The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-17 00:00:00

LORD NAPIER OF MAGDALA.

EDINBURGH, Wednesday.
To-day the freedom of the city of Edinburgh

was conferred on Lieutenant-General Lord Napier
of Magdala, in the Music-hall, in the presence of a

arge assemblage.

The Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town
Council wore their official robes. Lord and Lady
Napier were loudly cheered on entering the hall.
Lord Provost CHAMBERS, in presenting the free-
dom of the city to Lord Napier, said one of the old
usages of the Corporation consisted in conferring
the freedom of the city, as a token of respect and
goodwill, on persons distinguished in statesman-
ship, arts, science, literature, and arms, who might
come among them. He was quite sure that iu his

lordship's acceptance of this honour the Corpora-
tion would itself feel honoured. He knew nothing
which could have reflected greater honour on the
British arms than the marvellous success of the
Abyssinian expedition. As citizens of Edinburgh
they welcomed his lordship to Scotland, and trusted
he might be long spared to his family and to the
public service. He would ever consider it as one
of the most memorable circumstances of his official
life that he was the means of placing the certificate
of burgesship in the hands of Lieutenant-General
Lord Napier of Magdala. (Cheers.)
Lord NAPIER, who was loudly cheered, said he
received with pride and gratitude the privilege con-
ferred upon him in making him a burgess of this
ancient and celebrated city. Viewing the privilege
thus conferred as a mark that in the estimation of
the inhabitants of this great and enlightened city
he and his naval and military brethren in arms had
faithfully served their country in the late expedi-
tion, he felt that no higher honour than that could
be conferred upon him under the sanction of our
most gracious Sovereign the Queen. (Cheers.) He
was far from arrogating to himself the success of
the expedition. It succeeded, under many difficul-
ties, because each and all in their several places
strove to do their duty—(cheers)—and because
they acted under the guidance of a merciful Divine
Providence. (Cheers.) The privilege just con-
ferred upon him was one for which he felt specially
grateful. He had always felt that his name be-
longed to Scotland. (Cheers.) It had been borne
by many honourable and some great and distin-
guished men, and he had endeavoured, as far as in
him lay, to maintain its repute. (Cheers.) He
had often thought of the wonderful influence which
the inhabitants of this, he might say small and
rugged, though beautiful country, exercised upon
the welfare not of Great Britain alone, but on all
the countries where the flag of Great Britaia
waved. He was of opinion that this influence
possessed by Scotland was attributable, in the first
place, to a deep reverence of sacred subjects
which dwelt in the hearts of the people.
(Cheers.) No doubt it had been said that the
Scotch talked a great deal about religion, and that
some classes in Scotland liked whisky—(laughter)
—but nothing had ever convinced him that there
was not a deep-seated reverence for religion and a
deep-seated spirit of religion in the masses of the
people of Scotland, which had elevated their views
and conduced greatly to their rectitude of conduct
and purity of mind—(cheers)—and next to this
spirit he attributed Scotland's position to the great
and liberal facility of education which was within
the reach of every class. (Cheers.) Without enter-
ing into the vexed question of the merits of the
English and Scotch Universities, each of which he
thought had excellences suited to the several coun-
tries, he might express the admiration he felt for
that system which placed within the reach of every
man in the land, however humble, not only a good ,
education, but a broad, liberal education, embracing
natural, practical philosophy ; and this it was, he
thought, which had sent forth from Scotland so
large a number of highly-educated men in every
branch and every profession. (Cheers.) In conclu-
sion, he said they must all be convinced that one of
the greatest enemies, if not the greatest, in all com-
munities was ignorance, and as to the honour con-
ferred upon him to-day he felt doubly exalted in
receiving it from the hands of the man who was the
first in Great Britain to place cheap instruction and
instructive literature in the hands of the poorest in
the country. (Cheers.)

Cheers were then given for Lord and Lady

PICICE.. . 4d.
STAMPED sd.

Napier, after which the proceedings terminated
During the afternoon Lord Napier, accompanied
by the Lord Provost, visited the Parliament House
and other places of interest. Lard Napier and a
distinguished party were afterwards entertained at
luncheon by the L )rd Provost.

IHE BUT E FESTI VI TIES.

CARDIFF, Welnesd ty.
To-day is generally reg trdcd as the " great day"
of the rejoicings in holour of the c nning of age of
the Marquis of B Ito, who was publicly received
this morning on his arrival from Scotland, and in
a way which must have been mast gratifying to
the distinguished guest as it was creditable to the
tONVia.:
Iliki4ordship arrived last night at Bristol at
12.20 frOtu Scatland, per rail, en route to this port.
Having made a short stay at 13rislol the marquis
proceeded in a carriage and pair to Portishead,
which place he left this morning at 3.20, and ar-
rived in the Channel, off Card►ff, in his yacht Lady-
bird at 8.20. lie was met in the Channel by a
flotilla of 40 steamers, and a similar number of
steamers having the same number of pilot boats in
tow, the gale blowing fresh at the time. In this
order the yacht was escorted from the Ch tnnel to
the low-water pier, where a temporary landing-stage
had been erected for the purpose of the debarkation
and reception.
The marquis was received at the landing-pier by
Mr. Reece, Mayor of Cardiff, his worship being ac-
companied by the members of the corporation. Mr.
Boyle, the acting trustee for the Bute estate, was
also in immediate attenda,ice. A procession was
then formed, which was net near the Mount Stuart
Hotel by upwards of 4,000 members of the various
local benefit and friendly societies, dressed in the
insignia of their order, bearing flags and banners,
and accompanied bybrass bands, the whole of which
throughout the proceedings played exclusively
Scotch national airs.
The streets were densely crowded as the proces-
sion moved along on its way from the docks, through
Bute-road, Caroline-street, St.. Mary-street, and
High-street, the line of route being decorated with
flags, banners, and appropriate devices. His Lord-
ship was vigorously cheered by the people as the
carriage in which he sat moved slowly through the
dense mass, and he bowed his acknowledgments
continuously as cheer after cheer accompanied him
on his way.

