The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-04 00:00:00

MR. COBDEN IN ITALY.

TURIN, WEDNESDAY, MA Y 26, 1847.—Although the
intended visit of Mr. Cobden to this city was well
known and anticipated, and although it was the general
wish that there should be given here, as well as in the
other cities of Italy, a public testimonial of the high
estimation in which he is held, yet it was found impos-
sible to arrange a reception on the scale desired and ex-
pected, for in fact in Turin there is no saloon large or
commodious enough to accommodate the number that
would have attended. Therefore three or four of the
most influential nobles set on foot a banquet to which
only those were admitted who had special letters of in-
vitation, and which banquet took place on Monday even-
ing the 24th, at the Europa Hotel.
As it was, the room was much too small for the guests
who amounted to about 60, and the heat was terrific ;
however, the dinner was most excellent, served up in
brilliant style, and composed of plats the most recherché.
and of wines the choicest.

The Comte Collibian' ' was in the chair ; having, of
course, on his right Mr. Cobden, and on either side the
President and Vice-President of the Chamber of Com-
merce ; the two Syndics of the city, Compte Balbo,
Marquis di Cavour, Marquis di Brime, Comte Rignon,
Professor Scialoja, &c.
After the usual loyal toasts, the honour of proposing
the health of their guest, which was drunk with accla•
mations long and loud, devolved upon Professor Scialoja,
a young Neapolitan of rare talents, specially invited by
the King of Sardinia to become the professor of political
economy in the Royal University of Turin.
After the Professor's splendid speech, eulogising with
great eloquence the cause and principles of commercial
freedom, of which Mr. Cobden had been the persevering
champion, and complimenting him upon the talents and
energy he had displayed in effecting such a successful
issue,

Mr. Cobden rose to return thanks. He spoke in
French, and after apologising for the imperfect manner
in which he could express his sense of the honour done
him, and disclaiming the merit which had been attri-
buted to him by the preceding speaker, made honour-
able mentien of his fellow labourers in the cause of free
trade, and of the statesmen who had carried it into
effect. He had found that the conduct of Sir Robert
Peel was held in high estimation on the continent, and
he believed that the same judgment which intelligent
foreigners removed from the atmosphere of our
political strife passed upon him would be also awarded
to him by posterity in England.—(Loud cheers.)
Ever since the close of the war the discoveries and im-
provements of science have been contributing towards
free trade. Every steam-boat had been an argument in
its favour—every mile of railway was a reproach to the
restrictive system. Locomotives and fiscal prohibitions
were incompatible things. Railways disdained the
ancient custom-house restraints. They could not
nurse their modern giant in an old-fashioned cradle.
If Germany had not formed its Zollverein, it would not
now have possessed its net-work of railways, and other
countries would also be obliged to have their customs
unions.—(Loud cheers.) The protective system was
not known by the Italian republics in their flourishing
era. How could Venice, for instance, have grown great
under that system? There was nothing but mud banks
to protect, t...a marble
palaces by commercial liberty.—(Cheers.) As this was
probably the last occasion of his addressing an Italian
audience, he must be allowed to say what had most sur-
prised and delighted him in his travels in their country.
It was not their pictures, monuments, and ruins—he had
been prepared to see them. Nor was it the distinguished
men he had met, for their fame had reached him in
England. His most agreeable surprise had been in
finding so much interest felt everywhere in Italy upon
the subject of the commercial reform in England. That
showed that the free traders had not been engaged in a
narrow contest, but had laboured for the interests of
humanity, and it also showed that Italians possess ex-
pulsive sympathies which embraced the whole world.—
(Cheers.) He should be indeed ungrateful if he did not
always feel a strong interest in all that concerned the
happiness and prosperity of Italy, and he could not leave
that beautiful country, except with the hope of return-
ing again, to renew his personal acquaintance with the
many amiable persons from whom he had experienced so
much kindness.

Loud and enthusiastic plaudits followed th© termina.
tion of the speech.

Mr. Cobden has had ar7-----7--audience to-day of the King,
who received him most graciously, and entered at once
upon the subject of free trade, saying he highly ap-
proved the principles which Mr. Cobden had advocated,
and that it was his wish and intention to make reduc-
tions in the tariff as soon as possible, a promise which
the Minister of Finance corroborated in the evening, at
the English Minister's, where Mr. Cobden dined.