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Mr . Isaac Gregory moved the first resolution , as follows : — " That the occupation of the Danubian provinces by the Emperor of Russia , for the purpose of enforcing upon Turkey concessions iriconsistenx with her independence as a nation , is a violation of the law of nations , against winch , it is the duty of all free States to protest ; and that this meeting desires to express its admiration of the dignified conduct of the Sultan , and of the patriotic ardour with which the people of the Ottoman empire have takea up arms to resist the invasion of a barbarous and hypocritical enemy . * Mr . T . Schunck seconded the resolution . ; Sir C . Napier was received with repeated rounds of the most hearty and enthusiastic cheering . He said—
-Ibeg to thank you most sincerely fqr this very flattering reception . It is not the first time that I have been in Manchester . On a former occasion I had the honour of being entertained here after the settlement of the last Eastern question , and I little expected then that I should be upon this _ platform to denounce Russia for an infamous attack upon Turkey . Having referred to the attacks made on Turkey since 1815 , the gallant Admiral went on to say with respect to the last—I nad the honour of partaking in the expeditions at that time , and it is a singular thing in the history of Turkey that the combined fleets and ; armies were commanded by a British Admiral , that the Turkish fleet was also commanded by a Christian— -an English
Admiral ; and I , a Christian Admiral , hod the honour of com--mahdiiig the army , ( Cheers . ) I will not at < the present moment accuse Turkey of being a great fool , but she : didnot show that attention to the remonstrances of her . allies , ' did not accord to . the Christiana that peace and quietness which she had promised in her adversity . I hope , however , after the lesson she has had , after she has succeeded in driving Russia from her territory , she will pay all due attention to her Christian subjects , and take from Russia every pretence for again interfering on that ground . In 1839 the Sultan granted to Turkey by a hatti sclieriff her Magna Charta . I don ' t mean to say that that has been precisely carried out as it ought to ; have been , but
there can be no doubt that the Turkish Grovernment lias done a great deal . She recruited her army , improved her navy and finances , and , had she been left tranquilly to go on ; 1 believe there is no doubt she would have re-established herself on a solid and respectable footing ; but , unfortunately Russia and Austria , who are constantly on the watch , found great fault with her for exercising her hospitality , as she had a right to do , only unitating _ our example , by giving protection to the unfortunate Hungarian refugees . ( Cheers . ) This naturally excited remonstrances from Austria arid Russia . Lord Palmerston came forward again and told them to be quiet . ( Cheers and laughter . ) A fleet was then again sent to Besika Bay , at the entrance
of the Dardanelles , and had the effect of compelling Russia and Austria to take the hint . ( Cheers . ) This leads me to the present question—to pass over some small affairs such as the rebellion , of the Montegrins , which , I believe , was excited a great deal by the instigation of Russia , who came forward and insisted tnat it was a free country , and urider her protection . The Ottoman Gfovernment submitted again -io Austria and Russia , arid thought by that means at all events to have peaco and tranquillity . But when people are determined to quarrel with a neighbour it is excessively easy to do so . Russia and Austria sent missions to Constantinople again under Various pretexts . Prince Menschikoff was to be put at the head of the Russian
mi 8 Bion , and Prince Ijeinirigen at the head of the Austrian . Prince Menschikoff fell ill of tho gout , and it is a pity it did not get to his head or his stomach . ( Cheers and laughter . ) But the Austrian commissioner was moro successful , and went to Constantinople , and succeeded in everything ho proposed . Then comes Prince MonschikofY , having recovered from his fit of tho gout , to Constantinople ; and , I believe , Europe at largo does not produce one single instance of such an insolent embassy as that sent by tlte Czar of ltussia to intimidate a weaker Power . Prince Mensehikoff wns Minister of Marino ; but not ; satisfied with that , they sent an admiral who ' commanded the Hussion fleot at Se ' baatopril , and tho general who
