The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-21 00:00:00

LORD JOHN RUSSELL AZ' GREENOCK.

On Monday, an address was presented to Lord
John Russell, by the Town Council of Greenock.
It had been intended to present the address to his lord-
ship in the Town Hall, but in consequence of the numerous
applications for admission, the corporation wisely deter-
mined to avail themselves of the ample accommodation of
the Mid Church (Rev. Dr. Brown's). Tho doors of that
edifice were accordingly thrown open at 11 a.m. All the
seats were speedily occupied by respectably dressed ladies
and gmtlemen. On the platform we observed Provost
Martin ; A. Murray Dunlop, Esq., M.P.; Major Darroch,
of Gourock and Drums; Sheriff Marshall; l'rovost Phil-
lips, of Paisley; Provost Birkmyre, of Port-Glasgow ; Pro-
vost Houston, of Renfrew ; and Lorne Campbell, Esq.
The magistrates (in their chains of office) and members
of council of Oreenock, viz., Dailies Spier', Campbell,
til'llwraith, and Neil.; Treasurer Sword; Councillors Ar
buckle, Caird, Steele, Shaw, Kerr, Sellars, Hamlin, Had-
dow, Robert Mac& of Airds, and Ballantyne ; and the
Water Truttees, viz., Walter Service, Esq., John Hunter,
Esq., William Curtis, Esq., Robert Blair, Esq., Hugh
Ritchie, Esq , James Lang, Esq., Hugh Cameron, Esq.,
and Andrew Laing, Esq. ; John; Kerr Gray, town clerk ;
George Williamson, procurator (seal; John Adam, town
chamberlain ; Robert Steele, Esq. of Knock, Andrew An-
derson, Esq., Dr. Malian Hill, T. 0. Hunter, Esq., Thomas
Turner, Esq.; John Miller, Esq.,W. Macfie, Esq. of Lang.
house, Rov. Dr. Brown of Mid Chum's, Rev. Dr. M'Cul.
loch of West Church, Rev. Mr. Morton, Rev. Mr. Laughton,
Rev. Mr. Stark, Rev.:Mr. Boner, George Blair, Esq., Donald
M'Doneld, Esq., Neil Campbell, Esq.. Archd. Denniatoun,
Esq., Thomas King, Esq., Robert Wright, Esq., Charles C.
Scott, Esq., John Scott, jun., Esq.

Lord John Russell, who was accompanied to the platform
by his youthful eon, arrived from Roseneath a few
minutes before 12, a government screw steamer having
been placed at his lordship's disposal by the Admiralty.
His lordship's appear►nce on the platform was hailed with
much enthusiasm. His lordship having been seated,

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Provost MARTIN immediately proceeded to present the
address. In doing so he said—My Lord, the Town Council
of Greenock are greatly honoured by your presence this
day, to receive the address which they desire to present ex-
pressive of the high consideration with which, in common
with their townsmen, they regard your lordship.
(Cheers.) The numerous and important measures
which, during your public career, you have either
urigiraited or supported, may not have met with
unanimous approval, nor in a free country, where every
citizen forms and may express an independent opinion,
was this to be expected. But, ;however they may differ
on questions of policy, the British people never fail to
recognise and to reverence high moral principle, and this,
in your lordship's case, has secured to you the respect and
esteem of all parties. (Great cheering.) The principles of
civil and religious liberty which hare been long and success-
fully advocated by your lordship may new be upheld with-
out the hazard of personal danger. In put times it was
far otherwise, and it is to the lasting honour of your illustri-
ous house that in the day of need it gave to this great cause
one of its noblest martyrs. (Cheers.) Thanks to your
lordship, and to others at kindred mind, both in our own
and in earlier times, the safeguards of freedom have been
established on a basis that we may hope cannot be shaken.
When your lordship carried yourgreat =num of Parlia-
mentary Reform, :there were gloomy forebodings of evil re-
suits ; but it mast be a source of just pride to you that
these have proved to be unfounded, and your own sanguine
expectations have been realised; for, while neighbouring
nations have been convulsed by insurrection or revolution,
the people of this country have kept their onward course,
not destroying but ameliorating.the institutions. This con-
trast, so favourable to us, ought to reconcile those who
were hostile to your measures, and should cause us to
mourn that so many nations are not blessed with like happy
privileges. (Cheers) Commercial freedom has likewise
been extensively promoted by your lordship, and although '
there was diversity of opinion on this subject elm, it is pos-
sible other causes may to some extent have contributed
their aid. I do not think it can be denied that to the com-
prehensive reform of our commercial laws and of the prin.
ciples of taxation must be attributed in a great meuuro
the present unexampled prosperity and comfort of all
classes. (Renewed applause.) My lord, I will not detain
you longer by alluding to other questions of progress,
which have derived advantage from your lordship's support;
but, rejoicing that it has fallen to my lot to represent the
corporation and inhabitants of Greenock on this occasion,
pray that you may long continue to adorn the high station
you occupy, and that yeti may be long spared to maintain
the honour and the liberties of this empire, and to pro-
mote the prosperity and happiness of a grateful people.
(Much applause.)
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The Town Clerk then real the address, as follows:
" To the Right Hon. Lord John Russell.
" My Lord,—We, the provost, magistrates, and council-
lors of the town of Greenock, in council assembled, avail
ourselves of the opportunity afforded by your lordship's tem-
porary residence in our neighbourhood, to express the deep
respect which we entertain for your lordship's personal
character, and for your distinguished talents as 14 statesman.
It has been your lordship's eminent distinction to contri-
bute to the freedom, the prosperity, and the happiness of
this empire in a manner worthy of the illustriouse house
from which you are descended, and to which England is
so largely indebted. In the midst of party conflicts, it
must be gratifying to your lordship to feel assured that
the purity of your motives, and the enlarged views and
, high spirit by which you are actuated, are not only fully
appreciated, but have secured to your lordship the lasting
gratitude of your country. We thank your lordship fur
the great services you have rendered to the cause of civil
and religious liberty ; and we only give expreseioa to the
universal public feeling when we pray that your lordship
may be long preserved by Divine Providence to be a bless-
ing to this nation.
" Signed in name, and by appointment, of the magistrates
and council, and the seal of the burgh affixed hereto, at
Greenock, the 6th day of September, lBs3.—Jour Maas
xis, Provost."

Lord Josue RUSSELL, who appeared in the enjoyment of
the most vigorous health, end who was loudly and most
enthusiastically cheered, spoke as follows:—Provost and
gentlemen of the Council, it would be difficult, indeed, for
me to express in words the gratitude which I feel for the
honour that you have this day done me. I can only say
that, I trust, in a mare expressive manner than by words—
by my public conduct —I may continue to deserve the
approbation end good opinion of cities and communities
such as this. (Cheers.) You have done me the honour of
saying that it has been my lot to contribute to the liberties, '
the happiness, and the prosperity of this country. I
feel deeply such a compliment. I cannot but look back at
the time when I first entered Scotland, and had the ad-
vantage of receiving part of my educat:on under distin-
guished men in the metropolis df your country. (Cheers.)
At that period there was nothing like real representation of
the people of this part of the United Kingdom—those ex-
ceptions of popular election which prevailed elsewhere did
not find their place in Scotland, and the freedom of the
press was a mere name; for Ido not remember that there
was any newspaper at that time which really conducted
public discussions with freedom and with openness.
(Cheers.) I cannot but 1.,0k at that time to congratulate
you, and to congratulate myself, that times are so greatly
altered. (Cheers.) Your provost has alluded to jollity.-