The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-28 00:00:00

BOARD OF TRADE RETURN&

The Board of Trado returns for the mouth end-
ing 31st of January were issued this morning, and
show au increase in the declared value of our ex-
portations-still larger than that exhibited in the
preceding month. It was then 1,470,9691., arid
in the present instance it is 1,509,9901. This is
partly attributable to the impulse given to opera-
tions of all kinds during the last two weeks of the
period by the announcement of peace, cotton, linen,
and woolen yarns having -been largely shipped to
the continental manufacturers, who then regained
confidence. Almost all classes of goods, however,
have participated in the increased business, with
the exception of cotton manufactures, the falling-
off in which was to be expected after the extraor-
dinary increase presented in the previous return.
It is to be remarked, however, that this falling-off
is intrinsically greater than it appears, since allow-
ance must be made for the advance in the price of
the staple since the corresponding month of last
year. A further improvement in the total of
haberdashery and a moderate increase in hard-
wares, cutlery, and leather tend to indicate a re-
vival in the Australian trade.

With regard to imported commodities, most of
the principal articles show an increased consump-
tion. For the first time for some months, how-
ever, the quantities of breadstuffs do not present
an increase. Tea, coffee, wines, spirits, tobacco,
and spices, all figure for large totals. Swar still
* heavy falling off.

"~"--r.~

DINNER AT THE MAIVION-HOUSE.

