The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-12 00:00:00

ADDRESS TO LORD METCALFE

MEETING AT THE ORIENT AL CLUB HOUSE.
(THIS DAY.)
A very numerous meeting of gentlemen connected
with India was held this day at the Oriental Club,
Hanover-square, for the purpose of consideriug the pro-
priety of addressing Lord Metcalfe on his return to his
native country. There were present at least two hun-
dred and fifty gentlemen of the ihighest character con-
nected with the civil and military service of India. The
chair was taken at two o'clock, by
The Earl of AUCKLAND, who •was greeted with con-
siderable applause, and having explained the purpose of
the meeting, proceeded to eulogise the character of
Lord Metcalfe in every part of his distinguished
career. His Noble Friend had 'been his schoolfellow
at Eton, and from that period to the present
day he had had the happiness and pride of Lord Met-
calfe's friendship. The Noble Chairman traced the
progress of Lord Metcalfe from the early part of his
public service in India down to the time of his return
to this country from the East, with the expectation of
beihg allowed to pass the rem ainder of his days in
repose at home. But his eminent merits marked him
out as a fit person to be entrusted with the government
of Jamaica in a time of great difficulty and delicacy.
The manner in which he discharged his important and
arduous duties in that colony induced another Ministry,
of different politics from that which appointed
him to Jamaica, to send him to Canada, where the
interests of this country were in danger, and the affairs
of the colony irretrievably involved. Whilst suffering
under the most severe bodily pain, he still continued to
discharge his important duties, and with such success as
to call for the marked approbat ion of the Government,
which was expressed by the Queen's calling him to her
councils; and raising him to the peerage. The Noble
Lord was loudly applauded throughout an eloquent and
earnest speech.
Mr. HOLT MACKENZIE moved, and Sir J. RYAN SC
conded (also in highly eulogistic speeches) the following
resolution, which was carried unanimously:—" 1 hat
an address be presented to Lord Metcalfe, expressing
the high sense entertained, by this meeting of the
honours by which those services have justly been re-
cognised by his Sovereign and his country ; their cor-
dial sympathy in the affliction by which his career of
eminent usefulness has been interrupted ; and the af-
fection, respect, and admire Lion with which they re-
gard his public and private character."
Mr. B. BAYLEY then read the draft of an address,
which had been prepared by the committee, and which
he moved should be adopted as the address of the meet-
ing. It was couched in very strong terms of affection
said by
previous
disposition,vtih oe u
s
othe
high distinguished
alli thihae t
and honours as well as of sorrow and sympathy for the
phycical suffering with which the Noble Lord was
afflicted.
hr.
character,
beeneGaGc M.P.,
nid in i y
r
, kindly
services of Lord Metcalfe, 'who, he was sure, would
not feel less gratification with the tribute that day offered
to him here, than by the well-merited honours which
his Sovereign had bestowed on him.
The address was unanimouidy agreed to, and ordered
to be engrossed, and to lie for AL fortnight at the Oriental
Club-house, for signatures.
Thanks were then voted to the Noble Chairman, and
the meeting separated.

BANK OF AUSTRALASIA.
(THIS DAY.)
An extraordinary general meeting of the Proprietors
was convened to-day, at their•office in Austin-friars, for
the purpose, among other blisiness of filling up two
vacancies in the directory, occasioned by the resignation
of Richard Norman, Esq., and Bassett David Colvin, Esq.
Mr. Brownrig having taken the chair, and the adver-
tisement calling the molting having been read by the
Secretary, the Chairman was proceeding to explain the
course to be pursued in the new election, when he was
interrupted by
Mr. NEWSAM, who thought that a previous question de-
served the attention of theprovietors, which was, whether
the Proprietors ought to accept the resignation f the two
Directors, who had retired, for considering the present
unhappy state of the affairs of/ the bank, especially as
they were affected by the Wial which might be said to be
still pending between them. and the Bank of Australia,
the gentlemen in question ought to have felt themselves
in honour, and by r °oral obligations, bound to
have retained their places at the board till
their affairs were som,swhat retrieved from the
difficulties in which they had been involved during the
time of these gentlemen le gin office. Having been
elected, and having received remuneration as Directors,
they, he thought, ought to be held accountable, and
ought to have given an account of their stewardship to
the proprietors, by whom they had been elected. The
Hon. Proprietor having observed somewhat further upon
thel conduct of the Directors in having resigned, moved
that the proprietors cannot; accept the resignation of
Messrs. Norman and Colvitn, as they were involved in
acts which endangered the affairs of the bank, and espe-
cially in the transaction wit h the Bank of Australasia.
Mr. ROBINSON having reminded the Hon. Proprietor
that they could not help receiving the resignation of tke
gentlemen in question, as they had disqualified by selling
out,
The CHAIRMAN thought it proper to say that the D irec-
tors viewed their resignationt with disapprobation, and for
the satisfaction of the meeting he would give them the
reasons alleged by the gentlemen themselves for re-
tiring from the board. Mr. Norman assigned his ac-
ceptance of the situation of manager of another com-
pany, one condition of which was that he should give up
his connexion with every other company whatever ;
and Mr. Colvin, that the state of his father's health, and
the request of his partners it; business, made it neees-
My for him W resign. •