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fired at it . ' Now , did the American commander , like Sir Michael Seymour and Sir John Bowring , demand an apology , and insist that a similar thing should not occur again ? Not the least in the world . He inverted the usual course , which is said , to be characteristic of energy —a word and a blow ; he put it thus : — A blow and a void . ' ( Cheers , and lavghter . ) He began to knock down the forty and then sent to the Commissioner to say that an iusult had been offered to bis flag , and that he hoped for an apology { cheers ) , and an assurance to the effect that it would not happen again ( c&eers ); and he gave twenty-four hours for this apology and explanation to be sent to him .. But , before these twenty-four hours had expired , the ship which was lying near the fort saw something or other going on which the officers shrewdly
imagined was for renewed defence if not for renewed attack . Well , this . American officer , without waiting , and writing to the United States to know whatto do—without waiting even for the twenty-four hours to expire — said , 'No , no , Mr . Chinaman , this won ' t do ; you ar « throwing up fiesh batteries and putting in fresh guns ; ' and he commenced the demolition of the fort , and took possession of these guns before the time had expired which he had given the Chinese commissioner in order to make his apology and explanation . " ' ( Cheers : " ) He ( Lord Palmerston ) had told a noble friend of his , who was going to vote against Government in the House of . Lords on account of a letter he ( the Premier ) had written in 1847 about Canton , not to heed what he had written in that -vear . The case is now different with
respect to admission into that city . It appeared , on the authority of Sir John . Bowring , that the Chinese of that city are not a cruel or insulting race like the mandarins , and are inclined to treat foreigners with good will . The pretence , therefore , on the part of the Chinese authorities , that entrance into Canton would l ) e attended with serious collisions between the u atives and the English , was an obstacle artfully created , and its removal "would be attended with commercial advantages to the merchants at Hong-Kong and Canton- " Well , that which Sir John Bowring told Sir Michael Seymour to ask for was , not for permission to enter Canton , -which I and my colleague ^ had desired the Superintendent and Plehipotentiary not to acquire by force of arms ; it was the right to have personal , intercourse between our
authorities at Canton and the authorities within the town—a freer communication , and not the right of the indiscriminate entrance of all British subjects ; I say it was a proper demand , properly made . " He then proceeded to vindicate the character of Sir John Bowing , observing that he is a man of the people , though we are now told that none but aristocratical scions get appointments ; and . that he is conspicuously a man of peaceable temperament and tendencies . " "VVhen Lord Elgin ' s mission is finished , as I hope it will be in a twelvemonth or a little more , he will return and leave Sir John Bowring in exactly the same position in which he is now , trusted and confided la by the English Government . " His Lordship concluded , amidst loud applause , by anticipating with confidence the general upshot of the elections .
uajl < u . k . u ^ uni . ; The nomina . tion took place last Saturday , \ vhen , after some sparring between Mr . Cardwell and Mr . Neate , M . A ., fellow of Oriel College , in respect to the vote in favour of Mr . Cobden s motion given by the former candidate , Mr . Serjeant daselee expressed his approval of the conduct of the Government in connexion with 'the late division , and indicated his general political principles , which were very liberal . " He was not prepared to vote for universal suffrage , but ho was in favour of an extension of the borough franchise , and he saw no reason why they should not adopt the municipal franchi-se . ( Cheers . " ) He would also extend the suffrage to lodgers under certain limited restrictions . He did not view the Corrupt Practices at Elections Bill with the same favour
ub Mr . Cardwoll did , and ho was in favour of triennial Parliaments . With regard to the abolition of churchrates , lie agreed with Mr . Card well . He was a friend of civiland religious liberty ; h « was in favour of the admission of J « ws into Parliament , and for the extension of freedom to all religions , and . whether as regarded the Churchman or Dissenter , ho should always be found to vote in favour of the moral , religious , and social improvement of the people . " ( Cheers . ) After advocating law reform and condemning the game laws , the learned Serjeant Baid that ho -wished to go to Parliament as an independent member . —The show of hands was in favour of Mr . Langston and Mr . Neato . A . poll was demanded for Mr . Cardwell and Mr . Serjeant Gasoleo . This terminated in their defeat , tho numbers being—Langs ton , 1667 ; Neate , 1057 ; Cardwell 1016 ; Gasclco 225
, , Mr . Cardwell , in making a speech at the nomination , Bind , with reference to the report that 4 ho Emperor of China h « a disapproved of the conduct of Commissioner Yeh : — " Lot mo show you tho light which that intelligence throws upon tho independent vote which I gave in favour of Mr . Cobden ' a motion . One of the moat stringent objections I felt to tho policy pursued by our plenipotentiary in China was that ho had refused to permit any refeninco whatever to bo made to tho Emperor of China . Now , gentlemen , if that roforenco had been made , tlio news received this mominjr plainly shovrs that all tho bloodshed . nll tUoso acts of
