The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-24 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

RAILWAY INTELLIGEACE.

The Taff Vale Railway shareholders have resolved to
enter into a contract for working the line for a period of
seven years upon the principle of a per centage on the
weekly receipts.

CHESTER AND BIRKENHEAD RAILWAY.—The traffic
of this railway has increased £lOO per week during the
last six months, and at the approaching meeting the line
will be in a position to pay a dividend at the rate of four
per cent. on the present market value of the shares. The
tunnel recently formed to the river Mersey has only re-
cently been completed, and yet the goods traffic has in-
creased fully one-third over the same period of last year.

JUNCTION OF THE MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM
AND THE MANCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL RAILWAYS.—
The intended route will branch off from the present Man-
chester and Birmingham Railway, near the iron skew
bridge in Fairfield-street; then to pass between Granby
Row (London Road) and the river Medlook, crossing
lower down over Oxford Road. near Oxford Road Bridge,
continuing by the end of Messrs. Birley's water-proofing
cloth mill, by Ciaythorn, through Hewitt-street, to Knott
Mill, &c.

The North British Railway Company have been autho-
rised by the shareholders to make an application in the
ensuing session of parliament for powers to form a line
from the southern terminus of the Edinburgh and Dal-
keith Railway toile town of Harwich, and to raise an
additional capital of £400,000. by the creation of 32,000
shares of £l2. 10s. each. The shareholders have also
permitted the subscription of £25,000. for part of the
stock of the projected Edinburgh and Dundee Railway.
Although the meeting was not quite unanimous, the ma-
jority was sufficiently large to carry with strong feeling
the resolutions proposed on these subjects.

RAILWAY BUSINESS FOR NEXT SESSION.—The new
railways (or extensions, deviations, &c., of existing ones)
for England alone amount to no fewer than 195; those
for Scotland to 7; and those for Ireland 23—making a
total of 235 bills. The capital proposed to be raised for
these railways is enormous. Two of the Oxford lines
alone would cost, according even to present calculation,
4,000,000. The North Kent would cost £2,200,000 ; the
London and York £5,000,000; the London and Chat-
ham, and North Kent, 1,500,000; the Leeds and West
Riding Junction, £1,200,000; the direct Northern to
York, £4,000,000; the Central Kentish, £1,250,000.
LEEDS AND THIRSK RAILWAY.—At a meeting in
Knaresborough on Thursday, Lord Harewood in the
chair, it was resolved that this line of railway would be
much more beneficial to the inhabitants of that town,
than the Harrogate and Ripon junction.—Lord H arewood
said that he never had the honour of being in the chair at
so large a meeting wlere there was more unanimity than
had been shown in the passing of the resolution. He had
opposed a former scheme for bringing a railway to Knares-
borough, because he thought it would not be of advantage
to that town ; but when he heard of the Leeds and Thirsk
Railway, although it passed through seven miles of his
property, he did not oppose it, because he thought it
would promote the good of the districts through which it
passed. He was not a shareholder in the undertaking,
and he would not have given it any support had he not
thought it would benefit the town of Knaresbro'.
NORTH UNION RAILWAY.—A special general meeting
of this company was held yesterday, at the Clarendon-
rooms : Theodore Rathbone, Esq., presided. It was re-
solved—That the conditional agreement of the directors
to take a perpetual lease of the Southport and Euston
Railway, upon a guarantee to the shareholders in that
company of 4 per cent. on a limited outlay and one-half
of the surplus profits, be adopted :—that the conditional
agreement of the directors with the Bibble Navigation
Company for making a branch to the River Ribble from
the North Union line at Preston, at the joint expense of
the two companies, be approved :—that the conditional
arrangement made between the directors and the Liver-
pool and Manchester Railway Company for the amalga-
mation of the two undertakings, on the basis of each
£lOO Consolidated Stock of the North Union Company
being considered equivalent to £64 7s. 6d. of the Liver-
pool and Manchester or amalgamated Stock, be appro-
ved.

