The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-02 00:00:00

...RAILWAY INT:ELLIG-BNC:E.'

LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER.-THE
WESTERN EXTENSION.

At the invitation of Sir M. Pefo and Messrs. Betts and
Crampton, the contractors, the directors and their friends
passed over on Wednesday:for the first time that important
link in their railway which fills up the gap hitherto existing
between Strood and Bickley, and thus gives them an access
both to the City and West-end of London independent of
the South-Eastern Railway Company.
A special train was provided at the Victoria Station, and
at about 40 minutes to 12 o'clock a large party proceeded
over the Crystal Palace lino to the commencement of the
Western Extension works.
The works passed over between Bickley and Strood com-
prise a distance of 22 miles. At present the traffic will be
carried from the Victoria Station, the extensions of which
are rapidly approaching completion, over the West-end and
Crystal Palace line, belonging to the Brighton Company.
Beyond this the traffic is managed by the Mid Kent Com-
pany; but hereafter the metropolitan extension of the Lon-
don, Chatham, and Dover Railway, commencing at Becken-
ham, passing under the north side of the Crystal Palace by
a tunnel, will give the latter•mentioned company a direct
through communication to the Borough, and crossing the
Thames and Ludgate-hill, run into Farringd on -street,where
it will shortly be connected with the Metropolitan Railway
and the northern lines. A western branch, commencing in
the neighbourhood of Cold harbour -lane, at Brixton, and
passing over the Brixton, Clapham, and Wandsworth roads,
and thence under the South-Western line, near the present
Crystal Palace line, will effect a junction with the existing
Brighton Railway over Battersea-road, and run into Vic•
feria Station. The 22 miles between I3ickley and Strood pre-
sent scarcely a mile of surface, nearly the whole length con-
sisting of cuttings and embankments, some of which are of
considerable length and of a heavy character. There is not
any tunnel throughout. The whole of the line, which will
be ready for the use of the public next month, is most sub-
stantially laid ; the cuttings have evidently been made with
great care, the whole of the embankments appear to be of
chalk and ar•e exceedingly well constructed, and the brick-
work; which was examined on several portions of the lino
by the guests, is of great solidity. Not a single portion of
timber• has been used in the construction of the bridges, the
whole of them being built of brick or brick and iron. For
the two first miles the new works are not of a heavy descrip-
tion. The first cutting worth notice is through Orpington
Wood, where some of the finest ferns in the country are to
be found—it is the only clay one on the line, and is some-
what of a slippery nature. The length of this cutting is a
little more than half a mile, and the extreme height of it is
25 feet, and it is spanned by a very handsome bridge of
three arches. A short distance beyond this work we come
to the Crays station, immediately beyond which there is a
viaduct of nine arches of about 45 feet high. From this spot
a very fine view is had of the valley of Crays, and a• head,
in the distance, is seen a very beautiful bridge, 53 feet in
height, connecting the two banks of a very heavy cutting.
At this point the "passengers" left the train and inspected
the works, with which they expressed themselves exceed-
ingly satisfied. The next cutting is heavy, and nearly a
mile long. After passing some works of an average charac-
ter the line approaches the place whence a branch, of about
seven miles long, to Sevenoaks, and now in the course of
construction, will effect a junction with the London, Chat-
ham, and Dover line. A little further on the train passed
under a long bridge which carries the old Maidstone and
London turnpike .road. For the next three or four miles the
line runs through some very pleasant scenery. Over this
portion of the works there are some very well executed
bridges. Several cuttings and embankments succeed, and
Farningham station is reached, where ample space has been
secured for goods sidings. There is another fine view at this
part of the railway. Here the rails are carried across the
valley of the Dart by an embankment of 80 feet high and a
viaduct of 10 arches. The company again left the line here
and walked over the works, many of them admiring the old
church of Horton Kirby on the left. Tho line until it
approaches to Strood is very much of the same character as
that already described. For a considerable length of this
portion of the country evidence is seen, in the long line of
wheat-stacks, of the results of the labours of the farmers,
whose neat end picturesque dwellings present themselves
