The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-01 00:00:00

countries, nor to discuss the commencement of the late war.
But this I will say, that England entered into the late war
without any feeling or intention of salteeggrancheement at
all. For many years England had warred for freedom
and for liberty—in support of the weak against the strong.
(Applause.) Oa this occasion she entered on the combat
with these and no other feelings. Contrary to all stipula-
tions of treaty, and in the face of all remonstrances on the
part of England and France as well as of Turkey, Russia
attempted to dis:,urb that balance of power in Europe upon
which the prosperity of this country and its liberty and
freedom so essentially depend. (Applause.) England would
be no party to such an attempt. After such endeavours
had been made to induce Russia to forego her intentions
on this subject war was :declared, and then, gentlemen,
was returned a despatch which must have proclaimed to
all the world that England, when she wars with one mind,
is invincible—(cheers)---even though all the world were
against her. (Cheers.) We have seen great warlike sights
in former times, but he it remembered that that was in
times when our shores were threatened and when our homes
and altars were supposed to be endangered. No wonder
though England, Scotland, and Ireland then rose as one
man to defend interests so dear to them. (Cheers.) But
upon the present occasion it was not so. Our formidable
foes are row our most attached allies. (Cheers.) Long
may they continue so--(loud cheers)—long may commerce
make us akin, and long may those ties of friendship
so firmly existing between us continue to sub-
sist in their present strength. (Cheers.) She was formerly
our formidable foe, but now, gentlemen, our hearths were
in no danger, our altars were free from risk of profana-
tion ; we were in the enjoyment of the most profound
peace, and yet the nation awakened with one voice, arose
as one man to approve the declaration of this war, and her
ew ord leaped from the scabbard to prosecute it. (Cheers.)
pa= ty spirit vanished before the declaration of war ; there
was Almost a lull of politics ; the Commons gave up their
economy—(laughter)—and adopted an unbounded gene-
rosity, and the people exhibited a patience under taxation
--(laughter)—which was truly admirable. (Cheers.) And,
gentlemen, not content with exhibiting this patience under
taxation, they voluntarily taxed themselves to form that
Patriotic Fund which will ever remain a monument of
what a people can do when their hearts are in their work.
(Cheers.) And not only so, but they voluntarily subscribed
funds to supply the wants of our sick and wounded soldier a
and sailors abroad, whereby many a man who had sacrificed
health in his country's service found comfort at their hands
which he would not else have found. Gentlemen, there is
another feature which has distinguished this war, upon
which we must all look with pride and satisfaction. In for-
mer wars we had prowling about our ports things called
pressgangs, and we had our militia driven to the parade by
the compulsory ballot. On this occasion we have never
heard a word of the pressgang or the compulsory ballot.
Our fleets have been manned and our army recruited by
t he voluntary enlistment of the youth of tho country. And
it is a matter of the greatest pride for the nation to be able
to stand up in the face of the world and say that without
con scription or pressing her sons in a just cause will ever
rails), around her. You have seen what our army and navy
are, capable of doing—you have seen a large army accumu-
late rd on the shores of an enemy's country at a vast distance
from a their native shores. We owe that to the capability of
the navy,*and to the exertions of that sister service ; but
we o'. ve that sister service more—and I say it in the presence
of ear friend Sir Houston Stewart— we owe that sister ser-
vice a debt of gratitude for the manner in which she brought
that army home from the East, and rescued it from the
perils to which it would have been exposed. Under Sir
Eronston Stewart's able direction—for his senior officer was
th en at home—that army, of not less than 80,000 men at
least, whatever more, was embarked from the Crimea and
landed safely upon the shores of Europe. (Cheers.) And I
may h'are add that, as a tribute to that army, there was not
a regiment of it which landed upon English shores—whe-
ther _English, Scotch, or Irish—that was not passed in re-
view before her Majesty herself, and to the men in whose
ranks ahe did not herself address some sympathising words.
It was my good fortune to see the first formation of
that army at Aldershot, when reviewed by her Majesty
—it was my good fortune to see the officers of that army
called together into a square; and never till the latest
day I live shall I forget the speech then made by the
Queen to those officers, nor the tears which trickled over
the manly beards of some of those officers when they heard
hose words fall from her Majesty. (Cheers.) And now,
gt 'ntlemen, one word with regard to the future. You have
see n, as I have stated, what your services of the navy and
arm y can do for you when called effectively into action
Peas a has now returned ; but although peace has returned,
she is like a bird flying back at present to her tree, and,
althreta th she may have alighted on the branch, her wings
are not yet fairly settled to her side. (Applause.) I would
hope are d trust that this country will not be in too great a
hurry to insist upon returning to what are called peace es-
tablishms 'nth—(cheers)— and not only to clean the sword,
but to inss'st upon hanging it up to rust against the wall.
(Cheers.) ';'here is a medium in all things ; and I believe
we may study economy. and at the same time preserve
efficiency. (Cheers.) I believe we may look forward to
the maintena uce of good efficient forces both in the army
and in the na my, but at the same time considerable relief
from the taxat ion of the war. But I believe at the same
time that it wo ald be the most ill.timed economy suddenly
to cut down tha t which you have so efficiently raised up,
and to bring back the country into a state from which,
when war lately occurred, it cost millions to rescue it.
(Cheers.) When my hon. friend who represented me in
the House of Commons moved last year the army and navy
estimates, they amounted to no less a sum than 3 aOO aOC3a;
but to give you some idea that I am not exactly talking
without my book, when I am saying that great efficiency
may be maintained and yet relief from taxation achieved, I
can promise you that these estimates this year will not
come within twenty millions of what they did last year.
(Cheers.) And all I ask and all I hope for is, that this
country will well consider the necessity of maintaining in
these unsettled times a navy sufficient to defend our coasts
at home and our possessions abroad, and an army fitted to
send troops to the field, as well as to perform the duties of
those vast and extensive foreign possessions to which my
noble friend the Commander-hi-Chief for Scotland so lately
referred. ([lie Lordship sat down amid loud and protracted
cheering.)
After the toast of " Our allies in the field," which was
duly honoured,
Mr. Sheriff LOGAN proposed "The United States of
America, and permanence to the friendly relations between
the two countries." (Applause.)
The toast was received with all the honours.

