Wednesdaynext. terbury, Lord Ashburton, Sir John Beckett, Sir Henry Hardinge,

Mr. Horsley Palmer, Mr. Ormsby Gore, Mr. G. R. Dawson, Lord Lyndhurst, .Lord Wharneliffe, Lord Abinger, Sir George Clerk, and Mr. Yates Peel. Mr. John Masterman was in the chair.

After the usual loyal toasts had been given, Mr. Masterman proposed the health of "their distinguished guest, Sir Robert Peel."

Sir Robert rose to reply and spoke as follows. (We adopt the cor-

rected version which the Standar! rec3mmeaes for the spnial uses of its patty.)

"Gamer:len. with a deep feeling of arida and satisfaction by which I must neces- sarily be animated, there does mix, ae you may well believe, one painful feeling that spritsgs from the cunsciuusness th it any language of mine must be totally inadequate to express the intensity of my settsatious in addressing you upon the present oceans (Lued cheers.) Gentlemen. I nen know that these are the trite and ordinary ecots made by all speakers upon occasions like the present ; but if you will only place your- selves iu my ituatiou, if you will only recollect that I was alone, as it were, in this • v t het I rernained seated while all the rest of on were standing, that I re-

cornpara , ,

waived silent while all the rest of you were enthusiastically vociferating your generous approbation, that I wns conscious that all your kindly attention told cousiticratiun and deep reeling were concentrated upon myself,- if you will recollect that I am a public man, that I am a matt of the people, that I derise. I will not say toy chief, my only strew:tit from public applause anti public confidence. that I ant moreover a man who looks for no reuard for public services excepting, only public. approbation- (Loud /,,r)-t' Ito aspires to no dignity excipt in all honesty and purity the good opinion of Ills fellow subjects. the sontel maxi opiniou I 111V:ill. as distinguished from the paltry and fleeting popularity white' may he gained at the moment. even by the weakest :old meat cuntentptible, in pandering or sueennibing to faction-(Lew/ cheers) -or even in more meekly anti gently attempting at once tu flatter atel inflame the people's please dices -( Load cheers.) I say. ths•n, that if you w ill take all these embitter:ohms and circumstances into your attention, you may be net! able to believe, that although the excties: I have offered s cm for my tiefteiency in pieta adequately to respond to s tutu at kindness may be trite, t hough it may be the ordinary phraseology of speakers itt complimentary assemblages, vet mon this peculiar omission it is perrectly consistent with truth, find that I do feel...myself salable to satisfy myself in pouring forth to you tut beartfelt thanks for the honour at hich you have vouchsafed to confer upon me. ( and lung cheering.) Hut let toe not le. 5n9)0414 of idle egotism. I.et it tea be thought that I haat+ been so misled by the suggest ions of personal anit v as to atea ibute to tia :elf, or any deserts of mine, the origin of this nesting, or the let:lilies whieh you' hale this evening expressed. I agree with our worthy clutionau itt thinkine thst the tuldress which I received from so large a body of the merchants, bankers. :ma lrielere, or this city was a sufficient compliment and rewanl for ally seivices atel exertions or mine. It asserted the principle by which I was animated ; it bore with it the true reward of public services-lhe approbation of my tellow•citizetts. (Loud cheers.) I wanted no other demonstration of public feeling (" Hear! ") - and if I had regarded this meeting :is merely a demonstration of personal compliment, I shoula Iazi e almost discouraged it as, after the whIress, a superfluous token of public esteem. ((heers.) Nu, Sir, the object of this meeting is a demonstration of public feeling in the Metropolis. (load cheers.) I do think that public intereets may be promoted by it. (f me I do thitik. Sir. that the impulse which has been given in this centre of the commercial world -(Cheers)--the vital impulse-must thrill to every extremity of the British empire. (Cheers.) I repeat, Sir. that the throes of this mighty heart must as they act send the uholesome life blood of sound doctrine mut good principle to every remote member of the corporate holy of the United Kingdom. (('antinued cheering.) Gentlemen. 1 understand that by assemblies: mere today you hate shown an attachment to the ancient institutions of the esuntory. meta firm resolution to maintain tilOSC principles, w hich are interwoven unit the safety or theee institutions, and the security end ptosperity of tlins enquire. ((hars.) It was incenthent mon you to come Furth in this Insulter. because you do not happen to lisve ans publicly nate:razed organ t)tronell whom your sentiments could be expressed. (lAnd cheers.) WIn.11 I look round this great nuatine, abounding as it does in u eidth- abounding in intelligence-Menu:ding in respectability- mid retlact there is not one single alettilea out of the eighteen allotted fas the Metropolitan di, tricts to represeet your opinions, I ant tsot surprised that you should resolve to speak for yourselves. Whatever let the numbers Item assembletl, I hey might have been almost it:definitely suelled by fresh al'el",,d1/11i. This hall has been *ext.