The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-29 00:00:00

CELEBRATION OF THE UNION BETTVEEN
ENGLAND D FRANCE.

A.geueral public meeting was held yesterday at the
Egyptian-hall, Mansion-house, to receive a report from
the committee of management on the proceedings pro-
posed to be taken at a national festival in celebration of
the union between England and France, and to adopt
measures thereupon. The Lord Mayor took the chair
at two o'clock, by which time a tolerably numerous as-
sembly had collected. Among the gentlemen present
were—Viscount Ebrington, M.P., Mr. H. G. Langton,
M.P., Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire, Mr. B. Oliveira,
M.P., Mr. Alderman Rose, Mr. M. Uzielli, the Rev.
Dr. Vivian,' the Rev. Robert Dean, Dr. Truman, Mr.
J. Coppock, Mr. J. Anderton, Mr. E. Davis, Mr. W.
Tite, F.R.S., Mr. Alderman Moon, Mr. C. Geach,
M.P., Mr. S. C. Hall, F.S,A., Alderman Sir R. W.
Carden, Colonel Freestun, M.P., Mr. J. Masterman,
M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Starr, Mr. W. Brown, M.P.,
Mr. J. J. Mechi, Mr. Deputy Obbard, Mr. F. Bennoch,
Mr. Deputy Bower, Mr. L. Blumberg, Mr. A. Berens,
Mr. J. Causton, the Rev. Dr. Biber, the High Bailiff
of Southwark, Mr. F. Lloyd, &c.
The LORD MAYOR, in opening the proceedings, stated
that, on the 7th of June last, a number of gentlemen
bad met at the Mansion-house, at the invitation princi-
pally of Mr. J. Anderton, for the purpose of considering
whether it would be de-sirable to entertain some of the
distinguished citizens of France in this country. This
suggestion originated in the circumstance of the -French
nation having three years ago invited many of the dis-
tinguished men of Great Britain, including members of
the aristocracy, men of science, gentlemen who had
been officially connected with the Great Exhibition, and
gentlemen belonging to the corporation of London, to a
series of banquets and entertainments in Paris ; and since
that time the hope had been entertained that a fitting
opportunity might arise for them to give a return for the
splendid hospitalities which had been shown them, as
he believed that none who had partaken of those
hospitalities differed in opinion as to the good results
they had produced by creating a feeling of hearty
goodwill between the French' and 'ourselves. (Hear,
hear.) At the meeting of the 7th of June the proposal
was generally received with marks of approbation, al-
though there did exist a doubt in the minds of one or
two gentlemen as to whether this was the most fitting
time for such festivities, and the meeting decided that,
before they took any step in the matter of a public cha-
racter, they would ascertain what were the feelings of
her Majesty's Government on the subject. (Hear.)
An important deputation accordingly waited upon Lard
Palmerston, when his lordship, after minutely going
into the subject, said that he would communicate with
his colleagues and inform them as to the result. Lord
Palmerston had subsequently communicated to him that
the matter had engaged the attention of his colleagues,
who, without one exception, were unanimous that the
feeling which had been displayed was a very proper one
and met with their concurrence. (Cheers.) This opinion
had been borne out by Lord Clarendon, who, so lately
as Monday last, had said that he knew' the matter had
been made the subject of consideration by her Majesty's
advisers, who all concurred in the advisability of the
proposed step. A further meeting was then held at the
Mansion-house on the 14th of June, when a resolution
acquiescing in their object, which would presently be
laid before the present meeting, was carried unani-
mously. A committee was then formed, which had been
enabled, by sending copies round of that resolution, to
obtain the concurrence of something like 350 distin-
guished men, who had all expressed their anxiety to see
this national demonstration carried to a successful issue.
(Hear, hear.) They had now, therefore, thought it right
to convene a public meeting to explain their views in
reference to this movement, and he would invite every
gentleman present to state explicitly whether he could
see any objection, either nationally, politically, or
morally, to the course they were about to pursue. (Hear.)
A movement of this character naturally involved a
large expenditure. The subscriptions which had as
yet been entered into were of a very partial character,
but he took it for granted that every gentleman who
had sent in his adhesion to it intended to follow
that adhesion by a pecuniary contribution, in order
that it might be properly carried out. (Hear, hear.)
He was quite sure that whatever amount might be re-
quired it.would.not be found wanting if the people of
England concurred in thinking the movement desirable.
The subscriptions already entered into amounted to
more than 3,000/. ; but he would inform them that; the
committee did not intend that the subscriptions should
be raised to cover the whole expense of the banquets
that might be given to their French guests. Many pre-
liminary expenses would have to be incurred, such as
that of moving large numbers of gentlemen to and fro
from various places ; but not only several public com-
panies, but also several scientific bodies, would wil-
lingly lend a hand to contribute to the entertainment of the
distinguished foreigners to whom it might be the pleasure
of the English nation to give an invitation. The Go-
vernment also heartily approved of the movement, and
would do everything in their power, by giving the fo-
reigners free access to public works, palaces, and other in-
teresting places, to contribute to its success. In conc:u-
sion, he would invite them fully and maturely to deliberate
on the subject, and, if the meeting should be unanimous
in sanctioning what had been done by the committee,
he did not fear that the means requisite for carrying
out the movement would fail to be contributed by the
people of the metropolis and of the country at large.
(Cheers.)
.Mr. MASTERMAN, M.P., moved the first resolution :
" That this meeting, believing that the peace of the
world, the advancement of-science, the development of
art, and the diffusion of knowledge, mainly depend upon
the cultivation of peaceful relations with the French
nation, are of opinion that some of its most distin-
guished men, connected with legislation, art, science,
literature, manufactures, , commerce, and agriculture,
should be invited to visit this country, with the view
of demonstrating to the world the sincerity of the al-
liance now happily subsisting between the two cations
—an alliance, the continuance of which is eminently
calculated to promote in all countries the permanency
of peace, and its consequent blessings— order, pros-
perity, and happiness."
The hon. gentleman observed, that a desire existed on the
tplaiertForefntchhis country enter
tthoeetnwteor
cionutontariecslo, siferunion w
united,
conitihd
do so much more than if they each had separate inte-
rests to serve. The days were gone by in which we had
been taught to bear enmity towards France—(hear,
hear)—and it was very natural that we should endeavour
to make some return for the hospitality which had been
afforded us in 1851, and thereby cement the friendship
of the two nations. He had always found the good
effect of a little sociability in the intercourse between
persons, and he believed that to such sociability he
owed very much of the position ho occupied in the
city of London. (Hear, hear.) He bad much pleasure
in moving the resolution which had been placed in his

