The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-03 00:00:00

rng SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 3, 1865.

people themselves. (Cheers.) Mr. Scholefield concluded
by formally declaring the Exchange opened.
The announcement was received with loud cheers.
The MAYOR next briefly addressed the meeting. He ex-
pressed the deep regret which he felt personally, and which
he was sure would be shared by all present, at the absence
of Mr. Van Wart, who was detained by illness. (Hear,
hear.) He had very great pleasure in having ap opportu-
nity of congratulating his fellow-townsmen on the dedica-
tion to them of so handsome a building as that in which
they were assembled. It was not only an ornament to the
town, but would be of immense advantage to merchants
and manufacturers in facilitating their business transac-
tions. Hitherto Birmingham had been without a suitable
Exchange, and it was owing to the public spirit of
a few of the leading merchants and manufacturers that
that beautiful building had been erected. It had been
said that Birmingham, from the nature of its business,
did not require an exchange. Such an objection might
have been urged twenty or five-and-twenty years ago, but
sing then the importance of the town had vastly increased,
and the necessity for an Exchange had increased accord-
ingly. (Hear, hear.) He concluded by expressing his hope
that the merchants and manufacturers of Birmingham
would meet there daily at a certain hour, which he be-
lieved would tend materially to facilitate the transaction of
business, and promote the best interests of commerce and
the town. (Cheers.)

Mr. BRIGHT, who was received with loud cheers, said—
I believe, Mr. Mayor, it is quite understood that this occa-
sion is not one for making speeches, but I feel it would be
particularly out of place just now to say much with regard to
the objects and value of this Exchange further than to say
that I agree with what has beau said by my hon. friend and
colleague, Mr. Scholefield. (Cheers) It would be impossible
I think, to add anything to the beautiful and touching lan-
guage and sentiments which we have heard in an address to
the Supreme from the lips of Dr. Miller. (Cheers.) I hope
there is no one in this assembly who is not willing to say
with me that he can agree with every word of that prayer,
and that his heart went fully with every sentiment that was
uttered by Dr. Miller. (Cheers.) I only wish that sent-
ments so full of charity, kindness, and love, of freedom and
of good, could be heard from the lips of all the Christian
men in this country—(cheers)—and that the people might
be, as I think we are capable of being, in some respects
changed to something better than we have occasionally ex-
hibited, particularly in our feelings in regard to events
that takes place in foreign countries. (Hear, hear.) I sup-
pose the committee are of opinion that we can all speak
better after luncheon than before it, and therefore, we are
not expected to take up your time in making speeches here.
Indeed it is a very difficult thing to make a speech on a
question :and an occasion like this when we are all per-
fectly agreed. (A laugh.) It appears to be so, also, when
we are speaking in the Town-hall, for the audience there
is pretty unanimous ; but we know that outside there are
a good many who do not agree with us, and therefore we
are stimulated to efforts of oratory which in an assembly
like this are altogether out of place. We must confine
ourselves to the business of the hour. My business—and
I perform it with the greatest pleasure—is to ask you to
pass a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his kindness in
presiding over the meeting this morning, and taking the
part which so properly belongs to him as chief magistrate
of the town on the opening of an institution like this,
which, I think, should enlist the good will and sympathy
of every person connected with the manufactures and
commerce of the district. For myself, I can only wonder
that Birmingham should not have had a good Exchange
many years before. (Hear, hear.) And what the Mayor
has suggested of having a particular time fixed every
day, when at high 'Change, as it is called, men
engaged in the pursuits of commerce would have the
best chance of meeting each other within these walls, emi-
nently deserves your attention. (Cheers.) Such meetings
would not only be a great convenience, anrare generally
adopted in Manchester, Liverpool, London, and no doubt
in all the great Exchanges of the world, but I am quite
sure that the more the merchants and manufacturers are
accustomed to meet here, making it a place of frequent dis-
cussion on other matters besides buying and selling, the
more they will increase their influence. (Cheers.) I be-
lieve it will be of great advantage to the town and district
beyond the mere transaction of commercial operations.
(Cheers.) I will say no more than to ask you to agree to
a vote of thanks to our most excellent Mayor for presiding
over this meeting, showing, as I may say, in the very be-
ginning of his mayoralty, a disposition to make himself as
useful as he can to the town and district. (Cheers.)