(' to the tat meet extent et its ac- cent:et:elation. and if there were moan for ten times a greater trenber of eentlemen within walls ue should have had them present. (Great cheering.) Alld yet you and yen friends had not the good fortune to secure a single Representative to s ourselves out of the whole eighteen, by whom your °Onions could be spoken, through Open sour just stud legitimate influence could he exercked in the public councils. ( tond met to promote a pelaie object, that out ve ill tel frotn me some fluffier observations, and some ;allusions to the state of public afrairs-(Cheers)-and, gentlemen. what I shall ssy will be spoken by me as one of yourselves -(Cheers)-not us one anxious for triumph ,:s a party man-still less as a candidate fr office. (Laud and continyed eta, cc.) I shall speak to you ZIA a British subject, feeling a tenfold greater interest in the cause of good government than in any emoluments or advantages he could po:siley derive front office-((Ireat checring)-a nom who has a tenfold. greater &sire fur the netin- ten:Ince of the principles he professes and conscientiously believes to be essential to the weleire of the coentry, than for any benefits which wherse hula iduals may dreatn he could have by the acquisition of ofliee. (Enthiaaotie cheering.) I believe indeed that there is uo greater nusteke than that people situated as I happen to be are so very anxious for office. 1,..• near, hear !" and laughter.) Some fancy that the wholesome rest of every politician is breteen by his feverish longing for office. (" Hear, hear ! and laughter.) If I scare to speak from my own experience. I should tell a diffinent tale. (" Hear! ") There is to me nothing in office, so far as mere pereonal reclines or inte- rests are concerned, to compensate for its labours and its annoyances. natal its Seep anxie- ties. (('heers.) Away, then, Sir, with the rilicalous assertion that men who are really qualified for the first trusts or t he state would consent to procure them by any dishonest sacritice of opinion, to any compromise of character. (Long-cerntinued cheering.) There is the profession of great alarm about Court intrigue and Cotut Etventritism, and base coalitions of public men fin- the promotion of private ends. The country quite mistakes the real danger in this respect ; the danger is, not that public men fit for public trusts and worthy of publie confidezwe, will seek office by unworthy means, but that they will seek excuses for declining it-will refuse to bear the heavy sacrifices of time anal labour and repose which it imposes. (Lentemdinued cheering.) That office bolds out greet atl. vantages to the ambitious nand I will nut deny ; but are there sot without office, noel if not greater means of distinction in public lie? (Cheers.) For myself, in taking office. I was urges! by nothing but a sense of pttblic duty, and by the tiesire not to shrink from that which at is iccumbent on every British subject to do to serve his King when called upon to the utmost of his ability and povrer. (Loud cheers.) I hope that his Majesty has no: a more devoted servant than I ; bait when I entered the King's sect ice I entered it with the conscioustiess that I neither sought nor desired any favour, any honour, any reward which the King has it in his power to ltes!ow. I do nut deny that office has its advantages. I think it any thing but a reflectiou on a putulic man to seek it, when he can hold it consisteutly aid' his public principles, antl when the holding it will advance those principles; but speaking for myself, I can say with truth, that I do not covet it, and that nothing has reconciled me to it hut the imperative sense or public duty. The chief consolatiuu I have had hultltng at, iii tlw chief reward I retain on a diminishing it, is the proud reflection that I have had the good fortune of being connected in Civil life %title that illustrious man whose fame exceeds that of any other COOlillefor-(Checrs)-a, man from whom I never have been separated by any difference out political subjects, and nith whom my con- nexion never has been embittered: by the blightest touch of paltry jealousy. (Loud cheers.) I am gratified by the thought ; connected as I have been with him itt civil ap- pointments, I shall have nty name transmitted with his to after ages. This is the chief pride, the dearest gratification of my heart. (F,thu deistic cheers.) II 1 I feel that I have been strayiug from the subject immediately before us-the present state of public affairs. Allow me to speak to you not as a party noun, hut as one of yourselees. and to statmit to yon plain opinions in -plain language. (Cheers.) I prefer this, mei I am sure so will see, to that elaborate cone:dentition of phrases which is F n 711 t laws cute! elo- quence, in which you have the smallest possible cptantitv of common sense enveloped in the greatest multitude of equivocal words. (Chars and faultier.) I say to you, then, there is danger to the institutions of this country - (Great cheering)- danger to the prized and happily.tempereti form of governmeta under which we have lived and pros- pered. ((untinueil cheerinf.) Hut ills ill your roe us, mad in the tower of those who think with you and fill situations in the country corresponding to yours. to avert the danger. ((ontinued cheering.) It is in your power, by unremitting activity and by the

