21 JANUARY 1837, Page 6

SCOTLAND.

We mentioned last week, that after the delivery of his inaugural ad- dress to the Glasgow students, on Wednesday, Sir Robert Peel

dined with the Faculty of the University. The dinner over, he ne- tompaiiied the Dean of Faculty and Sir Daniel Sandford to a grand hall given in the Assembly-rooms, Ingram Street ; where lie was cordially received by a brilliant pasty. The next mottling he spent some time in the transaction t.f what is called College busi- ness," and then visited the lloyel Exchange, which was quite crowded : so eager was the curiusity to see and bear, that persons jumped upon the tables, and broke some of the bastitifel lustres which adorn the room. Sir Robert addressed the ursembly in a short speech, full of graciellS condesi-ensi, it.

t'l-‘entlenntri ,ta'11`, 1 am • nye I need lun,lly exres: on•-1 stn =tire it is finite impossit,l, ter the to de,nil,e to Melings at vietvitnt this ,rem cocruur.e of niviu fth ,t,q. j'"iq. a /hi r.11; a S.M. I 11 u!'a sic., left that made instinttioh, Ideh, hy the Tunnt.xi,t. i I,ve reeenti Fumed' it it, has :;ices me a ilea interest in the pros- redt y 01. t 1,61 ,,,pay. I am ..!r•wk v,Itel, I• .1111.1'.' Ole time, worn them': a.•1 to-taut 01 astern! le ;Am ;! It it ••‘1,1, •.,n t raked to .. rein untariai.e, iu hie', l Way lint ralAr yutt silt obstnve that I alfea14 hvgilk i•Xi611,:i. pride feel it ills CO1:OUNIOoi lilt 'We Of 1111. •,,to 1111 l o t, (la lilt' ;iron utta u it leatt jaalte,,y, You know ...It, that your m,,_'' tl in day; pone Ls rho pratmtud phihoophy of

Adam tocterity• the ,,',Lois I gqtitasot.lameA Watt, gave bitth to that spirit

of eommervial uhtetplise e hi h has reaunl this glorious eddiee,--a asunder monument, in tut opinion, to the writings at the tine am'. the IIIVellfiltUS Of fill' Star, then the sta- tuary', v'.'sel ca pru•kce, 1101, ii.,',,pentently of my CO1111...Xi:al a WI the l'itiversity, 1 slainhi be 1■1:g■' 0,•ria itol•md if I did not Mel a cordial interest in a city list ingnished for 1,urst,ila to e.ldelt rear, a” n, w'4. I Call ,ISSI1W yon fiat 1 have alatits lett that it to rest strongly. :oat that nit ,!torts a ill never be wanting to promote the e,onmervial rIty 0, tAlas,;4.v. ; iu th,,eintro or %, hid', as hard Rector of its Uni- vet sit y. 1 shalt tam feel it • t ionxer interest than t•ver."

Rapturous applause followed ; and the tender-hearted Tory was " much affected." Ile Tutu, at:it to the University thinteh a crowd of cheering toyeetators. Ilutt• he cecupied himself on Thursday evening is not ment:otted ; but we ir'esinite that he was engaged in feasting and other" Colltle husieess " at DI) thesavuotl, whither he went to pass the night. On Friday snorting, Sir Robert received a deputation at Blythes- wood from the Operative Conservatives of Glasgow, with an address signed by about 2000, and a massive silver box, on one side of which were eligrnved the Pill arms, and on the other those of the City of Glasgow. The Tory papers say, that in this manner was presented to him the "freedom et the city but how a mob of operatives could bestow that honour which the Towu- Council withheld, does not appear. Addresses to Sir Robert were also presented from the Church Extension Society, the Educational Society, the Presbytery, the Merchants' (louse, and Trades' 'louse in Glasgow ; and from cer- tain inhabitants of Psi-ley, St. Andrew's, Jedburgh, and Atistru- ther, all jostling each other to get in a good word with the future Premier.

The grand banquet took place on Friday evening, in the pavilion erected for the occasion ' • which seems to have been more remarkable for size and finery than for elegance of proportion. It was erected in an open space of ground, at the back of the Mansionhouse, in Buchanan Street ; and is thus described by the Glasgow Herald.

