Cht Vrouituto.

The close of the Peace Conference at Manchester, on Friday, brought an immense meeting to the Free-trade Hall. The principal speakers, indeed with two or three minor exceptions the only speaker; were Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Cobden, and Mr. Bright. Before the oratory began, Mr. George Wilson announced from the chair that already 45251. had been subscribed towards the 10,0001. intended to be raised for the pur- poses of the new agitation. The Reverend John Burnet moved and carried a resolution in favour of a close alliance with France ; and then Mr. Milner Gibson was called upon for a speech.

Mr. Gibson's argument went to show, that although the Peace party were a minority, yet there was every hope of soon becoming a majority. They must not abandon that old constitutional doctrine which called upon them to watch with jealousy the growth of naval and military armaments. In support of the hobgoblin cry about the hostile intentions of France not one single fact had been adduced. There never was a time when the prospects of peace were so encouraging as now. "They talk of Cherbourg. Well, what of Cherbourg? People fancy, I suppose, that Cherbourg is something that may come here. Why, I say that the guns of Cherbourg cannot reach to England ; and however many guns or batteries may be erected at Cherbourg, unless you go there they will not interfere with you. But there is a great work at Cherbourg, and which, in point of fact, has formed a great item of French expenditure for many years, in reference to the port ; and that is the breakwater of Cherbourg. That is a great work, for the purpose of preventing the sea, in gales of wind, from rendering the anchorage insecure. I know Cherbourg well. I have seen the English union jack and the American stars all glad to take shelter from the inclemency of the weather under this breakwater of Cherbourg ; and I for one, instead of viewing all these works with jealousy, or with a feeling that it is something done to injure us, I view that great work as one in which the world has an interest ; and I say, the commerce of all mankind, which may pass through the Channel, ought to thank that great country for having, at enormous cost, constructed a work which enables merchant- ships to find a secure anchorage when they might otherwise be stranded upon a rocky and dangerous shore. That really is the truth with regard to the works at Cherbourg. But now it is the fashion to put some unworthy construction upon everything that is done. I wonder that they do not say that every fishing-boat—although the French are very fond of fish—must have been meant to bring men over to invade England. Why, they say that the line of packets to communicate between France and America can really have no commercial object in view; that it is merely the mask in order to build an additional number of war-steamers for the purpose of landing sol- diers in this country. How absurd ! Have not we subsidized great companies, actually called upon them to build vessels suited for war purposes, to carry the mails to the West Indies and the United States, and so forth ? Has not America done the same ? But the moment France presumes to have a line, 'Oh, it can have no other object but to invade England !' I believe that Cherbourg, of which I was speaking, if there is to be a line of large steamers, drawing much water, trading between France and the United States, is the only place on the French coast in the Channel from and to which those steamers can with safety be made to depart and to come; for this simple reason, that it is a roadstead that can be entered in all weather during day or night, and its communications with Paris are likely to be soon com- pleted. I know Cherbourg well, and it is just as proper a place for French steamers to start from, in communication with the Western world, as it is natural for our steamers to start from the inside of the Isle of Wight, instead of starting from some pier harbour, or some intricate river which is encumbered with sands and dangers." Mr. Cobden, after a little coquetry about its being unbecoming in him to make many observations, proceeded at great length to develop the views he has elsewhere expressed in print, adding some new touches. He would give a word of advice to Louis Napoleon ; and no doubt he should be accused of being the " secret ally," the "confederate of the Emperor of the French," for so doing. " If I were Louis Napoleon, I would treat this cry in a way that would lift him up upon a moral pedestal in spite of his antecedents—that would give him the advantage over all the crowned heads and governments of Europe. I would invite a conference of the representatives of all the great powers of Europe to see if they could not agree to effect a mutual reduction of their armaments. If he were to do so—shall I speak out my honest convictions ?—I say, my firm and con- scientious conviction is, that if he were to invite such a conference as I have suggested to meet him on this question, there is not an executive Govern- ment in all Europe which would enter upon such a conference as that with less of sincerity and less of earnestness to make the discussion a reality, and to enable it to effect the object desired, than the aristocratic Government of England. And that is coming to the point—that is dealing with the matter as we must deal with it. I say you have too many people in high quarters interested in, this system." He laid great stress on the old allegation that the military-club interest got up this cry of French invasion, and kept up our large military and naval expenditure. To meet and overcome them, the Peace party must appeal to the universal public, and deluge the country with tracts and publications.