exercise of those functions which the coast it Mien has left to you: to mitigate, if not

altogether to remove the evil. (Loud checr.0 My opiui llll is, that the danger can be only met by your gaining an effectual inthience in the popular branch of the Legit Jaime. (•• Mar, hear V) We shall only aggravate the evil if we attempt to deceive ourselves as to the nature of that instruments we can employ. Let us not indulge in useless lamentations. Let us waste no time in regretting that which is beyond our aemedY: (Cheers.) This is quite idle. The first step towards safety is a knowledge of the real source of our streugth, a just co didence in it, an 1 a firm restitution to exest it. I f we cease to take a desponding view of public a &Us, all will be yet well. Thanes you may not be able to exercise teat full share of influence to which you are &e- mutely entitled, yet hesitate not to strain every nerve to acquire all that eau be amain& (Cheers.) Act like Englishmen; and if sou will do so I am confilent, from the national spirit and indomitable resolution, that the country a ill be resenwd from the: dangers by which it is at present threatened. (Cheers.) I want you that you must nut place a firm reliance upon the prerogative of the Crown, on the influence or authority of Use Iloase of Lords. The prerogative of the one, the authority of the other, are constitutionally potent in occasionally controlling the+ acts or encroachments of the Ifonse of Cononoas; but you must not now•salays depend upon them as bulwarks which are imps:sable, and which can be committed without apprehension to the storm anal snuggle of Nestle's and and :Rion and the love of change. The government of the country, allow me tw tell you, ntust he mainly conducted with the goodwill anal through the herneetisle agency of the House of Commons. I again say, the royal prerogative, the authority 4 the Houee of Lords, are most useful, nay, necessary, in our mixed anal balauced oneyV- oaten. Rut you maid not sttain those powers. You do not consider tied worthy of the name of government which is nothing but a series of jealousies and hostile coltish= between two branches of that Legislature. You wish to see all branches of the Lerida- ture maintaining each its independent authority. but moving, through mutual confi- dence, in harmonious concert tinvards the great end of civil society ana civil govecnatent -the jusialic good. (Loud cheers.) I ask you, then. not to undervalue the mese! and authority of the Ilottse of Commons, not to trust to the controlling checks uhiels reay theoretically exist upon that power and authority ; but to secure, through the legitazete exercise of cutestit ill tonal ink ileges, that degree of influence for your principles i a nit I tons,. of Comtnons, which %vitt be mom pm erful for the establishment of what is wed and t he resietance of what is evil, than any intrinsic control of the Crown or the Deese of Lords. On takine uflice, I avowed my determination to :Linde by the Reform BilL I trust I have redeemed that pledge. (abed cheers.) On this broad constitution; it eteatt- ciple my friends and I zmeted. We weed in the spirit sulfite Heft:rill Bill; not nige Tint merely couteet cc ith a cold assent and SlIblablidall to it. Ina with an henea asa generous deference to the authority which it established. When we Aetna. after a pa- tient trial, thud Me had not the coufitlence of the House of Counnons, altieneh the array against us was miscellaneous itt the extreme. although the majority wee smell. we felt it our duty to resign. (Cheers.) Ilowever strongly -me might have oppaesIthe elective system before, me now adhered to our pledge. ( laud cheers.) We did out en- tertain the idea or geverning the country against a majority of the Reformed Ilotee Commons. (Cheer:.) We refused, indent, to be mere passive instruments in the bezves of that :majority ; we thought it safer for the country so to ranee ; and therersee wi retired from office. Allow me, then, to recommend you also to follow this example, to refrain font flattering yourselves with any distant hope of all nine the present S'ilE tem ; let us riot seem to threaten, even in thought, those who have se:pared new rights with the forfeiture of tint acquisition. (Chars.) Let us stand by the constitution as it exists at present. (Cheers.) Let us never hint at alterat, en, or raise a secret derbt by our conduct, even in the minds of the most suspicious. I unity venture to propktesy to you that the proposition for chanes• will not come from yoe. 11 it comes,it stilt *OVID from detee who clamoured most loudly for the Reform Dille-who demanded the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill. (Great n.al eentinued cheering.) Ay, it will come from tawas anth the moment, perhaps, is not far distant --the moment they have averts inedthe tral is tea likely to answer tlw purposes they haul in view, t he motnent they see it is sot re- tent to exel tide the infl ionce of what we call Conservative principles. (('antin,cleheer to.) Let us then declare our readiness to aecept in good faith. as a constitutional set tlentene, the pros ieions or the Reform Bill, and let us by that declaration fortify ourselves ir. the resistance to new agitations of the public mind on questions of government-new lama- vatiotte on what was called but yesterday by its friends the secowl charter of tater liberties. And while yon respect the Iterorm ihilt. psove that determinat nu to respert it by exercising every ptivilege whieh it leaves untouche.l. or e hich it for the first time confers. There must be no laziuess, ut op:atty.:in:Lahore all, ito despondency. (('aecer.)

