The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-27 00:00:00

#equally my duty and my privilege to return thanks for the
.o
ny_ur which you have done in the toast proposed to you by
IllY_ Lord SandOti The first is that, although lam not the
only conservative member of. the bar present, yet I am by
far
the oldest. The other is that, as a conservative member
theof bar, 1 was first introduced to the society of Liverpool,
which conferred upon me that high honour which alone has
given me anything like a claim to an invitation to this great
and splendid meeting—a position which I hope, by their fa-
vour, long to hold in this county. (Prolonged cheering.)
gentlemen, as I am returning thanks for my Lord
Lyndhurst, and not in his presence, I may perhaps he excus
if,ed even at this late hour, I trespass upon your attention
for one or two moments, while I mention to you what my '
observation of that noble lord's career has been, and what
title I think he has to your esteem and respect. The first
position in which I made the acquaintance of that noble lord,
was when he filled the office of the first law officer of the
crown,_ and I can say, from my own personal observation of
.9,1.1 n at that time, that, as there was no advocate who, in li
Westminster-hall, more eminently and forcibly advanced the
interests of his clients, or who so scorned to take an unfair
advantage of an adversary, or who showed more kindness and
OpOrtesy to the juniors of the bar, advanced from that posi-
tion to the condition of the second equity judge of the king-
dom ; he there discharged the duties of his office equally
honourably to himself and beneficially to the public. It has
been
his lot to be tried in various stations more severely than
judges haxe usually been ; for, after having filled that high
office, he was made lord high chancellor, and then sat .as
chief baron in a court, administering both common law and
equity—a court, too, in which he had to decide various mat-
ters between the crown and the subject, and between them
no judge ever held, as a judge can hold, the scale of justice
more equally. (Applause. Advanced again to the high office
of lord chancellor, I say it without meaning to draw any com-
parison between him and others, no one has filled that office
with more satisfaction to those whose causes he had to ad-
_ mister : most unquestionably no lord chancellor could ever
be actuated by purer motives, by a more anxious desire of
promoting those objects only deserving of promotion, and of
forwarding the justice of the country, than my Lord Lynd-
hurst. (Cheers.) Allow me, in the name of Lord Lynd-
hurst and the conservative members of the bar, to thank you
for the honour which you have conferred upon them. I trust
that, always professing the same principles which have led to
your applause, any temptation held out to them will always
!Ito produce any effect more than it has done, and that you
194 always find that body of men who have studied the prin-
ciples of the British constitution prepared to uphold it as
Y have ever done. The learned gentleman sat down amidst
Pr°l"'ed cheeringfo.
The
th 'CIiAciRmAN then gave " The conservative candidate
Groe county of Chester." (Loud cheers.)
toast ''•GE CORNWALL LEGH, Esq., rose to respond to the
The and met with a very hearty reception.
~RAtitmAN then gave " The Operative Conservative
Associations throughout the kingdom. (Loud applause.)
On the Chairman announcing the toast, there were loud
cries for Mr. Holme. and after a considerable interval had
elapsed, during which the cries were repeated,
Mr. HoLmE rose amidst loud cheering. He said—When
I had the honor of accompanying your lordship to this mag-
nificent banquet, I had no more idea of taking any part in
its proceedings than I have of interfering with the internal
management of the affairs of China; but as, by the uncivil
partiality of the friends around me, I am brought on my legs,
I do not hesitate to say that I feel deeply indebted to the
operative classes, and admire the stand which so many of
them have made in defence of conservative principles. (Ap-
plause.) And although it would have been more consistent,
had there been one of that valuable body present to have
responded to the sentiment which has been so cordially re-
ceived, yet, as there are none present, the conservative me-
chanics shall never want an advocate as long as the power of
speech is left to me. (Cheeers.) There is one subject, my
lord, which deeply affects the classes for whom I appear, as
well as the whole of the trading .classes, and although it was
eloquently, and by some speakers, most elegantly alluded to
last evening in Liverpool, it has not yet been touched upon
to-night, and as I have been in some degree compelled to
speak, I trust your lordship will bear with me for a few mi-
nutes whilst I mention in connexion with the toast, the all
absorbing question of—How these millions are to be educated,
and what is our duty as churchmen towards them ? (Hear.)
