The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-28 00:00:00

THE EDINBURGH DINNER' TO LORD

BROUGHAM.

The dinner given by the citizens of Edinburgh to
lord Brougham took place itr the music-hall there.
The hall was crowded in every part. The number

Of gentlemen who sat down to dinner exceeded 650,
and the galleries were filled by a brilliant assem-
blage of the fair sex and of gentlemen who were
unable, from the extraordinary demand for tickets,
to obtain access to the tables. The distinguished
*nest was received on entering the hall, shortly
after six o'clock, with a most cordial and universal

welcome. The chair was occupied by Sir John
Melville, Lord Provost, on whose right sat Lord
Brougham, the Earl of Rosslyn, the Lord Justice-
General, the Solicitor-General, Lord Neaves, Mr.
Adam Black, M.P., Professor Pillans, Lord Deas,
and the Lord Advocate (croupier). On the left of
the chair were the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of
Kintore, the Lord Justice-Clerk, Sir John M'Neill,
G.C.8., Sir W. Craig, Lord Curriehill, Professor
Aytoun, Principal Barclay, and Mr. IL Chambers

(croupier).
Apologies were received from the Lord Chancel-
lor of England, who was detained in London from
having to officiate at the prorogation of Parlia-
ment ; the Duke of Roxburgh, the Earl of Elgin,

the Earl of Stair, the Earl of Rosebery, Lord fan-
mure, Lord Dunfermline, Lord AbQrcromby,

