The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-10 00:00:00

`1 FIE SUA, LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 18-41.

LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET.

'divert and to distract the public mind from those less ex-
citing topics which, nevertheless, must attract a deal of
attention from those who are charged with the cares of
government in this country. And if that be true of war-
like t opics in general, it is especially true of such a war
as this ; for I must say that, although we are not parties
to this war, yet, looking back in memory to the period of
a war in which we were parties—the war in the Crimea—
it seems to me that the public mind is no less concen-
trated and engrossed—as much, even more, engrossed in
the topics of the great struugle now proceeding, than
it was for the most part even in the events of the Crimean
war. And such a war is, without doubt, no incon-
siderable obstacle to the performance of those great
peaceful duties to which in your speech, my Lord
Mayor, you have been pleased to refer. But, although it
so increases the difficulties of those duties, it does not ab-
solve the Ministry in this country, nor the Parliament of
this country, from the endeavour to discharge them. And
when Parliament meets, it will be our earnest care again
to direct its attention to some at least among those many
subjects of paramount and more commanding interest whici►
continually solicit and employ our thoughts. It is impossi-
ble, considering the various and complicated construction of
this great Empire, and considering the nature of the age in
which we five, and the continual awakening of mankind
to many new forms and aspects of social and political com-
plication—it is impossible but that, whenever the country
is disposed to recognize them, there must always be
ample, and more than ample, employment for
the thoughts of Ministers and Parliament. My Lord
Mayor, as I have said, with respect to our efforts in
the cause of peace, that the country may rely upon it,
whether there be much or littlelin our power to do, at
least we shall not fail for the want of the most earnest
desire or of the most vigilant attention. (Cheers.) And
'With respect to that work of public-legislation and ad-
ministration, upon which the future welfare of the country
more essentially- depends than upon any temporary or
passing event whatever, we shall continue to work in the
same spirit as that which has hitherto directed our efforts.
Upon special ground, and upon every general ground, my
lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I request you to join me
in drinking " The Health of the Lord Mayor of London."
(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with cheers, and
Earl GIIANVILLE, in acknowledging the toast of " The
House of Peers," referred to the position England had
taken with respect to the present condition of affairs iu
France said : At a later period a new phase of the war
occurred which we thought we could not pass over in
silence. A circular was written with great and fearful power
by Count Bismarck, describing the circumstances which
might arise from the bombardment of one of the first
capitals in the world. We could not remain silent to
an appeal which seemed intentionally addressed to the
Powers of Europe. We decided on the step we took.
We had not learned that in the step we took we should
have found all the Powers ready to join with us in col-
lective action, or to suggest any possible terms of peace if
we had thought it ourselves expedient to do so, but
what we did learn was this, and I have the highest pos-
sible authority for saying so, that the Prussian Govern-
ment themselves were inclined to accept an armistice in
order to afford an opportunity for the convocation of the
Constituent Assembly in France, with a view to nego-
tiations for permanent peace. We immediately
addressed ourselves to the French Government, but th
French Government absolutely refused to make any
demand for an armistice. At the same time they ex-
pressed their willingness, if we made any such proposal, to
concur in it, and in making that proposal, which we
thought it our duty to do, we did it in such a way as we
have learned from Tours was most likely to succeed, viz.,
that M. Thiers should, at an, interview with Count Bis-
marck, demand an armistice, without any reference to
subsequent peace. My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, we
took that course. We were, at the same time, not with-
out a shadow of hope, though we are fully aware of the
difficulties of the situation—we were not without a
shadow of a hope that it might succeed. We
thought that the attitude of this country did not
invite us to make such a representation. I have re-
marked already on the absence of party spirit. Hun-
dreds of thousands of pounds have been subscribed in
this conntry, and administered by public men, of different
views, for purpose of giving support to the sick and
wounded. We have seen the press of this country speak-
ing with the freedom which fortunately is our privilege,
and which we shall always maintain, discussing all the
conditions of the war ; and if sometimes that freedom led
to irritation en MO :Aida or. _other—and very patural,
that such an impression should be produced on the part of
belligerents—the press of this country, as I am proud to
acknowledge, has shewn an unswerving purpose in ex-
pressing the feeling of the nation, and its desire to do
anything to facilitate and promote a peaceful termination
of this great conflict. The energy and ability which have
been displayed by the press of this country in their exer-
tions under very great difficulties, have led to what I may
call a war literature unexampled in its fullness and
interest, and in its power of putting before the people of
this country the events of importance and interest which
have succeeded each other abroad. Our propositions suc-
ceeded so far as England was concerned. It
was no part of our duty to make suggestions as Ito the
conditions of the armistice. We were separated from
every other neutral country in Europe. We could not
act in ignorance of the exact military positions of the
belligerents—in ignorance of the provisions there were in
Paris. Not knowing whether the Germans were prepared
to make an attack at once or not, and ignorant
of the political state of Paris, how was it possi-
ble for any of the neutral nations to begin to
discuss the provisions which it was obvious could only
be competently ascertained by a knowledge of the extent
of the resources of both belligerents? Her Majesty's Go-
vernment have received absolutely no official information
as to the character of the negotiations made, and no in .
formation as to the manner in which these negotiations
were broken off, or the circumstances attending them. It
is, therefore, impossible to state at this moment any-
thing as to the failure of these long and frequent inter-
views. We cannot regret, but, on the contrary, we re-
joice, that we, in common with all other neutrals, have
made an effort to secure peace. Her Majesty's Govern-
ment are earnestly desiring peace. They would be glad
to contribute to an honourable and permanent settle-
ment. We desire to see,Germany strong in her unity.
We should deprecate the seeing of France unnecessarily
humiliated, and we desire that to all neutral nations
their rights may be preserved. But we are without any
means of knowing the conditions on which that result
may be obtained. We should be ready to devote any
amount of,labour to that object, and we should be ready,
if we could, to sieze any opportunity which the good sense
of the belligerents themselves or 'the good offices of any
one or more of the neutral Powers might afford. This is
our policy, and I believe that it is not disagreeable to the
sentiments of those present. I believe it will be approved
by the House of Lords, for whom I return you thanks;
and also by the House of Commons, and, I trust and be
lieve, by the nation at large.
The toast of " The Judges " was acknowledged by
Chief Justice BovILL.

