The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-23 00:00:00

Wilk OtrN,. liOtir'AON, lift tf ItiID.A.Y

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF COMVIONS, Mcuch 22.,

OUTGOING TENANTS (IRELAND) BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. TRELAW.NY moved that the Bill be 'read
a second time this day six months. The Bill excited
hopes in the minds of the Irish tenantry that never
could be realised, and the bringing forward of such
measures; therefore did more harm than good. In
fact, the Bill was founded upon a dangerous confis-
cating principle. He might, indeed, compare its prin.
eiple to that which would justify him in crossing the
floor of the House, seizing the watch of the Hon.
Member for Rochdale, and handing it over to the
next passer-by.—(oh, oh.) At all events, if it were
not quite so bad as that, it partook very much of that
character, and he trusted the House would throw out
the Bill altogether.
Dr. POWER gave it as his opinion that the time
had arrived when it was indispensably neces-
sary that Parliament should do something to
improve the tenantry of Ireland.—(Hear, hear.)
The Hon. GentlemSn, who had just sat down, com-
pared this Bill to the act of a pickpocket, but for the
life of him he could not see what similarity there

was between the principle which actuated a thief and
the principle of justice and equity, upon which this
Bill was founded.—(Hear, hear.) The present state
of the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland in-
flicted misery and degradation upon the great
miss of the people, and he hailed with de-
light any measure which was likely to have the
effect of improving such a state of things. In Ulster
tenant-right was admitted, and the consequence had
been that the people were happy and contented. In
every other part of Ireland, however, no such privi-
lege as tenant-right was known ; and hence the
origin of the cries of discontent which at pre-
sent might be heard extending from hill to
hill, and re-echoing in the 'sallies thrs,ughout the
length and breadth of the sister land.—(Hear, hear.)
The Bill brought in upon this subject by the Right
Hon. the Secretary for Ireland was a delusion, a
mockery, and a snare, while that of the Hon. Member
for Rochdale contained a solid remedy for the prevail-
ing evils of Ireland, and he had, therefore, muoh
pleasure in supporting the motion for its second reading.
The moral which was to be drawn from all this was,
that if all the landlords of Ireland were like Lord
Headley, the position of Ireland would be like Glen-
beg, but the fact was that the great majority of the
Irish landlords were net like that Noble Lord. The
people of Ireland had looked forward with the greatest
anxiety to the introduction of this measure, and he
had no doubt that it was the hope of this measure
which had supported them through the trying circum-
stances in which they had been placed during the
late famine. A measure of this sort had been alluded
to at the opening of the session in the Queen's Speech,
and foremost in the list of measures promised by the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government was one
for improving the relations of landlord and tenant.
He most earnestly trusted, therefore, that the House
would consent to pass this measure.
Mr. HUME said that the Hon. Member who had
last addressed the House stated very truly that in
Ireland the Irish people conducted themselves
like no other nation upon earth, but when placed
in other situations and under different Govern•
ments, their conduct became assimilated to that
of both the English and Scotch. What was the
reason of this ? They were badly governed, and
they were oppressed by their landlords to a most
grievous extent. Ile had for mar.y years lifted up
his voice in favour of the fullest extension to them
of the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the
people of this country. If such rights were not granted
to that people, then, in kis opinion, the union
was nothing more than a mere parchment union.
He did not think that it was any answer, in refusing
the extension of those rights, to say, that the people
were not prepared for those rights.—(Cries of
" Hear, hear.") He was sorry that there
was no member of her Majesty's Go-
vernment present; no doubt they considered that
this was a measure which might safely be left to
the discussion of Irish Members, hut he thought that
the time had now arrived when the subject ought to
be taken up by the Government. He thought that
the Government was much to blame for not having
brought forward their views upon the subject. They
had already been assembled about five months, and
nothing whatever had been done upon this subject.
They had not even the excuse of having had their
time occupied by important measures. :since their
last assembling theyhad done nothing that he knew of
beyond passing a Bill of ledemnity to her Majesty's
Government for interfering in the question of the
currenoy, and voting some of the supplies.—(Hear,
hear.) It was time for the House now to look around
them, when they saw the hurricane which was raging
everywhere about them, and endeavour to remove
all abuses and causes of grievance.—(Hear,
hear.) When the Honourable Baronet the Member
for Tamworth (Sir R. Peel) left office, he stated in
the paragraph of his address which closed his official
career, " that he would be ready to support any
measures which her Majesty's Government might

