The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-18 00:00:00

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)e‘e efforts of commerce which, while they add to the
welfare of this country, will tend to unite in the
bonds of amity all other nations, and bind in one feel-
ing the general influence of mankind. My Lords and
gentlemen, you have done us the honour of drinking
-ear healths as persons intrusted with the important
office of advising the Sovereign, and directing the go-
vernment of the country. During the time we have
had the honour of holding cffice there have been times
of difficulty, times of famine, times of distress.
'Ye hare had a scarcity of some kind of food, amount-
ing in one part of the empire to actual famine We
have had to contend with great distress in this me-
tropolis, as in other large towns ; we hare hid to
contend with times of rebellion, and with attempts
at the separation of the united kingdom. It would
hot be proper for me in this place if I were to ven-
ture into political topics, or in any way to talk of the
political distinctions which exist in this country ; but
this I will venture to say, that we have not been
despondent in those times; that we have not quailed
before the efforts of our enemies in any extremity,
and that in times of commercial distress we gave et
least our best attention and our best labour to restore
commercial prosperty. I can answer for the spirit
which hes animated us in those difficulties, and I
trust it was not unworthy of Englishmen. I trust it
was not unworthy of their great country, whose
affairs we have the honour to direct.—(Cheers.) Let
me assure you that we Shull endeavour to conduct
those affairs for the future in the same spirit—that
we shall consider the institutions of the country are
never so safe, are never so honoured, as when
they receive all the amendments of which, from
time to time, they are capable—that they will
never throw aside anything that is useful merely
because it is ancient—that they will never reject
anything that is strange merely because it is new.
(Cheers.) It is by combining that reverence for
antiquity, by promoting that respect fir the principles
on which our ancestors have founded our institution'',
and at the same time adapting them to the present
age—it 'is by this combination of respect for antiquity
and regard for all modern improvements, that the
freedom and happiness of this kingdom can be secured.
—(Cheers.) I am happy to observe that there is
again near me the Ambassador from France, whOm,
on a former occasion, I heard so well say, that his
presence among us was a
.token of intimate political
union between the two countries. May it long con-
tinue ! I believe that the union and intimate
alliance of two such countries—countries which have
anciently proved their prowess in arms so well that
they need not be daunted by any foe who may wish
to oppose them, and who, in later days, have, in
literature and civilization, proved that they could do
all which could promote the one or the other—ths
union, I say, of two such countries can do nothing
but promote the peace of the world and the welfare of
mankind.—(Loud cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR said, that on an occasion when
they were at peace with all the world, it was with the
greatest satisfaction he rose to propose " the Health
of the Foreign Ministers," and to couple with them
" the health of the French Ambassador. '
The FRENCh AMBASSADOR—My Lord Mayor, my
Lady Mayoress, I beg leave to thank you, in the
name of my colleagues and of myself, for the honotir
you have done us in drinking our health. I begin to
be somewhat familiar with City legends. 'remember
having read in one of your quaint chronicles some
strange accounts of the military duties which were
formerly imposed on the members of your corpora-
tion. At one time it is " that such of you as are
well skilled shall be got ready, and that good, apt,
and able persons of quality be armed with oorslets,
pikes, and bills, and dressed in yellow cloth, to fight
with Flanders." At another time it is that you are
to send forth ships to annoy the King of Spain.
Again, you are summoned to send forth, pinnaces for
the suppressing of the Dunkirkers. When on such
occasions the brave citizens of London were assem-
bled, with what a burst of patriotic warmth they
must have responded to the royal summons I If Gog
and Magog could now but re-echo the words they
have heard uttered against offending foreigners, what
dreadful things we should hear at this moment I Now,
thank God, you appear in this splendid hall, not to
provide means to suppress or annoy your neighbours,
but to greet them with a gracious and hearty wel-
ceme. At the Mansion house not a bitter drop is to
be found in the loving cup, and with the sincerest
gratitude we acknowledge the cordial reception you
have given us, and the honour you have bestowed
upon us in drinking our healths.—(Loud cheers.)
The Loan MAYOR then proposed " the health of
Earl Grey and the House of Lords."