hands.

Mr. W. BnowN, M.P., seconded the resolution and
expressed his belief that nothing would more effectually
contribute to the maintenance of friendship and social
intercourse between the Britisl; p.nd. the French people
than that they should sometimes put their feet under
the same mahogany. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) The
French people had invited the. Corporation and the
Royal Commissioners to visit them after the Great Ex-
hibition, and as wo could now show them another
Crystal Palace sufficiently large to accommodate all who
might choose to sit down and meet their distinguished
guests, he thought it was a good opportunity to return
their hospitality, especially as he understood the Crystal
Palace was provided with an excellent kitchen in which
a very good dinner could be cooked. (A. laugh.) The
more two people were brought into contact, the more
would they appreciate each other's good qualities ; and
he believed the French were quite as anxious as we
were for the maintenance of the good understanding be-
tween us. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. DAVIS wished it to be understood that this
was a public and national movement, anti not one of
the corporation of London alone, although he hoped
the corporation would take the foremost rank in it.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. G. LANGTON, M.P., then moved—
" That the Aldermen and Common Council, and the
livery and mercantile companies of the city of London,
the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Lord Mayor of York,
the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, the Lord Provost
of Glasgow, the Mayors and Municipalities of the other
cities and boroughs of the United Kingdom, the Chan-
cellor, Vice• Chancellors, and Principals of our universi-
ties and college, as well as the heads of the learned and
scientific societies, be invited to afford their valuable
co-operation."
He expressed his satisfaction at seeing so many mer-
chants of this great commercial metropolis assembled in
this noble hall fur the purpose of carrying out an import-
ant national object. He could assure them the cause
they were met to advocate would have the warmest ap-
proval of the inhabitants of the important commercial
city of which he was the representative—(hear)--and he
trusted that the distinguished foreigners who were about
to visit our shores would, after having seen imperial
London, visit the great towns of Manchester, Liver-
pool, and Birmiaglaam, and that Bristol would not be
passed over, for he knew they would be receivel in that
city with true British hospitality. (Hear.)
Mr. TrrE, in seconding the resolution, said that the
other large cities of the kingdom had cheerfully re-
sponded to the appeal which had been made to them by
the city of London. Among the advantages of a move-
went like this was the opportunity which it would af-
ford the French people of seeing the results of the free-
(loin of trade enjoyed by this country, and it might
therefore lead to a union commercially as well as politi-
cally between the two nations. (Hear, hear.) It was
Said that it was not the time to carry out such a move-
ment when we were engaged in a war of which we might
have to deplore the consequences, but be hoped that the
union of France and England would lead to the speedy
termination of the war without any disastrous results.
Before the resolution was agreed to, he would beg those
gentlemen who had formed a deputation to some of the
large towns to state to the meeting the goodwill with
which their propositions had been received. (Hear.)
Mr. Alderman MOON accordingly stated that he had
gone with Sir Joseph Paxton to Manchester, the alder-
men of which city bad promised to call a public meeting
on the gubject upon the return of the mayor; who was