Assuming that there is a disposition to "pitch into France," Mr. Cobden said he had heard a great deal of trash talked, and seen more written, as to what we might expect from the United States if we declare war with France. " Don't deceive yourselves. America is not corning to put herself in alliance with the Anglo-Saxon race to make war with France. If you go to war with France, I tell you what the United States will do : the first thing they will do will be to assume a very bold attitude, and require you instantly to abandon that right of search which was claimed and exercised during the last war, and was left an open question even at the peace. Now you will be obliged in- stantly to renounce the right of visiting American vessels. America will no longer allow you, with her tonnage now nearly equal to your own, to do what you did forty-five years ago with impunity : and what will be the con- sequence ? America will carry on the commerce of Europe. Do you think, with your navigation-laws repealed,—now I invite the merchants of Liver- pool, whose organs talk so glibly of war, to pay attention to what I say,— do you su..ose that, with the navigation-laws repealed, if there is a war be- wersk nd England, and our narrow seas swarm, as they will, with -44 Al' letters of mark, many and many a stout steamer built on coming over here with letters of mark to seize as prizes ,g —do you suppose that, under such circumstances,

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4 anybody will be such a fool as to send one ounce of freight under the English flag ? Would not the insurance be some 20 or 30 per cent more than the insurance of some American ship ? and who in the world, do you think, could carry on competition in any commodities if he had to pay 20 or 30 per cent more than those who brought their goods in any foreign ship ? What must be the effect instantly of war ? Your ships must leave your harbours, and go and enter themselves and get registered either as American ships, or Dutch ships, or Hamburg ships, and be anything but English ships : then you may bring your commodities here under some other flag ; and what will become of the shipwrights of Liverpool when all the English ships are gone, and no others building ? They may follow the ships, or they may go to the workhouse. That is what will follow a war ; that is what will come of the ' high hand,' and pitching into France,' as the saying is. Don't listen to those papers which talk about pitching into' France, and don't delude your- selves with the idea that the United States will ever come to help the Eng- lish in any war that may be carried on. The Americans are too shrewd to fight other people's battles; when you find them fighting it will be for them- selves."

Mr. Cobden stated the political course he intends to take. He will hold no allegiance to a Government that takes another step towards the increase of our armaments; he will do his utmost to turn out any Government taking that course, and give notice to its successor that they may expect the same terms from him. He said he had not the slightest hostility to the pre- sent Government. He should not know Lord Aberdeen if he met him in Pall Mall; but he had always had a favourable opinion of him, as a "sen- sible man, capable of carrying out his convictions even at a temporary sacri- fice." He quoted a speech Lord Aberdeen delivered in 1847, stating that he could not be "at ease with regard to the stability of peace until he saw a great reduction in the military establishments of Europe." " Well, knowing, gentlemen, what the convictions of Lord Aberdeen are, and what those of the late Sir Robert Peel were, and, fortunately, having those opinions recorded before this meeting took place or this agitation was ripened to its present height, and therefore having a Minister whose opinions have gone before this agitation and cannot be said to have been pressed into our service by either fear or hope, I think that he, of all men, is the states- man who can with propriety take our object in hand. And what a glorious opportunity for such a work ! What do we ask him to do ? To effect a com- plete revolution in the feelings and relationships of two of the greatest coun- tries in the world. We ask him to put an end to the hatred and disaffection which exist between the two countries ; we ask him to employ his diplo- matists to aid in mitigating the burdens of their countrymen; we ask him to enter upon a new path, and probably the only path open to him by which fame and honour can be achieved for his name ; and we say, if he takes that course, although interest may be opposed to him—though powerful parties may be opposed to him—though the professions may be opposed to him—ay, and although aristocratic feeling should oppose him—that there is a gua- rantee enough in this ball, that if he will take the right step he may depend upon it that we will enable him to succeed." He advised his auditors, when they returned home, to establish organizations, and let their resentment be felt at the poll whenever any Member of the present House of Commons voted for increased armaments of any kind. (Prolonged cheers.) Mr. Bright was eloquent on the expensiveness of war, and he made a calculation of the number of families who might have been supplied with houses out of the 1,000,000,000/. expended during the twenty-two years of the last war.