bring forward for the extension to Ireland of perfect
equality in all the rights and privileges en-
joyed by the people of this country." Why,
then, had not some measures been brought forward
by the government for this purpose ? Why was not
some measure introduced for improving the registra-
tion ; for equalising the representation of the country ;
for amending the jury-laws; for improving the muni-
cipal government of towns, and other purposes equally
needed for the improvement of the country ?—(Hear,
hear.) He had been informed by a large auctioneer,
that if one million of lots of land were to be put
up for sale in the course of the ensuing year, they
would find purchasers at • twenty-seven years' pur-
chase, provided a good and sure title could
be given to the purcha4rs. He had lately perused
a pamphlet written by a Mr. Tuite, and he rose from
that perusal fully convinced in his own mind that
what was wanted to improve the condition of
Ireland was a more equal distribution and
allocation of the land of that country.
It was because he had ever been of opinion that Ireland,
like Scotland, would profit by its union with Eng-
land, that he was anxious to avert the consequences
which might arise from a discontented popula-
tion, who joined in a cry for repeal or any
other thing. (Hear, hear.) Let the Govern-
ment remove the causes of those grievances, and the
agitation would cease.—(Hear, hear.) Under all the
circumstances of 'the case he should advise his Hon.
Friend to postpone the further consideration of his
measure, in order to afford time for the Government
to consider the subject, and either bring in a measure
themselves, or give their support to the present one.
Sir W. SOAIERVILLE said that the Hon. Mem-
ber who had just addressed the House could not be
aware of the course which had been taken by the
Government with reference to this subject, or the
difficulties they had met with in the course
they had pursued. The Hon. Member for Rochdale
(Mr. S. Crawford) had said that the people of Ire-
land would not accept of any measure which did nol
go on the ground of the recognition of the tenant-right
of Ulster. The Hon. Member had made very extraor-
dinary /End contradictory assertions upon this subject.
On the 9th of November last that Hon. Member said
that mere occupation gave no tenant-right to the oc-
cupier. On the 11th of the same menth he stated
that the tenant had a right, upon giving up posses-
sion of his land, to sell his interest in
it, but nothing whatever was said about money
expended by the tenants on improvements. If the
present Bill was to be allowed to pass, it would have
the effect of turning the whole of Ireland into one
vast field of litigation. With respect to the measure
introduced by the Government, he begged to
state that he had received from numerous persons
competent to pronounce an opinion upon the subject,
their entire concurrence in the principle of that
measure, and suggesting some slight modifications
in the machinery of the Bill, tending to reduce the
chances of litigation. If he thought that the Bill
of his Hon. Friend was likely to confer on the people
of Ireland those benefits which he appeared to anti-
cipate from it, he would give it his most cordial
support ; but it was because he thought no
such good would result from the measure, that he
felt bound to oppose the second reading of the mea-
sure. The effect of this Bill would, if introduced
into the county of Meath, for instance, be the means
of punishing all the kind and considerate landlords
of that county. Suppose, for instance, a person
wishing to dispose of a large quantity-of land
and unwilling to sell it by public sale, being anxiousto keep his tenements as comfortable as possible,
should dispose of it privately for a sum of 20s. per
acre, it being worth 30s. if sent into the
market. Suppose, then, the person purclias
ink the land should immediately go into the
market and dispose of the land, receiving for the same
an immense sum as tenant-right, which he would put
into his own pocket, leaving the original owner a
number of rack-rented tenants, while he himself
pocketed the amount of the tenant-right.—(Hear.)
Mr. S. CRAWFORD—There is a clause in the
Bill preventing that.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE—Then the Hon. Member
did not intend to base his measure on the Ulster
tenant-right; he had some other plan to propose.
lie felt it, therefore, to he his duty to op-
Pose the second reading of the present Bill ;
and he trusted that the House would not consent to
allow the Bill to be further proceeded with, satisfied as
he was that if passed into law it would only be pro-
ductive of the most serious evils to the country.
Mr. B. ROCHE felt much pleasure in support-
ing. thd second reading of the Bill. He contended
that there was no means of enabling the tenants of
Ireland to gain a livelihood on the land, unless they
granted the tenant-right. The Right Hon. Baronet,
the Secretary for Ireland, had stated that if this'
Bill was passed there would be one mass of
litigation from one end of. Ireland to the other ; he
denied that statement, believing that if this Bill was

