The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-29 00:00:00

PUBLIC BREAKFAST IN HONOUR Of'
LLOYD GARRISON.-(THIS DAY.)

This morning a public breakfast in honour of
Mr. Lloyd Garrison, the leader of the anti-slavery
party in the United States, took place at St. June's
Hall, under the presidency of Mr. John Bright,
M.P. The company, • which was very numeral::
and distinguished, included a large number of
ladies and persons remarkable for their advocacy of the
cause of the slave. The balconies of the hall were filled,
the occupants being principally ladies, and the English
and American flags were suspended from the gallery.
Among those who were present were the following : —John
Bright, Esq., M.P., the chairman ; Mr. W. L. ou,Lia
hui
daughter, Mrs. Villard,and his soretfr. F. Garrian , the Duke
and Duchess of Argyll, Earl Ruasell, K.G.,and the Counter
and Lady G. Russell ; Lady M. Stanhope, Mt. T.
Hughes, M.P., Mr. V. Harcourt, Q.C., the Right Hon.
W. Cowper, M.P., Mr. C. Thompson, the Hun. E. L.
Stanley, Mr. J. Stanafeld, M.P., the Earl of Arlie,
Lord A. S. Churchill, Bishop Payne, Mr. J. S. Mill,
M.P., Mr. P. Urquhart, M.P., Mr. G. S. Leferre,
Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., Mr. W. Morrison, M.P.,
Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P., Mr. Frederick Harrison, Pro-
fessor Maurice, Mr. C. J. More, ILE, Mr. T. B.
Potter, M.P., Lady Lyall, Miss Cobden, Mr. rhishoha
Ansley, the Hon. Charles Howard, M.P., Mr. George
Howard, Mr. Charles S. Roundell, Hr. Serjesnt Parry,
Hr. ('. H. Hopwood, Mr. Victor ricbrekher, Mr. Lieu]
Tollemache, Professor Huxley, F.R.S., Major Evans
Bell, Mr. Joseph Cowen, M.P., Mrs. Edmund Potter,
Sir George Young, Bart., Mr. Herbert Spencer, Mr. J.,
M. Ludlow, Mr. S. Pope, the Hon. F. H. Slone, Mr.
Henry Crompton, Colonel Salwey, Mr. A. H. Dymond,
Mr. Charles Gilpin, DI.P., Mr. Thomas Barnes, M.P.,
Hr. F. W. Cheseon, Mr. Hodgson Pratt, Mr. Justin
McCarthy, Mr. J. R. Robinson, Mr. Longed, Miss Emma
Chapman (Boston), the Honourable F. Leveson Cower,
Mr. W. H. Neill, Mr. H. B. Buxton, Professor
Beesly, Mr. William Sheen, Mr. IL C. Reber, Mr.
Gorrie, Mr. R. D. Webb (Dublin), Mr. William
McArthur, Mr. H. .T. Slack, the Rev. W. H. Clea-
ning (Boston), Mr. T. Falvey, Rev. Dr. Davis, Mr.
Edward Dicey, Mr. Albert V. Dicey, the Rev. Sella
Martin, Mr. Carvell Williams, Mr. W. Redfern, Mr. W.
T. Mailman, Mims Remond, Mr. L DI. Astland, Mr.
William Evans, Mr. Frank H. Evans, Professor Fawcett,
H.P., Mr. Flower (Stratford•on-Avon), Mr. Mark Marsden,
Mr. Richard Moore, Mr. Octavius Smith, Captain Wsl-
house, Mr. Edmond Reales, Mr. John Dickinson, jun., Mr.
W. Moy Thomas, Mr. T. H. Green (Balliol College), Mr.
Robert Laing (Wadham College), Mr. H. Wedgwood. Mr.
Vincent S. Lean, Hr. Edward Miall, Re.
After the removal of the cloth,
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Bright) requested the secretary to
read two letters, one from the Comte .de Paris, and the
other from Mr. Adams, the American minister.
Mr. CHENSON (the hon. secretary) then read a letter
from Mr. Adams, in which that gentleman expreseed his
gratification at being invited to attend, his cordial
sympathy with the objects of the gathering, and his re-
gret at being unable to be present.
The following is the letter from the Comte de Paris:
" York House, Twickenham, S.W., June 26.
" Sir,—Engagements of long standing will prevent me
from being present at the breakfast which will be given
on Saturday to Mr. Garrison. I regret it extremely, and
I hasten to beg you to thank the committee in the Cora-
tease de Paris's name, as well as my own, for the amiable
invitation which you have transmitted to us. I wish at
least to avail myself of that opportunity to tell you how
much I sympathise with the mark of esteem and respect
which you are about to give to the courageous and inde-
fatigable champion of emancipation. The abolition of
slavery is indeed a cause dear to every liberal heart, what-
ever may be its country ; and as we all belong to an epoch
which, besides its faults has also its greatness, we may be
proud to see it wipe off this shameful stein in ourcivilisation.
The cause of humanity has definitively triumphed, thanks
to the energy of a free people. Slavery is henceforth con.
deemed by public opinion, oven in the countries where the
law allows it still an ephemeral existence. But those who
have served this cause can never forget that at a tune
when its succor appeared only as an impracticable utopia,
it had enlisted already a handful of eloquent defenders,
and that prominent amongst them was William Lloyd
Garrison. After consecrating his life to a task so difficult
at the outset, he has had the happiness to see the
accomplishment of the salutary revolution for which
he laboured. He has at last been conspicuous,
even for his moderation, in the midst of that
American people, who formed in the manly school
of liberty has shown itself as great in victory as in adver.
sity. While we pay deserved homage to those who receive
during this life the recompense of their devotion to their
principles, it is impossible not to associate with them the
memory of those who have been the martyrs of their enure
from the name already historical of Lincoln to the last of
those who are inscribed on the long and precious lists pub-
lished in America, and so jostly called • The Roll of
Honour.' In receiving a man whose character honours
America, I thank you, sir, for having thought of me, and
for having counted on my sympathy for all that is great
and noble in that country which I have seen in the midst
of such a terrible crisis—l remain, sir, yours truly,
" LOURS PHILIPPE D'ORLEANA, Comte de Paris.
" F. W. Charon, Esq., Hon. Secretary."

