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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2809, 14 February 1878, Page 2

Vhwed in the light of recent events the speech of the Premier of England at the Lord Mayor's banquet, Guildhall, on November 9th (which we reprint to-day), may be read with interest. As is pretty well known, at the annual festivity accompanying the installation of the Lord Mayor, the speech which is given in response to the toast of "Her Majesty's Ministers " is always looked forward to with great interest, because it is expected to indicate pretty plainly the policy of the Government on the leading topics of the day. On the occasion referred to, Nov. 9th, 1877, this was especially the case, many of the home papers for weeks before being taken up with speculations as to what would be the nature of the Premier's utterances. Some journals went so far as to advise him—others less mcdesfc had the impertinence to dictate what he should say. It ii not our purpose to criticise the speech. One or two features struck us a«j worthy of note, to which we will proceed. The first portion of the speech dealt with the Indian famine; the second with the war in Europe. These two formed the text, general topics being ignored. In the portion treating of the war the Premier defined the policy of the Government as one of strict neutrality ; a policy which had been adopted after much thought, and from which tbe Government had never swerved. Now, what do we see? In less than three months rumours of dissensions in the Cabinet, one MiuLler resigned and another reported to have done so. Bub we read on, and we find that the strict neutrality hitherto observed will not be respected " should British interests be assailed or menaced." Have they been either assailed or menaced that a British squadron has been ordered to Stamboul, and can such a step be regarded as a breach of neutrality P Then the Premier points out that for some time it has been said of Turkey that " its people was effete aad its government a fiction;" merely tolerated to maintain " a fictitious balance of power and peace in Europe," and that the sooner this was proved the better. Query: Did the Premier imagine when he spoke that the proof was likely to bo evolved out of Russia's occupation of Constantinople ? We might notice many other points, but they will commend themselves to readers, and we feel sure that the advice tendered by the Premier at the banquet, when he supposed himself and his colleagues questioned as to the hopes of peace being restored, will not much longer avail: it was, in the words of Horace Walpole, '• Try a little patience."