The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-29 00:00:00

to their means, generously in support' of these suf-
fering people, (Hear, hear.) We only trust and
hope that those liberal subscriptions miy be ap-
plied not merely torelieve the wants of tne parents,
but that they may be applied usefully wisely
to enable the children of those parent, to continue
to enjoy those advantages of education which are
as important to the mind as employment is to the
body- We know that when parents are reduced to
great distress, they may be unable to afford those
weekly payments upon which the education of their
children depends. We trust that those who have
the direction of these ample subscriptions will bear
that in mind as well as the wants of the parents
themselves. (Hear.) Well, gentlemen, I can only
say we are deeply sensible of the kind feeling and
friendly disposition which your address implies,
and that it will always afford to Lady Pal-
merston and myself great pleasure to find ourselves
able to revisit this place, which is to her mind, I
can assure you, associated with every feeling which
can render it dear to the human heart. I beg to
return you my best thanks for the honour you have
done me. (Cheers.)
Three cheers were then proposed for Lord and
Lady Palmerston, and cordially responded to. His
lordship then proceeded to the parish church, where
an eloquent sermon was preached on behalf of the
fund for the restoration of the church, by Dr.
M'Neile.

In the afternoon Lord Palmerston presided at a
public luncheon, which was given in a large mar-
quee erected in the grounds of Melbourne Hall.
There were present about 400 ladies and gentle-
men, among whom were, besides the noble Viscount
and Lady Palmerston, the Rev. Lord E. Chichester,
and the Hon. Miss Chichester, the Hon. A. H.
Vernon, Sir H. Wilmot, Bart., Sir G. Beaumont,
Bart., Lady Beaumont, Mr. Mundy, M.P., Lady
Wilmot of Osmaston Hall, Lieut.-Col. Gooch and
Mrs. Gooch, the Rev. Dr. M'Neile, Mr. W. T. Cox,
Mr. Sneyd, Miss Cuyler, the Rev. F. Gooch, Mrs.
Holden, the Rev. F. W. Whitaker, Rural Deall,
Major Wilmot, V.C., and Mrs. Wilmot, the Mayor
of Nottingham, the Rev. J. Deane, the Vicar of
Melbourne, the Rev. Gervase Vasse, the curate, Dr.
re Robin Hood
Hitchman, Mr. F. Fox, Mr. G. H. Bond, of Not-
tingham, Mr. King, Mr. John J. Briggs, &e.
The band of the Nottinghamshire
Volunteer Corps was stationed outside the tent, on
the margin of the lake, and played a succession of
popular airs.
After grace had been said,
The Noble u
) who, on rising, was re-
ceivedilAm enthusiastic cheers, said—Ladies and
withe C
Gentlemen, I beg to propose that toast which is
always first at any assembly of British subjects,
which expresses a wish that is deepest in the heart
of every subject of her Majesty, and which is first
on their lips when the proper opportunity presents
itself—l mean " The Health of the Queen." (Loud
cheers.) We, and all her subjects, have deeply
sympathised with her in the heavy affliction that
has befallen her; but, however she may have been
bowed down mentally with grief, she has never for
a moment forgotten her duties to her subjects, and
their welfare and interest have ever been foremost
in her mind. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with great applause, and
was followed by " God save the Queen," played by
the band.

His LORDSHIP again rose and said—ln connec-
tion with the toast which you have just drunk,
allow me to propose " The health of his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales, and the other mem-
bers of the Royal family." (Cheers.) The charac-
ter of the Prince who is one day—long may it be
delayed—to -succeed to the throne is an object of
deep interest to every body in the realm, and it is
gratifying to know that whatever the Prince of
Wales has been, whether at home, in the West or
in the East—in America, in Africa, in Asia or in
Europe—he has invariably produced the most

favourable impression on everybody with whom he
has come in contact. (Cheers.)

