The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-12 00:00:00

DINNER TO SIR H. POTTINGER.
Yesterday a public entertainment was given at Mer-
enent Tailors'-hall to Major-General Sir Henry Pot-
Unger, Bart., by the merchants of the City of London
trading to China and the East Indies, to testify their
high approval of the distinguished ability and zeal dis-
played by that gallant officer as British Plenipotentiary,
in negotiating so successfully the recent commercial
treaty Ti ith China.
The dinner was provided by Messrs. Bathe and Breach,
of the London Tavern, and was altogether of the most
sumptuous character. The display of gold and silver
plate oa the sideboards at the upper and lower end of
the hall, the golden plateau service on the cross-table,
the gigantic gilt candelabra, formerly belonging to Prince
Polignac, the Marquis of Hertford, and Messrs. Rundel
and Bridge, arranged on the other tables, gave an aspect
of the most costly magnificence to the spectacle, while
the feast itself presented a profusion of the greatest deli-
cacies which the most luxurious appetite could desiderate
or enjoy. Covers were laid for 330.
Mr. John A. Smith, M.P., officiated as chairman. Im-
mediately on his right sat Sir Henry Pottinger, Bart.,
the Marquis of Normanby, and' Lord Palmerston, and
on the left Lord Aberdeen and Sir James Graham.
Among the other distinguished gentlemen present we
observed the Earl of Arundel, the Earl of Clare, the
Earl of Lonsdalo, Lord C. Fitzroy, Lord Dudley Stuart,
the Hon. G. Scott, General Farquharson, General Sand-
with, Sir W. Baynes, Bart., Sir T. Bouchier, Sir J.
Campbell, Sir John Hall, Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Bart., Sir
George Larpent, Sir D. Le Merchant, Sir William
Magnay, Sir W. Parker, Sir J. H. Pelley, Sir John
Pixie, Sir J. Schoedde, Baron L. de Rothschild, Baron
A. de Rothschild, Count Strelezki, Chairman and De-
puty-Chairman of the Bank of England, Chairman and
' Deputy-Chairman of the Hon. East India Company,
Colonel Malcolm, Colonel Sykes, Captain Hall, R.N.,
Dr. Bowring, Rev. J. M. Bellamy, Mr. Sheriff Sidney,
Captain Eastwick, Mr. J. A. Arbuthnot, Mr. D. Bar-
clay, Mr. F. Baring, Mr. Joshua Bates, Mr. J. G.
Frith, Mr. J. 11. Gledstanee, Mr. G. C. Glyn, Mr. Goul-
burn, Mr. Samuel Gregson, Mr. A. Hastie, M.P., Mr. F.
Huth, Mr. A. Jardine, Mr. C. Kerr, Mr. W. Lyall, M.P.,
Mr. 3. M'Gregor, Mr. J. Mackillop, Mr. J. Masterman,
M.P., Mr. R. D. Mangles, M.P., Mr. J. Mattheson, M.P.
Mr. J. St. John Mildmay, M.P.. Mr. J. Horsley Palmer,
Mr. J. Pattison, M.P., Mr. D. Salomons, Mr. M. Tucker
Smith, Mr. Emerson Tennent, M.P., Mr. T. Tooke, Mr.
Trevelyan, Mr. Money Wigram, Mr. Baring Young.
After grace, and the cloth having been removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the first toast, " The
health of her Majesty the Queen—the model of constitu-
tional sovereigns—the pattern of all domestic virtues—
, the admiration of all other countries—the pride and
glory of' our own."—(Three times three.)
The next toast was " The health of the Queen Dowa-
ger, his Royal Highness Prince Albert, Albert Prince
of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family."—(Three
times three, followed by Prince Albert's March.)
" The Army and the Navy" were next toasted with all
the honours.
Colonel MALeout acknowledged the toast in the name
of the army.