EDUCATION IN TIPPERARY.—Has the spread of the
current knowledge tended much to improve the moral
condition and the happiness of our people, regarded as
members of private families, not of the great public family ?
We are not afraid to give our answer—that we are con-
vinced it has not. In England, we suppose no one will
question that the troubles of the peace, the unhappy, dis-
contented, uneasy spirits, those who find home vapid and
flat, compared with the excitement of the Socialist lecture,
or the Chartist club, are just the class who have read and
and learned a good deal more than the ordinary run of
persons in their rank. And in Ireland, we speak without
fear of contradiction from our own knowledge—that vast
Aceldama, the county of Tipperary, is not inferior in the
education of its inhabitants to any part of the United
Kingdom, or of Scotland. Not merely are the acquisi-
tions of reading, writing, and arithmetic, po sessed by a
far greater proportion of the population than could be
found in any district of England, but besides, a very con-
siderable number of the sons of the humblest farmers are
both expert mathematicians, and well-grounded Greek,
Latin, and sometimes even Hebrew scholars. The coun-
try abounds with pedagogues, of the very lowest class,
and in the direst penury, but often admirable scholars,
and enthusiasts in the pursuit and lore both of scientific
and literary pursuits. And yet, the moral sate of that
district remains, alas! but too fearfully the same. The
Calculus and the Digamma have no tendency to prevent
assassination. The schoolmasters are not only the centres
of knowledge, but often the nucleus around which gather
the demons of incendiarism, burglary, and murder !
—Dublin University Magazine.

SIR HENRY POTTINGER IN LIVERPOOL.

In our last we announced the arrival in this town of Sir
Henry Pottinger and suite on the previous (Monday)
evening. At two o'clock, on Tuesday, Sir Henry left the
Adelphi, and proceeded to the Town-hall, for the purpose
of receiving addresses.
Prior to his arrival at the Town-hall, the members of
the several associations, to the number of about one hun-
dred and fifty, walked two and two, and arm in arm, from
the East India and China Association Office, Exchange-
buildings, through the front entrance of the Town-hall,
and to the Council Chamber, where they awaited the en-
trance of the distinguished stranger. About ten minutes
after two Sir Henry entered the chamber, accompanied
by his fiends from London, and was introduced to the
associated bodi,'s by the Mayor, amid loud and enthusi-
astic cheers. Sir Henry stood at the head of the council
table ; and when silence had been restored, Chas. Turner,
Esq., the Chairman of the East India and China Associa-
tion, addressed him on presenting an address from that
body expressive of " the sense felt by them of the import-
ant benefits which the judicious and favourable commer-
cial arrangements with the Chinese government have con-
ferred not only upon those immediately interested in the
trade with that country, but upon the nation at large."
To this Sir Henry replied in suitable terms.
John Crosthwaite, Esq., Chairman of the West India
Association, then presented an address to a similar pur-
port from the various commercial associations of Liver-
pool. To this Sir Henry made a suitable acknowledg-
ment. Mr. Turner again addressed Sir Henry, announc-
ing that the merchants of Liverpool had determined to
request his acceptance of a testimonial of their grateful
sense of his invaluable services, and that he (Mr. T.)
would consult Sir Henry's wishes in reference to the pre-
paration of such testimonial.

It having been arranged that Sir Henry should make
his appearance on 'Change at a quarter to three o'clock,
the rooms and area were at that time rather densely
crowded with merchants and other gentlemen. Sir Henry
was accompanied from the Council Chamber to the Ex-
change-rooms by the members of his party, Charles Tur-
ner, Esq., John Crosthwaite, Esq., Thomas Sands, Esq.,
and several others. His reception was very enthusiastic.
He was hailed with loud cheers as he passed from bar to
bar of the rooms, and repeatedly bowed his acknowledg-
ments. From the Exchange-rooms he proceeded to the
Underwriters' Rooms, and there his reception was enthu-
siastic, though the numbers present were not quite so nu-
merous as in the lower room. He then crossed the Ex-
change area, viewing Nelson's Monument as he passed,
and entered the western door of the Town-hall amid the
acclamations of the populace. After visiting the large
ball-room, in which the grand banquet was being laid at
the time, and inspecting the beautiful suite of rooms, he
bird'stook a eye view of the town from the dome. The
haziness of the weather, however, was unpropitious for an
extended view ; and after a brief stay at the top of the
building, Sir Henry rejoined his family at the Adelphi
Hotel.