Mr. ADDRRT.ry, M.P., said he had been suddenly, though
most agreeably, called upon to second the vote of thanks to
the mayor, which had just been moved by Mr. Bright. He
did so with every sympathy for the occasion, and for those
who were present. He was proud to take part in the
opening of that great Exchange, and he was glad to see on
this occasion• the representatives of every interest in the
country=of commerce, of manufactures, and of land.
(Hear, hear.) He could only say that he hoped the country
would more and more show both in its local institutions
and in its central Legislature an absence of narrow, isolated
views and of class interests (cheers), and a sense that the
prosperity of a great and free nation depends.upon every
interest being supported by a union of the representatives
of every class in the country. (Cheers.) He begged to
second the motion of thanks to the mayor.
The MAron having briefly expressed his acknowledg-
ments the proceedings terminated.

there is all the more reason for a death-bed repentance.
(Laughter and " Hear, hear.") No doubt reforms of vari-
ous kinds, Constitutional and representative, may be pro-
posed ; but, although we may differ as to the conclusions
to which we should arrive on this all important subject,
we shall all agree in this, that the House of Commons is
likely to respond on that as on all other important ques-
tions to the will of the nation. (Cheers.) I will say of
this noble building that it is a credit to the town, and
standing as it does in juxtaposition to King Edward's
school, that they both represent the true basis of political
rights—on the one hand sound education and intelligence,
on the other hand the circulation of wealth and the spirit
of commerce. (Loud applause.)
The MAYOR next proposed " The Health of the Members
for the Borough," eulogising them especially for their steady
and zealous promotion of the interests of Birmingham.
At all times they were happy to see those gentlemen
present among them, and more especially when they came,
as on that occasion, to take part in so interesting a cere-
mony, which had in view the advancement of the interests
and prosperity of the community. He begged to thank
them for the manner in which they performed those
onerous duties which were imposed upon them, and he
was sure they would all drink their health with the utmost
cordiality.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.

Mr. SCHOLEFIELD briefly acknowledged the compliment.
He was very sensible of the kindness with which he was
received by his constituents on occasions like the present,
and also in the Town-hall, where, as his hon. colleague
stated in the morning, they were generally all of one mind.
(Cheers.) But when he met, as in that assembly, so many
of his fellow-townsmen from whom he differed in political
opinion, he was most happy t 3 think that, in spite of these
differences, they gave him credit for what he boldly
claimed—the doing what he felt to be his duty for the
interests and prosperity of the town he had the honour to
represent. (Cheers.) That was the highest praise he could
receive at their hands. The hon. gentleman then read a
letter from Mr. Newdegate, expressing his regret that he
could not attend upon that interesting occasion, and pay-
ing a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. Spooner, from
whom he had always derived the greatest assistance in any
question affecting the interests of Birmingham. After some
further remarks of purely local interest, the hon. gentle-
man concluded, amid loud cheering, by again thanking the
company for the kindness with which he had been re-
ceived.

Mr. BRIGHT, who was received with much applause, said
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,—When I received the invita-
tion to attend this meeting on this very interesting cere-
mony, I without hesitation accepted it, for, to tell the truth,
I have always found Birmingham a very pleasant place to
come to, and Birmingham people a very good people.
(Cheers and a laugh.) And I say that with all the more
confidence after the long experience I have had of them.
But I felt myself under a difficulty because, after I de-
spatched my letter it occurred to me that I might be called
upon to speak—(a laugh)—and yet I am bound to say—
and I say it with confusion of face—that after 25 years of
experience as a public speaker I do not appear to have made
one step in advance in the art of making those delicate and
pleasing speeches which men expect generally to hear after
they have comfortably dined. (A laugh.) But my hon.
friend Mr. Scholefleld has thrown all the burden of this
occasion upon me, and truly I may say that I think the
occasion is one of very considerable interest to the town.
