The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-28 00:00:00

you have exhibited a kind foresight and regard for wearied

statesmen, and you have waited until the end of a session
when we might have expected to be exhausted in strevgth,

:o be wearied in our minds, to be enfeebled in our con-

stitutions, and -have summoned us to a feast which would
repair the labours we had undergone, which should fit us to
tu-li into the country to enjoy the pleasures and partake in
the active exertions which a country life may entail.
(Cheers and a laugh.) I can assure you, my lord mayor,
that her Nejesty's Ministers are always delighted to assem-

ble at the festive board of the chef magistrate of the City
of London, not simply from social, but also from most im-
portant political considerations. (Cheers.) For iu a country

like this, the strength of which depends von the union of
all classes, it is a great advantage that opportunities should

be given by which those who are charged with the conduct

of affairs should have the means of making acquaintances

and contracting friendships with those who are actively
engaged in the commercial pursuits upon which the strength
and wealth and the prosperity of the count] y so much de-
pend. It is satisfactory, no doubt, to all to know, as your
lordship has observed, that the prosperity of this country is

great, so that the Government and Parliament may congra-

;ulato themselves in having contributed to that most fortu-

nate result. (Cheers.) It was said of a French statesman of
a former period that, having consulted the leading mercan-
tile men of his country how he could best help them, he
was told, " let us alone," Well, we have not left the mer-
cantile classes alone, but, instead of meddling officiously
and injudiciously with laws to promote their welfare by
direct interference with their concerns, we on the contrary
have not left them alone because we have been employed se-

dulously and successfully in striking off those shackles and
fetters with which the less wise policy of former periods had
encumbered and hampered them. (Cheers.) My Lord
Mayor, you have drank " The Army and Navy," but peace
has its victories as well as war. (Cheers.) There are other
countries which, in these times and in former periods, have
sent forth their legions armed for the purpose of aggression
to overthrow institutions, to conquer nations,to subdue rival
communities, and to inflict misery and desolation wherever
their footsteps trod. We have achieved triumphs, we have
made aggressions ; but we make them of a different kind.
The capital and the skill of Englishmen are spread over the
whole surface of the globe ; wherever skill and capital can
contribute to the happiness of nations, there you will find
Englishmen conquering not men, but the difficulties of na-
ture, overthrowing not human institutions, but those ob-
stacles nature has opposed to the intercourse of men, contri-
buting to the wealth, happiness, and prosperity of the nations
by whom they are employed, and in whose territories their
operations are carried on. (Cheers,) Well, my Lord Mayor,
that is a proud and satisfactory reflection for Englishmen
to make, and I may be permitted to say that the commercial
community of England is mainly the cause of those tri-
umphs. It is by the successful industry and.commerce of
the merchants of England that that wealth is accumulated
and that influence created by which those triumphs over
the difficulties of nature for the benefit and happiness of
mankind have been achieved and are now in progress among
the rations. (Cheers) I beg on behalf of myself and col-
leagues again to thank you most sincerely for the manner in
which you have drank our healthy. (Loud Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR—I have now to offer for your accept-

ante the toast of the House of Lords. That is one of the
institutions of this country. (Cheers.) The House of Lords
is recruited from the various professions, and is always re-
ceiving into it fresh blood. I believe the country feels that
that house is a necessity; the country feels that to be an
institution of which they may be justly proud, and there is
nothing equal to it in any other nation. I couple with the
toast the health of Earl Russell. (Cheers) We have looked
on the noble earl for many years as being connected with
another house, in which he long maintained a distinguished
part, which earned for him the gratitude of the country.
(Cheers.) I am sure the country was delighted at his
elevation to the Upper House, to which he has contributed
no mean share of talent and experience. The name of Earl
Russell, I am sure, will always be remembered with esteem
and respect in this country, and it gives me very great
pleasure, in proposing the toast of the House of Lords, to
couple it with his name. (Loud cheers.)
Earl RUSSELL—My Lord Mayor, my Lords, Ladies, and
Gentlemen,—I deem it no slight distinction to have my