The grand banquet took place in the evening, in the
large ball-room of the Town-hall.
The Chair was occupied by the Worshipful the Mayor
of Liverpool, James Lawrence, Esq. On his right we
noticed the distinguished guest of the evening, Sir Henry
Pottinger, G.C.8., Lord Viscount Sandon, M.P., Wilson
Patten, Esq., M.P., Sir George Larpent, Lieutenant Col.
Malcolm, Major Pottinger, Major Axford, Captain Orms-
by, Gilbert Henderson, Esq., Recorder, Edwd. Rushton,
Esq., Dr. Whittaker, Mohun Lal, an Indian Chief, E.
Arnaud, Esq., the Collector, John Wright, Esq., Thomas
Sands, Esq., J. S. Leigh, Esq., the Mayor of Wigan,
Samuel Horrocks, Esq., Joseph Hornby, Esq., William
Nicol, Esq. On his left we noticed Lord Stanley, the
High Sheriff, William Entwistle, Esq., M.P., the Rev.
Rector Brooks, Colonel Falconer, Sir George Monro,
George Grant. Esq., Captain Bevis, R.N., Trios. Bazley,
Archibald Hunter, Esq., J. S. Heywood, Esq., Dr.
Brandreth, Samuel Thompson, Esq., George Hall Law-
rence. Esq., Samuel Staniforth, Esq., Scott, Esq.,
London, Alderman Hodgson, R. Zwilchenbart, Esq., G.
E. Arbuthnot, Esq., Rev. Wm. Clemison.
The number of the company present was about 400, in-
cluding nearly all the leading merchants, brokers, and
gentlemen connected with the trade of Liverpool.
After the usual loyal toasts had been drunk,
_ _

