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

LORD PALMERSTON AT
MANCHESTER.

MANCHESTER, Nov. 6.
Lord and Lady Palmerston left Claremont in com-
pany with B. Heywood, Bart., and several members of
his family, at J.l o'clock this morning, and drove into
Salford, where it was arranged that an address of con.
gratulation should be presented to the noble Lord at the
Royal Museum, Peel-park. The weather was mcst
propitious, and the road between Claremont and Sal-
ford was crowded' with spectators, by whom the Pre
mier was heartily applauded as he passed along. A large
multitude had also assembled in ,tbe pleasure-grounds
adjoining the Museum, and all were manifestly influ-
enced by the same desire to give a cordial welcome to
the distinguished visitors. Lord and Lady Palmerston
were met At the entrance of the Museum by Mr.
Heelis, mayor of Salford, the Town Clerk, and the
Museum Committee, who conducted them through the
building, and directed their attention to the chief
features of interest in the institution. The collection of
objects illustrative of natural history is very eaten-
swe, and their examination was a work of some 'time.
After visiting the library Lord and Lady Palmerston
were ushered into the reading-room, where a company of
nearly 1,000 ladies and gentlemen were awaiting their
arrival. The noble Lord was led to the dais by the
Mayor, and Lady Palmerston by Sir Benjamin Hey-
wood. Among the company were the Bishop of Man-
chester, Mr. Brotherton, M. P , the Dean of Manchester,
the Rev.
,Hugh Stowell, Alderman Ross, Alderman
LangworthY, Mr. Edward Tootal, Mr. D. Maude, Mr.
J. F. Foster, Messre. Aldermen Higgins, Rensha /I*, and
Weston, Mr. Richard Roberts, C.E., &c.
The MAYOR of SALFORD said that he had much grati.
fication in presenting to the noble Lord an address which
had been unanimously adopted by the corporation of the
borough. It was as follows :
" To THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD 'VISCOUNT PALMER-
STON, K.G., FIRST LORD OF HER MAJESTY'S TREA-
SURY, (kn.
" We, the Mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of the borough
of Salford, hail with lively .gratification your lordship's
visit to this borough ; and wa avail ourselves of this oppor-
tunity, with deep respect for your lordship's character and
station as First Minister of the Crown, to express the sense
we entertain of your lordship's desire to give the sanction
of your high name and position to the educational esta-
blishments of the people. When we see your lordship
voluntarily relinquish a hardly-earned leisure to discharge
duties which, perhaps,might be ignored or neglected with-
out loss of personal popularity or party influence, we can-
not withhold from your lordship our tribute of unfeigned
admiration and, respect, nor repress our desire to offer to
your lordship a cordial and grateful welcome. (Cheers.)
We warmly congratulate your lordship upon having suc-
cessfully directed the affairs of State at so important
crisis in the history of this country; and ,we desire to ex-
press our deep satisfaction and thankfulness that, under
the administration and guidance of your lordship, and
br the earnest-mindedness of a resolute and loyal people,
England again enjoys the blessings of an honourable
and, we hope, a lasting peace, with its concomitant advan-
tages of commercial and manufacturing prosperity. (Con-
tinued applause.) May your Lordship long be blessed with
health and vigour to continue the arduous exertions re-
quired by your exalted station, and to aid this country iu
maintaining its high position among nations—a position,
we would hope, not so much due either to her military
strength or insular advantages, as to the moral influence of
large classes in all ranks faithfully discharging the duties
entailed upon them by an advanced Christian civilisation.
"Given under our commoniseal this 3d of Nov., 1856.
" STEPHEN HEELIS, Mayor."
Having handed the document to the noble lord,
The MAYOR said that though it was unnecessary forh:im
to offer any remark on the subject of the address he
deemed the present a fitting opportunity for making a few
observations with respect to the building in which they
were assembled. In 1846 the sum of 33,0001. was volun-
tarily subscribed for the establishment of three public parks

