The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-27 00:00:00

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NATIONAL CONSERVATIVE REGISTRA.
TION A,9801:11ATION.

--v.--
The usual anneal banquet to members and
friends of the association took place last evening at WWhis
Roma Covers were laid for 350, and every seat was cab
copied. The Earl of SHREWSBURY and TALBOT presided.
DLBRAELL in acknowledging a toast, said—l would on
this caudal call to memory what was the state of the tory
party only some few years ago—(• Voioe, " I.S46")—Dell
twelve years ago—a period not so distant as that which has
been reduced to by my anksown friend. (Laughter.) Why,
gentle en looking back only twelve years, there is no
record in the history of England of • political connexion ea
utterly forlorn, so hopeless' and so prostrate as was then
the tory party. (Hear, hear.) That eminent man, wham
great sagacity and great heart bad rallied us armed him at
• moment of unforeseen aed unprecedented difficulty lad
just met an untimely sod. I will never mention his name or
real his memory without expressiag what I feel, sentiments
of admiration and affection. (Cheers.) At tbatmoment we
literally did not count in the House of Commons by any
means one-fourth of its members ; and as for your politi-
cal opinions, that identity of sentiment which is the only
fooadation of political action ill public life, that "idem
,entire de republica" which is the soul of political
exist-
once, why we were in this podtiou, we were the
tires of opinions—that was the cruellest cut of which
bad bees selected by distinguished men who had been our
leaders as the soundest and most expedient foundation for
political action, which in consequence we had advocated, and
ourselves to our country to advocate and support,
pledged
country had ratified by a large majority only
recently, and which bad been given up with such precipita-
tion and such panic that it was impossible to rally the
country. round the more temperate application of thou
very'plea which subsequent events have proved to be
e, and which, being adopted by France, lave
=that country to a great increase of its
wealth. I say we were the representatives of opi-
nions suddenly described by our very leaders se absurd
and impracticable, and around which, under the einem-
deride in which we then found ourselves, it was impossible
effectually to tally the country. As regards the three
great considerations—first, numbers in parliament;
secondly, distinctive principles of polity ; and thirdly,
public nun who could in a decorous and efficient meaner
represent the convictions of the great party in the country
we were altogether without them. Why, at that time—l
am not using the language of exaggeration, but that of lite-
ral, historic truth—there was no man who believed that
the tory party would ever again rally. (Hear, hear.) It
was a question which of the great political sections should
obtain the greatest portion of the plunder. (Laughter.)
We were like a wreck stranded on the beach, mid it was •
question who should rifle our stores. (Laughter.) Well
but, gentlemen, if that were your position twelve years
ago—and there is not • man present who has an average
knowledge of public affairs but knows bow ac-
curately lam describing that situation-contrast it
with your position now. (" Hear, hear," and cheers.)
In either House of Parliament we confront the
minister with at lust an equal power. (Loud cheers.) We
are the advocates of • generous and • national creed ; and
as for public men, why, gentlemen, there is not • subject
that can be brought forward in the House of Commons,
but from every part of the benches on which I sit I ins con-
fident men will mime forward who, by the amplitude of
their knowledge, their argumentative power, and their
general ability, will so demean themselves as to command,
as they deserve, the attention of the assembly in which
they sit. (Cheers.) But then, gentlemen, it ie said that
the tory party, though it nay have rallied to a certain ex-
tent, though it may no longer be in that disheartened and
perilous position in which it was some ten or twelve years
back, have twice been entreated with power, and twice
been unable for any long period to maintain it. Gentlemen,
when the historian of our country recants the events
to which I refer, if he be • philosophical
Sorkin his astonishment will arise, not from our
not haring been able to maintain power, but from oar
having twice acquired it. (Hear, hear.) 1 say that in
the history of oar country so much was never before
effected by a public party mid by public men wider such
difficult circumstances. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, when Lord
Derby reluctantly accepted the Queen's government in
1852 there was an absolute majority against us in the House
of Commons of 200 ; when Lord Derby took office in 1858
them was an absolute majority against us in the House of
Commons of 140. Do you believe that under such dream-
stenos those whom you entrust with your confidence were
rt of the immense risks they ran ? Mew, hear.)
ayrn suppose that those to whom you still look up with
• confidence which is their greatest pride were not pre-
-1 pendia either instance for the great probability, perhaps the
positive certainty, of greet poisons' mortification? (Cheers.)
AB this we had to weigh and consider when we Recapt
I office wider conditions which were never before even
offered to English statesmen. But, gentlemen, we bad •
