The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-18 00:00:00

[STAMPED, li. ADDITIONAL]

and all those old inventions of genius which, while they ,
have multiplied to an indefinite amount the productive ,
capitalof the country, have at the same time multiplied
to an extent almost equally indefinite the amount and ,
number of persons employed. I say that the British work-
man would do well seriously to consider these things. Let
me add that I have now been for 42 years a married man,
and let me advise workmen when in difficulty to consult
their wives. (Cheers and laughter.) If the workmen
aro the bread winners, their wives are the bread manager.,
and let them ask their wives and children, if they can
answer for themselves, what they think in the long run
they have gained from those strikes which they have car-
ried on with so much perseverance and so much loss—
greatly to the advantage of those who apply the strings
and manage the puppet. (Cheers.) It is • great disad-
vantage to the honest man who is only desirous of making
the most of his industry, for such a man is prohi-
bited from turning his own skill to his advantage.
Can there be a greater restriction upon the labouring
men? What is the capital of the labouring man? It is
his labour, and really if these societies are to prevent a
man from making the most of his labour it is simply to
put the idle, the indolent and the worthless
upon the same footing as the intelligent and
industrious, and to bring all labour down to
a dead level, and to increase the expense of all
work that depends on that labour, not only by
increased wages, but also by the uncertainty which
prevails on the part of every contractor as to his power of
executing a contract, and the necessity of charging higher
prices, because he may be deprived of the services of those
upon whom he relies. The last objection and the gravest
I have to offer is against the tyrannical power exercised by
these associations. They prevent that which is moat impor-
tant in this country, the conlial union between the employers
of labour and the employed. What interest can a man
have in the welfare and well-being of those he employe if
whatever pains he takes to make them comfortable, what-
ever mestanos he has given them, he is liable at the dic-
tation at any moment of some person 100 miles off, and of
whom he knows nothing, to find the whole of his workmen
leave him, it may be with pain and deep regret, but, ►t the
rune time, under a tyranny they are obliged to obey ?
If there MI one thing inimical to the well being of this as a
great country, it is that capital and labour cannot puma-
Neatly be dissociated. If labour exacts too much eras
capital, capital will seek employment elsewhere. If them-
penes' of any one branch are carried so far that we we
unable to meet the competition of other countries, capital
will fly to those foreign countries, foreign workmen will
displace British workmen, and ultimately the British
workman will find that he has achieved • success which
will be his absolute ruin. One word now upon the other
aide of the question, and let me say this is peculiarly
a moment which the employers of labour should seize for
cultivating the best understanding with those whom they
employ. (Cheers.) I believe the working classes are
awaking to a fuller sense than they have yet had
of the claims of capital, and that nothing has
contributed to that result more than the esta-
blishment of co-operativo societies. (Loud cheers.)
I believe that they have done very great good, not only in
establishing amongst the members of habits of frugality
1 and order, but in teaching them to estimate the claims of
capital and labour, and I have seen with great satisfaction
an instance of the satisfactory working of the system in the
case of the Staveley Colliery, where a certain amount of the
surplus profits raised by the labour of the workmen em-
ployed on the establishment is returned to them, and they
are given an interest in the success of their employers.
Looking at the necessity of keeping secret the mode of pro-
cedure of most of our great mercantile houses, Ido not
think that the system can be generally extended, but
wherever it an be adopted, and the persons employed can
feel an interest in the success of the employer, then you
will do more than by any other possible means to coun-
teract the effects of these unions or societies, which endea-
vour to set class against class, and to create Merin
amongst all aliases. I have • thousand apologies to make
for having detained you so long, but I wished to set before
