The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-10 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, 7b. Om.— Afternoon, 7b. 30m.
To-Monnow.-Morning, Bh. 3m.—Afternoon, Bh. 42m.

et
Ult
jr41404"
114.1""N,

LONDON, FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 1865.

The LORD MAYOR'S Banquet yesterday was un-
sually brilliant, and no doubt great expectations
were entertained in consequence of the appearance
of the new Premier. However, these ideas proved
illusory, for Earl RUSSELL was far too sage and
sapient to disclose any of the mysteries of the
• future ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and
the rest of the Ministers present followed suit in
confining themselves to discreet platitudes, which
might have done as well a year or two back, as
they will serve the exigincies of the future statesman
who wishes to impress his audience without com-
promising himself. At any rate, it may fairly be said
that the speeches delivered were all successful ones,
and the LORD MAYOR particularly distinguished
himself by the graceful manner and appropriate style
in which he proposed the various toasts of the even-
ing. An additional interested is imparted to the
civic festivities of our generation in consequence of
the epoch of their celebration being, as the Lord
Mayor happily placed it, " the natal day of Eng-
land's royal son—of him who is at some very dis-
tant day, let us hope, to wear her crown." The
head of the Church and the head of the Law ap-
peared to do honour to the occasion, and ex-
pressed themselves in an appropriate fashion;
but the chief interest was centred in that
speech of the Lord Mayor's, in which
he proposed the health of her MAJESTY'S Mi-
nisters. lle adverted to the " absence of one whom
it has pleased PROVIDENCE to call from among us.
In the death of Lord
.PALMERSTON the country
mourns the loss of one of her noblest sons, of an
able, a zealous, and an honest statesman. He won
the confidence of his Sovereign, the love of his coun-
trymen, and the respect and admiration of the civi-
lised world." It was certainly right and fitting that
a tribute such as this should have been passed upon
the memory of the late Premier in that place
where he had so often appeared as an honoured
and a welcome guest. The noble lord was popular
everywhere, but perhaps he never appeared to
greater advantage than when he mingled in festive
assemblies. Freed from the cares of State and the
turmoil of business, he was able to give free scope
to his natural geniality and his social tastes. The
Lord Mayor ventured on giving a hint to Earl
RUSSELL as to the wishes of the community respect-
ing practical and constitutional reforms.
Lord RUSSELL, who was well received, paid a
tribute to the memory of his late colleague and old
friend in a manner which showed that he truly felt
what he was saying. Lord PALMERSTON, he declared,
was a man qualified to conduct the country success-
fully through all the vicissitudes of war and peace, and
the reason why he was equal to these arduous tasks
was this, " that his heart always beat for the honour
of England, and his mind comprehended, his expe-
rience embraced, the whole field of the interests of
the country ; and he was therefore capable of
applying that knowledge to the consideration of
those interests, whatever emergencies might arise."
An admirable definition this of the peculiarities
which marked the character of the late Premier,
and have made his career unique among the
celebrities of the day. Lord
RUSSELL speaks
feelingly of the loss which
the country
had sustained in being deprived of one
who was always ready to render assistance, and to
throw light upon difficult subjects. Referring to
the present aspect of affairs, the noble lord spoke
in a very fair and commendable spirit. He
declared that he should have been a " craven
coward had he not responded to the call of the
Sovereign, and endeavoured to f6rm a Ministry.,,
He also rendered due praise to his colleagne4 for the