The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-26 00:00:00

not, as a British merchant, go beyond propriety if he
tendered his thanks to the Noble Lord who had been
so instrumental in bringing about this treaty,—thanks,
at least, for himself if he could not take the li-
berty to anticipate the views of British merchants,
and speak for them all. He was sure the countrymen
of the Noble Lord would be gratified, not less than
Americans were, when they learnt that he had ad-
justed difficulties that had existed for so many years—
one of them indeed, upwards of half a century, thus en-
dangering private interests daily, but more. particularly
of late., as the proximity of population had infused
new wrath and new fire into the old dispute. For five
or six years, indeed, quarrels had sprung up that were
all the while threatening to embroil the two countries,
but happily they had now been all adjusted, so that
the future can be looked to with tranquillity. The
gentleman next said that he looked upon this treaty
as the first step towards restoring the prosperity of
the country. Another great step, we understood him
to say, was the late Revenue Bill that had just passed
Congress. No country could get along, he said,
without an adequate revenue. The Government could
have no credit without, and when the Government had
no credit individuals who lived under it would suffer
by its discredit. With these two measures, he con-
tinued, better days would now come. He trusted
such would be the result at least, for this country and
his own country were now so much connected, that
distress in one was distress in the other, and what
affected America re-ficted now upon Great Britain. 1
cannot say, however, he continued, that these two
measures are all you need. A sound currency is a
necessary ingredient of your. prosperity,—an ade-
quate, a general, and a sound currency, for it is as in-
dispensable as anything else to national prosperity.
Mr. Palmer then went on to advert to the facts re-
specting the negotiation of the treaty, and to draw
from them the inference that whatever subject of
dispute arose hereafter it would be settled in the
spirit of this treaty, so that a long and durable peace
might be looked for. He concluded with the follow-
ing toast—," Prosperity to the Commerce of the United
States at home and abroad."
The next toast was " His Honour the Mayor of the
City of New York."
Mr. MORRIS, the Mayor, responded to the toast in
a neat speech. He was not vain enough, he said, to
suppose this toast was introduced for him, but for the
post he had the honour of filling. As for the treaty,
on account of which they had assembled, he could
only say—as he had not, of course, seen an official
copy—that there was reason to believe, from the re-
presentations of the Press, and gentlemen present,
who spoke admirably of it, that it must be good, or
else it could not be represented as it was. As there
were, however, yet other subjects of difference, he
would offer the following sentiment :—" England and
America. Their peaceful relations, to be perpetual,
must be founded in justice and reciprocity.
PROSPER WETMORE, Esq., in behalf of the Com-
mittee of Arrangements, then offered the following
toast :—" The British Representative (on this occa•
sion) of the Dominion of Letters—Mr. Thos. Colley
Grattan."

Mr. GRATTAN, thus called upon, rose amid loud
cheers, and in substance thus addressed the meeting :
Could any sentiment or toast on a day like this, Mr.
President, be susceptible of a merely local or
merely personal application, I should assuredly feel
myself unfitted for even attempting a reply to that
which has been, so unexpectedly by me, proposed.
But there are occasions, and this is one of them, when
men cannot yield to weakness, and I must not falter,
however I may fail, in performing the duty to which I
am encouraged by the inspiring associations of this
scene.—(Great attention.) I see here the joint re-
presentation of the commercial communities of New
York and London ; American and British diplomacy
giving to each other the hand of brotherhood; and
the gallant officers of both countries sitting shoulder
to shoulder, and interchanging broadsides of good
fellowship—(Loud. applause)—and I am proud and
happy of the opportunity of raising my voice in the
chorus of general rejoicing sent up from this assem-
blage of the talent, respectability, and, I must add,
the enthusiasm of this great city.—(Continued ap-
plause). This meeting, Sir, although it has taken the
form of a social and convivial party, is far superior to
common-place festivity, and to the every-day celebra-
tions of public events. Its immediate object is, no doubt, ,
to do honour to the noble individual who, in the con-
duct of a great transaction," has established his claims
to a large measure of distinction. This dinner may
be called the first instalment of the national debt of
gratitude which is justly due to him—(Cheers, and
cries of " llear, hear")—and every generaus heart
will freely give its mite of sympathy to form the
whole amount for the payment of that debt.—(Re-
newed applause.) But it appears to me that a still
higher purpose animates this meeting. I cannot help
viewing every man here as a representative of national
feeling, for the purpose of setting the seal of public
approbation on the important document so often and
so eloquently alluded tc—(Great attention)---which
although it might have gone through all its official
forms is not wholly ratified until hallowed by the
voice of popular applause—(Long and lotid bursts of
applause interrupted the speaker)—and never, Sir,
was any public act more certain of that glorious
consummation.—(Cheering and great sensation.) It
is not here alone, not only in the halls of Boston
and New York—from the Atlantic to the Lakes—
from the shores of Long Island to the Rocky Moun-
tains,.that that voice will be heard. It will soon re-
verberate in the very heart of England ; and there
caught up it will be sent to the remotest of her vast
possessions in circling eddies of glad sound.—(Con-
tinued and yet louder applause and cheers.) Peace
and good-will between America and England will
be henceforth the watchword and the rallying cry of
civilisation. Commerce, recovering from its para-
lysis, will put forth new vigour. Political asperities
will be, one by one, smoothed down. Literature, with
which my name has been so kindly and so flatteringly
associated, will gush from its thousand springs to
fertilise the New World and the Old, no bitterness in
its waters, and the lighted bubbles that float on them
more buoyant and brilliant than ever.—(Cries of
"Hear, hear," and applause.) Wherever the Anglo-
Saxon blood may circulate, or the English language
be spoken, there hearts will beat and tongues wag
merrily.—(Laughter.) And when we reflect, Sir, that
it is from this room, this night, that so stirring anim-
pulse will be given to so large a portion of the Chris-
tian world, ought we not to make it a night of noble
revelry.—(Laughter and cheers.) Every glass may
be filled without stint and emptied without reproach.
