The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-31 00:00:00

EIVS PA PER
sc,
.4.474)
establis e co Menial prejudices by
transactions of nations and the industry o ikdividu a a
that time were guided. But you have the tatsfadt o
knowing that those principles, sound and enlightened as
they were, have gradually worked their way not only to
guide and direct the course of events in our own country,
but that they have, by the force or example founded upon
the prosperity which they have created here, worked their
way almost all over Europe, and that those benefits and
blessings which those principles have conferred upon us
are gradually extending themselves to other nations which
for a long time shut their cars to the precepts we had given
them. There is, perhaps, no city that is a more striking
example than Glasgow of the success of that commercial
system. Long was it, indeed, before the people of the United
Kingdom could be persuaded that a nation must prosper by
the prosperity of all who belong to it, that perfect freedom
of action was essential to commercial prosperity--(cheers)
--and that laws and restrictions which were devised and
established for the benefit of the few must be prejudicial to
the many, and ought, therefore, to be rescinded and abo-
lished. (Cheers ) If there could be wanting any proof of
the soundness of those principles by which all political par-
ties have for a great number of years agreed to set, that
proof would be afforded in the result of the year which is
new about to close. We have born suffering under grievous
distress and privations carved by that dreadful and terrible
couflict whi.•h has arisen among our cousins on the other
side of the Atlantic—a conflict which has inflicted upon the
people f that continent miseries which it would be difficult
to describe ; horrors end sufferings Which are incident
upon the action of armies in the countries which they
occapy. I say these people have been unfortunately
the victims of the greatest of all calamities, but their cala-
mities have also had the influence upon us, and it is pain-
ful, no doubt, to every man who has a feeling heart to re•
fleet upon the suffering which a great portion of our manu-
facturing population have sustained during the year and a
half that is now elapsing. Not only has our industry been
I paralysed, but our commerce with the Northern portion of
America has been greatly restricted—and yet, in spite of
those causes which might have led us to expect a great di-
minution of the general prosperity of the country, such has
been the elasticity of the industryof the United Kingdom
—suet, *as been the..powmpf ,an.slon which the eucom-
mercial tra2fatetions of the country have acquired—that -1
notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the general commerce
of the country has not been materially affected—and I be-
lieve that it will be found that our revenue has been alto-
gether in a satisfactory condition. (Cheers.) Well, gentle-
men, that never could have happened at a time when the
doctrines of Adam Smith were scouted or denounced;
These happy consequences are the result tf that enlighten-
ment,which, beginning to radiate from this town as a centre,
has now spread its light over not only our own country but
over the countries of the Continent, and you may therefore
be proud, not only of your own prosperity, but of having
been the seat of those doctrines which have contributed
mainly to increase the prosperity of others. (Cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, the Lord Provost has adverted to events of preced-
ing years. It has been, no doubt, the great aim and object,
of those who have teen engaged in the conduct of public
affairs to maintain the-honour and the dignity of the coun-
try—(cheers)—but at the same tittle to preserve it in peace.
And, gentlemen, that is not so difficult a task as may at
first sight appear—for so long as those who are charged with.
the responsible management of public affairs know that they
are watched on the one hand by an intelligent and. care-
ful nation who would by interposition prevent them from
engaging rashly in unwarrantable enterprises, they
know on the ether hand that there is a deter-
mined spirit in the British nation which will not
suffer itself to be wronged—which will not brook insult—
(loud cheers)—which is ever ready to repel aggression, and
which, by maintaining within itself the means of adequate
defence, will teach other nations of the world that while we
refrain from aggression, while we are determined to commit
no wilful injury, while we are resolved to infringe no right
belonging to others—on the other hand,•".2Voli tee tang ere."
(Loud cheers) Let others be careful how they give net
cause to resent anything that would give us just reason
to deem it pt ovocation—(cheers) ; but I am glad to say that
there never was a period when this country was upon
better terms of friendship with all the other nations of the
world. (Cheers.) I advert not to those contending parties
in America who sue us like rivals who sue a fair damsel—(a
laugh)—each party wanting us to take up her cause, and
each feeling some little stinging resentment on account of
that neutrality which they lost, and which they botliaaf
them in some degree characterise as unfriendliness. But,
setting aside these feelings, which create no irritation in
our mind, and do not in any degree diminish that friendly
feeling which ought to prevail between kindred races, as
they and we are—(cheers)—l say, barring that, we may
fairly congratulate ourselves that there is no Government,
no nation, with whom we have political or commercial in-
tercourse with whom we are not upon terms of the most
satisfactory friendship. (Cheers.) And long may that con-
tinue. (Loud cheers.) lam persuaded that, let what poli-
tical party may be charged with the government o: this
country, so long as they pursue that course which is most
consistent with the maintenance of peace and the assertion
of the rights and dignity of the country, that party will be
backed by tha hearty support pf the nation; and the states-
men—be they whom they may—by whore that course of
policy is pursued will, when they come among -their fel-
low-citizens, meet from all political parties the same cor-
dial reception With which I have been honoured by yxat.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen,l beg again to thank you froM the
bottom of my heart for the kindness of your weleoine, -
which has increased my appreciation of the warmth and
cordiality of the. Scottish character. ' Although, }indeed,
from having' passed three years, or at least. winters, of
-v life in studying at your sister UniVersitytif Edinburgh.

