Vrnttuuts.

The Chancellorof the Exchequer has been making- holiday in Wales, and enlightening his constituents on the war. Monday found- him pre- siding.over the. annual meeting of the Radnorshire. Agricultural Society, andmore communicative. than Mr. Disraeli in a similar position. It was in proposing- " the Allied Fleets and Armies " that he thus expressed his views on a year of war.

"It is now just about a year since the expedition upon which the eyes of all England and of all Europe are riveted—the expedition to Sebastopoh- sailed. That expedition was- perhaps framed' with rather sangnine views of

the posslity of success, considering the- numbers by which it was under- taken. Nevertheless, it would• have been possible for it to have succeeded very. shortly. after the landing of the Allied armies. Such success was within the ranee, rwill not say of possibility; but-of probability. The sanguine hopes-of those who contrived and ordered the expedition were not, however, fulfilled. We saw the painful spectacle of our gallant army during last winter exposed to such trials, to such hardships, and to such privations, as scarcely any civilized army was ever before exposed to. We were told that those hardships and privetronewere ins great+ measure owing to the neglect or the wantof skill in those wire guided and those who governed and pro- vided for the wants of that epoditiu.. I am- not now going to enter into -that-much-debated„ much wised., and much-controverted.tuft- tion. r will only shortly express to you my, opinien—an opinion not founded on superficial grounds—that a large portion of the: sufs ferings of' our army was owing rather to the inherent • difficulties of the expedition itself,. rather to the manner in which it WSB underr- taken, rather to - thir failure of immediate success, than. to any want: of-ability or of skillin the ihnsone who immediately superintended it. L don't mean to exculpate all the persons who were concerned in the govern- meneof that-expedition itwould have-been wonderful; after so many year': of 'peace, if they suddenly found-themselves fitted forthe greatest of military- enterprises. Izden!t- mean to say:that-they. attained that state of &Imbibe-- trative peat-Aloe which much longer experience would scarcely have- shied them to reach. I- will only-say, I feel that: those persons-wholave. bestowed so much harsh criticism on the eonducters of that expedition did- not make sufficient allowances for the difficulties which were inherent' iii the enterprise itself. After a times the-treaty inte which this country and Franca had entered-with Austriatende,red M incumbent upon us- to commence nego- tiations at Vienna, with a view to see whether,. during- the pendency of. the mar, while the siege-was still-carried on before the walls-of Sebastopol, some- means could not be found which should put an end to hostilities. The course Which was taken-by this country in the negotiations at Vienna was pursuedwith steadiness and-consistencythroughout. No change took place in the terms which' were offered by this country and,France. to Russia. Those terms-were re-. fused, and others-were offered. on the part of Russia. The result of those conferences. wae, that her Majesty's .vernment; looking at. the oircurn- steaces of the contending powers—to the position of the armies-at.Sebas- topol,,and to the-duty, which they owed to their country—thought. DO good would arise from- their continuance; and they were therefore broken oft': Siete that time, the war with-Russia has been prosecuted with; all.the gear which this country4. with its great resources, could coramands. in hasi been prosecuted with all these more extensive military resourcesvhich the great population and the great military organization of France puts at the. disposal of her Government; and- the result- we all know. The great fortress—the' object' of' a year'i contention between the great powers of' Europe—has fallen : and the fleets the arsenals, and the great military preparations of Russia, are in: the hands. of the Allies. We; may now- ask, whether- the- terms- which we, in combination with France,. offered to Russia, were. not. fair and_ reasonable terms ; and whether it would-not have been for the interest of that haughty and aggressive power rattiertn have'accepted those terms than to have waited the event winch has nowheen developed. rhave seen with great regret, diming the last week,. the comments which have been made by various critics-of our own country. on the share which. our gallant army has borne in the attack upon Sebas- topol. We do not grudge the laurels which France has deservedly earned in the assault of that place. There has been no rivalry, no unseemly com- petition between the two armies ;- it has been coliperanon„ and net jealousy or rivalry. The most generous, the most noble feelings, have been exhibited" by the armies to each other—not only by the men but by the generals and, officers. But while we willingly recognize the- glory and honour of Franca in- the achievements which placed the. tower of Malakoff, thekey to the fortress, in the hands of the French attacking party, we must not' allow unfair disparagement' to- be thrown upon. our- own army. The remarks to which I have alluded have not come from the French aides. On the contrary, .L read. with satisfeetion in a newspaper the remarks of a French military critio, in-which he said that the English troops had in the attack on the Great Baden done all that- troops could by passibility accomplish. Can anybody doubt that our army has from the beginning shown the greatest gallantry, the greatest- hardihood and enterprise on all occasions, whether offensive or defensive ?- We must wait for the more detailed official accounts,- hereafter to be sent by the Generals, before we are in a. positionto pass any. judgement of condemnation on our own gallant troops. We mush remember that the attack which they made effected-a powerful diversion of the-enemy, and to abertain extent assisted, the French in maintaining that portion of the works which they had-gained, and that at the close of the day the Red= was in the possession of the Allies. Nothing can more dishearten a gallant' army at' a distance from our shores than captious and censorious critioistoso when they feel they have shed their best blood in the defence of their. couutry., I trust that the best feelings of the country will be enlisted. an Chem behalf.. and that-everything we can do in the way of admiration and sympathy will be willingly bestowed upon them." Two of the Herefordshire Members, Mr. King King and Captain Ian- bury; were present at the dinner of-the Ledbury Agricultural Society last week. Mr. King said; lie did not wish- war prices to last fer ever ; but the-farmers-are pocketing large gaina it is through no fault of then-5 but arises from circumstances over which they have no control. They am now reaping advantages-which may be- set against the adverse circum-