you plainly what I thought with regard to the Reform Bill.
Although some hazard might be supposed to attend the
Passing of so large a measure, I look forward with great
confidence to the result. I have great reliance on she good
sense of my countrymen, and I am not at all alarmed at
the result ; but standing in the position I do, responsible
to • great extent for the adoption of the measure, I have
felt myself justified in having availed myself of the oppor-
tunity of offering a timely warning for the consideration
of all those who must ultimately be interested in its suc-
cess. Time will not permit rue to refer to the foreign
policy of the country—(cheers)—but your approval
of that policy is more gratifying to roe be-
cause the minister who has presided over that depart-
ment is my own immediate relation. (Loud cheers.)
Permit me to say a word with respect to a report which
has obtained considerable currency in the newspapers, and
which has led to frequent speculation, that it is my inten-
tion immediately to tender to the queen the resignation
of the office which I have the honour to hold. (No, no.)
Now, gentlemen, I have not the slightest intention of
doing so. (Cheers.) At a critical period like the present
I should feet it was an act of base dereliction of duty to
my sovereign and to those who have done me the honour
to give me their support if I were to shrink from
the responsibilities attached to my position—(cheers)--at
my time of life, with the increasing frequency of those
attacks which from time to time unfit me for the dis-
charge of public business, it is impossible that I can look
forward to any very lengthened period of public service ;
but I have no present intention of relinguishing the posi-
tion which I hold by the favour of my sovereign and the
support of the great conservative party. (Cheers.) When-
ever I retire from that office, I trust that I shall have the
satisfaction of doing so with the conviction that I have
endeavoured honestly and faithfully to discharge my
duty to the country at large ; that I have not in
any case allowed political differences and animosi-
ties to interfere with personal friendship, and
above all that I have in no respect forfeited the confidence,
the good opinion, and the esteem of that great and in-
fluential party—never more great and influential than it
is at the present moment—which it his been my honour
to lead for so many years. (Cheers) Permit me before
I conclude to offer to your acceptance a toast, in
regard to which I am sure that you cannot have the
slightest hesitation. It is the health of my
hon. friend who has so worthily tilled the office of our
chairman this evening. (Cheers.) Be comes of a family
which for generations has been connected with this
county, and I am quite sure that he has discharged to
your satisfaction the important duties devolving upon a
representative of the southern division of Lancashire.
The noble earl then resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.
The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment.
Mr. Huen BIRLRY then proposed the health of Lord
Stanley.
Lord STARLIT, who on rising to reply was received with
cheers which lasted for several minutes, said—Even if I
should hope to make myself heard by more than a small
fraction of this large assembly, I could not attempt to do
that which I feel and know to be impossible. I could
never embody in words the gratitude and pleasure which I
cannot but feel at the reception which you have given us
to-night—a welcome so kind, so friendly, and so cordial—
• welcome to be doubly prized, because it conies
from neighbours amongst whom I have lived, and from
political friends with whom I have long acted—from
Lancashire men, of whom lam proud to call myself one—
from citizens of this great industrial community, who not
only on this but on many previous occasions have done us
so much honour. (Cheers.) I stand before youto-night in two
capacities—one as a member of that House of Commons
which has lately carried through a great and important
change in our political institutions ; in the other, as a
minister of the crown charged with the anxious and
laborious duty of conducting the foreign relations of
the country. In neither capacity is it my inten-
tion to trouble you with more than a few words.
Whatever I might have ventured to say upon home topics
has been already anticipated by the head of the govern-
ment, and I shall not weaken by repetition anything that
he has told you. All I will say is, that we have dealt with
reform under circumstances of great and peculiar diffi-