The GH A I RM AN, who was received with cheers, which wen
again and again renewed. addressed the assembly. He said
he considered it • signal distinction to be permitted totate•
prominent part in the proceedings of the day, which were
intended to commemorate one of the greatest of the gr eat
triumphs of freedom, and to do honour to the most eminent
instrument in the achievement of that triumph. There
might be perhaps those who might ask what vas the
triumph of which he spoke. To put it briefly, and indeed
to put only a part of it, he might say it was a triumph
which had had the effect of raising four millions of
human beings from the very lowest depth of
social and political degradation to that lofty height
which men had attained when they possessed au equality
of rights in the freest country on the globe. (Loud cheers.)
More than that, it was • triumph which pronounced the
irreversihle doom of slavery in both count, be and for all
time. When he looked at that ball and at that assembly,
when be partook of the sympathy which ran from
heart to heart at that moment as they welcomed their
guest, be could not but contrast Mr. Garrison's pre.
sent position with that which, not so far back but many
of them could remember it, he bad occupied whilst
in his own country. (Hear, bear.) Mr. Bright, after re-
ferring to Mr. Garrison's imprisonment in America, ad
his subsequent career as • journalist, psi 1 an eloquent
tribute to the upholders of the anti-slaver: mew in this
country, mentioning, especially, tae name of Parr:et II r.
tineau. In the eulogy which be bestowed upon Mr.
Garrison he included Mr. Wendell Phillips, Mr. Lovejoy, of
Illinois, Horace Greeley and others, and concluded a speech
remarkable for eloquence, force, and simplicity, by giving
as the verdict which the present and future gener.,tions
would pass on tame persons the quotation of the .meient
poet—" Are they not on Fame's eternal bead-roll worthy
to be filed?"

The Duke of ARGYLL then moved the presentation of
the following address to Mr. Garrison
"To WILLIAM LLOYD GA RILI`4OM. ESQ.
" Sir,—We heartily welcome you to En, in the
name of thousands of Englishmen who have watched with
admiring sympathy your labours for the redemption of
the negro race from slavery, and for that which is a higher
object than the redemption of any Mode rue, the
vindication of the universal principles of humanity
and justice ; and who, having sympathised with you is
the struggle, now rejoice with you iv. the victory.
Forty years ago, when you commenced your efforts,
slavery appeared to be rapidly advancin; to complete
ascendancy in America. Not only was it dominant is
the Southern States, but even in the free States it had
bowed the constituencies, society, and, in too many
instances, even the churches to its will. Commerce,
linked to it by interest, lent it her support. A great party,
compactly organised and vigorously wielded, placed in ha
hands the power of the state. It bestowed political
offices and honours, anl was thereby enabled to command
the apostate homage of political ambition. Other nations
felt the prevalence in your national councils of its inso-
lent and domineering spirit. There was a moment, most
critical in the history of America and of the world. when
it seemed as though that continent, with all its resources
and all He hops*, was about to become the heritage of the
slave power. But providence interposes to prevent the
permanent triumph of ,rids It interposes, not visibly or
by the thunderbolt, but by inspiring and au,t.doing
high moral effort and heroic lives. You commenced
your crusade against slavery in isolati..n. in weak-
, nese. and in obscurity. The emissaries of ati-
thority with difficulty found the office of the Line.
rotor in a mean room, where its editor w.s aided
only by a negro boy, and supported by a few in4gnificant
persons (so the officer, termed them) of all ,olaiirs. You
were denounced, persecuted, and hunted horn by mole of
wealthy men alarmed for the interests of the:r class. Yoe
were led out by one of these mobs, and saved from their
violence and the imminent peril of death almost by
miracle. You were not turned from your path of devo-
tion to your cause, and to the highest interests of your
country, by denunciation, persecution, or the fear of
death. You have lived to stand victorious rod honoured
in the very stronghold of slavery ; to see the Hat of the
republic, now truly free, replace the iiag of slavery at
Fort Sumter, and to proclaim the doctrines of Or
Liberator in the city, end beside the grave of Calhoun.
Enemies of war, we most heartily wish, sad Josh