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    916 THE LEADER . [ Saturday ,

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    of the question which had not been fairly brought before the meeting . Government , they niust remember , had the advantage of intelligence which the people could not get ; and it often happened that charges of treachery fell to the ground when Ministers rooe to explain . On that ground he disapproved of the sweeping condemnation of the Ministry contained in the resolution . Mr . Harvey hoped that Mr . Alcock had not been apologising for him , for he did not require it . All that had been done by former speakers was to quote bits of paper , to talk

    about hanging patriots , and To appeal to the feelings of the meeting . Those were no proofs . For himself , he could say , that his sympathies with the Hungarian nation were as great as any man ' s . But if they gave Government credit for countenancing Austria in persecuting the Hungarians at one time , they ought to give them credit for •' putting the Stopper on" at another . He would read a quotation from the morning papers of the 25 tli instant : ' ? The Austrian Government sent a despatch yesterday to Baron Hesse , ordering him to concede the occupation , of Galatz and Ibraila to the Turks , if Omer Pacha desired it . Thus all differences are handsomely settled . "

    Mr . Parks asked how jfc happened that Omer Piacha had been bamboozled for the last few weeks by Austria , and how it happened that Austria had made the concession to Omer Pacha referred to by Mr . Harvey . If no one answered those questions , he should do so . . Mr . Otley said : This was a battle between Whigs and Tories , and he should therefore take no part in the meeting . One observation he would notice : —That if our Government was 'betraying the interests of the country—that if there was any intrigue going on between some portion of the ministry and Russia , they lad forgot in this discussion that we had a powerful ally . Was Fiance to be duped also ? Was France in league with Lord Aberdeen and our Ministry tobetray the cause of Europe ? He thought not ; and regretted that the meeting should be led astray by those two factions—the Tories and Whigs—and lose sight of questions of the greatest interest to the country . ( Cheers . ^)

    Mr , Ironside claimed the right to reply . Was he a Whig -or Tory ? . Was Alderman CaiT a Whig or Tory ? What -was the meaning of that imputation ? £ A Voice ' : " Tfs only a bit of opposition . ^ , He had been told to read from the papers ; and he had read from the Parliamentary blue books , -and liad never been so disgusted as lie had been with what he had read , and never so satisfied as when he had got done with the filth . As to the perfidy of Austria , he - \ vould read -threelittle tilings . Colonel Rose was one of our diplomatists . He was at Constantinople during the absence of Lord Strat'ford de Redcliffe . Colonel Rose was the only honest man in the blue ' books . He found out , soon after the talk began about the Latin and Greek churches at Jerusalem , what was the matter . He sent for the fleet from Malta . Admiral Dundas would not attend to the summons . Colonel Rose was snubbed by our Government for sending for the fleet , but Admiral Dundas was praised for his conduct- ' Colonel Rose was not the kind of man our Government wanted . When

    Menschikoff want to Constantinople , Colonel Rose endeavoured to find out what his mission was about , but Men--schikoff deceived him and our Government as to ¦ what it was . Lord John Russell said that Russia had exhausted every form of falsehood ; and in one of Colonel Rose ' s conversations with that wily diplomatist , Menschikoff said that " t 3 ie military movements of Omer Pacha had excited the suspicions of the ¦ Russian Government , who thought that lie might carry war and Mazzini's doctrines into the Austrian territory and the Danubian provinces . " That was the reason whyj the Austrians , did nob like Omer Pacha , or any one with honest energy about him . ( Applause . " ) Lord Clarendon , after the battle of Sinope { Cali it the murder . } He would call it the murder of Sinope . After that affair , Lord Clarendon vvroto to the Earl of \\ estinoreliind the following letter :

    u Dec . 29 , 1853 . " My Lord , —A report hns reached her Majesty ' s Govern--ment . tltat previous to the attack by tlie Russian fleet on the Turkish squadron at Sinope , the Austrian Consul-General lind been observed to make a telegraphic signal to the Russian fleet . Your lordship will express to Count Buol the disbelief of her Majesty ' s Government in the truth of the report ; but you will at tho siuno time suggest that an inquiry should be mado into the origin of such , a rumour . " Clarendon . " Now , our Government had that information , and attached some credence to it , or they would nob have made it tho subject of a despatch . Well , then , Westmoreland replied :