Admiral Sir T. BOUCHIER returned thanks on the part
of the navy.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, the toast I have
now to give you is the great duty and business of the
evening---" the health of our distinguished guest, Sir
Henry Pottinger."—(Cheers.) I will not detain you
long in proposing it, and I promise you that I shall not
trifle with your feeling of anxiety to do honour to that
distinguished name. Still custom compels me to say a
few words in explanation of the causes which have
brought us together this day. I am proud of the privi-
lege of mingling my congratulations with your re-
jeieings in the events which we this day celebrate.
The events we have met to record will hereafter
form an era in the history of the nation, and equal
in its consequences the passage of the Cape and
the discovery of America ; and our descendants
will proudly boast that the advantages thus opened
to the world have been the result of British enterprise,
and been secured by British power. We are met to ac-
knowledge how deep a debt of gratitude we owe to that
distinguished man by whom those benefits have been
conferred. If it be true that the main springs of British
energy and power are commercial enterprise and ac-
tivity—if it be true that our population is increasing
with marvellous and unprecedented rapidity, and that
the power of our manufacturing production is increasing
faster still—if it be true that in the solution of that diffi-
cult problem to which these facts refer is involved the
future destiny of England, what do we not owe to him
who has opened up commercial intercourse with the
most populous and nationally commercial empire in the
world ? What do we not owe to him who has opened
a market for the skill, enterprise, and activity of our
manufacturing population, and given us a command in
that market which it may not be an exaggeration here-
after to describe as being boundless as our powers of
production themselves P • Who shall pretend to fore-
tell what effect this new outlet for the various and
ever varying productions of England will have on the
future greatness and power of this mighty empire ?
We were once- described as " tote orbe divises Bri-
tannos." That is a description familiar to us as house-
hold words. We were separated, at least is the ima-
gination of the Roman poet, from the rest of the world
by tempest, by storms, and what then was considered
an impassable barrier. But we all know how those dif-
ficulties and obstacles have yielded to the energy, the
gallantry, and the enterprise of that people to whom it
has been granted by Providence to be the means not
only of carrying civiliiation through the old world, but
we may now hope will be the means of introducing
knowledge and improvement to the teeming myriads of '
China. The prophecy of the English poet is now be-
coming emphatic and exacts when the progeny which
springs from the forests of our land—
" Armed with thUnder clad with wings,
" Shall a wider world command,
" Regions Caesar never knew
" Our posterity shall sway ;
" Whore his eagles never flew,
" None victorious as they."
—(Cheers.) We have asserted the dominion of England
in regions unknown, .even to the fable and romance of
ancient story—we may now, I trust, hope that the day
has arrived when there is not a corner of the habitable
world which shall not feel English enterprise, and shall
not acknowledge English power.--(Cheers.) We have
known so little hitherto of that remarkable people
to which the events of this day peculiarly refer, that
I believe we are as yet unable to acknowledge
as we ought, all that we owe to the firmness, the patience,
the temper, and the forbearance of our distinguished
guest.—(Cheers.) We do not know all the difficulties
which beset his path ; but we can understand and ap-
preciate the condnct of him who, himself a soldier, knew
that the only just end of war was honourable peace,
and who, in the consciousness of irresistible power,
found, in the weakness and terror of his opponents, the
most irresistible arguments for mercy, moderation, and
forbearance.—(Cheers.) There is one other circum-
stance to which I wish to call your attention, and to
which I allude with peculiar pleasure. I believe that
the interests of England forbid all exclusive selfishness.
