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

LON DON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 7, 1854.

R. ALBERT SMITH'S MONT BLANC,
V f
IL incituhrig the BERN ESE OBERLAND and the SI NIPLON,
THI; EVENING, and Every Evtirng at Eight o'clock, (except
Saturday) ; and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Mornings, at Two.
Stills, 3s. (which can be taken at the box• offic.2 every day from 11
till 4 ; area, 28.; gallery, 18.---,Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly.

O T I CE. CONSTANTINOPLE. The
I.Pcture acc,mpanying the GRAND 4, VING DIORAMA
0. t;ON,TANTINO 'LE I. now davered ou Wednesdays and Satur
Ays by Mr. .1 H. 'I',QUELER, when th,kprogress and !wall les
of he War wit' be more particulagy explafEed; and on the other
d- ys, as usu 1, ly Mr. CHAR, ES KENNEY. Avery clear and
excellent A!ap has been addud to the illusirations.—Dally at Half-
past Two and tight.— srlmission, Is.
EtilT fIAN HALL, PICCADILLY.

DR. KAHN'S CELEBRATED MUSEUM
is Now OPEN in t e sp .ctous premises known as the
AI,LE ROBIN 232, Piccadil'y (top of the Ii ~mirket), tor Gentle-
min, trim EP vtn till Five, aid Irons Seven tell Ten daily. kaptit•
nations by Dr. Leach (In IV, dnesdm.s and Fridays H portion of tie
btu rum is open f,,r Ladles only, 'torn Too till Five. Gentlemen,
however, are a ill admit,ed on those days, from Eleven till Tw and
Ten. Ex. lanations given to the Ladles by Mrs. Leach.—
Admission, One Shilling.

AURENT'S CASINO, ARGYLE Rooms,
LA (Lessee, Cass. C. r ..AURENT, 011810‘9.11011Se, Fthaann road)

- The above Rooms are now OPEN FOR THE SEASON.
tlle, will continue open every evening, with LAURENT,:
ELERRATED lI,A VD. Two Clu,drilles on subjects of NI cyerbeer s
Ope Ta- tile du Nord ;. a'ao, by H. La ir ut, the following Waltzes
Li belle Fra••ci se, Leonora, Vilnius and his Dinah, and L'Etoile
du Nord P,iks. Admission, Is. Doors open at half-past•ls. Dancing
to commence at 9 o'clock. and ter • Mate at half-past 11.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.
PA CRO •• Pal seli: ALLIER C.
DURING LENT, n POPULAR LE(' CURE on ASTRONOMY,
SPLF:NDIDLY ILUNTRATEI), by Dr. ILicnntimin,,bn

LeadAy and ,riday at three, a d at eight o'clock in the evenings.
MAGNI FIEF) Pit, efoG it AP LUC PIC I CUES, ,nd a .N EW SERIE;

of UUII4<OLV[NG
f.ECTURE by J. H. PEPPER. Esq., on PIPER MAKING and ita

DEcOlt ATION with COLOURS 7 •
',WWII'''. by Dr. BAcuorreaa, on WILKINS'S NEW PATENT

UNIVEq-AL ELEOTrI.' "I'EE G APR
DESMUPTION of RUST'S PATENT TUBULAR PIANOFORTE,
and of TRESTRAI L'S PATE ET METHOD of RAISING
SUNKEN VESSEL,.

open Mornings and Evenings. Admission, Is.; Schools and
n under Ten years of age, half-price.

THE BEST FIT WEARS BEST,
"( oath' thy habit as thy purse can buy ;
But not expressed in fancy ; rch, not gaudy ;
For the apparel oft proclaims the man."—SuessrEAßE.
Hr MMENT and CO., Practical Tailors, :3, Cornhill.

lIEMMENT and CO., Tailors, 73, Cornhill,
study the pecubariti • s of every figure, and, by satisfying
nquirements, invariably produce a garment, whether a Lady's hid-
ing Habit, Main e, Cloak, &c., or a Gentleman's Coat, 'I rouse:4,
Waistc at, &c., tha is speriaby suited for the p ,r,.ose it is intended
to serve, economy and quality bang duly regarded —Liveries.

