The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-10 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

At six o'clock a grand banquet took place in the
saloon of the St. George's Hall, at which only a
select few were admitted, the committee haying
wisely determined, in consequence of the pressure
for seats, to restrict the numbers at the dinner and
adjourn afterwards for the speeches to the great
hall, in which several thousand persons could be
easily accommodated. Mr Ripley presided, having
on his right Lord Palmerston, Sir F. Crossley, Bart,
M.P., Mr Edward Baines, M.P., and Mr W. E.
Forster, M.P.; on his left the High Sheriff of
Yorkshire, Colonel Gascoigne, Dr Burnett, the
Vicar of Bradford, and W. H. Wickham. M.P.
Amongst the general audience were Titus Salt, Esq.,
the Lord Mayor of York, the Mayors of Leeds,
Halifax, Dewsbury, Bradford, and Wakefield; the
Chief Constable of Huddersfield, Mr. Ashley, Mr
T. P. Crosland, the Judge of the Court, Mr John
Rand, Mr L. Wickham, Mr John Forster,
Lieut. Col. Hurst, Mr W. Peel, Mr Jacob Behrens,
Ald. Scholefield, Ald, Law, Mr W. Thompson, Mr
Ambler, and Mr Rayner.

After the usual loyal and constitutional toasts,
the Chairman briefly proposed "The health of Lord
Palmerston," and in doing so expressed his gratifi-
cation that the proceedings of the day had passed
off so satisfactorily, without any of the disturbances
which at one time had been apprehended.
Lord PALMERSTON briefly responded, reiterating
his thanks for the cordial and hearty welcome with
which he had been received.

The company then adjourned to the general hall,
on entering which Lord Palmerston waa greeted
with repeated cheers from the dense crowd which
occupied all parts of the spacious Chamber.

PRESENTATION OF TIIE ADDRESSES.
Long before the hour fixed for the presenting the
addresses, the hall, which is capable of containing
upwards of 4,000 persons, was densely crowded.
At the time appointed the chair was taken by the
Worshipful the Mayor, who was accompanied by
the noble guest and a large number of the most in-
fluential gentlemen connected with the town and
surrounding districts. The festival choir having
sung " God bless the Prince of Wales," the Mayor
presented the following address :
To the Right Hon. the Lord Viscount Palmerston, K.G.,
G.C.8., M,P., First Lord of the Treasury.
May it please your Lordship,—We, the mayor, alder-
men and burgesses of the borough M Bradford, in the
county of York, gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity
afforded us by your lordship's visit to this town to express
to your lordship our high appreciation of the invaluable
services you have rendered to our Sovereign and country
during your long and distinguished career. In common
with the rest of our countrymen we cannot but feel proud
of a statesman who has on all occasions, and frequently
under circumstances of great difficulty, upheld the honour
and dignity of England; and as a commercial community
we feel especially grateful for the influence which has been
exercised by your lordship as First Minister of the Crown,
in promoting liberty and progress, and the adoption of free-
trade principles amongst continental nations. Wo there-
fore rejoice in giving to your lordship a most hearty wel-
come to Bradford, on the occasion of your laying the first
stove of the Exchange, and we fully trust that your lord-
, ship may long be spared to take part in the councils of the
nation, and that we, along with the rest of her Majesty's
subjects, may continue to experience the benefits of those
devoted and patriotic services which your lordship has dur-
ing so long a period rendered to the State.
Given under the corporate seal of the borough of Brad-
ford, this 9th day of August, :864.
JOSEPH FARRAR, Mayor,
The address having been read by the Town Clerk,
a part song, " Let us quit the leafy arbour," was
sung, after which Mr H. W. Ripley presented the
following address from the Chamber of Commerce,
which was read by Mr Darlington ;
To Henry John Viscount Palmerston, K,G., G.C.B,
M.P., &c.
- - -

Bradford Chamber of Commerce, gladly avail ourselves of the
May it please your lordship,—..we,
opportunity which your lordship's visit to the capital of the
the Council of the
worsted district affords to us of expressing our gratification at
seeing amongst us a statesman who has been actively and
faithfully performing the arduous duties of high offices and
trust under four successive sovereigns of this great empire,
and of having the honour of now receiving your lordship
whilst occupying the prominent position of Prime Minister
of England. Precluded by the rules of the Chamber front
entertaining any 'natter having any bearing on politics, we
cannot enter into the many great national questions which
have occupied the attention of the Legislature during your
lordship's public career, But we can assure your lordship that
the council of this chamber highly appreciate the invalu-
able aid which you, as the adviser of the Crown, have
from time to time afforded in carrying to a successful issue
the many fiscal improvements, and other alterations in
connexion with our commercial policy, which havo tended
to open out and promote the commerceof the country. We
allude with much satisfaction to the French and other
treaties of commerce lately concluded and carried into ope-
ration, by which we, as well as all nations concerned, have
received and are continuing to receive great advantage, and
wliich were negotiated during your lordship's administra-
tion. We therefore heartily thank your lordship for thus
coming among the traders of Bradford to evince your kindly
feeling by taking part in the foundation of a building de-
signed to serve the purposes and promote the objects of the
trade and commerce of this district. Wo sincerely hope that
your lordship may long enjoy that measure of health, both
of body and intellect, which in the fulness of years, after a
laborious life, yet remain to your lordship unimpaired in
their manly vigour.

Signed on behalf of the Council,
HENRY W. ItipLEY, President.
JOHN DARLINGTON, Secretary.
The part song, " Oh hills, oh vales of pleasure,"
was then sung by the Festival Choral Society.
Mr RAND then proposed a vote of thanks t?
Lord Palmerston. Ho said he had never seen in
that hall so large and so influential an assembly,
which he was not astonished at considering the
inport.nee of the occasion, so intimately connected
with the present and feture of Bradford. Ho con-
gratulated them on the success which had attended
the whole of the day's proceedings, and trusted that
the New Exchange, which was required by the
rapidly,,incree.sing trade and commerce of the town,
would form an epoch in its annals. If anything
could add to the in terest and importance of the occa-
sion it was the presence of a gre at public character, a
thorough Englishman, and one, in whose hands the
honour of England was safe, her prosperity and
best interests secure. He bad received a true
Yorkshire welcome ; for he was glad to say that
on such an occasion they would rise superior to
party differencos of op'rtinn, wad he trusted that if