The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-28 00:00:00

Metropolitan Board of Works•

The usual weekly meeting of the . Metropolitan
Board of Works was held yesterday at the office in
Spring-gardens ; Mr. Henry Lowman Taylor, in
the absence of Sir John Thwaites, who was attend-
ing the funeral of Lord Palmerston, presided.
There was a very thin attendance of members.
THE LATE LORD PALMERSTON.

Immediately on taking the chair, Mr. H. L.
TAYLOR, the chairman pro tem., am sure but
one feeling exists throughout this country, and which
is shared by every member of this Board, and that
is one of regret at the loss the country has sustained
in the death of Lord Palmerston. (Hear, hear.) I
am sure, therefore, that we shall simply do what is
necessary on this occasion by passing a resolution
expressive of deep sympathy at the loss which the
country at large and this Board has sustained.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. TITE, -M.P., said—l have had no communica-
tion with our chairman, but I think it will be be-
coming on lily part to say a word or two on the
present occasion. I have had the honour of being
a humble supporter of Lord Palmerston during the
time I have been in Parliament, and I can speak
with confidence as to the ability and care which he de-
voted to every part of the Government, and his
great desire to promote any measure which should
benefit the great mass of the people. It is not my
desire, in any degree, to touch upon politics, as this
is not the proper place to do so ; but we all felt that
in his hands the honour of England was safe, and
we can only express our regret -that he has been so
suddenly taken from- us. It was only on the 2d of
September that I had an interview with him, when
he spoke to me with his usual kindness on his pro-
mised visit to Bristol, and afterwards to Bath, on
the occasion of the opening of the Industrial Exhi-
bition at the former place. Owing to illness he was
obliged to postpone his visit, and now we have to
regret the loss of a kind, good, and generous
man, who was also a very warm supporter of our
Board. I therefore beg to move the following reso-
lution

"Resolved, that this Board feels called upon to record its
sense of the great loss this country has sustained in the
death of its Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Viscount Pal-
merston—a man who through the course of a long life de-
voted to the service of his country has always maintained
the honour of great Britain, its prosperity, and its institu-
tions ; that during his administration the country has been
successfully conducted through great difficulties, and the
blessings of peace secured to the nation. That a copy of
this resolution be communicated to Lady Palmerston, with
the respectful assurance of the condolence of this Board,
and their deep sympathy in the great loss she has sus-
tained."

Mr. MILLER, M.P.—My hon. friend the member

for Bath (Mr. Tite) has proposed the resolution as
a political supporter of Lord Palmerston, and I can
assure you that if he had pleasure in proposing it, I
have equal pleasure in seconding the motion as a
member of her Majesty's Opposition. While I say
I was in opposition to Lord Palmerston, I am sure
I never entertained any other feeling, and I do not
believe that it was entertained by any other man
who knew him, than that he was a man of un-
blemished integrity, and actuated by the most pa-
triotic motives. He was generous and courteous in
his bearing as a gentleman, and a most kind-hearted
man. (Hear.) In saying this lam not merely express-
ing my own sentiments, but I am sure every member
of the Opposition will equally echo the opinions to
which I have given expression, of respect for that
illustrious man, who for 57 years was a member of
the House of Commons, and who for 51 years of
that time filled the highest official positions in the
country. During the whole of that reriod it was
admitted that he never said a selfish ‘vord or did a
selfish action, having no other object in view but the
good of his country and the happiness of those whom
he represented. Lord Palmerston, as a politician,
has passed away, and can only now be remembered
as a public statesman, as a great and patriotic mem-
ber of the British Government, to whom we are
deeply indebted for services rendered, and whose
example we should do well to follow. (Hear, hear.)
In political life I believe that the truth can be best
arrived at when the ideas of fallible men are scruti-

•••••••
nised by. the examination of discussion. I have great
pleasure in seconding the resolution, because it is in
no degree of a political character, aid that an histori-

cal record should be placed on our books as an ack
_ -

uowledgment of the support this board has always
received during its existence from the noble lord,
and I trust that it will be agreed to unanimously.
The motion was put and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. TITE, M.P., then moved that this resolution
should be advertised in the usual papers.
The CHAIRMAN said that no doubt it would be
the desire of the board to adjourn, but there were
some matters that must necessarily be disposed of.
Some routine matters wera then gone through,
and the board adjourned.