Her interests do not stand isolated and alone. I re-
joice, therefore, that Sir Henry Pottinger, following the
dictates of his own vigorous understanding and his own
generous nature, extended to all other nations of the
world whatever advantages the Chinese treaty con-
ferred upon his OWh country.—(Cheers.) I rejoice
that if it was ever thought that England fought China
for selfish and exclusive advantages, our illustrious
guest dispelled that illusion and vindicated the motives
of England to the world.—(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen,
I now give you as a toast--" The health of Sir
Henry Pottinger,"—of him who has opened the widest
field to English commerce which has been given to us
since the passage of the Cape—of him who has conferred
on his country an inestimable boon, and raised her still
higher in character and fame—of him whose name shall
hereafter not only be associated with the increased
power and prosperity of England, but to whom the still
higher glory shall be conceded of having introduced
knowledge, civilisation, and religion to so large a por-
tion of the whole human kind. In the name of those
who have placed me here I thank him for the services
he has rendered not only to the people of this country,
but to the cause of progress and improvement through-
out the world. Long may he live to enjoy what I be-
lieve will be his richest reward—the grateful approba-
tion of his countrymen.
The toast was drunk with three times three and one
cheer more.
Sir H. Porrieteeß, Bart., on rising was received with
renewed cheering, and spoke as follows :—After the
eloquent and feeling manner in which my kind friend,
the Chairman, has spoken of me, I am quite at a loss
to tell you how deeply I feel the compliment you
have just paid me in drinking your health. Having
been long in the East I may perhaps make use of an
Oriental expression, " There never was a rose without a
thorn ;" the rose -I allude to is your kindness—your
approbation—the honour you have done me ' • the thorn,
which pricks not my side but my heart, is that I cannot
express adequately the feelings of gratitude I entertain.
I must ask you, therefore, to remember how and where
my life has been passed. I have been about 40 years
absent from my native country. I hope I have always
taken part in the social meetings and national celebra-
tions that have taken place wherever I have been : but
still these have been so different from all I see here, that
I may say I am almost bewildered by this display of
your kindness. If therefore I fail in giving due expres-
sion to my sentiments, I hope you will make every allow-
(thee for me while I refer to one or two points. And
first, I must refer to the extraordinary combination of
good qualities for which the expedition to China, both
in the naval and military departments, was distinguished.
It is not for me, after the thanks of both Houses of
Parliament have been awarded to the commanders of
the nary and army, to express any opinion on their
merits ; but I may say, that in every respect that ex-
pedition far exceeded my most sanguine expectations,
even with the full belief I had that all that was possible
would be done. I say, that the expedition up to
Nankin was the most extraordinary event in the history
of any country in the world.—(Cheers.) It surmounted
physical difficulties which the Chinese themselves be-
lieved utterly impossible. When the Bogus forts had
been silenced at the mouth of the river, by the gallantry
of our troops, the Governor of Nankin, I know for a fact,
wrote to the Emperor, saying he might feel quite ens),
for the expedition could never reach him.—(Loud cheers.)
Having paid my humble duty to the service with which
I was associated in China, I wish merely to say that,
with respect to matters of trade, I believe the treaty
includes every thing desirable for England and for China.
—(Cheers.) I am now speaking impartially.— (Cheers.)
Having reflected seriously on it since I returned to Eng-
land I really see no point in which any amendment of
importance can be made. There are some points no
doubt susceptible of amendment, but on all the leading
important points it requires no alteration. It is one
great advantage, that it is likely to benefit England
and China in the same degree.—(Cheers.) The interests
of both countries are, in fact, similarly affected.—
(Cheers.) A very erroneous impression went abroad,

through,7l believe, some papers on the Continent, that
there had been some mistake committed in the treaty.
That is quite incorrect. It arose from the necessity
of my making public an abstract of the treaty, while
the Chinese published the whole, and a translation
was made with many important omissions. Having
been asked seriously whether there was any ground
for the allegation that mistakes had been committed,
I am happy to say that there was no cause what-
ever for the alarm. The establishment at Hong-
Kong having been alluded to, I feel it right, on this
most public occasion, to say that I look stpon Hong-Kong
still as the best position for British enterprise. Unfor-
tunately it has been unhealthy ; but there is nothing in
its appearance or situation tbat should render it so, and
those who would substitute Chusan for it are, in my
humble opinion, in error. Chusan is an island contain-
ing 60,000 inhabitants, and is situated in the midst of an
archipelago, containing at least 1,000,000 inhabitants,
which it would at all times be difficult to prevent coming
into jealous and angry discussions with this country,
whilst our own colony is sufficient for all commercial
purposes.—(Cheers.) Before sitting down, I will once
more repeat my grateful thanks for the honour you have
done me, and trust you will make every allowance for
the imperfect manner in which I have spoken. I have
a great dislike to anything that is egotistical, but on
this occasion I was obliged to speak of myself more than
I wished to have done.—(Cheers.) Once more, from
the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your kindness.
