The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-07 00:00:00

fold. We are now engaged in constructing railroads.
Within a few weeks one great line—the Great Western
of Canada—bas been opened, and already its traffic re-
turns have exceeded the most sanguine expectations of
the promoters. In a few weeks about 390 miles of the
Grand Trunk of Canada will be in complete operation,
and we shall then have direct communication with the
Atlantic from the great commercial cities of Quebec
and Montreal. It is idle to talk of the present returns
from these roads, for, highly remunerative as they may
be, such is the increase of population and of the
products of the soil, that what is remuneratiue to-
day will in five years be immensely profitable.
I trust, my `lords and gentlemen, you will excuse me
for seizing this opportunity of referring to our great
internal improvements, and of endeavouring to show
how important it is to our provincial credit that full con-
fidence should be placed in the stability of our institu-
tions. If such confidence has been established I believe
that to your distinguished guest we are indebted for it ;
and I have no hesitation in affirming that the success of
his lordship's government has been caused by his strict
impartiality. (Hear.) His lordship had only been a few
days in the province when, in answer to the first congra-
tulatory address presented to him, he announced the
principles on which he would administer the government,
and from those principles he has never swerved in a sin-
gle instance. During his lordship's government our pro-
vince has had to pass through many trials. We had se-
vere commercial distress ; we suffered fearfully from the
disastrous emigration of 1847; we have not been without
our political excitement; but throughout all these trying
times, as well as during our period of prosperity, the
Earl of Elgin and his amiable countess have been to her
Majesty's Canadian subjects all that her Majesty has
been to the people of the United Kingdom. (Cheers.) I
would say here that, though I shall not occupy your time
by repeating what has been already so much better said,
I entirely concur in all the sentiments expressed regard-
ing the United States by your noble guest, and by the
noble earl (Ellesmere), and the Duke of Newcastle. The
Canadians entertain towards their brethren in the neigh-
bouring republic the most friendly feelings, and I know
that those feelings are reciprocated. My lords and gen-
tlemen, a high honour has been conferred on me in giving
me permission to propose the health of our distinguished
chairman, the noble lord who is one of the representatives
in Parliament of this great metropolis. It would be
wholly out of place on such an occasion as this to re-
fer to the public services rendered to his country by
the noble lord, and, even were it otherwise, it would be
most presumptuous in me to attempt to enlarge on them.
But, as a Canadian, I may in connection with the cause
of our meeting, remind you that it was during the period
when the noble lord held the seals of the Colonial de-
partment, that the great measure of the union of the
Canadas was determined on and carried, and that it was
in his lordship's despatch of 1840 that the first indication
was given of the. new system of colonial government that
was to be carried. (Cheers.) If his lordship entertained
any doubts as to the success of the great experiment
which he had determined on trying—and as a wise states-
man he must have had some doubts—how gratifying to
him must be the proceedings of this evening, and the
complete success of the policy which be was instrumental
in carrying out. lam sure that his lordship would think
me guilty of ingratitude if I did not on this occasion
refer to the services of a deceased statesman who co-ope-
rated with him, and whose loss we must ever deplore.
The honourable gentleman concluded by proposing " The
'hate) of the Noble Chairman." (Drank amidst cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN rose to respond to the toast. He begged
to return his grateful thanks for the honour which had
been done him. On the question of colonial policy he
did not feel himself called upon again to speak, as the
subject bad been already commented on. He now begged
to propose the health of Lady Elgin, whose kind influence
and amiable character were fully appreciated by all who
knew her ; and he begged to couple with her ladyship's
name the ladies of Canada. (Drank with three times three.)
The noble lord then left the chair, and the company
separated at half-past twelve o'clock.