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

Countries, nor to discuss the commencement of the late war.
Bat this I will say, that England entered into the late war
Without any feeling or intention of self_eggTanclisement at
all. For many years England had warred for freedom
and for liberty—in support of the weak against the strong.
(Applause.) On 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 disturb 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
hid 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
al the world that England, when she wars with one mind,
is invincible—(cheers)—even though all the world were
atainst her. (Cheers.) We have seen great warlike sights
in; former times, but be it remembered that that was in
ti mss when our shores were threatened and when our homes
lb; ad altars were supposed to be endangered. No wonder
11 lough England, Scotland, and Ireland then rose as one
scan to defend interests so dear to them. (Cheers.) But
It ?on the present occasion it was not so. Our formidable
Ye ;es are now our most attached allies. (Cheers.) Long
w ay they continue so—(bend cheers)—long may commerce
a Ake us akin, and long may those ties of friendship
▪ ; firmly existing between us continue to sub-
si in their present strength. (Cheers.) She was formerly
• nr formidable foe, but now, gentlemen, our hearths were
no danger, our altars were free from risk of profane-
t: ;on ; we were in the enjoyment of the most profound
p 'ace, and yet the nation awakened with one voice, arose
sw ; one man to approve the declaration of this war, and her
w word leaped from the scabbard to prosecute it. (Cheers.)
y arty spirit vanished before the declaration of war; there
II -as almost a lull of politics ; the Commons gave up their
• conomy—(laughter)—and adopted an unbounded gene-
rosity, and the people exhibited a patience under taxation
- —(laughter)—which was truly admirable. (Cheers.) And,
p gentlemen, not content with exhibiting this patience under
I exation, they voluntarily taxed themselves to form that
3 'striotic 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 soldiers
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
beard a word of the pressgang or the compulsory ballot.
Our fleets have been manned and our army recruited by
the 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
conseription or pressing her sons in a just cause will ever
rally around her. You have seen what our army and navy
are capable of doing—you have seen a large army accumu-
lated on the shores of an enemy's country at a vast distance
from their native shores. We owe that to the capability of
the navynand to the exertions of that sister service ; but
we owe that sister service more—and I say it in the presence
of my 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
Houston Stewart's able direction—for his senior officer was
then 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 here add that, as a tribute to that army, there was not
a regiment of it which landed upon English shores—whe-
tter English, Scotch, or Irish—that was not passed in re-
view before her Majesty herself, and to the mon in whose
ranks she 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 ON er
the manly beards of some of those officers when they heard
those words fall from her Majesty. (Cheers.) And now,
gentlemen, one word with regard to the future. You have
seen, as I have stated, what your services of the navy and
army can do for you when called effectively into action
.Peace has now returned ; but although peace has returned,
she is like a bird flying back at present to her tree, sad,
although she may have alighted on the branch, her wings
are not yet fairly settled to her side. (A pplause.) I would
hope and trust that this country will not he in too great a
harry to insist upon returning to what are called peace es-
tablishments—(cheers)— and not only to clean the sword,
but to insist upon hanging it up to rust against the wall.
(Cheers.) There 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 maintenance of good efficient forces both in the army
:end in the navy, but at the same time considerable relief
Yrcan the taxation of the war. But I believe at the same
time that it would bo the most ill-timed economy suddenly
Ito cut clown that which you have so efficiently raised up,
and to bring back the country into a state from which,
-when war lately occurred, it coat 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 than3e,oo ),000e;
but to give you some idea that I am not exactly talking
-without may book, when I am saying that great efficiency
may be maintained and yet relief from taxation achieved, I
cue 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-in-Chief fur Scotland so lately
referred. (His 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. STEZRE, 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 tho
re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States
the agricultural and manufacturing production of the
country was, in round numbers, in 1840, 201,217,008/. ; in
1855, according to the census of 1850, and estimates, the
production was 520,473,0001.—m0re than doubling in 15
years. In 1644 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 1853, the
year before the reciprocity treaty between the United
States and the British North American provinces went
into effect, the experts from the United States to said
provinces was, in round numbers, 1,481,0001., and the im-
ports from said provinces 1,510,0001. In the year 1856 the
exports of American products to said provinces amounted
to 4,543,000/., and the imports from them into the United
States to 4,262,0001. Now, the progress and policy of a
tuition 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 what has been said or done
n 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 the
world. They
will grumble at it, dictate to it, laugh at it
—do everything but do without it. (Cheers.) He must
be a superficial reasoner indeed who does not perceive,
wrapt in the thunders of the Time% and the genial hu-
mour and flowing wit of Punch, principle 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:diffusion of truth and the cultivation and advocacy of
true manners and morals, and public virtue in society and
Government. (Cheers.) I believe in the continuance and
eonstantly increasing strength of the good feeling now
existing between us, because I recollect that during the
pendency of moat of those questions which have agitated
and divided the two countries, there have always been on
both aides far-seeing statesmen and true patriots who have
agreed in their views of the then existing question.
(Cheers.)
Mr. BAXTER, M.P. for the burghs, proposed "The Agri-
cultural Interest." (Great Cheering.)
"V:erions other toasts of local interest followed, and the
meet'ng separated before 10 o'clock.

The failure was announced yesterday of the mercan-
tile house of Mr. G. B. Rocca,. Tee liabilities are be-
lieved to amount to at lout 50,000/., and the event is
attributed to the suspension, advised yesterday, •f the
house of Decio Trasciatti, of Trieste, in connection with
which Mr. Rocca is said to be under commitments to the
extent of 30,000/.
[ADVERTIIEMENT.I —Holloway's Pills—Unprecedented
cure of Indiestion.—Extract of a letter from I, B. M.
43, st. Edward-street, Belfast, to Professor Hollows 7
Sir,—Gratitude impels me to address you and ti:.us
make known to the world the healing qualities of your
wonderful .medicine. I was afflicted for twelve years
with 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 returning.—Sold by all
medicine vendors throughout the world, at Professor
Holloway's Establishments, 244, Strand, London, and
80, Maiden-lane, New York; by A. Stampa, Constan-
inoPla ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna; and E. Muir, Malta.