The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-07 00:00:00

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[PRICE 4D. STAMPED 515.

And I trust that if peace shall continue in Europe—which
I hope and believe it wills—the principle of freedom of com-
mercial intercourse is destined to take a great and rapid
development; and that we shall find even those countries
which we have least hoped to adopt it, tardily perhaps,
but surely, imitate our example. (Hear, hear.) It is how-
ever, amusing sometimes to see the Manner in which those
wbo found their practice upon different principles deal
with these of a contrary.school. It was the cry in Germany
when England followed the restrictive system that Eng-
land, by its prohibitions and duties, wanted to ruin Ger-
many—that we wished to sell without buying—a problem
somewhat difficult to realise—(laughter)—that, we wished
to inundate the continent with our manufactures, end to
take nothing in return—a most generous and disintereted
course, if it had been pursued—(applause) —and that our
restrictive system was, in short, to be the rain of conti-
nental industry. Well, but now a different, an opposite
complaint-is made. They say, " See the deep designs -of
those perfidious Englishmen. (Laughter.) Whey have abo-
lished all their restrictions ; they have our corn to come in ;
they buy our corn eat of our mouths, and the consumption
of foteigu corn in England is raising the price of every
article of lifts upon the continent." (Laughter.) Well, gee.
tletnen, I say that whatever Government shall henc. for-
ward rule the destinies of this country, they must found
their policy upon the principle of freedom of trade, and
they must endeavour, by example, by argument, and by
all other means, to induce other countries to adopt it in
their kW. slUearas
„Jen have Tieneed,_ Xt. Mayor, and
those who have honoured me by addresses, to observe upon
the difficulty of the period at which the present Govern-
ment undertook the charge of public affairs. No doubt,
gentlemen, that was a period which appeared to be ono of
considerable difficulty. It was' my lot to be called upon by
stay Sovereign to form an A dminietration' in consequence
of various circumstances which rendered other combina-
tions for the moment impossible. I called to my assistance
friends whose public opinions I knew to be in accordance
with my own, and upon whose zeal and ability I could cone
fidently rely. If our endeavours in the public service have
been successful, it has been owing to the ability, to the *sal,
to the untiring and indefatigable labours of those respected
colleagues. lc has been owing to the generous confidence
and undeviating support we have received from our, Sove-
reign. (Cheers.) It has been owing to the spirit, the manly
spirit, of the people of this country; aye, and let me say,
not less than to any other' to the manly spirit and courage
of those classes who might have been supposed to be swayed
more than others by pecuniary considerations—l mean the
mercantile or manufacturing classes of this kingdom ; for
a more noble example of public spirit, a better proof of the
suppression of all other feelings than a love for the honour,
the dignity, and the rights of the country never was exhi-
bited than was displayed by the mercantile, the commer-
cial, or the manufacturing classes of this country during
the last war. (Hear.) Our success was owing also to that
which never fails—the heroic bravery of our • sailors and
our soldiers—(cheers) —ready to endure all sufferings, and
to face and encounter all dangers, sure to conquer all diffi-
culties, whether arising from the strife of the elements, or
whether from the antagonism of nations. It was owing to
the faithful co-operation of our allies. (Cheers.) It was
owing to the justice of our cause ; and certainly, gentle-
men, there never was a greater example of the rapid reverse
which is sure, sooner or later—in this case it was sooner—
to accompany wrong than the events and results of the last
war. (Hear.) Well, gentlemen, we are now at peace, and
I hope that that peace may be lasting. Its duration must
depend upon the honour and fidelity with which its condi-
tions are fulfilled. (Cheers.) I trust that that Power
which brought upon itself the hostility, either active or
moral, of all Europe, by a forgetfulness of international
rights and duties—l trust that that Power, having.'con-
eluded a treaty, will observe that treaty and fulfil it with
faithfulness, and then no doubt peace tvill be of long du-
ration. (Cheers.) It will, of course, be the object of her
Majesty's Government—l won't say to
•employ thei rioni-
parative leisure, but to occupy themselves during the peace
with those improvements which all human arranyelents
are necessarily capable of receiving. Progressive improve-
ment is the law of our nature. It that which alone enno-
bles the individual, which tends to raise him in the scale of
society; and it is that which enables nations to fulfil the
destination for which their social and political institutions
were, formed. We know that in all progressive improve-
ments we may reckon upon the cordial co-operation of the
intelligence of the country. (Hear.) We know that though
sometimes there may be partisl interests that may conflict
with general improvement, such is the nature of things, and
that we must bear with those momentary impediments, be-
cause they cannot be prevented ; but we know that gradual
improvement must go on. And the observation of public
affairs must teach mankind not to be too jealous of time,
and to be content with that steady and gradual advance
which alone is possible in A free country like this. Nations
which are governed by ukases and edicts may complain of
their Governments if everything is not done at once which
they may think ought to be accomplished; but,tortunately,
in this country, improvements mustier) the result of a gene-
ral concurrence; all prejudices must be overcome, all
counter opinions must be reconciled and, though time
may be required for operating improvements, yet those im-
provements, when made, are founded upon general convic-
tion, and carry with them the feelings and opinions of the
mass of the nation, and therefore *hey are snore perma-
nent and valuable than improvements more hastily resolved
ur on. (Cheer:,) We are often reproached in Parliament
with having done but little in the course of a session.
Well, gentlemen, if every session wero to produce yon
small number of useful laws, I think you would not have

any good reason to complain of your representatives. (Hear.)
Those laws and improvements which are gradual are gene-

