The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-05 00:00:00

me. And while looking to the long list of states-
men, great in their wisdom and mighty in their
achievements, who have preceded me and looking
beak to the time wherein they lived, I do entertain
very strong doubts of my own competency for the
administration of affairs so various and so vast, when
men of far greater ability might regard their charge
with anxiety and dread. Yet, conscious of the
motives with which I have undertaken this
office, I have not shrunk from its responsibilities. I
rely, my Lords and Gentlemen, on your 9ordial
support. I rely upon the support of your army and
of your navy, and I rely on the cordial support of
her Majesty's Ministers, frankly and freely, as long as
I faithfully execute the trust committed to me with 1
fidelity to you and with advantage to the public.—
(Cheers.) I know I may safely rely on the able and
ungrudging assistance of both branches of those ad-
mirable services under your command, and I feel,
relying upon this, and with God's good help, I trust
that I shall be successful, at least as far as I can be
with honesty and justice: The Chairman has properly
observed that this is not the occasion on which to ven-
ture in any manner, however slight, on the events of
the future, and the results of fature measures. I
have already had an opportunity of explaining to you
my views on the various questions of Indian policy,
and you will excuse me, therefore, if I venture to
think any further reference to them unnecessary.
But before I sit down I way venture to congratulate
you on the encouraging state of public affairs in India.
I am certain I am only expressing the sentiments of
you all when I say that I hope the peace which the
distinguished success of the administration of the
Noble Lord who now precedes me in that .country has
produced may prove lasting, and I know that I ex-
press the feelings of every one around me when I
offer up my earnest hope and prayer that this peace
may be enduring and profound. But, my Lords and
Gentlemen, if this aspiration be vain, and it should
turn out otherwise, rtrust that the Government of
India will never be found unprepared to strike, and
will ever be prompt to raise their arm when the real
interest and the true honour of the nation demand it.
—(Loud cheers.) But I shall regard it as the proudest
and noblest honour of my life if, free from all foreign
aggression and internal tumult, my chief daty shall
consist in advancing those great measures of internal
improvement which are so essential to the prosperity
of the Indian empire, and in promoting the extension
and improvement of internal communications, not
merely as respects those modes of rapid intercourse
which, however advantageous, I must take the li-
berty to say cannot be introduced with too much
caution and deliberation, but of those other
modes of facilitating traffic which so essentially
conduce to the interests of the country.—(Loud
cheers.) I trust the encouragment of those great
objects, and the development of those great resources,
may contribute to the wealth, and tend to the per-
manent improvement of this great empire. I hope
that these may be the measures which shall most de-
mand my assistance. It is true, my Lords and Gen-
tlemen, that of these measures I cannot hope to see
the full success but I trust you will do me the justice
to believe that I speak from my heart when I say I
shall not labour the less assiduously to sow the seeds
and to water the soil, because another may gather
and enjoy the fruit—that I shall not the less labour to
raise the column of your honour and your glory,
because I have not been the first to found it.—(Loud
cheers.) My Lords and Gentlemen, of my admini-
stration in India I shall not expect anything more but
that my measures and my policy may give you re-
newed reasons for entertaining the confident belief
that your power in the East is not less irresistible by
the force of your arms than by the purity, beneficence,
and justice of your rule.—(The Noble Lord resumed
his seat amidst loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose a toast which he
was sure would receive their heartiest approbation.
The administration of her Majesty's navy had been
entrusted to Lord Auckland, and to that branch of
the public service he brought a name distinguished
by his connexion with them in the East. The Noble
Lord, as was well known to them all, had obtained for
his tried and able services the satisfaction of the In-
dian community and of the Parliament of this coun-
try. He gave them "Lord Auckland, and prosperity
to the Navy."
