POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
The Lord Mayor's annual progress, from the City to Westminster took place yesterday. The novelty in the procession was the appearance of bodies of riflemen. There was also a posse of 4‘. men in armour.' In- the evening the usual banquet took place at the Guildhall. Lord Palmerston, .Lord John Russell, and the principal Cabinet Ministers were
present. The French, the Sardinian, and the Persian Ambassadors:were there, and also a large contingent of the chiefs of the Conservallie party. The principal speeches delivered were those of M. de Persigny and J..ord Palmerston. M. de Peraigny, on behalf of the Ambassadors, spoke, as follows, using his mother tongue-
' I am quite sure that the wishes which have just been expressed for the continuance of peace will be received with lively satisfaction by the whole of the diplomatic body in London: I see- the roof of it in that spirit of wisdom and of moderation which so happily exhibits itself in the conduct of the 'European Governments, and especially in the sacrifices which, in one way or another, all the Great Powers are making in the interests of the general peace. For the friendly words which the Lord Mayor has addressed to 'France and to her august. Sovereign I deeply thank hint. It isnot the first time that, in the midst of the preoccupations of the public mind, the City of London has expressed feelings of confidence and security. The reason of this is simple : with that, practical spirit of business which has raised this ogat City to so high a Point of riches and power, it has been the first to see that Which many politicians do not seem yet sufficiently to understand— namely, that, instead'of those rival interests which we formerly witnessed in every part of the world, it has come to pass through the development of - our manufacturing and commercial; existence, that not. nly do we,possess a great number of interests in common, but that no longer in any part of. the world, have we any interest, that:is hostile. Why., then, these anxieties, suspicious, these mistrusts, which en every incident of Policy are generated on both sides of the channel ? It is beeause we cannot efface in a day the traces of so many centuries of rivalry and strife ; it is because, in spite of ourselvee, and unwittingly, we are . both of us still too much disposed to look at the events of the present through the mag- nifying and deceptive glasses of the recollections of the past. But, thank Ileaven, the reason, the good sense, the interests of the two nations, tends everyday to dissipatethese falsifying mirages; for everyclarmen's minds are more clearly and more positively impressed with this main considera- tion, that, having everything to lose, and nothing to gain, by new contests, the two nations can mutually derive as many benefits from peace as they could inflict injuries on themselves by war. That, 'gentle- men, is the true truths that is what we understand in France, as well as you can understand it-in England ; that, in Sheet, is the meaning- of the great economical revolution which the Emperor has just accomplished in France by the treaty of commerce, and of which the vast compass, in pro- portion as it becomes more known and better appreciated in England, will confound the accusations of which we have been the object, and will further
cement peace between the two countries." ' • Lord .Palmerston spoke for her Majesty's Ministers. The substantial parts of his speech were these. Ministers did not Meet their with gloomy forebodings: The general-prospect is satisfactory. In China we have been acting cordially with the Emperor. Then he said that there should beequality of force between 'great nations. On the Continent they have great armies. We redress the balance by fortifying vulnerable points, by our Militia and Volunteers, and above all by our powerful navy.
" I say this in the presence of the eepresentatives of foreign and allied powers. (Cheers:)" I say. it in a spirit of frankness, of cordiality, of friend- ship," of alliance, and of peace. (Cheers.) We wish for peace with all nations ; and alliance ; but we are determined by the manly dignity of our -position PO prove, to them ':that we are -worthy to retain and enjoy that -friendship and alliance.'? . (Cheers.), Speaking_ of recent commercial sobangest he said, "-I truat, gentlemen, that those changes which have been Inade will not only tend to cement. more closely the ties of friendship and alliance between England and France, but that the 'example thua nobly set bY the Freneh Emperor, in Overcoming long standing prejuclles and giving fell-effect' to the true theories of commerce, may he followed by 'other froiserrunents on the Continent who are not so advanced in, commercial AlOghtenment, and that from year to year we shall find those commercial relations which are the greatest links of Peace gradually and rapidly extending throughout the-whole European Continent." (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Gladstone, Lord Brougham, General Peel,' and-Lard John Russell slim made speeches.
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