The Press. — London, England, 1858-06-26 00:00:00

=II % • F;~~~ .• . . BANQUET TO HER HA I TESTY'S MINISTERS. Os Wednesday night the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress enttrtained her Majesty's Ministers, the members of the Corps Diplomatique, and a brilliant company of distingnished ladies and gentlemen fel the Egyptian•hall of the Mansion-honse. The Earl and Countess of Derby and Lady Emirh Stanley were prevented from being present in cons sequence of the indisposition of the noble Premier. The Duchess of Montrose, the Countess of Malmes bury, Lady Cairns, Sir James and Lady Matheson, and Sir John and Lady Myers were also absent from indisposition ; and the Duchess of Manchester, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, the Countess of Hirdwicke, and the Earl and Countess Delawarr could not be present, having received her Majesty's commands to be iu attendance at the concert of the Royal Academy of Music, which her Majesty honoured with her presence that evening. The Chancellor of the Exchtipter was also, at the last moment, prevented from being at the dinner in con sequence of illness. The Egyptian•hall was decorated with trophies of flags of all nations and shields with banners. Among the company present were—the Lord Chancellor end Lady Chelmsford, the Turkish Am bassador and Madame dusurus, the Duke of Malakoff, French Ambassador; the B. , lgian Minister and Madame Vat) de Weyer, the Bavarian Minister and Madame de Cetto, the Marquis D'Azeglio, the Sardinian Minister, the Nettie, land: Minister, the Portuguese Minister and Countess Lavradio, the American Minister and Mrs. Dallas, the Austrian Minister and Countess Appony, the Saxon Minister, the Swedish and Norwegian Minister, Count Platen, the Danish Minister, the Marquis and Marchi•'neas of Salisbury, Baron Franckenstein, the Earl of Hard wicke and Lady Elizabeth Yorke, the Duke of Man chester, the Duke of Montrose, the Earl of Malines bury, the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury,Earl and Countess of Sandwich, Earl and Countess of Win• chilsea, Earl and Countess of Egmont, Earl and Countess of Harrington and Lady Geraldine Stan hope, Earl of Deaart, Earl and Countess Donough. more, Earl and Countess of Verulum, Earl Nelson, Earl and Countess of Bective, Eail of Delkeith. the Countess Brownlow, Dowager Lady Willoughby de Broke, the Right Hon. Speneer Walpole, M.P., and Mrs. Walpole, the Right Hon. Sir John Pakington, M.P., and L ady Pakington, the Right Hon. Mr. 'Henley, M.P., and Mrs. flenley, Lord and Lady Colchester, Viscount and Viscountess Dungannon, Afteectint Gough, Woman% and Viscountess Newport, Lord John Manners, M.P., Lord Henry Gordon Lennox, Lord George Gordon Lennox, Lord arid Lady Sondes, the Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Common!' and Laity Charlotte Denison, the Right Hon. Lord and Lady Claud Hamilton, Lord Lovaine, M.P., Lord Naas, M.P., and Lady Naas, Lord Hotham, M.P., the Right Hon. Sotheron Estcnu t, M.P., and Mrs. Estcour, Right Hon. C. Adderley, M.P., Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.l'., and Mrs. Gladstone, Sir Fitzroy Kelly, M.P., Attorney-General; the Solicitor-General, Right Hon. J. W. Whiteside, M.P., and Mrs. Whiteside, Right Hon. J. fetch:, NI.P., the Right Hon. the Advocate. Genteel, Right Hon. H. L Gouty, bf.P., Right lion. W. Beresforil. M.P., HOD. Colonel Sir Charles Pnipph. the Hon. Frederick Lygon, M.P., Hon. and Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, the lion. Mr. and Mrs. W. 0. Stanley, Hon. Mr. Waldegrave, Vice-Admiral the Hon. Sir 11. S. Dundas, Sir W. Hylton Jolliffe, , and Lady Tiyhon Jollitf-, Mr. G. A. Hamilton. 111. P., and a distinguished circle. The loving cup having been circulated. The Loan Mao gave " Her Antesty the Queen," which was drunk with the usnal demonstrations of I.yslty ; as was also the health of " The Prince C.insinrt. Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family' The next toast was " The Army and Nasl." with which were coupled the names of Viscount Gough and Major.Generel Sir Archdale Wilson for the one service, and that of the First Lord 01 the Admiralty for the other. Viscount tionaii returned thanks on behalf of the Queen's Army, and Major-General Wu.suat on behalf of the Indian Army. SirJ. P.teixorox, in reaming thanks for the navy, said ; inn devolves upon me, in virtue of theotbee which I have the honour to hold, te acknowledge the toast which you, my Lord Mayor, have been so kind as to propose Lbut I con fess that, xurronntled as 1 am by navel officers of the highest distinction, I undertake the duty with feelings of unaffected dididence. On the other hand, I cannot but feel that 1 may express, with a freedom which they could not do. the admiration that, in common with all my countrymen. I entertain for this noble arm of the British service. &Cherrs.) I may mate. with a freedom which thi could not di, my behei that there is no branch of the public service more entitled than the navy of England to every honour which the British public can bestow. I know that I shall best speak the sentiments of those gallant if I say that they are now zealous and anxious as *Meets if I s 11l P ES 8 2 ihniE i32-111§58. the initibers of their branch of the profession have been at all former periods to do service to their country. I know I shall express their sentiments when I say that they may appeal, as a proof of their zeal, t) the fact that at a period when there was no enemy to be encountered on the seas the navy have served most gloriously on the land. They have been found in the trenches of the Crimea and on the burning plains of India; and no less shall I express the sentiments of those gallant officers when I say that they deeply mourn the loss which England has sustained in the death o. that distinguished officer, Sir William Peel. (Hear, hear.) He was at the head of that naval brigade to winch I have adverted. He bade fair to