Year: 1861

the United States.


The addresses which followed the delivery
OF the Queens speech, from distinguished
British statesmen, are worthy of notice from
the frequent reference made to American af-
fairs-;ill speaking in terms of regret at the
serious differences threatening the North
American Union. The Earl of Seton sail:


While all must regret to large and
prosperous community, which was so close
ly bound by every tie TO ourselves, almost
upon the verge civil war, they could not help
feeling some alarm as to the effect which those
events might have upon the importation of
cotton into the manufacturing districts of the
north OF England but at the same time it
should he remembered that cotton could be
obtained from other countries besides Ameri-
ca, and he was happy to say that the subject
was creating the deepest interest in Manches-
ter and he trusted in Liverpool also In
creased facility of communication and better
modes OF preparing cotton and bringing it to
market would, he hoped, shortly place us in
position to obtain large supplies from our
Indian possessions. There We're also active
eHorts Deing made upon the coast OF Africa,
in the hope of creating a wide field of COM
mercial operations in that quarter of the
globe.


Lord Lismore, who seconded the address of
the Lords, regretted secession deeply but,
with the same clear sense urged that England
should look hereafter for her cotton supply to
quarters where the political suicide of
foreign nation would not endapger their own
prosperity:


''Knowng the extent to which we were de-
pendent America for the raw ma terial of
our greatest manufacture, he would urge on
their LordShlps the necessity of taking such
measures in our colonial dependencies as
would insure us a cons tant and ample supply
of cotton "


The Earl of Derby, while expressing soli-
oif do
tested a still deeper concern for the welfare of
the Republic. He said:


1t is impossible not to feel the deepest con-
Germ at the threatened disruption of that great
Union, rs it must affect the happiness and
welfare of that country. Ttear, hear. i
lhere Is no man in this country who would
not view with the deepest anxiety and regret
the disruption OF q community which, with
out claiming perfection for its institutions,
and certainly under various disadvantages,
has yet procured for its people an amount of
prosperity almost unparalleled i'll the world,
and an amount of personal freedom only in
ferior-and think it is inferior [hear, hear
10 that enjoyed III this country. Hear,
hear. But it is impossible to look at that
threa tened disruption-only possible to be ef
tected at the cost of the horrors OF civil war
without looking also at the effects it would
prodGce on the manufactures of this country.
Its first effects, at all events, would be most
disastrous 10 one great branch of our industry.
Unfortunately 1t does happen-l trust it
Will not be long so-that We have been almost
exclusively dependent on the cotton of Amer
ic;. 1t viii be of the highest advantage, if
the threatened disruption should lead those
who are most deeply interes ted do not
think the Government. can interfere with
their individual eXertions-to turn their seri
Gus consideration to the best means of avert
ing the danger involved in failure of the
supply OF cotton from the United States by
promoting an increased supply from other
sources. Such supply can be had in many
tt,G.xx IL f3a1t tA kan
for encouraging its growth and import. [Hear,
hear.]


OF SIMILAR import was the language of Earl
Granville, who spoke as follows:


As regards the unfortunate dissensions in
the United States, i may allude to one very
remarkable instance of the feeling in this coun-
Try on the subject. For years after the separ-
ation-Which | would term unfortunate if it
had not been followed by such signal prosper
lty, both in the mother country and in the
colony-there was a feeling ofrivairy between
them, and OF apparent jealousy at one an
others success. The visit of the Prince of
wales showed that at the bottom the people
OF the United States entertained q hearty SYM
pathy for the country from which they derived
their descent, and the visit promised to eXer-
else a valuable influence on the future rela-
tlons OF the two countries. 4 strong feeling of
regret has been expressed throughout England
at the dissensions between the Southern and
Northern States. Foreigner after foreigner
has come to me and said, ~ on must be very
glad tosee this weakening of your great riyal;''
but not single Englis hman has made such
remark; and believe that the affinity of
blood does produce, and has produced, a = otrong
degree of sympathy throughout England for a
country which Is almost as free AS our own.


In England we enjoy this adyan tage--that
the minority with us has alnpler opportuni-
hes of expressing itself than it possesses un-
der more democratic institutions. 1t is not
for me to prophesy or TO point out how these
dissensions Will end but whether for the
welfare of the United States or with view to
the future relations between the two coun-
tries, L believe 1t is the earnest desire of the
English people that the quarrel should cease,
fhear hear, and we wish it may terminate in
the way which is most likely to insure the
prosperity of this great and kindred nation -
Hear, hear. Respecting the production OF
cotton. entirely concur with the ad vice given
by noble earl. 1t has now become more
necessary than ever 10 extend the resources
from which we derive our supplies of this
article.


In nearly all the addresses grateful acknow
ledgments of the courtesies received in the
United States by the Prince of Wales Were
mingled with expressions of coincidence that
the Great Republic should at the present time
be rdcked with dissensions.