The Press.
London, England, 1855-08-04 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the government of strangers and aliens. But your yoke is
so easy, and the security so great, that there is no Govern-
ment of a native prince that can for a moment compare
with IL (Hear, hear.) With such choice of instruments
for the person in whom, with the sanction of the Crown,
is vested the chief responsible government of India, there
can be no excuse for failure or shortcoming. He has but
to choose fearlessly, without favour, on public, not private
grounds, and he is sure to be well served. It is, perhaps,
no great boast to make, but I may state that I leave these
shores unencumbered by a single promise or pledge to any
expectant, and that I have no claimants to meet on those
posts o: trust and honour of which you make me the repo.
sitoy, except those persons who shall prove themselves
best able, by their talents, character, and experience, to effi-
ciently serve their adopted country. (Cheers.) I hope
and pray that we may not reach the extremity of war. I
wish for a peaceful time of office ; but I cannot forget that
in our Indian empire that greatest of all blessing 4 depends
upon a greater variety of chances and a more precarious
tenure than in any other quarter of the globe. (Hear.)
We must not forget that in the sky of I tuba, serene as it
is, a small cloud may arise at first no bigger than a man's
hand, but which, growing larger and larger, may at last
threaten to burst, and overwhelm us with ruin. What has
happened once may happen again. The disturbing causes
have diminished certainly, but they are not dispelled. We
have still discontented and heterogeneous peoples united
under our sway; we have still neighbours before whom we
cannot altogether lay aside our watchfulness ; and we have
a frontier configuration that renders it possible that in any
quarter, at any moment, causes of collision may arise.
(Hear, hear.) Besides, so intricate are our relations with
some subsidiary States, that I doubt whether ii► an empire
so vast and so situated it is in the power of the wisest Go•
vernment, the most peaceful and the most forbearing, to
command peace. But, if we cannot command, we can at
least deserve it by taking care that honour, good faith, and
fair dettbig are on our side, and then, if, in spite of us, it
should become necessary to strike a blow, we can strike
with a clear conscience. With blows so dealt the struggle
must be short and the issue not doubtful. (Hear, hear.)
But I gladly dismiss from my mind apprehensions that
may not he realised, and joyfully recognise a large arena of
peaceful usefulness, in which I hope for your kind assist.
ance and co-operation. The maintenance of the revenue on
a solid and wholeson e footing, the extension of public works,
and the completion of those lines of social and commercicl
intercourse now in progress, will be objects well worthy of
our attention. Those great operations necessary to pro-
tect us from the dread effects of drought, and, lastly, the
education of the native population, and as a necessary con-
sequence the opening to them of public employments—
all these things present a large field for peaceful triumph,
long enough for a life, great enough for the most insatia-
ble ambition. (Cheers.) In such a field Englishmen
may be giants for good or for evil, but, for my part, J shall be
well content to take up the course which has been com-
menced by Lord Dalhousie, and if possible to carry out his
views. (Cheers.)

The health of the Prime Minister being afterwards
proposed:—
Lord PALMERSTON, in returning thanks, observed that,
although at all times the responsibility of administering
the affairs of this country was great, it had never been
greater than at the present moment. lint there was one
part of the empire in which the cases both of Sovereign
and Ministers were light, and that was the portion admin-
istered by the gentlemen at whose hospitable board they
were then assembled. (Cheers.) He congratulated the
Court of Directors on he selection, and said it was a great
gratification to his noble friend's colleagues to know that,
although they were deprived of his society, he was about to
be removed to a sphere of such extended usefulness.
Having warmly eulogised Lord Canning's ability, firmness,
and aptitude for the government of a great empire, the
noble lord remarked upon the curious fact that, whereas of
old all civilisation came from India, through Egypt, now we,
who were barbarians, were bringing back civilisation and
enlightenment to the parent source. Perhaps it might be
our fate to confer on the countless millions of India a
higher and holier gift than any mere human knowledge,
but that must be left to the hands of time and the gradual
improvement of the people. (Cheers.)
Other toasts were drunk and responded to, and
the company did not separate until nearly midnight.

EXPERIMENTS were made on Tuesday at Vincennes
with a balloon, intended to be used at the bombard-
ment of cities. The inventor claims the power of
directing his balloon wherever he wishes. It is to be
charged with shells, which are to be fired by an
electric wire at the moment of descent. The experi-
ments took place in the presence of the Emperor.
The balloon on this occasion was charged with
rockets only, in order to prevent accident.
THE ANNUAL CONTEST, from the Swan at London
bridge to the Swan at Chelsea, for Doggett's coat
and badge took place on Wednesday, and was one of
the best races for many years past. To the livery
and badge given to commemorate the accession of
the family of her present Majesty to the throne has
been added, arising from interest upon South Sea
Stock, 4/. 10s. for the second man, and 2/. 14s. for
the third, besides presents from the Fishmongers'
Company of one guinea with the coat; a guinea and
a half for the fourth man, and a guinea each for the
fifth and sixth. The competitors reached their
destination in the following order :—Henry James
White, Mill-stairs, Bermondsey, 1; Thomas Adcock,
St. George's-stairs. Hot selydown, 2; William Ling,
Tower-stairs, 3; William John Wallin°, jun., Tower-
stairs, 4; Thomas Fitzgerald, St. James's-stairs,
Wapping, 6; John Osman, Horselycloan,