When in this great assembly I think it has met here to
do honour to me, an humble individual—when I think
that I am the observed of a observers, I can only ap-
peal to your own hearts, and trust you will believe how
warmly I thank you.—(Cheers.)
The Cinanxwv next called upon the company to ac-
knowledge the services and the merits of the naval and
military forces, which were the means, the instruments
of the great results produced in China. It was not now
for the first time that we had to commend the navy for
skill, bravery, and devotion to the interests of the coun-
try. It was their proud boast that those qualities were
inseparably connected with the name of an English sailor.
Sir Henry Pottinger had alluded to one of the most me
morable instances in which all those great qualities had
been remarkably displayed. It was a brave heart and
a clear head that imagined even the possibility of taking
a whole English fleet 250 miles up a river unsurveyed ,
and previously unknown. He could imagine the swell
of triumph with which Sir William Parker, after all the
difficulties of that passage, saw the fleet safely anchored
under the walls of Nankin.—(Cheers.) Great as was
the responsibility incurred—great as were the effects of
success, such should be his glory, such should be their
gratitude. He gave " The health of Sir William Parker
and the Naval Service in China."—(Three times three.)
Admiral Sir W. Pennell begged to return his most ,
sincere thanks for the honour which had been done to
, him and the profession to which he had the honour to
belong. He should never forget the flattering manner in
which that great company had noticed their services in
China. It was his good fortune to be associated with
distinguished colleagues, with a firm and able pleni-
potentiary, with an active and enterprising generaL—
(Cheers.) Their instructions were clear and explicit,
and they were supported by the most gallant combined
forces. The officers and men of all ranks, and in every
branch of the expedition, whether civil, military, or
naval, exerted themselves with a spirit of emulation that
did them the highest honour. If merit therefore was
due, it was to be shared alike by all, for all did their
best.—(Cheers.) Happily, the utmost cordiality sub-
sisted between the sister services, and he could confi-
dently say, that with unity of hearts and hands British
troops and British seamen would never disappoint the
expectations of their Sovereign and fellow-citizens.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The health of Major-
General Shad and the military engaged in the opera-
tions in China," and paid a high compliment to the
gallantry and discipline by which less than 9,000 men of
all arms received the terrified and unconditional submis-
sion of a fortified city containing more than a million of
inhabitants.—(Three times three.)
Major-General SHAD briefly returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN the rose and said—l have now to
propose to you the health of those without whose active,
cordial, and constant support the efforts of those whose
merits we have applauded would have been all in vain—
" The health of the Earl of Aberdeen and the rest of her
Majesty's Ministers."—(Loud and protracted cheers.)