"The edifice occupied the whole width of the ground. In length it was 127 feet, and its greatest breadth was of no less extent, the east side being formed into a polygon upon a semicircle, but the sides of the polygon were so numerous as to produce the apparent effect of a cut ve, while the right lines and angles of which it was composed are generally considered more favourable to the trausmissien of sound. [There was, nevertheless, much difficulty in hearing.] The west side formed a line extending the full width of 127 feet. From the middle pi ,r, i 'u of t his tilt a send-elliptical platform, about four feet high, was proiseted, on the mast prmuthent part of which was the chairman a seat, whence tettaels the ereel,iers' platferni ran twelve tables with seats out each 'rete.ttds the loch and sooth, namely, at the right and left side of the chuh, the floe leed been gradually ell witted to such a height, that passage was gaited etelarneatls comuftnicating with the varanis stairs of entrance. The same inclined floor met the croupiets' platform and the central or principal tables. The tables on the inclined portions of the floor were single, that in having seats only on one side. There were 94 single tables, making in the whole 116, giving accommodation to 2298 gentlemen. On the chairman's platform 55 noblemen and gentlemen were accommodated, while that of the croupiers admitted 49. The roof was supported by 24 square slender columns, stained to imitate Sienna marble, those next the wall forming supports for the gallery, which was continued along the several sides of the building except the west. In the depth of the gallery were five tables and a passage of communi- cation; thus 1030 additional seats were obtained, making the whole number 3432. If the character of the aparttneut were viewed without reference to con- venience, safety, or economy, it might be said that the very moderate elevation of the walls occasioned a violation of architectural proportions, for the utmost elevation of the ceiling of a building 127 feet wine was only 33 feet. The general impression created on first entering the pavilion was that of a gigantic theatre with a low roof. The ceiling of the pavilion was lined with cotton cloth framed into panels, the walls under and above the galleries covered with crimson cloth, the front formed into crimson panels with gold mouldings. The whole of the west wall was covered with a painting in distemper formed into three compartments by four Egyptian columns. In the centre compartment was represent:d a rock, whence there arose a pyramid, on which was inscribed the word ' King,' and underneath the words British Constitution.' A pyra- mid occupied each of the other compartments ; on one of which was inscribed ' Lords,' and on the other Commons.'" The cloth used to cover the sides of this immense building was 8000 yards in length (quite sufficient to deaden the voices of the speakers); and it was illuminated with gas ; a beautiful lustre borrowed from the Trades' House hanging from the centre of the ceiling. The whole cost was about 2000/. The arrangements appear to have been admirable; as all the guests were admitted gradually, and seated without the least accident or disorder. By half-past five, the "distinguished" persons bad sat down,—Mr. H. Monteith, of Carstaire, the Chairman ; the Marquis of Tweeddale, the Earls of Leven, Eglinton, Hardwicke, Haddington, Glasgow and Morton, Viscount Melville, Lords John Scott, Stormont, John Campbell, Loughborough, and Forbes, Mr. Campbell. of Blytheswood, Sirs William Rae, George Clerk, William Forbes, H. P. Campbell, and Charles Lamb, Messrs. J. H. Johnston, J. C. Colquhoun, Finlay, Pringle, Home Drummond, Joseph Peel, W. Ewart Gladstone, Emerson Terment, Horatio Ross, Chisholm, Cumming Bruce, Ike.

After the preliminary toasts, Sir Robert Peel's health was given, in one of the shortest speeches ever made on such an occasion ; and drunk amidst cheers from the vast assembly, which made the frail building "tremble to its foundation." Silence having been obtained, there was ti flourish of trumpets, mid Sir Robert thus begun-es

" Gentlemen, I thank you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the kind, the affectionate reception which you have just given to my name. Ex- cuse me if for the purpose of returning thanks I make use of the most simple and familiar phrtves. They are imperfect expressions of my feelings, but they are better suited to expiess them than the trite and exhausted complimentary forma of expression which may be suited for ordinary occasions. What a heart must I have, if I can have witnessed what has passed in Glasgow within the last five days without deep emotion! Unconnected with this country by birth, I have been placed in competition with a distinguished Scotch- man for a high ateelemical distinction. I have been placed in it by it triumph- ant majority, by the generous, the unsought, unsolicited contideoce of the youth of Scotland. I have seen that choice confirmed by the deliberate judg- ment of men of mature age engaged in the pursuits of business and professional life. Thin very day have I received the congratulations on toy appointment from some of the working classes of this city, conveyed in language that would do honour to uteri of the highest education. 1 have seen those feelings so wide- spread and so intense that they disdain to be compressed within the limits of any preex;sting edifice ; and they have called from the ground, as by the stroke of am enchanter's wand, this maguiicent and unparalleled fabric. I have been present here ; I heatil its foundations shaken, and its roof ahnost rent by your enthusiastic aapiatise; and do you think I can condescend to look out for inge- nious forms it expression for the purpose of giving vent to feelings which almost overpower tue?"