    " Vienna , Jan . 11 , 1854 . " My Lord , —I mentioned to Count Buol tho report of which -your lordship speaks in your despatch of tho 29 th of December , its to tho Austrian Consul having made telegraphic signals to tho Russian fleet at tlio moment of its entry Into that harbour . Count Buol Bind ho considered tho report could have , its origin only in tho attempted calu mny against tho Austrian Government , and ho could nor , therefore , take , any notice of it . Ho was happy to rind that her Majesty ' s Government had expressed their disbelief in it , being convinced that the Btory was wholly undeserving of crodTt . —I have , &c , «» Wkstmokeland . " Now , continued Mr . Ironside , our Govemmont 3 i « d heard of tho Austrian Gonsul-Gonornl telegraphing to Russia when tho latter attnekod tho Turkish flcot , They wrote to requoat on inquiry , at the same time that they said they did not bo-Iiovo tho story . Austria replied , " No , it ' s all a calumny j " and there tho matter was liuuhod up . He believed tluvt Aiuiti'in did telegraph to Rufjuia in that instance , (_ Cheera , ) Tho mayor now put the resolution , and it was carried .

    Mr . Alcoclc jnovod tlio following resolution : —" That , judging from tho progress and present position of tho war , it does not scum probable that tho iiiilurnindeiieo of Poland ( ho much desired Tuy tho pooplo of England ) will bo acourot ' , without which , it ia tho opinion of tlila meeting , no terms for « liwting ponco can bo effected . " Carried , aftor aovornl speeches luul boon made . Mr . Ironside , aftor a long speech , moved tho adoption ol tho following memorial ;

    a

    " To her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria . —The address of the people of Sheffield , in public meeting assembled Showeth— " That we , your Majesty ' s memorialists , have taken a deep interest in the present war with Russia , having often met to express our opinions thereupon , and having cheerfully furnished our portion of the means to prosecute the war . " That we again find it necessary to meet and calmly note the proceedings of Russia and Austria , and the present position of England . " That in 1844 , a secret , dishonest , and clandestine communication -was received from the Czar by the then Foreign Secretary , Lord Aberdeen , obviously contemplating the partition of Turkey , and that this communication was neither rejected nor returned .

    " That the existence of this clandestine proposal appears to have been kept a secret for a long time , not only from your Majesty , but from your Majesty ' s principal responsible advisers , and also from Sir Hamilton Seymour , your Majesty ' s incorruptible representative at the Court of St . Petersburg . " That in December , 1852 , the resignation of the Earl of Derby ' s Ministry took place , and on the 27 th of that month Lord Aberdeen announced in Parliament the formation of his Ministry , to the great surprise of the country , who were then totally at-a loss to discover any sufficient reason-for his appointment .

    " That on the 9 th of January following , being a fortnight after the formation of the Aberdeen Ministry , the Czar secretly renewed his clandestine and dishonest proposal , and persisted in forcing its consideration upon Sir H . Seymour , as appears by his remarkable despatches . " That in the course of the Czar ' s conversations with Sir H . Seymour , the Czar expressed the great pleasure he felt at the formation of tire Aberdeen Ministry ^ and partiour larly desired Lord Aberdeen to be assured of his regard and esteem . " That the Czar also stated that the interests of Russia

    and Austria , as regarded Turkey , were * perfectly identical . ' " That , coincident -with these occurrences , Austria was encouraging Montenegro to revolt , and when early in 1853 Onier Pacha went with 30 , 000 soldiers to reduce the insurgents there to submission , Austria sent Count Leiningen to Constantinople to say that unless this army were withdrawn Austria would regard it as a declaration of war , on the pretence that Omer Pacha was too hear the Austrian frontiers . " That as the Sultan knew Russia was in the background , and as he was totally unsupported by England , lie was compelled to yield to the Austrian demand , and allow the integrity of his empire to be thus violated . " That immediately- after this transaction , Austria sent 30 000 soldiers to the Turkish frontier , thereby weakening the strength of the Sultan to cope with Russia by 50 , 000 soldiers , which were necessary to keep the Austrians in chock .

