The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 23, 1861.

MR. _HADFIELD AT SHEFFIELD.

At the conclusion of Mr. Roebuck's speech,

Mr. HADFIELD, M.P., rose and said—l am sure that the
speech which we have just now heard from my hon. col-
league will sink very deep into the hearts of the people of
England. It is a subject of vast and awful importance. I
confess that I, for one, shall depart only as a last—a dernier
resort, on any appeal that may be made to me, from what
I conceive to be the true interest and policy of this country
—a peaceful course of action with regard to its foreign
affairs. We talk of civil war as a great evil, and a great
evil it is ; but war once begun in Europe would be of a tre-
mendous character indeed. I hope before such an alterna-
tive shall be resorted to the grounds of it will be seriously
and solemnly considered. In Mr. Kinglake's speech the
subject to which my hon. colleague has referred was ex•
plained in detail, with an amount of instructiveness that it
would be impossible for my hon. friend to give to-night at
a meeting like this. It will be indeed a serious question for
us to learn whether Sardinia would be worth sucha conflict
as that which has been hinted at. I give no opinion upon
that subject. If the interests, existence, character, influ-
ence, usefulness, and honour of this country are aoncerned
I feel confident that there would be one unanimous voice
in the answer on such on occasion. Whatever may be
the divisions of opinion now, we should be one united
people under our present Sovereign, the object of our uni-
versal loyalty and our determined support. (Hear, hear.)
But these are all awful considerations, gentlemen—(hear,
hear)—and I hesitate to discuss them now. I feel a diffi-
culty, my hon. friend feels none—(Mr. Robuck.—l beg
your pardon)—in expressing his opinions on an occasion
like this. I feel that we cannot discuss these matters with
any degree of deliberation on an occasion like the present.
Credit has been given to me for devoting my attention to
one subject. Well, what is the House of Commons ? It is
nothing more than the expression of the general will of the
people of England. The power of public opinion here has
been well described. We all feel its potency. We have just
had in Lancashire a most severe contest, which shows the
division of opinion that exists on questions of domestic policy.
That contest, in its results, reminds me of a similar occur-
rence 20 years ago, when the present Earl Fitzwilliam and
the present Earl of Carlisle were defeated in their contest
for the West Riding of Yorkshire. The question then at
issue was the Corn Laws, and Lord Wharncliffe, who was the
elected of the great Riding, said Lord John Russell had
appealed to the country en the question of the Corn Laws,
and he had brought the answer of the West Riding that the
Corn Laws must be perpetuated. But that very Parliament
which at first gave a majority of 90 for the perpetuation of
the Corn Laws afterwards itself repealed them. (Mr. Web •
ster.—' And a very wise Parliament it was.') (Hear, hear.)
Now. however, the questions the; divide the House of Com-
mons are comparatively of the most paltry kind, and we are
so divided that we are well-nigh at a dead lock. Parties are
so equally divided that the Speaker has to determine the
resolutions of the House. If that is to go on, we know
not what may happen. The noble lord to whom my hon.
colleague has referred is not a young man. (Mr. Roe-
buck.—Unfortunately not ; but he is a grand old man. A
Voice.—lle is a fine old man.) His competitor, Lord
Derby, is in his 63d year. Tho history of these two men is
as diverse as it can possibly be. One began his political life
as a sound Tory. But the conservative of that day is now
the leader of the Liberal party. The other came out as an
ardent Reformer, and assisted to carry the great measure of
1832, and as a church reformer he annihilated church-
rates, and diminished the number of bishops in Ireland.
He is now at the head of the Conservative party, makes
church-rates the subject of political strife, and religious
animosity, and bitter contention in the country. One thing,
however, is clear—namely, that whoever comes into power
must follow out the policy approved by the country. I
believe I am speaking the opinion of the people of this coun-
try when I say that the principle of non-intervention in the
national affairs of other countries is our true policy.
(Cheers.) Whoever, therefore, may be in power, the people
of Englani will watch carefully the decisions they come to
upon great and mighty questions such as we have heard of
to-night. Can the Corn Laws be brought on again? Is
Free Trade in peril now ? It was when you returned me to
Parliament nine years ago, sending me expressly charged
to support free trade. But the principles of free trade are
now safe. Why ? Because the power of public opinion is so
great as to insure the support of whatever is generally con-
sidered to be the true policy of the country. In that policy