sense of duty to guide us soder such circumstances, and
we had to ask ourselves this, •• Shall we still struggle to
preserve the great traditiosa of English political life or
without an effort shall we my that that system of party
governinent to which we owe, in our opinion. English II-
Wty, and all those blessings which have marked out this
great realm from other countries for so many yetis, shall
we at once say that from the fear of personal mortification
we will lose such a chance for the kingdom and for the
people! (Cheers.) No, gentlemen, with great reluctance,
as is now well known—with • due sense of danger,
which all might have imagined. we confronted on both occa-
sions that imminent peril, and in time, I melees, we yielded
to it. But this I may say in passing, that having accepted
office under such circumstauces, we at least performed its
duties in a manner not disgraceful to ourselves—(cheers)—
and not dishonourable to you. (Renewed cheers.) But,
gentlemen, what was the cause of our fall in both cases!
There happened that which in this country, rich and long as
are its political annals, never before was equalled, for whith
there was no precedent, and which, perhaps, the
future will have no instance to compare with • we
fell before the most peculiar coalition .(great
cheering)—that ever existed, or probably ever can
exist, even in England. (Renewed cheers.) The liberal
party, defeated in 18452 because they coalesced with the
pupils of Sir 'Robert Peel • the liberal party defeated in
1859 because they coalesced with the pupils of Mr.
Bright. (Loud cheers.) But, gentlemen, do you not see
the moral of all this! The powers of coalition are exhausted.
(Hear, hear.) In the purgatory in which the liberal
party found themselves they first applied to
celestial archangels, sad then &weeded into the
lowest abyss of Hades. (Laughter.) But • lower
abyss there is not. Their means are exhausted. The coali-
tion has no balance to fall hack upon. (Cheers.) This I
tell you, and I tell the country—for it is an important
matter—that in ooentries like England a coalition produces
the same effect eel cootionstal lands is produed by romps
data ; it suspends political life, and in such • state of
affairs there is an inevitable reaction which no nation can
escape. It will come; it will come in countries
where coups d'Rett have succeeded as it will come
in countries which are still ruled by the rem-
nants of exhausted coalitions. (Great cheering.)
But whenever that inevitable reaction may come, it is
the duty of the tory party to be prepared for it—(cheers)—
and if during that long period to which my noble friend
(the chairman) has referred, you have endured mortification
and disappointment—if you have been betrayed by those
whom you bad trusted—if for a moment the principles
which bind you together seemed to be loose and of little
effect. I trust that the moral experience of these years has
brought you back to a due sense of the true value and
eternal character of the principles by which a great na-
tional party in England can alone be maintained. (Hear,
hear.) I cannot say I have ever looked upon
theput with those feelings of disappointment which many
of my companions I know have shared ; I have felt that the
circumstances under which our political connexion was first
formed were of mod rare and remarkable occurrence. I
knew that there was • hard trial to be experienced before
we ware proved for the great trust to which we aspired.
Then there have been murmurs about delay. I have not
shared in them. Even when there has been discomfiture I
have recognised progress, and I know of no time when the
tory party and the principles they profess were more clear
in the appreciation of themselves and of the country.
(Cheers.) Under these circumstances I trust that the so-
ciety of which you are members, and which has honoured
me to-day by inviting me as • friend, will feel
that we have a great duty to perform in the
work of registration. And it is to me a source
of great satisfaction to avail myself of the opportunity
of proposing the health of on. who bears a name and title
dear to Englishmen—who has identified himself with this
great oonstitutionpl movement, and who has bad practical
experience of the working of our constitution io both houses
of parliament—in that in which he is now an influential
and in that in which he was for many years my friend and
colleague. Gentlemen, I propose " The health of the Earl
of Shrewsbury and Talbot, and sower to the National
Conservative Registration Association." (Chem.)
The Ciwasen, in returning thanks, spoke of the advan-
tages of the operation of such a society, observing that one
pound spent in registration often saved hundreds in electors'
excitement.
Mr. WatroLg pve "The House of Peers," and in doing
so paid a compliment to Lord Derby, whom be described as
the most remarkable man of his age.
Lord REOFDDALR acknowledged the toast.
The Earl of CARBARVON proposed " The House of Com-
mon ;" to which
Mr. G. HARDY responded, observing that everything was
tending to the triumph of the conservative cause. What
was taking place on the other side of the Atlantic was. he
said, sufficient to disgust the English people with demo-
cratic principles.
The Provincial Conservative Registration Societies."
and some other tomtit were then given, after which the
company separated.

The New Zealand chieftains have accepted Lord
Ranelsgh's invitation to the Pt of the Month Middlesex
Rills Volunteers todaat Bestdort-honse, Walkans-greew.