The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-03 00:00:00

EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1863.

those customs duties which are levied epos the importation
of foreign comnlciaidee and the produce of foreign inanst,7
has nememsay led toe larger importation teem thread. lad
«enigma* a larger exportation of the produce of Billadi
industry. (Cheers.) No foreign nation will seed se
their goods for nothing ; they expect to be paid for
them. The trade between nations is a trade of barter, of
exchange, of commodity for commodity; and, therefore,
every amount of importation of foreign commodities into
this country mist, by consequence, carry with it a corre-
speeding expo:tidies of equal valued the produce of the in-
dustry of the people of this country, which was never more
thriving than it has been since then liberal system of com-
merce has been introduced. Whereas immerses ago-1 believe
tee or fifteen yeses ago—the aggregate valued( the exported
commodities of the country was about 60 millions, I be-
lieve that in the last yes: and the year before it amounted
to 120 millions or 130 minims, a most striking proof that
the liberal spirit of cowmen, so far from crushing and
extinguishing the manufactures of the country, has in fact
doubled the demand for them in all parts of the world.
(Cheer.) Well, then, there were the shipping interests,
and we were told when we wanted to liberalise that part
of our industry, when we proposed to take off those res-
trictions upon the purchase of foreign vessels which bad
long been considered by builders of ships as the security by
which alone they could expect to derive any profit ; when
we proposed that we were told that we were ruining
the shipping interest ; and a most distinguished member
of that interest, then a member of the House of
Commons, adjured um almost with teen in his eyes
to abstain from inflicting ruin and destruction upon
them. (laughter and cheers.) What do we see now?
We see all your maritime ports, where private en-
terprise and capital are constructing those magnificent Yes.
eels that are to ride proudly to every part of the world,
and,bring back equal returns—we see them crowdedlwith
workmen ; our ears are dinned with the buy hum of in-
dustry ; we see their docks and building-yards filled with
vessels in different stages of construction ; in fact, we find
that those nations, the Swedes, the North Americans, and
the nations of the Baltic, who, it was said, would undo us in
shipbuilding, and deprive our shipbuilders of their market
at home, we have found them coming to England to buy
ships ; coming to this country, where the shipbuilding in-
dusty was to be ruined and destroyed—coming here instead
of building at home. And why? Because here they
find better skill, better labour, and the greater accu-
mulation by the operations of commerce of all the
elements of shipbuilding ; and they find that they
can in the United Kingdom procure better and
cheaper and more lasting ships than they could make in
their own country, which was the object of so much alarm.
(Loud applause.) I am thinking now of the time when
men thought that wood was the only material that would
float upon water, when they believed that iron was too
heavy, and would go to the bottom. (laughter.) That
illusion has been dispelled. Now we see almost all the
vessels which carry the commerce of the country built of
iron. There are exceptions, I believe, in reread to the
timber trade and some other branches of navigation, for
which wooden vessels are still preferred, but that change
from wood to iron has been most advantageous to the ship-
building interests of this country, and more especially to the
Clyde and the Forth, because hers you have these elements;
here you have that iron corresponding with the timber
that grew in the Baltic and North America ; here, too, you
bare the coal by which that iron is to be worked ; therefore
you have every advantage of natural material,
and you have also that advantage for which
you are eminent above all the nations of the world,
namely, the advantage of mechanical skill sod persevering
labour, and of accumulated capital, by which that skill and
labour can be brought to bear. (Cheers.) Well, then, I,
Mr. Provost, accept with cordiality that testimony which
you have offered to me in words, and which this great town
of Leith affords in visible objects, to the merit and truth of
those principles of free trade which of late years have
formed the foundation and the aim of the legislation of
the country. (Cheers.) I newt that your prosperity,
which if founded on these great natural advantages—and
when I say natural advantages I include not only those phy-
sical advantages of position and of access by water which
you enjoy, but also those creative powers with which nature
has endowed your people—l trust that these natural
advantages will carry you still further in that progress of im-
provement of which I have seen with such delighted snider
tion those great and remarkable specimens to-day. I can only
say that any government which may succeed ours—for our
government, I need DO/ /ST, make DO promiees, because we
refer to acts, but I am persuaded that no government which
by the sanction and support of parliament can ever be placed
in the east of power, will ever fail to pursue those prin.
ciples of enlightened legislation by which your prosperity
has hitherto been so greatly advanced, and by which, I
trust, in future times it is destined freely to surpass that
which with delight and pride I have witimmed this day.
Hr. Provost and gentlemen, I beg spin to thank yen most
cordially for the kind address you have presented, and for
this magnificent reception, and can assure you I shall carry
away with me from the town of Leith sentiments of the
deepest gratitude for the kindness which its inhabitants
have shown me on this occasion. (Loud cheers.)
The PROVOST then called for three cheers for Lord Palmer-
ston ; and three cheers were given to the Provost for pre-
siding.
The noble load subsequently lunched in the council
chambers, and proceeded to Edinburgh by an early train.
Ile remains tonight the guest of the Lord Advocate, and
will return to London to-morrow.

