The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-27 00:00:00

CITY OF LONDON ELECTION.
: (THIS DAY.)

The re-election of Lord John Russell, as one of
the members for the City of London, in the Com-
mons' House of Parliament, took place this day in
the Guildhall.
The proceedings seemed to excite but little in-
terest, as at the hour of commencement (12 o'clock)
the ancient hall was not a quarter full.
Mr. HARKER, the chief yeoman usher, having
read the writ,
The LORD MAYOR came forward, and having
alluded to the circumstances that led to the defeat
of the late Government, said the veteran
statesman, Lord Palmerston, had been sent
for by her Majesty to form an Administration,
and in that difficult task he had succeeded.
The noble lord, the member for the City of Lon-
don, had been called upon to take office as Secre-
tary of State for Foreign Affairs—(hear, hear)—
and however much they might estimate the honour,
he (the Lord Mayor) felt certain that that dis-
tinguished nobleman could not be excluded from
any Liberal Administration. (Hear, hear.) He
trusted that, in the fulfilment of his duties, the
noble lord's policy would be one of strict and hon-
ourable neutrality—(hear, hear)—as that was the
course the country had made up its mind to adopt.
He begged to propose the re-election of Lord John
Russell. (Cheers.)

Mr. G. MOORE said he felt it a great honour to
second the proposition of the Lord Mayor. He
confessed his pleasure would have been greatly
heightened had he had the honour of seconding him
as Premier, but as it was he thought as Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs he would not disap-
point the country as to his policy. He thought he
was the best man that could be selected for that
post, because he had—if he (Mr. Moore) might use
the term—all the treaties that had been made
during the last five and twenty years at his fingers'
ends, and therefore was well able to steer the
country safely and honourably through the diffi-
culty with which it was surrounded. He had just
returned from Italy, a more misgoverned and
oppressed country it would! be impossible to find,
and however much might be said he did not think
he could augur much for an amelioration
of that condition by the interference of
a country where liberty was unknown. (Hear,
hear.) He hoped non-interference would be the
motto of Lord John Russell. (Loud cries of Hear,
hear.) They all knew what he had done, and what
measures he had passed, so he was relieved from
enumerating them. The citizens of London liked
men of principle better than men of policy. (Hear,
hear.) Lord Palmerston was a man of principle,
and when his measures were before the country he
felt certain they would be found to be honest and
straightforward. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He
had much pleasure in seconding the nomination of
his lordship.

Mr. Alderman and Sheriff HALE asked if any
other citizen had a candidate to propose ? No
response being made, he immediately declared the
Right Hon. Lord John Russell duly elected mem-
ber for the City of London, in the Commons' House
of Parliament.
Lord JOIIN RUSSELL, on corning forward to
return thanks, was received with loud cheers. His
lordship said—lfe had to return his grateful
thanks to the citizens of London for the honour
they had done him in returning him for
the ninth time as one of their representatives in
Parliament. They were all aware of the occasion
that had led to the present election. Lord Derby
had thought it right to advise her Majesty to con-
sult the electors of the United Kingdom whether or
not they had confidence in his administration.
(Hear, hear.) The challenge had been taken up
in the House of Commons, where it was decided
that it had not. After such a decision only one
course was open to Lord Derby—that was, to ten-
der to her Majesty his resignation. That course

had been adopted ; her Majesty had accepted
_ _

it, and sent for Lord Palmerston, and imposed upon
him the duty offorming an administration. They
would recollect, on the occasion of his last election,
that, referring to the composition of an administra-
tion, he stated that nothing would be satisfactory
which did not contain representatives of the sec-
tions that composed the great Liberal party, which
accomplished so much. (Hear, hear.) He thought
it would be admitted Lord Palmerston had carried
out that view, and in doing so, no doubt, had occa-
sioned much disappointment; but all he asked for the
new administration was the support of the country
and the confidence of the House of Commons.
There were two questions at the present moment
he would advert to, and the first was foreign
affairs. (Hear, hear.) With every feeling of
deference and respect, he felt it incumbent
not to go at any length into the matter. He had
already, a very short time ago, told them what he
thought had occasioned the present war. (Hear,
hear.) It was not the ambition of one, two, or
three men, but the grievous manner in which Italy
was governed. (Hear, hear.) He had told them
that the Italians had attempted to throw off the
oppression, and he should have been glad if they
had accomplished that object—(hear, hear, and
cheers)—and he should also have rejoiced
had France and Austria agreed in their
differences. He deeply deplored such was not
case ; instead of which they were now, with Sar-
dinia, engaging in a bloody and destructive war.
He trusted, however, that the modesty of the suc-
cessful and the wisdom of the defeated would soon
lead to peace ; but in the struggle the Cabinet of
Lord Palmerstons had determined to pursue a line
of strict neutrality. (Hear, hear.) If peace was
not restored by moderation and wisdom, it was
impossible to say how far the war would
extend, or what country would not have to take
part in it. It behoved, therefore, this country
not to neglect, its army and navy—(hear, hear)—
and he repeated here, as he had done in the House
of Commons, his readiness to pay his tribute of
praise to the First Lord of the Admiralty (Sir
John Pakington), and the board that had acted
with him, for the energetic steps they had taken to
put the navy in an efficient state. When however,
the time arrived, and he trusted it was not far dis-
tant, for the belligerents to terminate the contest it
would be the btaginess of the country to give-such
counsel as would be honourable to all parties and
beneficial to the liberty of Italy. With respect
to domestic policy it would be possible during the
present session to pass a bill for amending the re-
presentation of the people in Parliament. He had
already said he was in favour of an ex-
tension of the suffrage, because it would strengthen
the institutions of the country by placing
it on a broader foundation, but how far that exten-
sion was to go must be matter for anxious delibe-
ration in the Cabinet ; but when the measure was
produced he firmly believed it would be found
satisfactory to the country. The noble lord having
again thanked the electors for his re-election, con-
cluded by moving a vote of thanks to the Sheriff.
The compliment having been acknowledged, the
proceedings terminated.

PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LORD.-
We understand that the Duke of Somerset has selected
Captain John Moore, C. 8., now commanding the Hogue,
as his private secretary. This appointment will afford much
pleasure to the service.
-- FIRE IN THE BIRMINGHAM THEATRE BUILD-
INGs.—On Friday night, about twenty minutes to ten,
persons passing up New-street noticed a thick volume of
smoke and fiery flakes rising from the rear of the premises of
Mr. Pritchard, gun maker, adjoining the box entrance of the
theatre, and forming, in fact, a portion of the theatre build-
ings. Information of this having been quietly conveyed to
Mr. Simpson, the manager, he soon ascertained the locality
of the supposed danger. It was in the back premises o
Mr. Prit chard, but within a few feet of a closet in the upper
box lobby, and not more than five or six yards from the au-
dience. On opening the door of this closet Mr. Simpson
saw that a thick beam was in a blaze. He at once ordered
the fire brigades to be summoned, quietly closed the various
box doors, and took other measures to prevent the audience
being alarmed by either smoke or noise. The engines, on their
arrival, were quickly got to work, and the hose being taken
in through the Shakspeare rooms ten minutes' well-directed.
efforts extinguished the fire. Had a panic arisen in the
theatre the result would probably, have been a lamentable
catastrophe, as the house was crowded to excess in every
part. Some forty or fifty occupants of the lower boxes,
nearest the main lobby, alarmed by the shouts of the fire-
men, left their seats, but. beyond these, few 'in the house
were aware anything was wrong. The noise. of the orcheorches-
trahelped materially to drown all outward sounds.—Bir-
minghant Journal,