stances under which they laboured some years. ago. Captain Hanbury spoke on- the same theme- - " In time of war, when trade declines, land asserts its power. When trade flourishes, the land is generally depressed ; but in time of war land

maintains its own. A few years ago, land was considered to be a worse in- vestment than a commission in the Army, which was the worst of all invest- ments. Under present regulations, when an officer, falls in the service, of his country, the price of his commission falls to the State ; a regulation which he trusted to see reformed."-

ColoneLRushout addreased.his constituents at the meeting of Evesham Agricultural Society, last week. He discoursed on the Newspaper. Stamp Repeal Act, the 'Limited Liability Ant, and administrative reform. He thought that administrative: reform use more in the power of the constituency than they seem to think. He had not received any solici- tations-from his constituents,. which might have arisen- probably from the fact that always being in opposition, and' thus, having no places to give away, they thought application to him would be useless.

The people of Rochdale, moved.by esteem for Mr. Sharman Crawford, their late representative, presented hint with a testimonial at a public meeting on Wednesday. Mi. hliall, the present Member for Rochdale, and Mn. Bright, Member for Manchester, improved the occasion by de- livering speeches against the war—not forgetting the "brawlers of the newspaper press.' Me. Bright proposed the plan of recruitment he would adopt if he could bring himself to be Minister of War- 'He-would do as Russia, Austria, and Prussia do : he would have a fair conscription, by which, instead of the- recruiting.sergeant kidnapping mere lads; _he would draw men from the working, middle, and trading classes; so that the military honour of the country should not be confided, to mere lads, quite incompetent to perform the duties required: of them, but he would haverexery man take his honest 'therein doing the country's work ; and if they then thought the sustentation. of Turkey and the humiliation of Russia were objects worthy of that sacrifice, the war. might be carried on with be-- coming vigour. He would have men chosen for the army as they were for juries or the public service„, and he would take them from. eighteen to fifty years of age at least;

. The friends and supporters of Reformatory institutions. gave. 2. public dinner; at Dee's Hotel, Birmingham,. on_ Wednesday, in aid of the War- wickshire and Birmingham Reformatory Institution. The. gathering.waa

remarkable more forthe notable persons, composing it than for the no- velty of the speeches made after the removal of the cloth. Among them were Sir Eardley Wilmot, in the chair ;.. Lord Calthorpe, Lord Leigh, Lord Lyttelton, Mr. Adeeriey,. Mr. Monate= Milues, the: Birmingham and Warwickshire Members, the Reverend Sydney Turner, the Reverend Angell James the Archdeacon of Coventry, and M. Demetz, the founder Of the celebraled. Frenchinstitutien of Mettray. The health of the last- named gentleman, was. proposed by Lord Lytteltori;. who, in eulogizing the establishment at Mettray,, and.proposing.the Continental institutions as model's, remarked that "statistics-already proved a_diminutionin crime in consequence of their infleenee." M. Demetz spoke in French, to this effect- - " Iscatenly know hew-to-thank you for the interest' you express in the colony of Mettray, and the good-will you have shown to its-directors I have readily accepted the invitation with' which your have honoured me, in the hope of both learning and imparting something that may be useful, so that our two countries may profit by our common labour. That free trade. about which some still doubt in reference to commercial iuterests; can- find nothing but approvers when it concerns the interchange of thoughts and views-which may be useful-to society and to mankind. In the fair domain of benevolence we are but one. people. The customhouse and the frontier are unknown. Leaked as. we already- are in policy, let us unite ourselves together by the still more lasting bonds of charity ; and what sweeter application of that virtue can there be than the helping, of the young ? It. matters not to what class they may belong ; if they have shown perverted dispositions, there is the more reason to assist them. To despair of the young is to despair of mankind. Let us despair of none, It under many circumstances- we here not fully. succeeded in our efforts, it is perhaps. because we have not done all that was needed to:in- sure success. Let, us prove to the.sseptic, by our zeal, that when the im- provement of man is in. question, to be willing is. to be able,, if we only will with a deeply devoted heart, and that he will:notshriok from any sacri- fice where the training of the child., is concerned. No sacrifiee can be more painful The least offering may do something to eradicate a vice or to ifwaken a virtue. It is the saying- of a great statesman, that 'on the good

