The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-16 00:00:00

IRELAND,

DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING.
GOVERNMENT INQUIRY AT BELFAST.
Mr. David I.J,neh, Q.C., Roman Catholic and
Whig, and Mr. Hamilton Smythe, Q.O , Protes-
tant and Conservative, • the Commissioners ap-
poipfed by the Lord-Lieutenant to inquire into
the recent disgraceful outrages in Belfast, arrived
there yesterday morning and formally opened the
sittings of the commission at 3 o'clock in the
County. Court-house. Among those present as
listeners Were the Protestant and Roinan Catholic
Bishops, the Mayor of Belfast, and several. local
civil authorities. Mr. A. O'Rourke appeared for
the Roman Catholic inhabitant's who had suffered-
by tie riots Mr. John Rea for some others,- and
also to lay his own views on the subject before the
commis-iioners ; Mr. M‘Meehan represented the
ultra-Protestant party. Subjoined is the report of
the opening statement ou the part of the Govern-
ment

WEYMOUTH.
In compli.ince with a communication received
from the Lord Mayor of London, Mr. G. 0. Weis-
ford, mayor of this borough, convened a meeting
of the itihabitpts- and visitors. at the Guildhall
yesterday for_the purpoiie of taking steps to co-operate
the -London conunittce in raisind funds for
the relief of the destitute suffeters by, the" mutiny
-in India. His 'worship presided, and- was- sup
ported: by Mr. B. J. B. Campbell, one of the mem-
ber;,, and by many of the clergy . and principal
inhabitants of the town..
Mr. ELIOT, a county magistrate, proposed the
first resolution, which was as follows
" Teat this meeting .desires to (xpress its -sympathy
with the many helpless sufferers who are reduced to a
~tats of destitution. by the late mutinies in India, and
feels called upon to record its detestation of the unheard
of atrocities•of the rebel army, and its cruelty 'to help-
less females, children' _and our unarmed Christianfeliow
iul j••cts, and trusts that the efforts-nowbeing made for
the punishment of the guilty'ruay, by the Divine bless-
ing, be crowned with the earliest success." •
Captain PROWSE, R. N., ,seconded tb a resolution,
which was unanimously adopted. -
'Tile Rev. It, J. LYON proposed the next.-reso-
lution

"Teat, in consideration of the survivors of these un•
heard-of brutalities being now dependent on others for
clothing, food, and shelter, in addition to their cruel loss
of husbands and parents, Motiating anxiously entreats
the benevoleut contributionis of its fellow-townsmen and
visitors to relieve in Some measure the want and suffer-
ing of the afflicted." '
He urged that it was the duty of all Christians
and lovers of their country not only to do all in
their power to relieve the sufferers by this wide-
spread mutiny, but to do more than that. Never,
perhaps in the history of any heathen nation were
such atrocities heard of as were now perpetrated in
India, • and that under the pretext of religion, for
he • feared that it was a Mahomedauleeling which
moved those wretches, as he might well call them,
to the perpetration of outrages which could not
bo exceeded by a nation of savages. -
The Rev. a JAcKsorr seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. CAMPBELL, 31. P., proposed,—
" That subscription lists be opened at each of the
banks and libraries of, this town, and that the amounts
as collected be forwarded to the L ird Mayor and the
London committee to be added to the general fund for
carrying out the objects of the meeting."
The hon. member, with th© permission of the
Mayor, added the following rider
:
"That this meeting, feeling satisfied that the appeal
made ou behalf of their fellow-countrymen in India
must be liberally responded to fa this country and
throughout our vast possessions abroad, would urge
upon the 'central committee in London the. creation of a
fund having for its object the formation of schools in the
healthy hill stations of India, for the education and
maintenance of the childten of European soldiers, this
fund to be created out of the surplus contributions
received, after -satisfying the pressing
.wants of the
sufferers by the mutinies."
He then observed that ho was sure a gallant and
distinguished general whom he saw in the room
(General Huish), and who had been some time in
India, would bear t stimony to the advantages
which would erise from the establishment of such
schools. They would not only improve the morality
of the army and raise a barrier again it the encroach-
ment of the native' influence, but would be likely
to promote coloni ation in our Indian possessions.
", Mr. ANDERsoN,-in •seconding the resolution, re-
mark that the establishment of schools in the hill
districts was no new idea, as the subject had been
taken in hand by the late Sir H. Lawrence.
Mr. S. C. HALL supported the resolution.
The resolution, 'with the rider, was then carried
unanimously. •'
A-committee was appointed to carry out the
resolution, and a vote of thanks to the chairman
was agreei to.
. .
It is intended to make a house-to-house collec-
tion in the course of a few days ; but the Mayor
announced, during the above proceedings, that
several- gentlemen had already put their names
down for sums which amounted to upwards of 551.,
including 201. from Mr. Campbell, M.P.