    " That the Czar then sent Menachikoff to Constantinople with his insolent demands , which were indignantly rejected . " That notwithstanding these and other similar facts , which were officially brought to the knowledge of your Majesty ' s Ministers , they repeatedly assured the country that the designs of the Czar wero . honourable , and that there was no reason to doubt his word , nor that of his representative at the English court , although the Ministry were then perfectly aware of Sir H . Seymour ' s despatches . " That the Ministry permitted the brutal massacre at Sinope , withheld tlio Sultan for along time from chastising Russia , when he had shown his superiority by the victory of Oltenitza , and when the just and righteous indignation of the English tuition , could no longer bo repressed , tho Ministry advised a declaration of war against Russia to be made , and

    your Majesty ' s solemnly announced purpose was to repress the aggressive spirit of Russia . " That instead of tlio Ministry- having taken steps for the honest accomplishment of that purpose , they wasted months in fruitless and tortuous diplomatic negotiations—bombarded Odessa , not because we wero at war with Russia , but becnuso a flag of truce had been fired uyon—permitted the Sultan , unaided , to accomplish tho glorious events of Silistria and Giurgovo , and to . drive tho Russians out of tho Principalities —wasted ai whole season in the Baltic by taking Boinarsund , simply to evacuate it , instead of capturing Riga , and thereby causing the heart of tho Polish nation to beat high with hopes of deliverance—declined tho proffered aid of the Polos to assist in tho struggle , and finally have used their influence to compel the Sultan to sien a convention which permits

    Austria to occupy tho Principalities so nobly recovered by them from tho wicked grasp of his enemies . " That this Austrian occupation is tho more scandalous from tho fact ; that Austria is not at war with Mus » iu , and avowedly and pertinaciously refuses to declare war until Russia js thoroughly beaten , when there will bo no occasion for tho help of Austria , but when sho will have a voice in tho conditions of peace , and nuino her own terms for tho evacuation of tho Principalities . " Thnb some months ago we mot togother to petition Parliament to take measures for the rcBtyration of Poland , » 8 one of tho principal means of prosecuting tho war in a really efficient manner , and of securing tonna of a lasting and honourable peace , to which opinion wo still adhoro , and

    wo invited Louis Kossuth to attend our mooting . " That , shortly after , a aimilar meeting waa hold in Nottingham , but tho Puko of Newcastle declined to preeent tho petition of tho meeting , in a letter wherein ho laid down in oltbct tho unwarrantable and unconstitutional doctrine that tho people hud nothing to do with" tho conduct of tho war . 41 That about tho aamo time Lord Westmoreland gave what wore termed satisfactory explanations * to Austria respecting tho ro-appoarnnco of Kossuth in public . " Tlmt theaa , with many other factB liavo aroused our gruvo Huflpieionn tlmt unless n prompt eliango bo nuulu , tho honour and tho integrity of England will bo Hucrinoed , « nd her oxititoneo perilled , " Tlmt wo especially protest a £ ninnl any alliance whatever with Auwtria , for th © reiiNOim lieieiu ntatod . urnongrit others , ttnd cannot but regard her present occupation of tho

    principalities as in the highest degree dishonourable to England and fatal to the peace of Europe . " That under these circumstances we regret to find it our duty to communicate to your most gracious Majesty onr entire want of confidence in the present administration for the conduct of the war , and to entreat your Majesty to consider whether it is not imperatively necessary to call to your Majesty ' s councils men who will act honestly , vigorously , and unanimously , and carry on tLe present war in accordance with the wishes of the nation . " And your Majesty's memorialists as ia duty bound will ever pray . "

    Mr . Bagshaw seconded the proposition . Mr . Parks came forward to speak , but the mayor said he had made speeches enough ; and after he had occasioned some trouble he gave way . Mr . John Wilson ( grinder ) remarked that Mr . Ironside had undertaken to prove everything that the memorial contained ; but it was not altogether in accordance with facts , Mr . Ironside ' s facts and his reasons did not agree . He said that England compelled Turkey to consent to the Austrian occupation of the Principalities ; but was not that agreement made by Austria and Turkey , as two independent nations , and then submitted to England and France ? The memorial stated that Omer Pacha drove the Russians out of the Principalities ; but that was not the fact . Then as to Austria not having declared war against Russia—why