training of the young depends the-prosperity of the state.' May all success attend the work you. have here in. hand, and- extend it more and more widely ; and may the good providence of God,ginnt long life and.happiness to the earnest and devoted men who have given it their powerfulisainction and generous support."

The Friendly Societies-of Manolmeter gave a tea-party at the-Victoria Hotel on Thursday week, for the purpose of presenting an addrese to Mr. Bright, and of voting- thanks to Mr. Gibson and Mr. Sotheron for their

exertions in defeating Lord Palmeraben's Friendly Societie sBill of 18544 and' n passing the bill. of 1855. In acknowledging this compliment, Mr.

Bright, made a speech. After severely, commenting on Lord. Palmerston's bill, as having offered,, in the clauses-relating to burial societies, a scan- dalous insult to the-hundreds of thousands-who are members of, friendly societies, he turnelto other topics, more closely. connected- with the pre.- son t.

"With regard to working men who- save money, there used to be a notion that masters were under the impression that. they ought to work for less

wages. It is quite true that a man wbb has saved money could work for less wages; but he will not. He will strive to get higher wages, because, not being dependent, he can. stand before hismaster and hold out for the highest price for his labour. Rely upon it, that every capitalist who employs a large number of persons, as I do, has to consider this matter. I should- be de- lighted always to employ a man who I knew was in. the habit of putting by

five shillings &week ; for the probability is that be would be punctual and steady in his habits, as he would always-be anxious to make his little sav- ings larger: Instead of gadding about from. place to place, like others, I should expect that, so long as he was well and honestly treated in my em- ploy, I should have no expectation thet he would:be running away without notice, and getting himself and me into trouble. The best thing for a man who has capital-is; that those whom he employs shall be frugal, industrious, and independent; and any large concern carried on by. such assistance will be much better carried. our than under other. circumstances."

He looked to the habits encouraged by friendly societies, to cheap lite- rature and cheap newspapers,sis powerful means of raising-the character of the people. At the.-olose of his speech, disclaiming any intention to call in question the justice or injustice of the war he dilated on the losses it must inevitably inflict on the people. In two years, as much money has been spent, taken up in taxes from the

people, as would-have- paid a house-rent of 301. per annum for every family in the kingdom. In Manchester there were-50N houses unlet in IM3, WOO in 1854, 7000 in 18.55. If the people are willing to take the consequences, they musteuffer and' there an end. "But at least it is necessary that the people-should be so well educated and interested in public affairs as to watch narrowly what the Government does, correct it where it is wrong, and en- courage it when it is right; and notellow thirteen gentlemen who constitute her Majesty's Ministers, and the Members of the House of Lords, who have no constituents, and the Members of the House. of Commons, many of whom also are said to have no constituents, to enter upon a course of policy which may bring vast disasters upon the country, without your being able to form an opinion upon it, just as if you intrusted your fortunes to somebody in whom you might not have the greatest confidence, but- over whose conduct you could exercise no control With regard to the House of Com- mons, Lam one of those unfortunate individuals who went into the House by an unexpected accident. I have been at my post for twelve years, and no man is-able to show that during that time I have acted upon any other prin- ciplea.than those which I previously expounded, or that I have ever shown any desire to promote any other interest than that of the whole country of- which I am a citizen. My notion is, that the legislation of this great coun- try. should not be a legislation of politicians and statesmen according to their antiquated theories,, but a legislation based upon just, moral, and Christian. principles ; and being so, I-believe Governments would be perfectly secure, for the people who were well governed would generally be contented and haPPY.'' "The United Kingdom Alliance for- the total and immediate legisla- tive suppression of the liquor traffic," met at Wakefield on Wednesday,— Sir Walter Trevelyan in the chair,—and adopted a report congratulating- the members on their progress. Ix the evening, Mr. Lawrence Heyworth. M.P. presided over a crowded meeting in. the Theatre, to further the- same object.