That sum might have given 4,000,000 working-men comfortable dwelling- houses ; and that would be a more comfortable thing to look at than all our victories. Why, the great and glorious war had swallowed up six Lance- shires ; and what were its results ? " Was freedom established in Europe ? Europe has been in chains ever since. Was freedom secured and established in England ? For forty years it stifled the cry for freedom, and prevented the carrying out of those measures of reform which we obtained in 1832. It landed Europe in tyranny not better than that which it overthrew; and it landed us in an amount of debt which we yet bear the burden of,—so large is it, that the most enthusiastic and honourable payer of everything that he owes has no notion whatever that the people of England will ever discharge it. We were always told that the Duke of Wellington was the saviour of his country, and that the battle of Waterloo secured the liberties of England and the peace of Europe. Well, it is a very odd sort of security which you got in the year 1815, which requires that you should pay some twelve or six- teen millions per annum for the next forty years to secure it, and at the end of the forty years the sixteen million is not enough, and those who said that the peace of the country was secured say that we are utterly defenceless, and must now begin to make ourselves secure. If he were a Minister, instead of adding to our expenditure, he would ascertain whether all our weapons of destruction are made after the most improved model; whether our ships could really sail or not; "I would take care that half the ships that were built should not be cut athwart that they might be lengthened—that some should not have the screw, and afterwards the screw taken out and the paddle- wheel substituted." Then, " with regard to those Admirals "—why, a dis- tinguished Admiral had admitted that Mr. Gibson was as well qualified to take one of the Queen's ships round the world as most captains in the ser- vice. (Cheers and laughter.)

Mr. Bright argued against sending troops to defend the Colonies, and to engage in unjust Eastern and African wars. He censured the press for its provocative writing on French affairs ; insisted on the maintenance of per- fect neutrality in regard to the internal affairs of other nations, and drew an alarming picture of the dire consequences of war to England. After a few words from Mr. Carter the Member for Tavistock, who voted against the grant to defray the expenses of the Wellington funeral, the great meeting broke up, and the Conference was at an end.

During his recent visit to Oxford, Mr. Gladstone was entertained at luncheon, in Balliol Hall, by Mr. Woollcombe, Mr. Lake, and Mr. Wall, gentlemen holding high offices in the College and University. On this occasion Mr. Gladstone's health was proposed ; and, breaking through the usual etiquette, which imposes silence on a Member with regard to his constituents, he made some remarks on University Reform. There were points now on which he thought that the advances made by the University were behind what the nation had learnt to expect and public opinion to demand. He considered that there was a body of men here in whom the country had confidence, and whom it regarded with feelings of respect and gratitude—the resident body of the University. He would ven- ture to say, that if the House of Commons afforded any criterion of public opinion, that opinion was, on the whole, friendly and respectful towards the University ; but that the retaining of that confidence and respect depended much on the course now taken by the University itself. There were re- sources, pecuniary and moral and intellectual resources, which were not brought to bear on the proper work of the University, and which might be brought to bear upon it by such improvements as had already been com- menced in some of the Colleges. With respect to that within whose walls they were assembled, he could say with satisfaction that he believed it wcs doing nearly the utmost that could be expected from the means it possessed. But it was well known that in other cases there were large resources not

hitherto so usefully applied; and he trusted that all would cooperate in the endeavour to justify themselves in the eyes of the country by making the best use of their means for the advancement of education. If the Univer- sity would do its duty in this respect, especially by extending its advantages to more of those classes it now receives, and to as many as may be prac- ticable of other classes, who partake less of its benefits at present, he felt confident that the country and the Parliament of England would maintain its independence, and would only desire that it should continue to put in practice those fundamental principles on which it had ever hitherto worked, of the authoritative inculcation of religious truth, and something like a do- mestic superintendence of pupils. But the continuance of public confidence depended on the course now pursued by the University. For himself, how- ever he might fail of his duty as the representative of the University, it could not be for want of an affectionate regard for its interests.

Mr. Woollcombe observed, that he could not wish to claim for Balliol alone the praise awarded to it by Mr. Gladstone. He believed that all our Colleges are desirous of improvement, although those to which the wis- dom of our ancestors had given the greatest freedom of constitution are na- turally the most advanced. He hoped that Parliament would see the ne- cessity of giving time to a body constituted like this University for maturing schemes of reform, which must in great part be carried out singly in and by the several Colleges, and would leave us to ourselves at least until we had had a fair trial as to what we could do. He felt sure that the best and most solid improvements would be effected in this way.

The annual meeting of the Holmfirth Mechanics Institution, which took place on Wednesday, exhibited Mr. Cobden as a lion. In the ad- dress which he delivered to the members, he laboriously affected the jo- cose —a line of character rather unsuitable to the Member for the West

"Higher wages!" cry the labourers of South Wiltshire. At Barford, Codford, and Fovant, they have struck for an advance of two shillings,— that is, from seven shillings to nine ; and a settlement on Friday evening. The farmers resist ; the peasants go for nine shillings or nothing. On Monday, nearly two hundred labourers marched from farm to farm stating their case, and behaving with propriety and good sense. The Reverend Mr. Waldegrave, Vicar of Barford, was called in to mediate ; and he pro- posed to split the difference, urging the men to accept a uniform rate, of eight shillings a week. The men declined.