in many a happy-looking nook and corner. On approaching
the Medway, after passing the Meopham and Sole-street
stations, the river Medway is seen on the right with the
ruins of Rochester Castle in the distance. On approaching
the river the guests found, at a place called Cuxton, a very
excellent luncheon prepared for them in a tent erected for
the occasion, and we are not doing injustice to them in
stating that they ate and drank the whole of the good
things provided for them. There was "just enough and
no more." On arrieing at this spot the directors and their•
friends were met with a very cordial reception, guns saluting
them and flags flying amidst the hearty cheering of a con-
siderable number of people. The repast having delayed
the passengers for some half-hour, they re-entered the train
and proceeded to Chatham. Between Cuxton and Strood
the works have been considerable, including a wrought-iron
bridge 150 feet in length, which has been thrown over the
Strood and Maidstono Railway. At Chatham the directors
were also most cordially received. After a short stoppage
at Chatham the return journey commenced at about half-
past three o'clock, and at five the train reached the Crystal
Palace, where a sumptuous dinner had been provided.
Before proceeding to give a report of what took place at
the banquet, the manner in which the works have been
executed demands a short notice in reference to those who
have materially assisted in the design and construe ion of
them. We have stated that the oarthworks are exceedingly
heavy, and that very little indeed of the line is on the sur•
face; and when it is stated that the line has been brought
nearly to completion within two years, it will bu under ,
stood that great energy has been evinced, and, looking at
the fact that the whole structure of the undertaking ha
been solidly carried out, that faith has been kept by th
contractors towards the company. The works have been
carried out (Mr. J. Cubitt being the engineer in chief)
by Mr. M. Turner, who originally laid out the line. This
is the same gentleman who so successfully selected the
metropolitan extension and the Ludgate-hill station, which
in the August of this year received the sanction of the Le-
gislature. And no less praise than that due to Mr Turner
is to be accorded to Mr. C. Watson, who, as the agent of
the contractors, has been their chief inspector of the con-
struction of the works. This gentleman has superintended
the formation of upwards of 500 miles ie the United King-
dom, and we believe that in no instance has he made a
" mistake."
About 300 gentlemen sat down at table at the Crystal
Palace. Sir Morton Peto occupied the chair, supported by
Lord Sondes (the chairman of the London, Chatham, and
Dover Company), Lord Harris, the Earl of Shelburne (the
chairman of the Great Western Colnpany), the Lord Mayor,
Mr. Alderman Rose, Sir J. Tylden, Mr. Crawford, M.P.,
Mr. White, M.P., Sir R. Cafden, &c. Among those'present
we observed Sir C. Fox, Sir C. P. Roney, Mr. Smith, M.P.,
Mr. W. Lee, M.P., Sir Charles Rich, Admiral Burney, Sir
J. Lubbock, Sir J. Paxton, M.P., Lieut.-Colonel Fladgate,
Lieut.-Colonel Evelyn, Captain Harkey, Mr. M. A. Redo-
conachi, Mr. Bisschoffscheim, Mr. Charles M'Gorel, Mr.
Burke (ono of the, company's counsel), Mr. C. A. Saunders
(the secretary of the Great Western Railway), Mr. L.
Simpson, Mr. Parker (of the Great Northern line), Mr. 11.
Tootal, Mr. W. Burchell, jun., Mr. Valentine Knight, Mr.
Laming, Mr. M. Lane (the resident engineer of the Great
Western), Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Churchward, Mr. England
(one of the directors of the Crystal Palace), Mr. L. S.
Magnus (the chairman of the Sittingbourne and Sheerness
line), Mr. Turner (the engineer of the line), Mr. Lavinga,
Mr. Betts, Mr. T. Crampton, Mr. J. Grant, Mr. Collins,
Mr. Cobb, Mr. Lubbock, Mr. R. Till (a director of the
Norfolk Railway), Mr. Finnigan (the general manager of
the London, Chatham, and Dover), Mr. Freshfield (the so-
licitor of the company), Me. Granville Somerset, Mr. Chas.
Capper, Mr. C. Hilton, Mr. W. Baynes, Mr. W. Wagstaff,
Mr. Crossthwaite, Mr. 'Varney, Mr. Sydney Lawrence,
Mr. Charles Manby, and a large number of other gentle-
men well known in the railway and commercial worlds.
The cloth having been removed,
The CHAIRMAN said, My lords and gentlemen—l have the
pleasure of asking you to show the love and loyalty which,
I am sure, we all feel towards her Most Gracious Majesty,
by drinking the toast of " The Queen."
The toast was drunk with much cheering, followed by the
National Anthem, which the whole of the company joined.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Prince Consort, the
Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family" (cheers).
Ile said there was no necessity on that occasion fur a
Tl:ackeray to iliustrate the history of the four Georges, or

