The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-08 00:00:00

.

many in this room observations which must be very gratify-
ing to those who have come forward at their own risk to pro111
-
tect the lives and liberties of their fellow-countrymen. It ie
a great gratification to me to know that I have in my hul _
ble way been enabled in a measure to promote t hat mcr ,e_
ment which has met with the approbation of all, froe.D. the
Queen to her humblest subject. (Cheers.) Meetir':g, as I do
to-day, many of the Volunteers of the West l'ciding, I take
this opportunity of thanking them for the good appearance
which they have already made, and I teust that before this
month will be closed the Volunteers of the three Ridfmgs of
Yorkshire will make such an appearance under the old walls
of the city of York as shall show them to be worthy compeers
of their brethren in arms who have so lately been reviewed.
at London, Edinburgh, and Knowsley. (Cheers.) I will not
detain you longer than once more to tender you my best
thanks for the kindness which I have received as a neigh-
bour from the inhabitants of Sheffield, and I will endeavour
so to perform my duties through life as win the esteem and
affection of my fellow-men. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. T. JESSOP gave "Lord Wharnoliffe and the House
of Wortley." (Loud cheers.)
Lord WHARNCLIFFE was received with loud cheers and
waving of handkerchiefs. He said there is a common way
of beginning to speak on occasions of this kindfand that is
by saying, "unaccustomed as I am to public speaking."
(Laughter.) That was never more true than it is on the
present occasion, for since I had the pleasure of meeting
you on a similar occasion two or three years ago I do not
think I have had to speak in public, and I have grown rusty
in consequence. (Laughter.) I cannot attribute your kind •
ness to anything which I have done, but.rather to the merits
of my predecessors. Bat 1 will not give way to any one
here in the real interest I feel in all that concerns the town
of Sheffield. (Cheers.) It is not in my power to do much,
but I always endeavour to do what I can. Nothing has
given me greater satisfaction than to see the hard -working
operatives of Sheffield coming up to the crags and enjoying
themselves there. (Cheers.) Ido not mention this in any
spirit of self-laudation, bat the way in which the noble
duke who has thrown open his mansion of Haddon to the
public, and other noblemen have admitted their fellow-
countrymen, shows that there is not such a strong class
feeling among us as is sometimes supposed. I feel that the
greatest privilege attached to our possessions is that they
may be enjoyed by our poorer countrymen. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Alderman BROWN gave "The Health of Lord Den-
man." (Cheers.)
Lord DENDlAN—(cheers);---I beg to thank you most
heartily for the honour you have done me. I cannot ex-
press sufficiently my gratitude to the gentleman who pro-
posed it. lam sure that all classes benefit by the industry
and uniform good conduct of their neighbours. I have
always received the greatest kindness from all persons with
whom I have been brought into contact in this neighbour-
hood, and such kindness renders a far greater benefit to
the class to which I belong than we can ever return. I
cannot help alluding to the remark of the Master Cutler,
in which he ascribed the honour of his present position to
his father and predecessors. if it were not for the name I
bear, earned for me not by my own exertions, I should not
have been received in the manner I have been ; and I am
sure nothing can be a greater stimulus to exertion than the
many instances we have of men who have risen to distinc-
tion by their ability and their labours. (Cheers) The
manner in which I have ever been received by the members
of the bar, because of the name which I bear, has ever been
a great incentive to me to do my duty and not to tarnish
that noble name. (Cheers.)
The Mayor of SHEFFIELD said—l have the honour to pro-
pose to you, "the members for the West Riding." (Cheers.)
It is a matter of regret that they are not present. We
know their untiring zeal in the service of the public. We
owe those men thanks, our best thanks, who leave their
homes and devote a great portion of their time in endea-
vouring to promote the interests of the community in which
they live. (Cheers.)