For I agree with what was said this morning, and also by
my hon. friend now on my right—that a building of this
nature is not merely a place in which men will meet to
buy and to sell ; but a commercial exchange, in whatsoever
part of the world it may exist, is a centre of local and even
of national influence, and its influence extends even beyond
the nation, for the opinion which is created, and which acts
here or in any exchange, naturally and necessarily pro-
duces some effect on other seats of commerce and industry,
even in the remotest parts of the world. (Cheers.) Now I
am myself a manufacturer, and therefore, if I say anything
to manufacturers which they think rather bordering on
criticism they will understand that I take a portion of it to ,
myself. (A laugh.) I think that manufacturers and mer-
chants, as a rule, have generally been either too modest or
they have not been sufficiently acquainted with their true
position. My opinion is, looking to the course of history,
that manufacturers and merchants in the aggregate are
gradually becoming much more important in the world
than warriors and statesmen, and even than monarchs
themselves; for it is obvious to me that the power of
these heretofore great authorities is waning, and that in
every part of the world the power of the great industrial in-
terest is sensibly waxing greater. If we were to take down
the volume of history which may be called the chart of past
ages, we should see, I think, clearly that the stream of com-
merce runs close alongside the streams of freedom and
civilisation. It is a long time to go back to the old mer-
chants and mariners who were said to have come from the
coast of Asia to this country in pursuit of one of the pro-
ducts of our mines; but the Phoenicians were a great people
because they were merchants and given to maritime pur-
suits, and it needs but the most superficial knowledge of
history to enable us to remember that from them came the
arts and civilisation, and the greatness and the commercial
splendour of the city of Carthage on the African conti-
nent, and from Greece came the populous and commercial
colonies of Italy and ; and Carthage, though com-
paratively early destroyed, yet left its traces in France and
Spain. Then, coming down to a period when history is
more complete and accurate, we find in the cities of
Northern Italy commerce was attended by arts, letters, and
freedom, and civilisation to an extent which, considering
the condition of other parts of the world, is at least beau-
tiful to contemplate, and most remarkable, and the great
commercial Republics of Genoa and Venice have left their
mark on history which time itself can never efface. And
coming down to a period somewhat later, we find the com-
mercial cities of the Netherlands taking apart in the history
of Europe, equally important, and being themselves equally
devoted to arts, to civilisation, and freedom. And then
crossing the narrow strait, the narrolir channel, and coming
to our own loved island and country, we find here that
precisely as commerce has extended and industry has been
respected, towns and cities have grown and populations
have congregated together. As has been said by my right
lion. friend, from that source and not from monarchs or
from great lords of the soil—from that source mainly has
come whatever there is of social, or civil, or religious free-
dom to the inhabitants of this country. But it is not con-
flnetroo tpheo. s at
Within
nd
thatesCr i nr
period
which is called modern his-
tory our race has seen va§t continents discovered, subdued,
and peopled; and across the Atlantic we behold a country
which within the lifetime of men now living contained only
a few scattered colonies, but has now grown to be a great
nation, that an inevitable but temporary conflict within
its borders has well:nigh 'convulsed the commerce of all the
world, while mankind look on with wonder, and may I not
almost say with suspended breath at the varying fortunes
of that great struggle. Put turn to the Southern hemis-
phere, to countries which are still as the United States of
America were, colonies of England, being in some degree
dependant yet on English authority ; and there you find
that within a lifetime almost of the accurate discoveryof the
great Southern Continent, there are flourishing cities, there
s almost all that is among ourselves
is a vast trade, there i
—States and Empires that are to be, all growing up with
a rapidity unknown to ages that are past. Well, if this be
so, I should say that the English people ought to take
the greatness of these colonies, whether on
the
ecAiaml prideeriea in
nor
on the Australian continent. They came
from us. They have taken all that is best of our institu-
tions and of our laws and principles. Our ancestors were
theirs, and through their instrumentality the English lan-
guage ; and it may be—
I hope it may not be—that when
the greatness of this country may have fallen, still there
may remain in those countries and those populations—,
what shall I call it ?—the posterity of what may now be
deemed the greatest people on the face of the earth. But
in addition to this, may I not say to merchants and manu-
facturers here that not in England only, but in all Europe,
we perceive the commercial spirit extending, and producing
great and beneficent results ? War is much less possible,
notwithstanding the writing of sometimes foolish news-
papers, than it used to be. (A laugh.) There never was
a time probably when during peace the armaments of
Europe have been so great as during late years, and yet
with all these armaments, so provocative of war, there is
the strongest possible disposition among European people
to preserve the peace. And although these armaments
are great, and although they are nourished by exac-
tions on the commerce of all these countries, yet I con-
sole myself with the belief that as wars of conquest are gone
into the past and peace is now seen to be the true interest
of nations, so the jealousy between nations which keeps
alive these great armaments will also subside, and by and
by the Governments and States of Europe will maintain
only such armaments as a moderate and peaceful and just
spirit would encourage and defend. (Cheers.) Well, I
take the liberty of saying to my brother manufacturers and