The MAYOR proposed "The health of the Right Ho-
nourable Sir Henry Pottinger,"—(cheers)—whose saga-
cious, enlightened, and :successful policy, has opened a
new world to British enterprise and capital. (Three times
three.)
Sir Henry Pottinger, in rising, was greeted with renewed
applause. When silence had been obtained, he said,—Mr.
Mayor, my lords, and gentlemen, in rising to offer my
most sincere thanks for the manner in which you have
been pleased to drink my health, it is with no affected
d'ffidence that I tell you that I am incapable of explain-
ing how truly I appreciate your kindness. When I was
graciously selected by her Majesty to fulfil the duties of
envoy to China, I went out with a full determination, not
of forcing an unpleasant treaty on the Chinese after the
great objects of war were accompl'shed by the force of her
Majesty's arms, but rather to act as an umpire between
the two nations. (Hear and cheers.) I had found those
attached to the mission who had cordially entered into
my views, and I had a great happiness to meet with a cor-
responding feeling in the high commissioner Ke-ying,
than whom a more enlightened statesman I do not be-
lieve there is in any country in the world—a man feelingly
alive to all the amenities of life. and more particularly so
to that high feeling which dictated his conduct through-
out this negotiation. I could, were it admissible in such
a society, tell you of such instances of Ke-ying's high
feeling and noble conduct, which would, I dare say, as-
tonish you. I trust, at some future period, it will please
her Majesty's government to do him and the Chinese
character generally justice, by making his despatches and
letters public. It would not astonish you only, but all
the world, to find such sentiments existing in what we
have been in the habit of thinking a self-secluded Chinese
mandarin. One great point in the treaty I had the ho-
nour of concluding, was, that the trade with China should be
thrown open to all other nations. This, j ou must be
aware, I could not have succeeded in bringing about with-
out the cordial sanction and co-operation of the Chinese
authorities. But the moment 1 explained to the high
commissioner the object I had in view, and pointed out
the advantages it offered, not only to China but to all
other nations, he most cordially acceded to it ; and before
I left he entreated, as the representative of England, in
case of any unforseen difficulty arising, to act as a media.
tor between China and any other European nation. This
is a strong proof of the confidence I have won, and I
trust I have won it not by the succumbing in any way to
any unjust demands (if such were made) of the Chinese,
but by letting the Chinese see that there was only one
rule for my conduct as an Englishman,—that was true
faith and good honour. I believe the treaty so concluded,
to insure, as I had The pleasure of stating to-day at the
meeting in the Town-hall, all the advantages that a treaty
can possibly combine. It has this peculiarity, that any-
thing that benefits one nation with regard to it must be-
nefit the other. Such is my interpretation of the Chinese
treaty. There are some trifling points, such, for instance,
as what I believe is called, in mercantile phraseology, the
bonding system, for which, I confess, I was afraid to sti-
pulate, because I did not like to propose anything the
Chinese would object to. I am happy to say, how-
ever, that after I left they not only cordially acceded to
but proposed it. And I have since learned that it is in-
cluded in an article inserted in the treaty which I am also
delighted to mention has been concluded between
the United States and China. Our treaty provides
for every advantage that may be given to any other nation
being enjoyed by England. At the same time the Chi-
nese made no objection to the proposal, and were quite
ready to allow it tacitly to be in full force. There is one
other point to which I may be permitted to allude before
sitting down. It is the treatment we are to show towards
the Chinese. We must remember that they have been
three or four thousand years, as we are led to understand,
totally secluded within themselves ; that they do not un-
derstand us ; that a mere treaty is not a sufficient eround
for their at once changing their usages. But I am quite
satisfied, from what I saw during my residence among
them, that, if treated kindly by England and all other
nations that may resort there, in due time, with God's
blessing, they will enter as widely as any other nation
into all our social feelings, and into that intercourse
white is so desirable between man and man. When I
come to address this large body of .merchants, in one of
the greatest ports of the world—for such is Liverpool-1
need not ask you to impress on those who repair to that
distant land in charge of your ships and merchandise, to
study kindness and forbearance towards the people. It
is the great, the first object we ought to have in view,
that of conciliating the lower classes of the Chinese. To
revert once more to my friend, Ke-ying, in one of his
beautiful letters, he says, " Our people are prone to ill-
treat those who are dissolute and inclined to excess.
Your sailors, and particularly the black sailors, (alluding
to our Indian vessels,) are apt to get drunk. Pray have
this put a stop to, lest they go ashore and he ill treated,
and we thereby acquire a bad name.' When I tell you
such is tl'e feeling of one of the highest men in the empire
—a blood relation to the emperor and a first-class manda-
rin—you will not think I am travelling out of my way to
beg that, when your ships leave the shores of England,
you will impress on those on board bow necessary it is to
be kind and conciliatory to those whom we want, by de-
grees, to introduce into our social system. I believe the
prejudice which the Chinese entertain towards our inter-
course, such as we look to between ourselves and all
other nations, proceeds not from any religious feeling.
On the contrary, it proceeds from an apprehension that
we will use that intercourse for political purposes. When
that feeling is once got over, which will be in a few years,
I trust, I have no doubt China will come forward, as she
ought, as one of the first nations of the earth. The ex-
tent of trade in China is something that most perons, if
it was stated to them, would deem incredible. Especi-
ally in cotton and the manufactures of cotton. the de-
mand will be unlimited. The only question is, how China
is to pay ? This is a matter which, in so large an empire,
must rest on time. But, in the meanwhile, new resour-
ces will spring up, and the people will learn from our kind
treatment and intercourse to have new demands. That
such will be the result of our treaty I have not the least
doubt (Cheers.) Sir Henry proposed the health of the
Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks for the compliment.
The MAYOR then gave " Her Majesty's Ministers,"
which was received with protracted cheering.
Lord STANLEY rose to return thanks, and, after ex-
pressing in feeling terms his gratitude to the company,
said—ln my capacity as the war minister of this country,
it was my duty to superintend, as well as to provide for,
the preparation of those great military and naval rein-
forcements, which, largely sent at the close of the year
1841, contributed some cogent and rather pointed argu-
m'ents in support of the negotiations of our friend. It
was consequently my lot to watch with deep interest, un-
checked, however, by a single disappointment or a single
failure, the progress of that expedition in which British
and Indian troops; naval and military, vied with each
other in a rivalry honourable alike to both, surmounting
obstacles which required not military skill, nor valour,