Let each man consider the lianchise poseeeses not a personal privilege. but as a

public trust, which it is his ditty to fulfil. (Great cher ri 13ut I have sail erivesw ttpsn this subject ; I do nut despair that if est continue to exert ourselves, if we nest set an example to the empire, it will, iti all its pails, he before long animitael hy ere constitutional :aid truly English feelinee: whielt are here displaytel. (eL ll ,, llow, it mill be asked, are you to est:a:hell-to regain yottr inattence in the liouse al Commons? Not as your enemies would impute to you, by bribery and corrupt-ma and unworthy means, but by gnu; forth and with a frank exposition of your Kiri:pies (Cheers)-aud by showing that there is nothing selfish in your support of the ha:Ste-- lions under which tou live, and of the rights which we all enjoy. Disclaim et: terebt in the maintenance of any :ffittse-',Cheers)-Ileclare that we tar.' willing le etee dress any real grievantie-(Cheers)-and to concur in the application of the hese a seeds which eau poesibly be devised for that purpose. (Ltnel cheers.) We hold that 12.9 public office ought to be maintained for the purpose of patronage -(Cheers)-that public v.- :ointments can only he vindicated on the ground of their being necessary to the plaWs service. (('heers.) We want no sinecures. (1,enal cheers.) We want tea greater amount of salary for the reward of stay public men than that which may lte sine:sent for securing integrity mid competence in the discharge of 11m:en:tent official &lien. (Cheers.) We deny that we are separated by any line of interest, or of pride, or capti. vilrge, from the mid:ling classes of this country. (lei:errs.) Why. who are we, or at least nineaentlis of those who are bere assembled, that any one should tell ne tiles etc have an interest separate from those of the middling classes of sotriety ? (Cheers.■ 71 we don't belong to the middling classes olsociety, I want to know how wide tae intermit may be ilea is presumed to separate las? (( 'heers.) Speaking in behalf:A.11We metier at Intst of those assembles! within these walls, I say we dielaim any separathe. tease the middling classes of society in this country; we are hornet to them by a a:ea:ma.' ramilicatious of direct personal connexion, and common interests and common feelings. (Laud cheers.) If eircumstanees flirty appear to have elevated some of us above there, to what, I venture to ask, is that elevation owing? (('heer:.) Either on our own part. or on the part of our immediate forefathers, it is owing to not Iting else but to the cytosine of those qualities of diligence, the love of order, or industry, or integrity iu commer- cial dealings-(Cheers)-which secure to every member of the middle classes of society the opportunities of elevation anti distiuctiou in this great community - (Cher rs)-and it is because we OWe Our elevation in society to the exercise of those qualities, and because es- feel that so long as this ancient form of government, and the iustitutions connected With it, and the principles and feelings which they engender shall endure, the same elevation ma s still be secured by the same means, that Si' are resolved, through anil by the blessing of God, to keep clear for others those same avenues that were opened to ourselves-a/met eheerst- nor will allow their coarse to be obstructed by men who want to secure the same advantages by dishonest meats; to reach by some shorter cut that goal which could be surely attained, but meld aaly be attained through industry and patient perseverance and strict integrity. (Jane and contihuvl cheering.) Gentlemen, what was the charge against myself ?