passed it would tend greatly to decrease litigation in
Ireland and not increase it. Why was it that in
Ulster and the countyof Down things were going on well
while in other parts of Ireland there was the greatest
confusion ? The answer was plain—the tenant-right
was established there. The question they had to
decide was, whether they would encourage the
people of Ireland to ensure themselves comforts by their
industry, or would allow their energies to be cramped
and shackled as they were at the present time by the
law as it at present stood. He most cordially sup-
ported the second reading of the Bill.
Sir B. HALL did not object to the enforcement
of tenant-right, but he did object strongly
to the manner in which it was proposed
to be enforced by the present Bill. He agreed with
the Right Hon. Baronet, the Secretary for Ireland,
that if the Bill became law, it would lead to the
extension of litigation in Ireland. He did not think
that the tenant-right was absolutely necessary for
the well-being of Ireland ; nor did he imagine that
its existence had produced such good effects as many
persons imagined. The present discussion proved
that there was something wrong
.in the re-
lation of landlord and tenant in Ireland.
In this country there was a sympathy be-
tween the landlord and tenant,' but such was not
the case in Ireland. In that country the tenants were
continually complaining of the absence of the landlords,
and the moment they came among them they shot them,
and then illuminated the neighbourhood, and rejoiced
that they had got rid. of them. He thought that the
course that had been adopted by the Lord-Lieutenant
for putting a stop to these outrages in Ireland had
laid that country under a far greater debt of grati-
tude to him than was due to many Hon. Member
for speeches they had made in that House.
He believed that the provisions of the Bill would not
meet with the approbation of the great mass of the
people of Ireland. He believed that the question
of tenant-right was brought forward for no other
purpose than that of keeping up agitation in Ireland.
The Hon. Gentleman then referred to two speeches
of Mr. John O'Connell, stating what he considered
tenant-right to be, and also to the statement of Mr.
Foster, The Times' Commissioner, whose statements
with respect to Darrynane and other property in Ire-
land he believed to be most correct. The Hon. Baronet
then proceeded to refer to the case of several parts of
Ireland, for the purpose of showing that the greatest
wretchedness had existed where tenant-right
existed to the fullest extent, and that that
wretchedness was removed when the custom of tenant-
right was done away with. The Hon. Baronet re-
ferred particularly to the case of the property of
Lord George Hill, who on succeeding to
his property in Ireland found it in a
most wretched condition, and had now suc-
ceeded in making it fruitful, and his tenantry
happy and contented, and this, too, without the
exercise of any foree. Such being the case, he asked
those who had property in Ireland to follow
the example of Lord George Hill. As to
the repeal of the Union, he believed that
question would soon die a natural death if the
landlords of Ireland, like Lord G. Hill, did their
duty. Hon. Gentlemen had been in the habit of re-
ferring to Ireland in the language of the poet, and
calling her—

" First flower of the earth.
And first gem of the sea."

