The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-26 00:00:00

GRAND BANQUET to MR. COBDEN
AT MALAGA. The Spaniards appear unwearied in their. enthusiastic
end hospitable reception of our distinguished country-
man Mr. Cobden. We yesterday received an extraordi-
nary supplement of the Avisador Halagueno, containing
a lengthy report of a grand festival held in Malaga, on
Monday, the 30th of November, in honour of the English
free-trader.
The scene of the banquet was the saloon of the new
and magnificent hotel, about to be opened in the so-
called Casa de Campo, a beautiful edifice on the eve of
completion. The saloon was adorned with the greatest
.taste and elegance, beautiful draperies were suspended
from the balls, which were also graced by a multitude
of paintings by the first masters of the school of Seville,
representing the portraits of eminent men, especially
Spaniards. Three splendid lustres illuminated the apart-
ment. The staircases and the entrance of the building
were filled with vases of exquisite flowers and odoriferous
plants of all sorts.
The table was spread with the delicate taste which
distinguishes the committee appointed to superintend the
entertainment, consisting of Don Eduardo Delius, Dun
Juan Giro, and Don Juan Clemens. Large China vases,
with flow( rs and fruits, and rich silver candelabra, were
profusely intermingled with a beautiful and elegant
service of plate, &c. The centre of the table displayed
a magnificent epergne.
The guests invited, it is needless to state, included all
the " notabilities " of Malaga, principally merchants,
and parties interested in trade. These gentlemen awaited
in a drawing-room the arrival of Mr. Ccbden and Mr.
Salis Schwabe, who presented themselves at a quarter
before six o'clock. Mr. Cobden's entrance was saluted
by a fine military band, which struck up a piece of musie
especially selected for the occasion.
'rho banquet was then served up. Don Enrique San-
doval, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce,
presided ; and Senor Don Jose Hernandez, the treasurer
of the same institution, officiated as croupier. Mr. Cob-
den was seated on the right hand of the chairman, and
Mr. Schwabe on the left. The British Consul, Don Jose
Marin Garcia, Don Guillermo Mark (the father of the
English Consul), and Don Louis Mirasson, also occupied
conspicuous positions at the table. Covers had been
laid for 70, and very few of the parties invited failed to
appear.
The cloth having been withdrawn, the toasts of " The
Queen of Spain," and " The Queen of England," were
drunk with log alty and enthusiasm. The Spanish band
played our beautiful national anthem on the announce-
ment of the latter toast.
The PRESIDENT then said—"-I believe that I am the
interpreter of the sentiments of this assembly, and of
the agricultural and mercantile interests of my country,
in proposing a toast in honour of Mr. Cobden, M.P., the
distinguished leader of the English League."
The toast having been received with every demonstra-
tion of good feeling,
Mr. CoSIDEN, M.P., rose, and expressed himself as
follows (the English version of his speech was after-
wards rendered into Castilian by Don Francisco Crooke,
of Navarot):—Allow me, gentlemen, to manifest to you
the expression of my utmost gratitude for your affable
and cordial reception, which I attribute to your sympa-
thies with the principles with which my name is con-
nected, and not to my own personal merit. This ban-
quet, gentlemen, is a homage to freedom of trade, and
not to me, its humble advocate. By "freedom of trade,"
I understand the right of freely exchanging the products
of this beautiful country for those of the rest of the
world. I do not mean to signify by this that there ought
to be no custom-house duties for the purpose of creating
a revenue for the Government; but that these duties
ought not, in my opinion, to be imposed for the ex-
clusive benefit of classes or private individuals. In
one word, my ideas are not adapted to what
some call " protection," but what in England
we term " monopoly." It appears to me of the
greatest importance to be thus explicit in elucidating the
real meaning of my words, because it is a favourite de-
vice of our opponents to give a false interpretation to
our object and our motives. They confer upon them-
selves high-sounding names, assigning very erroneous
ones to those who advocate free trade ; and, unfortu-
nately, there are too many who allow themselves to be
hallucinated by vague words and sounds. They call
their own system " the protection of national industry."
What is this that they call " protection ?" and how
does it operate 2 An individual goes to the Govern-
ment, and says, " I bind myself to supply from Spain a
certain article, provided a law be passed prohibiting
every other merchant from selling it, although it may
be of better quality and far cheaper than my own." This
may certainly be very profitable to the individual, but it
involves spoliation far more than the protection of
public and general interests. The custom-house is
alienated from its legitimate object when it is made use
of for the purpose of rendering more lucrative the un-
dertaking of any private individual, and preventing others
from following the same trade. The sole and unique object
that can justify the creation of taxes and duties, is, as I have
said, the provision of a revenue or resources for the state.
This is the basis of all our present operations in England ;
and I ought to remind you, gentlemen, that we have put in
practice the principles of free trade, without waiting for
other nations to do as much in our favour. In former times
our Government sent its Ministers to other countries to
enter with them into treaties of commerce ; but the tar-
diness of diplomatists is proverbial, and they never made
less progress than when they attempted to arrange with
each other reciprocal concessions in their respective
tariffs. In truth, they only succeeded in exciting much
envy and many suspicions, which retarded the progress
and development of sound commercial principles. We,
neverth. less, declared when we formed our League in
England, that every country ought to regulate its tariffs
without regarding those of other nations. We repudiate
the propriety of making commercial treaties, and we take
this question entirely out of the hands of diplomatists.
Sir Robert Peel pursued these principles, and did not
leave his succ issors the opportunity of forming special
treaties of commerce with other Governments. Hence-
forward no English dip!omatist will ever be able to enter
into any negotiations with a Spanish Minister for a treaty
of commerce. In this manner, those who advocate free
trade in Spain, see themselves placed in a much more ad-
vantageous position, being able to promote their principles
by means of the absence of all foreign interferencein the
contest. In future, then, you cannot be accused of advo-
cating the interests of England ; on the contrary, you
can point out the example of that very nation, which has
already put in practice the principles of free trade, and
which will adhere to them, whatever may be the policy
adopted by the Government of Spain or that of any
other nation. I need not repeat, gentlemen, what I
have so frequently shown elsewhere, that the progress
of the principles of free trade in this country depends
entirely on the enlightenment of the people. If you
desire to present, and to further sound opinions upon
this or any other question, you ought to promote its
discussion.—(Applause.) I doubt not that, after ma-
ture reflection upon a matter of so much interest, the
people of Spain will come to the same conclusion as my
countrymen.. They will be convinced, as we are, that
free trade promises to all nations the greatest possible
amount of prosperity, wellbeing, and felicity ; they will
viewit, like ourselves, as the presage of peace between
nations ; this magic word peace expresses in 1,000 ways
the progress of humanity and civilisation ; and they
will see, with us, that the dearest interests of the great
family of the human race are involved in our principles!
—(Prolonged applause.) When the Spanish nation has
had opportunities of a frank and full discussion of our
principles, I am sure that it will place itself in the van-
guard of the nations who may unfurl the standard of
commercial liberty. I will conclude, gentlemen, by
proposing " The prosperity of the city of Malaga."
Don JOSE lIERNANDEZ replied to Mr. Cobden's speech
in complimentary terms, and said:—lt were much to be
desired that in our unhappy country, where abuses
abound and flourish, the real meaning of free trade could
b. e better understood, since many are terrified by the
idea that the frontiers are about to disappear, and,
that
there being no duties to pay, the direct taxes
will be increased in order to maintain the revenues of
the state, and that the native manufacturing establish-
ments will be ruined. Free trade, gentlemen, at least
as I desire it, is that nothing may be prohibited and
that the duties may be moderate, as the only means
of abolishing smuggling and increasing consumption.
Spaini ought to be more interested than any oth&. na-
tion n the reduction of duties, since our products will
reap the advantage of it in foreign countries. Let us,
therefore, recommend our illustrious guest not to forget.
Malaga in his continual efforts to obtain mercantile
freedom, which will more and more unite the interests
of all nations, averting disastrous wars, like those under '
which we have suffered. Let us drink a toast, gen-
tlemen, in gratitude to Mr. Cobden and his fellow-
traveller.