After the despatch of our report of the proceedings et the
Edinburgh Banquet on Wedoesday evening etyma toasts
were proposed, including "Her Majesty's Mioisters,"
which was responded to by the Duke of Argyll; "The two
Houses of Parliarneot ;" "The Free Coestitutions in
Europe ;' "The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh,"
proposed by Lord Palmerston, &c.

His Excellency the Marquis d'Azeglio left the
Italics Legation yesterday for the Easter ream.
The Duke of Wellington left town yesterday for
Stratlifieldsaye. The Duchess of Wellington will joie his
grace on Saturday.
The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufort and Lady Edith
Somerset returned to town on Wednesday from visiting
the Dasher of Beaufort and family at Badminton.
The Marchioness (Maria) of Aileahury has joined
the circle visiting the Duke and Duchess of Manchester at
Kimbolton Castle, near Huntingdon.
Earl Cathcart has left Maurigy's Hotel for
Thorston-le•Stniet, Think.
Viscount Palmerston and the Right Hon. William
F. Cowper, ILE, will leave S.:ottani to-morrow morning for
London.
Viscount and Viscountess Campden have left
Portman-square, for the Continent, and contemplate a
protracted residence abroad.
The funeral of Viscount Templetown is to take
place to-morrow at Kensal-green Cemetery.
The Baron and Baroness Weldenbourg and
family have arrived at the Brunswick, Jennynetreet, from
Baden-Baden.
The Hoe. Blanche Thellusson has arrived at the
Queen'. Hotel, Upper Norwood.
Lieutenant-General Augeratein baa arrived at
Maurigy's Hotel from Brandon, Norfolk.
Mr. and Mra. Webb, of Newatead Abbey, have
left the St. George's Hotel for Scotland.
AN Osmium DirricuLvv.—We happened to wit-
ness a alight difficulty the other day. It so happened that
there were eleven passengers in the omnibus, one side of which
was occupied by five ladies, whose ample dresses left no vacant
space. A twelfth passenger appeared, in the shape of a
broad•etenied broad-brimmed old Quaker, with one of
those unruffled Imperturbable faces so common among his
sect. The conductor opened the door, pushed him in. shut
it with a bang, and shouted "Right!" We were off, and 1
the impetus propelled him like a cannon ball to the other
end of the carriage ; at length he seised one of the brass
rods, end began to realise the difficulties of his position.
There were six passengers, the lawful number, on one side ;
there was no vacant space there ; so he turned his eyes to
the other. The five ladies were packed as does as her-
riogs in • barrel ; they gave 110 sign ; they seemed eves 1111.
conecions of his presence. He surveyed them slowly on*
by one, but his appealing look produced no effect. At
length a sodden chasms came over him ; a sleepy, dreamy
szereasioe stole over his face ; be believed himself at home,
and about to seat himself is his own easy chair. Perhaps
he thought of his usual after-dinner nap ; at all events, he
quietly drew his coat tails aside, turned his beck to the
ladies, and dropped himself heavily down. There was a
suppressed scream, a titter, and a sudden movement which
left sulleleat apses for his ample perms. The ladies
avenged themselves by talking of and at him the whole
way, la !arguers that was far from coeoplimeetary ar par-
liamentary ; but he seemed mildly ancemoious of all that
was taming around him, and convinced that my laughter
wee si sign df Incipient imanity.—Freser's Afenesies for