rally better considered and more effectual, and therefore it
is h 0 real reproach to the Legislature of the country that

a small nusiber el improvements are made in eack isession
of the Legislature. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, it has
been observed—and J. am much flattered by the observation
—that in the course of my administration of the foreign
affairs of the country, I was careful of the interests of her
Majesty's subjects in foreign parts. In that respect I
have felt that I was only the organ of the British nation. I
felt that any Government that did not extend the strong
arm of protection to all those who are in the right, in any
part of the world, would not be the faithful organs of the
People whom they were appointed to glltorn ; and there is
this to be remarked about that—that the difficulties that
may arise in regard to the protection of individuals from
wrong are difficulties which generally arise in weak and
small States. Larger Powers are above these things. The
men who govern them have a regard for the honour of their
country ; they are men whose personal feelings teach them
to discern right and wrong; and, thereore, with the larger
Powers—either of Europe or the United States—we have
little difficulty in protecting subjects, because there we find
a sense of right and wrong that, when applied to, is sure to
obtain justice and redress. It is among smaller states,
where, from various circamstances which I don't wish now
to go into, the principles of right and wrong are not quite
so steadily kept in view—(laughter)—it is there that we
are most frequently called upon to inteFfere. And then
when we do interfere people say "Jig I yea attack the
weak." Why, thole countries abuse their weekussee; they
snake their weakness the pretence for doing evil, trusting
that you will overlook their a;',.!iPeuencies merely because
you are able to obtain redress for yrarselves. (Hear and
applause.) Well, gentlemen, there is one topic that has
been adverted to which is one of the greet est public inte-
rest, more, peculiarly belonging to this district, but through
this district most important to the interests ofthe world
at large—l mean the supply of the raw material which is
the foundation of so vast a national industry. (Applause.)
It is perfectly true that there is a great evil in depending
fur that supply upon one source alone, and more especially
upon a source which, from many causes, is likely not only
to fluctuate, but to diminish, because we know that the
progressive development of national industry in the
United States tends from time to time to increase the
quantity of their own produce which they work up,
and which, therefore, cannot come to be worked up in
this country. There are manr sources to which attention
has been directed. There is India, which has been ad-
verted to ; and I can assure you, gentlemen, that the atten-
tion of Government and the attention of the India Board
has been sedulously directed to removing those obstacles
which have for a long period prevented the supply which is
abundant iu the interior from reaching the coast, and from
coming to this country. No efforts shal bo omitted which
can properly be mace for the purpose of opening the
channels by which that supply may fly to this country.
There is another source, which is not of the same magni-
tude, but yet is not altogether to bo despised—the source
which is afforded by the western coast of Africa. lam
happy to say that the efforts which her Majesty's Govern-
uteu and which different Governments—for there has been
no difference in regard to this—for the efforts which elm-
cessivo Governments for a long period of time have masse
for the suppression of that abemiaable crime, the slave
trade, have been to a great degfoe successful. The trade
with the Brazils has almost entirely ceased, and the trade
to Cuba has greatly diminished. The trade to Brawl used
to take 60,000 or 70,000 unhappy beings every year to be
victims of slavery iu that country. And the result has
been, as you all know, a vast development of legal trade
with the western coast of Africa—a vast development of
the palm-oil trade and the trade in ground-nut and other
produce; and I cannot but hope that cotton, which is the
indigenous growth of that country, and which I believe is
of very good quality, may also come in for its share in sup-
plying the industry of this country. But a matter of such
importance as.the endeavonriug to enlarge the sources of
supply cannot, I assure you, fail to occupy the serious and
continued attention of her Majes'y's Government. Well,
gentlemen, among the different things which seem to me
peculiarly to do honour to this great community is the at-
tention which you pay to the improvement of those who
are unable themselves to contribute much to their own ire
provement—l mean by the diffusion of knowledge among
the working classes. There cannot be a more honourable
devotion of time—there cannot be a more proper applica-
tion of wealth—there cannot be anything which more
ennobles the community which occupies itself in such pur-
suits tha fr the placing within the reach of the lower classes
weans oninstruction which can only be accumulated to-
gether by- the employment of wealth and by the occupa-
ylnouthairsogia•ematascsiiity,gitfoisrtuanessenhtyeeihodf
opstrildye,
ttioosneeotfhlae itsuwrehlie
that.wiril 3 you are raising the diameter of the country by
the magnitude of your undertakings and by the additis rt
you are making to the national resources, you are not uu-
.
mindful of , the cultivation of the intellect of those whom
you emplo y ; that you do not look upon them merely OA
machines who are to produce so much profit to :yourselves,
but you v4iew them as rational beings, whose intellect it
is your du ,ty to improve ; and that vast sums are expended
and great -exertions are made to raise them in the scale of
society, a' id raise them alsO in their own self-respect, by
increasing • their knowledge, their happiness, and their in-
telligence. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I beg again to say
that it has; afforded me the greatest pride to find myself
reeeived a s I have been by such a great community as that
which I heave now the honour to address ; for 'I an' per-
suaded th at my colleagues, as well as myself, will derive
the. greatuale satisfaction from finding that our elections in
the ',Nubile s service have obtained for us the approbation of
so disiingti ished a body of the community. I may say that
meetings of 'this sort are among the bright sunshiny periods
of public lif c, and lam sure that the satisfaction which I
have expesi enced will be shared equally by my colleagues.
In their nets se, as well as my own, I beg again to return you
my sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for the honour you