commnnded the nrmy of the frontier ; as much as to say— " If you don't submit , I have an army and a fleet ready to come down upon you . " Well , tho Minister at Constantinople at the time , becoming alarmed , naked our fleet , m usual , to come to Besjlcn Bay , but tho Admiral who commanded our fleot at Malta wisely and properly did not accede to his request . Tho Baltic would ho open in a month , whoro Russia had n fleet of twonty-soven flail of tho lino , ami the Peaco Society ( laughter ) had reduced our Hoot to nothing in 184 , 9 . In that case , it wan perfectly impossible to provoke Russia by sending our fleet to tho . Dardanelles , when wo had not tho meanH of sending ono to tho Baltic JTow , I don't blame tho Government for that , but tho I ' eaeo Sociot y ( hear , hear ); and it is a dangerous point , that , to touch upon in their capital ( " hear , hoar , ' and juughter ); but , nevortholeflH , it is quite truo that , in defiance of the Buko of Wellington ' s lotfcer , in IMS , wherein «« pointed out tho nakedness of the land , and showed
that wo could bo invaded by a powerful nation with an army of 400 , ( XM > or f >( X ) , ( K )() men , and thttfc wo could not produce 20 , 000 men in England , while wo hud very few ships to contend against ftn enoiny—tho Whig Movernvnent—and il ; wan a Whi ff Government , I am worry to Hay , at tlio time—obeyed tho rail of tho Peneo Society , and reduced tho army 6000 men , and aim * the fleet live "ftil of tho line ! I havo no hesitation in Haying that , H wo had liad tho / look that wo have now , with a « maH addition to it ; , and when Ttiiflma firkt menaced urkoy , -Mut could have said to Russia , " If you crows tho 1 ruth , tho Mediterranean flwl ; goes to Constantinople ; *«< i the British homo fleet , instead of reviewing at Kpilhoml , will hold her review in tho Baltie . " ( Cheers , ftn < l Iftnnrhtw . ) I wish it to bo clearly understood thak 1 nm not blaming the Government for not acting with moro wgour in timo , bocutisoifc wua not in tUoir power : but I
wont let them entirely escape either , because after they had got their fleet up and paraded it at Spithead , they neglected ; 'to . send it a little further on .: It is true the season was far advanced , and you all know perfectly wf > ll that tlie occupation of the Baltie during winter is perfectly impossible , fox * the simple reason that you can't float therefor the ice . I said that Russia had sent a most insolent mission to Constantinople . Then Count Nesselrode issued a- Btill more impertinent manifesto , and I dare say you nave read the declaration of war of Russia , which is more impudent vStill . There never was such infamous conduct , such insolent language , used in declaring war by one nation on another . Let us consider what will be the consequence to Europe if Russia remains in the Principalities .
I believe 60 years ago there was a distance of nearly 200 miles between the frontier of Austria and the frontier of Russia . If you look at the map , you will find now that they run alongside of each othe ^ for nearly 500 miles ; and if Russia remains in possession of the Principalities , that distance will be nearly doubled , and on the Danube her frontier , instead of being 80 miles , will be 300 or 400 miles . Now , let Russia be once established in those Principalities , and judging by her conduct for many years past , —her cautious conduct—because she is very cautious , always at the end of every war acquiring more territory and more power , —wilt any man in this meeting believe for one single moment that if the Powers of Europe allow Russia to possess these Principalities she
will stay there content ? ( "No , no . " ) It is contrary to human nature , it is contrary to what has taken place since the creation of the world . On she will go till she f ets to Constantinople , and then what a pretty position Jurope will be in ! ( Hear , hear . ) She will have the Baltic to the north , the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles to the south , and she will stretch her brawny arms and hug all Europe in . her hideous embrace . ( Hear , hear . ) Do you think she ¦ will stop there ? (" No , no . " ) We have seen that Mehemet Ali , a servant , I may almos 2 \ say , of the Sultan , succ eeded in marching from Alexandria across the Taurus , defeating and destroying the Turkish army , and coming upon the very banks of the Bosphorus . If the Egyptians could do that , and if trie Russians
get to Constantinople , may I ask , you what is to hinder them from marching from there to Egypt , and then what becomes of your passage to India , I shouldhke to know ? ( Hear , hear . ) How will your trade be carried on ? Howwillyour communications be carried on , and how will all your manufacturers send their goods to India ? You will have to return to the Cape of Grood Hope . But , instead of that , you have now a free passage across the Isthmus of Suez , which will be blocked up by Russia , Will she be satisfied with that ? We hear already that she is intriguing in India with many of the discontented kings and governors , or whatever you call them , for really I forget all their names , there are so many of them , and at some future day India will be destroyed . I therefore
