what to a British officer was the
most painful of all things, defeat, and also in being
himself personally wounded. He (Sir J. Paking-
ton) had had the pleasure of receiving several letters
from Admiral Hope since the affair, and was happy
to say that the gallant officer was just recovering
from his wounds ; and he hoped he would be able
to prove hereafter to the world that he was what
every man in the British navy knew him to be—a
distinguished ornament to the service. (Cheers.)
The right lion. baronet, in conclusion, thanked the
meeting for the way in which they had connected

PitICE 41). S'PAINIPED, SD.

his name with the toast which had just been ho
floured by them. _

Mr. CURTLER having proposed " The County
Members,'
Viscount ELMLEY replied.
Several other toasts and speeehes followed.