Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-19
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
Wasbington Sentinel.
Speech OF the Amer lean Minister, NH. Bu-
chanan I'm London.

speech OF the American Minister, Mr. Bu-
chanan In London.
The thirty-fourth anniversary dinner of this
most benevolent society was given March 28,
at the London Tavern, under the presidency of
tho Right Honorable Viscount Palmerston.
Amongst the guests, about one hundred and
fifty in number, we're Mr.. Buchanan, the Ameri.
can Minister Sir G. Wood, M. p, Admiral
Bowles, Admiral Eden, Admiral Sir c. Napier,
Admiral Sir George Tyler, Rev. }. Harris.
chaplain to the Hospital, and great number
of influential individuals connected with the
society.
After the usual preliminary toasts had been
responded to, the Chairman said:-Gentlemen,
the charitable institution, to support which we
are assembled, is one in favor of which it may
be said that it is not exactly the representative
of charity, or, at least, that it carries its objects
beyond the principle on which it was founded,
for charity is said to begin at home, but this
institution extends its benefits to the sailors of
other nations, and the consequence naturally
has been that the sovereigns and governments
of many foreign States have generously con-
tributed towards the resources Of this institu-
ton Tcheers1-a handsome and honorable ac-
acknowledgement on their part for the benefits
which the institution has been the means of
conferring on their subjects and citizens.
therefore propose to you the health OF those
sovereigns and States which have contributed
to this institution. Cheers.] II there had
been present any person whom could correct
ly designate as foreign minister, should have
called upon that gentleman to return thanks
But confess l can see none such. !, however,
rejoice to see on my right hand the most dis
tinguished minister of the United States.
Loud cheers. We certainly cannot claim hin,
as an Engishman, but we will not acknow-
ledge him to be wholly foreigner. Cheers.
He represents indeed, only another member of
our own family. Cheers. trust that the
identity which prevails between us in that me-
dunn of ideas which is called language, may
long continue to imply an identity of sentiment
and feeling; and that when he returns TO his
native land he will be able to bear with him
the expression of esteem, and admiration, and
friendship which the people of this country en-.
tertain towards his countrymen, and that he
will difuse among them those sentiments which
/ am confident they entertain towardsus. Loud
cheers.
Mr.. Buchanan (the American minister) in
responding to the toast, Observed can truly
say that do, not find myself stranger in q
strange land. Cheers. We speak the same
language, we read the same books-in both
countries we worship God according to the
dictates Of our conscience, and there is none
to make us afraid. Cheers. Life, liberty,
and property are equally protected in both
countries. We both have a free press, public
opinion has full sway, and we speak language
which can never be spoken in any country in
which slavery practically exists. Cheers. A
stranger coming to England must be greatly
struck with your noble charities, which are of
the most munifcent character. Providence
has blessed you with immense, with unbounded
wealth, and has inspired the hearts of the pos
SCISSORS Of that wealth with the desire to re-
member their poorer neighbors, and to relieve
poverty and distress in every form; and in
what more benevolent form could such de-
sire be manifested than in the support of this
institution? Cheers. His lordship has men.
toned the peculiar characteristics which dis
tinpuish this charity from all others. 1t ex-
tends its benefits to the distressed seamen Of
every climate Since the origin of the institu-
ton, more than 800 of my own countrymen
have been relieved by your bounty and munif-
cence, and for this relief | beg to return my
most sincere and grateful thanks. Cheers.
But there is another peculiarity which think
distinguish this from every other charity. Other
charities require recommendations, and rules
are prescribed for persons desrous of enjoying
their benefits; but here the view OF the poverty
and of the distress of sick and disabled sea-
man is his recommendation, and your hearts
leap at once to relieve that distressed seaman,
no matter from what cline he may come, nor
what may be his past character. Cheers. L
know of no country that ought to be mere
careful of their seamen than the mother coun-
try and ourselves. We are certainly more ex-
tensively engaged in commerce than any other
two countries in the world, and / hope, whilst
there must necessarily be competition between
us, that that competition will be an honorable
one, and that it will be a friendly one. Cheers.
God knows the world is wide enough for the
commerce Of both countries. Let US, there
fore, encourage each other instead OF evincing
a narrow and jealous spirit. Cheers. No
other two nations enjoy half so much CONNER.
cal intercourse, and if ever there should be
war between the kindred nations-which God
in his mercy forbid-(loud cheers)--the sus.
pension Of commerce between them for one
year would injure both to greater extent than
war has ever inflicted upon any other nation.
Hear, hear. We have, therefore, every IN
terest, every inclination, and every feeling to
remain friends, and to preserve amicable rela-
tons forever. We sometimes complain OF each
other-we are in fact, both complaining ma.
tions ccasionally-( laughter but can say
with the most perfect truth, that there exists in
my own country an undercurrent of kindly and
gracious feeling towards the mother country,
and that If ever the time should arrive when it
will become necessary todevelope that feeling,
it would exhibit itself to the astonshment even
of the people of England. Loud Cheers.
Loud cheers followed Mr.. Buchanan to his
seat. Mr.. b. subscribed $50 to this institution.