The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-23

President remnant welcomed the ucleSa'
tons in the following address: . s.t
i Gentlemen and Brother British Settlers,
Again it is my privilege, as president OF the
British Association OF Virginia, to welcome
YOU to the annual festival Of our Associa-
ton, Once more I rejoice to meet you in
the hospitable city of Petersburg-a city
which we'll deserves the honor Of being de.
nominated the headquarters Of British colo.
nization in the Old Dominion. The British
settler always finds himself thoroughly at
home and among brethren here, and !
doubt not that your visit will be made both
agreeable and valuable. 1t cannot, I trust,
be other than agreeable for you to meet
your fellow-British settlers, while am sure
that the testimony your presence affords to
the progress OF immigration to Virginia is
certain to prove of great value to this State
and people.
Since 1873, that dark and gloomy year Of
universal panic and disaster, the friends OF
British immigration have been, like Mark
TapIey, trying to be jolly under the most
unfayorable circumstances. For four years
the British Association has been the solitary
ray Of hope to those who firmly believed
that bv the introduction OF new capital and
enterprise this State was destined to work
out her own salvation from the deyastations
of terrible war and the wreck OF general
bankruptcy. During those four years the
British Association has worked quietly
but etfectually to preserve the credit
OF Virginia as the best immigration field
in the United States. But for this AS
ISOLATION, the jealousy OF other States and
the talk OF disappointed, because insult
able, settlers would have established an
evil reputation for the beloved State OF our
adoption. Thanks, however, to the British
Association and to these British celebrations,
the voice of falsehood has been silcnccd,
and it has been demonstrated to the world
that the honest, intelligent, and industrious
British settler has found in old Virginia a
home as dear to him as the old land across
the Atlantic. Such gatherings as this are
great facts which conclusiveIy prove the
success OF British immigration to Virginia,
for sec among you no respondent vlsases.
I see no unkind looks, and hear no harsh
criticisms on "the land we live in" On
the contrary, your presence shows that you
have come to Virginia intending to stay !;
that you are interested in Virginia, and for
her welfare gather together for mutual coun-
sci on her behalf; and that while you have
had difficulties and trials to overcome in
your new surroundings, you are now as
firm in the faith as ever that
.'"ris glorious truth, deny 1t who can.
| Eirglnias the home Of the British man.
Gentlemen, we commence tonight the
proceedings OF our international celcbr;i-
ton, the most memorable and remarkable
that has ever occurred in the United States.
A few years ago it would have been con-
sidered rash and utopian idea to propose
the assembling OF crowd of people from
all parts OF the United States and Canada in
an American city to celebrate the birthday OF
Queen Victoria. But the day OF iealousies
between Great Britain and the United States
has passed forever, and English-spcaking
people OF every country and of every allie
glance are now proud to remember that they
are brethren of a common ancestry, race, and
religion. Hence it is that Queen Victoria
is as much beloved to-day in American
as in English homes, and that her Ma
iestv's birthday will be honored this year
in an American city with greater testiri-
ties than possibly in any portion OF the
Queens vast dominions, upon which, as
Daniel Webster said, "the sun never
SETS Having survived four years of
commercial disaster, absolutely unparal-
leled except in the history of John Law
and the South-Sea bubble, it is my hope
and belief that British settlers may now
look confidently for ga good time coming"
The false prophets, as the Scriptures tell us,
say when it rains that it will never be fair,
and when it is fair that it will never rain
Similarly, there are croakers who affirm that
the United States can never be rescued from
what the unfortunate Mr.. Mantalini called
the "demnition bow-wows." This do not
believe. We are not going to the dogs en-
per1nanence. Times will mend. We are bet
ter off in Virginia now than in the North
and West. We have no beggars and no
starvation. Every individual in this State
possesses food and raimcnt, and IS fire.
ouently able to somewhat assist the poor
tramps who are inflicted on us by the north
ern and western States. Let us, then, be OF
good cheer. Let us put our shoulders to the
wheel, and one and all work with vim for
old Virginia. Through this British Asso-
citation Of ours we can do noble work for
our adopted State-named after u glorious
English Queen-and by proving ourselves
good citizens can render ourselves worthy
of the country we came from, and OF the
yet more glorious Queen whom Virginians
honor as highly as do her own subjects.
COP SAVE THE QUEEN!
Mr.. Tenant was followed by Mayor
Cameron in very graceful and eloquent
address of welcome on behalf OF the city
and citizens. Eloquent responses were
made by Mr.. st. Andrew and Rev. DR..
suddard, of philadelphia.
ASSOCIATED Press Report by telegraph to the Dis
PETERSBURG, May 22.-The Grand Inter
national British Celebration commenced
to-day, and will last all the week.
The streets are gaiIy decorated with
British and American flags. Delegations
from Hamilton, Guelph, London, and
Toronto and other Canadian cities, and
from Chicago, New York, Connecticut.
PHILADELPHIA, Baltimore, &C., arrived to.
day. The philadelphia delegation, headed