The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-24 00:00:00

a nation

"Distinct as the billows, yet one as the sea"—
the Republic of the United States of North America. (Ap-
plause.) It was for the establishment of such a nation as
this that the early settlers of America landed on those
distant shores. Mere words failed to do full justice
to a country so favoured of heaven. The events of the
time wero speaking for America what human language
could never speak. (Applause.) In passing through the
Cathedral of St. Paul's you would notice beneath the bust

of Sir Christbpher Wren, the architect of the building, the
words :

" Inquirenclo numumentum? Circumspzce !"

" Would you inquire for his monument ? Look around
you !" in the decorations of this hall, as well as in the
progress of our country, one has much to remind us of the
unity of America. The names of all the States are around
these walls. There floats above us the national standard
—not one star is wanting from its loyal field of blue; not
one stripe is missing from its folds of white and red. On
the right that flag hung in front of the ensign of England.
It was a flag of an honoured history, for it had been pre-
sented by his Royal Highness, the into Prince Consort, to
the American packet-ship Prince Albert, and,: on the loss
of that vessel, had been kindly loaned for this banquet by
Captain Davis, of the Yorktown. (Applause.) Our
country had received a new bond of unity in the sacrifices
of the last four years. We were now bound together as
we had never been before, by the heart's-blood of patriots,
hallowing more than a thousand battle-fields. Viewing
America as she is, and as she promises to be, he was sure
the toast proposed would be the aspiration of every loyal
heart. (Prolonged applause.)
The seventh toast of the evening was "Our Fallen
Heroes." This was drunk in silence, while the band
played a dirge.
The CHALRMAN then gave the eighthtoast, "The United
States and Great Britain."

Professor GOLDIVIN SMITH, in response to the senti-
ment, met with a most cordial reception. He said that the
character of Washington was not only historical, but in
many respects it illustrated some of the best points of
English history. The principles of English liberty led him
to fight English soldiers who opposed them. He was sure
the real lovers of liberty, in every part of Great Britain,
would rejoice more and more in the spread of liberal prin-
ciples in America. In times past this had been the case,
and he thought it would be still more so in the future.
The English constitution was capable of great expansion
in diffusing a right basis of government ; and while Eng-
land had early stamped a portion of a free policy on Ame-
rica, we must expect the reflex influence to return to us
across the Atlantic. America has been fortunate in having
at the Court of St. James a man of such skill in states-
manship, coupled with so much of caution and wisdom,
as the present Minister. It is certain that his correspon-
dence will bear a favourable comparison with that of
any statesmen of modern times. He indulged the hope
that events would prove the honour and glory of the
United States to be coeval with those of Great Britain.
Mr. THOS. WALKER seconded Professor Smith in a few
pointed and forcible remarks. He was sure that the utter-
ance of the noble and manly sentiments of this occasion
would exert a favourable influence in England. It was by
such national gatherings as these that the citizens of the
two countries learned to know each other better and re-
spect each other more. With much pleasure he supported
the principles implied in the toast before them.
The ninth toast of the evening was " The Constitution
of the United States, the Charter of American Liberty: it
is now crowned with a new glory by the extinction of
American slavery."
The Hon. Mr. Folsom, late U.S. Minister at the Hague,
was received with applause, and responded to the toast
with much spirit. His experience of the value of the Con-
stitution had been an agreeable one at home, and he had
learned to prize the great instrument of popular rights
while abroad. It was perfectly clear from the history of
America, that the framers of the Constitution originally
expected that it would eventually be the means of remov-
ing the political evils of the country. Whatever differ-
ence of opinion there may have been as to the best manner
of exercising the power of the Constitution on mooted
questions, it is settled now that it has secured the perma-
nent removal of the great evil of slavery. As a source and
guarantee of American law, the Constitution of the United
States was the just pride of every loyal Anlerican citizen,
in whatever quarter of the world his lot might be cast. He
had much pleasure in commending the toast to the as-
sembly.

J. H. ESTCOURT, Esq., lately of Manchester, rose to se-
cond the ',response that had just been made by the hon.
gentleman. He had had occasion to study the Constitu-
tion of the United States as affecting, in its action, the
progress of events in America, and the more he studied the
more he admired it. He was prepared to stand by the
Constitution, because it stood by the Union, and he
had learned by experience the wisdom and justice as well
as the policy of going for Union and Emancipation at one
and the same time. His conviction of the importance of
tho United States Constitution went beyond America. He
regarded it as a great bill of rights for all mankind.
" The Ladies." Music—" Home, sweet home."

MT. EDWARD CURTISS, of the University of the City of
New York, responded in a few well-chosen and felicitous
remarks. Ho spoke not only of the charms of American
women, comparable with those of any in the world, but of
the noble efforts they had put forth during the war for
the Union, in arousing and keeping alive the patriotic en-
thusiasm of the country, providing for the wants of the
soldiers and seamen who were fighting for their country,
in her defence, and with sweet charitios helping the sterner
sex to succour the sick and wounded, to solace the dying,
and bury the dead. (Applause.)
The company then separated.