Mr. EDWARD ERASlLEY—(cheers)—said—l have very
great pleasure in proposing " the health of the borough
members." (Cheers.) I am sure you will receive the toast
cordially. Those gentlemen are so well known, and have
been so frequently among us that it seems almost a work of
supererogation for me to say anything about them. Every-
body knows Mr. Roebuck—(cheers)—asone of the most in-
telligent, patriotic, fearless, and -independent members of
the House of Commons—(renewed cheers)—a man of whom
the country may well be proud. With regard to Mr. Had-
field, I can say with perfect truth that a more consistent,
liberal, and upright representative does not exist. (Cheers.)
He takes an interest in everything connected with the
borough, and never seems so happy as when he is doing
something for Sheffield. (Cheers.) I hope our members
will long continue to represent us, for the benefit of the
borough, and that they will be among us on many future
occasions. (Loud cheers, and three times three.)
Mr. RoEBUCK, M.P.—(Load cheers.) Mr. Master Cutler,
I have to return thanks to you, sir, and to Mr. Bmmley in
particular, for the very kind and eulogistic manner in which
he has mentioned the names of myself and my learned eol•
league, Mr. Hadfield. We, sir, owe—at least I do, and I
think my colleague will join with me in saying it—we owe
a great debt of gratitude to the people of Sheffield. (Mr.
Hadfield—" Hear.") I will tell you why. They have al-
lowed us, as independent members, to pursue our course in
Parliament, unpestered by the suggestions or observations
of our constituents.!(Cheers.) jhey have thought us honest.
They have believed that they have elected us to be their
representatives. They have known that we were upon the
very theatre upon which political affairs were being wrought
out, and they believed that we knew as much of them as
they did themselves. I may say for myself that my course
has been entirely unprejudiced and undirected almost by
any observations on the part of my constituents. For this I
thank them, and I think they have shown therein their full
conception of what a representative ought to be. If he does
wrong. the time will c)me round when you have the power
of telling him you think he has done wrong; but, while he
is acting for them, any pestering, any suggesting, any call
of interest, or telling him that his constituents think this,
that, or the other, is foreign to the representative system.
And I say, sir—and I think my learned colleague will say
—that we thank you heartily that you have allowed us to
be, as we call ourselves, the independent representatives of
the people of Sheffield. Now, sir, I am a mere politician.
Other gentlemen around this table have broad acres to
represent. They can confer benefits upon the people of
Sheffield. I can confer none excepting as their repre-
sentative. (Hear, hear.) As their representative I think
this a great occasion upon which I may say one or two
words upon what has been passing since I last met you. I
have no doubt that in this I shall contravene some of your
rules. But, sir, were lin your house, sitting at your hos-
pitable board, I should say nothing offensive to anybody
around that board, and I hope I may touch upon political
matters without giving offence to any human being who
now hears me. (Cheers.) I shall speak out openly the
feelings of my heart—the wishes, the views, and the aspira-
tions which I entertain—and, so doing, I shall throw myself
upon the kindness and generosity of the gentlemen around
me. (Cheers.) Now, sir, I belong to an assembly, as also
does my learned colleague, who are twitted with having
done nothing during the past six months of their existence.
(Hear.) I have worked very hard, and I know my learned
colleague has worked very hard, and I believe the best thing
that could result is that we have done nothing. (Cheers and
laughter.) Now, that may appear a paradox; but if you
will lend me your attention for a very few minutes I think
you will see and understand what I mean. The people of
England are peculiar for being only able and willing to un-
dertake one thing at one time, and the leading, the absorb-
ing thing which has occupied every man's mind during the
last six months has been the foreign relations of this coun-
try. (Hear.) During this time it was totally impossible
to produce any effect on the internal matters of the com-
munity. And, sir, I know enough, and seeing around me
gentlemen belonging to the aristocracy, I am sure they will
not misunderstand me when I say I know enough of the
relations of this country to know that any attempt to reform
the Parliament of this country without being backed with
the strong voice of the country will be utterly nugatory.