`or the free use of the people of the populous district of

Manchester and Salford. Of this sum sum 13,0001. was
expended in the purchase of the surrounding park, which
is called Peel Park, in honour of the late distinguished
statesman Sir Robert Peel. This institution, combining
a museum, library, and reading-room was opened in
18d0. The library commenced with 7,000 volumes and
now contains 18,500. The number of books issued in 7
years has been 432,000. The readers are chiefly of the
working classes, the average number being about 400
daily. Of the number of books issued about one-third
belong to the class of novels and light literature, and
nearly two-thirds to the class of history, biography,
science, and general literature. The lending library
contains 56.000 volumes, and the daily issue has . been
250 volumes. Nine-tenths of the borrowers are working
people ; three-fifths are under 30 years of age, wad
one-fifth are females ; 270 are soldiers from the
barracks. The museum has since its opening been visit-
ed by upwards of 2,000,000 visitors. This year alone
the number of visitors has exceeded 500,000. The dona-
tions in money to the institution have amounted to
9,9471. The value of donations in works of art, speci-
mens, and books is estimated at 10,0001. The amount
raised by the museum rates for the working expenses of
the institution during the seven years has been 4,8721.
The total value of the contents of the museum and library
is estimated at 14,2001. The amount expended in ex-
tension of the building has been nearly 6,0001. In con-
clusion, he bad only to express a hope that the example
which the borough of Salford had afforded by establishing
so valuable an institution would be followed in other
parts of the country. (Cheers.)
Mr. BROTHERTON—My Lord, I am greatly gratified in
being allowed to unite with the Mayor and Council of
he borough in welcoming you among us. The borough
of Salford contains 100,000 inhabitants, and we consider
it a very great compliment on the part of your Lord-
ship, considering the various and anxious duties apper-
taining to your high office, that you should visit this
locality at this advanced season of the year. It is not
for so bumble an individual as myself to pass a eulogium
en your lordship. You do not require it ; but having
been for 24 years, or nearly so, a witness of your con-
duct in the House of Commons, and having always felt
a warm admiration for your transcendent talents, and
having a deep respect for your public and private cha-
racter, and appreciating very highly the great services
which, in my opinion, you have rendered to this nation,
—(cheers)—l deem it my duty to say in the presence of
my constituents, as I am no party man —my country is
my sillily party --(cheers) —how much I am delighted by
the presence among us of a statesman to whose adminis-
tration I have given a cordial and conscientious support.
lam well aware that there have been various attacks
upon your lordship with regard to your foreign policy,
and I have heard people intimate that you had a sort of
desire to bring the country into conflict with other na-
tions, and, in a word, that you were no friend of
peace. But let me remind the persons who would
make such insinuations that as long as you hold
the seals of the Foreign-office you did preserve the
peace of Europe, and that since you have had to assume,
under difficult circumstances, tho responsible office o '
Prime Minister, you have by the wisdom of your admi-
nistration brought to an honourable and satisfactory ter.
ruination the war in which the country was involved
when ;you consented to accept those arduous duties.
For this I am of opinion that your lordship is entitled to
the gratitude of the people of this borough and of the
nation at large. (ear.) Your lordship has been con-
nected with all the measures of reform that have passed
since I have had the honour of a seat in Parliament, and
I am sure that you will continue to pursue that course
which will promote in the highest degree the happiness
and prosperity of this great country. In reflecting on my
public conduct I shall always derive satisfaction from the
thought that when your conduct as Foreign Minister was
attacked in 1850 I gave you my humble support, and had
the pleasure of seeing that you came out of that difficulty
in the most triumphant manner. You are aware that
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rect. (Cheers.) In conclusion, I have only to add the
expression of my sincere hope that you may be long
spared to preside over the political destinies of this era•
Dire, for I have the strongest conviction that your name
will go down to posterity among those of the most dis-
tinguished statesmen of our time, and as the zealous
friend of, freedom, progress, and peace. (Applause.)
Lord PALMERSTON, who en presenting himself was re-
ceived with loud cheers, spoke as follows :—Mr. Mayor and
Gentlemen of the Corporation of Salford,--I need not, I
am sure, say how deeply a person in my 'situation must feel
,tho cordial and honourable reception which I am now re-
ceiving from this great and distinguished community.
Among the various inducements which a public man has
in this country to fulfil his duty there can be none more
inspiring, there can be none more encouraging, there can
be none more gratifying to an honourable mind than to be
informed that a zealous endeavour to perform difficult
public functions has met with the approbation of his fel-
low-countrymen. (Cheers.) And if there is any portion of
the people of this country from Whom a British States-