Another instance of the movement for a rise, now going on everywhere, occurred at Devonport, on Monday. A meeting of shipwrights engaged in the Government Dockyards was held in the Temperance Hall; and a memorial to the Admiralty was agreed to, showing that while they re- ceived only four shillings a day the shipwrights in the merchant-service get six or seven shillings a day.

Two burglars have been foiled and taken prisoners, near Birmingham, by an exhibition of pluck and perseverance not common. Mr. John Horton, farming his own land, lives at Ellitt's Hall, about ten miles from Birming- ham. He heard a noise at night, and went down-stairs undressed, with a hay-fork in his hand ; in the kitchen he saw a man taking down flitches of bacon. Mr. Horton ran at him with the fork, but missed his aim; two then closed and had a hand to hand struggle, the robber using a csp-knife, with which he repeatedly cut the farmer on the head, neck, face, and arm, but not dangerously. In the fight, the knife closed on one of the robber's fingers, and disabled him from using it. Then a fight with fiats ensued; and eventually the burglar fled. Mr. Horton ran out with a gun, and fired at a cart which he saw driving off along the road, but without hitting the men who were in it. The gallant farmer now put his horse to his gig, and drove off in pursuit of the thieves. He met a poliee-constable' a powerful

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young fellow, whom he took with him. Near Birmingham the pursuers came up with a cart. Three men jumped out of it, but the policeman knocked down one and secured him; the other two got away. A fourth man who remained in the cart was taken. In the cart were found counterpanes, blankets, and other property stolen from Mr. Horton's house. One of the men seized turned out to be the farmer's antagonist in the fight in the kitchen.

Mrs. Duffill, of Beverley, who:threw herself from a railway-carriage to es- cape from a robber, or was thrown out by him, has not survived. The man who caused her death has been committed to prison on a charge of man- slaughter.

A finely-built young man has been shot at Shoreham while engaged in com- mitting a burglary. Many robberies had recently taken place at Shoreham, the offenders going several times to the same house. At one of them a watch was kept. A noise was heard at night in a pantry. The door had been locked, and the watchers could not enter ; but through a window they called upon a man who was in the place to surrender. He scoffed at them. He was fired at twice ; the first shot did not take effect, but the second charge lodged in his side. Me got through a window, probably assisted by con- federates; but in a few minutes afterwards he was found lying dead on the ground.

The Bakewell Magistrates have fined Mr. Siddall five shillings for "tres- passing" on the Duke of Rutland's land in pursuit of game. The trespass was a peculiar one. Mr. Siddall was shooting ; he hit a bird while it was flying on his own land, but it fell upon the property of the Duke; Mr. Sid- dall stepped over a fence to get it : this the Magistrates pronounced a tres- pass, because the bird flew after it was shot.

The Reverend James Commeline, Rector of Bedmarley, in the last stage of a fatal illness had his sufferings increased by a sad accident. He was alone, reading as he lay in bed at night, the book supported on a stand; the candle set fire to the bedclothes, and when his cries brought assistance the bed was in flames. Mr. Commeline was badly burnt, and expired two days after- wards.

Six boatmen have perished on the Great West Hoyle Bank, near the mouth of the Dee. They went to the sand to examine a vessel which had been wrecked. They all left their boat, fastening it to a boat-hook thrust into the sand. As they returned from the wreck, they perceived that their boat was adrift, while the tide was rapidly covering the sand. No assistance came, and in an hour the waters closed over the ill-fated mariners.

There have been two more falls of cliffs on the South Devon Railway—the last a very extensive one. Altogether, there have recently been four falls ; and bad a train been passing at the time, the effects could hardly have failed to be appalling.

While the 12.30 train was on its way from London to Ramsgate on Tues- day, near Penshurst, the whole train except the engine left the rails. Twelve passengers received cuts and bruises, and one had to be left at Tun- bridge. The cause of the accident was not apparent.

• During a fog, a ballast-train and a luggage-train came into collision on the Midland Railway near Leicester. The people employed escaped danger- ous hurts; but a good deal of damage was done, and both lines of rails were obstructed and communication by the electric telegraph broken for a time.