(Cheers.) Sir, I said some two years ago—and for that I
was twitted—that you would never get a reform out of the
present Administration. I said so; and I acted upon it. I
thereby incurred the feeling of some sort of reprehension
on the part of some of my friends. But has not the result
proved that I was right ? It has proved that I was right,
because the people out of doors did not raise a voice suffi-
cient to bear down all opposition. I was a young man, but
I was a politician during the year 1830. Then the reform
of Parliament came in, and I recollect the uprising of the
people of England. They bore down all opposition. They
put an end to every sort of opposition, both in the Com-
mons and the Lords. Well, Sir, compare 1860 with 1830,
1831, and 1832. One was aviolent gale, an uprising of the
popular storm, but in 1860 there was not a whisper to be
heard. (Cheers.) You sent us to Parliament to do certain
things. We could not do them without your aid, and you
did not assist us. Whose fault was it, then, that the thing
was not done? Not ours, but yours—not the fault of the
House of Commons, but of the people of England. I tell
you, and I tell you fearlessly and frankly—and I hope with
the entire concurrence of my learned colleague—that we
intended to carry the Reform Bill ; but the opposition was
too strong for n.s—(cheers)—and the people of Efgland did
not support their representatives. (Renewed cheering.)
But there was another thing. Every mention of the volun-
teers this evening has been received with a boisterous up-
raising of the popular voice. And why ? Because your
minds are fixed upon the foreign relations of this country.
(Hear, hear.) England stands aloof from all the world of
Europa. She alone is free. Sho alone has popular institu-
tions which aro worthy of the name. Against her every
despotic view is directed. For years we have been remain-
ing in the hope that we were so protected by our former
renown that no one would dare to attack us. I was one of
the first to raise my feeble voice to warn my countrymen
that danger was at hand. (Hear, ht ar.) For that, like
every other min who throws himself against the popular
current, and wishes to do a popular good, I incurred great
reprehension. Where is now my justification but in the
Volunteers of Great Britain? (Cheers.) Why are they en-
rolled, and why did the noble duke thank them ? There
was something behind. You do not want a volunteer
merely to look at him in the dress of my friends down there
below. (Cheers.) You want him for some purpose.
What was purpose which the noble duke pointed out ?
It was to prevent the possibility of invasion. (Hear,
hear.) Where was invasion to come from ? I pointed that
out many years ar. I mentioned the name of a great

state, and the newspapers of France-and the servile
ov§papers of Englalrti threw all sorts of =abuse upon me
for so doing. But what do you do, now ? Don't you
fear that man ? (Protracted cries of " No, no.") I used
the wrong word. -I acknowledge it. A public speaker often
uses the wrong word. You don't fear him. (No, no, and
cheers.) And God be thanked that the Volunteers of Eng-
land show that there is a feeling in the people of England
that if a foreign invader put his foot upon our shore he will
never take it off again I (Loud cheers) Therefore I say I
used the wrong word. Fear does not enter into our feelings
upon the present occasion. But we protect ourselves. We
put ourselves into such an attitude that we don't fear any-
body. (Cheers.) On this call some of the peaceful inhabi-
tants of Sheffield have left their peaceful counters and their

desks, and put themselves into the tented field. When I
walked up the stairs to-day and saw around me what I con •
ceived to be a body of gallant soldiers, and was told that

all of them were men of Sheffield, did not my heart warm
to them—did not I feel that-England was safe—did I not

know that no grasping hand of ambition, no restless foot o
despotic adventure, would ever dare to touch anything be
longing to this country? (Cheers.) Our minds are occupied
with these things, so occupied that we have not time or at-
tention for anything else. And when the next session
comes, if something has not happened within that time to
have insured peace to Europe without all this martial array,
depend upon it that the next session will be as fruitless as
the past with everything connected with the internal regu-
lation. But don't blame us ; don't blame the House of Com-
mons for this. The House of Commons is Engl and. If
England had been upon the spot she would have done pre-
cisely the same. Sir, I know it is easy to sit at one's desk
and write articles against the House of Commons, but I
have never seen a man come into that house yet, whatever
his reputation outside, who has not been totally inefficient
to alter the course of that legislation. And why ? Because
we are the voice—the living voice of the people of England.