point out the failings of former Royal families, They had

a much pleasanter task before them at the present moment

which was to contemplate the events now passing in the

world. They saw that the Prince of Wales had been inau•

gurating a large and important public work in Canada.
(Hear, hear.) The Prince Alfred had been doing something
of the same sort at the Cape of Good Hope. (Cheers.) They

had the happiness to know that the Royal family was being
trained in a way that every Englishman was proud to see,

and which afforded a strong contrast between the Royal

family of England and that of almost every other European
State. (Cheers.)

The toast was enthusiastically drunk. and followed by a
glee, "I love my love in the morning," very nicely sung.
The CIIAIRMA:,t —My lords and gentlemen, the next toast
I have to propose. is " The Army and Navy, and the Volun-

eers." Gentleman, wo live in remarkable times. Once

upon a time the toast I have proposed would have had re-
ference to the far-famed wooden walla of Old England ; but

now wo aro all talking of frigates sheathed with iron and

steel. However, we must all feel that if talent and engi-
neering skill are to be brought into practical utility, and
we are in possession of all the elements of strangth, it is

our own fault if wo are behind in the race. (Cheers.) At
the same time, upon all occasions of this kind we must have

a care that wo do not create the very feeling which we
desire to repress. By all means let England be prepared,
and prepared to cope with the world, but let us not assume
for a moment the fear that would show we have a doubt
about our own position. (Hear, hear.) One disadvantage,
gentlemen, is, that we are too often apt to look at foreign
affairs only from our own stand-point. Were we to mix a
little more with foreign communities, and make ourselves
acquainted with their feelings and passions, there would not
be half the differences that now arise. (Hear.) As far as
a I England is coneirued I believe we have but one duty and