nor science alone, but determination, but perseverance to
encounter ; and it was my lot also to know, and to watch
the discretion with which the right honourable gentleman
near me exercised the high functions with which, es en at
that period, be was entrusted. I know not, gentlemen,
how far it is generally known, that though undoubtedly
at that time to the right honourable gentleman was not
entrusted the superintendence of any military and naval
movements, yet to him a large discretion was given by the
government, which fully confided in his talent and ability,
of saying at what periods those naval and military argu-
ments had attained to such a height as to lead to the in-
troduction of more polished diplomatic intercourse, to say
at what time the arms of Britain should be stayed, and
how soon the process of nezociation might commence.
And when that period arrived, honourable alike to the
arms of Britain and to the humanity and forbearance
with which they were wielded, her Majesty's gov@rnment
had but the gratifying task, step by step, of applauding
and approving the discretion, the temper, the judgment,
and the forbearance with which those delicate negocia-
tions were subsequently conducted by the right honoura-
ble gentleman. In that department the right honourable
gentleman was more peculiarly responsible to another
member of her Majesty's government; but I had the sa-
tisfaction, in another point of view, of being brought uni-
versally into connection with the right honourable gentle-
man. I saw his untiring labours, and his zealous assiduity
in forming or founding a new colonial society—in super-
vising the foundation of a colony ythere all was new and
strange—where obstacles were to be encountered from
mutual prejudices, from ignorance of each other's habits,
from omissions upon the one side, and upon the other
from unreasonable demands and exorbitant expectations;
and I saw the right honourable gentleman with satisfac-
tion, in his civil as well as in his diplomatic correspon-
dence, carry on " the even tenor of his way" with the
one fixed intention, and that boldly conceived and boldly
executed, of obtaining the greatest advantages consistently
with the honour and the good faitb of this country. Gen-
tlemen, there is one point to which the right honourable
gentleman, in his address to you to-night, has peculiarly
adverted, although he has modestly abstained from stating
the full share which he had in it. I allude to that deci-
sion to which he came—and it is due to him I should say
he came to it and acted upon it upon his own responsibi-
lity and without instructions—not only not to demand
exclusive privileges, (for that he was prohibited from
doing,) but for inserting as a stipulation in the treaty that
all other nations should alike partake of the commercial
advantages which had been gained by this country by the
power of British arms, and by the prudence of British
negociation. Gentlemen, I say it for myself, and I know
I may say it also for my right honourable friend the Earl
of Aberdeen, that it was to him and to me, in our several
departments, a subject of the deepest regret when Sir
Henry Pottinger's earnest entreaties induced us—or ra-
ther, I should say, compelled us—to accede to a very
strongly expressed desire of his, after so many years' ser-
vice in distant countries, to return tc his native land,
there to enjoy, in the midst of his countrymen, the well-
earned honours which, I am proud to see, have been be-
stowed upon him ; and, I can use no more emphatic lan-
guage— . _