(Hear, hear.) We may be very often in the wrong. Talk,
talk, is the curse of that house. I fear you may think
it is the curse of this room. (Cheers and laughter.) But,
sir, I still maintain that the House of Commons has
done much good during the past session. Spite of the
Times, spite of the penny press, spite of the gentlemen who
abuse us, we have done much good by doing nothing.
(Cheers and laughter.) You do not suffer by our late sit-
tings, but my hon. and learned friend and I suffer. I have
sat up more nights this session than during any preceding
session. I have gone to bed at three o'clock in the morning,
thinking I had been doing my duty ; but next _morning out
came an article blowing hot and furious against the House
of Commons for misusing its time. That is all very well,
but what harm have we done ? (Cheers and laughter.)
I say we have done much good. No other people in the
world have spoken out as we have done. Our voice has gone
across every sea, has resounded over every mountain, in
favour of liberty, justice, and truth—(cheers)—and the
House of Commons, by the mere tact that it is an out-
spoken place, is the very heart of the liberty of the world.
Then, I say, you didn't ought to abuse your representa•
tives, but set them a good example. I have a great deal
more to say, but I will not occupy your time. (" Go on.")
There is, however, one thing to which I wish to allude before
I sit down, and that is almost of a personal character. I was
introduced to Sheffield by the efforts of a friend of mine who
is now no more; I mean Sir H. G. Ward. I recollect his
writing to me to say that he was about to retire from the re •
presentation of Sheffield, and he thought the people of Shef-
field and I would very well agree. He was a good prophet
on that occasion. He went into another sphere of life, in
which he showed great ability—great consideration for the
people of England, and for England's interest. Now, at the
very acme—the very pinnacle of his fame, when he was about
to do greater good still to his country, Providence has
thought fit to remove him from this earth. We cannot help
remembering his worth. We cannot heir remembering all
the good he has done, and mourn for the loss of him, not
merely as a friend, but as one who would hate done much
more good had he been permitted to remain amongst us.
Sir, I could not help thus giving vent to a tribute of my
humble praise to the memory of one who is now no more.
I hope you will forgive this outburst of feeling on my part.
I beg to return you my thanks, and my friend, Mr. Had-
field begs, through my voice, weak and humble though it
may be, to return you his beat thanks, for the honour you
have done us. On my own park, I shall content myself with
saying I am very much obliged to you and to this company,
not only for listening so patiently to what I have said, but
also for the cordial manner in which you have received the
mention of my name. (Cheers.)
Mr. HADFIELD, M.P., on rising, was received with
cheers. He said—l should be very unhappy to mitigate
in the slightest degree the effect of the e'oquent and powerful
address which you have heard from my hon. and learned
colleague. Perhaps my department, as your representa-
tive, is somewhat distinct from that of my hon. colleague.
I have endeavoured, during the whole of the session, and
indeed during the whole time I have had the honour of re-
presenting this borough, to promote, to the best of my
ability, the commercial interests of your town. (Cheers.)
I have not been indifferent to the welfare and interests of
the country ; I have been particularly anxious to see com-
mercial enterprise successful in Sheffield. I have not lost
any opportunity that has presented itself of taking advan-
tage, to the utmost of my power, of the commercial openings
that have offered themselves. We have present Dr. Forbes
Watson, from the India-house, who will to-morrow explain
the openings which present themselves for commerce in
India. I have received communications from Mr. Cobden,
which give me a lively hope that great good will result
from the opening of our trade in that important empire. I
make bold to mention the high sense he entertains of the
services of the gentlemen. you deputed to attend the con-
ference at Paris with regard to the new tariff. (Cheers.)
In his private communications, both to me and to others,
he speaks in the highest terms of the services of those gentle-
men. I feel myself bound to report the high opinion he
entertains of the assistance they rendered, and his high ex-
pectation that, when the details of the treaty come to be
understood by the public, though the first impression may
not have been favourable, it will be seen that the treaty
must ultimately produce great good to this country.