Mr. T. STEERE, United States' Consul, in reply, said—
The toast proposed by the learned sheriff comprises two
particulars—" The prosperity of America," and " Perma-
nence to the friendly relations between the two countries."
Now, without detaining you for more than a moment with
statistics, allow me to call your attention to the past
growth of the country in a few points, as an indication of
what may be expected in the future. According to the re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States
the agricultural and manufacturing production of the`
county was, in round numbers, iu 1840, 201,247,0,W. ; in ,
1655, according to the eensus of 18 ia, and estimates, the
production was 520,473,000%—m0re than doubling in 15 (
years. In 181! the estimated amount of gold and silver in
the country was 20 million. In 1855 the Mint estimated
the gold and silver at 40 millions, and the Treasury depart-
ment at 50 millions. Again, the effect of the reciprocal
free trade is shown by the fact that in the year ISS ;, the
year before the reciprocity treaty between the United
States and the British North American provinces went
into effect, the exports from the United States to said
provinces was, in round numbers, 1,481,0001., and the im-
ports from said provinces 1,510,0031. In the year 1356 the
exports of American products to said provinces amounted
to 4,543,C00/., and the imports from them into the United
States to 4,262,003/. Now, the progress awl policy of a
nation of 30 millions of people, whose material progres-
sion is such as this, cannot be to you indifferent or unim-
portant. (Cheers.) Both peoples will have free speech
and a free press. They will not, as of old, go into the
market streets simply to learn whet has been said or done
their immediate neighbourhood ; they will have their
newspaper to tell them the occurrences of the day,
and of every day in their town, county, kingdom, and tLe
world. They will grumble at it, dictate to it, laugh at it
--do ever, thing but do without it. (Cheers.) He must
bo a superficial reasoner indeed who does not perceive,
wrapt in the thrindera of the Tintc=, and the genial hu-
mour and flowing wit of Punch, eminciple and philosophy
which is continually carrying them, as well as others, along
towards a higher appreciation of truth, of others' rights,
and universal Justice, toward the end and aim of the press,
the diffasion of truth and the cultivation and advocacy of
true manners and morals, awl public virtue in society and
Government. (Cheers.) I believe in thus continuance and
constantly increasing strength of the good feeling now
existing between us, because I recollect that during the
pendency of most of those questions which have agitated
.and divided the two countries, there have always been on I
both Fides far-seeing statesmen and true patriots who have I
agreed in their views of the then existing question.
(Clic ere. )

Mr. BAXTER, M.P. for the burghs, proposed "The Agii-
cultural Interest." (Great Cheering.)
Various other toasts of local interest followed, and the
meeting separated before 10 o'clock.

The failure was announced yesterday of the trercan•
tile house of Mr. G. B. Rocca. The liabilities arc be-
lieved to amount to at least 50,0001., and the ovent is
attributed to the suspension, advised yesterday, of the
house of Decio Trasciatti, of Trieste, in connection with
w hich Mr. Rocca is said to be under commitments to de
extent of 30,0001.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Pii's —Unprecedented
cure of indiL:estion.—EKtract of a letter from J. B, M.
6, St. Edward-street, P,lfast, t) Professor Hero way :
" Sir,—Gratitud.: impels me to address you and thus
make known to the world the healing qualities of your
wonderful medicine. I was afflicted for twels.:3 years
w:th indigestion and constipation ; the prescriptions of
my several medical attendants proved in vain ; when,
almost driven to despair, I obtained your medicine, won-
derfully and quickly restoring me to health, all the
buoyancy and elasticity of youth rettrning.—Sold by all
medicine vendors throughout the world, at Professor
Holloway's Establishment 3, 244, Strand, London, and
BS, Maiden•lane, New York; by A. Stampa, Constan-
inople ; A, GaidicY' Smyrna; and E, Muir, Malta,