The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-24 00:00:00

13,INQUET TO THE II frarBERS OF

HEj E YORD.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Yesterday the Liberal representatives of the city
and county of Hereford, Sir Henry Geers Cotterell,
Bart., Lieutenant-Colo:lel Clifford, and George ClivP,
Di., were invited to a grand banquet in the Sitirt,hal'.
The Right Hon. I,lle Chancellor of the Exchequer pre-
sided.

In the course of the evening Colonel MIDDLET.:N
BIDDIMPH, M.P., proposed the health of Lord Palmer-
ston, as the representative of "a progressive system
4.f political reform in Church awl State."

The Right' Hon. the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said that no person who rooked back to the events of
the last 25 years, and who reflected on the present
temper of the country, as shown in the last election,
could be mistaken as to the spread of Liberalism. The
late election was, for the most part, an independent sx-
pression of opinion; not a result brought ab iut by inti-
midation or coercion, but, for the most part, a genuine
expression of unfettered opinion ; and, looking at this
circumstance in its proper light, there was no one who
would not come to the conclusion that the sceptre of
power bad passed from the hands of the Conservaiave
party, at least for some time to come. (Rear, hear.)
Indeed, since the year when Lord Grey became Prime
klinister, and the Reform Br t was r ropose,l, there had
not been so few obstac:es or interruptions to the exist-
ence of a Liberal Parqarnent. At one time, it
vas true, Sir Robert Peel, for a few months, made
on attempt to take a lvantage of the feeling
of the country against free trade, and came
oito power, but soon found hire elf obliged, by pressure
-1 circumstances, by his own convictions, and by public
opinion, to adopt the opinions, the principles, and mea-
-ores of his adversaries ; and in a very short time, by
the adoption of that course, brou ht about an irreparable
°reach in his own party. (Applause.) Peel's Admilii-
,tration, by his own public spirit and admirable conduct
in reversing his former Protectionist policy and adopting
Free-trade policy, proved by indubitable testimony the
a-cendancy of those opinions in the county. • (Hear,
:tear.) Afterwards, in 1852, Lord Derby made an at-
,empt to form another Conservative Administration, and
we know how short its duration was, and what was is
tate. All these circumstances conspired to throw the
-cep tre into the hands of the Liberal piArty. It re-
mained, however, to be seen whether they were able to
grasp it with such firmness and in a manner that
would entitle them to the confidence of the country.
Me right hon. gentleman went on to show that the
course Lord Palmerston and his colleagues had taken
after the late vote of the House of Commons, by advis-
ing her Majesty to appeal to the country, was a proper
one, as was evidenced by the manner in which that ap-
peal had been received by the country. But although
the appeal to the country had been productive, as far as
could be ascertained from the returns made, of a majo•
pity in support of Lord Palmerston, it must not be for-
gotten that Lord Palmerston's Administration was com-
posed of only one portion of the Liberal party ; and
that, if they should fail to command the support and
confidence of the country, there would undoubtedly be
other portions of the Liberal party who would be pre-
pared to offer their services ai candidates for public
:onfidence. (Hear, hear.) Lord Palrmrston's Admi-
iistration, then, would hold office solely. and simp'y

won their deserving and receiving public support.
(Hear, hear.) The present Administration had teen
.barged with reckles3, violent, turbulent, and aggres-
,ive policy—with seeking querrele upon insufficient
,;rounds with foreign nations, and with destroying do-

etc interests, with which such embroilinents interfere.
[f that eiarge could be supported Lord Palmerston
.could ❑ot calcu,ate upon the sympathies of the country ;
;,ut he (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) had no hesita-
;on in saying, for reasons he bad already advanced, that
,e charge was wholly groundless and unsupported by
'acts. How could such be the case—and what had really
teen the main object of Lord Palmerston's policy I Had
t not been the conclusion of a war with Russia that bad

