The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-22 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE•

THIS .air.—Mkmaing, Ih. 22m.—Afternoon, lh. 4.5 m,
TL-Moratow.-'Morning, 2h. 10m.—Afternoon, 2h. 30m,

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LONDON, THURSDAY, NOV. 22, 1866,

A grand complimentary dinner was given last
evening to the llon. G. F. VERDON, Finance Minis-
ter of Victoria, on the eve of his departure for the
colony. Mr. VERDON has visited this country on
a special mission of no common interest. The
colony which he represents has always taken a fore-
most part in the costly and laborious duty of self-
defence, and the object of Mr. VERDON'S visit
proves that Victoria does not intend to relax her
efforts. The Government of Victoria has asked the
Homo Government to grant them one of the
wooden men-of-war now lying in our harbours to
be used as a training-ship for the encouragement of
a local navy. Also they have requested the
Home authorities to contribute the necessary
funds in addition to the contingent which they could
themselves offer, and the necessary designs and in-
spection to enable the colony of Victoria to possess
an armour-plated ship for the defence of her har-
bours and its immense commerce. The English
Government, we are glad to find, has promptly
granted both requests, for they were requests rea-
sonable in themselves and honourable in the motive
which prompted them. As Sir JOHN PAKINGTON
observed last night, Mr. VERDON had not come here
on the part of his Government. "On the contrary,
in the most honourable, straightforward, and
manly spirit the Government of the colony of Victo-
ria had come to the Government of England and said,
if not in words, in a spirit which justified the lan-
guage—We have set an example to the colonies of
England ; we have not been sparing of our funds ;
we have not been sparing in our loyalty ; we have
exerted ourselves in an independent spirit to pro-
vide for the defence of our colony ; we have spent
large sums of money ; we have provided a volun-
teer force, we are now providing a naval reserve
force, and we come to you, the mother country, to
ask, not for anything we can do for ourselves, but
for that which we cannot do." We are glad to find
that the Australian colonies are beginning to form a
regular naval force. They have every facility for
doing so with the greatest success, and every
inducement to produce such a protection for their
rich and extended commerce. The spirit of the
people, too, is fully in accordance with the attempt,
and no doubt Australia will furnish ships and sailors
to compete with those of any nation. Already the
poet's prophecy is in process of fulfilment, when he
anticipated that the then almost unnoticed colony
would one day boast--
" Of navies, hoisting their embroidered flags,
Where shipless seas now wash untrodden crags."
The visit of the Victorian Finance Minister is fur-
ther noticeable, because it is the first time that any
Colonial Government has approached the Home
Government with a view to co-operation in a great
national work. In this respect, as in some
others, Victoria has set a worthy example to other
colonies, and we are glad to find that the visit of
her delegate to this country has been entirely suc-
cessful. Sir JonN PAKINGTON and the Eail of
CARNARVON, who were both guests at the banquet,
represented the Cabinet very ably ; and Sir JOHN
PAKINGTON, in his double capacity of Colonial
Minister of the Admiralty, entered very warmly
into the proceedings, and cordially expressed his
hope that the great and loyal colonies of Australia
might continue to grow and prosper. Mr. VERDON
has filled his office of Finance Minister for three
years, no inconsiderable tenure of power by a
Minister in the colonies, where the changes in ad-
ministration are more frequent than with them-
selves. Sir J. PAKINGTON paid a well-deserved
tribute to the great ability and high character of
the gentlemen who had visited this country as colo-
nial representatives. He had found them, he said,
to be men well qualified to fill the highest positions
in any country. This compliment will be gratify-
ing to the colonists, and show them that they are
not underrated by the statesmen of the mother
country ; but, indeed, England and her colonies,
like other nations, have arrived of late years at a
better mutual understanding.

The newly-formed Working Men's Conservative
Association was inaugurated last Tuesday evening

in St. George's Hall, Bradford. There was a nume-
rous assemblage, and the proceedings were carried
on in a very spirited manner. Mr. W. FERRAND,
the president of the association, presided at the en-
tertainment, and, prior to the commencement of
the affair, he read some letters of apology from in-
fluential parties who could not be present. Among

them the most important was one from Lord JonN
MANNERS, who said that he would most gladly
have attended, but was prevented faom doing
so. He added that he was not surprised to find
that a Conservative or constitutional feeling should
exist in Bradford, because the working men of the
West Riding knew that amongst those who de-
fended the institutions of Church and State were to
be found the warmest advocates of the legitimate
claims of labour. This was proved by the " long
and arduous struggle" that preceded the passing of
the Ten Hours' Bill and the bleaching and dyeing
Acts. The noble lord added, that he
recalled with
. satisfaction and pleasure the part he took in that
struggle in the work, and by the side of many
notable politicians. It is meet that these
important services to the working classes
should be remembered, became just now most
indefatigable efforts are being made in many
directions to set class against class, and to persuade
the labourers that all above them in the social
scale are their natural enemies and their direct an-
made an animated speech,
itnagwohniieshts. Dr.touched
Bte
he
nuNpEon the chief topics of interest
connected with th '
n
work in hand. After stating
that, in promoting education, the clergy of the
iinadpredvde,
abnes,t to improve
tChheureoohnodfitionof England
thhaed cwloenrkeitnhge.i.mr
" Where is JOHN BRIGHT now ?
What did h
about the Ten Hours Bill ?—why,
everything
e
he could do to defeat it, and to do his
do
worst in the House of Commons
against
the working people ; the cool audacity,
the
brazen effrontery of such a man only showed how
much the people required to be enlightened on many
points. And Mr. BRIGHT had also opposed the
Education Bill in every po-isible way." In proposing
the toast of the " Earl of Derby and the House of
Lords," Mr. HARRIS very opportunely said that if
they looked through the land they would not find
anywhere a greater friend to the working men
than the noble Premier. When there was a famine
in Lancashire he was at his post every week, and
he also contributed large sums for the relief i
of the distressed " There happened to
be in the same county a gentleman, who
had already been alluded to, and what did he
do for them at that time ? When did they find
JOIN BR IGIIT doing anything for the working men ?"
However, Mr. FERRAND, in returning thanks for the
House of Commons, vindicated that assembly from
some of the charges that had been brought against
it, and declared, from his fifteen yews' experience .