" To read his history in a nation's eyes."
Gentlemen, if I might be forgiven for trespassing upon
you for one moment longer, it would be to express my
great satisfactio,i at the allusion which has been made by
the right honourable gentleman to-night, however little it
may be needed in a society like that which I have the
honour of addressing—the necessity of great caution and
great prudence in our dealings with our new allies, those
who are lately brought within the pale of civilisation in
the vast Chinese empire. When I speak of the pelt?' of.
civilisation, I should rather say in the pale of European
commerce and of intercourse ; because I believe there is
no nation in the world to which, as far as civilisation goes,
greater injustice has been done in the public estimation
than to the great empire of China. But among those
subjects which particularly struck the Chinese during the
course of our warlike operation, against them, and since
in our diplomatic intercourse with them, has been the
strict, accurate, literal fulfilment, in the spirit as well as
the letter, of every engagement which we entered into
with them. We have heard the Chinese spoken of as a
tricky, over-reaching people. That there are such among
them—among the inferior deelers—l do not for a moment
doubt ; but I do disbelieve that that is the general cha-
racter of the nation. I believe, so far as our later expe-
rience has gone, that there is no nation which more highly
values public faith in others; and, up to the present mo-
ment, I am bound to say that there never was a govern.
ment or a nation which more strictly and ccnscientiously
adhered to the literal fulfilment of the engagements into
which it has entered. Now, gentlemen, it is not for the
government, it is for you—it is for the merchants of
England—it is for the great commercial body whose
principal seat is in this town—to confirm, to maintain,
and to strengthen that feeling of respect for British faith.
The government have done their part. The ports of
China are open to you to an extent passing the most san-
guine calculations; but there are still national prejudices,
there are still national jealousies, to be overcome ; and it
behoves those who are more immediately concerned in
dealing with that great empire, not only in their dealings
(for that I doubt not) to maintain that character for
scrupulous honour and integrity which has ever been the
distinguishing mark of the British merchant, but not, in
the eagerness for the profit of those commercial advan-
tages which are offered, to push beyond the limits which
Chinese prejudice—if you say it is so—will yet permit.
those advantages which are now open to our commerce.
The door is thrown open to you ; rely upon it, it will be
opened wider still; but it must be opened by voluntary
concessions from within, and not by what will be felt to
be compulsory encroachments from without. I believe
it is easy, in the present state of public feeling, to raise
jealousies, and to foster anew animosities which are be-
ginning to subside—that an over-anxiousness for success,
and an improvident pressing for advantages, may lead to
such a conclusion ; but I believe, also, gentlemen, and I
entertain a confident expectation of it, and I pray that
such may be the result, whether under this or succeeding
administrations for many a long year. that the trade with
China which is now commencing, and in its vigorous in-
fancy, may, if prudently conducted, be made the founda-
tion, not of inordinate speculation and immense gains,
followed by corresponding and ruinous losses, but be
made the means of extending the blessings of civilisation,
of science, of knowledge, of religion,—and along with
them all, but only by a prudent course of not shocking
the prejudices of those with whom we are brought into
contact, it may lay the foundations of a great, a perma-
nent, and a rapid augmentation of British commerce.
The health of " the members for the county" was re-
sponded to by Mr. Wilson Patten and Mr. Entwisle.
The " members for the borough" having been given,
Lord SANDON said, that he had felt it incumbent upon
him to attend on the present occasion, and testify, in the
name of his constituents, to the gratitude and respect
which they felt for their distinguished guest, who had
first brought the great empire of China within the vast
circle of European civilisation and industry, and had thus
proved himself to be, not merely the ambassador of this
country, but of the whole world. He (Lord Sandon)
could hardly limit in anticipation the great advantages
hereafter to accrue to the commerce of this country from
this result of Sir Henry Pottinger's labours. It was fre-
quently a subject of congratulation if we, by a treaty,
opened up a commercial intercourse with a country hav-
ing three or four millions of people ; but what was such
a triumph in comparison with the opening of a country
containing a population of three hundred millions! We
might for a time be hampered for the want of adequate
returns for the manufactures sent out by us ; but now we
had only to look at the simple fact that a marset of three
hundred millions of people had been opened to us. And
who could doubt that adequate returns would be found ?
On the opening of the East India trade, it was prophesied
that our merchants would experience difficulty in finding
adequate means for the extension of British commerce;
but had we really experienced any difficulty in finding
returns ? He would appeal to the honourable baronet on
his right-hand side, who presided over the East India
trade at London. At present we knew little more of
China than the outline of its coasts on the map; but
when we knew the interior, and feelings of mutual con-
fidence and respect had been established, it was impossi-
ble to conceive that so industrious a people as the Chi-
nese would not be able to discover something to supply
our wants, or to enable us to gratify the wants of others.
Let us not, then, doubt that China could find the means
of enabling ito extend our commerce. It had been
said that this could only be done through a reduction of
the duty on tea ; and for his own part, if it should be
consistent with the general benefit of the empire—a ques-
tion he should leave to other parties to discuss—he should
not be sorry to see such a reduction take place. if this
step should not be consistent with the financial interests
of the country, he could not doubt that China would be
able to find exchangeable products for our goods. Hav-
ing alluded to the character of the treaty which had been
formed by Sir H. Pottinger—a treaty characterised by
wisdom, and taking that only which the Chinese should
willingly have granted of their own accord—his lordship
said that the intercourse which had been established by
the right honourable gentleman was, like mercy, twice
blessed—blessing him that gave and him that took. He
then referred to the gratitude due to Sir Henry by the
British people, and by mercantile communities in parti-
cular, and concluded by speaking of the pleasure that he
felt in again meeting with his constituents, after an ab-
sence of some length of time. His Lordship resumed
his seat amidst applause.
After one or two other toasts,
Mr. SAMUEL Hoesss, on being called upon to respond
to the " Tradesmen of Liverpool," said, in the name of
my fellow tradesmen I thank you for it, and I attribute
the selection of my name to respond to the toast to the
circumstance of my being irrevocably connected with that
large and influential class which exists by trade—which
has exercised, and will, I doubt not, continue to exercise,
such a paramount influence upon the affairs of this coun-
try and through her commercial enterprise. and manu-
facturing skill, upon the affairs of the whole civilised
world. It must always be a source of gratification when
an occasion presents itself, in which men of all ranks, and
of every shade of opinion, can meet in perfect amity, yet
without the sacrifice of a single principle. It softens the
asperities which sometimes unfortunately arise, and by
placing the tradesman in juxtaposition with the merchant,
and the merchant with the peer, it strengthens our bonds
and makes us better acquainted with each other. We can
meet for the amelioration of human suffering—for the
purpose of raising a hospital for our seamen. We can
asscciate around the hospitable board of a chief magistrate,
or. as on the present occasion, to do honour to one whose
distinguished services and splendid achievements have
shed a lustre around his name, and whose sagacity as a
plenipotentiary has only been excelled by his high and
lofty character as an Englishman, representing the inter-
ests of his sovereign. and that cf every subject of the
British crown. It ought to be the toast of every Briton,
that with our almost unlimited freedom, no act will c‘er
be countenanced by the people in this c iuntry, that may
in the slightest degree compromise our national character.
The word of Eng'and, given by her authorised ambassa-
dors, must be the bond of England, whether we negotiate

