The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-03 00:00:00

LONDON, SAI URDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1857.

MR. LANGSTON, AND MR. CARDTVELL,

M.P., ON NATIONAL PROGRESS.

The members for the city of Oxford dined on New Year's
Day with upwards of 400 members of Lodge 59 of the An-
cient Order of Druids and their friends, in the Town-hall.
The mayor, the sheriff, the ex-mayor, Aldermen Sadler
and Spiers, several members of the Town Council, and
many of the principal citizens, were also present.
" The Health of the City Members" having been drunk
with loud cheering,
Mr. LANGSTON, M.P., expressed the pleasure he felt in
thus meeting a number of his constituents. The chairman
had placed upon him, as one of their representatives, a
rather difficult task, for he had forbidden any allusion to
politics. If he steered clear of them, some might think he
was afraid to enter upon any subject which was interest-
ing to them. He presumed that he might venture to allude
to the events of the past year, and to congratulate them on
the attainment of peace, especially as those subjects were
fully gone into by his colleague and Dr. Bacon at their last
festival. They were indebted for the peace which they now
enjoyed to the speeches made not only in that hall, but in
every part of the kingdom, as they expressed the determi_
nation of the people to support the Government in the
carrying on of the war, and it was that expression which
had brought about that peace which he hoped would long
endure: It was time they were at war with Persia, but he
had it on good authority that that unfortunate affair was
likely to terminate before Parliament met. He had been
informed that it was their intention to hold a public meet-
ing for the purpose of expressing their objections to the
income tax, which they were led to believe would at, the
termination of the war be removed, and some other tax de-
vised of a less objectionable character. (Cheers.) If he were
right in that conclusion, he could candidly tell them that
ho entertained the same objections himself ; and they were
still further strengthened by his experience as a com-
missioner of taxes, and of the income tax. (Cheers.)
There had been considerable agitation on this sub-
ject in Gloucestershire, where one of the servants of
government had surcharged a great many persons, who
were obliged to go and make an oath that they had sent
in a fair return. There were such strong objections to
that tax, that he thought it should not be imposed unless
it could be shown that the same amount could not be
raised in any other way. In conclusion, Mr. Langston
thanked them for the kind and flattering reception they
had given him, and wished them all many happy years.
(Much cheering.)

Mr. CARDWELL, in retirning thanks, said a few words
on the events of the past year, and on the subjects which
were likely to occupy the attention of parliament in the
year they had just entered. The year which had run its
course had not been without signal manifestations of God's
mercy to this realm and to the people of this kingdom.
Their late mayor had carried to the foot of the throne
their congratulations on the restoration of peace to Eu-
rope ; but soarcely was the seal affixed to that treaty who
another danger of a far graver character threatened not
only the welfore of this kingdom, but of the whole world.
If there could be a calamity more prejudicial to their wel-
fare than another, or tend more to roll back the flowing tide
of human progress, it would be a serious rupture between
the elder and younger branches of the Anglo-Saxon race,
between this noble kingdom and that gigantic republic
which had spread its arms from the Pacific to the Atlan-
tic—a people descended from the same origin, speaking the
same language, their friends and rivals in commerce and
maritime power, spreading their literature and laws, and
diffusing with them the principles of civilisation and human
progress over all the nations of the globe. (Cheers.) By
mutual good feeling and observance of mutual good sense
on both sides, which was the characteristic of the race,
that calamity had happily been averted, (Cheers.) He
believed that their relations with that country never stood
on a more permanent basis, and he hoped that a long
career of usefulness was open to the whole of this great
Anglo-Saxon race. (Loud cheers.) Although the cloud in
the west was dispelled, there was no doubt that some
streaks of darkness prevailed in the eastern horizon ; but he
believed that the danger would be averted, and he trusted
that the year which had just closed had ended the reign of
discord among mankind. (Cheers.) What then were the
anticipations, and what were their duties in the year they
were now entering? While they reflected with gratitude
and pride on the heroic services of those who not only sus-
tained but exalted, on the face of the whole world, the
ancient fame of England—(cheers)—while they looked back
with pride on the records of martial intrepidity unparal-
leled in history, they might look forward to 1857 with
sanguine expectations that in the relations of commerce
find in the enterprising end successful pursuits of industry _
they might add to the powertancl greatness of this country.
(Cheers.) Their first duty in the House of Commons would
be to apportion, on the return of peace, the scale of expen-
diture befitting this great commercial country—on the one
hand, not slow to defend those establishments which were
the best safeguards of their interests and the best guarau
tee for a permanent and enduring peace—(cheers)—and,
on the other hand, determined to retrench all unneces-
sary expenditure, and to give the country the benefit of a
proper remission of taxation. (Cheers.) He had no doubt
that the Government would take an early opportunity of
setting their views before the country, and it would be a
sincere pleasure to him to support them in the prosecution
of that policy which he had ventured to allude to. (Cheers.)
There was no part of the duty of a member of parliament
which he discharged with so much pleasure as supporting
the remission of public burdens. He had had the honour
of serving in her Majesty's Treasury when greater remis-
sions of taxation were made than at at any previous time
in the financial history of this country. It was not possible
to escape witnessing its result, and its effect not only on the
material interests of the kingdom, but morally on all who
lived by labour, placing them, as it did, in easier circum-
stances, and giving them an appetite for higher things, and
for the cultivation of the intellectual powers. (Cheers.)
They could not witness such effects without wishing to have
a fair and proper mitigation of the public burdens; but atthe
same time he thought it would be unfair to the government,
when they were about to enter into a full statement of
their views, to interfere and attempt to forestall them by
making any statement as to this or that peculiar burden.
(Cheers.) Believing as he did that they would faithfully
fulfil their duties, and give expression to their opinions,
he felt assured that the House of Commons would give
them a calm and dispassionate attention, and he should
rejoice if their policy for the readjustment of the public
burdens was such as to entitle them to the support of the
House of Commons. (Cheers.) His hon. colleague had re-
minded them of the vexation belonging to the income tax,
and it was the duty of every government and every Hone •
of Commons to mitigate its hardships by every means in
their power. When that branch of the revenue recently
lost its chairman by death, the person appointed to fill his
place was no partisan, but one who had risen from the
lowest ranks of the service ; he had been a commissioner,
and was made chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue

