The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-31 00:00:00

Mr. GraLit Duff at Elgin.

Oa Thursday Mr Grant Daff, M.P., gave his
annual address at Elgin. There was a very large

attendance.
On the motion of Mr ALLAN, corn merchant,
Bailie Urquhart was called to the chair.
Upon the Dano•German question Mr GRANT
DUFF repeated his well known views, sympathetic
with the great Liberal party of Germany. This led
him to express the belief that the principle we had
seen applied—that of nationalities—would lead to
still greater changes in the map of Europe. Por-
tugal would in all likelihood bo in some way united
with Spain, and Prussia would incorporate the
smaller German Powers. He did not altogether
admire the doctrines of nationality, holding it of
more consequence that people should be well go-
verned than the question by whom they should be
governed. Still, the working of the principle must
be considered inevitable, nor did he think they
should:regret it, considering what it had done in
Italy and was likely to do for Germany and Scan-
dinivia. It was an advantage that the flank of
Germany should be protected against France. Al-
luding casually to the Garibaldi demonstration, he
said there was more in it than appeared :—" Ido
not think the extraordinary enthusiasm which was
exhibited is at all sufficiently explained by referring
either to the noble character of the person who
was the object of it, or to the exceptional exploits
which he had performed. These of course had their
share; but there was more in it than that. I think
it ought to remind even Conservative statesmen
of the same truths which 1848 proclaimed so
loudly, namely, that under the surface of European,
nay, even of English, politics there are vague
aspirations and desires working which it is well not
entirely to ignore. The crowds in the streets of
London that day made me think of those striking
words of Mr Carlyle in his Latter-day pamphlet—
" Democracy sure enough is here ; one knows not
how long it will keep hidden underground even in
Russia; and here in England, though we object to
it resolutely in the form of street barricades and in-
aurrectionary pikes, and decidedly will not open
doors to it on those terms, the tramp of its million
feet is on all streets and thoroughfares, the sound of
its bewildered thousandfold voice is in all its writ-

ings and speakings, in all thinking and modes and
activities of men ; the soul that does not now with
hope or terror discern it is not the one we ad-
dress on this occasion." There are politicians, and
Lib2ral politicians too, who seem to forget that there
ever was a year 1848, or, if they don't quite forget
it, they think that many of its most characteristic
events were mere accidents, and symptoms of mighty
forces working below our feet. That is not my view.
That is not the impression which I brought bac k
some months ago, even from the country in Europe
which Is generally supposed to be that in which the
popular element is least active. The hon. gentle-
man then expressed himself in favour of a non-
intervention policy, pointing out that if we had
succeeded after an arduous war with Russia, we
would have injared ourselves by strengthening the
reactionary and barbarous party in Russia. Nor
were they so strong in Europe as formerly, owing
to the spread of railways enabling European Powers
more easily to move their troope. We were more
a Cosmopolitan Power, and he referred to what
a native Indian had said to him, that another out-
break like the mutiny of 1857 might not be so far
off, the Hindoo and Mahomedan communities being
willing to ssizs our first European difficulty to
shake off our power. But, he said, "There arc two
English influences at this moment which are doing
more to conquer for us that mighty empire than
could all Armstrong's guns and all Whitworth's
guns, aye, and against which all Blakeley's guns
cannot protect her. The one is the spectacle of what
free trade has done for us, and the other is the book
by Dr. Gneist, of Berlin, upon our institutions.'
The hon. gentleman proceeded to note with satis.
faction Lord Stanley's remarks on the Eastern ques-

tion, and to take a favourable view of the Franco-
Italian treaty. He did not think eithor Austria
or Spain was likely to interfere with the Pope;
Spain especially, owing to the prevalent utter want
of faith whioh had been eaten nut by the Inquisi-
tion, was likely to prove a poor support. I❑ con-
clusion, although, without more energetic popular
opinion, necessary in this country to carry any great
measure, reform and many other questions might be

'ar off, yet there were several minor reforms which

he thought mlght be reached, and which he had

often urged—namely, improvement of the diplo-
matic service, reorganisation of public schools,

emancipation of the universities, reform of chari•
tale foundations, and reform of the law, with a

view to its eventual codification.

MANSION-HOUSE.—On Tuesday next the chair-
man (Mr T. Burrowes) and members Of the General Pur-
poses Committee and the aldermen and deputies of the
several wards will be entertained by the Lord Mayor at a
banquet in the Egyptian-hall, and on Friday a eonversa-
%ion* will bo given by the Lord Mayor in the same place.
A large number of invitations have been issued.—City Press.

THE SCOTCH STREAMS.—A constant drizzling
rain which prevailed all Thursday and Friday has
again swollen the Tweed and Teviot, so as to put angling
for a day or two entirely out of the question. On Friday
afternoon the rivers were rapidly increasing in volume. In
Perthshire the weather since Wednesday week has been
very disagreeable. Rain has fallen heavily almost daily
a►nd has in a great measure suspended out-door labour. All
the rivers and streams, which have been remarkably low
during the whole summer, have been in a high state of
flood for a week past. Tho salmon spawning tributaries
of the Tay have not presented such a stock of fish at this
season for a long Belies of years. In consequence of the
flooded state of the rivers, salmon have got easily to the
spawning grounds in the upper waters, where they may
now be seen literally swarming. The abundance of salmon
may be inferred from the fact that in the course of two
hours two gentlemen saw upwards of 200 fish leap one of
the dam-dykes on the Barn a few days ago. The rivers are
well protected by largo b,:dieo of watchers ; and at any rate
it is impossible for poachers to do much mischief at present,
owing to the swollen state of the streams,—Scetsnian.
LIFEBOAT DEMONSTRATION AT BOSTON. A
grand demonstration took place at Boston, on the 24th inst.,
on the occasion of the naming t.,f the Herbert Ingram life.
boat. The mayor of the town, Mr M. Staniland, M,P.,
Mr J. H. Thomas, J.P., and the volunteers, with their
band, took an active part in the proceedings. The cost of
the lifeboat was subscribed by the friends of the late Mr
Herbert Ingram, M.P. for Boeton—his widow and children
contributing liberally to the fund.