The Lard Mayor's and Sheriffs' Banquet at the
Guildhall last night was attended by a large and brilliant
company. Amongst the guests were the Lord High Chan-
cellor and Lady Hatherley, Right Hon. W. E. Forster,
M.P., Right Hon. E. Cardwell, M.P., and Lady,
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M. P., and
Lady, Earl and Countess Granville, Right Hon.
Lord de Tabley, Right Hon. Lord Otho Fitzgerald,
Marquis of Hartington, M.P., Right Hon. Henry A. and
Mrs. Bruce, M.P., the Lord Bishop of London, the Right
Hon. R. and Mrs. Lowe, M.P., Right Hon. C. S. Fortes-
cue, M.P., and Countess Waldegrave, Right Hon.
G. J. and Mrs. Goschen, M.P., Right Hon. Sir
W. M. James, Right Hon. Sir G. Mellish,
Hon. Sir R. MalMs, Vice-Chancellor, Salvador Minister,
Grecian Minister, Belgian Minister, Italian Minister,
Persian Minister, Netherlands Minister, Right Hon. Sir
R. J. Phillimore, G. Grenfell Glyn, Esq., M.P.,
Right Hon. James Stansfeld, Esq., M.P., W. E. Baxter,
Esq., M.P., Sir Albert Woods, Sir F. Rogers, Bart.,
W. B. Gurdon, Esq., C. R. Wilson, Esq., Albert Rutson,
Esq., R. W. Crawford, Esq., M.P., George Lyall,
Esq., Sir R. P. Collier, M.P., Attorney-General,
Sir F. Grant, MacCullagh Torrens, Esq., M.P., John
Holms, Esq., M.P., William M'Arthur, Esq., M.P., C.
Reed, Esq., M.P., and Lady, J. D. Samuda, Esq., M.P.,
Sir C. Wentworth Dilke, Bart., M.P., W. H. Smith,
Esc., M. P. , John Lock, Esq., M.P., Colonel
F. M. Beresford, M.P., C. W. C. Hutton, Esq.,
Sir F. Lycett, J. Paterson and Lady, T. Cotterell, Esq.,
G. J. Cockerell, Esq., Thomas Cave, Esq., M.P., Hugh
Jones, Esq., W. Forster White, Esq., J. Bag -
gallay, Esq. F. Hicks, Esq., Colonel Henderson, C. 8.,
Sir Thomas Henry, Sir Frederick Arrow, Colonel Fraser,
C. 8., and Mrs. Fraser, Commander of Trop_m_l-4„tiCeins-„
head, Esq., GladajtiV Gladstone, 3.
E. Johnstone, Esq., and Mrs., M. Sampson, Esq.,
Collingridge, Esq., Lord Chancellor's Secretaries, A. W.
Young, Esq., M.P., Lady Willmott and Miss Willmott,
J. R. Valentine, Esq., Mr. and Mrs. John Bard, Mrs.
J. Napier, Mr. G. Lushington, Mr. Edwin Lawrence,
General Burnside, Captain Snow, S. Morley, Esq., M.P.,
Lord Borthwick, Hon. A. ,Kinnaird, M.P., Count de
Torre Diaz, J. S. Morgan, Esq., William Burchell, Esq.,
Edward Masterman, Esq., Captain Mangles and lady,
T. Somes, Esq., The Hon. 8.. Howe Browne, Richard
Harvey, Esq., C. Gilpin, Esq., M.P., and Mrs., Sir John
Rose, R.C.8., Rowe, Esq„ and Mrs., J. H. Horton,
Esq., and Mrs. Hardy, Septimus Davidson, Esq., and
Mrs., R. A. Gray, Esq., and Miss Williams,— Hyde, Esq.,
Rev. G. P. Irby, Mrs. J. Dakin, Miss A. Dakin, W. B.
Hume, Esq., William Coulson, Esq., Lightly Simpson,
Esq., Jules Gaudet, Esq., and Mrs. John Morris, Esq.,
Alexandbr Young, Esq., Sydney Smith, Esq., Capt. Pook,
James Southerne, Esq., William Turner, Esq., J. Gurney
Fry, Esq., Dr. Beattie, S. King, Esq., Buxton Shillitoe,
Esq., Bartle Frere, Esq., and Mrs., Lionel Redpath, Esq.,
and Mrs., S. A. Beck, Esq., R. Clay, Esq., W. Bird, Esq.,
Joseph Thornton, Esq., Trowbridge, Esq., Donald
Maclnnes, Esq., Myles Fenton, Esq., William
Quilter, Esq., Paul Margetson, Esq., William
Turquand, Esq., Henry Waite, Esq., William
Banbury, Esq., and Miss Ankell Jones,
R. N. Fowler, Esq., M.P., William Inman, Esq., Colonel
and Mrs. Somerset, G. T. Clarke, Esq., Richard
Fothergill, Esq., M.P., E. M. Richards, Esq., M.P.,
Henry Richard, Esq., M.P., Captain J. W. Russell, Rev.
Robert Ferguson, LL.D., The High Constable of Merthyr
Tydvil, D. W. James, Esq., Andrew Lusk, Esq„ M.P.,
David Henry Stone, Esq., W. J. R. Cotton, Esq., Sir
Joseph Causton, Chamberlain, Recorder, late Lord
Mayor, Thomas Sidney, Esq., Sir D. Salomons, Bart.,
T. Q. Finnis, Esq., Sir R. W. Carden, Sir W. A. Rose,
Sir Thomas Gabriel, Bart', W. F. Allen, Esq., S. J.
Gibbons, Esq., and Sir S. H. Waterlow.

