ENGLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 623, 15 January 1870, Page 2

ENGLAND.

' London, Nov. 9. The inaugural banquet of the r Lord Mayor of London took place to-night at Guildhall, Members, of the Muiistryjr' foreign Ambassadors, and. a large and dial? tinguished company were present. Mr Gladstone responded to the toast of "Her Majesty's Ministers" in a long speech*: He returned thanks for the; honor, and said the good feeling of citizens towards the Government was owing to the indications of the common sentiments pervading the land. Referring to Ireland, he said it was melancholy to be compelled to confess that an island that we had; governed 700 years had not fulfilled, the, first conditions of a civilised community j -=not yet been brought i,nto. harmony ; with our laws and institutions. Society there is politically diseased. We see a people of noble capacity and quick sus-. ceptibjlities, whose hearts in .many cases, do not beat with a warm attachment to. sister countries, and who do not in all respects yield to the authority of the laws which we gladly recognise on this side of the Channel. While expressing the deepest pain at the condition of affairs in-Ireland^ he said the Ministry would continue ta labor to give all Ireland the strength and unity which a considerable part of the island now enjoys. In regard to the foreign policy, it would be idle to say that this Department has no small interest for England. Impertinent interference we. shall always avoid as meddlesome, and an ambitious desire for influence we -shall always forswear ; but the sentiment of true brotherhood for those countries with which we are United by so many ties, every Ministry is bound to cultivate, and should not venture to renounce. Happily we are dissuaded from prosecuting quarrels with the world, having none to prosecute. But the friendly assistau.ee of England, though not obtruded, is always ready when sought for, and has been .no small influence in allaying the disturbances and composing the differences which have and might have arisen in various parts of the »vorld. In referring to the general settlement of England's differences with foreign countries, he said there was one general exception, which was one of the deepest interest, to . ajl Englishmen — namely/ our relations with America. In this connection he referred to Mr Peabody , who was in one sense a citizen of both countries, and eulogised him as a man whose splendid benefactions will immortalize his name in England, but whosa name, in a broader sense, is applicable to" all humanity. With Mr Peabody's country we are not likely to r . quarrel. It is true that, although care and skill in diplomacy animated, though it has been by the purest and most upright feelings, has not imperilled our peace, it has failed to lead to the first issue up to the present time. .-Upon the tang'e 1 questif na of law which have been in discussion between the two countries, considerable delay has taken place ; yet every delay, instead of leading to danger was prompted by coni siderations of good will and a desire to allow the intervention of a limited time to otv ate difficulties. I believe the world would view with horror a parricidal strife between England and America ; but such a state of affairs is not likely to arise from our present relations ; and my confidence is in the sentiments which I know animate the American Government, and which, animate the friends of the people of these two great countries. (Cheers.) Nov. 10. There is still considerable excitement in Ireland on the question of the imprisoned Fenians. Despatches from Dublin to-day state that last evening, during a meeting of the Dublin Amnesty Association and Amnesty Committee, a number of men broke into the rooms of the latter and smashed the lamps, -destroyed the furniture^ purloined the records, and committed other outrages. No arrests, were made. . ■••■■:■ ; The Times reports that the Irish land question is a matter of great difficulty j but if the Ministry are unable to cope with it, what must be said of their courage and statesmanship 1 The national feeling is more advanced than the temper of .Parr liament in the resolution to support the Ministry in a thorough and searching, workmanlike attempt to cure the -longstandiug evil of Irish discontent. The Central Fenian Amnesty Committee ask Irishmen to abstain from the use of tobacco until the Fenian prisoners are released. The object of making this request is to reduce, the revenue of the Government, and at the same time provide a means for keeping up the amnesty agitation; , Despatches from Constantinople report that, owing to the combined efforts of the British and Austrian Ministers, there is a prospect of securing the free navigation of the Dardanelles for the merchant marine of all nations. A four-oared match race forL2oohas been arranged, to take place on the Tyne, on November 17. After the race on the Thames to-day, Sadler, of the Thames crew, exasperated by defeat, shamefully abused and struck Waller Brown, the American oarsman. Friends interfered and prevented the quarrel from proceeds ing, any further. The Times in an, article on th^ situation.

in Spain, foresees that tho understanding between Prim and Serrano must tend m the election of a king. . j