CHELTENHAM.
A large and influential meeting of the inhabitants
of Cheltenham took place at the Assembly-rooms
yesterday for the purpose of raising subscriptions
for the relief of the sufferers in India.
Between three and four hundred ladies and gen-
tlemen were present, among whom were J. Agg
Gardner (Lord of • the Manor), Sir A. Ramsay,
M.P., Rev. E. Walker (Incumbent of Chelten-
ham), Col. Kennedy, Col. Wood, Cul. Decluzean,
Col. Willats, General Laurie, General Brett, Mr.
G. Russell (high bailiff), Wv. A. Boyd, Rev. J.
Maynard, Col. liardinrr, Col. Kirwan, Capt. Ire-
dell, Mr. Jaunes Webster, General Conran, Mr. C.
J. Bird (Madras Civil Service), Mr. George Bird,
Mr, Thomas ,Fortescue Col. Douglas, Dr. Koir,
Co. Warner Higgins, oapt. Frobisher, &c.
Mr. J. -AGG GARDNER having been voted to the
chair, opened the proceedingsby calling on Gen.
Conran to move the first resolution, which was to
the following effect
"That the inhabitants of Cheltenham, while record.
ing their indignation at the atrocities inflicted on their
countrymen and comatrywomen in India, desire to ex-
press their earnest sympathy with the numerous families
who have in consequence been plunged into affliction
and distress, and resolve that a subioription be imme-
diately opened for the purpose of affording relief to the
sufferers."
The Rev. A. 13mm, incmbent of Christ Church,
in seconding this resolution, described the fearful
atrocities which had tNken place in India, express-
ing his opinion that the causes of the outbreak were
mainly to be attributed to the desire of the fol-
lowers of Mahomet to regain their long-lost sway
over the Eastern empire, and were not in any Way
connectad with the unfolding of. the Gospel of
Christ in that country, and concluded by an elo-
quent appeal to -the une'ing for support, on the
threefold ground of humanity, justice, and syra-
Oithy for their fellow-countrymen and . country,
women in the East.
The resolution was carried with acclamaion.
Sir A. RAMSAY, M.P. for Rochdale, proposed
the second resolution :
"That books be 'opened at the various banks and
libraries in Cheltenham for the purpose of receiving sub-
t•criptionß, and that Mr. James Webster and Mr. James
Agg Gardner be requested to act as treasurers to the
fond, and Mr. Henry Davis as honorary secretary."
He (Sir A. R uns ty) was of opinion that the dis-
graceful mutinies of the Bengal Sepoys would soon
be overcome, and that we should then bo able to
place the British power in India on a firmer basis
thsn. befoO, and add greater lustre to what we
might siill call the Inightest jewel in the British
Crown ; for, whether we le*ed at our possessions
in India as a record of the traliant prowess of our
armies, or as a monument to show the nations of
the world what English enterprise and energy can
do, we must look upon the conquest of India as a
gt and achiivement, and he trusted that when the Bri-
tish Legislature reaisenibled they would lay aside
for a time all minor subjects, and devote their
whole energy to :he consideration of the restoration
of British power in' India. But in the meantime
there must be many near and dear friends in that
far-off land whose distresses and calamities needed
our sympathies and support.
Mr. C. HOGG seconded the resolution, which was
catried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings. Before leaving the room upwards of
2001. was subscribed.

