The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-28 00:00:00

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the other side of the Atlantic a most cordial welcome--I
might almost say a heartier reception than it has been
even my good fortune to find in this hospitable island.
The LORD MAYOR—The next toast I have to propose
is to pay a compliment to a distinguished nobleman now
present. After the manner in which the Right Hon.
Baronet (Sir R. Peel) has referred to the public services
of my Lord Aberdeen, it would be presumption in me to
attempt to say anything in recommendation of the toast
which lam about to propose. The official career of that
Noble Lord is well known and highly-appreciated by the
citizens of London.—(Loud cheers.) I can assure him
it is with the greatest gratification I see him present
upon this occasion. I know how much he is respected
in his native county, and in my native town in Scot-
land, and I do believe he is not the less esteemed where-
ever his name, his character, his talents, and his public
services are known.—(Cheers.) I fear the Noble Lord
is hero this evening at some inconvenience to himself.
I have the greatest pleesure in proposing to you " The
health of the Earl of Aberdeen and the House of
Lords."—(Great cheering.)
The toast was drunk with loud cheers.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said—My Lord Mayor, my
Lords and Gentlemen—l feel that I can have possibly
no claim to the distinction which you have very unex-
pectedly been pleased to pay me by connecting my name
with that great body in the State which you now pro-
pose to honour by offering it your good wishes. But,
unworthy organ and representative as I may be of the
House of Lords, I may safely undertake to assure you
that that House can never be indifferent to the
good opinion of the city of London, especially when
expressed by its chief magistrate, whom they are so
much disposed to respect and honour. I apprehend,
however, my Lord, that it is not so much as a member
of the House of Lords, as from the circumstance of my
having filled a high office in the Administration of ray
Right Hon. Friend at your side, that you have now
done me this honour, and that I owe the invitation to be
present here this evening. My Lord, this is not the
place or the occasion in which it would become me, espe-
cially after what has fallen from my Right Hon. Friend,
to introduce the discussion of any political topics, or
sentiments except those in which
wi indeed eme
may
yt o
all expressconc any
u r.
I will therefore only venture to say
that it must be the object of every man who is placed in
the situation I had formerly the honour to hold, to
maintain to the utmost of his power, and consieteatl,
with the honour of Lilts country, iles prevalence of urn-
versa], peace. -..0t only with one country, but Ice extend
and seer,: its incalculable advantages by the exercise
all -.111,..,.mate influence to the whole warld.—(Loud _
cheers.) eMy Lord, it is true that it has ever been the
endeaeoue of my official life 'o strengthen international
friendships, to remove all misunderstandings, to soften
all animosities.—(Loud cheers.) With these feelings,
your Lordship may imagine how much satisfaction,
when my Right Hon. Friend retired from office, we left
our country in profound peace, and every other country
in Europe in a state of tranquillity and of progressive
improvement.—(Loud cheers.) My Lord, I will say of
the present slate of Europe no more than to express an
ardent hope that the storms and convulsions by which its
appearance is defaced may speedily pass away, and that
the great cause of civilization, of order, and of rational
freedom, may ultimately prove triumphant.—(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR then proposed the health of Sir
James Graham, ;expressing the high sense he enter-
tained, along with the citizens of London, of the zeal and
pre-eminent ability which that Right Hon. Baronet had
displayed as first Lord of the Admiralty, and afterwards
as Secretary of State for the Home Department. The
affairs of these departments had never been more effi-
ciently administered, and the country owed to him great
obligations, not only for the improvements he effected in
each of them, but also fer the enlightened and states-
manlike course which, :nr many years, he had pursued
in the Commons' House of Partiament.—(Cheers.) He
begged to propose " the Health of Sir James Graham
and the House of Commons."—(The toast was drunk
with loud cheers.)

Sir J. GRAHAM said—My Lord Mayor, when I look
around and see so many Members of the House of Com-
mons so much more entitled than I am by rank, by
talent, and by public services to return thanks for that
body on this occasion, I must unaffectedly declare, that
I am sorry the duty has not fallen into other hands than
mine. In any place, and on any occasion, it is indeed a
proud distinction that one's name should be associated
with the Commons of the United Kingdom; but, in my
estimation, the compliment is greatly enhanced when I
have to return thanks on the part of the House of Com-
mons in the centre of the city of London, which has from
the earliest times been the cradle of our liberties, which
has ever been the refuge of the oppressed, which is still
the great bulwark of the civil and religious liberties of
this country and the emporium of the commerce of the
world.—(Loud cheers.) My Lord, I must be permitted
to say, that the present occasion is most grateful to my
feelings of friendship and of respect. You, my Lord,
have stated that this is an entertainment given to Sir R.
Peel, and although you have laid down a rule which it
would be unworthy to transgress, yet the splendid hos-
pitality of this assembly, the rank, the talent, the distire.
guished merit collected on this occasion, give, as I con-
ceive, a tribute of homage justly due to the private cha-
racter, to the public services, and to the spotless inte-
grity of my Right Hon. Friend.—(Loud cheers.) It
would be unpardonable in me, after the praise you have
bestowed on Sir Robert Peel, and the acclamations with
which that praise was echoed by this company, if I
were to presume to add any fulsome encomiums or any
needless panegyric on this occasion. The language of
the Commons is at all times Main-spoken and sincere;
as tney no on mzny volute, I cite uot ce.e.
that there is, on the part of a vast majority of the house
or Commons, a strong feeling of respect for my Right
Hon. Friend—(Loud cheers)—a proud satisfaction that
he prefers to remain a member of that body of which ho
is so distinguished an ornament, and a consciousness
that no man now living has dane so much—(Cheers)—
has suffered so much, in the highest endeavour to pro-
mote the welfare and interests according to the best of
his judgment of the great body of the people.—(Loud
cheers.) You, my Lord, who are yourself a member of
that body, will, I am sure, bear testimony that in. expres-
sing what I have now done I do but declare-a-sentiment
which, if enunciated within the walls of the House of
Commons itself, would meet with the response of a great
majority of that assembly. My Lord, lam sure that the
feelings of the House of Commons would have been
better expressed by many individuals here present—but
this I do humbly believe, that I have not misrepresented
the feelings and sentiments of any Member of that house
here present, whatever may bo his party connexions.--
(Cheers.) At all events, lam quite certain that I hive
from the heart given utterance to the feelings which ani-
mate my own mind.—(Lewd cheers.)
The next toast was " the Health _of Sir F. Thesiger
and the bar of England," proposed by the Loan MAYOR,
which was drunk with applause, and duly responded to
by that Hon. and Learned Gentleman.
The LORD MAYoa then proposed " the Healths of the
Mayors of Manch, ster, Li verpool, aril Tam worth," who
were present, and the toast was drunk with cordial
cheers.

Several other toasts followed, and the company sepa-
rated near midnight. Mr. Harker was toastmaster. The
band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance, and
played during the 'wr•nine some favourite airs.