merchants that as a class, as a section, as a body in the
population, they are becoming every day more powerful
than they have ever been before. My right hon. friend has
said very wisely that there is a Parliament being held
everywhere. There is no doubt that every Exchange is a
portion of the Parliament of the world. Industry is be-
coming more omnipotent, or more near what we are per-
mitted to describe by omnipotence ; and it is desirable that
the wisdom of merchants and manufacturers, if possible,
should in some degree equal their power. Merchants
and manufacturers meet on an Exchange, I shall be told by
somebody; for the purpose of making money, and not for
the sake of philosophical and political discussion and ac-
tion. Now, I do not believe that because a man is a manu-
facturer or a merchant he is less than a man, and that he
loses in any degree the responsibilities that belong to him
as a man ; or that there is less laid on him the duty of
urging, using, and obeying, if I may so say, those responsi-
bilities with the added power which he derives from being
a merchant or a manufacturer. We stand on a loftier emi-
nence than our forefathers did. We stand, as it were, on
the shoulders of preceding generations. We see more, we
are bounfi to take a wider survey and a more exalted view
of our duties as between nation and nation ; we are bound,
I think, to establish the international law of the mercantile
world, which is to insist on the widest and freest intercourse
between nation and nation. (Cheers.) And it is our duty
to promote every quality, every principle, and every cour-
tesy that shall tend to the promotion of peace between na-

tion and nation. Look here, in this very building, what
will be the condition of merchants and manufacturers only
to-morrow ? They will have before them, at the cost of
a single sheet of paper, a chart of the doings of the world,
drawn with, I should say, marvellous accuracy in the main.
They will have on their table to-day every single thing
of any importance that happened yesterday in any consi-
derable town in any part of Europe, and in all probability
before this year is:out they will find the continents of Asia
and America brought so near to them that to-day they will
be able to discuss among themselves the events which
happened yesterday in Calcutta and Washington. (Cheers.)
Why, such are the triumphs of science in our day, such is
the enterprise which commerce creates, that the most
boundless tracts of the earth's suface, the most measure-
less wastes of ocean, are no longer barriers to prevent the
free and instantaneous transmission of thought among man-
kind. (Cheers.) At home, keeping ourselves for a moment to
this district, which has many features in it so extremely in-
teresting. Looking to the erection of this building and the
probability of the daily meeting here of many merchants
and manufacturers, and many others—for many others will
come to an Exchange like this, professional men, and I hope
also those gentlemen who, under the character of ministers
of religion, have addressed this meeting to-night in a man-
ner which has given extreme pleasure to all of us—they
will meet here, and will have an opportunity of doing that
which I say merchants and manufacturers should do in
promoting peace between nations. They should exert
themselves to preserve and promote peace among the various
classes of which the community is composed. I would ad-
vise them to look carefully at one great question, and that
is the question of the instructing your people. They should
endeavour by all means to promote justice in the law, and
that which never fails, I believe, when the law is just—re-
verence for the law among the population. Now, you have
in Birmingham a remarkably varied and yet, I should say,
a very solid industry. There is no great . town in the
kingdom where manufactures are carried on where I be-
lieve there has been so long-continued a course of at least
what I should call fair and moderate success and pros-
perity. (Cheers.) You have at the same time an inter-
laced and compact community, but still there is in this
district that old question, which will meet us for many
a day yet—the question between the employer
and the employed, or, in more familiar language, between
the master and the man. Now, I am one of those who do
not expect to see the strikes of workmen readily or entirely
abandoned. I have said before in public what I am ready
to repeat here, that I am not sure that it is desirable that
the idea of strikes should be absolutely abandoned. I call
the power of strike among workmen the reserved power
which under some circumstances it may be their duty to
exercise. At the same time I am willing to confess that,
in my experience, in 19 cases out of 20 at least the exercise
of that power may be fairly questioned; 'and in many of
those cases it has been a merciless curse to those by whom
it was exercised. (Cheers.) I will not say that education
would wholly remove the causes or action of strikes, but I
believe it would make them much less frequent—very much
less evils—and if there be one thing in our social history
that convinces me, and must convince all, of the great im-
provement which has taken place in the intelligence and
temper of the working men in your counties as well as in
Lancashire, it is to be found in the fact that if a strike does
occur it is not accompanied with one-twentieth of the bit-
terness and the violence with which it was accompanied in
past years. (Cheers.) Well, I believe that education among
workmen and a little more education and thought among
employers would be a very excellent thing in connection
with this question. (Cheers.) My own impression is that
if it were possible—and looking at this table one might
fancy it was possible—if it were possible to have estab-
lished in our great manufacturing districts a grand system
of common schools, through which every boy and every
girl that desired it should pass, I cannot but believe that
we should find our populationreven those thousands that
spend their time mostly in the working of your mines, might
advance so much in instruction, in culture, in gentleness,
and in the love of justice, that society in these districts
might be even better interlaced and compacted together.