THE GOOD OLD Er,EorioN TIMEs:

Our present County and R.-Tough elections are
very tame affairs compared with ilia gloris us satur--
n Ilia which used to be celebrated before the Reform
Bill. Those old elections were 'indeed grand, old-
fashioned affairs. We:go back to them with a sort
of pride even now. To ba „slue, they will not
be tr examination, but no more would the feasts of
the gods on Olympus or the snivels of -tbe Wal-
lona. Twenty-one days of uninterrupted: drinking,
lint, shouting, bands playing, &flours flying,
crowds. marching backwards and ferwards through
the stieet4, all business at a standstill, all caw
-flung aside, a free vent given to everybody'S pug-
nacity of fistOeg, or tongue—One universal.holy
*day row—this was a glorious scene in its way.
The ancients attributed a sort of divinity. and in-
spiration to these scenes of exti avagatit,abandon,•
where human nature broke loose from the restraints
of cold reason and gave way entirely to wild!
impulses and humours, to unbounded riot and.
geniality—that poetry of _license, disorder, and
laxity which Poussin sometimes delighted to ex-:
press on canvas. These exhibitions were • indeed
the last relics of the old -Saxon dais, with their
wassails, when Christianity and civilization had but
half conquered the religion of Odin.
But it is not only the abandon ;of thonnass, the
riot and --eonftision of the cr)wd., which deserves
notice in these past scenes ; lent, styli More, the
abandon of the great familiess--alie blind reek]; si
expenditure, whichshut its eyes to all consequertc;.s,
and resolved to win an Election at the cost of no
matter what number of. broad acres, no matter
what fine mansions to be demol'shed or sold---at
the risk, in short, of utter ruin. This is much more
wonderful, in fact, than the 21 days' row and
drinking in the lower electioneering work!, because
the truth is, there was no gee .t wonder that when
you gave people as much as they liked to drink they
drank it, and, having drunk, were ratherdisorderly ,;
the wonder was, that gentlemen and heads of fatiri-
lies-should be willing to make that sacrifice of pi.o-
perty upon which all this -riotous festivity anise.
The:Yorkshire elections; in, which the families. of
Fitzwilliam and Lascelles engaged, cost hundreds
of thousands, Sir Francis Ifurdett's election for
Middlesex was also a hundred thouslud pounds af-
fair, besides, the whole contents of the baronet's
cellar, which yielded to "the 21 days' sitting of the
committee in his house in Piccadidy.. The contests.
in Wiltshire between the Benett, Methuen; and
Long Wellesley were enormously costly, as were
also the Norfolk contests between Coke and Wude-
house. Some of these families have never recovered
from the effects of these c )ntests ; they are to this
day crippled in means, and have to indulge in the
memory of past grandeur, and' refer to the annals
of the family as it flourished in the days before this
and that disastrous election, its consolation to theist
for their present reduced fortunes. The reckless-
ness of electioneerine, expend.iture on the part of
the chiefs who dared to face these ruinous results is,
as a display of character, more astonishing a great
deal than any quantity of (hunker-less and fighting
in the crowd. We really stare in amazement, and.
say, " Is this the English character, pep alarly con-
sidered so prudent, calculating, and co' l?" If wo
saw this in professed spendthrifts and- wild young
heirs we shoulduot wonder, but here were the most
respectable men in the country, heads of estab•
lished families, men in middle life, men proud of
their family position, and anxious ti maintain it
and hand it down undiminished, gambling fright-
fully. The prospect of a peertge, indeed, was some-
thing, but still one feelsthat our national characcer
must have undergone a modification since those
days. Thera was something wild and uncivilised in
this enormous extravagance and reckless emptying
of the family purse. Our Romeos and Capulets
used to meet in the streets and fight it out. This
was fighting with the pocket instead of the sword.
There is a popular heroism connected with simple
expenditure. Great feats of expenditure are ad-
mired by the crowd, and class with conspicuous 4cts
of personal courage ; the wholesale sacrifice of the
precious. article has for them something iu itself
grand, brilliant, and .imposing about it, and makes
a "fine fellow." Cleopatra drinking her pearl,
I and sailors eating bank-notes between their bread
and butter are admired. in their way, though by a