BERDAN'S MACHINE COMPANY.-
Notice is hereby given, that no Appli arions for shares in
tics Company will be received after Thursliy, the 13th inst.
By order, •

17, Cornhir, 4th April, 1854.

HYDE CLARKE, Secretary,

EXTR‘OltDrsi trtY MECHANICAL ItODELS,

111 1111 f BECK, Dentist, begs to call attention to
ITA. hi. Aiiatomical ocriels tor developing the structure of Arti.
&Ili! I e..th, (ina+ to nature and in full action for mastication and
articulat,o9), Bxt d frotn one torch to a complete set, as exhibited at
th 3 rad. Expos! lon.
Sing e Tooth, 10s.: Set, 101. a 'd 201.

I's* 47, Great Russ 11-street, the Brithh ktuseum, London.

BARON LIEBIG on ALLSOPP'S PALE
ALE.—" I am myself an admirer of this beverage, and my
ow • experience enahles 'me to recommend it, in accordance with
the opin on of the most emi• ent Eugqsb physicians, as a very agree-
able and efficient tonic, and as a general beverage, both fur the
invalid mi‘l the r risen. May C.

kI.LBOPP'3 PALE ALE ONLY is BOTTLED by PARKER and
TWI • ING, B er M.Nhants, 6%. PALL-MALL.
DIP wit! A L MEASURK. Qaar's, Bs-; Pints, 59.; Half-pint.;
(for luncheon), as. per dozen, Also in Casks 01 16 gallons and
wards.

ALLSOPP'S PALE or BITTER ALE.—
Me-srs ALL ‘4.4.4. and 44ONS beg t i inf nn the TR U)E
that they are now re.gistering orders tor the starch Brewings of
heir PALE LE, In casks of 18 Gains and upw xi's, at toe
Ilrewery, Burton on. (rent; and at the undermentioned Branch
Establixhmehts:—

•
I, et GI, Kinl William street, City;
LI VERPOO , attook-street:
MANCHESTER, at Di,cle,,,ace;
DI'D%F.Y, at The Burnt Tree;
GLASGOW, at 115, At. Vhacent street;
•
DUBLIN. at I Crampon-quay;
BIR IN Gl' A 31,-at arket Hall;
' SOUTII WA EA, at 13. 'Coq-street, Bristol.
"e-srs. A LLSOPP and SNS t ,ke t :e (,pportonliy of sm.:mincing
to Private Families !hat their Ales. so stron/ly recommended friy The
me .1,11 profession. may 1), procured in Draught and 13,tt es Genuine
from all the most r spect,ble Idoensed Victuallers, on "ALL •01"1"S
PALE .41,E" b Inc speciall% asked tbr.
When In bottle, the genuineness of the label cin be ascertained by
is haying " AL LSOPP and SONS" written across it.

URSSELL' S.—BALL SUPPERS and
WE .14\G BREAKFAS FA SUPPLIED in the first style ;
public breakfars, dinners, and oromMade suppers supplied by con
tract ; a lar e stock 01 bride cakes for immodi .te use, from one tc
wenty guineas etch ; a han !rune cake for five cut eas. packed and
sent to any part of the country irr:quired, and warrants! to keep 12
months.—Joss R. PULISSELL, 162, Regeut-street, and 20, Ludgate-
-1.111, only.

H E CHOLERA!!!
Prevented by the,destrueVon of al no±.ious effluvia.
CREWS'A DBINFECTI NG FLUID.
RECOMMENDED BY THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS.
THE CHEAPEST AND STEONGEST CHLORIDE OF ZINC.
Quarts, '28.; Pods, Is.; Milt-pints, 6d. Sold fav all Chemists,
Dr,gelsts, and Snipping Agents, and at Commercial Wharf, Mile
End, London.

DINNER TO TUE EARL OF ELGIN, GO-
VERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA.

