The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-02 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 2, 1855.

THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S FAREWELL
DINNER TO VISCOUNT CANNING.

Yesterday evening all the Terrines@ of the London
Tavern wen bought into requisition to do honour to Vie-
eosin Canning, the ININMHS Wag the customary farewell
banquet of the Homearable Zest India Company to their
newly-appointed Governor-General, previous to his depar-
ture for India. The banquet was of the moat magnificent
description, and non than (tedium pane had been takes
to make the downtime worthy of the occasion. The stale-
cues were all richly carpetted and lined ea sash side with rue
exotics, and the reception-room in which the guests Ina
went led was quite regal in its impunities. The magnifiesna
carpet, which bad been manufactured at Tammy re:primly
for the Dale of Buckingham, on the oteasloa of the Queen's
visit to Stowe, covered the floor, sad the niches were filled
with rare statuary, alternated with the choicest producta of
the conservatory. The grand saloon was brilliantly illu-
minated with wax, and the tables were covered with gold
and silver plate of elaborate workmanship. A pleasing
proof of the advantage of more intimate intercourse with
Frames, the CUM& hod of tans, we. given in the abut-
damn end graceful arrangement of the foal decoration,
every table being abundantly supplied with natural dowels,
fancifully arranged, and giving, in their bright colours end
fresh perfume, a delight:al and novel effect to the erraegio.,
'nests. The dinner itself was worthy of such accessories,
and the wines comprised all the rue vintages which Mr.
Bathe prudently reserves for great ocosaioas, such as the
state dinners of the honourable company.
The company was exceedingly numerous and distio-
guished, and amongst the principal guests we noticed :
Viscount Canning, the Lord Chancellor, Duke of Argyll,
Marquis of Lansdowne, K.G., Earl of Harrowby, Viscount
Palmerston, G.C.8., Viscount Harding., G.C.8., Earl
Granville, Deputy Chairman, Marquis of Charles:de, Bail
Cowper, Rill Somen, Earl Bruce, Viscount Sydney, Right
Hon. VOTING Smith, Mr. Mills, Viscount Duncan. Lord
Punters, Lord Stanley of Alderley, Right Hon. Sidney
Herbert, Right Hon. Bir George Grey, Bart., G.C.8., Right
Hon. W. R. Gladstone, Right Has. Sir A. Ryan, Kat.,
Right Hoe. Sir Charles Wood, Bart, Right Hu. Sir W.
Moleserorth, Bart., Right Hon. Sir G. C. Lewis, Bart.,
Vice-Chancellor Page Wood, Lintenant-General Sir G.
Pollock, G.C.8., Sir J. Malvin, LC 8., Viso:mat Houck,
Mr. Ellice, Viscount Dungarees, Lord Wodshouse, Lord
Redeedale, Lord De Table,, Right Hon. J. 8. Worthy,
Right Hon. E. HOfIIIIIAH, Sir James Weir Hogg, Bart., Sir
John Duette, K.C.8., Col. Sir F. Abbott, C. 8., Hon. W.
F. Cowper, Hon. F. L. Gower, Mr. Bayley, Sir G. Cooper,
Bart, Sir T. Redington, K.C.8., Colonel Sir P. Cantle',
K.C.8., Sir H. Willoek, K.L.S., J. H. Astell, Esq., B.
Thornton, Esq., Right Hon. W. G. Hayter, Vice .Chaneel-
lot Kindenley, Mr. Shepherd, Sir Frederick Currie, But.,
Major-General Sir H. M. Wheeler, K.C.8., Major-Gener:l
Sir F. Smith, K.H., Mr. Smith, sod Mr. Mingles.
On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN (Elliot
M'Neghtsn, Esq., chairman of the Company) gave, with
appropriate observations, the health. of the Queen, Priem
Albert, and the rest of the royal family, after which be pro-
ceeded to give the tout of the evening, the Health of Vis-
count Canning, the newly appointed Governor-Genera of
Inks. (The toast was received with loud and general
cheering.)
Lord