-that the Kin; had sent for the son of a cotton spinner to Rome, in order to in:the Itim Jaime Minister or England. (Cheers.) Did I feel that a reflection ? Did it make me tbs. contentea nal] the state of the laws and institutions of than country? No; but does it not make me, ant ought it not to make you. gentlemen, anxious to preserve that order of things under which the same opportunities of distinction may be reserved to other sons or other ca • on-spinners, if they can establish a legitimate claim on the ennfide.oce of their King es country. (Laud cheers.) We are charged with having some interest in the perpettie eon of abuses. Why, can there be any one with a greater interest Oust we have, thud t se public burdens should be as mtich lightened as can possibly be con- sistent with ale maintenance of the public engagements ? We are representsi as fattening on i he public income. Loolung to this company. and to those associatna with it in feeling, is there any one motite, I ask, connected with the increase of the public revenue, that can countervail the interest we have in the reduction of the pearlie burdens? (Cherre.) We therefore, I say, have a direct, a superior interest to awe other in the correction of every abuse. ana the application of Ivry just ecouusuieal remedy. At the same time, consistently n lilt these feelings, conlistently with tate de- termination to correct real abuses, and to promote real economy. we do not disguise that it is our firm rest:I:diem to maintaia to the utmost of our power the iiesiaca mooarzby of this country -(('cars)-to respect the rightsof every branch of the Legis- lature-(Cheers)-tu maintain inviolate dm united Church of England and Laboa -(Loudehei rs) -to maintain it as a preateninant establishment -(Ifertereed chef rs)- mennin4 by prelornitattlee, not the denial of any civil right to other classes of the CAM- munity, lett maintaining the Church in the possession of its property and of all its just privileges. (Chee..s.) Such it is onr firm resolution, submitting to no compromise -( Cheer-ea-awl exercieing every priVilege Which the constitution has intrusted to us for the legitimate maintenance anal sepport of the constitution in Church awl State- ( Load and c.d.-dinned cheering.) This is the appeal we make to the mitldle classes tel tar community-to those who are mainly the depositories of the elective freuclatee- (Cheers.) We tell them that it is not only our determination to sesist any de. reet attack on our institutions, butt that we are also resolved that we sill not permit the ancient prescriptive government of this conntry-(Cheers) -the mitigated mon:untry. consisting of three branches of the Legislature-we are determined that we will sse altow it to be changed by plausible and speelous propositioue 01 reform —(Loed cheers) —into c democratic republic. (Loyd cheers.) He will not allow, a weenie preveut it, us will not allow, that through any the most plausible and popular pretexts of im- provement and reform, there shall gradually take place inch an Infusion of democracy into the institittions of this country as she'll essentially change their theory and prac- tical character, and by slow degrees rob us of the blessings we have so long enjoyed under our limited monarchy and popular but balanced constitution. (Loud cheers.) Now, gentlemen. that is what 1 apprehend we mean—this is the construction we put upon the term by ' Conservative principles'—(Loud cheers); and such is the ground on width we make an nptwal to the country at large for the maintenance of those prin. eiples. (Cheers.) Ite tell all. in uhatever class of life they may be. that they ought to feel as deep an interest in the maintenance of those principles as any of the politi- cians or men of property who are now within my hearing. (Cheers.) The eneournge- ment of industry depends on the maintenance of those principles. (Cheers.) The preservation of order depends oil this not less than the maintenance of that security u bleb has !adieu to lett own through honest industry to accumulate property in this country. (Loyd cheers.) Anil now that the feelings