The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-30 00:00:00

_ -
The Steam Rams in the Mersey,

The gunboat Heron, which arrived on Wednes-
day, remained up to last evening close to the en-
trance to the Great Float with her fires banked,
and a " slip" cable on. Both rams are now under a
guard of marines, and as the Goshawk is moored in
the Float it is impossible for either of the rams to
escape without observation. IV e understand, how
ever, that Messrs. Laird have no intention of smug-
gling the vessels out of port, but that they are await-
ing the result of the protest which has been entered
against the seizure by the Government officers.
The bare facts, so far es they can be reliably
gathered at this early hour, are, that on Tuesday
morning Mr. Morgan, of the Customs, acting under
the authority of the Treasury, and not of the
Foreign-office, as stated, took possession of both rams
in a strictly formal manner, announcing the fact in
writing to Messrs. Laird, accompanied with the
intimation, also in writing, that, if necessary, force
would be employed. The men employed were con
sequently at once discharged, and the ships passed
out of the Messrs. Laird's hands.
In this posture matters remained until mid-day
Thursday, when an armed force, under the orders
of Captain Inglefield, superseded the Customs offi-
cers in charge on board both ships, the officers and
marines entering Messrs. Laird's yard fully armed,
the officers with side arms and the marines with
muskets. The Messrs. Laird have protested against
these proceedings, as at once unlawful and uncalled
for in the present unfinished condition of the ships.
The universal feeling here is one of profound indig-
nation.

Installation of Earl De Grey and Ripon as
High Sheriff of Hull.

Yesterday the ceremony of the installation of
Earl de Grey and Ripon took place at the Town-
Kingston-upon• Hull. For some time past the
most active preparations have been made for the re-
ception and entertainment of his lordship, and every-
thing was done both by the corporation and the
public to give ickie to the proceedings. Earl de
Grey arrived at Hull on Wednesday evening at
5.23 by the train from Studley Royal. He was re•
ceived on the platform of the Paragon-street rail-
way station by the mayor, Mr. W. H. Moss, the
sheriff, and several members of the corporation.
He was the guest of Mr. H. Blundell, Brunswick-
house, Beverley-road.
Messrs. Samuelson and Co., the extensive iron
shipbuilders, having determined to launch from
their yards four new iron vessels, the preparations
for the launch were completed shortly after seven
o'clock in the morning ; and soon after that hour
Earl de Grey, Mr. James Clay, M.P., and Mr,
Joseph Somes, M.P., together with the mayor and
several members of the corporation, as well as the
leading merchants of the town, entered the yard.
Soon afterwards a signal gun was fired from her
Majesty's ship Cornwallis, and the ships Countess
of Ripon and the Lightning, two fine East India-
men were released from their bondage to find a home
on the waters. The steamer Earl de Grey and
Ripon, which has been been built for a London firm,
and a small steamer for the French Government,
were to be knocked off the slips. The vessels were
all succesfully launched without any accident what-
ever.

After the launches, his lordship and about 250
invited guests sat down to breakfast in Messrs.
Samuelson's moulding loft. About eleven o'clock
his lordship proceeded to the Humber Lodge of Free-
masons, where, after an address of congratulation
had been presented to him, he was made an hono-
rary brother of the lodge. This interesting cere-
mony over, the members of the lodge accompanied
his lordship to the Trinity-house, at the entrance
Ito which he was met by the elder and younger
brethren. There were present the borough mem-
bers and Lord Hotham, one of the members for the
East Riding. Earl de Grey having been made an
honorary brother, he was entertained at luncheon.
About two o'clock his lordship proceeded to the
Town Hall, Lowgate, for the purpose cf being
installed i❑ the office of high steward. Here were
assembled the members of the corporation, the
members of the consular body, as well as the various
orders, guilds, and societies of the town. On the
platform were the aldermen of the borough ; Mr.
Samuel Warren, Q C., D.C.L., the borough re-
corder, and Messrs. Clay and Somes, borough mem-
bers. The mayor occupied the chair.
The preliminar:es having been arranged, his
lordship formally accepted the office.
The Town clerk then administered the oaths of
the office, which were attested by the mayor and
recorder.

His LORDSHIP then briefly addressed the audience.
He said he felt grateful for the high office bestowed
upon him, grateful because he had thus an oppor-
tunity of renewing his connection with that ancient
and honourable borough ; and as he had now be-
come an officer of the town, he should feel called
upon at all times to promote the interests of the
town, and guard them as he would guard his own.
A list of the high stewards from the establishment
of the office, and dated as far back as 1583, was then
handed to his lordship, The ceremony of instal-
lation over, a procession was formed for the purpose
of proceeding to the People's Park, where a magni-
ficent marble statue of her Majesty, executed by
Mr. Thomas Earle, London, was inaugurated.
In the evening a grand banquet was given to his
lordship in the Assembly room. The chair was oceu-
pied by the mayor, and he was supported on his
right by the Earl de Grey and Ripon and Mr.
Samuel Warren, QC,' and on his left by Lord
Hotham, M.P., and Mr. James Clay, M.P. The
usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been dis-
posed of,

The CHAIRMAN gave the toast of the evening,
" The Right Hon. the Earl de Grey and Ripon."
His Lordship, on rising, was received with the
most deafening applause. After thanking the mayor
and corporation for the high honour which bad been
done him by conferring upon him so high an office
as that of the high stewardship of so important a
borough, in speaking of the volunteer movement,
his lordship remarked that that body would always
be a valuable auxiliary to the standing army. We
lived in times when no reasonable man who looked
abroad and contemp;ated the scenes which were
being witnessed in the East and the West, and in
various parts of the world, could doubt, be thought,
that it was the duty of this country to be prepared
to meet any contingency,having a due regard to the
economy of public money, which it is the duty of
any Government to look to. Nevertheless, it was
their duty to take care that they took no step which
would tend to diminish the efficiency of our military
forces, or in any way
weakened our national de-
fences. His noble friend (Lord Botham) had ex-
pressed a hope that it would be long before the services
of our army and navy were required ; he most sin-
cerely joined the noble Lord in that hope, and by
the appearances in various parts of the world, he
could see no ground for fearing that the peace
which now existed would be broken. (Applause.)
That peace would be best maintained if a great
Power like England, which had no aggressive
objects, took care to maintain her position in the
world, and make her voice heard in the countries
of Europe and by the great powers of the earth,
and also to manifest a desire not to interfere in
their affairs. It was our duty towards foreign
countries to do to others as we would they should
do to us, and apply the principles and maxims that
we would have applied to ourselves by remember-
ing that when we are neutral we might again be-
come belligerents. (Applause.) It was in that
spirit that the Government of which he had the
honour to be a member had undertaken to act.
(Applause.) After a few remarks on the duties of
the office in which he had that day been installed,
his Lordship resumed his seat amidst tremendous
bursts of applause.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by
Lord Hotham, Mr. James Clay, and Mr. J. Someo.