The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-25 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON ELECTION.

A public meeting of the supporters of Lord J.
Russell, Sir J. Duke, Baron Rothschild, and Mr.
Crawford, took place on Saturday, at the Shaftes-
bury-hall, Aldersgate-street. The members pre-
sent were—Lord John Russell, Sir James
Duke, and Mr. Crawford. Baron Rothschild was
not present, owing to the Jewish Sabbath not hav-
ing terminated. Mr. Besley occupied the chair.l
The CHAIRMAN said, he need not tell the
electors for what purpose they had assembled

—they all knew that perfectly well. (Hear, hear.)
He was afraid that notwithstanding the great show
that had been made, there would be nothing more
than show, and the election would turn out a sham
fight. (Hear, hear.) He had to ask the assembly
to accord to each speaker a fair and patient hear-
ing, and he would therefore call upon Sir J. Duke
to address them. (Cries of " Lord J. Russell.")
After a few compliments had passed,

Lord J. RUSSELL then came forward and said he
was happy to have the present opportunity of ad-
dressing the electors, and whatever might be the
pleasure of a poll for the city, he was afraid that
on the coming election there would be no such
exciting proceeding. The circumstances showed that
the principle of reform was well understood in the
City. The Reform Bill brought in by the present Go-
vernment had brought about this election, and he was
glad that a measure containing such disfranchising
clauses had been utterly and entirely rejected. (Hear.)
He thought there was also another circumstance
connected with this election somewhat curious,
namely, that two highly respectable gentlemen had
been attempted to be set up in opposition to their late '
members, but he hardly-thought that a section of the
electors of the city of London should attempt to
filch two candidates from places that were already
demanding their services. (Hear, hear.) Lord
Derby, on the last night of the session,
alluded very ominously to the state of
affairs abroad, and he could not feel surprised that
bad laws and cruel oppression had brought about
such lamentable consequences. Ho had on a former
occasion entered so fully into what was called
the Italian question, that he need not detain
them now with more than a few brief remarks. He
felt certain our only safe course was to keep honestly
and strictly neutral. (Hear.) Lord Derby had said
in his speech that it was to be an armed neutrality.
He said, let us wait a short time, let us see which
side was right, and then we could take part
on one side or the other. (No, no.)
But, unfortunately, Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli
had very partial views, and showed a very strong
predilection for Austria ; and if, pursuing that
view, Lord Derby took the part of Austria, he
(Lord John Russell) protested against such a
policy. (Hear, hear.) He was for preserving
peace. In a great many of the continental
wars that had taken place, it always seemed to be
the object of all parties to see how much they
could get out of England in the shape of loans or
subsidies, but in his study of history he had dig.
covered that, when they found there was no more
money, an end came to all differences. Now, if we
did not find the means—(hear, bear, and laughter)

—and not take either side, hostilities would not
last long, and the belligerents would soon
find some way of making peace. (Hear, hear,
and laughter.) Besides, this country had
plenty to do. (Hear.) The people had determined
that the state of the representation was defective,
and they were intent on amending it ; and
was that great and important work to be given
up in order to interfere in Italian affairs ? (Hear,
hear, and No.) He again said he was for peace.
(Hear, hear.) If we did not go to war there
would not be that strain on our resources which,
to a great degree, paralysed commerce. (Hear,
hear.) If we did not go to war, he did not despair
of seeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a
position to reduce many of the duties that now so
heavily pressed on all classes of her Majesty's sub-
jects. He again assured the meeting he felt great
pleasure in meeting them ; and he begged to thank
them for the kind attention they had given to him.
(Cheers, and cries of " How about the ballot n")
Sir J. DUKE said he had always great pleasure
in meeting his constituency. (Hear.). He could
not but help thinking that the present time was
about the worst that could have been chosen for a