The reception which you have given to those words
prove that you acknowledge with me how much we owe
to him, who, finding the Chinese expedition begun by
one who was his opponent in politics, still because he
thought it right, because he thought it conducive to the
interests of England, gave that policy his constant and
his effective support.—(Cheers.) Let his reward be,
that the Administration of which he forms so valuable a
part, shall share iu the glory which the Chinese ex-
pedition has conferred, not only upon us, but upon those
who are to come after us.—(Cheers.) I give you
" The health of the Earl of Aberdeen and her Majesty's
Ministers."—(Three times three.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN, in rising to respond to the
toast, was loudly cheered, and spoke as follows :
Gentlemen, I beg to offer you the thanks of my col-
leagues and myself for the honour yon have been pleased
to confer on us—an honour, gentlemen, coming as it
does from such an assembly as this, I request you will
believe is duly appreciated by us. But in making these
sisknowledgments, I hope that I may be permitted to ex-
press the high satisfaction I feel in the privilege of being
present at this most remarkable meeting.—(Cheers.) It
would be strange indeed if I did not avail myself with
alacrity of any opportunity publicly to declare the
opinions I entertain of the abilities, the character, and
the conduct of the distinguished person whom you have
this day met to honour.—(Cheers.) For, gentlemen, it
has been my duty frequently to express those sentiments
to himself, as it has also been my morepleasing and more
important duty repeatedly to convey to him the gracious
approbation of bis Sovereign.—(Loud cheers.) Permit
me to congratulate you that this great meeting pos-
sesses nothing about it of a political nature.—(Cheers.)
Men of all parties and opinions unite to do honour to
one who has deserved well of our common country.—
(Cheers.) But, gentlemen, I may venture on this
occasion—for I rejoice to meet here those with whom,
although differing on many points, I most cordially and
entirely concur in this-1 may venture on this occasion
to congratulate a Noble Friend of mine, who pre-
ceded me in the office which I now have the honour
to hold, as being the means of obtaining for this country
the eminent services of Sir Henry Pottinger as Plenipo-
tentiary
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from England which came into my hands, still he must
have watched thewholecourse of his public conduct with
the most lively interest.—(Cheers.) I have for three
years been in constant correspondence with Sir Henry
Pottinger, and it is no more than truth to declare that
I think no mail ever arrived from China without bring-
ing to me fresh reasons to be deeply sensible of his
merits and his just claims to the gratitude of his country.
—(Loud cheers.) You may readily imagine that in a
country like China, so distant, so different in almost
every respect from those of which we have any know-
ledge, with every desire on the part of the Government
at home to assume responsibility, to give every kind of
assistance, to provide by instructions for all contingen-
cies, yet very much, under these circumstances, must
always depend upon the judgment and discretion of the
person who, on the spot, is to administer the instruc-
tions he may receive.—(Loud cheers.) I believe that
there never was a man in whom a Government and the
country might more safely repose confidence in such a
situation than Sir Henry Pottinger.—(Great cheering.)
And permit me to say that when difficulties
arose, as difficulties numerous and weighty did
arise, unforeseen and unexpected, by his ability, by his
firmness, his perseverance, and energy, he was enabled
to meet and overcome them all.—(Cheers.) Gentltmen,
it would ill become me to expatiate on the various ad-
vantages which may be expected to arise from the suc,-i,
cessful labours of Sir Henry Pottinger. They are here
fully comprehended and justly appreciated. I will only
repeat the great gratification I feel in the opportunity
of paying my humble tribute to his transcondant abili-
ties.—(Loud cheers.)

The CHAIRMAN—The Noble Earl who has just sat
down has in some degree forestalled Ale. The next toast
in rank as in justice is the health of the Noble Viscount
with whom the expedition to China originated—(Loud
cheers)—who drew the first instructions, and who. I am
sure, whether in office or ouf of office, watched with
equal interest the progress that was made, and felt equal
pleasure in the successful results which attended the
policy he had begun.—(Cheers.) If I may be permitted
so to do, I am proud to bear my personal testimony to
the unwearied pains which the Noble Lord took in the
midst of the labours of a session of Parliament, distracted
with ten thousand other demands on his time, to make
himself master even of the minutest details upon that then
new and complicated subject. I can myself recollect the
deliberation and the caution which he showed before his
opinion was formed. I can well recollect the fortitude of
his decision, and the promptitude of action when that de-
cision was taken.—(Cheers.) I am sure you will all agree
with me, that it would not be right to let such an occa-
sion as the present pass without acknowledging the obli-
gations we owe to him with whom the whole originated.