different class.
Compared with the old heroic electioneering,ex-
penses, Lord Althorp's 8,0001. for the last Election
in the Southern. Division of Northamptonshire is
almost tame and moderate. North imptonshire
once vied with the most extravagant electioneering
counties in its outlays on these occasions, and now
it makes an effort to sustain its old name—indeed,
the most valiant effort in this direction that was
made throughout the whole of the late general
election, for Lord Althorp's was, we bel;eve,
most expensive of all the rec. lit elections. But how
feeble an effort it is ! The 8,0001. which figures in
the official account of the expenses. probably repre-
sents, indeed, a larger sum really expended, .'gut
still such expenditure hides its diminished head
when compared with the unbounded carte blanche
of former days. Of this 8,0001. nearly 0,0001. is
about equally divided bet teen lawyers expenses
and expenses of conveyance—two very cold and
ungenial items. The hotel bills amount to 740/. I
What a fall from the unchecked magnificence of
this department of expenditure, when the " of 1
anarch," ale, was cro weed and . enthroned in a
thousandspublichouses ! 'How poor a Eound have
these "hotel bills !" The spirit of Sir John Fal-
staff rises at that word. What is that word
hotel ?' Alehouse, I suppose yoU mean." No ;
we mean hotel. Modern elections knew nothing
of alehouses, they only acknowledge hotels, where
sober clerks and respectable solicitors meet to
transact' business with pen and ink. All ibis change
which has come over the spirit of elections is, how-
ever, only a sample of a general change which has
come over society at large. Our drinking squires,
our assailants of watchmen, our swea• ing captains,
are now almost a bygone generation. We here and
there meet with some one who keeps up the old
traditions, but the age has left him behind.
Times.

Lion cif the manner in which the`overseers of this
,listrict had.performed their duty, disallowed -the
, .
Cll3tOrllary expenseF.
I the other districts, no CISO of the,least public
interest Arost.,. It is intimated that in several of the
more -plpuloui districts 'the libtrals-ludo taken an
unusual numher of objeklOus, iu consequeuco of
;nformaton during the recent election, of deaths
and removall of persons whose names still appear
upon the register.
The next court will b 3 held at Be3fmt, on Thurs-
day.

EIST SURREY.
Sir 'halter Buchanan Riddell, Bart., the bAstrister
appointed to revise the lists of voters for the Eastern
Division of Surrey, held his first court yesterday, at
the Vestry Hall, Kenniugton-green, and began
with those of the parishes of Clapham, Lambeth,
and St"•eatham.

Mr. George R. Corner, solicitor, Mr. Thomas
Jeans, saer.tary to the East Surrey Reform. Regis-
tration Soeiety,.and Mr. Wingham, appeared for
the liberals ; and Mr. Colombo, from the office of
Mr. Edward Meymott, attended to the conservative
interest.

The, revision commenced with the lists: of the
parishes of Clapham and Streatham, in which the
overseers have very. properly objected to the names
of many pi,,rsons, mostly on the grounds of deaths,
removal fi (ma the parishes, and by reason of re-
claims, and thereby saved the time of the court, and
left but little to the agents to do.

On. opening the lis's for the parish of Lambeth,
Mr. Barker proved the service of notice of objec-
tion' through-thee j)pstmastsr, to the name of Mr.
Robert William A.laba4er; and on handing a copy
of it to the Revising Barrister, Sir Walter asked
for a copy of the notice given t) the overbears.
Mr. Baker said he gave a notice to the Overseers,
but did not keep a copy of it.
Sir Walter Riddell replied—l think :your notice
won't (1,,.

Mr. Corner submitted that the objector had done
all that the Act of Parliament required by giving
notice to the overseers, who_ have adopted the
notices, and published the list. A copy of it was
befoierthe court, and in the hands of the clerk of
the pease. -
The objection was allowed.
The court was adjoured until 11 o'clock this
rrio ning to the Workhouse Committee Room, Ber-
mondsoy, when it will proceed with the revision of
the lists of the polling district of Bermondsey.