The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-10 00:00:00

'. 0'.i.4 , LONDON, THURSDAY

EARL RUSSELL AT DUNDEE.

DUNDEE, Wednesday.

The freedom of the town of Dundee was this morning
conferred on Earl Rass,ll, in presence of a vast assem-
blage, in the Corn-Exchange, the visit of the noble earl
to the town being in compliance with an invitation to him
to take part in the ceremony of opening the People's Park,
presented to the town of Dundee by Sir David and Misses
Baxter, at the cost of about £50,000. The town council
and guildry took advantage of the Earl's visit to offer him
the freedom of their respective corporations.
The Earl and Countess Russell, with Lady Georgina
Russell and Lord Awberley, drove in a carriage and four
from Mcikleour-house, Perthshire, where they were residing
for the autumn, and arrived in Dundee, after a drive of 20
miles, about 11 o'clock. The noble lord was loudly cheered
in the streets, which were filled with people, the day being
a holiday in Dundee and neighbouring towns, on occasion
of the opening of the park. Earl and Lady Russell and
family were accompanied to the platform by the Earl of
Dalhousie, the Earl of Camperdown, Sir D. Baxter, Sir
David Brewster, Principal of Edinburgh University, Sir
John Ogilvy, Hon. C. Carnegie, M.P., Mr. W. E. Baxter,
M.P., the Sheriff, the Provost, and magistrates, &c. The
Cern-Exchange was crowded by the influential citizens of
Dundee, who gave the noble Earl a cordial welcome.

Provost Parker read the addresses of the Town COunGil,
which contained the following sentences :

" When we piss in review the many great measures
which your Lordship has introduced into Parliament
during your, long political career, and the important mea-
sures introduced by other distinguished men who had your
hearty and powerful support, measures connected with civil
and religious liberty and commercial freedom—measures
which were often defeated, but which happily eventually
triumphed,---we feel how large a debt of gratitude is due to
your Lordship from this large and commercial community
and the nation at large.

" We cannot close this address without congratulating
your lordship, as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on
the peaceful relations at present existing between the Crown
and all the European Powers, and expressing our great satis-
faction that her Majesty's Government have kept the nation
from entanglement in the much to be deplored conflict still
existing bet weea the Northern and Southern States of Ame-
rica. The constitutional principles which have been the guide
of your lordship hitherto are the best assurance the nation
can have as regards the future,"

Dean of Guild KENNEDY then delivered the address of
the Guildry, which in a few words congratulated his lord-
ship oa his political services in behalf of civil and religious
liberty.

Earl RUSSELL, who was received with loud and general
cheering, read the following reply :—Sir and Gentlemen,--
I receive with gratitude the freedom of the ancient and Royal
burgh of Dundee. I have come for the first time in order
to add my tribute of respect to one of your most distin-
guished citizens, who has nobly provided for the health and
recreation of his fellow citizens, and well deserves to be re-
membered to all time as a public benefactor. (Cheers.) The
increase of large towns is a proof of increasing wealth, and
the effect of prosperous industry is not without accompany-
ing evils. One of these evils is the exclusion of the face of
Nature ; and happy is he who can give to those 44 in popu-
lous city pent'' a rest from exhausting toil, amid scenes
which invigorate the body and turn the mind to the contem-
plation of the wonderful works of God. (Cheers.) In refer-
ring to measures which I have contributed to promote dur-
ing a long course of Parliamentary exertion, you have done
me too much honour. I have been happy to contribute
humbly to the victory of those eloquent and distinguished
men who were foremost in the cause of Catholic emancipa-
tion—who won for the people the great battle of the repeal
of the Corn Laws. (Cheers.) With regard to the measures
in which I had a more immediate part in preparing—the re-
peal of the Corporation and Test Acts; in frtming a plan for
the reform of Parliament, and introducing a bill for the re-
form of our Municipal Corporations —I have been studious
to build upon the ancient foundations—(cheers)—(0
adapt new measures to existing laws, and to put them in
harmony with the institutions of a country justly proud of
its liberty. (Loud cheers.) Thirty years of experience have
shown that I have not been mistaken in my hope ; every
year has strengthened our political constitution, and con-
firmed, as you justly observe, our domestic tranquillity.
(Cheers.) As Secretary for Foreign Affairs it has been my
object to preserve peace with honour. (Hear, hear.)
You may rely with confidence in the Administration of Lord
Palmerston, who is so justly and universally popular--
(cheers)—for maintaining a line of strict impartiality in the
lamentable conflict in America. (Cheers.) The duties of
neutrality between parties violently hostile are not easily
performed. (Hear, hear.) It has been, and it will be, our
endeavour to exercise the powers now intrusted, or which
may be intrusted, to the Crown by Parliament in such a
manner as at once to defeat every attempt to engage our
people in enterprizes inconsistent with our neutral position
and to preserve for ourselves, our persons, and our property
those safeguards of British law and British justice to which
alone they are indebted for the security they now enjoy.
(Loud and prolonged cheering.)
A vote of thanks to the Provost and cheers for the Queen
and the Earl and Countess Russell closed the proceedings.