The toast having been warmly responded to,

The CHAIRMAN said—l now beg to propose to
you three services that deserve richly the thanks
and gratitude of their country, " The Army, the
Navy, and the Volunteers." (Cheers.) It is need.
less to say that the army and navy never were in a
more efficient state than they are at the present mo-
ment. (Cheers.) The officers combine with military
knowledge a greater cultivation of the mind than
perhaps at any former period of our history—l say
that of the officers both of the army and navy.
(Hear.) The two services have not at present
any great sphere of action in which to emulate
the glories of those who have gone before them,
but if such opportunities were to offer, and
I trust, though perhaps the officers and men of
the services may not concur with me in the
wish, they may be long delayed. (Cheers.) We
are persuaded that those who now bear arms in the
service of their Queen and their country would
rival, and, if it were possible, surpass the deeds of
those who have gone before them in their respec-
tive services. (Cheers.) As to the volunteers, you
have just had an experience of their capacity to
excel in the arts of peace in the cultivation of har-
mony. (Laughter.) Depend upon it that if the
occasion were to arise, they would prove equal to
the army in the defence of their country. The mere
fact of their existence as a body, experienced,
drilled, and disciplined as they are, and to whose
military efficiency those most competent to judge
have borne the highest testimony, is an armour of
defence than which no country has better, and
which I trust we may long continue to possess.
Col. Gooca in returning thanks for the army
said it was most gratifying to hear from the noble
president that that branch of the service was never
in a more efficient state than at the present moment.
But to whom was the efficient state of the defences
of the country generally owing ? (Hear, hear.)
If to one man more than another, it was to the
noble lord who now honoured them with his pre-
sence. (Cheers.) He thought there never was a
more gratifying and glorious mark of the patriotism
of this country than that outburst which placed
150,000 men, every one of whom was a regularly
drilled and disciplined soldier, at the disposalof the
Government, in addition to the other defences of
the country. (Cheers.)
Sir Hy. WILMOT replied for the navy, and Major
WILMOT on the part of the volunteers.
The next toast was " The Bishop of Lichfield, and
the Clergy of the Diocese," to which the Rev. W.
Whitaker, rural dean, responded.
The Rev. Canon M`NEILE said he came at the
request of a brother clergyman to preach the ser-
mon in the church that morning, and having done
so he imagined that his mission to Melbourne was
completed, but he had been commanded by Colonel
Gooch to propose a toast, and he felt bound to obey
superior orders. The rev. gentleman then, in a few
eloquent words, proposed "The Health of Lord
Palmerston."
The tout
he intended to ettAi7tas drunk amidst loud cheering.
The
ceived with on rising to respond, was re -
el24eaAtNeheering. The noble lord said—
Ladies and gentlemen, my reverend friend stated
give an agreeable surprise.
We , the manner in Which that o h
that toast which he has
in terms which I feel
more flattering than the individual deserved
whaedreth
4,, No, n
0")--t.h
manner in which that
agra;ible one,
if it
toast has been received, could have been a —(cries of
Though-,1 I am bound
certainly sur-
prise, was a most
to confess that it was Y no surprise to me
in the town of Melbourne. (Cheers.) The kindness
and goodwill which I haveexperienced upon every
d this place
occasion upon which I leave visited " Would
indeed make a contrary reception a surprise, inas-
much as it would fro n 3 that
be a departure agree-
able course to me which I have hitherto found Pur-
M
sued by my good friends at .1 elbourne. 1/I,y
reverend friend, with that eloquence which dis-
tinguishes him, and of which we heard so great and
brilliant an example this morning in that cause
in which all your hearts, I am sure, are engaged
my reverend friend has adverted to the course which
I, together with my colleagues, have taken in regard
"to the general defences of the country. Well, gentle-
men, we have felt that in providing duly in a time
of peace, not indeed those ample means which would
be requisite in war, but those moderate means
which, being provided in peace, are a security
against war, we were simply discharging a duty
which we owed to the country. (Cheers.) My rev.