    Austria had a perfect right , under the agreement , to occupy the Principalities without declaring war . ( "iVo , no" ) The agreement between Austria and the Porte was , that Austria was to make Russia leave the Principalities by force , if not otherwise . Well , Russia has left the Principalities So far Austria ' s agreement has been fulfilled . Whether Austria will go the lengths of the Western Powers is another thing . Theii as to the sweeping charges made in the memorial against Ministers . It was Unfortunate that Parliament was not assembled , ( jtir . Ironside : " 2 / ear , hear . " ) Much of what had been said to-night was a repetition of what had been said in the House of Commons and refuted . Mr . Ironside argued that because Lord Aberdeen was a friend of Nicholas in 1844 therefore he is his friend now . There was a gentleman now on the platform that was once a great friend

    of Mr . Ironside , but they have long been at daggers' points . ( JLaughier . ) And although Nicholas said that the policy of Russia and Austria was one , it did not follow that it was so . If that assertion were true , \ rliy had there been so many diplomatists lately at Vienna , and why dij Count Nesselrode upbraid Austria witn ingratitude ? Moreover , Nicholas's suggestion made in 1844 was not agreed to by Lord Aberdeen . Alderman Carr ' s opinions were doubtless sincere ; but it should be remembered that Government has a great deal more information on the matters in question than is j ; os - sessed by the public . Was no inference to be drawn from the unpreeedentedly great , preparations thafhad been made in opposition to Russia ? He was desirous to see Poland free :

    still it came with a bad grace from us to complain of partit ionments . It appeared as if some gentlemen , in their zeal for war , cared little for the sacrifice of human life , and that they v , oulil have blindly followed Pitt , Castlereagh , and Perciral in tlieublind prosecution of the war in which in their days the country was embroiled ; There had been a great descent on Russian territory by the Allied Powers , and this was at variance with the supposition that no harm to Russia was intended . There was much in the memorial with which hp could not concur , particularly in the censure of Government . It should be remembered that both the Tories and the Ki « licals had evinced their coniidence in the Government , and they had had as good opportunities of gaining information us Mr . Ironside .

    Mr . Buckley ( a shoemnker ) wished to turn the attention of the mooting to the grievances of Ireland , but the mayor declined to allow the attention of tho meeting to bo diverted to irrelevant topics . Mr . Wostenhohne said there was much in the memorial of which ho approved , but there were several things in it that could not be proved to be correct . Let the mover confirm the statement that in 1814 secret diplomatic correspondence took place between Kussia nnd Lord Aberdeen of which Sir II . Seymour was ignorant . Tho next was a fearful charge . It was that the English connived at the massacre of Sinope . ( Tlio mayor : That , at my request , lins been struck out . ) Then let Mr . Ironside provo that England impeded the operations of the Turks against the Russians , uxul wero opposed to tho latter nation being aided by a l ' olisli legion . If those averments of tho memorial wero not true , let them be struck out . Mr . Ironside , after remarking that Mr . Attwood luul been

    invited to the meeting by tho committee , said lie whs more than ever surprised at tho conduct of tho gentlemen who had taken pait in this meeting . Tho committee who decided to have tills meoting appointed a sub-committee , wlio determined on tho resolutions to be submitted . Ho was not a member of that sub-commit tec ; but ho supposed that Mr . Wpstcnholmo , lieing n member , know all about thi's-u resolutions and tlio address to tho Quoon , aind yet Mr , Wostenhohne now called on him to provo certain statements contained in tlmt address which ho was called on to move . ( A /> - plause . ) The fin > t tiling tlmt lie would refer to was tlio observation of Mr . Wilson , that tho Engli » U Ministry luul mted tlielr influence to compel Aubtriu U > keep out of the Principalities ) . Mr . Wilson : My observation wi \ s that tlio Sultan signal it without compulsion , and that tho Briliah Government approved . Mr . Ironsido : Doos Mr . Wilson beliovo now , in lib honrt , that the Sultan was not uowpolloil to high that convention ? Mr . Wilson : Yen .

    Mr . Ironsidui Then 1 can only pily Mr . Wilson . Every ono knows that every quenlion of that wort wns submitted to tho four ninbuHBudoi'd at Countanlinoplo ; ami tho rannon why England vnm not h . party to tlutt convention ia , that mIio ( lured not commit , l £ nglitth people to it , bomuso if stlio bad ilono bo it would huvo niinisd euch n fouling of horror in England tlmt tho Mlntatry would havo boon ouutod , and any RliniHtry tlmt midit havo uttumptod it . Tho other objoctioiia of Mr . Wostonholino wore , Hint tho Knclittlr Ministry liatl hold tho tfultun « long time from oluiHtloitig tlio llwa ' uwo .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 30, 1854, page 916, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2058/page/4/