name associated with the House of Lords, by the chief
magistrate of the city of London, with which I have long
had the honour of being connected. I quite concur in
what your Lordship has said, that the House of Lords
being constantly recruited from all that is most distin-
guished in law, in letters, and in arts, is different from the
aristocracies of other countries and is linked more intimately
with the people. Beyond this, it must also be said that the
habits and tastes of the House of Lords differ greatly from
those of the aristocracies in other countries. If other aris-
tocracies have sat themselves against the people, and have
perished in consequence of that opposition, it has been
because confined to the capitals of those countries, and look-
ing to nothing beyond the improvement of those capitals,
they have had no sympathy with the general feelings and
pursuits of the people. (Cheers.) But in this country, on
the other hand, wherever you go you find the aristocracy
enjoying the same sports, adzainistering the same rules of
justice, rejoicing in the same joys, and sympathizing with
the same afflictions with the other classes of the community.
(Cheers.) My Lord Mayor, it may appear to some as if
your lordship had paid me compliment which was hardly
appropriate, when I remember that the House of Lords
have not shown that degree of confidence which I thought
I had some right to expect in the management of the for
affairs of the country. (Cheers and a laugh.) I are happy,
however, to think that this alarm of the House of Lords,
which, ;n fact, was confined to those Lords who were in die-
taut parts of the country— (a laugh)—has been very much
exaggerated. (Hear, hear.) lam happy to think that you
my Lord 11.Iayor, agree with me that never did this country
stand in a prouder position, never was its influence greater
with all foreign countries than at the present moment.
[The .11Iorning Post says :—" This gratifying announce-
ment failed to elicit any demonstrations of applause. In
some parts of the hall there were heard expressions of Oh,
oh,' and the noble earl closed his address without a single
cheer from the company.")

[The Morning herald says the noble earl resumed his
seat with scarcely a solitary cheer from any part of the
assembly, which in truth had listened and genet with a
puzzled look, as if not exactly comprehending the
full force and meaning of the noble earl's utterances, and
now gave vent to their surprise as light seemed to break in
upon their minds by a buzz of conversation.]
The LORD MAYOR—I have now to propose for your ac•
ceptanco "The Health of the House of Commons." That
house, I may say, represents not only the views and feel-
ings of almost every class of the community, but even their
prejudices. There is no grievance which may not there find
its utterance. In fact, it is the safety -valve of the Constie
tution ; it enables those who feel themselves aggrieved to
make their complaints known. The Ifouse of Commons ex-
ercise not only great influence in this country, but on the
affairs of otheneountries. No debatoon foreign politics can take
place which is not looked to with intense interest, not only
here, but in other countries, and it thus exercises a most
salutary influence on civilieation and the world. We may,
I think, congratulate the members of the House of Com-
mons here present ou the manner in which the house has
maintained the honour and the interests of the country, and
we know full well if the House of Commons is not in har-
mony with the feelings of the country, the pressure from
without so well understood in former times is able again to
make itself felt. The House of Commons is an institution
of which this country may be proud. Other countries have
attempted in vain to copy it or to establish anything like it
where the same freedom of speech and of discussion may be
had. It gives me great pleasure on the'present occasion to
see assembled round this table so many able and influential
members of that house, and I am happy to couple with the
toast the name of a gentleman who has long occupied an
eminent position in that house, and who had long been con-
nected with the management of state affairs in this country
—I mean Sir G. Grey. (Loud cheers.)
Sir 0. GREY—My Lord Mayor, I beg for myself, and on
behalf of the other members of the House of Commons pre-
sent on this occasion, to return you our sincere thanks for
the toast you have just drunk, and with which you have
done mo the honour to connect my name. I believe, how-
ever, on the present occasion I shall best consult the wishes
of those I have the honour to address if I use a phrase per-
fectly familiar to those of us who for some time past have
been sitting up until 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning, and say
that at this late period of the sassier.) and at this late hour I
will detain you only for a moment or two. (Laughter.) I
believe, my Lord Mayor, that you truly express the public
opinion of the country when you say that the House of
Commons fairly represents that opinion, and ',will say thus
further, that, notwithstanding all our political differences
and party conflicts, I believe the House of Commons as a
body fully recognises under all circumstances the para-
mount obligation of postponing every other consideration to
the maintenance of the honour and interests of the country,
which owes its greatness, intelligence, and prosperity
mainly to the free institutions which it is our privilege to
possess, and to the constitutional Government under wich
it is mu happiness to live. (Cheers.)
Viscount PALMERSTON, in rising to propose the next
toast, was loudly cheered. He said—Gentlemen and ladies,
I beg with your permission to propose a toast which I am
sure you will receive with the greatest possible pleasure, I
mean " The Health of the Lord Mayor." (Cheers.) The
municipal institutions of this happy country are among the
most valuable parts of our organisation, and they create and
carry into execution that principle of local self-government
which is the life and action of every nation. (Cheers.) But
of all our municipal bodies that of the city of London may
without contrediction be said to be the most distinguished
and the most ancient. It is a great honour to any man to be
selected by his fellow-countrymen to hold any office of
power and influence over them such as that of Lord
Mayor. Those who wear the civic crown in municipal
institutions in the quality of mayor must be men who
have entitled themselves to the respect, goodwill, and
confidence of their fellow-citizens. (Cheers.) I am sure
the Lord Mayor has well earned the dignity conferred
upon him, and that you will all be pleased to do him the
honour of drinking his health, (Cheers )
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks in an effective speech,
and proposed " The City Magistracy," which was responded
to by Colonel Wilson.
The next toast was " The Sheriffs," which Sheriff Cave
acknowledged, " The Health of the Lady Mayoress" was
proposed by the Duke of Somerset, and drunk with much
applause, after which the company separated.