He thought that the time had long since gone by
when she deserved such appellations.—(Hear, hear.)
Her flower had faded, and her gem had lost its lustre ;
they might revive the one, and restore the splendour
of the other, but not by the means that her sons
were now pursuing—they must help themselves, and
God would help them.—(Hear, hear.) Parliament
could never do that good for Ireland which it might
do for itself if its countrymen would only pursue the
right course. Ile felt bound, therefore, to oppose the
second reading of the Bill.
Mr. SADLEIR deprecated the introduction of
irritating topics into the question. No one could
more appreciate the efforts of Government to alleviate
the distress and sufferings of the Irish people than he
did, and he felt that, when the proper time arrived,
they would be prepared with other measures to per-
manently improve the condition of Ireland. It
was, in the mean time, easy for Hon. Gentlemen
to get up in that House and talk largely
about tenant-right, without condescending to explain
what they meant by that plan. No man was more
disposed to concede all that the tenant had a right to
demand of his landlord than himself ; but let them
look at the question with unprejudiced eyes,
and not take steps in a time of excite-
ment to unduly relieve the tenant at the
expense of the landlord. The system of tenant-right
which he wished to see legalized by an Act of the
Legislature was that which was already in operation
in the province of Ulster, and he hoped the House,
instead of agreeing to the Bill now under dis-
cussion, or the Bill introduced by the Right
Hon. the Secretary for Ireland, would direct
them to be referred to the consideration
of a Select Committee up stairs. He certainly was
opposed to the amendment of the lion. Member for
Tavistock, because there could be no doubt that the
tenants of Ireland had a right to ask for relief at the
hands of that House; and although be saw the seeds
of future litigation in the Bill of the Honourable
Member for Rochdale, he would rather vote for its
second reading than consent to a proposition to post-
pone til! a future day an abuse which certainly did
exist in Ireland, and which ought to be got rid of
without a moment's delay.—(Hear, hear.) The lion.
Member then proceeded to inveigh against the exist-
ing Irish poor-law, but he was interrupted by
Lord CASTLEREAGH, who rose to order, on
the ground that the poor-law of Ireland had nothing
to do with the Bill before the House.

Mr. SADLEIR would readily bow to the decision
of the House, and would sit down protesting that it
was the duty of Parliament to adopt some measure
to put at rest the Irish landlord and tenant question.
Mr. D. O'CALLAGHAN sympathised with the
motives which had induced the Hon. Member for
Rochdale to bring forward this Bill, and he very much
feared that its provisions did not fully meet
the difficulties of the question. He had had many
private conversations with the Hon. Member upon
this subject, and it by no means appeared to him that
the Hon. Member himself was quite satisfied that his
measure was an efficient remedy for the prevailing
evils. He thought, therefore, it would be much better
to leave the matter in the hands of the Government,
and let them try if they could not devise some mea-
sure which should have the effect of settling the
question to the satisfaction of all parties.—(Hear.)
On the motion of Mr. NAPIER the debate was then
adjourned till the sth of April.
DERBY ELECTION.
Mr. CHILDERS brought up the report of the
Derby Election Committee, declaring Mr. Strutt and
Mr. Gower to have been unduly elected for that
borough.

SUPPLY.
Mr. BELLEW brought up the report of the
Committee of Supply, which was agreed to.
The remaining orders of the day were then dis-
posed of, and the House adjourned a few minutes
before Six o'clock.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
DERBY.

(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday).
Witnesses were called to prove that Mr. Strutt, both
publicly and privately declared that he would be no
party to any corrupt practice, and that on one occasion,
at a public meeting of the constituency of Derby, he
explained to them that since the last general election
the law of bribery and treating had been rendered more
stringent and severe, and he, therefore, hoped those
who professed to be his friends would abstain from treat
ing, or in any shape or way bribing voters to induce
them to support his claims.
Mr. MEREPIETHER then summed up, after which the
room was cleared. Strangers having been teadmitted,
The CHAIRMAN announced that the Committee bad
come to the following resolutions :
That Mr. Strutt and Mr. Gower were not duly elected
to serve as burgesses in the present Parliament for the
borough of Derby.
" That the last election for the borough of Derby was
a void election.

