The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

LORD PALMERSTON ON RACING.

Lord Palmerston yesterday afternoon attended the races
and took considerable interest in the sport. On reaching
the course, accompanied by Mr F. Hole and several other
friends, his lordship experienced a most hearty reception,
and, having taken his place on the Stand, cordially shook
hands with his old and well-known antagonist, Mr Row-
cliffe, with whom he entered into a pleasant and lively con-
versation.

At the conclusion of the day's sport his lordship dined at
the race ordinary, at the Three Tuns, where an excellent
and substantial repast was provided. Mr Nagle presided,
and Mr Hole officiated as vice chairman,

The health of the Queen, the Prince and Princess of
\Yalu!, and the rest of the Royal family, having been given
and duly honoured, _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN proposed the "Health of the Stewards
of the Race Committee."

Mr DAVEY responded, and expressed a hope that for at
least 20 years to come Lord Palmerston would have suffi-
cient health and strength to be able to visit his constituents
and give his support to the cause of racing. (Loud cheers
and laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose " The Health of the
Members for the Borough of Tiverton—Lord Palmerston
and the Hon. Mr Denman"—who had contributed so libe-
rally towards the race fund. (Loud and prolonged cheers.)
His lordship had on the previous day, as member for Tiver-
ton and as Premier, explained the manner in which the
Government of the country had been carried on under his
guidance. All England had been expecting something of
the kind, and he believed it to have been perfectly satis-
, factory. (Cheers.) As it was customary at these meetings
to avoid politics, he would say no more on that subject.
But there was one matter on which he, perhaps, might be
permitted to say a few words. Most of the gentlemen pre-
sent were more or less interested in land, and both land-
lords and tenants would acknowledge the truth of the maxim
that the man who could make two blades of grass grow
where only one had grown before was a great bent fretor to
his country. (Cheers.) Lord Palmerston was an extensive
proprietor in Ireland, and it was generally acknowledged
that a better landlord did not exist. (Loud cheers.) When
his lordship succeeded to his Irish estates he found them in
a very impoverished condition. At great expense the noble
lord had rendered rich that land which was before poor.
(Hear.) He had acted on the fair principle of " Live and let
live." His tenantry were happy in having such a landlord,
for he bad improved the roads, built commodious quays, and
made no distinction between his tenants as regarded their
religious creeds. (Loud cheers.) The noble lord had found,
as every other Irish landlord had found, the amount of popu-
lation somewhat too large, and had at his own cost removed
a portion of that superabundant population. Believing the
noble lord to be entitled to the thanks of the community at
large, and of his constituents at Tiverton in particular, he
begged all present to join in drinking the toast which ho
had the honour to propose.
The toast was drunk with three times three and one cheer
more.

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plause had subsided his Lordship said—Mr Nagle, and gen-
tlemen—l will, in the first place, tell you that some time
ago my worthy colleague, Mr Denman, came to me and ex-
pressed his extreme regret that he should not be able to
meet me at these races, because an arrangement had been ,
made by him which he could not break through, which ren-
dered it quite impossible for him to bo here at this time.
But I am quite sure that another year he will be most
happy to pay you a visit. (Cheers.) Mr Nagle has been
pleased to advert to what I have been doing in Ireland as
an Irish proprietor. I will only say that if, as my worthy
friend stated, that man is a benefactor to mankind who
makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew
before, I may claim some merit, because I had at one
time nearly 1,000 acres of blowing sand where no blade of
grass grew, and now, in consequence of having assiduously
planted that sand with bent, which dies away after it has
come to a certain growth, and is followed by grass, I have
succeeded in covering the whole of that barren spot with
grass, and therefore I have done something more than make
two blades of grass grow where only one grew before.
(Loud cheers and laughter.) lam glad to say that I and
my tenantry are on very good tera.s, and although I am
happy to see a great many faces when I visit that part of
the country, for their own sakes I should be glad if many
of them would go to a place where they would be more able
to benefit themselves. But so long as they choose to re-
main in their present position I shall be most happy to
allow them. (Cheers.) Mr Nagle remarked that he was
not allowed to advert to politics. But I beg leave to advert
in a certain degree, I will not say to politics but to political
conditions, and especially to Government and Parliamentary
conditions—(cheers, and cries of "Go on")—for there is a
great similarity between Government and Parliamentary
conditions and the racing which we have been attending
to-day, (Cheers and laughter.) The House of Commons
very much resembles a racecourse. First of all, parties go
there and run for the Queen's Plate. (Roars of laughter
and cheers,) It is a general sweepstakes, and more than
one takes the stakes if he wins. (Loud laughter.) Then,
again, there is the match, and he is a lucky man who does
not meet with his match, but almost every man does meet
with his match, and he is not at all contented in that en-
counter. (Cheers and laughter.) Our rules are somewhat
similar to those which guide the turf, because there is that
good feeling in the House of Commons which gives weight
for age. (Loud and prolonged cheering and laughter.) It
is very;true the young ones ;are sometimes very apt to bolt
out of the course. (Continued laughter.) We have one
rule which is not enjoyed to the same degree by the turf—
that is to say, that sometimes we run a dead heat, which
in Parliamentary language is expressed by the words
44 a tie." (Laughter.) But then our judge does not make
us run the heat over again, does not make us go through
the debate again, and take the division over again. Our
judge decides the matter on the spot, and, a dead heat
having been run, he decides in favour of ono horse or the
other jest as he may think it best to do, (Cheers and
laughter.) The Speaker settles the matter. He gives the
casting vote. (Hear, hear.) Then there is another thing
in which we greatly resemble the turf—that is to say, it
often happens that a very good-looking horse breaks down.
(Loud laughter.) And so there is a great analogy in
reality between things that apparently differ very much. I
think I have shown—perhaps you were not aware of it
before—that there is a great analogy between Parliament
and the turf. (Cheers and laughter.) I think I have kept
my word, and given you a little of Parliamentary condi-
tions. (Cries of "Go on,") I hope in so doing that I have
not intruded anything that was not strictly in accordance
with your rules. (Renewed cries of "Go on, go on.")
That I have not introduced anything which is not entirely
appropriate to a race meeting. (Cheers.) I will now con-
. elude by returning by best thanks for the honour you have
conferred upon any colleague and myself I)y drinking the