is that , from an excess of zeal , Sir John Bowring some what erred m asserting the rights of his country he hevrag that a treaty had been violated ; and 1 eav ' thn * the Government which should be over-hasty and over disposed to censure their subordinates would justly ex " cite the disapprobation of the country . ( Ckeers ) I am not called upon to maintain that Sir John BowrinJs conduct was faultless and immaculate ; it is not ne cessary for me to show that his judgment and that of Mr . Consul Perkes was the most perfect and the wisesi that could have been exercised under the circumstances What the Government have to consider in such a ca . se is ' whether their agents acted to the best of their judgment and with a reasonable discretion . " He then drew attention to the fact of several of the Oppositionists having declared that they would not have voted against Government if . Ministers had announced their intention of sending Lord Elgin out to arrange affairs . The
difference , therefore , argued Sir George , is but slight , and no very sensible -weight of censure can be attached to the Government for what they have done . He next referred to matters of home policy , and said , with reference to Sir . Locke King's bill : — " The law of votiDg cannot be simply transferred from boroughs to countiessome adaptation is necessary ; and , subject to these restrictions , I am decidedly in favour of Mr . Locke King ' s bill . In fact , the Government agreed to > support the introduction of that bill , bat afterwards found that , on account of some questions of form , rather than of substance , it could not be conveniently introduced ; and that was the reason why they voted against its introduction . " After alluding to the question of church-rates , which , impost he thought must be placed on a fairer and more reasonable footing , and having thauked the electors for the honour they had done him in again electing "him , Sir George resumed his seat .
KIDDERMINSTER . The proceedings at the election for this borough -were marked by a most disgraceful riot in . the interests of the unsuccessful candidate , Mr . Boycott . The Right Hon . Robert Lowe took the lead from the commencement of the day , and at the close of the poll the numbers -were- — Mr . Lowe , 234 ; Mr . Boycott , 146 ; majority in favour of Mr . Lowe , 88 . The polling booths were surrounded all day by a large number of non-electors , who mobbed the voters for Mr . Lowe as they came up , and Mcked , cuffed , and spat on them . Shortly before the close of the poll , an attack was made on Mr . Lowe and his friends by a mob which consisted of between three and four thousand persons , who , yelling and swearing horribly , and calling on Mr . Boycott to let them kill the
obnoxious persons , threw stones and brickbats into the booth , apparently with a view of bitting Mr . Lowe and his proposer , Mr . Pardoe . Several attempts were made to calm , -the populace ; hut , these failing , the Slayor was requested , by several magistrates who were present , to read the Kiot Act . He refused , however , fearing that it would exasperate the crowd still more , while there was no force at hand sufficient to disperse the mob if they still continued their riotous proceedings . Mr . Boycott ' requested the people to disperse quietly , but the attack every moment became more and more serious , and Mr . Boycott and liis friends retired , the mob cheering them as they passed . Several persons received severe cuts and bruises from the missiles of the ruffians , and it soon became evident that the booth would be
were presented at the beginning of Ja . st session ( 185 C-57 ) , were 56 , 865 , 0007 . Those estimates were made upon the assumption that the war would continue , but happily we signed a peace about Easter . The Government lost no time in revising the war estimates , and in producing reduced estimates , adapted , as far as possible , to the new state of peace . It is scarcely necessary that I should remind you that the enormous establishments created in a time of war cannot be removed by the stroke of a wand . We must bring- home our fleets and armies ; and I need not enter into detail , because it must suggest itself to the ar . ind of every one that there are a great number of expensive operations attendant upon the transition from a war , which bad
created a foreign expedition on a great scale , to a state of peace . The revised army and na . vy estimates amounted to 38 , 061 , 000 ? . Well , that was at once a considerable reduction . Now , these were estimates for a year not actually of war , but a year in which many of the expenses incident to the war had to be borne , and as compared with the preceding year a . saving of 17 , 000 , 000 ? . was effected . { Hear , hear . ) But then , you will say , what is your calculation for the year commencing the 1 st of next April ? Exclusive of the Coastguard and packets , -which are not for military purposes , tho estimates for the year 1857-8 have been reduced to 18 , 870 , 000 / . as compared with 38 , 000 , 000 / . in the preceding y « ar . Now these are
burst in . Mr . Lowe and the Mayor , therefore , escaped out of it , and & rush was made through the crowd . The hustings were at the outskirts of the town , and the fugitives , escorted by a few constables , made tlie best of their way into tho town itself , followed by the mob , Looting , yelling , and throwing stones and brickbats as before . Mr . Lowe ' s friends at last got him into a house , which was immediately surrounded by the mob . The house , which is a school , conducted , by the Kev . Mr . Sheppard , stands back from the road , and is protected by a high wall and iron gates . Mr . Sheppaid , in admitting the fugitives , was himself knocked down and hurt ; but the rioters -were at length excluded . They then endeavoured to -wrench the locks off the gates ; but in this they failed . However , they did not quit the place , but prowled about , threatening that , when they had the opportunity , they would kill Mr . Lowe and Mr . Pardoe .