Last night a sumptuous banquet .was given at the
London Tavern, in honour of the Right Hon. the Earl
of Elgin and Kincardine, K.T., Governor-General of
Canada, and to celebrate the sticcess of his lordship's
administration of the government of that colony. The
Right Hon. Lord J. Russell presided on the occasion,
Lord Elgin, the guest of the evening, occupying a seat
on the chairman's right. A very distinguished and
numerous company attended on the occasion, and
after-.the dinner the galleries were occupied by a party
of ladies.
Amongst the company we noticed the following noble-
' men and gentlemen
His Grace the Duke of Hamil
ton.
His Grace the Duke of New-
castle, Secretary of State for
the Colonies.
The Most Noble the Marquis
of Abercorn.
The Right Hon. the Earl o.
Ellesmere.
The Right Hon. the Earl 01
Durham.
The Right lion. the Earl Grey.
The Right Hon. the Earl of
Harrowb,

T. Bramley Moore, Esq.
T. Edwards Moss, Esq.
the Master Cutler of Sheffield.
Hugh S. Tremeuheere, Esq.
Capt: Hamilton, A.D. C. to the
Earl of Elgin.
Francis Grant, Esq., do.
Captain Wetherell.
Frederick Locker, Esq.
W. Downing Bruce, Esq.
Charles,Franks, Esq., Canada
Company.
James Mackillop, Esq., do.
Robert Carter, Esq., Bank of
British North America.
Wm. Chapman, Esq., Bank of
British North America.
T. H. Brooking, Esq , do.
F'. Le Breten, Esq., do.
Thomas Poynder, Esq., British
Americtai Land Company.
' Char es BischofT, Esq., do.
Sir R. J. Routh, K.C. 8., Trust
and,.Loan.C& of -Canada.
John Auldjo, Esq.; do.
Cbas. Morrison, Esq., do.
W. G. Thomson, Esq., do.
Robt. McCalmont, Esq., Grand
Trunk Railway of Canada.
H. W. Blake, Esq., do.
K. Hodgson, Esq.,
Peter Buchanan, Esq., Groat
Western Railway of Canada.
Major Douglas, do.
John Laird, Esq., Canadian
Steam Navigation Co.
Robert Lamont, Esq., do.
George Beswick,Esq., resident
of Canada, now in England
Edward Burstall, Esq., do.
Austin Cavillier, Esq., do.
J. B. Forsyth, Esq.
Henry Le Mesurier, Esq., do.
Don. L. MacDougall, Esq., do.
George Pemberton, Esq., do.
A.. T. Galt, Esq., M.P.P., do.
Henry Jessopp, Esq., do.
Samuel Keefer, Esq.., do.
Dr. Douglas, do.
W. Campbell, Esq.
Charles E. Levey, Esq., do.
Pi‘Tre Potiras; Esq., do.
Edward H. Chapman, Esq.
Hon. Samuel Cunard.
Thomas Devas, Esq.
Nathaniel Gould, Esq.
Hugh Hornby, Esq.
George Maxwell, Esq.
Edward W. Mills, Esq.
Charles Mills, Esq.
Charles Baring Young, Esq.
Russell Sturgis, Esq.
Edward Rtring, Esq.
Bingham Mildmay, Esq.
St. Leger R. Glyn, Esq.
George Gronfell Glyn, Esq.
Algernon Borthwick, Esq.
John Chapman, Esq.
Joseph Lawrence, Esq.
Philip Cazenove, Esq.
E. L. Betts, Esq.
W. Dealtry, Esq.
Major Ready.
John Bonus, Esq.
Charles R. Fenwick, Esq.
Harold Littledale, Esq.
Richard Potter, Esq.
C. sum, Esq.
Alfred Hill, Esq.
Ambrose Boyson, Esq.
Charles Saunders, Esq.
J. W. Cater, Esq.
Herbert Ingram, Esq.
W. J. Newall, Esq.
Robert Gill, Esq.
William Tite, Esq.
W. R. Chapman, Esq.
Thomas MacDonald, Esq.
D. D. Young, Esq.
John Perry, Esq.
H. M. Jackson, Esq.
John Dale, Esq.
William Wagstaffe, Esq.
P. S. Coxe, Esq.
Samuel Carter, Esq.
Wel wood Maxvt:•ll, Esq.
Thomas H. Newinal; Esq.
Robert Campbell; Esq.
Quentin St. George, Esq.
J. M. Hamilton, Esq.
T. Laycraft, Esq
Melville Wilson, Esq.
Edward Stanley, Esq.
Colonel Macquider.
James Robertson, Esq.
William Ross, Esq

le Right Hon. the Earl o:
Desart.
The Rt. Hon, Lord Ashburton,
The Right Hon. Lord Glenehr,
The Right Hon, Lord Mont•
eagle.
The Right Hon. Lord Pufferin