culty ;but lam sure that we have done that which was
the best for the interests of the country, and, as I think,
the best for the interests of the piety. If I had thought

[TWOPENCE

otherwise, however close, however binding the ties which
connect me with the present administration, you would
not have seen me here, or heard of me as
connected with the government. (Cheers.) I look
at what we have done without alarm. I have no doubt
that the new parliament will bring with it some new
ideas, such as a legal reform, administrative reform, edu-
oational reform, and reform in some other of the depart-
meats. Many of them, let me say, I think require it,
although it need not be contrary to the well-known prin-
ciples of the constitution, or contrary to the national in-
tench; and feelings of the wealthier cleans of society.
I do not believe that there is in England any
purely levelling feeling, and I do not believe
that there is any jealousy or envy of wealth
and station ; that is a sentiment utterly alien to
our habits and national tendencies. What Englishmen
ask for is an open career and the power to rise—they do
rise, and no where more frequently then in these districts.
(Cheers.) Let me now say one word with respect to the
affairs of the department with which I am chiefly con-
cerned. I can assure you that, as far u England and
English interests are concerned, our foreign rela-
tions stand upon • thoroughly sound footing. In
Europe we have nothing even approaching to a
quarrel or • dispute with any power whatever ; and with
regard to the United States, although we have not suc-
ceeded in finally closing that controversy, which originated
during their civil war, yet we have dealt with that ques-
tion, I will venture to may, in • fair and friendly spirit ;
and I believe that already the great peessinaker;
has done much to soften and allay those feelings of irrita-
tion which undoubtedly at one period prevailed against
us. (Cheers.) As to the state of the continent, I cannot
say that there is no cause for the distrust and uneasiness
which so generally prevail. The future is uncertain ; the
sky is not fire from clouds, but I have faith enough in the
good sense both of nations and their rulers to believe that
the great crime and folly of a needless war will not be com-
mitted. If unfortunately I should be wrong lam sure at
least that the English people will be unanimous in their
condemnation of those parties by whom, whoever they may
be, such a quarrel is provoked. (Cheers.) The peace of
Europe is an English interest, and we shall do everything
in our power to preserve it, for to endager it is
to endanger that which is even nearer and dearer
to us—l mean the peace of England. In the
course of the evening reference has been made
to the unfortunate Abyssinian business. My right
hon. friend the Secretary for War spoke of it as •
national necessity, and then with somewhat of pleasure.
I must say that I cannot look upon llt in that light. I
regard it as a very unpleasant matter, and I have no doubt
that my right hon. friend, if he was not Secretary for
War, and speaking on behall.of the profession, would him-
self agree with me. It is most unlucky that the folly of
a semi-civilised man should compel us to embark in •
' distant and costly expedition, although I may say th►t in
all probability the cost of that expedition has been
considerably exaggerated by popular report, but I entirely
' concur with my right hon. friend that in this matter we
had no option. Her Majesty's envoys have been insulted,
' imprisoned, and loaded with chains; all possible means of
obtaining their release have been exhausted. We have
taken some steps which hardly became the position
' and power of the country in order to obtain the result we
desired without resorting to extreme measures. We feel
' that we had only two alternatives, the one to attempt
their release by force, the other to let them die in
captivity. We have made our choice, and we intend
within the next few weeks to ask parliament and
' the country whether we have acted rightly, and it is
without fear and without doubt that we await the answer
of the English people. We shall go back to our work en-
, couraged by your kindness and fortified by your approval,
and I hope and trust that you will never regret the confi-
' deuce you have reposed in us.

The next Meats were " The Howse. of Lords and
Commons," which were respectively responded to by the
Earl of Wilton and Lord John Manners.

The Earl of DERBY then gave the health of Colonel
Wilson Patten, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
and in so doing spoke in warm terms of his public and
private character, acknowledging that the support which
he had given to government had materially enabled it to

surmount the trials and difSculties of last session.
Mr. J. W. MACLURE proposed " The Guests," for which
the Earl of DIALMESBURV returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of the Counter of
Derby, which was received with a tremendous outburst
of cheers and other demonstrations of res,
The Hon. F. STANLEY, M.P.. acknowledged the toast.
The Earl of DERBY proposed "The Conservative and
Constitutional Associations," which he was glad to find
were being so extensively formed by the working classes.
Mr. Toucturcxx responded, and several other toasts
brought the proceedings to a close.
The Earl and Countess of Derby, on leaving the Free
Trade Hall with the other members of their family, met
with a most enthusiastic demotstration from a large crowd,
chiefly composed of the working classes, who had assem-
bled outside the building, and waited there a considerable
time, in order to pay them this special mark of respect.
Lord Stanley also was enthusiastically cheered—the Mile
demonstrations were paid along the route to the rail way
station, whence the noble Premier and his family left by
special train for Knowsley.

