The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-02 00:00:00

—when foe is opposed to foe, and on the point of striking
his antagonist, any friend who interposes would only
fare the worse for his interposition, but would not
avert the blow levelled by the one against the other. I
think the people of the United Kingdom have judged that
their Government has determined rightly in not attempt-
ing intervention. A great and most estimable part of
our population has been suffering deep distress. That
distress has been less, perhaps, among you in Scotland than
in the districts south ; but even here, in
-Glasgow, and in
other places great misery has been experienced by the ces-
sation of the supply of the great staple of our industry. But
if we had attempted by forcible means to bring that supply
which, owing to the contest, has been withheld from us, I
am convinced that, instead of dimin shing the pressure we
should have increased it, and should very much have in-
creased the evil which we intended to alleviate, and the re-
suit would have been that the country would have blamed
us for having taken a wrong view, and having adopted a
policy ill-suited to the circumstances. I trust still that this
calamitous war may soon have an end. I cannot but think,
when the passions which excited that war have had their
vent--and all passions must have their vent—and when the
results of that war shall press more and more heavily upon
both parties engaged in it, that without intervention, which
they would resent as an affront, their own good sense and
their own proper feelings may lead them to peaceful inten-
tions, and that arrangements may be made which will put
an end to that dreadful bloodshed and that wide-spread de-
solationof which the American continent has now for nearly
two years been the scene. Gentlemen, I can only assure you
that the policy which we, the present Government, pursue
is founded upon our belief that we are the faithful expon-
ents of the feelings and sentiments of the English peep). I
believe, and all indications have confirmed the conviction,
that in that judgment we are not much mistaken—(cheers)
—and I will say this, speaking as I now do to an assembly
not composed entirely of men of one political party—l will
say in the spirit of an Englishman—that I am convinced
that if circumstances should lead to'. a change in those who
administer the affairs of the country, and that if the men who
now sit opposite to us, and are politically our antagonists,
though not personally our enemies, should take the places
which we now ,occupy, they would, both from their per-
sonal feeling, but, more than all, by the effect and pressure
of public opinion in this country, pursue a course much
the same as that which we ourselves pursue. (Cheers.) I
say it not to their disparagement, but to their honour, for I
hope, and trust, and believe that the honour and interest of
the country would be safe in their hands. Ido not, at the
same time, tell you that I look forward with any great or
particular impatience to the moment when they will be put
to that which, I trust, would not be to them a severe trial.
(Laughter and cheers.)

Ttie noble lord concluded, amid loud cheers, by
repeating his grateful acknowledgments for the
kind reception they had accorded to him, and sat
down amid loud cheering.

The other toasts were " Her Majesty's Ministers,"
proposed by Lord Dalhousie, acknowledged by the
Duke of Argyll ; the " Two Houses of Parliament,"
by the Solicitor-General for Scotland,acknowledged
by the Duke of Argyll and Sir W. Scott, M.P. ;
" The Clergy of all Denominations," by Bailie
Cassels, responded to by the Rev. Dr. Lee and the
Rev Dr. Guthrie; " The Lord Provost and the
City of Edinburgh," by Lord Palmerston, and re-
sponded to by the Lord Provost ; " The University
of Edinburgh," by the Earl of Airlie ; "Lady Pal-
merston ;" " The Members for the City,'' responded
to by Mr. Black, M.P. ; " The Ladies," by the
Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P. The company did
not separate till a late hour.