for no other reason but his just and faithful services in the
lower branches. Although he (Mr. Cardwell) was not cog-
nisant of what had been going on at Gloucester in reference
to the income tax, ho argued from the appointment of Mr.
Pressly to the chairmanship of the Board of Inland Re-
venue, that any complaiats made to him would meet with
all the attention which the people had a right to expect.
(Cheers.) He did not know whether his hearers had read a
work recently written by the great French orator and
statesman, M. Guizot, who, in speaking of the events of
20 years ago, and his personal intimacy with the late Sir
R. Peel, remarked that the trait in the character of that
lamented statesman which struck him most was the deep
anxiety he felt about the condition of the labouring classes
of this country, which ho said was a danger and disgrace
to civilisation, and that instant measures ought to be taken
to remedy it ; and he (Mr. Cardwell) asked them to consi-
der what had been clone since that time, not only by one
government, hut by successive governments, and he could
refer to such measures without running the risk of exciting
any discord among them. In the first place, they had set
free the industry and labour of this country, and the re-
sults had been that in the last year, when they had scarcely
escaped the conflict of war, but not its pecuniary
pressure, the exported industry of this country doubled
itself, and realized an amount exceeding the whole expen-

diture of tho war which was now closed ; clearly showing
that the friendly interchange of commerce could not fail to

contribute to the riches of this country. (Cheers.) What
had been the effect with regard to education ? Could they
refer without a blush of shame to what took place twenty
years ago; or revert without gratitude to the great and
extraordinary changes which the twenty years had pro-
duced? It was thought by many at that time that to
improve men's minds would only tend to produce insubor-
dination, but experience had shown the fallacy of that
view, and that it was a perfect delusion. (Cheers.) He
rejoiced to hear that the Town Hall in which they were
assembled, as well as adjacent rooms, were made of daily
use for some educational purposes or other. Two hundred
years ago, one of the greatest masters of the English lan-
guage, John Milton, thus addressed the Houses of Parlia
meet—" Lords and Commons of England, consider whereo_
ye are, and the people whereof ye are governors; a nation
not dull and slow, but of quick, ingenious, and piercing
spirit, capable of reaching wherever the human faculty may
soar, what wants here with such a pregnant and towardly
soil but wise and faithful labourers, to make a knowing
people a nation of prophets, of sages, and of worthies ?"
(Cheers.) That was 200 years ago ; but it was only within
the last 20 years that any attention had been paid by par-
liament to the material interests of the people, the reduc-
tions of their burdens, the stimulation of their industry,
and that great harvest of education, which had been se.
cured. (Cheers.) By expanding the intellect, quickening
the moral feelings, guiding and directing the conduct, ope
rating en the hols out uu t forgetting the heart, a nation