think it is our bounden duty , and' not only our duty , but the duty of France , and Austria , and Prussia , to come forward and insist that Russia immediately evacuates the Principalities . ( Hear , hear . ) JS " ow I have shown you what England has done and what she has not done . France has gone with us up to the present moment , hut there is even danger there . ( Hear , hear . ) In the last eastern question Louis Philippe threw us overboard , and that very neai-ly brought on a war with France . ( Hear , hear . ) It is lef t to Louis Napoleon now to come forward and assist England to keep up tho balance of power in Europe ; but suppose things go wrong , and suppose Franco sees that Russia will get to Constantinople , has France no eye at all upon Egypt herself ; and has France no eye either upon
the Rhine ? All these things may take place , and confusion may arise by tho success of Russia . Things may bo deranged , there ' s no knowing how all the Powers will go—every one perhaps will look out for himself ; and I very much fear—and I mn sorry to say it—that wo shall not get tho lion ' s share this time . Our navy has been so reduced nnd ho lowered ; so little attention has boon paid during the peace of 37 years to man it , that ; when we want men they arc not to bo had . Tho late Government voted 5000 men , and they deserve- great credit for ho doing ; they are- no friends of wine ( cheers and laughter ) , nor tho Wlii ^ s cither ( laughter ) ; but , nevertheless , tho Tory Government , fleeing our danger , not from Jiussiajit that time , hut from France , ciuno clown to Parliament and
asked for an addition of 5000 soldiers and 500 seamen , which wero granted to them by acclamation . IE von Mr . Cobden himself acknowledged m tho House of Commons that ho did not resist it , because if they asked for 20 / WXJ men it would be granted by acclamation . That nhowod that tho p eople of England did not wish to expose their wives and families to be destroyed by foreigner *) , and they felt that any Power almost , even « , secondary Powor , in the state we wero in , could have invaded this country . ( A " Voice— "No , no ! " ) Somebody calls "No . " Lot mo ask how we ' could prevent them ? ( Hoar . ) Franco , for in-M anco , has r > 00 , 000 men , and wo have 20 , ( X ) 0 ; and is there no moans of crossing the Channel ? The country was not safe ; thank God it is safe now , and t . take aomo credit , to
myself for driving them to make it safe . ( Cheers . ) I did not got much thanks for it ; but you havo it now , and you are all willinp to pay for it . 1 b there anybody here who grudgea to pay a half por cent , moro of hi « capital to insure safety and tranquillity to hia . hearth and kin wife and family ? ' ( " No , no . " ) I daro say you havo nil rood Lord Aberdeen's speech the other , dny , when ho wuh feasting at the Munsion-houHo , after eating turtle soup . ( Laughter . ) After being well entertained there , ho said , and said properly , that tho ppliey of the Government wan pence ; that he would maintain p < ia meant by that is , if Entflnml demands that wo shall go to war , ho in ready to go ; hut England will not demand war unless who Boca it in absolutely nycooisary ibr tho honour and interest
of . the country . You are all prosperous now , all making money as fast as you can , particularly in Manchester ; but you are not quite sure you will make that money if you are at war . Therefore there cannot be a doubt that this meeting , and every meeting throughout Groat Britain , if they do follow this that takes place , will desire peace , and will not drive , the Ministry into war unless it is absolutely necessary . Now , I am just as fond of peace as any of you , and am almost too old to go to war ; but , nevertheless , if the honour and interest of this country demands it , I am perfectly ready to come forward and shed the last drop of my blood for the honour ' and credit of the British people . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . S . B . Johnson moved the secord resolution : —
" That the avowed policy of Russia , and her insidious encroachments upon all neighbouring States , are at variance with the common interests of other countries , and ought to be resisted by the united efforts of all civilized nations . " Mr . H . Meteher seconded the resolution . Mr . i > . Urquhart rose to support the motion , and was received with loud cheers . He expressed the apprehensions with which he had heard the intelligence that the Russians , in their retreat , had diverged to the left , so as to take refuge in the Austrian territory . He dissented from some of the statements made by the gallant admiral , and at some length urged on the meeting the necessity of putting down , not only the system which existed , fatal to the interests of this country , with reference to the east , but their own ignorance on such subjects .
