The Express.
London, England, 1863-09-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, * THURSDAY EVENING,

;OPENING OF THE DUNDEE PEOPLE'S

PARE.
--a---

Yesterday the magnificent park presented by Sir
David Baxter tc.the people of Dundee, was formally headed
over to the trustees. The day was kept as a close holiday,
and the town was completely en Jute. In the foram. Earl
Russell met the Town Council and Gui'dry in the Corn Ex.
change, and was presented with the freedom of the burgh
and created a guild brother. His lordship was accompanied
to the platform by the Countess Rums% Lady Georgina
the Earl of Bulbous* Sir J. Ogilvy, and Sir 1).
Baxter. After Provost Parker, in an eloquent address, had
conferred the freedom of the burgh, and Doan of Guild
Kennedy had promoted the freedom of the Orldry to Earl
Russell,

_
The Noble Lord rose amid deideoiog cheers, and said-
-1 Sir and gentlemen, I receive with gratitude the freedom of
the ancient and royal burgh of Dundee. I have come hers
for the first time to add my tribute of respect to one of your
moat distinguished citizens, who has nobly provided for the
health and recreation of his fellow-citizens, and well de-
serve' to be remembered to all time as • public benefactor.
(Applause.) The increase of large towns is a proof of in-
creasing wealth, and the effect of prosperous industry is
not without accompanying evils. One of these evils is the
exclusion of the face of nature; and happy is be who
can give to those "in populous city pent" a rest
from exhausting toil, amid scenes which invigorate the
body and turn the mind to the contemplation of the wonder-
ful works of God. (Cheers.) In referring to measures which
I have contributed to promote during • long course of par-
liamentary exertion, you have done me too much honour.
I have been happy to contribute to the victory of those
eloquent and distinguished men who were foremost in the
cause of Catholic Emancipation, and who won for the
people the great battle of the repeal of the Oors-laws.
(Olment) With regard to the measures in which I had •
more immediate parkin proposing the repeal of the Cor-
poratioa sad Teat Acta, in framing • plan for parlia-
mentary reform, and introducing a bill for the reform
of our municipal corporations—f have been studious to build
upon the ancient foundations—(applause)—to adapt new
measures to existing laws, and to put them in harmony with
' the institutions of • country long free, and justly proud of
its liberty. (Applause.) Thirty years of experience have
11 shown that I have net beeu mistaken in my hope. Every
year has strengthened our political constitution, and me-
firmed, as you justly observed, our domestic tranquillity.
(Applause.) As Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs it
has bees my object to preserve pesos with honour. (Ap-
I please, and " Hear, hear.") You may rely with confidence
upon the administration of Lord Palmerston, who is
so justly and so universally peptdar—(cheers)—for
maintaining a line of strict impartiality in the
lamentable conflict still raging in America. (Cheers.)
The duties of neutrality between parties violently hostile
are nut easily performed. (Hear, ham.) It has been and
will be our endeavour, however, to exercise the powers now
entrusted, or which may be hereafter entrusted, to the
Crown by Parliament, in such • manner as at once to defeat
every attempt to engage our people in enterprises iticousis-
, teat with our neutral position, and to preserve for ourselves,
our persons, and property those safeguards of British law
and British justice to which alone they are indebted for the
'security they now enjoy. (Applause.)
The Coro Exchange was crowded by the influential
citizens of Dundee, who gave the noble earl a cordial wel-
come. At one o'clock the various bodies who took part in
the graud ceremony of the day met in the Barrack-park.
When the line had been formed, the procession marched
through the principal streets to the people's park, which is
situated at the north-eastern extremity of the town. The
park occupies a space of 38 acres, and is mom tastefully laid
out. In the centre stands • handsome pavilion in the
halite style, built at • cost of 6,0001. ; at each entraoce
there are handsome lodges ; the cost of the park, its 'cabal-
Ilishment, and the sum set apart by the donor for its main-
tenaoce, cannot be lass than 50,0001.
A statue of Sir David Baxter, which has been subscribed
for by upwards of 16,000 of the people of Dundee, as •
mark of their gratitude for his noble gift, and which we;
executed by Mr. Steel, sculptor, Edinburgh, was uncovered
on the °cassia'. Amongst the speakers at the opening of
the park were the Earl of Dalhousie, the Earl of Camper.
down, Sir David Baxter, and others. in replying to a vote
of thanks for his presence Earl Russell, who was received
with enthusiastic *hems by the vast multitude, said—l
hops you will allow me as the youngest burgess
of Dundee to say a few words with regard
to • matter which I think may teed to the
usefulness of this park for which the town of Dundee
is much indebted to Sir D. Baxter. (Applause.) I was
speaking tobira of a notion which had occurred to my mini,
sad whisk I fiud had also occurred to his- Indeed from hie
benevolence and sagacity, It was oct likely to have escaped
him. I have been amostomed in the course of my life, to
pay &peat deal of attention to educatioe, and I have been
told of late years that those who are occupied in education
la peat towns—each as Glasgow, Birmieghare, and like
large towee—my that there is one great difficulty they have
toeoatsed with in their schools, namely, that in these towns
there is no such thing as • playground. (Hear, hear.) I
think • play-ground is quite as useful as • school—(laughter,
sod applasse)—it is still more easy to occupy
a playground in these days when we are told by some clever
philosophers that the boy who is at school three days in the
week lama quite as much, if not more, than the boy who
gem six, and that the boy who is at wheel half a day
kerns quite as much se the boy who is at school the whole
day. (Laughter and cheers.) Whether that be true or not
I am not going to any, but I think it would be a great ad-
vantage to the schools in this town if they were to ask the
permission of Lord Dalhousie and the other trustees to make
this park from time to time a playground during the boon
of recreation which the school allows. There is • very
great tendency at the present time—which is • good
tendency—of bringing people together in large tows',
bat it has a disadvantage, and that is, the children are
brought up without having the least notion of the green
field, of a game at cricket, or a game at trap-ball. t Hear,
hear.) It is, however, quite as essential that the body of a
boy should be educated sad his mind turned to these things
O 4
that heshould learn hie alphabet and his cyphers. (Ap-
plause.) lam in hopes that, being the youngest burgess in
Dundee, my presumption may be excused—(a laugh)—only
I think it would be a great pleasure to know that the young
generation of Dundee would enjoy the advantages of this park
as much as those who are their elders, sad able thrive them-
selves to more manly pursuits. (Applause.) I beg to thank
you all in the name of lady Russell. (Cheers.) I have cer-
tainly found by experience that there needs no better place
tocome to for • wife this to Scotland, and I certainly shall
recommend to others the practice which I have adopted
myself. (Laughter and great applause.)
The weather was fortunately dry and sunny, and the pro.
ceedinga passed off with great eclat ; there was • grand dis-
play of fireworks in the park, and illuminations in various
parts. It had been intooded to send ep • large balloon, but
the wind was unfavourable.