Many more speeches were made in the course of the
evening by Mr. Schwabe and the Spanish gentlemen
present. After taking coffee, &c., Mr. Cobden and his
friends retired at halt-past ten o'clock, infinitely satis-
fied with their cordial reception.

MADAME Bishop.—This charming vocalist took
her farewell on Wednesday night in the character of
Isoline, in the Maid of Artois. The effect produced by
her charming voice and finished style was never more
striking. The most rapturous applause was elicited by
her interpretation of all the well-known morceaux : she
was frequently encored, and, at the fall of the curtain,
was called for, cheered, and complimented with several
bouquets.
THE CONDE DE MONTEMOLIN.—The Conde de
Montemolin returned to town on Thursday evening from
a visit to the Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere; his Lord-
ship's seat in Hampshire. In the course of this visit the
Conde de Montemolia shot over the beautiful preserves
of his noble host, and enjoyed excellent sport. The
Conde was everywhere received with the most hearty
respect and enthusiasm. His amiable and condescend-
ing manners endeared him to all with whom he came in
contact, and he left amidst general expressions of
affectionate regret. The Conde de Montemolin, after
attending divine service yesterday, received and paid
several visits; amongst the visitors were the Earl of
Lonsdale, the Marquis de Barbancois, Lieutenant-
Colonel J. S. North, Mr. J. A. St. John, Mr. M. D.
Talbot, &e.
P T
s theß NOTICE.---Yesterday notice was
issu issued theaFiFl
sifo
c r
mad
General Yostira, office,
Lisbon, St. Martin's-le
Vigo,lnt toi op'se-rltee, Cadiz,Grand
that
Madrid, and Gibraltar, appointed to be dispatched on the
morning of the 27th instant, would not be forwarded
ttihlel tmhaeilmeotreneimnger Madrid.ofthe2 Bth,Linestttaerriet, to be
time on Mondaybconveyedby

morning.
A CHRISTMAS FAlR.—Yesterday there was a fair
of some magnitude held on a piece of ground situate be-
tween St. George's Church and the Bricklayers' Arms,
Kent-road. There is a theatre, circus, a number of
shows, and Van Amburgh's performing animals. This
portion was, however, closed yesterday ; but the swings,
round-abouts, ariel machines, and fancy stalls, were in
great request, notwithstanding the coldness of the day,
by the umbers who visited it.