one position; which is non-intervention. (Hear.) We desire
to see the world prosper, and obtain the same liberties
which we enjoy, and in the enjoyment of which we are de-
termined that none shall disturb us. (Cheers.)
Song, "England's Young Riflemen," by Mr. Lockey.
Cob EvErms acknowledged the toast on the part of the
ar.uy. He said the term " Army " might now more pro-
perly be understood to mean the land forces of the country,
which included not only the regular troops, but the militia
and the volunteers. (Cheers.) As he happenedlo belong to
all three, he begged to return thanks, not for any one par-
ticular body, but for the whole of her Majesty's land forces,
(Cheers.) He could not, when referring to that subject,
but reflect upon the value of the new communication that
would be afforded between the metropolis and the impor-
tant port of Dover by the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway. (Hear.) It was not only valuable in a commer-
cial point of view, but in a military point of view ; and
when they saw a line which established a safe and easy
communication between the metropolis, the great arsenals,
and the chief outport of the kingdom, the advantages it
offered were too obvious to require furthercomment. (Hear.)
Admiral BURNEY returned thanks for the navy, and said
that body had always hitherto done its duty, and he had
no doubt would do it again if called upon. He had heard
a good deal about the iron-cased ships, but he had not yet
lost all his admiration of old British oak, which he believed
would take a good deal of hammering before it was beaten
out of the water.
Glee, "Here in cool grot."
The CreArstarAN, after announcing that special trains to
Brighton and London would be prepared for the visitors,
proposed the toast of the evening, "Prosperity to the London
Chatham, and Dover Railway." (Cheers.) The hen. gentle,
man said--My lords and gentlemen, upon this subject there is
very little that I need say to you; you have yourselves gone
over to-day the Western Extension, which joins us with the
Brighton Railway, and gives access to the London-bridge
and the Victoria stations. (Applause.) In rail waylane;uage,
a railway, in order to achieve anything like success, must
have what is technically termed "a great pull" at both
ends. (Hear, hear.) In London there are three millions
of inhabitants, in Paris (within the circle of the fortifica-
tions) one million and a half, and I believe the greatest ser-
vice which the South-Eastern could do to the London
Chatham, and Dover, would be to insist upon your having
a system of low fares for the first year and a half. (Hear.)
The English public as a body, after all, know little or no-
thing of the Continent, and the very best means of render-
ing the British nation better acquainted with their foreign
neighbours will be this London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way. (Cheers.) Upon this subject I will tell you one little
fact within my own knowledge. When tho Caledonian
Railway was first opened the Edinburgh and Glasgow
Company put down the fares from Edinburgh to Glasgow
from 7s. 6d. to 2s. 6d., and then to is. That soon brought
the two companies to a friendly meeting. They went
through their accounts, and they found that the half-crown
fares brought more productive results than the seven-and-
sixpenny. (Hear.) I believe that if you brought Learnt
and Paris together by cheap fares it would have the like
effect. (Applause.) I want to see the millions who have
never seen the Continent enjoy the advantage in that respect
now known only to the upper classes. (Applause.) That ad-
vantage must be known to be appreciated, and when appre-
ciated it will maintain its profits for the future. (Hear.)
With respect to the London, Chatham, and Dover Com-
pany, we are resolved to pursue the onward course which
wo have already pursued. (Hear, hear.) We have no hos-
tility towards the South-Eastern. (Hear, hear.) We have
no desire to deprive them of the advantage of running
special trains by which gentlemen can breakfast in London
and dine at Paris, and have time to answer their letters
the same night; and be assured the London, Chatham,
and Dover will not be backward in that respect, but will
always hold its own. (Applause.) I believe its position to be
perfectly inviolable, and that the future of this railway can
only be predicated by the amount of accommodation which
it may give the public. (Hear, hear.) We have now ac-
cess to every important point, and I can only say, connected
as I have been with Mr. Betts and Mr. Crampton, my part-
nerslin the execution of the western division of your line,
that we all share the sentiment I have expressed with re-
gard to its future success. It is not desired, lam sure, to
attain that success by the depreciation ofanyother property;
but I believe that with a liberal and popular management
the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway will produce not
only to itself, but also to those who may be for the mo-
ment in antagonism to it, an amount of success which at
this time can neither be known nor appreciated. I there-
fore give you " Prosperity to the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway," coupling it with the health of Lord
Sondes, chairman of the company.
Drunk with long and continued cheering.
