The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-30 00:00:00

On Wednesday night her Majesty's Ministers were
ntertained at a banquet by the Lord Mayor of London.
'he company present numbered about 200, among whom
core the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Duke of
3uckingham and Chandos, Lord Stanley, Sir John
?akin ton, Sir Stafford Northcote, Lord John Manners,
tfr. Walpole, Mr. Mowbray, M.P., Mr. Adderley, M.P.,
he Lord Advocate, the Attorney-General,. &c. The
isual loyal toasts having been proposed and received
vith all the honours, the LORD MAYon proposed "The
irmy, Navy, and Volunteers."
Sir JOHN rAKINGTON, in returning- thanks for the army,
oriefly referred to the Abyssinian expedition, and con-
eluded : Her Majesty's Ministers, while considering it to
be one of our first and most important duties to maintain
our national (lefences and our military power, at the same
time to bear in mind the well-known fact that the army of
England, as has been so often repeated, is one of the
costliest armies of Europe, and while it is cur duty
to maintain its efficiency and its power, we are also
bound to endeavour to do so without extravagant
estimates, and with every possible legitimate economy, so
that we may accomplish that great national object which
is entrusted to us without imposing great burdens on the
people.

Admiral Sir A. MILNE returned thanks for the navy,
and Colonel LLOYD LINDSAY for the volunteers.
The Loan MAYOR then proposed the toast of the even-
mg —" The health of her Majesty's Ministers," coupling
with it the name of the First Lord of the Treasury.
Mr. DISRAELI rose amid prolonged cheers to acknow-
ledge the toast. After the usual compliments, he con-
tinued : We are on the eve of the close of a critical
session, and in appealing at the end of it to the people
trust we may say that we have done our duty, and that
the position of the country generally is one of which I
think no Minister of the Crown need be ashamed. Speak.
ing as I do in the chief place of the City of London,
cannot for a moment pretend that the commercial world
has recovered from that great collapse which more
than two years ago fell upon the credit and the enter,
prise of this great commercial community. We now knot
more accurately than we did then the cause of that
great collapse, and that it was not merely the abuse of
credit, as was then supposed, but the squandering and
exhausting of our resources. It was clear, therefore,
that time was necessary before we could recover from
that great visitation. I trust that we have made a
sure but silent progress during the year, I feel the
greatest confidence that we are approaching the end of tho

great depression of which we have been so long
conscious. I more than trust that the Cult

is rapidly arriving when we shall again eliter
into that sphere of progress and enterprise, which I trust
are the normal characteristics td British industry. In
other respects I do not think that this country has any
cause to complain. If we look to our foreign relations we
see no cause for anxiety. At the present moment we
have no controversy of any kind with any European
Power. And with regard to those subjects of misunder•
standing which have been so much exaggerated, and so
much dwelt upon, with our Transatlantic brethren, every
week, I may say everyday, brings us to a better understand•
ing upon all those questions, and I am sure that their