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ebaaacter is, yet I ati pr ud and most grate • for t'd re=
newed specimen which you have given me of it by the
reception you have accorded me at Glasgow; and I can assure
you that, whatever may be the length of life that may be
conceded to me, I shall never forget the kindness of my
Glasgow friends, and shall always consider it as a proud
eircumstanc•, of my life that I have been honoured by being
one of your fellow-citizens. and that I have been received
as such by the dis'ingu shed assembly whom I have had
the honour of addressing. (The noble lord resumed his
seat amid loud cheers.)
The next 1 oast, proposed by Sir J. CAMPBELL, was, "The
Houses of Lords and Commons," which was acknowledged
by Lord ABERCROMBIE and Mr. COWPER.

Mr. DALGLISH, M.P., proposed "Our Brave Defenders
by Land and Sea," which was acknowledged by Admiral
HOPE, who said it had long been his belief that his
countrymen viewed with much indulgence the conduct of
those whose honest endeavour it had been to do their
duty, and it was in the spirit arising from that belief that
he should now reply to the too flattering mode in which
they had been pleased to associate his name with those
whose privilege it was to defend their country. (Cheers.)
Of those defenders, he should first advert to those to
whose exertions he felt was mainly owing the honour of
addressing them; and while he would not overvalue the
merits of those brave officers and men to whose support he
was so much beholden during his late command in China,
yet they might believe one whose let it was to try them
well, that more than enough of genuine gallantry, more
than enough of untiring zeal, more than enough of en-
durance under pain and suffering was displayed by them
to prove their possession of those high qualities which
in days gone by won for their fathers a lasting
fame. (Cheers) It was net fitting that he should
advert to the sister service, with whom they were act-
ing; but this much he would not refrain from saying—
that brought into close and immediate contact during the
whole period of his command with military men of all
classes, during his intercourse, extending over four years,
which would ever form one of the most prized recollections
of his professional life, he could recall to mind among them,
as among other men, a variety of characters, a variety of
temper, and a variety of professional aptitude and zeal, but
could not call to mind the occurrence of one simple incident
which now caused him the shadow of a shade of regret.
(Cheers.) And when men had talked to hint of the labour
and fatigue attending the post which it was his high privi-
lege to fill, he could well have replied that he regarded the
approval and co-operation of Sir Hope Grant, Sir John Mit-
chell, and Sir Robert Napier as more than a reward for any
labour which had fallen to his lot. The gallant officer then
referred to the sufferings which had been occasioned in China
by the incursions of the Taepings, which recalled to hie
mind the memory of those times when savage hordes de-
stroyed the Roman Empire, wasted the civilised world, and
men, in the extremity of their anguish, sought death and
could not find it. He called upon them warmly to cherish
that self-reliant spirit which, during his absence, had called
to arms thousands of his countrymen. They might rest
well assured that any neighbour would sit down to count
the cost of troubling us. His thoughts would rather run in
the direction of the olden motto, Nemo me impure lacessit,
than in that arising from, as he thought, the rather too apo-
logetic motto adopted by our volunteers. The gallant ad-
miral concluded, after some further observations in the
same tone, by expressing his warm acknowledgments for
the cordial manner in which he had been sustained by the
Admiralty, and paid a high compliment to the manly cha-
racter of Lord Palmerston, which so well befitted a British
statesman, and which was characteristic of him in standing
up for every public set vast—soldier, sailor, or civilian—•
who honestly did his duty. (Cheers.)
Viscount PALMERSTON proposed the next toast, which
he was sure they would all drink with much pleasure,--
" The health of the Lord Provost, the Magistrates, and
Prosperity to the City of Glasgow." He was sure they
would drink heartily the health of the Lord Provost, and
no doubt they would drink with equal pleasure the health
of the magistrates. They might feel some little diffidence
and modesty as to the third part of the toast, which implied
prosperity to themselves. (A laugh.) But in this world
modesty might be carried sometimes too far (laughter), and
therefore, casting aside all unnecessary bashfulness, he was
sure they would join him cordially in every part of the toast
which it was his duty to propose to them. There was no part
of our valuable institutions that, perhaps, were more de-
serving of commendation and esteem than our municipal in-
stitutions. They were some of the most ancient—the foun-
dation, the corner stone of all the superstructure which was
raised upon them. They formed the education of lubiio
men ; they were the centres from which originated intelligent
public opinion; they embodied that admirable principle of
local self-government which was the pride, the boast, and
the happiness of all three nation. (Cheers.) These institu-
tions (Worded to the inhabitants of our cities and towns op-
portunities of doing honour to the most distinguished eiti-
z-ns among them, and they might be assured that those
ho,iours were highly valued because they were indications
of the esteem in which the community held the men selected.
The selection did honour to the men selected, and in the
present instance they need not be bashful in the admission
that it did honour to those who elected them. The merit of
the magistrates was seen in the good order which prevailed
in this great city. He was bound to say that •!I.'erfehlng
which depended upon an active and intelligent magistracy
did equal honour and credit to the magistrates of the cit.,
of Glasgow. As to any notion that wishes and !,
the berg
w uld contribute to the prosperity of Glasgow, " brood
of Douai.. aveuld protect itself." (Cheers.) The indust
intettigence, enterprise, and capital of the city of
Glasgow-
would insure its prosperity. They might drink
success to
the revolving sun, he would shine neither more for their
toast nor less for their abstinence ; but depend upon it the
prosperity of Glasgow would go in increasing for the wel-
fare of the city and advantage of the nation to which it
belonged. (Cheers.)
The LORD PROVOST returned thanks
it,everal other toasts, including " The Health of Lady
Palmerston," were proposed by the Duke of Argyll, the
Lord Advocate, Mr. Buchanan, M.P., &c., after which the
company separated.