The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-11-21
MIR. MaeauIay's speech TO the Electors Of
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election July last, in his absence and without ms So
licaiion he was chosen member, and that on feeeV
ing niimaiion OF that gratifying fact he promised V APP
pear among the electors in few days ana 'nank is'
for their kindness The 3Oth OF July vas huseu' nAe
for the meeting but in consequences oil fresh attack OF
The losss unler which he had for lime been sui
ering (bronchilis we believed was found accessory
10 oosnooe his visit till his health would enable him 10
undertake The journey.
Tuesday, the I'd instant, at length named as the
dsy on which he should deliver The promised address
The meeting took place, says the Times IN The Music
Hail. the doors OF which thrown open as early as II
O'Clock for the admission of those who were provided
with tickets but il was half past ~ before The general
public admitted In a lew minutes thereafter, the
halt was filled almost TO sufocaton, large crowd hav-
ing been waiting outside Tor some time previous About
three hundred ladies' accommodated with seats IN
the orchestra.
Precisely al o'clock Mr. Macaaay entered the hall
accompanied by large number OF his friends. and was
received with immense applause. He looked pale ana
thin and evidently affected BY the warmth and cor
diaty OF his reception. Among those who accompanied
him we observed the Right Hon Henry Tufnell, M. =
Sir William Gibson Craig, Mr. Charles Cowan, M. 4,
Mr. James Moncreif, M. p, Mr.. A. HASTE. NJ r.
tPaisey.) Mr.. J. Fergus, IA r.. Mr. Edward Horseman'
Mr.. Adam Black, &c.
Sir w. G. Craig proposed that Mr. Black should take
the chair, which at agreed to ny reclamation
The chairman congra nlaled the meeting upon having
the pleasure OF once seeing the midst OF them Their
highly esteemed representative; but while be congratu
lated the, he not without misgvngs that they haa
acted with perfect prudence in asking him 10 visit
them this time He Qhe charman) was persuaded mat
the citizens Of Edinburgh would thousand times rather
be disappointed OF the pleasure Of seeing nun ana near
degree, OF nurng the health SO valuable 10 the coun
try and to the civilized world He would not dealn The
meeting longer, he knew how anxious they all were
10 hear the right honorable gentleman, and therefore
was with the greatest pleasure that he now asked Mr.
Macanlay 10 address them. t5t
Mr. MacauIay then stood up. and was received with
double round of the most enthusiastic applause. When
the cheering had subsidized, he said:
Gentlemen, thank you from my heart for this kind
reception. truth, j, has almost overcome me- Your
good opinion and good will always very valuable
to memore valuable BY far than any vulgar object OF
ambt0n--mOre valuable than office, however lucra-
tive or dgn6ed In truth, no office, however lucrative
or dignifed, could have tempted me 10 do what have
and most tranquil of all retreats for the hustle OF political
life. But the honor which you have conferred upon
mean honor OF which the greatest man might well be
proud-an honor such il is in the power only OF free
people to bestow--aid such obligation that
shonid have thought ngratudel should have thought
il pnslanmy--no 10 make at least an effort TO serve
And here, gentlemen, we have met again in Kindness
after long separation 1t is more than five years since
stood IN this very lace-a large part OF human life
There few OF whom those five years have not
set their maIkfew circles from which those five years
have rot taken away what can never be replaced
Even in this multitude of friendly faces, look in vain
Tor which here should this day have been lighted
up with Joy and kindness. | miss venerable man.
who. before was born. in evil hmes-n times OF OPP
preston and coruptionhad adhered with almost soi-
tary fidelity to the OF freedom, and whom knew
in advanced age but still in the full vgor OF mind and
body enjoying the respect and gratitude OF his fellow
citizens. Loud applause
should indeed, be most ungraefu if | could on this
day forget Sir James Gibson Craig-[grea cheerngl-
his public spirit his udiclous counsel and his atbery
kindness To myself And Lord Jeffrey too-[here the
right honorable gentleman exhibited great emotion, and
the name received with sympathetic cbeefs]-wIi
Afs of ha ,la
have welcomed me back TO Edinburgh. [Cheersl He,
too, is gone bat the remembrance OF him many
tles WHICH bind me TO The CITY which he loved and with
But gentlemen, IT rs not only here that entering again,
at your call, on course OF life which believed had
Quilted forever, | shall be painfully reminded of the
changes which the last hive years have produced Ia
Parliament shall look in vain Tor virtues which loved,
and for abilities which admired Often IN debate, and
than when discuss those great questions
OF colonial policy which are every day acquiring new
interest. shall rememhet with regret how much elo
quence, and acuteness, and knowledge-how many rem
gagng qualities. how many lair hopesare buried IN the
grave OF poor Charles Butler
There were other men, too, with whom bad no party
and little personal connexion-men 10 whom was du
ring the greater part OF my public life, honestly opposed
but OF whom cannot now think without grieving that
Their wisdom, their experience, and the weight oil their
great names, more, IN the hour oil need, bring
help the nation the throne Srch those two
eminent men whom | left al the head-one of civil the
other OF military the oracle OF the House OF
Commons-the other the oracle OF the House OF Lords
There were paris OF their long public life which they
themselves persuaded, would, on a calm retrospect.
have allowed were censnrable but il is impossible 10
deny that each OF Them in his department served the
State One OF them brought 70 a triumphant close the
most formidable conflict IN which this country ever
engaged against foreign enemy the other al sacr.
hce-an immense sacrice-of personal feeling and per-
sonal ambition, freed from odious monopoly
which could not have existed many years longer without
producing the most fearful intestine dsrords loud
cbeers) regret them BOTH but peculiarly regret him
who - associated 10Y inind with the place To which
you have sent shall hardly know the House OF
Commons without Sir Robert Peel. [Cheers.l The fret
evening took my there, in 1880, he was there as
The head oil the government in that house and during
all the years OF my parliamentary service which follow
ed, scarcely remember important discussion in
which he did not bear part with conspicuous ability.
His Inquire Is now before me-all the tones OF his voice
are in my and the pain with which think that
shall never him again would be imbIlteTed by the
recollection OF sharp encounters that took place be
tween II not that at the last there entire
and cordial reconciliation and that only very few days
before his death had the pleasure OF receiving from
him marks OF kindness and esteem. oil which shall al
ways cherish the recollection. cloud applause
But, gentlemen, IL IL not only by those changes which
the natural law OF mortality producest is only by
the successive disappearance OF great menhat the
oil the world has been changed during the five years
which have elapsed met here last, Never since
the origin Of our have there been five years more
fertile in great events, five years which have left be
hind them awful lessons. We have lived many
lives in that time. The revolutions Of ages have been
compressed into few months France, Germany, Hun.
gary, ltay-what history has theirs beeul When we
mel here last. there the outward show ofranqui,y
and few even OF the wisest knew what wild passions
w u wprs fern undo hat IL