The Right Hon. S. Herbert,
M.P., Secretary at-War.
The Right Hon. W. E Glad.

stone, M.P., Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
The Right Hon. Sir William
Molesworth, Bt., M.P.,Chiet
Commissioner of Works.
The Right Hon E. Cardwell,
M. P , President o f the Board
of Trade.
The RUA Hon. Sir George
Grey, Bart., M.P. -
The Right Hon. Sir John Pak -
ington, M.P.
The Right Hon. E. Ellice, M.P.
The Right Hon. Sir J. Stephen.
The Right Hon. Sir J. Young,
Bart., M.P., Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland.
The Hon. Francis Hiucks,
Prime Minister of Canada.
The Lord Stanley, M.P.
The Lord Mark Kerr.
Lord James Stuart.
Sir Francis Bond Head, Bart.
His Excellency Jas. Buchanan,
United States Ambassador.
Sir Emerson Tennent, Secre-
tary of the Board of Trade.
Lieut.-Gen. Sir J. Macdonnell.
Sir Gore Ousely, K.C.B.

The Hon. H. B. Row, Legisla.
tive Council of Newfound•
land.
General Watson Webb, United

States.
Sir Henry Lytton }hewer.
Capt. Si: George Back, R.N.
F. Peel, Esq., M.P. Under
Secretary for the Colonies.
B. Osborne, Esq., M.P., Secre-
tary to the Amiralty.
Hon. E. P. Bouverie, M.P.
George P. Scrope, Esq., M.P.
C. L. C. Bruce, Esq., M.P.
Wm. Keogh, Esq., .P., Soli-
citor-General for Ireland.

G. C. Glyn, Esq., M.P„ Agent

for the Province of Canada.

Thos. Baring, Esq., M.P., do,
Edward Ellice, Esq., M P.

Samuel Laing,Esq,M.P.
William Stirling, Esq., M.P.

S. M. Peto, Esq., M.-I;

Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P.
James Heywood, Esq., M.P.
James Pilkington, Esq., M.P.
C. B. Adderley, Esq., X.P.
William Jackson, Esq., M.P.
Robt. FtephenSon, Esq., M.P.
Charles Geach. Esq., M.P.
James Kershaw, Esq., M.P.
The Hon. George Waldegrave.
The Hon. Captain Murray.
Benj. Hawes, Esq., Deputy
Secretary at War.
Rear-Admiral Boxer.

Rear-Admiral Kelly.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Tulloch.

:nry Roberts, Esq., Private

Secretary to the Duke of
Newcastle.
Joshua Bates, Esq.
T. W. C. Murdoch, Esq.„
Commissioner of Emigration.
The Rev. E. Hawkins, Secre-
tary of the Society for the
tropagation of the Gospel.
T. F. Elliott, Esq., Assist.
Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies.
The Hon. Dominick Daly.
R. W. Grey, Esq., M.P.,
Private Secretary to Lord
Palmerston.
After the dinner, the usual loyal toasts were duly
honoured.

The CHAIRMAN gave " The Army and Navy." When
they remembered the scenes that had so lately passed
before their eyes—that so many gallant soldiers and
well-manned ships bad left their shores after a peace of
such long duration—it was impossible not to feel anxious
for their welfare, and to hope that they might be suc-
cessful. (Cheers.)
Sir J. 11VDONALD returned thanks on behalf of the
army, and Rear-Admiral KELLY for the navy.
Lord J. RUSSELL said—Gentlemen, I cannot but feel
it a great honour that I should now be called on to pro-
pose to you, in the presence of so many gentleman who
have been connected with the official administration of