The Earl of AUCKLAND returned thanks. He
could not but feel the greatest pride and satisfaction
at having his name associated with so distinguished a
branch of the public service. He was glad to be
present on that occasion, when his Noble Friend re-
ceived from the East India Company so striking a
proof of friendship and good-will for his administra-
tion. He was glad to believe that there were officers
then among them equal to any difficulty—he was
glad to believe that the navy had never been more
qualified to accomplish a victory than it was at pre-
sent—(Cheers)—and he was satisfied that the navy
never was better prepared to meet any danger to which
the country might be exposed. Whilst he thanked
them for drinking his health in connexion with the
navy, he could assure them he lost none of the
interest he had always felt for the British army. He
was glad to be able to express his best wishes for the
success of the administration of his Noble Friend.—
(Cheers.) He was glad to have an opportunity of
expressing his confidence, from his knowledge of the
public conduct and private character of the Noble
Lord, that the government of the great Indian em-
pire could not be entrusted to any man more likely
to consolidate its power, to promote its prosperity,
and to secure the happiness of the many millions en-
trusted to his charge.—(Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said he had to regret the absence
of the Noble Duke at the head of her Majesty's armies,
whose presence would have been so gratifying to
them all.—(Cheers.) His name was identified with
the military honours, fame, and glory of this country.
it was engraven on the heart of every living English-
man, and would be cherished by the children of their
most remote posterity. He it was who had led them
after many victories to the crowning triumph at
Waterloo, which had restored peace and independence
to the nations of Europe. He was sure that, however,
they must all regret his absence, they would pay all
due honour to his name, however insufficient it might
be to show their estimation and esteem for his emi-
nent services.—(Cheers.)
Sir J. MACDONALD returned thanks for the army.
He believed it was in every respect as good as ever
it had been, and offered his congratulations on the ap-
pointment of a Noble Lord who inherited all the
virtues of his father.

The Marquis of DOURO returned thanks for the
Duke of Wellington. He felt deeply the kind way
in which they had proposed his health, and the man-
ner in which it had been received by the company.
Nothing but unavoidable circumstances could have
prevented the Duke of Wellington from being present,
fir nothing could have given him greater pleasure
than to give his noble friend, for whom he enter-
tained the greatest esteem and affection, as well as
respect for his abilities, his company on such an oc-
casion. Nor could anything have been more pleasant
to the Duke of Wellington than to have heard the
honest resolutions and modest aspirations with which
the Noble Lord had announced his intention to do
his duties in India.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said he rose to propose the next
toast with feelings of great pleasure. He rejoiced
exceedingly at the presence of the head of her Ma-
jesty's Government. The members of that Govern-
ment were patriots. Whatever their party, they
wished well to their country, and turned their atten-
tion to the public good. The Noble Lord at the
head of the Government was a patriot, and though
there might be and there would be political difficulties
and great embarrassments, yet a patriot would never
despond. Courage and unyielding patriotism would !
get them through all their difficulties. The Noble I
Lord was a man who would not flinch. He was a I
man who would not tremble in the battlements, and I
he (the Chairman) wished him success in all those
measures which had for their end the honour of the
people and the greatness and welfare of the country.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, who was received with
applause and cheering, rose and said—Mr. Chairman,
my Lords, and Gentlemen, I rise with feelings of
gratitude to return you my sincere thanks for the
honour you have done me and her Majesty's Govern-
ment on the present occasion. I rejoice to be enabled
to come here upon what our Chairman has caellaeldwtah3i,ss
auspicious occasion, when Lord Dalhousie is about to
undertake the government of India.
felt that on subjects of this kind it beholvehda‘th'
partyos and
whon
d
held the reins of power to lay aside all
personal considerations, and to consider solely and
entirely what was best for the country and for the
empire.—(Cheers.) It was with this view, my Lords
thatd Gmenytlyimtigenb,tanHdon. acting upon
pon these considerations,
the President of the
the Board of Control and I have heartily concurred
in the appointment of the Noble Lord to an office of
such great importance. lam glad to have an op-
portunity of expressingthe sense entertained by
Government of the talents displayed in India in the
service of the East Ind
was who ia Company. When the ques-
tion
should succeed Lord Hardinge in the
government of India, it appeared to us that the dis-
tinguished qualities which had bbekebn
bexbhibited by
Lord Dalhousie, that the
ability
in the great field of public scwussion eandadthsahto(w.hne
talent he had displayed in the department of the State
over which he had presided, was such as to promise
ample satisfaction that he would govern with the