The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-18
GEO. PEABoDY's DIPLOMATIC DINNER
SPEECH OF MINISTER MASON.

! SPEECH OF MINISTER MASON.
We find in the London Chronicle of the 29th ut
iuii report of the proceedings at the grand diplo
matte banquet given by George Peabody, Esq, il
London IN honor of Mr.. Mason, our Minister tt
France We extract the following interesting
! speech delivered by Mr.. Mason, in response to :
| complimentary toast =
Mr. Peabody, Ladies and Gentlemen-I am at 8
loss SIR ior words to express my of your hos
pitaDle kindness, and the honor which you confer
on me by this unlookedfor reception. When nv wife
ana our invalid daughter came to the Isle of Wight
Tor the sea bath, they had no sooner entered the do
lnlnons OF queen Victoria, than with characters
! tic hospitality you invited them to Richmond Hill
! ana urged me, at Paris, to meet them. | have long
knoWn' sir, that your generous hospitality has
given great pleasure to your fellow citizens com
ing 10 London, and am confident that you have
uone much TO promote mutual respect and good
leeilng between the citizens of the United States
and subjects of the British Crown Cheers
No one perhaps, is better qualified for the delight
lul task than yourselt-a native of the United
States, universally respected here You have long
resided here, and must have the esteem and conf
denee OF those who know you; and around YOUR
table English and Americans forget preiudces.
ana learn to appreciate each other; this is no small
public good. (Cheers.) But notwithstanding all
that have heard of your kindness to your coun-
trymen. am surprised at what now see. To the
distinguished guests who surround you am deep
~ indebted for the kind manner in which they have
received your compliment to me-
1t is my first visit to Richmond, in ENGLAND. and
can never forget it-"I was stranger" ;" and Won
have taken me in. (Cheers.) You have kindly
spoken OF my long occupation in the service of nv
country To have such evidence of the public con
fdence at home is most gratifying. When tbe mo-
ther OF the Grachi was called on for her Jewels she
pointed to her Maternal love prompts to flial
duty, and he must be bastard who is not proud to
have served such mother as nv country You
have kindly told your guests that | have GAINED
popular lavor. L love popularity best in the lam
guage of Lord Mansfield 1t is not the popularitv
winch Is run after, but that which follows good and
virtuous actions. If have been so fortunate as To
secure that, | am happy. We live, sir, in an ex
ceptional age, new era has opened on the Chris
tan world For forty years, with inconsiierable
exceptions, peace has prevailed, and under its be-
nlgn influence, human industry and the affairs of
(Cheers.) n
1t is during the auspicious occasion of the din of
arms that steam has been successfully applied to
ocean navigation, and the iron road with its ca
paclty for rapid transit, and enormous transporta-
tlon, mas been brought into general use What
mighty influences and results for the good of man
klnd have not been developed during these happy
years. Commercial and social intercourse has been
increased national antipathies and preiudices have
Deen molllhed, if not obliterated and those who
hau peen enemies have been made friends | ven
ture to remind You, that under these auspicious
lhhuences the two great nations Of Western Eu-
rope-Engand and France-after ages of conflict
and unneighborly feeling, have become friends
ana allies. In France have now resided for more
than four years, and am indebted to them for nu
merous acts of friendship, of graceful Kindness and
uiieaai anu personal courtesy have had opportu
mites OF observation; and while have no authority
TO speak OF the future, i may claim the privilege
which IS conceded to my countrymen of guessing;
ana VIII venture to guess "a laugh) that the an
hroachlng meeting of the sovereigns of France and
England will only tend to strengthen the entente
cordiate. (Cheers.)
The period to which / have alluded has piyen
plrth M 10 other great events Within the last four
years great principles, involving the equal rights
OF independent nations on the high seas have been
settled py common consent, and with universal sat
lsiacton, Disputes in regard to them had in times
past produced ruinous wars, annoyed and harassed
commerce, and destroyed private property. But,
animated by mutual respect, each ASSERTING his
own rights and respecting those ofothers the dis
cusslon has been undertaken in a spirit of honor
candor and conclllation, and has resulted in the
establishment of justice and concord The mer-
cantlie marine OF the weakest State may now go to
sea IN safety under the protecting agis of these
great principles. A fruitful source of irritation
IN justice and war is thus closed trust for ever
honor TO the governments and negotiatOrs who
nave achieved these grand results With no sckly
sentlmentalIty on the subject of war when national
honor requires an appeal to arms, the cherished
policy of the United States has ever been peace and
friendship with all nations.
NO one OF the family of nations has derived
greater advantages from the happy influences to
which have adverted than our country. In the
career OF national greatness her progress has been
marvellous and to US it is n source of pride that
her growth is not selfish, but always promotes the
interests of the world. We persuade ourselves
that as States of the American Union-Louisiana.
Florida, Texas and California are more valuable to
the commerce of the world, as we'll as to the people
who inhabit them. than they could have been
IN the hands OF their original distant sovereipns
(Cheers) Such is the natural result of our system
ana pohcy. Nor can the people of the United
States regard with jealousy the prosperity of other
nations. .h it Is their peculiar good fortune from
tner surplus products, to supply the great staples
OF foreign commerce. All nations are their Gus
toners; and on plain principle of safety in busi-
ness, they desire to their customers prosperous
and happy. Cheers
Within the last half century everywhere labor
has risen in dignity, and the working man receives
more OF the awards of his own industry freed from
the unnecessary burthens of taxation imposed by
wars This must become more and more the case
tCheers.) 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 govern
ment which is Indifferent to the interests of its
people There is an interest involved in the nre
seFvation of peace which the Almighty wisely in
tended should be the greatest interest of humanity
(Cheers.) Other pursuits give luxury and add to
human comfort, but upon agriculture mankind re-
posed 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 ''food for gunpowder.'' (Cheers.)
am particularly obliged that you have done me
the honor to place me by the side of the Countess
Glasgow, whose illusrious father was distinguished
for his devOtiOns and enlightened contributions to
this course of scientific agriculture. | pray her
ladyship to excuse this reference to herself but |
have made it from grateful respect to her fathers
memory; the name of Sir John Sinclair of Scotland,
is known and revered in the United States as the
cherished friend and correspondent of WashiE gton
(Renewed cheers