On arriving at Cardiff Castle an address was
presented to his Lordship on behalf of the Mayor
and Corporation of the town. The address, which
was read by Mr. Salmon, the town clerk, and pre-
sented by the Mayor, was as follows :
" To THE MOST HON. THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, EARL
OF WINDSOR, BARON CARDIFF, OF CARDIFF
CASTLE, &C.
" We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of
the borough of Cardiff, desire, as well on our own
behalf as on that of the town we represent, to offer
to your lordship our most sincere and hearty con-
gratulations upon the arrival of that period in your
lordship's life when you have to undertake the re-
sponsibilities of your vast ittheritance,and participate
in the legislation of this great country. It is super-
fluous for us to acknowledge how largely this town is
indebted for its high commercial position, for its
many charitable and public institutions, and for all

that tends to the prosperity and happiness of the
people, to the forethought, euterpris, benevolence,
and sympathy of the lamented nobleman whose
name you bear. From the day which closed his
valued life those to whom the management of his
extensive and important properties was entrusted
have most ably carried out the great designs of his
distinguished mind, and while duly protecting the
estate confided to their care, hAve materially bene-
fited this town, in which his lordship tout: so much
interest. We repeat our wartn congratulations
upon your lordship's accession—to—your noble in-
heritance, and we pray that, under the blessing of
Divine Providence, you may long be spared to con-
tinue in its enjoyment, and that, following in the
steps of your honoured father, it may lOj so ad-
ministered as to promote your lordship's owa hap-
piness and conduce to the welfare of this important
town and district.

" Given under our common seal this 16th day of
September, 1868."

Lord BUTE briefly thanked the Corporation for
the good wishes expressed in the address, and said
it was more gratifying to him to receive such a
guarantee of the good feeling of the inhabitants as
that which he had received that morning, together
with the expressions embodied in the address just
presented, than it was for him to know that he had
come into the possession of his inheritance. He was
fully sensible of the many important duties which
had devolved upon him, and he would promise sin-
cerely to do his best to fulfil those duties with credit
to himself and to the satisfaction and advantage of
those by whom he was surrounded.

His lordship was enthusiastically cheered as he
passed into the castle, accompanied by Colonel
Stuart, M.P., and several ladies of the gallant
Colonel's family.

At 2 o'clock there was a grand banquet in the
large yard of the Messrs. Batchelor Brothers, ship-
builders, which had been placed at the disposal of
the committee by the owners. It was called " the
tradesmen's and working men's banquet," and up-
wards of 4,000 tradesmen and others sat down to
dine. The chair was taken by Mr. G. T. Clark,
High Sheriff of the county, and there were also pre-
sent the Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of Llandaff,
the Marquis of Bute, H. H. Vivian, M.P., Colonel
Stuart, M.P., H. A. Bruce, M.P., Colonel Camp-
bell, L. L. Dillwyn, M.P., Messrs. Boyle, Giffard,
and others of the principal gentry of the county.
The CHAIRMAN, after the usual loyal toasts had
been disposed of, proposed " The Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," which was severally responded to by
Colonel Campbell and Captain Johnson, dock-
mas ter.

The toasts of "The Bishop, Clergy, and Mini-
sters of all denominations," was responded to by the
Right Rev, the Lord Bishop of Llandaff ; the Rev.

John Davies, Independent minister ; and Father
Clarke, the Roman Catholic priest.
Mr. J. EVANS, a working man, proposed the
health of the Marquis of Bute. The toast was re-

ceived with loud and long-continued cheering.
The Marquis of BUTE, in responding, was en-
thusiastically received. He said that when he saw
the manifold responsibilities that had recently de-

volved upon him he felt almost crushed beneath
their weight; but he was determined not to be
crushed, and hoped, with the assistance of his friends
and neighbours, to make his position useful and
advantageous to all around him. He thanked them
all heartily and sincerely for the goodwill they had

shown him, and was determined, by the help of
Providence, to devote his life to the development of
those facilities which had been vouchsafed to him
for making people happier, better, purer, and more
prosperous than they were. (Applause.)
Several other toasts were proposed and responded
to, and the proceedings, which were of a most en-
thusiastic character, were brought to a close.
In the afternoon there was a grand review and
inspection of Volunteers, together with a distribu-
tion of prizes to Volunteers.

In the evening there was a " county dinner" to
Lord Bute in the Drill-ball, the High Sheriff in the
chair. The town was brilliantly illuminated, and
thousand of visitors thronged the streets during the

early part of the night. The town was also pro-
fusely decorated, and cannon were fired at intervals

during the day.

Special trains were run on all the

lines, and extraordinary facilities were afforded by
the Great Western Railway particularly.

THE TEMPLE CHURCH.—It is announced that this
church will be reopened for divine service on Sunday, the
4th of October.

SPIRIT OF THE POLIO JOURNALS.