The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-19 00:00:00

to take this opportunity of saying that it has been
most unjust against me to suppose that, in the
course which I have taken on this subject, I have
endeavoured in any way to throw a slur upon
Trinity College, Dublin. Such an idea never en-
tered into my mind. (Applause.) I have too much
respect for the antiquity and veneration for the ser-
vices which that college has rendered to this coun-
try—(hear, hear)—to allow any word of mine to
pass that could be employed as conveying an insult
against such a venerable and such a magnificent
endowment. All that I wished was, all that Ido
wish is, and all that I intend to see accomplished is,
that these Queen's Colleges, by the sums of money
given by the public—not by the Government—
should be enabled to establish scholarships and
bursaries for the intelligent youth of Ireland. And
I must take this opportunity of saying that I
visited yesterday the Queen's College in this town,
and I was highly pleased with what I saw—excel-
lent lecturers—remarkable men,—l should rather
say with well attended class-rooms; and I must
also take this opportunity of tendering to the youth
and students of that college my acknowledgments
for the kind and flattering manner in which they
received me on the occasion of my visit. (Loud
applause.) Well, now, gentlemen, if lam not de-
taining you too long—(No, no)—permit me to turn
to another subject. It is difficult to convey in ade-
quate language the satisfaction which a public man
in a position such as I hold derives from the oppor-
tunity of witnessing the energy and enterprise of
his countrymen in the various parts of this king-
dom. Such, however, has been my advantage, in
company with one of the most distinguished of her
Majesty's servants in Ireland—in company with one
who, by his activity and vigilance in the supervision
of the department under his control, has rendered
most important service to the State in the peace and
security of this country. In his company I have
travelled through a large extent of district, and re-
collect that in a fortnight I have been enabled to
derive from personal observation more information
than could be collected from whole files of different
reports. (Loud applause.) I can confidently assert
that the reports and rumours which have been cir-
culated about a famine- in this country have been
greatly exaggerated. I speak on the authority of per-
sonal observation. I leave those who can write in the
secluded districts of Connaught the task of refuting,
if they can, what I know to be true. In Sligo, in
Donegal, I hear very different accounts from those
which I had been led to believe, and from personal
observation in Mayo and Galway and from letters I
have received I am assured that nothing of the kind
that was alleged exists. Of course, lam ready to ad-
mit, with every gentleman in this room, that there
has been a comparative failure of the potato crop, and
that food will be dear, but a scarcity of food is not
necessarily a famine, and it is very easy to under-
stand the interested motives of some who are anxious
to gain public applause by a feigned zeal for the
public in spreading about these exaggerated rumours.
(Applause.) Now, I must say, as far as I myself am
concerned,l do not find that these apprehensions are
in any way likely to be realised. I have travelled over
a very large extent of country—from Galway to
Belfast—l have seen a vast range of country, not
like a trunk, not in a railway, but with my own
eyes (applause), and from the best of ability which
personal observation and personal inquiry can
enable me to obtain. Now, I admit I have been
rather disappointed with Galway. I had only a
limited opportunity of judging of it, but it bore a
very hungry appearance. I speak honestly in say-
ing that it did not convey to my mind the impres-
sion of a town that quite came up to the expecta-
tions that I had formed from its ambition to become
the great centre of oceanic communication between
America and this country. At all events, what I
saw ill contrasted with the stirring community of
Sligo, or with the extraordinary mercantile de-
velopment which 1 witnessed in the distinguished
city of Derry; and here, again, in Belfast, one of
the noblest cities of the empire (applause), I have
learnt to admire the prodigious energy and com-
mercial prosperity which are the results of your own
unaided exertions. (Cheers.) No Government
grant. (Cheers.) If you had Government grants,
depend upon it you would not be what you are.
But I see this town contributing to the dignity and
character of this empire; and I must say that I
admire the man who, from his connexion with this
town, is in a position to represent the town of Bel-
fast in the Commons House of Parliament. Gen-
tleman, I should be very sorry longer to delay you
with observations upon a subject which I could
dilate upon at considerable length. This I may say,
that in coming to Ireland I represent England's
love for the sister isle. (Cheers.) I bring with me
England's love, which elicited Ireland's gratitude
in her season of famine and distress (renewed
cheering) ; that same love which is still felt
with undiminished ardour in her happier days
of progress and social improvement. I come
here to carry out the instructions of Her Majes-
ty's Government towards all classes and towards
all creeds, without respect of persons, impartially
and without prejudice—(cheers)—and so far as is
consistent, or, rather, so far as depends upon the
political action of Government and of Parliament,
to assist in promoting works of public utility and
national advantage. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) And
if, gentlemen, by acquiring a knowledge of the
wants and resources of this country, I can in any
way, so far as depends upon My humble power, aid,
or sustain, or strengthen the pedestal upon which
it is based—the development of Ireland's commer-
cial prosperity and social wellbeing—it will be to
me a source of such gratification that I should be
unable to convey it in adequate terms. (Cheers.)
And, gentlemen, if that bo so, if it is permitted to
me to do anything good in this country, I shall
have the satisfaction of feeling, not only that I have
done my duty, but that I have been able to show
that I am not unmindful of my father's example—
(cheers)—that I am not altogether unworthy to reap
those fruits which I here gather at your generous
hands of his conspicuous fame." (Loud cheers.)