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Mr. Cobden arrived in Liverpool on Wednesday from America, his friends had prepared for him a hearty welcome, and cheered him as soon as he was visible on the deck of the Indian. The Liberal party drew up an address and headed by Mr. William Brown carried it to the Adelphi Hotel, and there presented it. Mr. Cobden was congratulated on his safe return, and a hope was expressed that he would not hesitate to take the post offered to him in the Cabinet. Mr. Cobden began his reply thus- " Gentlemen of Liverpool—I have just stepped ashore from the steamer which brought me from America ; having had a somewhat difficult, though not lengthened passage, and being one of the worst sailors in the world, I was so much affected by sea sickness that my head is still swimming with the effects of the voyage. Being utterly unacquainted with the state of po- litics in this country, having not seen a newspaper, until the pilot came on board, for the last twenty-six days, it would be presumptuous in me to at- tempt to offer any lengthened remarks on this occasion."
He spoke of the "touching kindness, the numberless courtesies," he had met with in America. He cold not have gone further from home and have felt himself less abroad.
"I was certainly not aware of the number of any friends until I went to America, and I take this opportunity of tendering to those on the other side of the Atlantic my warmest tribute of gratitude. With regard to the ope- ration of free trade, I take it that the reception I met with in America, particularly in the remoter Western States, which are more devoted to the production of grain and provisions adapted for European markets, may be taken as a proof of the manner in which these measures have been appre- ciated in that remote region. I have not the least doubt in the world that the views which were always expressed by my friend on my left (Mr. Brown) with regard to the effects which would be produced in Amen= by the repeal of our corn laws have been amply realized, and that we have made strong and fast friends, and bound them in ties of interest which will ever make them the allies and partisans of peace between America and England. From the opportunities I have had of observing the tendency of opinion in America, I come back with the belief that there is a more cordial feeling of attachment between the old and new country than the ordinary channels of public opinion enable us to appreciate. The Americans and the English seem to me to occupy the same position to each other which it was stated Goldsmith had towards Dr. Johnson. The gruff old doctor liked to scold Goldsmith himself, but would never allow anybody else to scold him without taking his part ; and I have no doubt, from what I have seen in my travels in the United States, that were it possible that England should find herself in a position where she was hard pressed by enemies in Europe —give her a good cause, and give her a necessity for help, and I have no doubt in the world that nothing would prevent in such an emergency the great bulk of the population in the United States hurrying to the rescue of the old mother country. (Loud applause.) I do not say this with any idea that we are likely to need that help. I think England is strong enough to hold her own, and that is the opinion in America.'
Mr. Cobden declared himself to be in favour of strict neutrality under all circumstances, except where our interests are directly menaced. Ile did not flinch from stating what he meant by neutrality. "I observe that there is a great clamour among certain parts of the popu- lation of Germany for war with France in defence of _Austria, and such States as Bavaria, and perhaps Hanover—the most backward States—seem to be anxious of precipitating that great confederation into this European strife ; but I would like the English people to give the portion of the Ger- man population to understand distinctly that if they commence an attack upon Louis Napoleon this country will not come to their help if they are beaten. I don't look with so much hopefulness myself as some do as to the effects of the war upon the destinies of the Italian people ; but my sympathies are wholly with the Italians, and, moreover, I think, were we placed in their position, we should not be very scrupulous as to the source of getting assistance to rid ourselves of our oppressors. When the Americans, in their struggle with the old country, accepted the services of Louis XVI., who was quite as despotic a Sovereign as Louis Napoleon, I think the Italians may be excused for looking to the other aide of the Alps for assistance in throwing off the yoke of the Austrians. With regard to this struggle, wherever I have been, whether in the United States or Canada, I have found but one opinion, and that is one of sympathy with the Italian people, and a hearty good wish for the success of the French arms ; at the same time, it is coupled with the belief that there is nothing in the strife which is now raging on that bloody arena which can in any way prove inimical to the inte- rests of England, and I may add what I have heard the inhabitants of the United States say—they look with some dread on the amount of preparation which is making in England, for the purpose, as is said by those gentlemen who have been speaking in public—' for the purpose of meeting any even- tualities." Eventualities' is the word I see sometimes used. Now the opinion in the United States, is that war between two great Powers on the Continent does not involve danger to England more than if they were at peace, and keeping their armies unemployed. I once heard an opinion expressed in America to this effect If I were in a merchant vessel and saw two pirates, I should feel much more at ease if those pirates were fighting each other than if they were standing aloof, ready to be down upon me.'' (Laughter and cheers.)
As to taking office Mr. Cobden was very. reserved. Until the pilot went on board that morning he did not know that anything had happened— that a new Government was formed. "I have a letter in my pocket from Lord Palmerston, written in a most frank and courteous spirit, offering me the appointment of President of the Board of Trade. I think the answer to
the letter is due to his Lordship in the first place. All I can say is that the answer which I shall send to that will be founded entirely upon what I believe to be the interest of the public in this question. I will take the course which I believe will be most conducive to the interests of the public in that respect, and in doing so I feel that I shall have the friendly inter- pretation of the gentlemen I see around me in whatever may be the course I shall feel bound to take."
Addresses were also presented to Mr. Cobden, by the Financial Reform Association, and by the Peace Society. In reply to the latter he said he was not to be charged with any desire to see England thrown upon the mercy or forbearance of any Power on earth ; and, to prevent himself being misunderstood, he had no hesitation in saying that he would rather see another national debt as large as the present than see Eng- land occupied for a month by a French army, even though that army came as professed friends. He had a religious, a moral abhorrence of war, and also an intellectual repugnance to it ; for it was the most stu- pid, as well as the most sinful, of all devices by which to settle national difficulties. He belived the time would come when public opinion would be strong enough to put under restraint any nation which should wish to resort to such a stupid course.
Several handsome testimonials—among them 2000 guineas in a purse —were presented on Thursday to Dr. Hook, now Dean of Chichester, by the people of Leeds ; and a purse of 270/. to Mrs. Hook. The scene in the Town Hall was very striking, as each deputation brought up its souvenir.
Last week, Dr. Humphreys, the "popular" master of the Cheltenham Grammar School, tendered his resignation of the office on account of pecu- niary difficulties, and left Cheltenham on a visit, as he said, to some rela- tives in Derbyshire, with the view of enlisting their sympathy to extricate him from his difficulties. In a day or two he wrote to Mrs. Humphreys, whom he left behind him at Cheltenham, from Liverpool, representing that he had been disappointed in his expectations of obtaining assistance, and that he should be detained from her a few days longer. By the next post Mrs. Humphreys received a letter from the very friends in Derbyshire whom her husband had represented he was visiting, inviting her and Dr. Humphreys to visit them. This summed her suspcions ; she consulted her friends inquiries were instituted, and Mrs. Humphreys proceeded to Liver- pool. Th inere she ascertained that he had taken a passage for Amerka in an assumed name with a married woman, the wife of one of his largest credi- tors in Cheltenham, and the mother of eight children ; he himself having six. It seems he had sent large quantities of luggage to Liverpool, in anti- cipation of his departure. On the morning of his departure for Liverpool, he obtained from Mrs. Humphreys her watch and all the money she had, and left her and her children totally unprovided for. Dr. Humphreys had moved in the first circles, and made large professions of religion and morality.
Four of the men supposed to have been engaged in the cowardly and brutal outrage on a woman in Staffordshire have been committed for trial.
The Reading station of the South Eastern railway was destroyed by fire on Sunday. Great injury has been done to the property of the Company, but much was saved.
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