The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-13 00:00:00

and my late colleagues upon having been so fortunate as
to choose so able a public servant. It was, indeed, a
piece of ge,2l fortune for us as well as for the country.—
(Cheers.) But lam bound to say, that that choice arose
from no private partialities. Sir Henry Pottinger was
pointed out toais 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 hare already had year 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.) The 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 have
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 hare
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 here 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. SMEPPARD briefly responded to.
The Marquis of NORMANDY proposed " The health of
the Chairman," which was most loudly cheered, and ac-
knowledged in an appropriate speech by the Chairman.
Sir H. POTTINGER proposed, in a single sentence, the
next toast—" Prosperity to the City of London and the
'Trade thereof," which was loudly cheered.
" The East 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 ntlemen 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 are in-
debted for being placed in the favourable position we 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
oo:tncil that directed your negotiations, we feel that it
is to eon individually that a very large portion of the
benefit ;ve have derived is to be attributed. We feel
that, by y s-iur conduct, by your activity, by the promp-
titude and ene.rgy 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
commereial negotiations. There is another point alluded
to in the address—the liberality of the tariff, and the
wise and manly resolution ou 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•GENERAL SIR HENRY POTTINCER, BAIT.,
KNIGHT, GRAND CROSS OF THE MOST HON. MILITARY
ORDER OF THE BATH, 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 neo•ottations 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 and imposts which formerly impeded the
free course of British trade to China without feeling
deeply indebted to you, Sir Henry, 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 of 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 of 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 are 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 H. POTTINGER spoke as follows:—My Lords and
Gentlemen, it is quite impossible for me 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 TIIR MERCHANTS OF THE CITY OF LONDON
TRADING TO CHINA, &C.
" Gentlemen,—l beg you will receive my very 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 hare 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
bumble, though zealous, instrument of 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 natiens 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,

" lIENIt IL
Y POTTINGE
" 80, Eaton-place, Dec. 11."

k'ooT Recce iov:10/.---Wednesday a foot race of
160 yards came off near the Cock Inn at Clapham, between
Cheeny and Beard. Beard received two yards' advantage at
the start, and the preliminaries being completed, they en•
tered into the contest. Beard retained the lead for 100
-yards, when his opponent succeeded in overtaking him, and
4 spirited race ensued. Ultimatety Cheeny came eff the
-winner, beating his opponent by four yards.