The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-04 00:00:00

7HE LATE LORD LONDONDERRY.

DURHAM, MONDAY NIGHT.
On Monday the monument erected to the memory
of the late Marquis of Londonderry was inaugu-
rated with befitting pomp and ceremony. All places
of business were closed at noon by request of the
Mayor, and the inhabitants kept holiday in honour
of the occasion.
After the equestrian statue had been uncovered in
the Marketplace, where it is erected, in presence
of a great crowd of spectators, and formally pre-
sented to the Mayor and Corporation by the Duke
of Cleveland, a numerous company met at luncheon
in the Town-hall.
The chair was occupied by the Mayor, while Mr.
F. D. Johnson, of Aykley Heads, officiated as
vice-chairman. Supporting his Worship "on the
right and left were Mr. Disraeli, M.P., and Mr. J.
R. Mowbray, M.P.
The Duke of CLEVELAND, after the loyal toasts,
proposed " The Memory of the late Marquis of Lon,
donderry," which was drunk in silence.
Lord ADOLPHUS VANE TEMPEST said, in reply,
he hoped that the kindness and generosity of ap.
preciation shown that day to the departed one's
memory had touched the hearts of that family whom
te'had left behind; and that if anything had been
wanting to increase that debt of gratitude, he hoped
that each member of that family would be pre.
pared to return it with interest back to the county
of Durham. (Cheers.)
The NICE CHAIRMAN then proposed " The House
of Lords," coupled with the health of the Duke of
Cleveland, to which the noble DUKE briefly replied.
Mr. J. BRA3IWELL next gave " The House of
Commons," connecting with it the name of Mr.

Disraeli.
The Right Hon. B. DISRAELI, on rising to res-
pond, was greeted wale loud and prolonged applause,
On its cessation, the right hon. gentleman said :
Air. Mayor and Gentlemen,—Nothing can be more
gratifying to the House of Commons than that they
should be remembered at meetings of their country-
men like the present, in the spirit and in the man-
ner which you have shown today. But, gentle-
men, I regret that the House of Commons has been
associated to-day with the name of one who is
indeed a stranger among you, and that it is not re-
presented on this occasion by some member con-
nected with the county, who might more legiti-
mately express the feelings which I am sure the
House of Commons entertains on these occasions.
(Applause.) The House of Commons, gentlemen,
has two great functions to perform at the present
day. It has to contribute in a great degree to
the transaction of public business. It has also
another function, equally important, and that
is to express public opinion. Now, with
regard to the transaction of public business, I will
venture to say that there is no public assembly in
the world that transacts half the business which the
House of Commons does, and does it so efficiently—
(eheers)—while, on other hand, looking to its
other great function—namely, the expression of
opinion, I am convinced that I am not exaggerating
when I say that there is no possible public griev-
ance, no shade of public sentiment, which is not
brought before that house, and which is not there
legitimately discussed. (Renewed cheers.) And
I think, gentlemen, that the complaints that have
been made against the House of Commons of late
years really have arisen from a misconception
among the constituencies as to the two great func-
tions which distinguish the nature and character of
the House of Commons. When it has expressed
opinion, some, who have thought that it ought only
to transact business, say it wastes its time in mak-
ing speeches. When it only transacts business, and
does not sufficiently discuss questions which greatly
interest the public, then we are told that it no
longer possesses the confidence of the people of
England. But the truth is that it transacts its busi-
ness efficiently, because,' at the same time;it faith-
fully represents opinion ; and it represents opinion
faithfully because this country, itself a practical
country, knows that those who are members of the
House of Commons are competent at the same time
to attend to the interests of the country in detail.
(Applause.) It is by the combination of these two
qualities, and by the performance and accomplish-
ment of these two important functions, that the
House of Commons has obtained the confidence and
respect of the people, and it can only be by faith-
fully adhering to the same line that that confidence
and affection can be maintained. (Cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, it is very true that for the last century
and a half the public business of this country
in Parliament, in bath houses, has been
conducted on the principles of party, and
I am convinced myself that it is owing to the
principles of party that Parliament has become so
powerful in this country. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
For what would he 500 or 600 men if they were not
connected by feelings of public principle and pri-
vate honour—if they were not thus bound together,
what would be 500 or 600 men in comparison to an
organised and powerful Ministry, but a mob, which
would be distinguished only by their timidity and,
perhaps, by their corruption ? (Applause.) It is very
true that there may have been moments when the
spirit of party has led both parties in the State to
do things which they might have regretted ; but this
I will say for both parties in this country, that when
the interests of this empire, and especially when the
honour of the nation is concerned—(loud cheers)—
there is no longer party spirit ; there is no longer
personal complication, and the leading men on all
sides, whoever may be the servants of the Queen, are
animated only by one feeling, and propose to them-
selves only one object—to maintain the greatness and
the glory of their common country. (Renewed and
loud applause.) Gentlemen, although I have been
properly reminded by the hon. gentleman who so
eloquently introduced this toast that I am a stranger
among you, I cannot, since you have thought proper
to associate my name with this toast, altogether for.
get the cause of my being in this hall to-day, (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) Although I am, unfortunately,
a stranger to the people of Durham, I am not a
stranger to that eminent man whose virtues and
whose public services you have this day commemo-
rated in so interesting and signal a manner.
(Cheers.) For more than a quarter of a century I
was bound to the late Lord Londonderry by the ties
of a most intimate and devoted friendship. I knew
him well. lam fain to believe that I rightly appre-
ciated the qualities of his mind and character. He
was the most energetic individual that I ever was ac-
quainted with. But there was this characteristic of
the late Lord Londonderry—that he combined
the greatest energy of character with a singular
softness of heart. (Cheers.) He was, above all men,
a faithful friend. (Hear.) It has sometimes been
said that he, as all other public characters, was oc-
casionally deficient in that judgment which is
necessary to a perfect character ; but this must be
said of Lord Londonderry—that he succeeded in
everything which he undertook; and where I find
general and signal success I am not
p epared to
admit that there has been a deficiencydoeijyudhigment.
(Applause.) As a soldier, no one will
pence at one of the most important crisisnof modern
times
times ; in an age celebrated for its cavalry corn.
manders, in the age which produced Murat
Anglesea, Charles Stewart was second to no one.
But, though he was a noble and successful soldier,
he was an extremely able and adroit diplomatist.
The valuable records of the important age of the
Revolutionary War, which are now regularly un-
folding their secrets to the generation of which we
are members, only bring forth evidence of the great
abilities of the late Lord Londonderry. In the work
of Sir Robert Wilson, one of his opponents in poli-
tics, which has recently been published, we find
very frequent, abounding, and indubitable evidence
of the groat services which Lord Londonderry, then
Lord Stewart, accomplished for his country, many
of which until that publication were unknown.
(Loud cheers.) His services, when he was at the
head quarters of the King of Sweden, have taken
their place in history as human efforts which con-
siderably contributed to the great result which
crowned that long revolutionary war: (Renewed
aPplause.) What his character was in private
dealt with his great affluence of for-
otherwise,he in he partly inherited, and which he
astill more interesting manner,
acquired-1
on,whoable to judge than n
siti in this hall, are better
Y"lt' (Chem) liming