Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-05
HON. ABBOTT LAWRENCE.

The London papers give account OF a meet
ing of the governors Of the Scottish Hospital, held
in London on the Both ut Sir Walter Stirling presided.
We Join the following speeches of the chairman and
Mr.. Lawrence:
The chairman then rose, and said, that they were ho-
nored that day with the presence OF the American mn
ister-Qoud cheers) He did not think he would be Of
iend ed by his 1.-THE Chaman) saying that he was one OF
our children. The citizens of America were the de-
scendants Of this country, and when they came over
here delighted to see them. We receive them
as parent received his child and he the child
would be always happy to be welcomed lie felt quite
that every in this metropolis would not only be
happy and contented to receive American citizen
here, but also to receive the goods Of America IN eX
change for the products OF this country But we ought
bto be still friendly to America for another reason,
and that was that the American government are at this
| moment undertaking to complete work which that
Providence who created the world seemed 10 have lett
to the ingenuity OF mamie meant, to cut canal
through the lsthmus of Daren.
He believed it the intention of the American
Government to open immense canal through that 18TH
to enable the ships of the world to communicate
with the western If they accomplished SO great an
undert king, he hoped jealousy would arise i'll conse
quence among other powers 1t ought to be a road
open to the whole world. 1t ought not to be occu-
pied exclusively by any great nation but should be guar
aneed as great highway for the commerce of the world
-[loud cheers] AS sailor he knew the dltilcultles
and dangers, well the length OF time required to
effect passage to the Pacific from this country round
Cape Horn They understood what it was to attempt
passage through the Northern Seas. we had attempt
ed that too long and too oenand he feared that our
gallant counryman, SirJ. Franklin, who entered INTO
that enterprise, would appear again IN his native
country. He (the Chairman amented that Sir John
had attempted such absurd and ridiculous expe-
dton, which, it had succeeded, would never have
proved OF any advantage to the country [hear.i lie
thought the plan of the American Government to which
he had referred, wise PLAN and ought to be APPROX
ed of by the world at large. The gallant chairman
concluded by proposing the "Health of the President of
the United States and he hoped and trusted that peace
and amy would subsist between the two nations TILL the
end of the world[drunk amidst enthusiastic cheering.
! Mr.. Lawrence, the American Minister, returned
thanks and said he hardly knew how to express his
feelings that moment. He begged to assure the
pany that he felt with deep sensbliy the honor that
had just been conferred upon his country, not only in
the sentiment which had been proposed but also IN the
reception it had met with from the assembly. He offer
ed them his profound and grateful Acknowledgements for
the kindness with which the toast had been received
| [Cheers He was there stranger in sense he
was in strange land, yet he did in truth feel him
self stranger Loud cheers The reception he had
met with from her Majesty, and from her Majesty's
ministers, and from all classes OF persons with whom he
had had the happiness to contact had rendered
impossible Tor MIN not to say that he felt home
that occasion [cheers He felt, in the midst of this
ancient Scotch society," that he among his brethren.
He there as the representative OF country many
OF whose people were OF that conpanys kth and kin
he there upon the soil which held the ashes OF his
ancestors Icheersl; he was there citizen OF
try speaking the same language, having the rel
gious faith, and, he trusted in God the feelings
which animated the British people. Loud cheers
Why, then, should he feel stranger when he was
among his kindred He came there for the purpose
for nothing else could have brought him thereof doing
what he could to perpetuate TO establish ineradlcably
the good feeling which existed between these two NIGH
ty nations. lCheersl He came there that night, be-
cause he would not lose the opportunity of assuring
that assembly and through it the British public that
there other than the kindest feeling existing on
the part OF the American Union towards Great Britain.
Why should there be [cheerS.J The Americans
Anglo Saxons, as well as Englishmen They older
than his teow-countrymen; but previous to the year
1776, he, in common with his counrymen had the
same pride and glory in the British name that any Brit
sh subject could entertain thar night. And he could
tell the chairman and all present, that every Scotch
he had met with in the United States felt proud of
his country, and the American citizens were proud Of
them adopted sons OF their country. And why should
they not be So Scotland, the favored land OF liberty
the warrior the statesman, the -poet-where were
they born Where would they find territory con-
tanning millions and halt or three millions OF pop
uation, where the people had done much to civZe,
elevate and improve the condition OF man Scotland
had DONE [Cheersl
He was not Scotchman himself but was proud to be
amongst those who were, as he always had been every
where. His gallant friend, the chairman, had alluded
to some great improvement contemplated by the United
States government. He CHR. Lawrence) was happy to
inform them that railway now under construction
to connect the two oceans; and IN the course OF year
and half they would the iron horse steaming
the isthmus. With regard to another great project,
which had been contemplated for the last three hundred
years. he trusted its accomplishment was not lar distant
He begged however in connection with this subject, to
state that the United States asked for exclusive pri
yeges either OF these schemes. They would ask this
country to subscribe with themselves towards these
great Improvements. They would ask Great Britain to
join them in guaranteeing the neutrality of these great
highways They ask exclusive privileges, and they
did mean grant any. They wished these great
communications to be open all the world free all
mankind And, so far as the United States are con
cened, they should be dedicated to the benefit Of
mankind ali over the world [Cheers.l His excellency
then concluded by giving as toast, "Great Britain and
the United States May the stars and stripes of the
Union float side by side with the of St George,
and may peace be preserved forever" Loud cheers.l