The people of Oldham held a public meeting on Monday, convened by the Mayor, and adopted a memorial • to the Queen praying her Majesty "to grant an unconditional pardon. to Joint Frost, Zephaniah Williams, and William Jones- but more-especially to John Frost, as that unfortu- nate gentleman has expressed a strong desire to return to his native: country before he dies, being now upwards of seventy years of age."

There is- a road passing over Aldershot Common, at right angles to the range of the new artillery practising-groand. The military authorities, desire to atop up the road ; but this meets with opposition from the in- habitants of the vicinity, as the road forms one of the main lines of com- munication with the camp. The Government valuer under the Aldershot Enclosure Act has issued a notice that the road' will be stopped; and the inhabitants, with the Speaker of the House of Commons in the chair, have met and determined. to appeal. against the notice. Mr. Lefevre said it w,ould. be easy for the Government to make a road elsewhere, and at the same time carry on their military instruction without interference:

Kidderminster has built itself a music-ball, and has placed therein an organ. It is intended shortly to inaugurate-the hall by a musical festi- val; lasting two days, to raise a fund "in aid of the organ, and for the establishment of cheap. concerts for all classes." Lord Ward is to pre- side.

The shipbuilders of the Tyne are very actively engaged in buildias iron ships; two firms alone -having contracts for between thirty and forty,- The same kind of industry also flourishes in the Wear and the Tees..

The Windsor Magistrates have fined Lord Ernest Vane Si. for assaulting Mr. Nash, the lessee of the Windsor Theatre. It seems that the young Lord went behind the scenes to disport himself; that he turned off the gas and entered" the ladies' dressing-room" ; that the " oecasional prompter" en- deavoured in vein to persuade him to withdraw, "as it was net decent" for him to- remain; but that he wisely walked out when the policeman ap- peared. After this; Lord Ernest asked to speak to Mr. Nash, and taunting him with having sent for the police, flung- hue down stairs.

At Bilston and Wednesbury, two married women have each destroyed one of their children and then themselves. In one case the cause assigned is "low spirits." In the other, the woman had thoughtlessly spent some money with. which her husband. had intrusted- her; and, fearing his roe preaches, she drowned herself and her youngest child.

A body of rampant "navvies,' in a state of intoxication, have murdered- an inoansive woman at Hereford,. whasonsewhat indiscreetly interfered in &street brawl. She was struck dawn. dead at, her own.door. The brawl originated in a robbery committed-by an" unfortunate."

Anton Schurijers a foreigner' strongly. suspected of being a Russian sub- ject, has-been sentenced by. the Recorder of Hytlia to three mouths, imprison- mei* on a-charge of inciting two privates of the German Legion to desert. The Recorder distinctly intimated that in future such a misdemeanour will be followed by much heavier punishment.

A.private of the First Regiment of the British Sw1211 Legion has been stabbed. hy &comrade at Canterbury. There were eight stabs in the body of the deceased. The cause of the attack is not known, but the assassin is in custody.

Last week, a Russian subject, living at Wolverhampton, sued a Jew in the County Court, for wages. But when the complainant- admitted that he was born near Warsaw, the charge was dismissed by the Judge—the rights of &Russian in England being in abeyance in time of war.

A fraternity of swindlers has- been, discovered at- Wigan. Four brothers, Haigh, were driving a great trade by giving each other high characters as drapers' assistants. When either obtained a place, he kept it until his rob- beries compelled him to fly. They had been successful over a wider traet.in the North.

Two farmers of Yelverton, William and Sohn Cann, ordered two of their labourers to clear a corn-field of gleanere, last week. For this purpose, ropes were fastened to two horses, and they were ridden furiously across the field, so that the ropes swept everything before them. A woman, knocked down and hurt, summoned the farmers and their labourers. and the Magistrates of Yelverton fined the farmers 31. and omits, and-the labourers 9e. ed. and costs.

From a failure in the ropes of an apparatus for descending a coal-pit at Stanhill, near Blackburn, four men have been thrown to the bottom of the pit, and killed on the spot.