was made great, powerful, and prosperous. (Cheers.) He
firmly believed that by the restoration of universal peace
a new commencement would take place in all these
different objects of social and moral improvement, and
that the attention of parliament and the people, by
the circulation of opinion through their municipal
institutions and a free press, would be directed to mea-
sures of progress, such as no other country dreamt of,
and would be carried, not by strife er conflict, but by the
gradual, silent, and irreistible growth of sound and judici-
ous public opinion. (Cheers.) In venturing to form these
opinions be was not too sanguine or enthusiastic, but they
were based on records and on past experience. He con-
gratulated them that the past year was a year of returning
peace, and he sincerely wished them, in their private capa-
city, all the enjoyment of the year which was to come. Ho
believed that the subjects of the English Crown would per-
severe in the course of social progress, add to their strength,
and contribute to the glory of their country, and, by a
thousand of almost unconscious channels, minister to the
civilization and blessings of every country in the world.
Mr. Cardwell resumed his seat amid much cheering.

Naval and Military inteiligence.

- -
I Two new men-of-war have just been commenced at
Pembroke, They are the Gannet, 8 guns, screw, of 580
tens ; and the Greyhound, 17 guns, screw, of 880 tons.
The Gannet is to be a sister ship to the Cordelia, recently
launched there. These vessels will be pushed forward
early in the year towards completion. The following is
a list of the ships now building, which show a squadron
of great size and weight of armament:—llowe, 121 guns,
1,000 horse.power ;'Windsor Castle, 116, sailing ship ;
Revenge 91, 800 horse-power ; Aurora, 51, 400 horse-
power ; Imruortalitg, 51 guns, 600 horse power ; Mel-
pomene, 51, 600 horse-power ; Orlando, 36, 800 horse-
power ; Doris, 32, 800 horse-power ; Greyhound, 17,
200 horse-power ; Gannet, 8, 150 horse-power. This
reserve squadron will carry 574 guns. The Orlando will
be the longest frigate in the service, being 300 feet in
extent. The Doris is the second of the new cla-s 32'8,
and sister ship to the Diadem.
Major-General Sir William Codrington paid a visit to
Woolwich yesterday morning.
The entire battalions of Royal Artillery stationed at
head-quarters, Woolwich, assembled yesterday morning
on parade at 7 a.m., and went through a series of posi-
tion drills, under the command of the adjutant on duty.
The brigade of Royal Marines, in charge of Colonel
Fleming, were paraded in the barrack square at 1 p.m.,
and, headed by the band, they marched to Woolwich
Common, where they were inspected by Col. Brown,
commandant of marine garrison, and put through a
course of field exercises and musket drill.

The screw steam-frigate Shannon, 51, from Ports-
mouth, arrived in Plymouth Sound on Thursday evening,
bound for Lisbon.
The steam vessel Advice, from Pembroke, arrived at
Plymouth on Thursday.
The screw steam ship Cornwallis, 60, Captain G. G.
Wellesley, having been repaired, was taken out of dock
at Devonport on Thursday, and placed at her sailing
moorings.
The builders' contract for the construction of the
paddle wheel steamer Bann, intended, together with the
sister vessel Brune, for exploring purposes on the Nile,
having been terminated, the ship was yesterday ordered
down the river from Woolwich on a trial trip of her ma-
chinery prior to her being handed over to Government.
Her Majesty's screw gunboat Clinker, Lieut.-Com-
mander Hudson (1854), late of the Royal Albert, arrived
at Woolwich yesterday evening from the Mediterranean
and the Black Sea. She sailed from Malta Dec. 9, Gib-
raltar 19, and Portsmouth on Tuesday last. She was
obliged to make for Algiers in consequence of the severe
stress of weather experienced in the Mediterranean, and
had to beat against a succession of head-winds in crossing
the bay, with a continuation of squalls during the voy-
age home. She is to be received in the outer basin of
Woolwich dockyard to return stores and be paid off.
An Admiralty order was yesterday morning received
at Woolwich dockyard, forwarding instructions for Lieut.
Commander Jackson, her Majesty's ship Oberon, to be
in readiness to be paid off. The Oberon arrived at Wool-
wich on Wednesday from Malta, and has been in present
commission scarcely two years.
The following appointments were made at the Admi-
ralty yesterday :
Lieutenants—C. Fairlaolm, to the Megasra ; J. P.
Cheyne, to the Simoom ; W. W. S. Bridges, to the
Iris ; P. B. R. Sharpe, to the Magicienne.
Master—W. H. Crane, to the Simooro. _ _ _

Master's-Assistants—C. W. Ross, to the Megrera ;
D. 0. Burdwood, to the Simoorn ; W. F. Tregidgo, to
the Megmra ; A. C. Dowdell, to the Simoom.
Assistaut-Surgeon —Richard C. P. Laurenson (acting)
to Plymouth Hospital.

WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR
GOIVVIOTSI