Lord SONDES, in returning thanks, said—My lords and
gentlemen, on the part of myself and the directors of the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, I beg to
thank you most sincerely for the kind manner in which you
have received this toast. (Hear, hear.) Sir Morton Pete
has been kind enough to make some suggestions, and I am
sure we shall be truly grateful for them, and attend to them.
(Hear, hear.) It is not my intention now to enter into the
history of the East Kent Company ; you all know what it
was. (Hear, hear.) Myself and my colleagues were de •
termined to do their best to secure a first-rate railway, and
for that enterprise I trust we shall receive the liberal sup-
port of the public at large. It is not for our own benefit
alone that we have made this line, but for the public, whose
interests, J can fearlessly say. we have always had present
to our mind in every step we have taken. (Hear, hear.)
What we desire is to see an independent line open through
East Kent, and so on to Dover, and I am sure we shall
have our line in a very short time open all the way. (Ap-
plause.) I look to that as the first step towards carrying
out the suggestion made by Sir Morton Peto. (Applause.)
I agree with Sir Morton Pete that if we can give a
cheap transit to Fran Awe shall be conferring a great
boon upon the country. (Hear, hear.) In these days of
progress I hope our company will not be behindhand on
that point. (Applause.) I Consider that by attending to
the interests of the public, by having as low prices as we
possibly can, by due punctuality for our trade, and civility
on the part of our officials and attendants, the London,
Chatham, and Dover will become one of the first and best
lines in the kingdom. (Applause.)
Song—" Kathleen Mavourneen," by Mrs. Lockey.
Lord SONDES rose again and said—l have the permission
of the chairman to propose a toast, which I am sure will be
received in an enthusiastic manner, when I tell you that it
is " The Health of Sir Morton Peto and the contractors of
this line." (Applause.) In the first place, I think we
ought to return our thanks to those gentlemen for the most
hospitable manner in which they have received us this day.
(Hear, hear.) On the part of the London, Chatham, and
Dover Company, I beg leave to return them our grateful
thanks for the very efficient manner in which they have
carried out the works on this line. (Hear, hear.) I am
now in the presence of a great number of persons thoroughly
conversant with railway matters, who have seen railways
not only in England but all over the world, and when we
consider that the bill for this line was passed only two years
ago, and the kind of country through which the line has
passe 1, I say that the work does the greatest credit to the
contractors. (Applause.) I trust and hope that their
exertions and great zeal will meet their reward. I heartily
wish them success in all their undertakings, and on this oc-
casion in particular I believe I may venture to say that the
same contractors have undertaken ono of the most impor-
tant works attempted in England for a long time—that is,
the metropolitan extension of our line. (Applause.) I
hope I am not divulging the secrets of our board, but if I
am I must be pardoned, for I have the greatest gratifica-
tion in saying that the contract has been signed by these
worthy contractors to carry this line to Farringdon-street.
(Applause.) We had a most tremendous contest las year
in Parliament, but I think this is a most gratifying finish.
(Hear, hear.) I propose " The Health of Sir Morton Pete
and the Contractors."
Sir M. PETO.—My lords and gentlemen, in rising to
return thanks fir the kind way in which my Lord Sondes
has proposed the health of Messrs. Betts and Crampton and
myself, and the flattering manner in which you have received
it, I will ask your kind indulgence for only a few mements.
We have had the pleasure of catering into an engagment
for the execution of the western extension. lam sorry to
preface my remarks with an apology, but we regret to have
taken you over the line in the incomplete state in which it
is to-day. But when you reflect that during the last sum-
mer we have had such a season of unprecedented wet wea-
ther I am sure you will sympathise with my partners and
myself in our endeavours to keep faith with you, by taking
you over the lino within the month of October. We felt
that we must get you through before November, and we
have done our best. (Hear.) But, gentlemen, we feel that
any amount of success which we may have attained is not
due to ourselves merely. We cannot in the path of life
walk alone. We have the happiness to be associated with
gentlemen who are identified with us in feeling. (Hear.)
The construction of the line has been in the charge of our
friend and agent, Mr. "Watson, who has been with us some-
what like 43 years. (Applause.) It makes us look like
old men to say so, but he himself began his career with
the construction of a bridge over the Regent's Canal, in the
City-road, and now with the spirit—not of an old man, but
of one who wishes to bring the spirit of his youth, into his
maturer age without the change being noticed—(laughter)
—he is ambitious of crowning his career by building a
bridge across the Thames. (Loud applause.) My partner s
and myself feel the most entire and perfect confidence with