solution, which I believe is near at hand, in every respect
is only what could be expected from the mutual good
sense and good feeling of two great and kindred nations.
If we look to the state of Ireland, I think it is one that
ought to be a subject of sincere congratulation, The state
of Ireland is one of complete tranquillity, and no inconsider•
able period has elapsed since her Majesty's Government
have felt any necessity of availingthemselves of those pro-
visions in the Act for the suspension of the Ilabeaus Corpus
which we were in a moment of extraordinary difficulty, as
were also our predecessors, obliged to avail ourselves of.
The state of the country at this moment, instead of being
a cause of disquiet, is, as Ibave said, one of congratulation.
With regard to the course of public affairs in Parliament,
it has been the custom to remark that the session has been
wasted, and that nothing has been done, My lord, I
believe that notion has been caught too precipitately
from opinions somewhat hazardous, expressed in the heat
of the atmosphere of our senate. But we must remember
that the relations of parties in Parliament are very much
like some of the traditionary misunderstandings between
man and wife ; they treat each other often, with a
freedom of recrimination which probably has no great
foundation. I entirely deny that the session has been a
barren session. In the first place, we have carried a series
of measures that have completed that great work of the
amendment of the representation of the people. That
series of measures which were necessary to complete that
great enterprise, the carrying of which was always ques.
tioned, and for a time seemed doubtful, has been com•
pletely and successfully carried into effect. And if the Par•
Lament of this country had only completed that great world
I maintain that it would have been a session which would
have left its mark upon the history of this country. And
it is not merely that series of considerable measures which
completed the reform of our representative institutions for
which we aro indebted to the present session of Parlia•
ment. Many—and many considerable—measures have
also been passed, into which on this occasion it would be
weal isome to enter. I think I may congratulate you upon
the passing of that bill which transferred the management
of the telegraphs of the country to the Post Office gene.
rally, and which, I believe, will greatly advance the inte-
rests of this country, and I have no doubt will exercise
a most beneficial influence on the progress of England.
The right hon. gentleman confessed, however, that many
measures had not been passed which he would have liked
to have become the law of the land. There were Poor-law
and bankruptcy reforms, educational measures, legal
reforms, &c. But the non-passing of these measures was
not the fault of her Majesty's Ministers. Referring then
to the general election the right hon. gentleman said/
It is impossible not to be sensible of the great occasion
which is now at hand. I think he would be a bold mar
who for a moment would attempt to speak of that occasion
in other terms than those which would do justice to its im'
portance. We have been told that the confidence we re.
posed in this respect in the body of the people would be
misplaced, and that the moment they possessed the power
of the franchise we would find them give way to the
wildest ideas, and exercise that power in a way most dan-
gerous to the interests of the country. I confess I see no
evidence before me which would lead rue to apprehend
it. On the contrary, I think the great body of
the people are prepared to exercise the great
power we have conferred upon them in a spirit of
prudence and patriotism. When I remember what the
constitution cf England is—that the constitution of Eng-
land proposes to itself two great objects—namely, to
maintain at the same time political liberty and religious
freedom--I have no doubt that the English people will
thoroughly understand the issue at stake, and will behave
in that manner which would become the descendants of a
great people, and will prove that they are worthy of the
privileges which the present generation has generously
and wisely bestowed upon them. Over refinement
and over education lead very often to perversity of
opinion and the affectation of philosophy, and do
not deal with those vigorous .and robust principles which
the nation is now being called upon to decide with the
success and completeness which attend an appeal to s
larger and more national constituency. I have, there
fore, no fear that there is anything in the present state
of affairs to give us any apprehension, and for my own
part, I trust with confidence the English Constitu•
tion to the English people. You have yourself, my
Lord Mayor, within these few days, enter.
tained in this room that hero to whom at this
moment the gratitude of the nation acknowledges its debt,
We have concluded, I may say, one of the most singular
military enterprises of this age. That I hope will not be
forgotten when our countrymen take a charitable and I
hope a just view of our conduct under a great difficulty,
And I am certain, my lord, that in an appeal to the
people no English Ministers will err when they trust at the
same time to the justice of their fellow-countrymen and tc
the goodness of the cause which they represent.
The speech was continually interrupted with cheers,
and at the conclusion the cheers were again and again
repeated.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER responded to "'rho
House of Commons." He also referred to the coming
elections. We look to the future House of Commons (he
said) to strike its roots down deeper into the country, to
represent more folly than the present House of Commons
does the feelings and aspirations of our fellow-subjects,
and promote the welfare of the country. I don't wish, on
this occasion, to go into controverted matters, but I

believe that on this great question the heart of the
country is sound, and that they will return a House of

Commons determined to maintain the institutions of the
country, and maintain that civil and religious liberty on
the security of which those institutions so much depend.

BURNING MOUNTAINS IN MONNOUTIISIIIRE.—Por
tne past fortnight the Mynydd Maen Mountain lying
between Cwmbran and Crumlin, Monmouthshire, has been.
on fire, and up to Tuesday columns of smoke were observ.
able several miles distant. Efforts have been made to stay
the ravages of the fire by digging trenches around, but they
have proved of little avail. More than a mile in length
of the surface is already burnt, and the showers of last
week, instead of checking the fire, tended rather to increase
the combustion. The Blymney and Twin Barlwm
Mountains have also caught fire in several places. As this
drought continues further devastation is apprehended,
and nothing but a heavy fall 91 rain can check *REQ.!
aggsLasisiLni