The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-19 00:00:00

RATE IN AID BILL.

The Clouse then went into Committee upon this Bill,
Mr. Bernal in the chair.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER pro-
ceeded to th.,ko a statement to the House, to show the
n‘cessity of ununpy
advanced for the relief of dis-
tress in the westtrn part of Ireland.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

•7.
GREAT SOUTHERN WHALE
FISHERIES.
A public testimonial, in the shape of a grand enter-
tainment, was given yesterday, at the London Tavern, to
Mr. Charles Enderby, by the merchants and citizens of
Loudon, the eceasion being the departure of this enter-
prising and ingenious gentleman to his newly-lounded
colony at the Auckland Islands. In order to render the
position of Mr. Enderby before the public, perfectly
cleur, the lonowing sketch of his enterprise may be very
aptly cited:— _ .

Enderby has secured a grant of the Auckland
Islands—a position in the South Pacific preferable to
all others for the prosecution of the object in question—
in a hich he and his two brothers alone were inte-
rested. :This grant they have ceded to the
Southern Whsle Fishery Company, allowing the com-
pany a site for the business of the fishery free of charge,
and making no other reservation regarding the re-
mainder of the land, than they shall share, in equal pro-
porticus with the company, any net profits which may be
derived from the sale or lease of the land, after a suitable
snd sufficient site for the whaling station shall he selected.
The company is established with a capital of
1,00,000/., the sharehulders having power to increase
ine same from time to time, to the extent of half a
million ; and with power, should the consent of the
President of the Board of Trade be given, to increase
the capital to any larger amount, in case the require-
ments and success of the undertaking shall warrant
further increase of the capital at a future period. It is
Mr. Enderby's intention, we understand, shortly to pro-
ceed in person to the Auckland Islands, situate in 51
deg. south latitude, and 166 deg. east longitude, for the
purpose or orguni6ing the business of the fishery, and
to remain there a sufficient time to place it on a satin
fabtory foundation.
The'ehair was taken by Admiral Deans Dundee. The
gahant officer was sucported by Mr. Labouchere, M.P.,
President of the Board of Track, L..rd Colchester, Mr.
Th:,nias Baring. M.P., Mr. F. Scott, M.P., Sir W. Clay
M P., Mr. Bagshaw, M.P., and a most numerous and
rezpectable body of the principal shipowners, dock
(dicers, and merchants generally of this metropolis. The
company consisted of nearly 300 of the elite amongst the
mercantile find commercial classes, and if the names

were enumerated, the most distinguinbed firms of the
City of London would each be found to have a n presi n-
t6tive or a proxy present.
After the cloth was removed, the customary loyal

toasts were given from the chair, and most cordially
responded to. Admiral Dundas made an allusion to the
absence of Prince Albert from London, for the purpose
of laying the first stone of the Grimsby Docks, a com-
mercial and maritime enterprise, in which the present
company could not but take a deep interest.—(Cheers.)
Admiral DuNnas then propoked "The Army and
Navy," a toast which had seldom been neglected on oc-
casions like the present.
li eneral THOMAS and Admiral Sir C. MaLconm re-
turned thanks. The latter officer re marked that, although
the is o services were out of fashion for the moment, it
was to be hopad that the merchants of the City of Lon•
don would not forget the protection which their commerce
had received at the hands of the British navy.—(Cheers.)
Admiral DUNDAS then gave the toast of the evening—
" The Health of Charles Ender by, and success to his un-
dertaking." The greatest honour an Englishman could
receive was obtaining the approbation of his fellow-citi-
zens. Such an honour had been most amply conferred on
Mr. Enderby, for never yet was beheld such a meeting as
was now assembled. Local objects, charities, politics, would
often call greater numbers together, but here was an
object in which men of all political creeds joined, in
the determination to meet together to bid farewell to a
man who was about to proceed on a voyage which
had for its accomplishment the revival of she great
fisheries in which England formerly took so large
and so prominent a share. (Hear, hear.)
Thank God the mere difference of political opinions
did not prevent men from meeting together on occasions
like the present; it reminded him of the " Happy
Family," from the dissimilarity of sentiment which was
to be seen amongst the various guests.—(Hear, hear,
and a laugh.) He begged to propose the " Health of
Mr. Charles Enderby, with success to his undertaking
and reward for his labours." Three times three.
Mr. C. ENDERBY rose and said that he stood in need
of all the kindness of his auditors, for he was utterly
unable competently to express his acknowledgments for
the honour that had been done him. When he saw
the Queen's Ministers taking an active part with the
merchants of London towards the promotion of his
designs, he could not but feel that this was a circum-
stance of which any man must feel justly proud. There
was no instance on record, that he recollected, of a man

having been so highly honoured by his fellow-citizens as
he had been.—(Cheers.) He could only give a promis
sory note. But ho was certai❑ he should be able to
redeem his word.—(Cheers.) Every facility had bean
. .

given to him by the Government-(Cheers)—for the
accomplishment of his objects. He feared, however,
that it his enterprise should succeed he should not be
able to face his fellow-citizens again. 11e should be
ashamed to do so.—(No, no.) Yes, he should be ashamed
to show himself among his fellow•citizens it he did not
succeed in carrying out his views.—(" No," and cheers.)
Nevertheless, let him assure his good friends that he felt
quite confident in the success of the enterprise in which he
was embarked. According to a paper which he held
in his band (the Whaling Shipping List), there were
596 American whalers in the Southern Pacific Ocean,
to fourteen British ships.—(Hear, hear.) His instruc-
tion was to restore the balance.—(Bear, hear.) lie
had no jealousy or enmity towards the Americans, but
he did wish to see British skill and British enterprise
assert their own position. As for the Auckland Islands,
he must say he should welcome the American whalers,
and he wished them success, whilst he should make
every endeavour to compete with them.
Mr. ENDERBY then proposed the health of Mr. La-
bouchere and of her Majesty's Ministers.
Mr. LABOUCLIERE said it was matter of great gratifi-
cntion to him to be present on an occasion like the pre-
sent, when all the principal merchants of the City of
London were at the table.— (11, ar, hear.) But more es-
pecially did he feel pleasure in the circumstance that he
had a warm sympathy with the objects of the en-
terprise conducted by their worthy guest, Mr. Elide' by.
The presence of so many of the greatest merchants of
London proved the value of the enterprise. It was deeply
to be regretted that the fisheries (Attie dee-p seas had been
resigned by English seamen to the United States. He
trusted, however, that it would be found possible to restore
the influence which England once possessvc in the whale

fisheries. Be hailed, tlTerefore, with satisfaction the pre-
sent beginning, and us to the thanks which Lyl.r. Enderby
hsd offered to the Government for their promotion of his
views, be could only say the Government had done their
duty in so acting. He holed roost earnestly that
Mr. Enderby would return i❑ safety from his enterprise
—(Hear, hear)—in which he believed he was as much
actuated by patriotic sentiments as by hops of gain.—
(Hear, hear.) He did not agree with Mr. Enderby in
thinking that failure in that enterprise would entail any
shame upon him. On the contrary. he would do his
best, and the generosity of his fellow-countrymen
would always amply redeem his efforts from all chance
of censure. He begged must sincerely to thank the
company for the honour they hid done him.
The health of the chairman having been proposed
by Mr. Powles, the clerk of the London Dock Com-
pany, the company separated.