regard to the metropolitan extension in Mr. Watson's
hands. (Applause.) And now, gentlemen, let um make

ono or two observations of a business character. We have
_ .

- -
read in certain newspapers that the property placed in the
hands of the directors of the London, Chatham, and Dover
Company is in no safe keeping, and that if the subscrip-
_ _ _

tions are made by the B's, the A's will never ba forthcsnp.

ing to the full amount, and so on. Well, to-day, instead
of joining yotiat the Victoria Station, I thought I would go
through the City and make an inquiry at the bankers'_ I

depend that we shall not ask either from Mr. Taylor or Mr.
Cubitt a certificate for a single iota beyOnd the cubic con- 1
tents of the work done. All this means, gentlemen, that
large works of this kind are not done by legerdemain, but
are only brought about by downright straightforward deal-
ing. We as contractors can no more afford to place our
good names in jeopardy than you can the funds which you
invest for your children in the future. If we did anything
wrong we should peril our good name for straightforward
dealing, and what, let me ask you, is fortune obtained in any
other way ? (Cheers.) Before closing I must say I think
you aro much indebled to Mr. Holroyd, your secretary, for
this Metropolitan Extension. I threw cold water on it at
,first, but he went to Mr. Newman and Messrs. Freshfleld
(and no more able men he could have gone to), and aided
by the talents of Mr. Burke, than which none could be
better for the purpose, they succeeded in obtaining from a
perfectly fair committee privileges which must soon make
the London, Chatham, and Dover one of the most success-
ful railways yet made.. (I:lear.) And why ? Because there
is no metropolitan railway of this extent which touches so
many important points of traffic. Take the line from Vic-
toria Station to Wandsworth-road, Camberwell-green, the
Elephant and Castle, Blackfriars, Denmark-hill, Crystal
Palace, and soon, and I ask you whether the undertaking
is not obviously self-sustaining ? (Cheers.) Why, gen-
tlemen, 15 miles of such a line for traffic was never yet
known. (Hear.) I have gone through the estimates of Mr.
Cubitt and Mr. Turner with my partners, and I believe
that you will have the line executed for the amount stated.
We thank our friends for the faith they have in us, but we
ask not their faith or their good opinion except upon the
basis of that confidence which Englishmen should always
show towards one another—a confidence founded upon an
open, upright course of dealing, aided by an extensive
knowledge of the world. I trust, gentlemen, that the time
is not far distant when we shall have to meet you here
again to celebrate the inauguration of the Metropolitan
Extension, and I have only to thank you for my partners
and myself.for the honour you have done us. (Cheers.)
Son—" Ye Bayliffe's Daughter of Islington." Miss
Banks.

The LORD MAxon then proposed "The House of Com•
mons." '

Mr. R. W. CRAWFORD, M.P., said he supposed he had
been selected to respond to the toast because amongst others
present he represented that great city which would be
chiefly affected by the London, Chatham, and Dover Rail-
way. He had not the honour to be a member of the com-
mittee when it sat in the House of Commons, but he had
wf.tched the proceedings with great interest, and could tes-
tify to the great energy and indtatry of his friend Mr.
Burke and other legal gentlemen he saw present. He
hoped the public would long continue to respect the City
of London fur the services it had rendered to the commu-
nity, and show that they did not consider it the much de-
spised body which in some quarters it was assumed to be.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Health of the Lord
Mayor, and Prosperity to the City of London." He thought
the best way to promote the welfare and comfort of the City
was to relieve its thoroughfares of some of the traffic by
railways. (Hear, hear.) He believed his friend Mr. C.
Pearson never proposed a wiser measure than his plan for
connecting the great railways, and he Yoped to have the
pleasure of seeing the undertaking prosper.
The toast of " The City of London" was acknowledged
in handsome terms by the Lord Mayor.
" The Bar of England," coupled with the name of Mr.
Burke," was proposed by Lord Harris, and responded to by
Mr. Burke.

" The Great Western and Great Northern," coupled with
the names of Lord Shelburne and Mr. Parker, was then
drunk.

Lord SHELBURNE responded.

The healths of the Secretary, Mr. Holroyd, and the en-
gineers, Mr. Cubitt and Mr. Turner, were then drank and
duly acknowledged.

The concluding toast, " The Ladies of En gland," was
responded to by Sir C. P. Roney, after which the company
broke up at about eleven o'clock.
The duties of toastmaster were very efficiently performed
by Mr. Harker, and the splendid dinner was provided by
Mr. Strange, the well-known palace purveyor.

THE RIGHT RO!v. B. P, BOUVERIE
ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

