The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-05 00:00:00

opinions adverse to their own supported by able antagonists.
and how much the human mind is impatient of contradic-
tion, must know what a fund of good nature, what a fund
of calm forbearance, what a fund of substantiat reasoning
there must have existed in a mind which could pass through
debates in the House of Commons night after night and
year after year, repelling attacks on some occasions, urging
opinions on others, and yet, although distinguished as an
able speaker, never by any lapse or yielding to any impulse
converting a political antagonist into a personal ,enemy.
(Cheers.) But not only was Sir G. Lewis most distinguished
as a public man, As was well observed by Mr Clive, he
contrived, in a way which excited not only the admiration,
but the astonishment of t hose who knew him—he contrived,
while engaged almost all the active part of his life in
the performance of public duties of greater or less import-
ance, and all requiring great devotion and time, to acquire
more varied, more extensive and deeper knowledge
of all kinds than has often fallen to the lot even of those
who have nothing else to do but apply their minds to its
acquisition. He was one of the most learned men in private
life as well as one of the most active in public duties. Mr
Clive has well stated that there is one here who can bear
testimony to the fact that, however great was his learning,
there was in him withal an unpretending singleness and
simplicity of mind—that he was not given to any unneces-
sary display of his knowledge—that a man might have
passed hours in his society, and unless the conversation
turned by itself upon subjects with which Sir (*. Lewis was
so much better acquainted than most of those with whom
he came in contact, he might have gone away ignorant of
what a vast store of information he had heaped up in his
active and industrious mind. (Cheers,) But that know-
ledge was not merely useful, as all intellectual acquisitions
are, but the habit of mind formed in acquiring it
enabled him better to perform the public duties with which
he was from time to time charged. The great, and, I may
say, the leading quality of his mind was a thirsting after
truth. (Hear.) His great object was to ascertain truth.
He was not impatient of contradiction or of opposition:
his aim was, by comparing his o'svn ideas with those of
others, whether living or dead, whether in conversation or
in books, to get at the truth and test the correctness or in-
correctness of particular opinions. That quality he pos-
sessed in a greater degree than almost any one whom I have
had the good fortune to meet. It was that quality which
endeared him as a public man to those with whom he had
to enter into communion. But in his private relations of
life there was a warmth of heart, a steadiness of affection, a
total unselfishness of feeling which rendered him dear to all
his friends, which made him invaluable to all his family
connections, and which inspired in those who came near
him in the exchange of domestic intercourse sentiments
deeper even than those which can be entertained by any
now assembled to do honour to his memory. It is there-
fore, I say, a becoming act on the part of the people of this
town and county to erect the statue which we have now
uncovered, which, being the work of one of the most dis-
tinguished artists of the present day, does give us as accu-
rate a resemblance as possible of the features of him in
whose honour it has been raised. (Hear, hear.) And I hope
that those whom I am addressing, and those who may fol-
low them, generation after generation, when they pass this
statue, will say, " This is the statue of a man dear to his
country, who rendered important services to his country,
who served his sovereign and his fellowcountrymen with
honesty of purpose, and with successful results." His
career was a career to be imitated by all, even by those
who may not possess those qualities which enabled him
to arrive at that summit to which he attained. Every man
in his way may make such progress as his intellectual en-
dowments and his natural disposition may permit; and be
assured that the imitation of great excellence, although it
may not result in equal distinction, is the certain course to
fit every man, whatever may be his talents, to be a use-
ful member of the community and to earn the goodwill
and esteem of his companions and friends in life. (Hear,
hear.) I therefore, trust, gentlemen, that this memorial
will not only prove its the present day the respect and ad•
miration which the people of Hereford felt for Sir George
Lewis, but will be a perpetual lesson to them and their
posterity, teaching them the course they ought to follow
in order to benefit those among whom their lot is oast, and
secure for themselves the esteem and approbation of their
fellowmen. Gentlemen, I beg again to thank you for
having been allowed to take part in this most interesting
ceremony, and to congratulate you on having brought it
to so successful an issue. (Cheers.)
The concourse then dispersed, and Lord Palmerston im-
mediately drove off amid vociferous cheering with the
Bishop of Hereford, to partake of luncheon at tho palace.
The weather throughout the early part of the day was
bright and beautiful; but the ceremony was hardly con-
cluded before the sky began to lower, and a heavy thunder-
storm, accompanied by torrents of rain, speedily followed.
The thousands of holiday folks who had been leisurely pa-
rading the streets, or loitering round the statue were com-
pelled precipitately to seek for shelter, and so keen was the
competition, and so limited the accommodation that many
of them sought it in vain. The storm had but slightly
abated when the 2 55 p.m. train by which Lord Palmerston
was to travel to London, was preparing for its journey, and
his lordship drove up to the Hereford station in the midst
of a heavy shower. He was accompanied thither by the
Rev. Mr Clive, and a considerable number of the towns.
people had congregated on the platform to witness his de-
parture. Here he remained for some time engaged in con-
versation with all and sundry who pressed forward to shake
him by the hand—a privilege which some enthusiastic pa-
rents not only coveted for themselves, but sought to have
extended to their tender offspring. One ardent mother in-
troduced herself and her hoceful to thu great statesman, and
seemed immensely gratified when ho kindly patted her on
the heed. This geod lady's example was likely to prove
contagious, and the distinguished visitor might, on very
short notice, have formed an extensive acquaintance with
the juvenile population of Hereford had not the starting of
the train abruptly terminated the scene. Lord Palmerston
was loudly cheered as ho left the station, and at various
points along the line, where it was known that thePtrain
would stop, similar demonstrations greeted him.