Though unconnected with Scotland, lie hoped he was no stranger in the land-

" No, I am not a stranger. If the long exercise of power in Scotland—if the administration of justice—it' intercourse with her civil and religious institu- tions—above all, if love fur her name and admiration for her character, and a cor- dial interest in her welfare, entitle a man to repudiate the name of stranger, then I am not a stranger. 1 am not a stranger to Glasgow. No, gentlemen, when my education was completed I bunted wills anxiety to see Scotland. I came here, to this city ; and I confess to you, that although the interval is but short in the history of a nation, 1 could not have conceived it possible that in that interval such a progress should have been made in the population, in the wealth, in the prosperity of this magnificent city —of this city, that is pouring into the coffers of the Lnited Kingdom from one branch of revenue alone a greater treasure than continental natiens possess for their whole expenditure. I c.inie here-1 wished to see something of Scotland which I could nut have seen by hasty glimpses front the windows of a luxurious post-chaise. I wanted to see other habitudes and manners of life, besides those which the magnificent castles and mansions of our nobility and gentry present. Yes, in Glasgow I hired a humble but faithful steed ; and I traversed, partly on horseback and partly on toot, almost the whole of the country which lies to the southward of Inverness. Gentlemen, bear with me--excuse me if I indulge in honest exul- tation—excuse me if I say in this society of Scotchmen, that 1 think I have seen more of your native country than some of those I am now addressing. I have

read the map of Scotland in the great scale of nature, from the summits of Bea

Nevis and Ben Lomond ; 1 have visited the illustrious island from which savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge and the blessings of religion. Yes, amid the ruins of lona I abjured that frigid philosophy which would conduct us indifferent and unmoved over any ground that has been dig- nified by wisdom, by bravery, or by virtue. I have stood on the shores of Staffs; .1 have seen the 'temple not made with hands;' 1 have seen the mighty swell of the ocean—the pulsations of the great Atlantic beating in its inmost re- ceases, and swelling a note of praise nutter far than any that ever pealed from human organs. I have lived on the banks of Spey ; 1 have spent two autumns in the North—I want no guide to the hanks of Badenoch—I could find the way from Dalwhinnie to Corryarriek, from Loch Laggan side to Ceirngorum. Many a day have I climbed the inouutain•aide with no other companion than a highland shepherd. Many an hour have I passed in con- verse with hint, listening to his simple annals and his artless views of human life. I have learned to admire, by personal intercourse, upright and Inde- pendent spirit, chastened by a natural courtesy. I have seen Ism with In- telligence apparently above his condition, but with no intelligence but that which taught him patience under his privations, confidence to his exer Iii the amnia of Sir Robert Peel's speech, we follow chiefly the Trines' report.

tions, sill mission to the law, loyalty to his King, and reverence for his God ; and when I have seen that, my earnest prayer has been, that to his children and children's children might be preserved that system of education which founded moral obligation on the revealed will of God ; my earnest wish has been, that the circumstances of Scotland with reference to religious education might long enable her to enjoy that proud, and I believe peculiar privilege, of having a system of education enforced by the law, but in connexion with the Established Church. And when I joined that man in public worship, and heard the sublime truths and pure doctrines of our common faith enjoined and enforced according to different rites, think you I have adverted to distinction in point of forms?—think you I have troubled myself with questions of church discipline or church government? No, but with a wish as hearty and as cor- dial as that which you could entertain, have I deprecated the arrival of that day, if ever it should come, when men in authority or legislators should be ashamed or unwilling to support the national Church of Scotland, to extend its ministration, to advance its banners into the desolate and unclaimed wastes ci religious indifference or profligacy."