)een in existence two years ? Peace, not war, he averred,
as the main object of Lord Palmerston's foreign policy,
out peace unaccompanied with national dishonour.
(Rear.) It bad been said that the Government was one
of reckless expenditure. In the midst of an enormous

mar it was found necessary to resort to taxation by loans
sipon the public credit. These extra means were con-
.; ded in a generous. liberal, and encouraging spirit by
he people, because they considered them necessary and
.ouducive to public interest. Now that war was over,
iud the Government was reducing the national expendi-
ure as rapidly as it could, but still this must be

lone by gradual steps. Yet because that expend .
ore was not in a few months brought down to
he level at which it stood at the termination of a long
Jeace—immediately preceding the war—the Govern-

lent was accused of being wasteful and lavisb. One
,hiog the nation might rest assured of, that all possible
retrenchment, consistent with the safety of our own
sore!, and the security of our colonial possessions,

vould be made ; and founding their actions upin the
principle of progressive reform, they would seek to in•
roduce all practical ameliorations in our domestic insti-
utions, without disturbing the foundations of our na-
ional prosperity. (Rear, hear.) He meant to say,
that eschewing organic changes, the Government of
Lord Palmerston would endeavour to meet the necessi-
ties of exiAing circumstances, without disturbing the
fundamental principles of order and society. (Applause.)
It was by these means alone, he confessed, that the
Administration of Lord Palmerston could retain posses'
ion. The Conservative party would, doubtless, attempt
,o regain the power which bad passed from their hands,
t)ut whether Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli wool! sae'

.eed in recovering the sceptre which dropped from the
hands of the !ate Sir Robert Peel remained to be proved.
;Applause.) In the meant:me the Conservative party
tilled a somewhat useful function in a constitutional
4overnment like ours, where there was such a diversity
of opinion, and where so many different projects were set
,float ; but the position they now occupied might be
lescribed as that of "a drag "—(hear)—for while the
Liberal party initiated public measures, the Opposition,
by their vote and discussion, though they could not
sway the country, prolonged the consideration of them.
Tau knew it was a ,tanding reproach against Ministers
that they adhered with undue tenacity to office, not
withstanding the expression of pubic opinion. How
tar, in the case of the present Government, this charge
was well founded, no one, he thought, who looked at
c,he circumstances of the case, would say that Alinisters
could be justly accused of undue adherence to office.
(Applause.)
The company shortly afterwards separated.

Sporting Intelligence.

TATTERSALL'S-THURSDAY.

A large majority of turfifes being still detained in tba
north, the ro,,rn was not numetou,iy attPnded.
Two THOUSAND —3 to 1 and afterwards 100 to 30 "8
offered on the field-7 to 2 would have been taken about
Vedette. At the coturr-neetnent of business 4 to 1 to
2001. was laid aairo,t, Kent, who, in the City, during the
morning, had the "call" of Lord ZAlatot's horse.
the close 100 to 30 was the bvgheet offer against him.
to 1 was taken and offered abut Loyola ; 7 to 1, 13 to
2, and finally 8 to 1 to 501. were 141 against Anton ;
300 to 200 a,:d 350 to 200 were laid on Vedette against
Loyola.
DEunv.-8 to 1 was offered against Blink Bonny, bll
t
there were no backer; ; 11 to 1 was laid against Bonny,,
misher, and 500 to 400 was betted on him against Antoo•

CLOSING PRICES,
TWO THOUSAND.
10 to 3 agst Vedette (ake 7to 2)
10 to 3 agst Kent (4 to 1 taken freely)
sto 1 agst Loyola (taken and offered)
Bto 1 agst Anto❑ (taker)
8 to 1 agst Sydney (~f&red)
25 to 1 apt Lind of the Hills
25 to 1 agst Dru►nour (taken)
1000 to 30 agst Turbit (taken)
500 to 15 aget c by Surplice—Beeswax (taken)
DEBBY.

Bto 1 agst Mink Bunny (offered)
14 to 1 agst Skirmisher (taken)
20 to 1 ag.t Arsenal (akeu)
33 to 1 agst Commotion (offered)
CHESTER COP,
Offers to take 6 to 1 about Leamington.
The Suo,,cription•room will be opened on SattirdaYfor
the settlement of the current week's accounts.

MALTON RACES —Thunsass.
Two-year-ull Stakes.

Sloth eayer

Dark ie -

-Dire:, ran.
Hunt Cup.

Her)
Mitchit f

Eight ran.
Malto❑ Ilaudicap.

Liverpool ..
MarJ :t
Courtenav

Seven ran.
Norteliff, Plate.

Peto ......
Magnolia..

E:ght ran.
Birdsall Elaudicap.
Attorney-General ............................................
Lard o' the Dale ..........................................
6,x ran.

Particulars in our next.