—(Continued laughter.) Temperance itself needs not
blush at a jubilee like this.—(Loud laughter and pro-
longed applause.) But, Sir, we must not in the de-
lightful anticipations of this day be led too far. We
must not expect impossibilities-or believe that eternal
sunshine settles on our heads.—(Great attention.)
Between countries so ardent, so enterprising, so emu-
lous of each other's greatness, new causes of difference,
aye, of dispute, must be expected to arise. If, under
the auspices of your noble guest, and the example
which he and his eminent associate in the late nego-
tiation have given to the world, no disturbance on
questions of political right is to be feared, we may still
look out for some on questions of international
copyright.—(Laughter and cheers.) But I shall not
dwell on that subject. In the words of a distinguished
countryman of mine, Sir Lucius 0' Trigger, " it is a
very pretty quarrel as it stands."—(Renewed laugh-
ter.) But we, Gentlemen, can have no dread of
any
serious issue to those inevitable discussions of right or
wrong. We, who have seen the political atmosphere
on many occasions lowering and cloudy—and on one
occasion peculiarly Mue-cloudy—(Laughter)—have
also seen that the sun of conciliation is sure to shine
through all.—(Great cheering.) The worst that is to
be for the future apprehended between the two coun-
tries is diplomatic argument and political agitation.
Of the first we need not be now afraid. Of the
latter I never had any dread. I believe political agi-
tation' when it stops short of outrage, to be the safe-
guard of free institutions, and the very instinct of the
common nature of the English and American people.
—(Sensation, and cries of " Rear.") I know, Sir,
it is difficult to set limits to its exercise—boundary
lines are the very hardest to dra'w clearly—(A laugh)
—but the recent transactions have proved that they
are the easiest to be hoaourably compromised.—
(Laughter and cheers.) No, Sir, I have no dread of
popular agitation.—(General attention.) As the sea
is by its eternal motion kept pure, so are the waters
of freedom preserved by their action from becoming
stagnant. As long as the ocean has its tides and
waves, and as long as the public mind has its passion:,
and its affections, no permanently noxious conse-
quences can be generated by their 'leavings.. Every
storm-gust that ruffles their surface, or uplifts them
in their depths, carries health and vigour on its Wing:.
from the elements it has so convulsed.—(Lond cheer-
ing.) This, Sir, is at least my theory.
lifein all its
It may be,
perhaps, a little too Irish ; but I hate stroll
dull monotony. As the hero of the tragedy—
"l like the rocking of the battlements."
—(Cheers.) I hold that the straining of the public
mind preserves while it proves its elasticity, It may
bend and give before the tempest, but it will not warp
or break ; like the masts and timbers of the gallant
ship, in which one of your noble guests is about to
ion anc
bear away the other, to their grateful and expectant
country, which in their different spheres they have
served✓ so faithfully arid so well.—(Sensat • v
cheers.) It now, Mr. President, only remains foi
me to ask your permission to offer you a sentiment.
The absence from this festival of some
of those whose
presence was I perceive solicited, allows me to perform
a task peculiarly grateful tomy ee i f rngs- I will pro-
pose " The health and happiness of the seven Com-
missioners from Maine and Massachusetts during the
recent negotiations at Washington:' My' official re-
sidence in one of those Statfrs,
neigh-
bourhood to the other, have and my close
tage of a personal acquaintatTereo%cvuitrhedaiml
oef tthheosadvan -
gen-
tlemen : and lam sure I may, without c
presumption;
y
appeal to your distinguished guest Lord Ashburton
icr the confirmation of m
assertion, that in their