But let not the occasion be devoted to mere purposes of festivity: let the danger to which the institutions of the country were exposed, andlthe means of averting it, be considered-

" Gentlemen, I have been informed that there are many present here who entertain different opinions from myself with respect to the Reform of th House of Commons. I hope, if that is the case, you may be safely here. I am not going to offend you by reviving battles that are concluded. If we can agree as to present dangers, and you unite on principle in averticg them, don't let us revive discussions which are past. That would be as wise as if in the face of the enemy we were to fight again the battles of Bannockburn or Flothlett. I say I want not to taunt you with reaction or conversion ; but I say this—that if you adhere to the principles which you professed in MO, this is the place where you ought to make your appearance. You consented to a reform which you were invited to assent to in a speech delivered by your Sove- reign, expressly on the condition that it should be according to the acknow- ledged principles of the Constitution. Let us have no mistake on that point. I see the necessity of widening the foundations on which the defence of the British constitution and the religious establishments must rest."

And he would ask the Reformers present, whether they adhered ta the principle on which the Reform Bill was advocated ? Sir Robert then quoted passages from the King'sSpeeches, and alluded to declara- tions of Lord Grey, during the strucgle for the Reform Bill, to show that they considered the change in the constitution then demanded, as the means of improving and preserving the settled institutions of the country. He contended that the Reformers ought not to leave to him, who was taunted with being a Conformer, the defence of the Reform Bill, but that they should prove it, according to their own declarations, consistent with the principles of the British constitution. He agreed with them, that the machine of Government should not be allowed to stand still—he wished to see it perform its proper, its healthful functions—encouraging industry, rewarding toil, purifying wherever there was stagnation or abuse. But he would not sanction constant intermeddling with the vital functions of that machine. ( Sir Robert here essayed to deliver himself of a mechanical metaphor, but, owing to the vociferous cheers of the company he was obliged to admit that he had lost the simile he attempted to draw.) He then " came to the point "—

" Let us come to the main point ; for I do not wish to conciliate your confi- dence or support by hoisting false colours. I mean to support the NJtional Establishments which connect Protestantism with the State in the three coon- tries. (Here the whole company rose in one mass, and reyoraled to this avowal with loud cheers and waving rf lainelherchiqk, which had a most im- posing tired, and lasted for several nannies.) I will not say—nothing could be so unseemly, after the reception I have met here—nothing could be so un- seemly us if I uttered one word of disrespect with ref; tril to those who &flew from me in religious opinions. No, I will say with respect to Dissent in this country, I think we owe to it great obligations, for the efforts it has made in the common cause of promoting sound religious knowledge; but it is perfectly consistent with that respect and with that obligation to declare, that, in my opinion, more futile arguments than those by which what is called the Volun- tary system is supported, were never presented for the consideration of men in- terested in the welfare of a great country. I do feel, and I trust you feel along with me, that it is right the State should pay that homage to Christianity which is implied by a religious establishment. • * • • Then, again, I avow to you that I mean to support in its full integrity the authority of the House of Lords—( The enthusiasm with which this sentiment was received baffles all descriptions—as an essential indispensable condition of the continued existence of the mixed form of government under which we live—as tantamount, in short, to the maintenance of the British Constitution; and I mean to consider every plausible proposition that may be made not directly assailing that integrity, but having fur its object covertly to undermine it—I mean to consider every such proposition, not on its abstract isolated merits, but with regard to the tendency, the ultimate tendency, it may have to undermine the integrity and independence of the House of Lords, and thereby to destroy the British Constitution. Do you also concur iu that expression of opinion? (Loud and universal acclamations, and cries of We do I') And if you do, it is a timely declaration of it. The hour has arrived, when, if these are our feelings, we must be prepared to act upon them."

Sir Robert then entered into a long defence of the virtues of here- ditary legislation ; and maintained the sufficiency of that responsibility of the Peers to public opinion and to God, which he had been laughed at for alluding to in the House of Commons, but which provoked no laughter from his Glasgow audience. If direct responsibility were required, he would ask, to whom the 300,000 or 400,000 persons forming the constituent body were responsible, but to God, public opinion, and their own consciences ? To prove that the Lords did not use their power to prevent improvement, he referred to the numerous and im-

portant changes in the social system which they had sanctioned during a few years, and the excellent laws which they had passed. They had,

to be sure, altered some bills and rejected others,—among them that which contained the Appropriation principle. But why ?—because, to use the words of one of its advocates, it would prove a "heavy blow and great discouragement to Protestantism," and because it contained a principle fatal to the institutions of the country. If any of his bear- ers wished to change those institutions, he advised them to look at the state of America ; and he quoted a passage from Dc Tocqtteville, to show how little real freedom and independence of mind existed under the democratic institutions of that country. To be sure, the Ameri- cans had cheap newspapers ; tint there were other blessings in life be- sides cheap ,newspapers; and, for God's sake, let them rot tun the hazard of a change- " Rely on it, your change will not lead to the institutions of the United