Lord Jerviswoode, Lord Ardmillan, Sir Gra-
ham Montgomery, M.P. Sir Edward Cole-
brooke, M.P., Colonel Sykes, M.P., Mr. E. H. J.
Cranford, M.P., Mr. James Caird, Mr.
A. Kinnaird, M.P., Professor Campbell Swinton,
Mr. Campbsll, of Craigie, Mr. Leonard Homer, &c.
Sir JOIIN MELVILLE in fitting terms introduced
the usual loyal and patriotic toasts. To that of the
" Navy and Army," Capt. Peat, RN., and the Earl
of Rosslyn replied. The next toast was " Her
Majesty's Ministers," to which
The Duke of ARGYLL replied. He said,—l know
very well that the kindness with which you have
received this toast is neither from personal nor from
political feeling, but simply from that goodwill and
regard which every public assembly in this country
bears to those who may for the time be intrusted
with the high responsibility of conducting public
affairs. (Applause.) And, gentlemen when I recol-
lect that since the year 1853, when I first had the
honour of being in a position to reply to such atoast
as this, there have been no less than four successive
Governments in this country, giving an average
duration to each of somewhere about 19 or 20
mouths. (A laugh, and cheers:) I cannot feel, there-
fore, that this toast has any personal or peculiar
position, or that it is otherwise than in some respects
an impersonal and abstract toast (renewed
laughter and cheers)—because our position as Mi-
nisters of this country partakes in a very large degree
of that incertitude which is said to belong to all sub-
lunary affairs. (Cheers.) Therefore I will only say,
in thanking you for this toast, that with regard to
home affairs, I trust that that stream of steady and
continuous improvement which is the very life-
blood of our political institutions, and in consequence
of which they unite the vigour and authority of age
with the vigour also and elasticity of youth—that
that current will not be allowed to stand still in our
time. And, with regard to foreign affairs, I will only
say that I trust we shall be able to maintain the in-
terests and the honour of the country ; that, on the
'one hand, we may be preserved from the great error
of undue interference when neither these interests
nor that honour is concerned ; and that, on the other
hand, we may be preserved from the other error—
the policy of selfish isolation, which would deprive
us of our just influence in the councils of the
world. (Loud cheers.) And, lastly, gentlemen,
that when that influence is called for, and when it
can be exercised with propriety, it will be given in
favour of those principles of justice, of humanity,
and of freedom which are the mainsprings of all
our own blessings. (Loud cheers.)
The toastmaster then called for an overflowing
bumper, and
The LORD PROVOST rose amid loud and prolonged
cheers to propose the toast of the evening. His
lordship said—l now ask you to dedicate this toast
to Henry Lord Brougham—(enthusiastic applause)
—whom we have this day met to honour, in grate-
ful recognition of a career of unrivalled brilliancy
in literature, science and statesmanship, which has
rendered his name illustrious throughout the civi-
lised world, and will carry his memory down to
posterity as one of the greatest benefactors to his
country, who has lived in an age remarkable for
men of large and enlightened philanthropy.
(Loud applause.) More than half a century has
elapsed since our distinguished guest became a
member of the bar of Scotland—a body of men
which has always been celebrated for the intellec-
tual acquirements of its members. Even before he
had joined the Scottish bar, and when a youthful
student at our University, he had given evidence
of that vast intellectual power which was destined
to exhibit to the world the rare and, I believe I
may say with perfect truth, the unexampled com-
bination in one individual of the talents and gifts
of the orator, statesman, lawyer, man of science and
of letters, the qualities of each of which call forth
our admiration when found in any individual singly,
but which excite our wonder and delight when
found, as they are, marvellously blended in the
person of our illustrious guest. (Loud applause.).
He has prosecuted with untiring energy the course
of scientific inquiry and original discovery whim
he first began at our university, and which has
_given him a high rank among the philosophers of
our day. It is with feelings of unmingled satisfac-
tion 'that I can refer in proof of what I now state to
one whose testimony will be viewed with peculiar
.interest by this assemblage. I allude to an eminent
philosopher whom I expected to have seen on this
platform—Sir D. Brewster—and who has been pre-
vented from appearing here to-night by the most
insurmountable obstacles. In his " Life of Sir
Isaac Newton," that great philosopher bears testi-
mony to the value of the discoveries made by his
early friend and coadjutor in science—discoveries
commenced at the age of 17, and continued with
. unabated vigour till the present time. There is
scarcely a subject within the whole range of our
literature that has not been embraced within the
grasp of his powerful intellect, and elucidated by
his genius. History, science, philosophy, State po-
licy, education, have all occupied his pen, and been
improved and illustrated by his efforts. While
Lord Brougham has enriched our literature by con-
tributions to ,eience and philosophy, his attention
has been constantly directed to promote the, social
wellbeing of all classes in the State. He has borne
a prominent and conspicuous part in every measure
of importance which has passed through Parliament
during the evPntful period in which he has been a
member of the Legislature, and yet his literary and
scientific labours have been prosecuted with au as-
siduity, earnestness, and success as great as if they
had formed the sole object of his attention. His
name is associated with most of the recent improve-
ments in our criminal and civil jurisprudence, and
his powerful talents have ever been exerted to pro-
mote the interests of independence and freedom,and to
protect the innocent and oppressed. (Applause.)
His is the proud distinction of having most power-
fully contributed to bring to a successful issue those
measures which great and wise and good men had
long ago been labouring to accomplish for the pur-
pose of abolishing the accursed traffic in human
-blood, and of raising Great Britain to the high and
noble position of being, along with her dependen-
cies, the abode of the free and the free alone. (Loud
and prolonged applause.) The noble lord has lived
to see the time wnen experience has proved that
the forebodings of evil from this act of justice to an
injured race were visionary, and that the natural
concomitants of freedom are happiness, tranquillity,
and-peace. What, above all, has endeared the
noble lord to his countrymen, and given him a last-
ing place in their warmest affections, is the constant
and unceasing devotion of his great intellect to the
devising of measures for the instruction of the peo-
ple, and raising the humbler classes of his country-
men to a higher platform in the scale of social life.
("Hear, hear," and applause.) While we admire
the genius which has produced results such as these
and many others which no feeble language of mine
can describe, we cannot fail also to recognise and
feel grateful for the self-sacrifice and patriotic devo-
tion which were indispensable to their accomplish-
ment. It was a proud boast for the Lord Chancel-
lor
declare on rising
the lastteim
of England to time
• from the woolsack that he had not left a single
unheard or a single letter unanswered. (Hea e (Hear.)
In office and out of office the same course of en-
.)
lightened and philanthropic interest in the well-
being of his country has been evinced by the great
man now in the midst of us, to whose genius and
patriotism we, the inhabitants of this, his native
city, are assembled to do homage—a homage, I re-
hoice to say, willingly offered alike by political ad-
erents and political opponents ; for when the names
by which our party differences are known shall
have passed into oblivion the name of Henry
Brougham will live in the grateful recollections of
his countrymen, as having been gifted not with
matchless genius alone, but with matchless devotion
also, to the dearest interests of the human race.
(His lordship resumed his seat amid enthusiastic
and prolonged applause.)
Lord BROUGIIA3f, who was received with most
enthusiastic cheering, said,—My Lord and Gentle-
men, I assure you that though I use an ordinary ex-
pression, it is not the less correct when I say that I
- want words to express my feelings upon the pre-
- sent occasion. (Applamv.) his great assembly,
preceded by an invitation from men of all classes
and of all parties, and of all sects without distinc-
tion, I consider is one of the two greatest blessings
and honours of a not very short and a very
varieptcd life. (Applause.) The being chosen to
represent the great cdunty of York in Parliament