(Cheers.) I trust we shall shortly receive information in
reference thereto which will interest you all. Gentlemen,
I should have preferred to have been entirely silent after
the eloquent and learned address of my colleague, but I
could not neglect this opportunity of reporting to you the
commercial advantages which I hop in a few years will
result to this important borough from the French treaty.
(Cheers.)
Mr. R. Ja.exsox--(cheers)—would not detain the com-
pany with any lengthened remarks at that late hour of the
evening. That was the first occasion they had been hon-
oured with the presence of Dr. Forbes Watson, the reporter
of products to the Indian Board. A few years ago the
attention of all classes in this country was painfully directed
to the events that were then passing in India. That time
had passed by, and they heard nothing of those horrible
tales which then so deeply affected us. He trusted that a
new era was opening upon us, and that before long wo
should be able to govern India in a way which would be
beneficial, not only to this country, but to the natives them-
selves. The fact of the Indian Government having sent
Dr. Watson with those samples to Sheffield was a proof of
the great interest they felt in the development of the trade
and commerce between this country and India. (Cheers.)
He would not detain them longer than to ask them to join
him in drinking the health of Dr. F. Watson. (Cheers.)
Dr. FORBES WATSON—Mr. Master-Cutler, my lords,
and gentlemen, I am extremely obliged for the kind re-
ception you have given me, and for the manner in which
my health has been proposed and received. I am aware that
this reception has been accorded to me on account of the
character in which I appear among you. lam compara-
tively new in office, and cannot, therefore, attribute to my
own merits the kindness you have shown me ; but this I
can say, that all the energy I possess shall be used to turn
that office to account for your advantage. (Cheers.) Mr.
Jackson has alluded to the newborn interest that has sprung
up in that great country—the greatest dependency, the
brightest gem in England's crown. I will not dwell upon
the origin of that interest, or remark upon the painful cir-
cumstances that have been required to rouse us to a sense
of our duty to our Indian empire. lam here for a practi-
cal purpose; chiefly to lay before you samples of thevarious
hardware products of that country, in order to see whether
you can benefit the people of India by turning out cheaper
articles than they can make themselves. (Cheers.) The
natives of India, gentlemen, do not use knives and forks,
which is unfortunate for the cutlers ; but they do use other
articles of the same class, though not exactly of the same
kinds as you can and are constantly manufacturing. By the
application of machinery and enterprise we might produce
the tools required for use in India much more cheaply than
they are now made, and thereby benefit both ourselves and
the people of India. Ido not mean to say that the day will
not come when, by the aid of similar machinery, these tools
will be manufactured in India; but that day will not arrive
yet, and before it does come we may make a very good
thing out of the trade. lam not present to give a lecture
on the products of India, but this I must be permitted to
say, that what is chiefly required in India in English enter-
prise directed to the development of her resources in the va-
rious raw products required in England. I congratulete the
people of this country on having effected the removal of one
of the two great difficulties which beset us as a nation. The
various speakers to-night have alluded in most eloquent
terms to that, great movement which has rendered us safe
against oppression from abroad. One of our great weak-
nesses has been thus removed, but the other still remains. I
refer to a product upon which the masses are almost as do •
pendent as upon bread itself. When I tell you that an enor-
mous product is involved in the working of that product,
that probably 4,000,000—0ne-fourth of the entire popula-
tion of England—are dependent upon its production for
support, and that it yields £12,000,000 to the Exchequer,
I have said sufficient to convince you that the failure of the
supply of that product would not only be universally inju-
rious to the manufacturers of it, but that the general inte-
rests of the kingdom would be most materially damaged.
(Hear.) I refer to cotton. Without entering into details, I
may say that we are very much dependent upon one source
of supply for that great staple—upon America; but with
proper encouragement and attention India is capable of fur-
nishing us with such ample supplies of this most important
material as completely to remove the great danger which
now stares us in the face. I have lately been in Manchester,
and I cannot refrain from expressing my heartfelt satisfac-
tion that on the 14th of this month there is to be a great