It fell to the lot of the Secretary of War,after the usual
loyal toasts had been proposed and duly honoured, to
reply to the toast of the "Army, Navy, and Volunteers."
Mr. CARDWELL deeply regretted the absence of Mr. Chil-
ders, the First Lord of the Admiralty. In responding for
the three branches of the service, he said that the con-
tinuance of the war upon the Continent was specially
regretted by all the officers of her Majesty's Army and
Navy, for they, more than civilians, knew what the horrors
of war really meant. At the same time, they were anxi
ously endeavouring to ascertain the various lessons which
the experience of the war was calculated to teach. There
were also lessons which civilians might learn—amongst

them was one that short service terms in the army were
good. The present war had clearly shewn that a man might
be a thoroughly good solctfe'r and yet might be ordinarily
engaged in peaceful pursuits. Of the united services of
this country he was sure that he might say they would
ever strive to maintain the good opinion which had been
formed of them by the cultivation of those qualities
which had so invariably distinguished them.
The LORD MAYOR proposed " The toast of " Her
Majesty's Government," and coupled with that toast
the name of its most distinguished chief.
Mr. GLADSTONE on rising to respond, was received
with much cheering. Having passed in rapid review the
position of matters at home, the right hon. gen-

ileman proceeded to allude to matters abroad
When (continued the Premier) we cast our eyes
beyond our own shores, and at no great distance, we see
a spectacle such as has rarely in the course of history
harrowed the feelings of mankind. We see a war which,
in the coldest impartiality of description must be pro-
nounced to be unexampled—a war which in the course of
three small months has expended more of blood than, I
believe, any year of the history of Christendom has
in times of the darkest convulsion and revolution
ever before witnessed. It has expended treasures
which it will take the peaceful labours of many
long years to replace, and which has presented
to our view military catastrophes so far transcending
all former catastrophes, that a mystery surrounds them
which none as yet have been able to penetrate. It is
not only your feelings, however, my lords, ladies, and
gentlemen, to which this war appeals. It entails duties
upon us; and my noble and learned friend the Lord
Chancellor has boldly challenged the verdict of general
opinion on the mode in which we have striven to dis-
charge that portion of the duties of a neutral Power
which consists in the observance of certain positive obliga-
tions, I will only add to what has fallen from him thus
much. We have at least this degree of testimony to our
impartiality—that, if we have not succeeded—as it was
impossible for us to succeed—in giving, in the midst of
feelings naturally so excited, a sense of universal satisfac-
tion, at least we have found no great inequality in the
dissatisfaction partly excited on the one side and on
the other ; and that equality of dissatisfaction is, perhaps,
the best testimony that the circumstances will admit of
our now receiving of the fair and just spirit in which
we have striven to act. (Hear, hear). But, my lords,
ladies, and gentlemen, it is to the future we look
for the judgment that will be passed upon our con-
duct ; and if we Englishmen, when we read the criticisms
now sometimes indulged in—when we read the cruel re-
proaches occasionally cast upon us—when we read the
insinuations that we are a nation governed by no mo-
tives but by those of the meanest covetousness and
the most paltry cowardice, feel aggrieved, on .the one
hand, I think we may remain tranquil when we refer to
the testimony and experience of the history of the past ;
on the other, we may rest content in the belief that these
are but momentary and passing ebullitions—the natural,
the necessary result of great and agonising struggles. It
is not necessary fee us—it is not be3oming in us—to feel
the slightest excitement or resentment in regard to any
portion of them. It is our duty to allow largely for our
fellow-creatures—for our friends of those two great con-
tending nations in the circumstances in which they are