the happiness of mankind is greatly concerned. Had the
Corn Laws been in existence here during the past year, the
people would have burst the barriers of the law, and in-
sisted on the repeal of famine laws. We last year imported
no less than 15,000,000 quarters of grain, of the value of
£30,000,000, and without that supply the people must have
famished. Unhappily, the commercial horizon is at present
overclouded. The people of Lancashire are in great anxiety
as to the welfare of the labouring population of that great
county. America has, indeed, signalised herself in a very
peculiar manner. We say not that it is a bubble, as has been
represented by the northern baronet, who on the spot received
from Lord John Russell a dignified and statesmanlike re-
buke. No, Sir ; I believe that it is no bubble that has burst
in America. It has been obvious for a long time that a storm
was gathering over that mighty country. I, along with my
hon. colleague, deeply regret that in North America a spirit
of monopoly prevails. In the South the " domestic insti-
tution"—the perpetuation of slavery—is the object of their
efforts. I regret that the object of the North is not to break
the fetters of the slave ; they are not yet so refined in morals
as to attempt that, though no doubt there are many earnest
abolitionists among them. The sole object of the North is the
maintenance of their monopolies, and the South have just
ground for complaint. Froth the South, moreover, we
have drawn our supply of cotton, which, next to corn, is
of primary importance to this country. 'Well, how will
the North conduct themselves with regard to foreign coun-
tries ? An effort was made at the Paris conferences to put
an end to privateering in time of war, but America would
not consent unless commercial ships were to be entirely free
from capture. Privateering may therefore still be resorted
to. Will the North, then, seal up the Southern ports and
compel them to leave that supply of cotton which is so much
needed here to rot upon the ground ? Ido not think civil-
ization will allow that. To counteract such a consequence
as far as possible, efforts are now being made to produce
cotton in other parts of the world. We have a market open
for the competition of the world, which is almost incredibly
large. From an article in the Times it appears that in this
year cotton to the amount £40,000,000 will be wanted from
abroad, in addition to all other produce imported into this
country. lam glad to be able to say that in India every
effort is being made to supply our wants. Our Consuls in
all parts of the world have also been appealed to to see what
can le done in the places which they respectively represent
in the way of sepplying us with cotton. (Hear, hear,• and
cries of "Order.") To show the enormousness of our trade
in this article permit me to say that a rise of 11c1 in the lb.
on the stock in Liverpool amounts to no less a sum than
£2,593. These are matters demanding earnest attention.
I trust that there will be no interruption to the peace of the
world. I cannot but hope that better things are in pros-
pect. I know that there are intelligent minis feeling the
deepest interest in these matters, whose opinions of the
great ruler of France are of a character most honourable to
that mighty man. Let us not forget that, as far as out-
ward acts have hitherto gone, he has never shown an un-
kind or hostile intention towards this country. On the
contrary, let me remind you the name of Englishman is a
passport at this time to every part of his dominions. Sir,
let us hear both sides. I wish Austria had a better repute.
tion for liberal sentiments than she has hitherto enjoyed.
I respect the people of Hungary in their earnest desire for
the liberties of that country. I feel deeply interested in the
liberty and prosperity of Italy. I feel also deeply interested
in the prosperity of the people of Poland. (Hear, hear.)
I, however, do not think that war, should it break out,
would advance those liberties. My opinion is that those
countries are looking to England for countenance; are
looking to her with an intense interest which I cannot de-
scribe. The tears almost start in their eyes at the mention
of English influence for their own unhappy countries. It
is my earnest wish and desire that the evils of which we
have forebodings may not come. I trust, on the part of the
Government of this country, that nothing will be left un-
donelto
perpetuate peace and goodwill throughout the world.
I believe that if it be possible to unite England, France, and
America in bonds consistent with their mutual interests and
honour, it would be a consummation in which every good
man would exult and rejr,ice, and would confer the greatest
possible blessings upon mankind. I therefore earnestly
hope that the Government of this country will take great
care before they commit themselves to any act which shall
involve this country in such tremendous consequences as
war would inevitably entail. (Cheers.)