Dec. 24, 1814.

1 a treaty with the simple Islanders of the Pacific•—th,e,;:
tote arid dexterous court of Russia—with our repwret"
brethren of the western hemisphere, or with the jute pc
ing but mysterious millions of the Chinese ErnPire't Ost
be it from me to undervalue the noble services
army and navy—of those gallant spirits who bray!,
tempests of the ocean—the dangers and diseases of Toro(
cal climes, and who march undaunted to the inne!..4
hostile cannon, that they may assert the suprecoto,
England—may give protection and extension to aurp
merce and make the flag of England respected fromlbd
to shore. But still, we must look to British I.s",sts
British mercantile integrity to maintain our natiori;ol
putrtion, and to preserve what the sword has so BO al!
won ; and I trust that the treaty which has been I'o4
negotiated by our gallant guest, will be honoursh /to
religiously observed, so that the Chinese may kitylipil
it will be to their interest to cultivate the frienuniol
they have been made to feel the power of Englan°;.d
I should not do justice to my own feelings if I oie
add, that wherever our flag waves, we have other tot
which arise out of our commercial treaties. We 511,00
only conquer that we may trade, but that we may:' ty
and bless ; that we may carry with our merchandl
glories of our national institutions, and the fruits n't
national religion. It was said by Lord Bacon, tna.d,
the youth of a state, arms do flourish ; in its middle Ili,
learning; and in its decline, mechanical arts and ifos
chandise. But this is only true where nations have. Is
quered to subjugate and oppress •, and profound 0510
remark, it will not be true of England, if she unitew
thP gallantry of her Wellingtons, her Pottingers,and ber;bo
kers, the learning of her Bacons, her Newtons, snub,
Lockes ; and all be blended with that commercial en
v:4
prise and manufacturing skill,—that independeneetp
yet benevolence, which conquers only to benefit,
o .401
trades that it may civilise, protect and bless. Co'',
as I am with the trading community, I see in such 110
semblage as this a symbol of our national strength. "tts
can define, in the crucible of our national fusion:a
separation of any one class ? Who can point out 86'1
link that is wanting to complete the chain betweeect?
Queen and the poorest peasant amongst her an* or
The pyramid of society in this country stands rIPLI
broad and a secure foundation, and there is that Vero
ascent, and tbat substantial blending of all classes,f,i,
the base to the apex, which gives to it at once its solids
its just proportion, and its grandeur. It has sorilkf
unscathed the storms of centuries ; and if the only rt.;
amongst us is, who shall the most benefit his eeo,
try, it will rear its majestic head for ages yet to en
We see at this moment a tradesman filling—aye,
with credit too,—the high office of chief magistrate
this great community. And he will corroborate me
I say that it shall be our duty to inculcate subordinatd
and to promote happiness at home—to spread civilisat,J,'
and benevolence abroad ; and if it ever unfortunew'
happens that England is visited with intestine commode;
which, may God in his mercy avert, the trading port
of the. community, constituting as they do the mosaic sinews of society, and, let me add, no inconsidere",,
portion of its wealth and its mind, will be found as real;
to check any oppression from the upper classes, as a:ill
unbridled licentiousness in the lower: and while, 1%1
unshaken firmness, they will hold aloft the censoeto
royalty, they will stand between contendin classes, ;fi
stayed.
the plague of national confusion may be stayed. Ikemy desire to see my fellow-tradesmen advancing int.,4
march of cultivation, urging onwards those who areau",
them, and helping forwards those who are below the
,„ci:
and when we recollect the origin of a Watt and a 1.
ford, it ought to be an enccuragennent to our vrorio;
classes to know that the most brilliant names in
record of fame, are those of men who have been crau;
in difficulties. and who have had to struggle with obBl,lo
ties which nothing but invincible courage and inflawto
perseverance could have ever overcome. It is, then,,A
your trading classes that you must in no small deV:i
look, to enable our country to maintain her lofty 8'
commanding position ; they have to build the
sell, and forge the machinery, which is to carry 1:4
tish merchandise, as well as British thunder, tot 1
clime; they are to span our vallies with bridges, Ifs
to pierce our mountains with tunnels ; they are to gi‘e,,ey
and motion to your myriads of looms and shuttles; L':e
are to give bone and muscle to the vivid creations of theit'
architect and the engineer; it is they who must nie.to
imagination with reality, and convert intelligence lee
tangibility. Should they not, thsn, pursue intelligeed
as a necessary adjunct of success? Undoubtedly. 11)(6
being jealous for the honour of my order, I trust that 0
shall advance in all those mechanical arts which are „i 1
necessary for the continued welfare of our country; 11'0
being the link which binds society together, we may
with discretion the great power, both political and nOrli
which is placed in our hands ; and while I rejoice that.
classes unite in an expression of gratitude to our dio,,T,
guished guest, because all classes have benefitted by
i
able negotiation, you will not deem it inappropriate, to
reference to our beloved country and her magnificent en!,
pire, if I ask you to join me in the fervent aspiratia.ni
that peace and happiness, truth and justice, religion 0,
piety, may be established amongst us for all generation'
(Loud cheers.)
The Vice-presidents and others followed ; after sv•-'Web
the company separated at a late hour.