Earl Geer, in thanking them for the honour they
had done him and the members of the House to which
he beonged, said that he could not reflect upon such
a tribute of respect without remembering the long
series of years during which the city of London and
the House of Lords had occupied a conspicuous place
in the institutions of the country. Both were ancient
corporations. The House of Lords dated its origin
from the earliest days of our history : and, while cen-
turies had rolled away, and amid all the changes that
those centuries brought forth, the present llonse of
Lords and the present corporation of London had
preserved unbroken, end from generation to ge-
neration, that chain of succession which united
the present to their past existence. He felt
there was use in allo wing their minds to
dwell on such recollections of the past, but
while they were bound to acknowledge with grati-
tude that it was to the favour of a gracious and over-
ruling Providence they owed the blessings enjoyed
by this kingdom longer than by any other nation—
the blessings of universal peace and of well-directed
liberty,—whilst they humbly acknowledged, among
secondary casises, as a result from those causes, the
influence of their institutions, they might be permitted
to recognise the disposition which had been so long
felt among Englishmen, to look back upon the past
with reverence. It was that disposition which led
them, when their institutions wanted improvement,
not to lay them wholly aside ; and he believed it was
to that disposition they owed the stability of govern-
ment which had furnished them with so many
elements of success.—(Cheers.)
Lord PALMERSTON rose to return thanks for the
House of Commons—l am sure lam deeply sensible
of the great honour that you have done me in'
coupling my name with the compliment you have
paid to one of the noblest assemblies of Englishmen—
the Commons House of Parliament. It is indeed
natural that when we are assembled in this ball you
should not forget, among your ancient institutions,
and in the kind recollection of your various public'
bodies, the House of Commons, for between that
House and the city of London there are those natural
links of connexion which unite the principles of com-
merce with the principles of political liberty ; for
while the city of London is the great representative
of commercial principle;, so the House of Commons is
the peculiar guardian of the constitutional liberties of
the country. Liberty and commerce go hand-in-
hand, and whichever happens to take the lead is sure
to be followed by its companion. 'While commerce
paves the way for constitutional liberty, liberty gives
to commerce its proper security and stability ; com-
merce turns the mind of man to consider how the
natural freedom of action and the intelligence of in-
tellect could be made most valuable to mankind ; and
constitutional freedom gives to the commercial man
that liberty of action without which commercial prin-
ciples can never be fully developed. It is on thin
account that we have seen that wherever political
liberty i 3 fully developed, no matter how confined the
territory, how uncongenial the soil or unpromising
the climate, we see commerce taking root, springing
into youth or attaining to its full development, and
that we have some small states, and even individual
cities, rise to absolute wealth and political dominance,
which never have been attained to by greater and
more mighty empires. 'Whatever be the natural ad-
vantages which may have been bestowed upon this
happy country—whatever the courage and skill of
your seamen—whatever the intelligence and enter-
prise of your merchants,—whatever may be the safety
or facilities of your ports,—and whatever the benefits
of your insular position, you never could have enjoyed
this proud pre-eminence in commercial prosperity in
which you stand unrivalled, if you had not enjoyed
the happy institutions which have been handed down
to us by our ancestors. But commerce has higher
aims and higher views than the mere ahccu I t
of wealth. It contributes to theentaPpai.nioenns of
of
all mankind, by enabling the diffetrhe
productions
the earth to satisfy their wants by.
Commerce
of the most distant portions of the lobe.
tisdsg:hich exist among
tends to allay thus© animositiiies_
While making
the different portions ofbcmttearki
acquainted with each
them dependent on and t
venture, without
the peace of the
other, commerce tends
without any exaggera-
tion,world, and I may .
nsiltik/:f amity, whether it be of
to say, that this link
or even a link of the
gold or of silver, or
is a stronger bond of
• to animate us in the peaceful relations of
more fragile substance —cotton, '
111119 D,
than the etronee ebligntions
cheers)—end therefore I mai nay the it Ma-
d those great principles, while pursuing their
—(Loud
et of treaties
,t,':,,i.7)errionourable function', and acquiring wealth for
themselves and their country, have deserved, and still
dc, eve, to be regarded amongst the greatest bene-
lectors of mankind. I heg to return you my best
thenks, and to assure you that the Members of the
melee of Commons are always sensible, with feelings
of peculiar obligation, of the honour you do them
when you recollect them in the hall of this great city.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL returned thanks in a
short and appropriate speech, for the bar of England.
Sir G. GREY proposed " The health of the Lord
Mayor," and in doing so observed, that he had no
doubt the co-operation and assistance which he bad
received from the Chief Magistrate cf the city of
London on all occasions of difficulty or danger would
no doubt be afforded by the gentleman who so nobly
entertained them that evening, should any occasion
unhappily arise. He was rejoiced to think, however,
that such was not likely to be the case.--(Cheers.)
The Loan Mime thanked the company fa the