CHARGE OF ADMINISTERING CANTHARIDES WITH
A FELONIOUS INTENT.—A man named Louis Sobieski, said
to be a Polish refugee, and who has been a resident in
Cheltenham for a brief period only, was brought up on
Monday before the magistrates, charged with endeavour-
ing to administer cantharides to Sarah Ann Smith, a
young girl residing in King-street. From the evidence it
appeared that the prisoner had been in the habit of asking
her to take a glass of ale, and that upon several occasions
she had acquiesced. On Friday last he again asked her to
take some porter, but she declined, whereupon he urged
her to take it home and give it to another girl residing in
the same house. She did so, but being informed by the
landlady of the beerhouse in which it was given to her that
the prisoner had put something into it, she examined it, and
found it to contain a substance which, smeared over her
hands, glittered very much. She at once communicated
with the police, and the county analyst, M r. Horsley, deposed
to finding cantharides in the beer. The Bench, after a
lengthened investigation, committed the prisoner for trial
At the assizes.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

THE NORTH OF SCOTLAND.

The very wet and stormy weather which has
been experienced in Aberdeenshire, and the North
of Scotland generally, during the past fortnight, is
exciting no small amount of fear for the speedy
ripening and safe in-getting of the excellent crop
which happily is to be 4ecn in all the northern
counties. Rain has fallen more or less during
almost every day for some time back, and on Satur-
day one of the heaviest storms of thunder and
lightning, accompanied by an extraordinaiy fall of
hail, which has been experienced in this quarter for
a long time passed over Aberdeenshire, doing con-
siderable damage in laying the grain, particularly
on soft soils. A month or so back (nothing could
have looked more promising in regard to the har-
vest than the fine condition of all kinds of crops,
and, though the boisterous weather has somewhat
prevailed, still with a week of gentle wind and a
strong sun much would be done to raise the hopes
of the husbandman. Harvest has commenced in
Deeside—which this year yields a splendid crop—.
and in early places, and in three weeks cutting will
be common over the north. Pasture for cattle is
most phntiful, and in consequence the northern
bestial markets are, in professional phrase,

" Stiff, stiff." The Appearance of the potatoei, of
which there is also ,4% fine crop, is likewise very
disheartening, the dreaded disease of 1846 having
again unmistakably begun its ravages in a
great many fields. Indeed, the evil may be said
to be universal over the north, and the proba-
bility is that a large pov ion of this most im-
portant crop will be totally lost. Good potatoes
were selling in the Aberdeen market this week at
from Bd. to 10d. per peck, while swine feeders were
getting as many of a doubtful appearance as they
pleased at 1;1-;d. per peck. The unseasonable weather
which has affected the crops has also been sorely
against the prospects of the sportsmen on the hills
and moors. The "12th" opened most inauspiciously,
the rain falling in torrents, and during the half-
dozen days that followed the sport among the grouse
was by no means encouraging. Better bags are
now, however, being made, and, as the birds are,
on the whole, pretty plentiful, the hopes of the
sportsmen are reviving.

But such is the difficulty and such the decision
to be made once for all by the Hungarians.
They sympathize with the Italians, as Italy does
with them, and they consider that, at all events,
they are under no obligation to fight in a cause in
which they have no sympathy. At such a time
Austria, which claims to be fortunate in extremizt,
and is certainly very clever and condescending in
exfremis, makes a splendid offer, a whole Constitu-
tion of the mast liberal character, more English
than the English itself as regards the distribution
of the representative seats. It is a Constitution on
paper, and we have assigned to it such merits us
can be given on paper. But Hungary tries it, as
we say, by the rule of thumb, and flatly rejects it.
She will not sell what she considers her birthright
for a mess of pottage, however well cooked, howtver
good the ingredients, and nicely apportioned. She
will not be so united with Austria even to have the
run of the whole Empire, with all its emnloyments
and dignities, as the Irish and Scotch have now.
the run of this Empire. Why is this ? Various
answers may be given, more or less good. She does
not like Austria. Is that wonderful ? Her honour
is engaged to Italy. How has that come to pass,
except through the fault of Austria ? She does not
believe in Austria. There is nothing for which in
human affairs a man is less answerable than his
belief in another man's honour. Few people
believe in a Bourbon Prince or an Austrian Em-
peror. They cannot help it. True, there are
faults on both sides, and when England is urged
by zealots to support the cause of order, of the
balance of power of legitimacy, of Germany, and
we know not what *on the one side, and nation-,,
ality, freedom, and independence on the other,
we only reply that we have too many sins of our
own to answer for, without seeking the responsi-
bility of other people's sins. No doubt, Austria
and Hungary have both been in the wrong. But
the greater the power the greater the responsi-
bility. The world will conclude Austria in the
wrong, and they will judge her even by the
perverseness and obstinacy of her dependent pro-
vinces.