the colonies of this country, and in the presence of so
many merchants of the city of London connected
with the trade of Canada,• the health of the noble
lord who has presided with such distinguished merit
over the government of our Canadian colonies. (Cheers.)
I rejoice also to have the opportunity of speaking in the
presence of the representative of that great republic of
the West, whose sons are derived from the same stock
as ourselves, who speak the same language, and own the
authority of the same ancient laws as ourselves (cheers).
Gentlemen, although it may perhaps take up some por-
tion of your time, I may perhaps be permitted to allude_
to those periods which have marked the term of our co-
lonial government. There was a period when the colo-
nies of this country—the colonies to which our people
had emigrated—were like children allowed to stray where
they listed without protection or shelter, taking their
chance of falling down the neighbouring crag, or being
lost in the surrounding wilderness. That period has past
away, but it did not pass without imparting to many of
our young colonies that vigour which enabled them after-
wards to glow up into great and free communities. But
it did pass away, and we arrived at a period when, by
petty restrictions, and by undue exercise of imperial pre-
rogative, we endeavoured to derive those advantages
from our colonies which we only ought to have expected
from the most perfect freedom of intercourse. It was
once said by a statesman, who was a wit as well, that
the American war was caused by secretary of state,
who bethought himself after many years of ,opening his
despatches. What was meant to be conveyed by that
was, that directions were sent out from this country
cramping the commerce of the colony, imposing taxes,
and tending only to its alienation, which would never
have been proposed had the Secretary of State carefully
read the despatches which he had for years been receiv-
ing from America: Even the fatal reverses of the Ame-
rican war—reverses which we incurred by our delays—
did not open the eyes of Government ; and the
same system was continued for many years. No greater
instat:ce of the folly of Such a course of proceeding could
be afforded than the case of Canada, respecting which
we endeavoured by parliamentary litigation to prose-
cute rules and laws for people who had separate religion,
separate language, . and separate customs. Such a sys-
tem tended to produce only bickerings and disputes, and
to make our governors themselves only the tools of a
mischievous and injurious system. (Hear, hear.) But
that time has. I trust, likewise passed away. (Cheers.)
With regard to Canada, .at all events, we have tried,
and are now trying, the system of allowing a people as
capable as ourselves of discerning their true interests, to
promote those interests without our continual and vexa-
tious interference. Able men have pointed out the
way in which we should go, and have also pointed out
to Canada the wisdom and policy of uniting that which
had been unwisely seperated ; but still the system itself
was so new, the system of paying attention to the colony,
of aiding its-prosperity, and yet not endeavouring to mar
that prosperity by restrictions, that it required no ordi-
nary ability and temper to carry the system into effectual
operation. Such, then, was the proper field for the deve-
'opulent of such abilities as are possessed by Lord Elgin.
It has been his duty to act the part of a constitutional
king over a province which has been continually pro-
spering and increasing under his care, which has risen
from little more than a million to two millions of re-
venue, which has increased in a short time from 600,000
to 1,200,000 population, and the imports and exports of
which have shown year by year the symptoms of increas-
ing trade and improving industry. (Hear.]• lam not
going to weary the assembly with details, or even to al-
hide to the great event which occasioned the difficulties
of the noble lord's administration. We have had our
times of differences in this country, and they have had
their differences in Canada, but through all these diffi-
culties the noble lord was assisted by an excellent Prime
Minister, who, I am glad to see, is present on this oc-
casion—(cheers)—and with his aid the noble lord has
successfully coped with the difficulties of his position.
The, results have been that we have now Secure in loyalty
a province inhabited by as excellent and as intelligent a
people as any in the British empire. (Hear.) Wvil, gen-
tlamen, I say toat it may be a matter of national pride
to us if we have at last succeeded, after the two, periods
of ignorance and neglec aed of narrow-minded inter-
' kreacia, eastlilioaii4 tanni oYgeut Tegich l /aver
_