I know you will agree with me that we must drink, with
the honours he deserves, " The health of Viscount Pal-
merston."—(Three times three cheers.)
Lord PALMERSTON—I beg you to accept my most
cordial thanks—first, for the very kind and flattering
manner in which you have been pleased to receive the
toast which has jest been proposed to you ; and still
more do I thank you for having permitted me to be
present upon this most interesting occasion. Nothing
can be more interesting than such a meeting of the chief
men of a great metropolis like this, the greatest metro-
polis in the world, assembled to render just homage to
the merits of a distinguished fellow-citizen, who abroad,
in the performance of his duty, has conferred essential
benefits upon his country, and upon every branch con-
nected with its interests. Such is the, occasion on
which we are assembled, and you may be•sare that ex-
pressions of public gratitude of this kind titre not only
amongst the best rewards which distinguished men can
receive when they return home from theiraluties, but are
amongst the most powerful incentives to the perform-
ance of those duties in the hour of difficulty —(Cheers.)
It is also a source of gratification to feel ,the truth of
that which has been stated by my Noble Friend the Earl
of Aberdeen, that there is nothing of a political character
in the occasion of this meeting. We are here assembled,
men of all shades of politics—members of that Cabinet
which began the expedition, and members of the suc-
ceeding Cabinet, who, differing from us upon many most
essential points, yet, as has been stated, felt it their duty
when clothed with the responsibility of office to continue
a service which was then in progress,—we are met here,
not only mon belonging to all parties, but the active
members of opposite parties, holding on other subjects
conflicting opinions, but assembled now with one com-
mon feeling of gratitude to a distinguished man, to ex-
press to hint our warm acknowledgment for the great
and important services he has performed for his country.
—(Cheers.) My Noble Friend has congratulated me

. and my late colleagues upon having been so fortunate as
to choose so able a public servant. It was, indeed, a
, piece of good fortune for us as well as for the country.—
(Cheers.) But Tarn bound to say, that that choice arose
from no private partialities. Sir Henry Pottinger was
I pointed out to us solely and alone by the distinguished
services which in a former part of his career he had
rendered to his country.—(Cheers.) Though it was my
duty, from the office I held, to propose the individual
who was to go out as plenipotentiary, I had not at that
time the pleasure and advantage even of personal ac-
quaintance with Sir Henry Pottinger.—(Cheers.) He
was selected solely from the high character which he
then bore, and which subsequent events have not only
amply sustained, but raised still higher, in the estima-
tion of his Sovereign and the country at large. It is
also a source of satisfaction that we have among us
the leaders of the navy and of the army employed upon
that expedition. You have already had your attention
turned to the great ability displayed both by my friend
Sir William Parker, and the military commanders, and I
think we may say that there never was an important ex-
pedition the success of which was more brought about by
the enterprise, the skill, the resources, the perseverance
of the navy, by the gallantry of the army, and by the
ability, penetration, firmness, and forbearance of the
plenipotentiary, than upon the present occasion.—
(Cheers.) Tho great success which was accomplished
could not have been attained if all these three depart-
ments of the public service had not displayed the greatest
energy and ability, and co-operated most cordially to-
gether. After complimenting the Sepoys in the Indian
army for the share they took in the expedition, the Noble
Lord continued—We have been congratulated on the
advantages which will accrue from the conditions of the
treaty, and I must say that it is honourable to England
that we showed as much moderation after victory as
we did ability and gallantry during the contest ; and
that we did not impose heavier terms on the con-
quered enemy than:we had proposed to that Power
before the contest commenced. When, after a suc-
cessful war, hard terms are imposed on a vanquished
enemy, terms inconsistent with the interests and
independence of the country with whom we hare
been contending—l maintain that; those terms, how-
ever
they may flatter the vanity and pride of the con-
quering
nation, cannot, in the long run, be advantageous
even to the party proposing them.—(Cheers.) But here
we have the satisfaction of knowing that while we have
secured to ourselves advantages of commerce, the extent
of which it is difficult for any man to suffer himself to
anticipate, we cannot derive those advantages from the
treaty without conferring equal benefits on the Chinese
themselves. We are, therefore, not only benefiting our-
selves, but the means of introducing civilization and
commerce to the multitudes who inhabit those vast and
distant regions.—(Cheers.) I shall only again express
the satisfaction which I derive from being allowed to be
present on an occasion like this, and how proud I feel
in being one of this great assembly met hero to acknow-
ledge the distinguished services of Sir Henry Pottinger.