Chairmen and gentlemen of tbi

board of directors, I am deeply tensible of the kind Dad
flattering manner is which this toast has been proposed,
and of the 'neon/ging reception which has been given to it
by your guests. It is never an easy task adequately and
becomingly to express one's thanks for kindness which far
exceeds one's merit and expectation, more especially when
the favour conferred carries with it an amount of trust and
responsibility which the boldest could hardly look upon
without alarm. (Hear, bear.) Were Ito give utter-
'ace to all my feelings is askeowledging your kind-
-001111 I .k.. 1.1 lay oajooir MO suspicion ot waning to
dwell en matters agreeable to myself, of putting out of sight
the more serious ceremonial of the morning, and of forget-
ting the weighty cans which most soon follow in the prose-
cution of the trust with which I have been honoured, and
of which the bare apprehension is sufficient to crush anY
rising emotion of gratified unity ambition. (Haar,
hear.) But lam sot open to say such thug*. I can truly
say that the kindness which I have received from you, Mr.
Chairman,and from your colleagues, has not created any delu-
sion u regards myself, for whether I look at the magnitude of
the task that await' me, or the talents of the distinguished
men who have been my predecessors, I am painfully
sensible of how inadequate the labourer is to
the great work which your kindness has placed
in his hands. (Cheers.) I know not what may have been
the feelings of others, on former occasions like the present,
and filling the situation which now I have the honour to
fill, but for myself I can now say with truth, that the com-
pliments and congratulations I have from time to time re-
ceived on this event have seemed to me to be hardly suitable
to so serious an occasion. (Hear, bear.) lam not ashamed
to confess that there are moments in which I am tempted to
shrink from the respoosibility that awaits me, while I
hope that such a feeling is not incompatible with an
honest and faithful determination to discharge my
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duty. (Loud sheen.) I am certain that it is uol
inconsistent with tha determination to devote all the suer

glee of my mind, every minute and suety hour of my time,
every thought and every inspiration to the discharge of
those pledges which I have this day accepted at your hands.
(Hoar, hear.) Sir, it would be ungrateful in me did I fai!
to admit that there were some considerations that tended to
reinsure me, and to encourage a in the hope that I may
be the iastrantent of some usefulness in the sphere to which
my destinies are about to be transferred. You have already
assured me this day of what you rightly described as the gm-
serous confidence and co-operation of the Court of Directors.
I thank you for that assuracce, and I rely on it implicitly,
for I know that the body of which you are the head are,
wherever they bestow their confidence, no niggard, in sae•
portieg those who serve them honestly and faithfully.
(Loud cheers.) I feel that I can also rely on the cordie'
support and sympathy of my noble friend at the head of the
government, and of all those colleagues with whom I have
had the proud satisfaction of serving as • minister of the
crown ; but above ell I delight in the co-operation—fur on
that I must daily and ►only rely—ef those two admirable
bodies, the civil servile and the army of India. (Load
cheers.) I hardly know whether there is any feature of one
government, any portions of war Institutions upon which
Englishmen may look with more honest exultation than
those two noble branches dour Indian service. (Renewed
cheers.) The men of these branches have done much for the
advancement of India, and have aeLt forth from their rank.
men who were efflonst in war and peace, in numbers of
which any monarchy iv Europe might be proud, and
who have leagued their countrymen from the im-
putation formerly, sod not unjustly levelled against
them of dealing emnstimes too harshly with those
whom they were bound to succour and protect. Sir, it
is the possession of such men that enables you to exhibit a
spectacle unequalled In the world's history, that of 160,000,000
of people submitting in peace and contentment in a country
teaming with Wealth to the government of strangers sad
aliens. Bat your yoke is so easy, and the security so great,
that them is no government of a native prince that can for
• moment imparts with it. (Rear, bear.) 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 *sense for failure or shortcoming.
Re 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 bout to make, but I may state that
I leave Wes shores unenenuthered by a single promise or
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pledge to any aspostent, and that I have -n• 'claims to
meet on those posts of trust and honour of which yon make
me the repodtory, except those of persons who shall prove
themselves but able by their talents, character, and ex-
perience efficiently to serve their adopted countty. (Cheers.)
I know that the members of the two services to which I
have (abided will unreservedly give me their aid, and cheer-
fully respond whenever I all them into eonacil. I know
not what coarse events may take ; I hope and pray that we
may not reach the extremity of war; I wish for a peaceful
time of Aloe, bat I cannot forget that in oar I adiaa empire,
that greatest of all blessings depends upon a greater variety
of chances and a more precarious teaure than in any