poisoning , all the offering of rewards on the part of the Chinese , all the interruption to trade , and all the detriment to our revenue , would have been avoided . ( Cheers . ) I say that it affords me great consolation , whatever may be the result of this contest , to reflect that , acting according to the "best of my judgment , and for what in iay view went for the good of the realm of England , I gave at least an honest and a conscientious vote on that question . ( Cheers . ) You desire economy . Tou have had for the last twenty years so great an enj oyment of the fruits of that beneficial policy that you desire with
me that the same course should be steadily and speedilypursued , and you would approve , therefore , of the vote which I gave upon the Budget for the remission of taxation , and the arguments which I ventured to address to the House in favour of reduced expenditure . But permit me to remind you that if our foreign plenipotentiaries are to take into their own hands the Queen ' s prerogative of peace and war , and , without permitting time for reference to the higher authorities , are to embark in costly hostilities , it will not be in the power of your representatives to diminish those taxes which press so heavily upon you . " ( Cheers , and slight hissinv . )
OXFORD ( COUNTY ) , Mr . Henley , Mr . Harcourt , and Colonel North , were elected without opposition . They were then girt , according to ancient custom , - with swords , as knights of the shire .
RADNOR . The only candidate for the Radnor Boroughs was the Chancellor of the Exchequer , - who addressed a long speech to the electors , in which , after referring to the speedy close of the Russian war as a proof that Lord Palmerston is not desirous of keeping the country in a state of hostility , he alluded to Mr . Disraeli ' s election address , and undertook to disprove the assertion made therein , that the Government is characterize ! by " excessive expenditure and heavy taxation . " He observed : —" The only / way to ascertain , the ^ acts of the case is to compare pur present expenditure and taxation with what they were during the war . The estimates for the army and navy for all purposes of war , which
positive facts , about which no doubt ca . n exist , because they rest on papers presented to Parliament . I aslt , therefore , whether it can be said that excessive expendituro lias been tho policy of the present Government ? ( Hear , hear . ) But then we are * told that ' reduction of taxation' is tho policy which Mr . Disraeli recommends , as contrasted with the policy of Lord Palmerston's < 5 overnment , which one must presume is that of increased taxation . Well , now , what are tho facts ? Tlie income-tax—no small part of our resources—has been reduced feotn lGd . to 7 d . in tho pound , and other riductions of taxation have taken place , partly
inconsequence of propositions of the Government , and partly by the operation of prospective provisions in statutes ; and for tho year 1857-58 , as compared -with the year 1 S 55-G 6 , there has been a reduction of nearly 11 , 500 , 000 / . " ( Cheers . ) Sir G . C . Lewis then reverted to tho China affair . " The honourable gentleman who did mo the honour of proposing mo very clearly pointed out the peculiar position of our agents in China , separated by many thousands of miles and many weeks of postal communication from England—a few Ei ) gliahmeu surrounded by an enormous and , it maybe , hostile people ; and he has shown that under such circumstances it is
Mr . Lowe had been seriously wounded by a blow from a stono , and ho was bleeding so profusely , and felt so weak , that it-was found necessary to send for a surgeon . " The mob , " says tho Times , " allowed tho medical man to pass through them into the house , ami directed him to inform his patient that they were determined to do for him'before ho left Kidderminster . Mr . Streiton , tho surgeon , discovered that Mr . Lowe had sustained a fracture of tho right parietal bone of the skull , in addition to a lacerated scalp wound and two severe contusullerec
sions on the side of tho head . Mr . Pardoe bud contusions on the head and body . Mr . Holmes received an incised wound on tho scalp , from which blood iiowcu freely . Before tho surgeon had attended to the gentlemen , a police constable was carried into tho house in ' ' ytiito of insensibility , covered with blood . The poor follow had heon struck nearly all over with stonon . Ono missile had fractured two bones of his nose in a frightful manner , and another had caused a largo lacemted wound of tho skull . It appears that part of the mob , on being
not wise , it is not prudent , it is not fair , it is hardly decent , I may say , for tlio Government to scrutinizo ¦ with a jealous and hostile criticism nil tho nets of their subordinates , if they net with perfect good faith , and when there is no imputation upon their honesty , or upon their desire to servo their country . Now , our agents in China have not been charged with rapacity , with any < losiro to « ntich themselves at tho expense of foreign countries , nor of seeking to aggrandize their country by taking territory from foreigncra . No , tho most that can bo said
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 4, 1857, page 320, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2187/page/8/
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