" That it had been proved to the Committee that Mr.
Strutt and Mr. Gower were, by their agents, guilty of
bribery; but that it was not proved to the Committee that
such bribery was administered with the consent of the
Strutt or Mr. Gower.
" That it was proved to the Committee, that at the last
election, as well as at previous elections for the borough
of Derby, a practice prevailed of placing freemen on a
nominal committee for the purpose of bribery, and it
was also proved that the practice had extensively pre-
vailed at the last election ; and the Committee consider
it to be their duty to report the same specially to the
House."
An application was then made for costs on behalf of
the petitioner, which was opposed by Mr. Sergeant
Wrangham, and rejected by the Committee.
This closed the labours of the Committee.

FIRST REPORT FROM THE COM-
MITTEE OF SELECTION.
The Committee of Selection have formed into groups
the following opposed private Bills, not being railway
Bills, which it is, in their opinion, expedient to submit
to the same Committees, respectively :
Gaeta. No. I.—Clerkenwell Improvement, Leeds Im-
provement, Oxford Paving.
GROUP No. 2.—Wigan Improvement, Walsall Im-
provement, Huddersfield Improvement.
GROUP No. 3.—Dublin Improvement, Londonderry
Improvement.
Gaon/. No. 4.—Worcester New Gas, Bristol and
Clifton Gas, Brighton Gas•light and Coke.
GROUP No. G.—Lambeth Waterworks, Derby Water-
works, Penzance Waterworks.
GROUP No. 6.—Stirling Waterworks, Glasgow Water-
works, Manchester Corporation Waterworks.
GROUP No. 7.—Edinburgh Municipality Extension,
Edinburgh Police Amendment, Edinburgh Police Con-
solidation, Leith Municipality and Police.
GROUP No. B.—Torquay Market, Manchester Ceme-
tery.

GROUP No. 9.—Liverpool Docks, &c., Barrow Har-
bour. _ _ _

GROUP N. 10.—Bristul Docks Transfer, East and
West Looe Harbour, Dover Landing Pier.
GROUP No. 11.—The several Bills relating to the
Birkenhead Docks.

GROUP No. 12.—New Grand Canal (Ireland), Newry
Navigation.
GROUP No. 13.—Norwich and Yarmouth Navigation,
Great Yarmouth Coal Duties, Tyne Direct Ferry,
Queensferry Passage.
GROUP No. 14.—Middle Level Drainage, River Nene
Drainage, Thorne floor Drainage.
GROUP No. 15.—Patent Galvanized Iron Company
(two Bills relating thereto), Priee's Patent Candle Com-
pany, Kettering Small Tenements Rating.

THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF

ALEXANDRIA.