Last night the Lord Mayor and the Litdy Mayoress
assersilited a numerous party of distinguished ladies and
gentlemen at the Mansion-house to meet Mr. Buchanan,
the Agilelican Minister, previous to his Excellency's de-
parture frcm the Embassy in London for his own coun-
try. Great disappointment was, however, occasioned to
the guests by the unavoidable absence of the principal
personage in whose honour the banquet was given, Mr.
Buchanan having received a graciotie invitation to dine
with her Majesty at Buckingham Palace on the same
evening, a summons, we need hardly add, to which
Court etiquette gave the precedence over all other en-
gagements. The company at the civic festivity eon-
sieted of those members of the House of Commons who
represent the largest commercial constituencies of the
country, together with the leading merchants of London
connected with the American and the Canadian trades.
Among those present were—Lord Elgin, Sir William
Clay, M.P., Admiral Walcott, M.P.. Mr. Scholefield,
M.P. Mr. J. B. Smith, M.P.. Mrs. J. B. Smith, and
Miss Holt, Colonel and Mrs. Wyndham, Sir J. PaA
nd
xitopo,
M.P., Mr. Mackinnon, M.P., Mr. Gore fowls:pet) of, a
Mr. H. Berkeley, M.P., Mr. Jackson, M. ~ Ir. M
Mrs. Philip Saloinons, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Bevan,
Mowbray Morris, Mr. -Robert Gillespie,
Wegg, Mr. T. H. Brooking, Mr. B,inna, Mr. li. Bliss,
Mr. W. R. Chapman, Mr. G. 1 enning, Mr. G.
T.
i i
Brooking, Mr. E Chapman, Mr. C. Bischoff, Sir C.
Roney, Maki!. Kirkland, Mr. W. G. Smith, Mr. C.
Morris, Mr. Gillespie, jun., Mr. and Mrs. Meinertz-
hagen; Mr. Brolighton, Mr. and Mrs. W. Haigh, Mr.
and Mrs. Gabriel, Mr. and Mrs. Buckle, Mrs. Shewill,
Mr. Montefiore, Mr. M‘Gaul, Mr. Kennard, Mr. S. D.
Fowles, Mr. and Mrs. Uzielli, Mr. Sampson and Mrs.
Heartley, Mrs. G. Green and Miss F. Jones, Mr. J.
Dillon, Alderman .Sir J. Muserove, Mr. Ald. Cubitt,
M.P., Mr. Ald. and.SherifflCKennedy, Mr. Ald. and
Sheriff Rose Mr. Ald. Lawrence, Rev. Dr. Mortimer,
33. D., Mr. iNr. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. Parkes, Mr.
Field, Master of the Coopers' Company, Mr. Sutton,
Mr. Jones, Mr. Carter, Mr. Woodbridge, Mr. Lewer,
Mr. Osmond, Mr. Perry, Mr. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs.C.
E. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Locke, Mr. Deputy Bowers,
Mr. W. William, Mr. and Mr=. Cewaton, Mr. Deputy
Stevens, Mr. Deputy and Mrs. Peaeock, Mr. Johnston,
Mr. S. W. Fester,,Mr. and Mrs. Millard, Mr. and Mrs.
Laurie, Mr. and Mrs:Snell, Mr. and Mrs: Martridge, &c..
On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal toots were
given from the chair, and enthusiastically responded to.
The LORD MAYOR then proposed " the Army and
Navy," which was duly acknowledged by Colonel
Windham and Admiral Walcott.
The LORD MAYOR, in prefacing the next toast—viz ,
" the Canada Club," expressed the great pleasure it would
have afforded him,' and be was sure that company also,.
to have been honoured with the presence of his Excel-
lency the American Minister that evening, ajid to have
testified to him how deeply the inhabitahts of that me-,
tropolis,.and indeed the entire British nation, felt inte-
rested in the uninterrupted maintenance of the most
friendly relations between this cnentry and that great
kindred people on the other siste of the Atlantic whom
Mr. Buchanan had so worthily represented during his
sojourn in Englaed. Hie Exeellency, however, had al-
dressed to biro on Monday a very kind letter, explaining
that a gracious Returnees to Attend the hospitable boarU
of no legs a personage their the S )vereign of tee coula
try would necessitate his absence from thangatherine.
(Hear, hear.) Every true-lie irte4 Englishman scorned
to harbsur any unworthy feeling of jealousy of the
greatnesti anl prosperity of our transatlantic kinidolk.
O th contrary, belied together as the two pe soles
were by the ties of commwma orivn„ nom u:mn traditione,
similarity ut institutions, wet the most intimate
corm:nein:ll relations, the rapid growth and develop-
ment • of the United Steen; excites universal feelings
of rejoicing stud pride iii the hearts of the English nation;
and whatever big words of defiance might, from tune to
ti:ee, he heard across the wide- omens which separates
the two cognate communities, and however those words
might be more or less luently -echoed by seine on this
side of the water, there could be no doubt that all who
understood anything of the extensively ramified and re-
ciprocal interests of England and America must be
firmly persuaded Abet the most perfect terms of amity
were essential to their mutual welfare, and that a wai -
fare•between them would be most disastrous to both, and
rothing less than a species of fratricide or parricide.
(Cheers.) Therefore he could have wished that Mr. Bu-
chanan had been present that evening to hear the sen-
timents et friendship that wend have been expressed on
all sides towards himself and his country, as he would,
in that case, have been enabled to convey with him to
the.•United,Stateh, to which he was, shout to returrm,, the
assurance that it was the sincere desire of:that lever-.
tent commercial community, that nothing consistent
with the maintenance of our national honour should be
left undone to insure a settleineut of our differences with
his country without a recourse to the dread arhitrement
of the sword. (Cheers.) The Lord'Mayor then con-
cluded by proposing "The Health of Mr. Robert Gilles-
pie, and prosperity to the Canada Club."
Mr. GILLESPIR having acknowledged the compliment,
The LORD Maven rose to give " The House of Lords,"
associating with the toast time name of Lord Elgin, upon
whom he pronounced a high panegyric for his successful
administration of the government of Canada. (Drunk
with the usual honours.)
Lord ELGIN, in retnrniag thanks, observed that it was
upon the good opinion of ouch assemblages as that which
he saw around him, rather than on the strength of any
traditional rightS and privileges, that the House of LorJs
must rely for that moral infinance which would enable
it to do its duty to the Crown and the country in the'