excited by a late political contest have subsided, 1 cannot help entertaining a sincere hope and belief, tli,• claiming any inteution of interfering improperly with the political franchise. there i4 still that fund or good sense in this community that will enable you, if not to gain a preilomivating influence in the Commons House of Parliament. still to acquire that dtagree of influence that shall control 0/1111 prevent many bad pi ojects. (Loud cheers) My ethic, to you'. then, is not to permit past (Who veers on petit :eat subjeets noe to prevent a cordial tinion with those who take it similar view with your. selves on matters of immediately pressing emergency. (('heers.) note an! many questions on which yen formerly diVred that are now settled. There are many public men front a horn you formerly differed. who now agree with you that the Reform Bill is not to be made a platform from which a new battery is to be directed against the re. staining institutions of this etaintry. (Loud cheers.) If they agree n ilia you on t its the essential practical point—if while they wish unit y on to correct real alets..s, they are still determined to maintain the ancient principles on e !deli the elitist ittitiou ofthe country is futueled, to protect the interests of order and property—it a mild fe madness to resist, uhl and extinguished ilifferetiecs. and to allow them to obstruct an litirmonious and cordial union Por the ilefenee and preservation of all that leniailas. (Loud cheers ) Gentlemen. I ought to apologize ter detaining. you so lime ; and I shall led Willer pre. vent my honourable friend the Chairman front preceeding in the exoctitien of his re. Matilling ditties. (Cheers.) But, in etinchision, let mo intreat you to recollect the tos sociations connecied a ith the place wlwre we are now assemided. From this place it voice issued in 1;9:3 of memorable minnow— a radee in support of the ancl.dit principles of the British monarchy —(('lmers)-•a sl,ju us deli enahled the Ministers of the day to cheek the contagion of democratic and French principles, than in their rage. (Cheers.) I call on you to remeinher the motto under n hich yam are asscitibled—• Con- cordia partte cresciant :' to bear in mind, that by acting on the it, ii which it it' volves, small as yoar inflaence 'AI the plIblie councils may now be, it is capable by unity or purpose, bv cordial concert and get oh understanding. by eminnon exertions iii retied to a common end, ills copal& of vast expansion and increase. la:s oar exanaple you a ill rally around you a thous:dal arms to light in the fame rigliteou, cause. (Loud rhe, s.) to the countly from this the inetrepolis Lame. cac.,, that, entertaining mit:tildes of nunieration in public alfMrs. yon us ill stand in defeitee of the ancient walls, and geoid the ancient landmarks of the constitution —(Checre, — that you still rally round the monarchy aut Irate : it in its just prerogatives. proteet the independent exemise of the mutuality of the Ilanise of Lonts—(1.ottd cheess). mniutain firm and itivioLible the rights of the Established Church. (Corers.) That you will stand by, in the emphatic langinme of the most solemn acts of Pailiannea,

the Protestant government and the Protestant religion of this country. ( )

Eie-

sating that voice in thin' C.Olse of t hose pritieiplos —principh-s so illSt. so

necessary, so iatienal, depend upon it the voice yeti rube will reeclmed Irot every

part or this costa ry, and the palsat ion of the heart of I hi-, gleat corporate COTTOT■111:iiy

will vibrate through every artery of this mighty en p e [ I he right hoPottrable Baronet sat dmvu zunialst loud and long protracted cheeraig.

The Duke of Wellington made a brief ape eh of thanksgiving when

his health WitS drunk. The followieg is the t. lily passaew wurtil ex- tracting- - we vonsider what the measure; sc.' which any right honourable friend bad