prescribe interference, except when the people ther
selves would admit that imperial interests were co
cerned ; and which, on the other hand, allows with the u
most liberality free scope to public opinion as regards legs
lation, as regards religious establishments, and as regarc
institutions which may differ from our own, but (
which the inhabitants of the colony are, I should sas
the best and the only judges. (Hear, hear.) But agai
I say, admitting all this, that it requires no small poi
tion of judgment and forbearance to know how to ad
minister Government in such a country, and, even be
yond these qualities of judgment and forbearance i
required high and rare gifts to enable a man wisely t(
rule over a people divided by many different religion;
and by different parties, and to preserve an even meat
between his duty to his Sovereign on the one hand anc
the wishes of the people over whom he presides on the
other. (Hear.) There is a sufficient reason why. w(
now behold in this room so many persons assembled to
do honour to the Earl of Elgin. (Loud cheers.) I have
already said that I do not wish to trench upon any great
political question ; but still, I may he permitted to say,
with regard to myself, that I am one of those who have
continually agreed with the Governor-General in the
policy he has pursued. lam not afraid or ashamed of
avowing that conformity of opinion ; and I only hope
that in future times, whatever may be the fate of that
magnificent province, whether it shall wish to remain
connected with us in loyalty to the same Sovereign, or
whether other view may actuate the majority of the
population, the friendly feeling that have hitherto sub-
sisted between the people of the United Kingdom and
the people of Canada may be continued to be maintained,
and that men like the Earl of Elgin may always be
found ready to govern with such temper and such skill
as have hitherto distinguished that noble earl's adminis-
tration.' I trust that whatever may be turn of events,
the people of Canada may be either the most attached
of our fellow-subjects or at least the firmest of our
Melilla, (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I shall not detain you
any loner than by proposing "The Health of the -Earl
of Elgin." (Loud cheers.)