Trip. HERRING HARVEsT.—Mr. John Mackie
writes to the Ti 111471 from Wick, not only with the news of
• productive herring harvest in those northern seas, but
with an assurance supported by all Ins knowledge and expe-
rienoe that this fishery, whatever may be our draughts
upon it, will never be less productive than it is. That, as
least, is hie conclusion, justified, as he thinks, by the sta-
tistics of a generation and the history of half-a-dozen cen-
turies. At any rate, we are assured of this—that the sensor
of 1807 bas been better than any sinoe 1862, and so retimuera-
tire as to be mattarof real gratulation. The fishing boats of the
sanorthern counties of Scotland have taken this year about
380,000/. worth of herrings. These fish when cured won't:.
fill some 370,000 barrels, and would in that state be worth
perhaps 550,000/. In this catch upwards of 3,000 boats
were engaged, and nearly 30,000 persona found employ-
ment in the work either afloat or ashore. But these
figures tell only half the tale. The herring fishery is pur-
sued, though on a somewhat smaller scale, along the east
and west coasts of Scotland, and at the Orkney and Shet-
land Islands. If we add the returns thus forthcomi, g to
those already given, we shall find, it is said, an aggregate
harvest for the year of the value of • million sterling.

THE EXHIBITION WORN Our.—There in now
something dismal about the Great Exhibition building and
its surrounding garden, at least for those who remember
it accompanied by sunshine, bustle, and gay toilettes.
No matter what section of the world's fair you enter, busi-
ness seems to have nearly ceased, and the principal show-
men are away. Many of the stalls are left to the guardian.
ship of persons who are simply there to see that goods are
not taken away. As for commissioners they are no longer
to be found, and in most instances no one is left to give
information or contract for sales. Every one seems to be
tired of the Exhihition. There is an air of 1-want.to-
get.away in the faces of people on duty, and one
fancies that the objects exposed want to pack themselves
up and be off. Go into the pianoforte and musical instru-
ment departments, and observe bow languid and indifferent
is the playing of the artists employed to execute difficult
music, in order to show the tone and power of the said in-
struments. There are no gentlemen now to take down the
giant brass horns, or get up on ladders and give them a
puff. The musical instrument cases are shot up and de-
serted. The organs go off into melody aoraudonally. but
they seem to play sulkily. No polite world to try a harp ;
nothing but gaping country people in all directions. The
Turks and Tunisians sleep on their sold carpets and divans ;
Spain is depopulated ; the guardians of the Italian court are
dead beat and cannot answer questions. Officialsare now like
the players of a drama which they have played 2s/0 nights
—they are overcome, and some of them look mehuscholy.
The central garden is very thinly populated, the principal
company being the dumb crowds of unoccupied chairs.
There is something sad in the appearance of so many empty
yellow iron seats; they, too, look as if they wanted to get
away and make themselves useful again. Perhaps the
meet melancholy people of all are the foreign pi-mimeo of
royal or government property. Their business kw been to
look and watch only for months, and not to speak. The
expression of the countenance of these official Exhibi-
tion victims is painfully vacant, as if the monotony of their
occupation had exhausted the mind. They appear as if
they would never smile again.—L, no. from Pun,.
CROYDON STOCK MARKET.—This market was
fully supplied yesterday, and sales were effected at the
following prices, at per stone and sinking the offal :
Sheep, choice Southdown wethers, 4s. led. to be. . • West
Kent ditto, 4s. Bd. ; and coarse sheep, 3s. 10.1. to is. 4,1.
Pigs, 3s. 10.1. to 4s. Bd. ; and stores, 13e. to 21m. a bead.