Year: 1878

John Bright's great speech at Birmingham,
in opposition to the war policy of the English
government, is reported in full in the Lon
don papers. In commenting upon the jeal-
ousy Of Russia which prevails in England,
aud which has existed for 40 years past, he
says:


Il was reading the other day book, to me
of singular interest-the memoirs and cor
respondence of the late Charles Sumner,
senator from Massachusetts, in the United
States. Charles Sumner was a personal
friend of mine, and he corresponded with me
for many years. In lookingo over his memoirs
| came on what thought remarkable pass
age, which yen will permit me to read. 1t
Is in one OF his letters from England in 1889
1t vas just previous to the time there had
been SO much excitement in this country
about Russia, and some people had really SO
nearly approached to condition tit for bed
lam that they believed the Russians were
likely to come through the Baltic and to
invade the east coasts of England, and they
persuaded the government Of that day (al
ways too ready TO be persuaded on things of
that kind) to add 5 600 men to the navy, in
order that the panic might be put an
end to. Like putting plaster on a sore
when the people get into panic of this
kind they vote two millions or five mil
lions, or 5000 men TO the navy, or
10000 men to the army-and then people
go to their beds and sleep quietly-[l laugh
terl-aad all is, that next morning they
have the tax gatherer, and they pay
Well, now, at that time there was living in
England very eminent man, the late Lord
Durham, who was a member of the reform
cabinet. He was one of the members of
the committee of that cabinet who drew up
the first reform bill. He was man of very
liberal views at that time and wished the
cabinet of Lord Gray not to give US fl0
franchise, but household franchise, and to
accompany it with the ballot. / told you
what sort of a man he was, but he had been
minister at the court OF the cZar at st. Peters
burg, and Mr.. Sumner says this of him: Il
ventured TO ask him what truth there was
in the present reports with regard to the
hostile intentions of Russia toward England
in war. The TRUTH said he, I'll give you
leave to call me idiot if there is a word of
truth in it He said that Russia was full of
friendly regard for England, and he de-
nOunced Urquhart-the late Mr.. Urquhart-
he died during the last autumn somewhere
in the south of France-he denounced Urqu-
hart, who is now going about the kingdom
preaching against Russia, as q madman.'
Well, have known Mr.. Urquhart in the
house of commons. L would not like to say
a word against him, now that he is not here
to answer for himself [hear, hear, but this
may say without wrong, that he was man
so pos .essed of certain notions that 1T was
scarcely possible to believe him in condi-
ton for fairly reasoning upon them. He
believed that the Gar Nicholas managed the
whole world by his diplomacy. He believed
that Lord Palmerston was bribed by the
Russian government to sell the liberties of
Europe and the interests of this country to
Russia. He believed, and have heard him
say it In the most positive manner, that the
war in the Crimea was not to save Turkey,
but to place Turkey in the hands of Russia;
aud that, if we would leave Turkey alone,
and leave her to fight Russia slone, Turkey
was perfectly safe, and that Russia would be
easily and finally vanquished. Now these
were the views of Mr. Urquhart, which l
believe he held honestly, for ne devoted
years of his life to preaching them; and
Lord Durham stated that Mr. Urquhart, IN
approaching these, was quite like madman,
and was utterly ignorant of the true state of
things in Russia"