The Highland Society of London held a general
Court of the corporation on Tuesday, at the Free-
masons' Tavern, to celebrate the anniversary of the
battle of Alexandria. About 200 partook of the
festive entertainment. A number wore the costume
of their native land; and those present connected
with the army appeared in full uniform. The
juvenile band of the Caledonian Asylum, under the
direction of Angus M'Kay, the Queen's piper, were
in attendance, and played (luring the evening several
Scottish airs with their pipes. The spacious gallery
was occupied by a number of elegantly-attired ladies.
The feast was presided over by The Chisholm, who
was supported on his right and left by the veterans
Lieutenant-General Sir James Macdonnell and
Lieutenant-General Sir James Law Lushington.
Among the company we observed—
Dr. Stewart Chisholm, Dr. Power, Rev. Dr. Cum-
ming, Captain Lamont, R N., Captain Forbes, Captain
Jay, R.N., Captain R. Guthrie, Sir Evan Mackenzie,
Captain Dalrymple G. Krehner, Esq., Russian Consul;
General Pereira, Lieutenant Spurgin, J. Wedderburn,
Esq., David Charles Guthrie, Esq., S. M. Boulderson,
Esq., Charles Lushington, Esq., James Tulloch, Esq.,
James Guthrie, Esq., D. Nehon, Esq., W. Rose, Esq.,
H. K)•d. Esq.. IV. Anwardale, Esq., Alexander R.
Irvine, Esq., Henry Rose, Esq., J. Duff Gordon, Esq.,
J. Bushby, Esq., A. Paull, Esq., Thomas Skinner, Esq.,
Captain B tgue, Captain Shea, J. Bulkeley, Esq., Hector
Rose, Charles Sutherland, Esq., R. R. M'lan,
Esq., Dr. Este, of the army, J. liFravish, Esq.,
Consul, B.himore.

Due justice having been done to the viands, which
were of excellent quality and well served,
The CHAIRMAN gave " The Queen and her Consort
Prince Albert," a toast which was received with the
loudest demonstrations of applause, and drunk with
Highland honours. In proposing it he said loyalty
was a ditinctive characteristic of every Highlander,
and he should not be thought to violate that wholesome
and salutary rule laid down by the society, that no
political matter should be introduced into their pro-
ceedings, when he gave utterance to the sentiment
which he believed was entertained in common by its
members, that that free constitution which they en-
joyed under their most gracious Queen might long
continue, that they might long live under the
sovereignty of that Queen whose limited monarchy
must ever be the best guarantee, as it had ever been
the safeguard, of the continued existence of civil and
religious liberty in her dominions.—(Loud cheers.)
Miss Horton then sung from the gallery, in her
usual beautiful mellow voice—" Bonnie Prince
Charlie," and being encored, "God forgi'e for liein'."
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Prince of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family."— (Loud
cheers.) He hoped that the nation, should the Prince
of Wales be spared to reign over it, would enjoy,
under his sway, the same benefits they possessed
under the sovereignty of his august mother. There
was, however, as a recent circumatance had evinced,
no reason to expect that there would be a failure of
the line.—(Laughter.) They would, perhaps, pardon
him if he here broke off into a short digression or
anecdote illustrative of the respect entertained for
monarchy in England. Upon a recent occasion—
(we understood the Chairman alluded to an incident
that occurred at the Caledonian fancy ball)—when
the health of the Queen was proposed, a young man,
dressed as a French cavalier, continued in his seat,
and placed a cap of liberty on his head, bearing the
inscription "Mourier pour la patrie," and refused to
remove it, or to join in the toast, when called upon to
do so. A Ilignlander, a member of the Highland
Society, plucked the cap from his head, and
dashed it from him.—(Cheers.) There were times
when such an act of indiscretion would have cost the
wearer his head.—(Hear.)
The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.
Captain FORBES said the statement would not be
complete until the Highlander who had so distin-
guished himself in supporting his lawful Queen and
the loyalty of the society, and who was amongst
them, had been named.—(Cheers.) Their thanks were
due to him for the act. His name was Mr. Brown.—
(Loud cheers.) Perhaps the Chairman would allow
him to propose the health of that gentleman. Drank
with Highland honours.