On Monday evening, Mr. Bouverie addressed the electors
of Kilmarnock in the George Inn Hall; Provost Finnic in
the chair. There was a large attendance.
After a few remarks from the Chairman,
Mr. BOUVERIE said it was 18 months ago since he had
the pleasure of addressing the electors. It was on the
occasion of the general election, and he was not now
going to open up matters which probably had more
or less become matters of history. The interest in
them had comparatively ceased, and therefore it was not
needful be should detain them on this point. The im-
mediate result of the general election was a change of
the Government of this country. The country was asked
to pronounce as to the merits of the administration
which then conducted the domestic and foreign affairs
of the United Kingdom. The administration of public
affairs was transferred from the hands of Lord Derby and
what is called the Conservative party, into the hands of
Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell, and what is
known as the Liberal party. He was one of those who
considered that a government of the Conservative party was
well nigh impossible in these days and in our country. (A
Voice—" Not in this country.") They dared not administer
the affairs of the country on their ancient principles, and they
could not long administer the affairs of the country on the
principles of their opponents; and he thought this much
could be gathered at any rate from the experiment that
had been made on two occasions during thelast few years—
in 1852 and again in 1858—namely, that it was practically
at variance with the great mass of the people of the coun-
try that a Tory administration should conduct their affairs
at home and abroad. They bad heard something of late,
and he had heard something said in other places, of a Con-
servative reaction in the minds of the people of this country.
He did not believe in anything of the kind. It appeared to
him to be an entire delusion to imagine that there was any-
thing of the kind in the sense in which the words were used.
If it was meant that there was a strong tendency on the
part of the people of this country to go back to Tory tradi-
tions, and to confide in Tory principles, as the sound ones
on which the affairs of this country should be conducted,
the notion of a Conservative reaction was altogether a de-
lusion and hallucination. But if it was meant by a Con-
servative reaction that the changes which had taken place
during the last generation had conduced so much to the
welfare, the prosperity, and advantage of this country
that they were disposed to bo more satisfied with their con-
dition, that they were more contented and more prosperous
than they were 30 years ago, and were therefore to that
extent less disposed to change, then a Conservative reac-
tion was in that sense a necessary consequence of all the
improvement and advancement which had taken place during
the period to which he had referred. (Applause.) It stood
to reason. Suppose an impossible case, and just for the sake
of argument—suppose that all our institutions and laws were
of such a kind that it would be impossible to devise any
improvement in them—that as far as the welfare and pros-
perity of all portions of the community depended upon laws
and law-making at all, the utmost welfare and prosperity
had been attained—if such a state of things could be ima-
gined—and if all classes were contented, prosperous, and
well-to-do, why then everybody would be disposed to have
no change upon such a satisfactory state of things, and then
they would be thoroughly Conservative in every respect.
But it was because there was always some further good to
be obtained, some improvement to be effected in the march
and progress of time, that the Liberal party and Liberal
politics in this country were the proper ones by and upon
which the administration of the countryshould beconducted;
and so it was too, he believed, that the bulk of the intelligent
and thinking portion of the community believed that the
affairs of this country should be conducted. Now, with
reference to the Government which succeeded Lord Derby,
composed of some of the most distinguished statesmen of
the day, he had thought it his duty to give it his:independent,
and unwavering, and unhesitating support. It was part of
the cant of the present day to say that party was at an end,
and that the state of things was greatly improved compared
with the times when party feeling ran high. He admitted
that party distinctions were not quite so broadly marked as
used to be, and it would be an evil day for a country governed
like ours—and it would be the commencement of bad times
—if they were to see party combinations and party divisions
thoroughly disappear from the frame of Government. There
was a time in the history of this country, and not many
years ago, wien there was an attempt to govern the country
irrespective o party, by personal influences, by combining
men of different shades of opinion, of different views and
principles. In the first 20 years of the reign of Geo. 111,
—lOO years ago—such an attempt was made, and the result
was most disastrous for the Government of the country. A
feeble Government, a factious populace, eluded laws, luxu.
rious nobles—these were the result, and he believed the expe.
rience which was reaped at that time of the disadvantages of
that attempt would recur again if an attempt were made in
this country to govern without reference to party combi •
nations. (Applause.) To travel out of the sphere of gene-
ral politics, he might remark that they had seen in the last
18 months events take place on the Continent of Europe of
the utmost and grandest importance to the civilised world.
There could have been no change in the state of Europe
contemplated by any statesman of greater importance than
the fact that the whole of the people of the great southern
peninsula of Italy should be united under one sovereign,
should be an independent people, having free institutions,
and prepared to enjoy the blessings which the people f
fro
this country believed were sure, sooner or later, to flow
m the enjoyment of those blessings. (Cheers.) If
this state of thisngs in that country but a few months ago
was compared with what it was now, the change almost
startled one. The Governments of the country, with the
exception of the corner of Italy where nestled the free insti-'
tutions which were now spreading, or were likely to spread
throughout the peninsula—with the exception of Piedmont,
the governments of the country were simply and purely go-
vernmentz of foiuo. They were not governments conducted
for the interests of the people over whom they presided
they were governments of brute force; and the people in
those different countries were kept down by the iron hand,
by the tjorl of secret police, by a tyranny which, in
some puts of it, almost surpassed conception. Mfg rdff'