On Wednesday morning, accompanied by Mr. Alde,,ft'
man Moore, (chairman of the Dock Committee,) Lie*
y i
entertained one
of her
a select Majesptay:ys of steamers.
Ladd, &c.. Sir Henry inspected the docks, and `aids
tahloenagftetrhneooMn erhsee
geritlen;
at dinner, principally friends he had known abroad. ,
her
the evening, Sir Henry, his lady, family, and frirrals Da
tronised the performance at the Amphitheatre, attracting
large numbers of our townspeople anxious to see the Sub
ject of so much deserved honour. Sir Henry and bl.
party entered the theatre shortly before the curtain ro,°''
for the Chinese War, and was received with Hark
cheering from the auditory, 'the band playing " WO(
'tis the Indian dram." " See the conquering Hero," tice•
He appeared to be very much amu.ed. and we have na
doubt was greatly astonished at the representation of the'
scenes in which he has lately acted so distinguished a part;
Thursday was devoted to the visits and reception r
private friends, and in the evening Sir Henry and his !sal
attended the ball at the Wellington-rooms. On Frida/
morning he proceeded to Manchester, and was enter:
tamed in the evening at a public dinner. Another grad'
Eying reception is preparing for him at Belfest (his natty!
place), and elsewhere testimonials are being got up I°

him. _
stan
Sir Henry
5t
feet 9 inches. a fine,
He wa s portly, noble
born-lookiinngthe vi mancin i
of Belfast, in the year 1780 ; consequently he is nowt,
his 64th year ; he does not, however, look older than stti
He entered the army as a subaltern. and has served for!
years in India and China. When he had attained !b0
rank of lieutenant, he undertook a journey of obserlsrli
throughout the vast kingdoms of India, and in vari°o
disguises, and, after encountering unheard-of perils,,6
succeeded in traversing those immense tracts of coun,"4,
till then untrodden by any European foot. Horlo':„
bravery, and prudence are the distinguished character",
tics of his mind. Sir Henry's lady is a remarkably One
looking woman.