The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-11 00:00:00

they do not really profess or wish to see carried out.
I desire to see the Conservative party placing them-
selves in harmony with the general public opinion
which has been expressed in the course of the late
elections. I believe that in the main the result of
the late election has been to endorse the great prin-
ciples on which the Conservative party has acted for
years. (Cheers.) I believe the conduct of the Go-
vernment with respect to foreign agairs has met
with the approval of the country, but that opinion
has been expressed because at the present moment
they consider that the foreign policy is safe in the
hands of Lord Palmerston. I believe he is the only
member of the Government in whom the country
generally has shown confidence, and it is because
Lord Palmerston has acted in accordance with the
great principles which have always been the distin-
guishing merit of the Conservative party that so
much support was given to his Government during
therecent elections. The right hon. gentleman then
referred to some matters of local politics. He con-
cluded by saying—Of the future it is impossible for
any of us to speak. It may be that circumstances
ma! enable me again to ask for your support—
(cheers)—and if such should be the case, believe me,
I say it with all sincerity, I would sooner stand for
this than for any other constituency ; but whether I
stand or not it cannot have escaped the observation
of any of you that the decision of the late election in
a great measure depended upon the few scattered
votes of those who we cannot think are best to be
trusted with the independence or reputation of the
borough. (Cheers.) It rests with you whether that
state of things should be put an end to, or whether
you should be put aside from the legitimate exercise
of all the influence you justly possess. By union, by
cordial co-operation and energy, you will be able to
hold your own position, and return the candidate of
your choice. I beg to give as a toast " The health
of the electors who recorded their votes in my
favour," coupling with the toast the name of Mr.
Lintot. (Cheers.)
Mr. LINTOT having acknowledged the compliment,
Mr. C. T. DICKENS proposed " The health of the
Members for the Borough of Shoreham and Rape of
Bramber." (Cheers.)
Mr. CAVE, M.P., acknowledged the compliment
in a short speech, which was much applauded. He
had been attacked for opposing the French treaty.
He confessed he did not like treaties of commerce,
and, therefore, he did what he thought was the pro-
per thing to do on such occasions—voted against the
whole measure in the first instance, and when it had
received the support of a majority refrained from
opposing it in detail. But it seemed to be forgotten
that some of the most strenuous opponents of the bill
were Liberals—Mr. Horsman in the Commons, and
Lords Grey and OverstoneintheLords; and he could
point to newspapers both in town and country that
had changed their views upon that point. Of course
he was anxious for a good trade with France, but he
thought that the altered habits of the French people
would have given them the trade without the treaty.
(Cheers.) He regarded the tying up of commerce
by treaties as open to two objections—that the
treaty might contain mistakes in the first instance,
as that with France did with regard to coals and
paper. (Hear.) Or an altered state of things might
arise, as in the case of the oyster fisheries, which had
been injuriously affected by a former treaty with
France which was not intended to apply to them at
all. It was too often forgotten when seeking for a
cause for the prosperity of the country in spite of
the cotton famine, that the American war, which
caused that calamity, also brought with it in some
degree the means of meeting it. He would only
name two instances—namely, the carrying trade of
the world, which the Americans lost and which
chiefly fell to us, and the increased value of wool
both here and in our colonies. In conclusion, he
would only express his hope that they would soon
again welcome the guest of the evening in what
seemed to be his natural position at such a gather-
ing and in the borough of Horsham. (Cheers.)
Several other toasts on the programme remained
to be given when our reporter left by the last train.