The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

illustrious PRINCE who, though he took a deep
interest in all public affairs, should always be kept
aloof from all political connexions and party con-
siderations.' But," added his lordship, " there are
some topics that may be discussed, and some neutral
ground on which all may meet, and in one thing
all are agreed, not to interfere with the time
honoured institutions of the country." The Earl
then eloquently alluded to the previous career of
the societies :—" God be praised that the great com-
panies are no longer called on to perform those
valuable services and important functions for
which in earlier and less happy days they were of
signal service to the country. There is no need for the
guilds of London to stand up now and defend the
privileges of the people against the encroachments
of the Crown. There is no necessity now for the
interference of the guilds of London to be the guar-
dians of our infant commerce, nursing—may I ven-
ture to whisper the word—protecting it. I might
also add monopolising the trade of the country.
That infant commerce has now outgrown the neces-
sity of being sustained by its nurses, and whether
to assist the commerce of our country or resist the
encroachments of the Crown these guilds are no
longer required. The alterations made in the super-
structure may not require the buttress for its ori-
ginal purpose, yet the buttress remains, not less an
ornament to posterity than as a mark of honour
reflected from an.iquity on modern times." No ene
better than Lord DERBY can address an assemblage
of this kind. He can adapt his style to suit every
emergency, and whether he commands the applause
of listening senates with his apt retort or vehement
denunciation, or mixes in the more genial atmos-
phere of the festive throng, he is always the master
of his subject, the skilled rhetorician, and the im-
pressive orator. Mr. DISRAELI, who was also en-
thusiastically welcomed, respondea for the House
of Commons. He said " that the members of the
House did not look upon these associations
as a mere matter of routine, but they accepted them
as the expression of mutual respect and sympathy,
consecrated by generations which had preceded
them, by long experience, and hallowed by the
history of an ancient nation. Our corpora-
tions are not the least considerable of the secu-
rities that we possess for that public liberty which
is perhaps the peculiar privilege of this country.
They permit the aggregate of individual sentiment
to assume when it is necessary the massive and
majestic form of public opinion, which controls and
regulates the course of public affairs." He then
Alluded to the event of the day, and said that the
Prince of WALES was also a member of Parliament,
and while it was the boast of the Company that the
PRINCE had that day taken up the freedom of their
Institution it must be recollected that he had
already in the House of Lords taken up the free-
dom of the country. On the whole it was impos-
sible that this assembly could have been more suc-
cessful in its carrying out. The br.lliancy of its
company, the eloquence of its speakers, the occasion
of its attraction, all combined to produce a splendid
effect, and the entertainment will long live in the
recollection of all present, and hereafter rank
among the most renowned and interesting that have
'or a considerable period taken place in the City.