critical times that might be approaching. Having but lately
taken his seat in the Hunse of Peers he was hardly en-
titled to put himself forward as the exponent of its sen-
timents ; yet; he bad seen enough of the spirit that ani-
mated -that august assembly to be able to say with c 10-
Hence that-no movement of opinion in this country, r f
a derly national character would fail to find a powerful
echo in that holly. Whether the rigidity of our heredi-
tary system was about to be relaxed, and somie infusion
of elle life-rent element to be introduced into it—and
whether
,such an infusion, if it should cccee, would really
diagood or harm, were questions into which it would not
besproper then to enter ; but, whatever might happen,
owe way or the other, on this subject, there was no doubt'
that the House of Lords would continue to reflect with
tolerable fidelity, if not every transient impulse of po-
pular feeling, yet the deliberate and settled convictions
of' the country. (Hear.) The noble lord then expressed
the gratification it afforded him to meet so many mem-
bers of the Canada Club on that occasion. From his long
official cauaection with Canada be could not but fe:l.
peculiar interest in the 1.301 progress of that imp et int
co'o iy. Without pretending to say that every law that had
been passed by the Legislature within the last eight years
was unexceptionable in its character, or such as to com-
mend universel assent, still it might be affirmed that in
all that eAseritially concereed the recognition of popular
rights and the application of sound principles of political
commonly and finance the lebours of the local Parliament
of Canada within that period wardri compare favourably
with thew:to of the legislative body of any other country
that, could be named. (Cheers.) Yet if his voice could
reach his Canadian friends, ha would implore them to re-
member that Englishmen were a practical people, and
that it rested with the proviecial Parliament of Canada
to din 'mire to advance the great cause of colonial
gtmyertirucht by an exatuhle of the wise 'and moderate
exercise: of their fancli6n,; than could possibly be aCC3III-
- l by any other instrumentality. (Hear.) "He re-
joiced at the. conjunction of the Canada Club and the
nerne of the American Minister in the speech of the Lord
Mayor, because he had always desired that our posses-
sion of the British provinces on the American continent
should be a bond of union, instead of a source of jea-
lousy or dissension between England and the Gevetu.
ment of the United Statee. (Hear.) The principles of
free trade heel been recently applied to the commerce be.
tweee Canada and the `states ; and the result was, that
the amount of that commerce, according.to the statement.
of Mr. Buchanan, had since then been quintupled. By
uniting in an amicable rivalry of that description, Eng-
land and America could do much to promote the cause
of civilisation throughout the world, and he trusted that
Mr. Buchanan would .tarry back to hies countrymen his
invaluable testimony to the universal desire of the people
of the United Kingdom to continue upon tho most
friendly and peaceful footing with them. (Cheers.) The
noble earl concluded by proposing " The Health of the
Lord Mayor."
The Lome Merritt, having Welly returned thanks, gave
I.‘ Prosperity to the Trade of Bristol, Liverpool, Dir.
mingbam, Newcastle, and Manchester."
:The toast was acknowledged by Mr. H. BERKELEY,
Mr. EWAIIT, Mr. MUvTZ, and. Mr. HEADLA3I respec;
tively. In the unavoidable absence of the representa-
tives of 'Manchester,
Mr. R. Coeneer responded on behalf of the trade of
that city.. The hon. gentleman remarked that there
Was great appropriateness in semen. m hr the earn, „i"
Mancheeter with a festivity to do honour to the Amer--
can Minister.
That city hail contrinuted as much as
any- '
town in the kingdom to our wealth a I power ha
nation, and to our reputation in the. eyes curl
r,f thes worldi
and it was almost- as much an American city as
an English one. Its industry and that of the 1,500 wasooo
of eircuetjecent population depended on the regular
supply from America of that fibre about 25,000 halers
et which' per week were required to affeal 'them
employment and the means of subsistenee. The United
States, on the, other :hand, lay under almost an
equal•obligation to the producers of the country. Tee
news conveyed to New York by every steamer from
England was eagerly expected by thousands ; and if
those tidings Spoke of prosperity here a thrill 'of sympa-
thy was awakened throughout the States as quickly as
the electric telegraph cenld speed its welcome message.
If the burden of the intelligence was disaster or gloom
in Europe; 'a -Ceirresponding feeling rapidly overhung
like a pall almost every town and village of the Union.
This was not a thitig to be deplored ; it wan, according
to his doctrines; rather to be rejoiced at. Toe interde-
pendence of different countries was God's own ordinance
—free trade was the international law of the Almighty ;
and, when be heard of impious threats and foolish him.
ee being, interchanged between countries so intimately
elated and mutually dependent to England and America
ha said, " What God has joined together let no man„
nee hely of men, dare is put rounder." (Cheers.) It
was winch be regretted that Mr. Buchman was not
there to witness the fervour with which every friendly
syllable watered in regard to this country was echoed by
that great assembly. No retire-ea man in England en-
couraged the exhibitinw of a spirit of menar'e or hostility
towards America. Their sentitnents towards that great
country were those of friendahip and admiration. This
ho said in no spirit of servile adulation of our Transat-
lantic kinefelk. We could not elevate their character
and power in the scale of nations without indirectly
claiming credit for outnelree. America owed, and must
ever owe, her distinguishing characteristics to this coun-
try. No doubt she had her faults ; but, of all colonised
countries in the world, she wan the one which had meet-
closely imitated the failings of the parent State. During