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The health of the Chair-
man and Deputy-Chairman of the Hon. East India
Company," which
Mr. SIEPPAIID briefly responded to.
The Marquis of NORMANBY proposed " The health of
the Chairman," which was most loudly cheered, and ac-
knowledged in an appropriate speech by the Chairman.
Sir 11. POTTLNGER proposed, in a single sentence, the
next toast—" Prosperity to the City of London and the
Trade thereof," which was loudly cheered.
" The Last India and China Association, and success
to Trade with the East," " The Liverpool and Glasgow
East India and China Association," " The health of the
Masters of the Merchant Tailors' Company," and several
other toasts, were given.

Mr. Toole officiated as toast-master, and performed
his duties, as he always does, in the most efficient
manner.

The meeting did not break up till after midnight.

On Sir H. Potttinger entering the reception-room, and
before the dinner took place,
Sir G. LARPENT, advancing towards the Gallant
Officer, said,—Sir, on behalf of the merchants of London
trading to the East Indies and China, I have the honour
to present you with an address signed by seventy-three
firms of this city, comprising pretty nearly the whole of
the commercial houses of any eminence in town. lam
desired to present this to you as a testimony of the dis-
tinguished sense they entertain of the ability and zeal
which you have shown during the negotiations in China,
during the time you represented there the British Go-
vernment. The gt ntletnen who have intrusted it to me
feel sure that this tribute is, in every respect, deserved
by you, from the admirable manner in which you dis-
charged the important functions entrusted to yon on that
occasion. We feel, that to you, Sir Henry, we aro in•
debted for being placed in the favourable position wo oc-
cupy in the empire of China, almost unexpected and be-
yond anything we could have expected. While we gladly
recognise the prowess of British arms, as displayed in
the contest with the Chinese, and the wisdom of the
council that directed your negotiations, we feel that it
is to you individually that a very large portion of the
benefit we have derived is to be attributed. We feel
that, by your conduct, by your activity, by the promp-
titude and energy you displayed, you obtained the confi-
dence of the whole of the European residents in China,
and while you were thus enabled to bring, as it were,
the whole weight of the English character to bear on
your negotiations with the Chinese, you entitled your-
self at once to the admiration of your fellow•citizens,
and had the respect paid to you of the Chinese Govern-
, ment. Under these circumstances, it is our pleasing
duty to congratulate you on your return to your native
country, and to assure you that the merchants of Lon-
don duly appreciate the benefits you have been the
means of conferring upon them by the result of your
commercial negotiations. There is another point alluded
to in the address—the liberality of the tariff, and the
wise and manly resolution sou formed not to confine
your negotiations merely to the British empire, but to
extend their benefits to all foreign nations. The libera-
lity that has marked the whole tariff bespeaks in an
eminent degree the ability to appreciate those first prin-
ciples on which such a tariff should be framed, and fully
realises the highest expectations that could be formed of
well-directed zealous public exertions. The Hon. Ba-
ronet then read the following address :
" TO MAJOR•GEFERAL SIR HENRY POTTINGER, BART.,
KNIGHT, GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST HON. MILITARY
ORDER OF THE BATE, LATE HER MAJESTY'S ENVOY
EXTRAORDINARY IN CHINA.