THE ARCHBISHOP or DUBLIN.—His grace did
not pot a good night, but was in less paiu yesterday
(Tuesday) morning. His debility inonsses.—Dublin natty
Srpre.u.
. _

• DEATH or EARL BRAucHARr.—We regret to
record the death of this venerable nobleman, who expired
at his seat, Madreadeld-court, Worcestershire, late on
Tuesday night. The noble earl bad been sometime suffer-
ing from serer. illness, and expired in his 79th year. Be is
succeeded In Ms title end estates by his eldest son Viscount
Elmley, M.P. for West Worcestershire, and a vacancy
therefore occurs in the representation of that county. The
late earl represented Worcestershire for nearly a quarter of
a century, and on succeeding to the title his son Viscount
Eloiley was elected in ho stead. Of course at this early
hour notbiog has been done with reprd to the future re-
presentation, but there is a rumour current that the Hon.
F. Lygon, the late earl's second mos, and now M.P. for
Tewkesbury, will be proposed for West Worcestershire.
The following have arrived at the Hotel Bristol,
Paris :—Baron Lionel de Rothschild sod family, sad Baron
Meyer de Rothschild and family, from London ; Lord and
Lady Booties, Lord and Lady Devoe, Lady Oonsisoay,
Lord Atnality, Lord Dunkellin, from Germany, on their
way to England.

Ga/ignani lays of Mr. Charles Mathews s ap-
pearance in Paris, that "a few lonanenrs on the first night,
more apparent, perhaps, behind the scenes than to the
andleses, having disappeared on the second representation,
it went off throughout with a spirit and vivacity quite
triaaphant, and the plaudits of the public at the close left
Mr. C. Mathews in positional of all the honours of denizen-
ship on the Parisian boards."

On Tuesday night the nemaion of the Liverpool
&heel of Maws terminated with an interesting oonveess-
:tone in the Free Library and Museum, Lord [Manley
is the chair.