Dr . Vaughan also addressed the meeting . He had thought the Government laggards , believing that it was their duty , when the Russians first crossed the Pruth , to send our fleet into the Black Sea directly ; but he could not make that a ground for a vote of no confidence in Ministers . He moved the following resolution : — " That this meeting rejoices in the determination of the British Government to uphold the independence of the Ottoman Empire , even , if necessary , by force of arms . " "Mr . P . Royle seconded the resolution . Thanks having been voted to Sir C . Napier , Mr . Urquhart , and the chairman , the pi-oceedings terminated .
A requisition is in course of signature to the Mayoi of Liverpool , praying-him to convene a meeting in that city .
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THE CITY COMMISSION . Numerous witnesses have given evidence before the City Commission this week , the chief among whom have been Mr . Elliott and Mr . Beimoek , two common councilmen , and Mr . Wallis , the sheriff . The character of the evidence lias been chiefly speculative , and varied statements have been made as to what kind of reforms are requisite . At present , there has been a preponderance of evidence in favour of abolishing the aldermen as unpaid magistrates , and of appointing two or four stipendaries in their place . The two common councilmen . above mentioned , consider the aldermen as a great city abuse , which oug ht to be abolished . The police also , it seems to be generally agreed , would
be less expensive , and quite as efficient , under the control of the Metropolitan Commissioners . Competent witnesses , Mr . Powles . and Mr . Cattley , agree in thinking that the harbour masters of the Thames efficiently perform their duty ; they also agree in describing the navigation committee , composed of forty persons , as utterly unqualified by previous training for their duties ; and they suggest a mixed committee , comprising delegates from mercantile associations , so that tho committee might : ict us a Chamber of Commerce , in protecting merchants from
grievances , or in representing them to ( Government-Home of the witnesses would enlarge the constituency —ono proposition going so far as to ' aholinh tho livery , and place the City under the provisions of the Municipal Act of 183 (> . The coal tax found a defender in Mr . Elliott , who thinks the revenue Ii . ih been woll spent , and puts forward the startling argument , that coals would become too cheap , and too common , and too many would bo consumed if tho tax wero romoved ! Among the separate grievances is tho shrievalty . Ono gentleman , Mr . Remington Mills , attended to show that ho had been elected sheriff without his
knowledge , and made to pay ( iOOA line for refusing to Horvo , after he had coased to reside in tho county of Middlesex . Mr . Wallis also conceives that tho Bherill shoidd be an ex-ojlicio member of the Common Council-Witli respect to bribery , Mr . Wallis ways , that ho has known l /> , 00 ()/ . spout on both sides fora mayoralty , 10 , 000 / , for the chamborlainship , aiid , 'lfiOW . for an al < lerman '» gown ; and be alleges , as a rcafton why the elections for common councillors arc pure , that "tho matter a (; Hkako is not ho much . " JU ' ifc Mr . . BonnocTc tlfrows tho greatest flush of light on the corruption !) of tho corporation .
The mode in which tho committees of tho Common Council urn appointed fa ycry faulty . Them aro about Euxtuen of theso paid committees in tho year .- they are paid about 2 i )( M ) l . Tho money in disposed of for tho purposes of conviviality . If a balance should remain over it is sometimes applied to ftlio presenting the chairman with u piece of pinto . I have beou h member of more unpaid than paid eoinmiltoos , and I boliove that the former havo boon attended by moro intolligml . men . I bolievo tho committee men inigh ' l ; appropriate the money to themaolvos if tb , oy plowed . If a man appeared to be aufait on a particular
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l ^ Pfr ^ BER 19 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 1109
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 19, 1853, page 1109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2013/page/5/
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