Those contentions which occasionally arise would be for the
most part abandoned, and if they did unhappily arise on any
occasion they would be pursued in' a generous, temperate,
and, I would say, courteous spirit. (Cheers.) Now, in the
United States they have, as you know—l speak of the free
States—a great system of common schools such as the world
elsewhere has never seen ; but there, even where the artisan
class is more highly instructed than our own, they have
occasionally and not unfrequently strikes and contentions
about wages. But, judging from what I read in their papers
they appear to be very soon settled. I think, under the
circumstances I have described, employers would be more
courteous to their workmen, and workmen possibly more
open to facts and arguments. Thus causes of dissension
might be removed without inflicting that terrible loss on the
people and the district which has so often been occasioned
in this country. Now, perhaps, I have touched on sub-
jects which some may consider foreign to an occasion like
this ; but I hope not. I have lamented often in the county
from which I come what seemed to my mind the narrow-
ness of what I may call the leaders and captains of industry.
Upon these men, as appears to me mainly depends our pro-
gress for the future in freedom and civilisation in this coun-
try. It is impossible that the great bulk of our population
can greatly improve if those by whom they are employed,
and by whom they must be much influenced, are not them-
selves also in a course of progress and advancement. On
them depend our hopes for the future of our country ; for it
is by their intelligence and energy, and by their capital,
that the world grows in wealth ; comfort is more widely
diffused ; populations are raised to a higher level ; darkness
and barbarism are driven away ; light and civilization en-
ter ; war recedes, as we see it is receding—notwithstanding
exceptional cases in the world—into the past, and peace
comes before us promising to bless the future ; and thus,
when I am in what I should call my happier mood of
thinking, I think I discover that the world, slowly it may
be, 'but still sensibly, moves on towards a happier time.
(Cheers.) Here, then, not to prolong a discourse on what
we are probably all agreed, I would ask, may we not hope
that your Exchange will be a centre of great good ? May
we not ask and believe that they who frequent it, although
they came here "to buy, to sell, and get gain," will yet
faithfully maintain the principles 'by which alone you can
give security and its best reward, to labour, and that, by
your courageous and prudent enterprise, you shall give con-
tinually to the population by whom you are surrounded a
larger portion of those blessings which in all countries and
in all ages have waited on the steps of commerce and of
freedom ? (Loud cheers.)
Mr. SAMPSON S. LLOYD, in proposing " the members for
the northern division of the county," remarked that they
represented a peculiar constituency, a constituency of mixed
interests, agricultural and manufacturing. They repre-
sented a constituency whose political views differed in a re-
markable degree, but it was a more interesting constituency
on that account. They had been told by their much re-
spected representative (Mr. Bright) that industry waxed
when monarchy waned. Now, he hoped the:hon. member
would permit him to say that he differed from that view,
because he thought that the remarkable progress which had
been made by the industrial interests of that town formed
a very good illustration of the fact that commercial inte-
rests waxed, while he was sure the monarch's power was
' not on the wane. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman had re-
ferred to the Republics of Venice, Carthage, and North
Italy, and with his usual eloquence had stated that their
greatness was owing to their commerce. Now, he (Mr.