acquire a reputatiou in war as great as that which his illustrious father attained as a British statesman —( Hear, hear),—and I believe there is no one in England who does not regret the death of Sir W. Peel as a deep, irreparable national loss. ( Hear, hear.) My lords, for my col leagues and myself, in connection with the toast you have dune the navy the honour to propose, I may say that our anxious desire is to use every exertion to maintain the British navy in that full etticiency—in that strength and power —which it ought to possess. I say this with no reference to any ungrounded apprehensions with respect to foreign powers. I am speaking in the presence of re presentatives of nearly all the great States of Europe, awl I believe they will tell you that our foreign relations are for the most part, if not altogether, in a satisfactory con dition. On the other hand, however, it is due to the dignity, the power, and tho extended empire and gigantic commerce of England—above all, it is dile to the interests of peace—that the naval power of England should he maintained in full efficiency. (Cheers. ► These are the Aentitnents by which her Majesty's Government are mkt !need, and let me add my earnest hope that, whatever Government may be in office, it will be the first resolve of the British people—a resolve so firm as to make itself heard in Parliament--the the naval power of England shall be maintained unimpeached and unimpaired. ( Cheers. ) The LORD MAYOR then rose to propose the toast of the evening. He said they were all aware that the banquet was hen in honour of her Majesty's Govern ment; and be did not hesitate to say that whoever held the position of her Majesty's Ministers were entitled to the nation's gratitude. He had had the gratification during his Mayoralty of entertaining her Majesty's Government on three differeat °cessions ; and this was the second time that he had had the pleasure of seeing the present Ministers at his board. Her Majesty's present advisers were, he was sure, growing rapidly in the estimation of the country, their sole object being the adoption of measures cal culated to benefit all classes of the community ; and if they were allowed to remain a few years in office, he believed the nation would never have reason to regret their accession to power. The Lord Mayor having expressed his sorrow for the cause which de prived the company of the presence of the noble Premier and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, con cluded by giv.ng " The Health of her .Majesty's Ministers," connecting with it the name of the Lord Chancellor. The toast was received with mach applause. The LORD CHANCELLOR said : T sin convinced that there is no one in this brilliant assembly who does not sympathize with the unfortunate position in which I son placed. The Lord Mayor, with the kindness and hospitality which have so distiogniahed has been pleased to assemble us in this magnificent ball to do honour to her Majesty's Ministers. But he to whom the chief honour is due, the head and leade.r of the Government., is unavoidably absent. It is as if in some ancient triumph the triumphal car bad passed along without the victor. We who are here to receive your plaudits are grateful fur them, but we know that your thoughts must be tixad on him who is absent. If these are the feelings which I share in common with my colleagues, what roust be those which are peculiarly due to the trying circumstances in which L stand? I feel like some unhappy second-rate actor who is called upon to sustain a part which has Leen played by a tavourite per• former. He knows that during the time he frets his hoar upon the sage he is ezoosed to the mortification of oom• passionate criticism, and that his audience are visiting their disappointment upon him by unequivocal signs of indifference or inipatienoe. k" No, no.") But, like the poor player, having widertaken this part, I must use the accastuined formula, and " hope for your kindest indul we've." There is certainly one advantage, and only one, which we gain by the absence of my noble friend at the head of the Government. I can speak freely, as I am bound to speak. of the pore and disinterested motives, of the high and noble devotion to his country's service, which have actuated him in his aoceptinoe of the cares and toils of office. After describing the state of affairs both at home and abroad on the accession of the present Ministry, Lis lordship continued : That was the mete of things wh e n my nobl t friend, with a foil sense of All the responsibilities and difficulties of his position, acceded to poser. We have now been scarcely four mouths in office, and we may turn with satisfaction to the changed aspect of affairs, not boastfully, but as men who are accountable for the duties which devolve upon them. It has pleese4. Providence to aid the bravery of our soldiers sad the skill of our generals in the East, and to crown oar arms with success. One stmoghold after an other of the rebels has fallen, and our enemy is prostrate at our feet. Ttien came the solemn and important duty of determining how we were to deal with the vanquished. Our policy is before the world. We lost no time in enun ciating it, and we believe that it is founded upon principles of justice and reason. We have made, or propose to make, a distinction between those who have eaten our bread, who have received our pay, borne our arms, and then have treacherously turned against us, and those whose hands are stained with blood and atrocious cruelties. It is painful to speak on such subjects in such an assembly, but stern and rigid justice demands that a severe example should be made. Yet, that dreadful duty having been performed, whet is it which the highest dictates of justice, of is inanity, and sound policy require from as? A generous, a liberal, a full amnesty for alt past offences. If we once induce the persons who have been—if you will—in rebel lious hostility