Mr. liitowN (who wore the kilt) rose, and was re-
ceived with loud applause. He said he could not
find words to express his thanks for the high honour
they had conferred upon him. He was sure, however,
he did no more than hundreds would have thine if
they had a similar opportunity afforded them for
evincing their loyalty to the throne. He begged to
thank them all most cordially.—(Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast he had to pro-
pose was that •of " Prince Albert, the Chief "of the
Highland Society." He presided over them on the
last occasion, and was so well pleased with the prin-
ciples and objects of the society, that, he understood,
but for an occurrence in his domestic circle— (Laugh-
ter)—he would have been amongst them that eve-
ning.—(Loud cheers).
The toast was warmly responded to.
The CHAIRMAN then propose.l a toast, which he
said he was sure was one peculiarly welcome to the
Highland Society, namely, " The Army and Navy."
—(Cheers.) He was proud, on that occasion, to be
supported by a near relative of his own—Sir John
Macdonnell.—(Loud cheers.) It was now fifty-two
years ago since he became a soldier, and he believed
there was a kick in him yet.---(Cheers.) One of his
feats whilst in active service was the defence of
Houguetnont—he bore upon his breast the token of his
achievments, and it was unnecessary for him (the
chairman) to say more.—(Loud cheers.) A little
further to his right was one who served under Aber-
crombie in Egypt.—(Cheers.) On his left he was
supported by a distinguished officer of the East India
Company's service ; and with the toast he begged to
couple the " Army of the East India Company."
1 he toast was received like the last.
Sir JAMES MACDONNELL returned thanks, as also
did

Sir JAMES LUSHINGTON, who said he believed the
Indian army had ever done its duty, in proof of
which he need only allude to the glorious achievements
of Lord Hardinge—(Cheers)—and he might add
that whenever their services might be again re-
quired, he believed they would be found ready to
support the renown they had obtained.
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of the Duke of
Buccleugh, the late president of the society. He
regretted that the demands upon his time prevented
him from paying that attention to the society which
a president should do. No one could deny him the
character of an highly estimable nobleman.
Drunk with Highland honours.
The CHAIRMAN then said they bad met on that
occasion to commemorate the victory of Alexandria,
and it was the unanimous wish of the Highland
Society that their anniversary should be holden that
day.—(Cheers.) If there were any who inquired
the reason—and he did not think there were—he
would say he need scarcely remind them of the
historical claims that that day had upon all their re-
collections—he need not tell them that their troops
disembarked in the Bay of Aboukir, in which but
a few short years before, Nelson had achieved one of
the most glorious victories. He exclaimed, with true
British enthusiasm, when he first came in sight of the
fleet of the enemy, " Now for a peerage, or 'West-
minster Abbey."—(Cheers.) Three years after, under
Sir Sidney Smith, the army again disembarked there,
and with regard to the object which he had in view,
and the glorious manner in which it was achieved,
and the importance of them to the nation, he need say
nothing, as they were duly felt and appreciated.
the expedition was under the command of their dis-
tinguished countryman, Sir Ralph Abercrombie, aided
by Sir James Murray, a member of the society, and
who had filled that chair. The gallant 42d, the
Highland Regiment, stood opposed, hand to hand and
foot to foot, against Napoleon's invincible legion,
who gave way before the kilted warriors of
their native land.—(Loud cheers.) This was the
reason why they met that day.—(Hear, hear.) What
they did their countrymen yet could do.—(Hear.)
But they must cease their plaudits and check their
pride. The path of military glory had always been
a path of blood, and many victories were alloyed by
the recollection that the leaders had fallen.—(Hear,
hear.) So was it here, and it was well it should be
so—that in the moment when human pride beat
highest it should be reminded of human frailty.—
Meer, hear.) Not long after a frigate, on which the
standard of the gallant hero floated, bore to this
country all that was mortal of Sir Ralph Aber-
crombie. Ile proposed that they should drink to the
memory of Abercrombie, and the heroes who fell
with him in Egypt. He might conclude with the
words of his friend and school-fellow, General
Hutchinson, who, after enumerating his great deeds,
said, " but there is one comfort—thus he lived, as his
life was honourable so was his death ; his memory
will be enshrined in the annals of his country—it
will be inscribed in the heart of every British soldier,
and engravon in the recollection of a grateful posterity."
I give you in silence—" The memory of Sir Ralph
Abercrombie, and the gallant heroes who fell 'w $k
him in Egypt."
The toast was drunk in silenoc