" Sir—We, the undersigned, merchants of the City of
London trading to China and the East Indies, take this
opportunity on your return to your native country to
present to you our sincere and hearty congratulations
upon the happy and successful termination of the
arduous negotiations intrusted to your charge by her
Majesty's Government. The skill and ability with
which these have been conducted have been so generally
acknowledged that any comment upon them on our part
would seem to be superfluous ; but the mercantile com-
munity cannot see a termination put to the vexatious
annoyances aud imposts which formerly impeded the
free course of British trade to China without feeling
deeply indebted to you, Sir llenry, for the great ex-
ertions and care bestowed by you in bringing about so
happy a result.
"A treaty has been signed and duly ratified, which,
while claiming no exclusive privileges for the advantages
gained by British valour, nor taking any unfair advan-
tage of the Chinese people, has opened to the enterprise
of this and other countries the immense resources of the
Chinese empire.
" A British colony has been founded amongst a people,
though essentially commercial, yet, until now, remark-
ably jealous of the admission ot strangers into their
country ; and four additional ports have been opened
as new marts for the British manufacturer.
" Without alluding further to the facilities obtained
for the shipowners and trade in general, we have only
to express our gratitude and thanks to you for such an
able settlement ot our difficulties in China, and our
hope that you may long enjoy the honours you so justly
merit."

In conclusion, allow me to say that it is our hope, deco-
rated as you aro with the honours justly deserved of
your Sovereign, you will still think this public recogni-
tion of your services by the merchants of the City of
London personally gratifying. We hope that the same
liberality which has been displayed by the Chinese on
one side in the arrangements of the tariff, from which
we anticipate great advantages to our trade, will, as far
as practicable, be imitated in this country with re-
ference to that great staple article of the Chinese market,
tea.—(Cheers.)

Sir IL POrrINGEn spoke as follows :—My Lords and
Gentlemen, it is quite impossible for mo to express in
adequate terms how much I appreciate the very kind and
flattering notice you have been pleased to take of me
and my public services. Believe me, I most sincerely
and deeply thank you, and am proud indeed to think
that anything I have done entitles me to receive your
approbation. It is needless for me to say, after the man-
ner in which I have acted in China, that I most entirely
concur in the views expressed in the address as to the re-
ciprocity of the trade with China. I look upon it that
everything that is beneficial for China must be equally
beneficial for England, and vice versa. There can be no
difference. I received a copy of the address a few days
ago from my friend Mr. John Abel Smith, and I have
drawn up an answer, which, if you will allow me, I will
read:—

"TO TILE MERCHANTS OF THE CITY OF LONDON
TRADING TO CHINA, &C.
_

" Gentlemen,—l beg you will receive my wry heart-
felt thanks for the address which you have been so good
as to present to me, expressive of your valued and flat-
tering opinions of the general result of my late mission
to China.

" To have deserved in your estimation, Gentlemen,
those opinions, is to my feelings one of the most grateful
and pleasing events that could possibly have occurred,
and I am well aware that there can be no fitter or more
able judges of my measures whilst in China than your-
selves ; and I am fully sensible that your approbation is
spontaneous and impartial, and would not have been
offered to me had you not considered that I merited it.
" I rejoice that it has been my good fortune to be the
humble, though zealous, instrument or removing to a
certain extent the barrier which has hitherto excluded
China from social and cordial intercourse with the rest
of the world ; and I will only add, that I see no reason
to doubt but that, the first step having been made, it
will depend on ourselves and the other nations who may
henceforward join in that intercourse, to perfect it in.
due time.
" With the repetition of my sincere acknowledgments
for your kind wishes, I remain, Gentlemen, your very
faithful and obliged humble servant,
" HENRY POTTINGER.
" 80, Eaton-place, Dec. 11."

The Customs revenue of Liverpool for the past year
is likely to yield npwards of 4,500,000/. sterling, a slim
greater by very nearly half a million than the amount
contributed last year.—Liverpool Courier.
The Marquis of Salisbury had an interview with
the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the Board of
Trade.