The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-18
GRO. PE4B0DrS DIPLOMATIC CDINvER-SPEECIi
or MINISTER MASON


prom the London cbronse 2sh Juy,l 2
Mr.. PEsBoDy, LADIES AND GESrlEnS-I am at loss,
sir for words to express my OF your hospable kind
ness and the honor which you confer by this
Iooked-for reception. When my wife and our invalid
daughter to tho Isle of Wight for the sea bath they
had no sooner entered the domnions OF Queen Victoria
than with characteristic hospitality you invited them TO
Richmond Hill and urged me, AT Paris to meet them,
have long known, sir that yonr generous hospitality
has given great pleasure to your elowcitizens coming to
London and am confident that you have done much to
promote mutual respect and good feeling between the ct
OF the United States aud subjects of the British
Crown. Cheers No one, perhaps, Is better qualified
for the delightful task than yourselfa native Of the
United States, universally respected here You have
long resided here, and must have the esteem and conf
dence Of those who know you and around your table
English and Americans forget prendices and learn to
appreciate each other this Is small public good
IChcers But notwithstanding all that have heard Of
your Kindness to your countymen, am surprised at
what now TO tho distinguished gucsts who sur
round you'll deeply indebted for the kind manner Ia
which they have received your compliment to me-
II is my first visit to Richmond, in England and can
never forget til stranger and you have taken
me in. [Cheers. You have kindly spoken OF my long
occupation in the service OF my country To have such
evidence Of the public confidence at home is most crafty
ing. When the mother of the Grachi called for
her jewels, she pointed to her Maternal love
prompts to al duty and he must bc basta I'd who rs not
proud to have served such mother my country You
have kindly told your guests that have gained popular
favor love popularity best in the language of Lord
Mansfield 1t is not the popularity which is run after,
but that which follows good and vtuous actions III
have been fortunate to that am happy. We
live, sir, in exceptional agea has opened
the Christian world. For forty years. with inconsidcra
Bile exceptions peace has prevailed and under its benign
influence human industry and the affairs Of business have
made progress hitherto unknown. lCheers.
II is during the aspicios cessation of the din of
that steam has been successfully applied TO ocean navga
on and the iron road with its capacity for rapid transit
and transportation has been brought into gene
| n ~.
good of mankind have not been developed during these
happy years Commercial and social intercourse has been
increased, national anpahes aud pejudicos have been
mollifed if not oberaed and those who had been ene
mics have been made friends venture to remind you
that under these auspicous influences the two great ma
tons of Western Europe England and France after
ages of conflict and unncighbory feelings have become
friends and allies. In France | have resided for
than four years, and am Indebted to them for n-
acts of friendship Of graceful kindness, and official
and personal courtesy. have had opportunities OF OBJ
seryaton; and while have authority To speak OF the
future, may claim the privilege which is conceded to
my countiymen of guessing and will venture to guess
Ta lauh that the approaching meeting OF the soveIegns
Of France and England will only tend 10 strengthen the
entente coieiae [Chcets
The period to which have alluded has given birth to
other great events Within the last four years great
principles, involving the equal rights of Independent
tops the high seas have been settled by common con-
sent and with universal satisfaction Disputes in regard
to them had in times past produced runous wars annoy
y, But, animated by mutual respect, each asserting his
rights and respecting those Of Others the discussion
has lgep undertaken in spirit Of honor candor and
cancellations, and has resulted in the establishment
| Of justice and concord. The mercantile marine of
s weakest State may go to in safety under the
protecting @gis Of these great principles fruitful
source of irritation injustice and war IL thus closed
trust for ever Honor to the governments and negota-
tors who have achieved these grand results With no
scky sentmenality tho subject Of war; when nation
al honor requires appeal to arms the cherished policy
of the United States has been peace and friendship
with all nations. No Of the family of nations has
derived greater advantages from the happy influences to
which have adverted than country. In the career
of national greatness her progress has been marvellous
and to it is of pride that her growth is not
sosl but always promotes the interests of the world
We persuade ourselves that as States Of the American
Unon Louisiana Florida, Texas and California more
valuable to the Of the world well to the
people who inhabit them, than they could have
been In the hands Of their original distant soveregns.
Cheers Such Il the natural result of system and
policy Nor the people Of the United States regard
with jealousy the prosperity OF other nations 1t is their
peculiar good fortune, from their surplus products, to
supply the great staples OF foreign commerce All na
tons are their customers and plain principle Of
safety in business they desire to their customers pros
| porous and happy. Cheers.
Within the last half century everywhere labor has Iis-
in dignity, and tho working man receives more of the
awards of his industry, freed from the unnecessary
burdens of taxation imposed by wars. This must be-
come more and more the case. Cheers / believe at
this moment there is not nation the interests OF whose
people are not bound up in peace and hope that there
is not government which is Indifferent to the interests
of its people, There is interest involved in the pre-
servaon Of peace which the Almighty wisely intended
should be the greatest interest of humanity Cheels
Other pursuits give luxury and add to human comfort
but upon agriculture mankind rcposed for subsistence
1t is not wise to withdraw from its healthy and vrtuous
pursuits the labor Of country and by placing it in the
ranks of the army, make men 'lood for gunpowder.
Chccs am particularly obliged that you have done
me the honor to place me by the side Of the Countess
Glasgow whose illustrious father distinguished for
his devotion and enlightened contributions to this
of scientific agriculture. pray her hdyship to excuse
this reference to herself but have made it from CRATE
full respect to her father memory the of Sir John
Sinclair of Scotland is known and rcvered in the United
States the cherished friend and correspondent of Wash
! ngton. lseaewcd ohcors,
/
| ALLEGED MURDER OF IN AMERLCdN EOR.