placed; and we rest with perfect confidence in the belief
that when the moment of calm judgment has returned,
our motives in all our actions will be fairly and liberally
appreciated. (Cheers.) My Lord Mayor, there is another
portion of the duties of neutrals—l mean that
which is less definite and less positive than the .mere
observance of certain obligations of international law,
which is not yet less important—namely, that which
imposes upon them the duty of watching for every oppor-
tunity either of abating or bringing to a termination the
tremendous evils of such a war as this. (Hear, hear.)
It will be for one of my colleagues, who will presently
address you, to shew you—l think to satisfy you—that
in this respect we have not been slack in our desire
at least to comprehend and to act upon the obligations
of a civilised and a friendly Power towards
the one of those belligerents and the other. And I will

" The Health of the Lady Mayoress " was proposed by
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, which having been
heartily responded to, the company retired.

OPERA COMIQUE.—Their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by his Royal
Highness Prince Arthur, and attended by a numerous
suite, honoured the above theatre with their presence last
evening.

Her Royal highness the Princess of Wales, accom-
panied by Prince Albert Victor, Prince George Frederick
Ernest Albert, Princess Louise Victoria Alexandra
Dagmar, Prince and Princess Teck and royal children,
and a numerous suite, attended the Royal Amphitheatre
and Circus yesterday afternoon. The royal party ex-
pressed themselves much gratified with the performance.
A Board of Trade inquiry into the stranding of
the steamer Scotland, while on a voyage from Leith to
Liverpool, on the 7th of October, was opened on Tuesday,
in Liverpool. The main point for the court to consider
was whether the captain or the pilot was the person re-
sponsible for any omission in taking notice of certain
lights. The vessel stranded on the Black Beacon Rocks,
near the Peninsula of Jura, and now liesin the Birken-
head Docks. No Ives were lost.
A gold chain manufacturer, carrying on business in
Clerkenwell, was charged at Marlborough-street with
having forged the marks used by the company of gold-
smiths. he prisoner, who was a working jeweller, had
sold a chain as 18-carat in quality, hall-marked, but on
being assayed it was found that the mark was not that of
the Goldsmiths' Company, and that the quality was only
a little over 16-carat, or about 7s. an ounce lower in value
than it was represented to be. A remand was granted,
and bail was refused.

only say, my Lords, that I hope not only for a real peaces
but, what is still more important, one which shall be in
its character sound and just—one which shall meet the
fair and equitable claims of that Power which has proved
itself the stronger in the present contest, and which also
was, at the origin of the contest, the Power assailed, and
that it shall not be too galling to the susceptible feelings
of that gellant nation which has so long enjoyed a mili-
tary ascendancy in Europe; and, most of all, that, when
that peace arrives, it will be founded upon principles
agreeable to the ideas and to the just sense of modern
civilisation—upon principles which will give it the cha-
racter, not of a hollow, a passing, a temporary arrange-
ment, but of being in conformity with the convictions of
civilised mankind—will tend to promote the future tran-
quillity of Europe, and the stability of that peace which
it will then enjoy. (Cheers.) My Lord Mayor, one of
the effects of war is, as we know from experience, to

The Liberte publishes an extraordinary piece of informa-
tion on the authority of its correspondent in London.
Bismarck contemplates restoring the Pope to the full
possession of the temporal power with the object of
reconciling to Prussia Catholic Bavaria, who steadily pro-
tests against the absorption of Germany by the House of
Hohenzollern. The reproaches which the Prussian
Minister of Florence continues t address to the Govern-
ment respecting the Italian volunteers are intended to
establish a definite ground of complaint against Italy so
as to afford a pretext for quarrel when the right moment
arrives.