The Earl of ELGIN was received with loud cheering.
He said—My lords and gentlemen, it is really very
difficult for me—l am sure I speak very unaffectedly
when I say it—to find words to express what I feel on
this occasion. The noble lord (Lord John Russell) com-
menced his speech by saying that he felt it to be an
honour to be called upon, in the presence of so many
persons connected with official life, so many distin-
guished merchants of the city of London, and so many
individuals connected with Canada to address such a
company as is now here assembled. Then, what must
be my feeling when I recollect that all these persons
have met together to do honour to so humble an indi-
vidual as myself ? (Hear, bear.) It has been said, and
said upon high authority too, that out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh ; but I cannot help
feeling that the abundance of the heart tells sometimes
all the other way, and that when the heart is very full
with the many thoughts that throng for utterance, it is
more than usually difficult to find words in which to
clothe them. lam exceedingly grateful to the gentle-
men connected with Canada, and to the friends who
have done me the honour to invite me to this most
sumptuous entertainment, and to the noble lord, who
has not only sanctioned this mark of their regard and
consideration by condescending to take the chair on this
occasion, but has added to that favour by expressing in
terms so generous—so far beyond what I was entitled
to expect at his hands, his approval of my humble ser-
vices. (Cheers.) I feel all the peculiar value which at-
taches to expressions of approval coming from one so
eminent in position and character, and as a public servant
who has long been employed in the colonies, I
am all the more sensible of them, because, although I
have not had the honour at any time of serving directly
under the noble lord as Colonial Secretary, I have had
ample opportunity, during my official career, of knowing
how strong a claim the noble lord established on the
gratitude of the colonies when he held the seals of that
department, and how numerous are the monuments
which he has left behind him of a wise and beneficent
administration of colonial affairs. (Cheers.) He has
been good en-ugh to give me credit for certain qualities
of judgment and firmness in the discharge of what I
believe to have been my duty ; but I think that before
I can appropriate to myself these praises it is only just
and right . that I should ask whether the mere fact of
serving under the noble *loril does not greatly detract
from any merit which mly appear to attach to the pos-
session of these qualities? At any rate, I remember
an instance—l should not allude to it on the present
occasion—l should carefully avoid even alluding to
it, were it not so eminently characteristic of the
noble lord and so illustrative of the secret of that
influence for good which he is so able to exercise
over honourable men—l remember the case of a
public servant, certainly not a person of any great
eminence or authority, nut a person certainly, whom
there would have been any great difficulty in
throwing overboard, at a time more especially when the
waves of adversity were running high, and seemed to
threaten to close over his head, but who at that moment
was engaged in the dircharge of very onerous and re-
sponsible duties, and was endeavouring, nut by the exer-
cise of any brilliant talents, God knows, but by the
application of patience and an earnest and, I will say,
self-denying spit it, to solve a problem in government
which had baffled the skill of far abler men ; and I re-
member how, when that individual was made the object
of attacks (of which I will now say nothing, because
they were natural enough under the circumstances)—l
recollect, I say, how the noble lord provoked a burst of
chivalrous sympathy in an assembly of English gentle-
men, of which he is the fitting representative and organ,
by the use he made of these simple words, "We should
be the basest of men if, believing Lord Elgin to be in the
right, we were to desert him in his difficulty." (Cheers.)
I should be the most ungrateful of men (and that is a
character to which at least I can lay no claim) if I were
to forget those words, or the circumstances in which
they were spoken. (Hear, hear.) From this hign arena
I can look back to my career in Canada, extending now
over a period of seven years—a long time, considering
the rapidity with which events succeed each other in
new countries, and in proof of which I may mention
the fact that five of my predecessors in the office of
Governor-General have hardly filled that situation for a
more extended term—l can look back in retrospect and
reflect upon the progress which the colony has made,
and to the changes That have taken place, not in its
outward form and structure, but in the practical work-
ing of its ,political institutions—upon the shock—the
inevitable shock—which these changes have given to
feelings and prepossessions for which I can candidly
confess that I feel a sincere sympathy, and I might be
greatly tempted on this opportunity to enter into some
explanations arid details which might serve to throw
light upon past transactions, and to remove doubts from
the minds of those whose good opinion I desire to seem).
But, upon reflection, I have resolved to resist that
temptation, because I feel that the time at our disposal
this evening is very precious, and that we have other
and far more important matters in hand. I must say
for myself that what is chiefly gratifying to mu in con-
nection with this re-union, and far more gratifying than
any bearing with this assembly may have on my per-
sonal interests and prospects, is that my humble services,
if you will, should have furnished an occasion for bring-
ing together so many influential persons in the centre of
this busy metropolis, and induced them to bestow upon
Canada a few hours snatched from their ordinary cares
and other occupations. (Cheers.) For I cannot but
think that it is greatly to be regretted that little atten-
tion is, apparently at least, in the usual course of
things, bestowed upon this class of subjects. This
seeming indifference has not only a tendency to chill
this feeling of the colonists, by producing a correspond-
ing feeling in them, but it induces the people of this
country to set a lower value than they ought to do upon
colonial interests. (Hear.) I have had the good for-
tune, within the last two or three months, to be pre-
sent twice at great banquets held in this very room in
honour of governors of East India presidencies, and at-
tended by many distinguished persons in this country. I
confess that when I listened to the glowing pictures of
the prospects of India submitted to those audiences, and
duly spread over the country through the instrumentality
of the press, I could not help feeling something of
jealousy and regret that no similar opportunity was
given for calling the attention of the people of this coun-
try to that great westein .depentiency which, though it
is no doubt inferior in wealth and importance to India,
and though its condition in many respects even con-
trasts strikingly with the condition of India, is not in-
habited by native tribes, but by a population drawn
from the most energetic and active races, Englishmen,
Frenchmen, Irishmen, and Scotchmen, and is bordered
not by effete and decayed empires, but by a youthful
and vigorous republic, whose distinguished representa-
tive has honoured ,us with his company this evening, and
between whose country and the people of Canada gene-
rally, give me leave to say that nothing but feelings of
mutual respect and gratitude are entertained. (Hear.)
Well, gentlemen, your great kindness to me personally
has provided just such an opportunity, and I believe
that there are very few persons in this country without
the walls of this room who form any adequate concep-,
tion of the magnitude of the question which we are
dealing, when we talk of the interests and the future of
Canada. (Cheers.) This Canada, of which we
speak
e
so glibly, is the great heart of British America, an
greater part of the northern continent of Americais still
British. True, a large portion of that region is barren
and inhospitable, but as to Canada—and I may join with
ns
it the sister provinces—it is notorious that it contains
a territory capable of sustaining many millions of
inhabitants, and is inferior in salubrity, fertility,
and everything that can make residence desirable
to persons of our race to no part of the American
continent. (Cheers.) And as to its being the more
northern part of the continent, I am obliged sometimes
to say to our Canadian fellow-subjects, when, with that
modesty and diffidence which distinguish them, they
vaunt of the great qualities of their southern neighbours,
that in England, when we say that a man is too far
north for another, we do not mean to say that he is not
likely to be his match —(laughter) - and that if the Ca-
nadian
people only make the most of' their great re•
sources and advantages, this proverb will become quite
as significant in America as it is in Britain. (Cheers.)
This magnificent country, the noble inheritance of the
British people, and which is now brought by the agent
of steam within a week's distance of our shores, is at this
glowvAt is 6.canc4104. 91- PN2PCTitY altogetez. vats.