The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02
RAILROAD JUBILEE AT BOSTON
SPEECH OF LORD ELGIH


LORD ELGN having risen to respond to a
sentiment was greeted with loud applause and
spoke rs follows:
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen. 1t is not very
customary with us for any individual to take it
upon himself 10 return thanks for the toast
which you have just now so cordially NO enthu-
siastically drank ! feel an additional difficulty
in rising to discharge that duty Mt this time, be-
cause have ct my left hsnd gentleman who
holds an iuuportaat diplomatic station in this
country, tSir henry Crampton) and from whom
response TO that toast would come perhaps more
appropriately than from myself In obedience,
however, to the call Of his honor the Mayor,
my friend on my left, ] rise to express in the
feel that every one of them has an equal right
with myself to answer that toast Canadians
Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Irishmen--in be-
half of them all, beg leave to express our cor
dial and hearty thanks for the manner in which
that toast has been received by you
Gentlemen, us ! have the honor to address
myself to company which consists in the great
or part Of persons who live under different insti-
buttons from myself, perhaps may be permit
ted to observe that we British subjects honor
and respect our Queen, not only because of her
exemplary character but many public and pri-
yate virtues and the singular tact and fmness
which has enabled her to protect the well being
of her own people, and to secure the cordialty
and good will of mankind, but also because we
recognise in the constitutional and hereditary
throne upon which she is seated the symbol of
our national unity, and the type of the continu-
ity of our existence ~ people. Applause
Allow me, gentlemen, because there seems to
DO in America some little mscOnception with
regard 10 our characters and customs to observe
that we, monaYchists though we be- enjoy the
advantages Of self government, of popular cleo
tons, of deliberatiye assemblies, with their at
tendant blessings OF caucuses, stump orators and
log rollings- laughter and am not sure but
We sometimes have little pipe-layng-Ir re-
newed laughter almost if not altogether in
equal perfection with yourselves | must own
gentlemen that ! was exceedingly amused the
other day, when one Of the gentlemen who did
me the honor to visit me at Toronto bearing
the invitation Of the Common Council and the
Corporation Of the city Of Boston, observed to
me, with the utmost gravity, that he had been
delighted to find, upon entering our Legislative
Assembly at Toronto, that there was quite as
much liberty of speech there rs in any body Of
the kind in this country! Laughter | could
not help thinking that il my kind friend would
only favor us with his company in Canada for
few weeks We should be able to demonstrate
to his entire satisfaction, that the tongue is quite
ny "unrifysa member" on the north side of the
line a. on ibis sde. Renewed laughter
Now, geptlesnen, you must not expect it. for |
have nos ~ v1ee for it. and do not pretend to
undertake 10 make regular speech to you |
belong to people who are VIGOROUSLY slow of
speech Laughter. II any doubt exists on
that subject never heard of it, and such
doubts must have been removed by the verdict
which has been pronounced by high authority
ON that subject tor distinguished member Of
the American Senate, who has lately been in
England has informed his countrymen that, pre-
eminent as John Bull is in many particulars, in
one thing he always makes lamentable failure
which is when he undertakes to try his hand
at bubble speaking, Laughter Now, gentle
men, deferring ~ Ifeel bound to do, to that high
authority and con bus that in no particular
do ! more correctly knd truly represent my
countrymen than in my stammeripg tongue and
embarrassed ulterance, CONTINUED laughter, you
may Judge what my feelings are when am
asked to address an assembly like this couven-
ed under the hospitable auspices of the Corpora.
ton of Boston, believe to e. tune Of some four
thousand, in this State lassaehlisstta 3
State which il 40 famous f6r its orators and
its statesmen--a State that can boast Of Frank.
Inns and Adamses and Everetts and eumners
and Bigelows and host of other distinguished
men-a State moreover, which is the chosen
home, If not the birthplace, of the illustrious
Secretary of State of the American Union
Applause.
But gentlemen, although ! cannot make a
speech to you, must tell you in the plain and
homely way in which John Bull sometimes ex,
presses his feelings when his heart is full to
oyerfiowing-that Is 10 say, when they do not
choke him and prevent his utterance altogether,
Isernkonl lin that hon.sly way must express
to You how deeply graceful myself and oil those
with rs ihear, heal - for the kind and
Boston. For myself ! 10y that the city of
Boston could NOT hare SoAfsrred upon me n
greater favor than that which they have con-
ierred in inviting me 10 this festival, and in Civ
ing ne nm opportunity not only TO receive the
hand Of kindness which has been extended to