The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-19

himsslfiu my positions Stranger in . foreign |
land (no, uol-well, then, In land far away from
the home Of his childhood, the companions Of his
imagine himself the recipient ofso much kindness
and so much honors; and then would ask him
whether he would not feel-feel to his rising boz
Astounding sense of gratitude. (Cheers) In his res
ponse, and in your own generous hearts, you can
alone find true record OF my feelings on this oc
casion--so memorable in my history. 1t Is now
this beautiful and ancient town, and then enter
tanned the hope that, at some distant day, after
the lapse Of several years. by dint Of upright deal
ing correct conduct, faithful and courteous dis
charge Of my official duties, and studous avoid
| ance of all party or political controversy might
eventually break through the ice which is said to
encrust that rich treasure-an Englishmans heart
and win for myself by slow degrees, place in
| your affection and esteem. (Applause). came here
at most auspicious moment for the realization of
| my hopes. All matters Of difference between
my country and Great Britain had been happily re-
| moved-the calm sagacity ofyour great statesmen,
Sir Robert Peel cloud cheers, had dspelled the only
cloud that dimmed the prospect of eternal peace in
| the western horizon-the American arms had been
triumphant in well-fought fields and against fearful
| odds-Tayor and Scott had added new laurels to
their brows, and placed the proves Of my country
| beyond the reach of cavil--and the commercial
credit Of America, for awhile affected by serious
monetary crisis, had resumed its former high tone,
and the character of the American merchant stood
forth untarnished. (Applause.) Instead Of wait
received into your confidence. found the ice al
| ready thawcd, and, from the very moment of my
| first coming among you, have met with one con-
tinued and neyer-faing stream of kindness and con-
| sideration. From all and every one with whom l
have had either official, or business or private re-
| lations, have invariably experienced the utmost
cvility, courtesy, and sympathy. To the Admiralty,
| TO the Custom House, to the press, to the nags-
tracy, and to the great companies connected with
| southampton, am | indebted for many fayors and,
in times of difficulty and Of trial, have also found
| among you those true iriends--trlends IN need-so
| rarely found--some OF whom are here present, ana
| to whose timely aid and support owe that jewel
so precious to every man engaged in commercial
pursuits-my reputation. Loud and continued
cheering.) But all the manifold and mu!tiform ia
vors you have bestowed upon me would not satisfy
the bgness of your hearts, and you must needs put
| an indelible stamp upon your good teeIng towards
| Inc by the browning compliment OF inviting me to
| a public dinner; and, in order to make this COM
pliment the more empha ic and complete, you have
postponed this manifestation until you could gather
around me the distinguished naval officers Of my
country who now grace your festive board, SO that
| they might witness the triumph ! have achieved
over your affections. (Cheers) The richness Of
your kindness places in conspicuous light the pow
ery OF my deserts When reflect upon the greatness
ofthe honor you now confer upon me, am abashedat
the minuteness Of my claims TO such distinction; ana
assure you, gentlemen, that the consciousness OF
the utter insignifcance Of my personal preteasons
having forced me to ascribe your invitation to meet
| you this evening to a desire on your part TO show
honor to my beloved country in my humble person,
it from n sense Of duty and not from any tacit
or selfcomplacent idea that was IN any way enti-
| tied to it, that am now your honored guest. The
time was when strong prejudices existed IN the
minds Of Englishmen against my country, and they
were freely refrigerated the other side Of the
| ter QHear, hear, and laughter.) These prejudices
have always appeared to me Ike thisties on good
mans graye-they have no business there; and to-
night they appear al. like thistes though in ano-
Their sense-it is only certain animals, with more
| ears than brains, tina. delight in them. Cloud
cheers.) can from experience say, in vndication
of my countrymen for having INDUCED in this folly,
that much of has been produced by those English
writer's who having visited country, and, after
being Hospitality received by us, have returned home
to write book to sell, and prostituted their pens
in so doing they reviled and abused I'm glands first
| born (Hear, hear) Their works, being the
works Of talented men, were eagerly read through
out the United states, and they left the impression
that England hated and despised US. Hate begets
| hate, as much a. love begets love; and a hostile
feeling towards England became for a time the
| standard by which to ascertain an Americana love
Of country But am ready to bear witness that the
| reception which these works met with in England
| has caused deep repentance to the authors Among
John Bulls good qualities are love Of justice and
fair play; and in proportion as my counrymen have
found, by mixing with Englishmen at their own fire.
Sides that these ribald writers did pot express the
feelings those to whose supposed they offered
themselves as panderers, SO have they ceased
| because be honors what he finds great, reveres
| what he finds noble, and loves what he finds
good and generous, in the character OF an
| Englishman. loud cheers.) l would that all
my countrymcn could witness what transpires here
| tonight | would that they would call to mind the
| time when the Mayaower left this very port, some
20 years ago. treighted with those stern apostles OF
| lbcrty-the Pilgrim Fathers-hying from the reli-
gious persecution which prevailed against them in
this very country, and seeking an asylum for the
| free exercise of opinion in the wild and unknown
wilderness of the western world; and under whose
auspices, on board that same vessel humanity
covered her rights. and government was instituted
| on the basis Of equal laws for the general good
And then let them contrast the history OF that ves
sci with the hospitablc reception now given at the
same port to the It. Lawrence-a vessel Of war, on
| a mission Of peace, sailing under a commission from
that government which was founded by the de,
scepdants Of those hardy outcasts, and ireighted
| with the productions of that country which gave
them the asylum they sought, and whose inhospi-
| table soil they conquered by their own industry
/ loud and continued applausc) | am sure there
is not an American here present, who after reflect
| ing upon this comparison, will not hasten to root
| up whatever prejudice he may heretofore have nou-
| rfshed against this country as be would a rank
| weed. (IIear and cheers) Knowing, as do know,
that the demonstration Of this evening will be
strued, it ought to be construed, by my country
men at home, into a manifestation Of good will on
the part Of the people Of Southampton towards the
| United States; and knowing, a. | do know, that
all that is wanting 10 make the American heart beat
with pulse OF sincere friendship towards England
i for them TO receive evidences, such as this, that
her friendship will not be despscd; should have
been guilty Of a derehction Of duty should not
have faithfully performed the honorable trust which
my government has conferred upon inc, by appointing
andrc-appointing me to the dgnlhed office OF Ameri-
can Consul for this district-if had permitted any
false delcacy to have inteered with the very crafty
ing exhibition Of kind and friendly feeling which has
been displayed this occasion towards my country.
loud cheers) Lat America know that England
has that affection for her which parent naturally
feels towards the child she has borne, and she win
not be deficient in flial pety clear hcar) Old
England should remember that although she may
tuas heroes. her statesmen. DhilOSOplerS.
her men Of science, her proves and extended en-
pire-wben she Is called upon to show her most pre-
cous jewels, she can, like the mother Of the Grac-
chi, point to her vigorous offspring Dung America
Las her proudest boast (Renewed applause). Let
the friendly advances come from this side, they
ought to come, and as this evening they dc
tome, and we will not forget To look upon England
with hallowed feeling Of Tenderness and generation,
Ii &C The rci.aa-