to us to believe that there is no opening for pardon; that there is no prospect for them but wholesale slaughter or indiscriminate confiscation, we drive them to despair, and it is perfectly impossible that the pacification of India can ever take place. At an early period we pro. nounced, in the nervous and vigorous language of my noble friend (Lord Ellenborough), whose loss as a colleague i shall never cease to deplore, what our policy was to be, and I believe it has received the sanction of this Christian country. ( Bear, near.) With regard to Chia*, our endeavour has been to restore the amicable relations which ought never to have been disturbed, and with the assistance of our great allies, France and the United States—combined as we are in one common cause, and one common system of action—we believe we shall be enabled to procure, not for ourselves alone, but for the whole civilized world, the greatest commercial advantages. The cloud winch hang over the peaceful and friendly re lations between this country and our great and powerful neighbour has, by the prudence, the discretion, and the firmness of my uuble friend at the head of the Foreign De partment, been entirely dispersed. (Hear, hear.) The utmost cordiality and good feeling now exist between us, and I am sure that plight and generous nation will feel that it never had occasion for one moment to doubt the honesty, the good faith, and the sincerity of England. There is another point upon which my noble friend at the head or the Foreigneetice may justly congratulate himself. I allude to the success of his interposition on behalf of those unfortunate countrymen of ours who have suffered so severely from the rigours to which they were exposed in a foreign State. I here heard this attributed to the good fortune of my noble friend. Fortune hi capricious, bat I think she has never been found in the company of unwise and imprudent statesmen. (A laugh.) I am quite content, however, to set the good fortune of my noble friend against the evil star of the late Administration. They, I have uo doubt, were as able, as zealous, and as anxious as my noble friend to procure the liberation of these un fortunate men ; but, unhappily, they mistook their way, and found themselves in a path in which they could not advance. When my noble friend came into office months had passed, and there was no prospect of the deliverance of these men, but in six weeks after tug noble friend had received the sea's of his department he had the happiness of restoring them to liberty and their country, and 1 torsi that they may live many years with recovered health and restored reason to bless the day when my noble friend was called to his present high position. But my noble friend was not content with the mere liberation of these persons. There was a heavy debt due from the nation which hisd imposed these rigours upon them, and my itoble friend —with that resolution, that temperate firmness and deter mination which distinguish kite—insisted upon the most ample and satisfactory redress for their wrongs. The kingdom of Naples not only yielded to the application of my noble friend, but it did more. My noble triend—not content with insisting us the redress of the wrongs of our fellow-countryinen—felt that it was due to this great country assn to advocate the rights of cur distinguished ally Sardinia, whose army hail fought side by side with ours in the Crimea. To show the importance of my noble friend's intervention, I may state that, in urging her cause as well as that of his countrymen, he had the gratification of being enabled to restore to Santini& the sh'p and crew which had been imprcperly seized. ( Hear, hear.) I may, perhaps, advert to circumstances which have cast a transient cloud—but a light one, I hope— upon the relations which exist between us and our Trine atlantic kinsmen. United as we are by the ties of common descent, of common language, of similar laws, and of freo institutions, any misunderstanding between us is a matter deeply to be deplored. The United States have evinced their identity of race with us by the sensitive jealousy which they have exhibited in favour of their national rights; but I trust the representations which hare been made by my excellent friend the Minister of the United States, and the mode in which they have bean met by my noble friend (Lord Malmesbury ), will very soon restore those feelings of complete amity which have been ruffled by this trifling difference. (Cheers.) I wish my tight bon. friend the Chalmetter of the Exchequer were here, because I should desire to call hint to account before you for his doings—( a laugh)—but I cannot pass over in silence the mode in which he has conducted the important affairs of his department. If there is one thing for which this great nation iv more remarkable than another, it is for the curiosity which is manifested to ascertain, year by year, how the great problem is to be solved of finding the ways and means to meet the growing espendi tare of the country. My right bon. friend was in • situation of some difficulty, as he bad to meet a deficit, and expectation was on tiptoe as to the budget which he would produce. MY right hon. friend, however, brought forward a budget of such simplicity that, without very much increasing the burdens of the country, he pro vided for all its want', and, strange to say, elicite d general approbation. Bot thee, as detraction i s never quiet, it was discovered that there was no genius in his budget. The egg bad been made to stand by the simple contrivance of breaking a little of the shell, and then, forsooth, everybody thought he could have done pre cisely the aartie—( a laugh I—as if it was the doty of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to extort the exelamation " How wonderful !" instead of the praise " How satis factory!" But if my right hon. friend challenges the merit of genius, and it obtaining great ends by simple