Lloyd) thought he had read that the prosperity of those
countries, instead of waxing, very soon waned, and with re-
gard to the Republic of North Italy it soon merged into
the worst of despotisms. (Cheers.) The hon. gentleman
had told them that Carthage and Venice had gone and had
left their mark in history. Undoubtedly they had, but the
mere wealth obtained by commerce would never give that
security nor that true liberty which were best to be found
under own constitution and limited monarchy. Another
remark of the hon. gentleman's was that their liberties did
not come from the lords of the soil. Now, with reference
to that he thought they must all have read when ',boys at
school that the Barons of England, in obtaining from King
John the Magna Charta, when they might have sought
liberty only for themselves, were generous enough to seek
it also for their less powerful neighbours. (Cheers.) In
conclusion, Mr. Lloyd spoke in very high terms of Mr.
Newdegate, who had represented the northern division of
WSTrwiclishire for 20 years, and whose absence on that
occasion he deeply regretted, and proposed " the Health
of Mr. W. Davenport Bromley," for whom, although but
recently elected, he entertained a high esteem. (Hear.)
Mr. W. DAVENPORT BROMLEY, M.P., on rising to re-
spond was received with loud applause. He said,—Mr.
Mayor and Gentlemen—lt would ill become me after the
very eloquent speeches to which you have just listened to
detain you at any length at this period of the evening. I
can only say that it is a matter of great regret to me that
my colleague, Mr. Newdegate, is not present to-day—(hear)
—and I feel that it throws a weight and responsibility
upon my shoulders which I am very unequal to bear. But
I beg to say that it has afforded me great satisfaction to
be present to-day at this ceremony of opening this build-
ing, and to identify myself with the interests .of Binning-
ham. (Applause.) I think it is a most interesting thing to
see the formal opening of a work of this kind, which will
be handed down to posterity as a monument of the labours
of their forefathers. Gentlemen, the hon. member for Bir-
mingham has stated that in these days the march of civi-
lisation has increased so much that we shall soon be able
to send intelligence in a few minutes to the uttermost
parts of the earth. I can say that it affords matter for
much reflection to me to think that these walls now
around us will one day echo to the footsteps of
unborn generations, who will listen to speeches in these
rooms when they may, perhaps, be in possession of secrets
as incomprehensible to us now as the secrets of steam
and electricity were incomprehensible to our fore-
fathers. (Applause.) It is not the empty shell of this
building which will go down to posterity ; with it
will go improved commercial laws—laws improved and
added to in every respect, as has been evidenced by the
work that has been done by the Chamber of Commerce in
this town. (Loud cheers.) We must remember, gentle-
men, that whether our interest be centred in commerce, or
manufactures, or agriculture, we are mere tenants for life,
in the Divine entail to man ; and as we have received our
inheritance in an improved condition as compared with
that iu which our forefather§ received it, eo it i§ our bowl-

den duty to transfer that entail and inheritance in a still
further improved condition. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen,
I feel' that, after the manner in which Mr. Scholefield has
been kind enough to introduce my name to you as well as
that in which Mr. Lloyd has spoken of me, it is very diffi-
cult for me to make any remarks to lead you to suppose
that I am at all worthy of the compliments which you have
paid me ; and I can only say, in reference to the practical
part of Mr. Scholefield's remarks, that I shall always be
happy to meet him or any gentleman in connection with
this town, and exert myself in their favour to the best of
my ability in the position I have been called to occupy.
(Hear, hear.) I here pledge myself, as I have done before,
that however great my deficiencies my abilities shall be
exerted for your interests and for the general prosperity of
this country. (Loud cheers.)

The concluding toasts were " The Mayor and Corpora-
tion," proposed by Mr. George Dawson, and responded to
by Mr. Henry Wiggin, the Mayor; " The Exchange,"
proposed by Mr. Scholefield, M.P., who spoke of Mr. E.
Lander as the promoter of the movement which led to the
erection of the building, and whose name must ever be
honourably associated with it ; " The magistrates," pro-
posed by Mr. Edwin Gwyther, and responded to by Mr.
T. C. S. Kynnersley, the stipendiary ; " Me Chamber of
Commerce, and the Consuls, &c., of F.Jreign States resi-
dent in Birmingham," acknowledzA by M. Verdier de
Latour, the Consul of France ; and " The Chairman," by
Mr. Scholefield, M.P.
The proceedings concluded soon after six o'clock.