The attacks made of late years on the Church of England
have at length awakened us to a sense of our duty—they have
brought thousands out of their seclusion who would not have
appeared had not danger threatened, and these have enabled
us to newly rig our almost dismantled ship, they are supply-
ihg us with ammunition, and cheering us onwards ; and I
speak as a churchman when I say, that I for one, sincerely
hope these attacks may continue, until no part of the beauti-
ful landscape of Britain shall be traversed, without there
being visible a temple erected to the glory of God having a
resident minister, who shall have the superintendence of a
scriptural school, and shall authoritatively tell to the loftiest
as well as the lowliest of his faith, that man's first duty is to
his God and Savitsur, his next to his country and his neigh-
bour. (Applause.) Without any of the adventitious dis-
tinctions of birth, without any of the influences and advan-
tages but those which flow from honest industry, the trading
portion of the community at this moment wields the destinies
of this mighty empire, and humanly speaking, the destinies
of the world. And the national welfare demands that this
important body should be educated not only on scriptural
principles, but also in those scientific acquirements which
are in the present day so necessary, to enable our beloved
country to maintain her position, and long may she maintain it
amongst the nations of the earth. And yet, my lord, science
in itself is but a passing meteor, an empty glare. Its corrus-
cations may amuse and delight. but they can neither warm
nor cheer. (Hear.) To be truly valuable they must be con-
nected with religion ; for whoever would separate scientific
from religious education, must surely suspect the immorta-
lity of the soul, and desire to rob man of his high and
heavenly destiny. (Cheers.) As well may we expect a stately
tree to resist the sweep of the hurricane if we cut away its
root, as we may expect man, however scientific, to resist the
temptations, and to overcome the trials and difficulties inci-
dental to human existence, unless his principles are based on
the unerring Rock of eternal truth. (Continued cheering.)
If the latitudinarian schemes now so industriously dissemi-
nated, were to become universal, society would be a wilder-
ness of tempestuous waves ready to enguiph our free
institutions ,• but pour on those waves the holy oil of true
Isteinigi°n, and their heaving will be assuaged, and they sill
become the means of spreading both knowledge and nisdom
a iPlankind. (Cheers.) Christianity, my lord, is not of
sh nature, for it is diffusive—it breathes all atmospheres,
it embraces all nations, and would fold in its arms the whole
family of man. (Cheers.) Connected with this vivifying
Principle we wish to see science flourish, and it was for this
end that Lord Stanley yesterday laid the stone of our Colle-
giate Institution, which is especially intended for the trading
classes. I take this opportunity of expressing my hope that
the people of Manchester will speedily follow the example
set them in Liverpool, and that a similar institution will soon
be founded there. Tell me not of difficulties, they may he
surmounted. One of our excellent rectors feared we could
not succeed in Liverpool, but the attempt was made, the
application was responded to, and yesterday the first stone
was laid; and in reference to popular education, I hope that
that institution is only as the first streak of light which I.,ilds
the mountain top, and gives presage to a bright and glorious
day. (Loud cheering.) I call then on the people of Man-
chester to make the attempt. It will be to the shame and
disgrace of the churchmen, that the dissenters can erect a
College in Manchester for educational purposes, and that
they will not, for if they will only try they will succeed.
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Holme made a few other observations,
and concluded amidst loud cheers by thanking the meeting
in the name of the operative conservative associations, which
he hoped might increase till their numbers were equalled by
their loyalty.
[We have been induced to give the above speech at length,
in consideration of the important truths which it embodies.]
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON then proposed " Mr. Clarke, the
Vice-Presidents, and the District Secretaries," with thanks
to them for their exertions. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE CLARKE, one of the churchwardens of Man-
chester, to whose public spirit and devotion to the interests
of that town the people are greatly indebted, responded to
the toast.
The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Lancashire Witches."
Drank with three-times-three and one cheer more ; after
which the company separated.