States. Never forget that. They may be showering down happiness on the people of that country. I hope most sincerely they are ; but recollect the phy- sical differences there are between the United States and this country—a court. try of ancient feeling and of ancient associations—and don't believe it possible for kings or legislators to transfer the republican institutions of America to this country. Do you tlf nk we will submit without a struggle to the des- potism of a majority ? We will resist tyranny in whatever shape it comes. We hate the tyranny of a single despot ; we hate the tyranny of an oligarchy ; but the tyranny of a majority has no greater recommendations, and we shalL nut follow the example of a ruinutity in the United States. By every old as- sociation, by every castle, and every field, we should be reminded of the state of society under which we used to live ; the days of mild tang syne '—( Great cheering)—dwell in our memory, and they would make us most impatient and ungovernable obj.cts of a despotic majority. If you choose to run the risk of that experiment, have before your eyes the example of another country ; if your will abolish prescriptive authority—if you will make one predominant demo- cratic assembly—then prepare yourselves, not fur the institutions of the Fniteci States, but for that terrible and fiery ordeal which France has passed. It yore choose to abolish it—if you think the House of Lords, or a second controlling Chamber, ought not to oppose itself to the will of the majority, abolish it at once ; don't let its have a pretended second Chamber to correct mistakes of the House of Commons. It will he inticitely better to come at once to the trial, by having it dependent upon, expressive of, and immediately controllable by, the public will, than to destroy the prescriptive authority of the Lords, and hope to substitute any other controlling check."

Sir Robert read a passage from one of the works of M. Guizot, de- scribing the rapid progress of Democracy in France, under the old Re- volution, to bloodshed and tyranny ; and assured the assembly, that such would be the consequence in this country of giving the ascendancy to men who would be freed frein the influence of public opinion, and be altogether irresponsible, because they exercised their power in secret —voted by bullet. He then quoted a passage from one of Lord John Russell's productions, laudatory of the state of things in England before

the Reform Bill, and contrasting the stability of British prosperity with the miserable results of the brilliant schemes of Government tried in Athens, Sparta, Venice, France, and Spain. If indeed the state of society in England was so delightful fifteen years ago, what must it be now, when such great advances had been made, and how much more im-

perative was now the duty -of maintaining the political institutions of the country ! In conclusion, Sir Robert said— Ile had long fought the battles of Conservatism, but he never despaired—he never doubted that the old, the ancient heart of England and of Scotland would rally round the institutions of their common country. If he had not despaired then, with what a feeling of contidenee should he now return once more to take his part in renewed contentions for the same noble objects. The disturbing influence of foreign example was new less effective than a few years ago—the dazzling illusions of the Glorious 1/1 s had passed away ; and it inspired hint with increased reliance upon the apploaehing good fortune of the country, when he SAW the affections of the people gravitating towards the old centre— full of a respect for property, a love of national freceoin, and an attachment long-established institutions. From those walls he hoped and believed that a spirit would go forth to sanction and confirm the sound principles now so ge- 'levany diffused—to animate the despotal Mg, and encourage the timid. He looked abroad, from the spot on ec hieli i.e then stood, to the moral influence of that opinion which constituted " the chief defence of nations ''—he looked to it for the maintenance of that system of government which proteeted the rich from spoliation, and the poor from oppression—lie looked to that spirit that would mange itself under no tawdry banner cif revolution, but unfurl and rally round "the flag which braved a thim-and years the battle and the breeze.' Yes, lie entertained no shadow of doubt that it would contimie to float iii triumph, and that the Constitution, tried as it had been in the storms of ad- versity, would come forth purified and fortified in the rooted convictions, the feelings, the affections, of a religious, a mural, and a patriotic people. (Pro. longed cliff, hay.)

Sir Robert Peel made a second speech, but of no mark or interest, in giving the memory of Sir Walter Scott ; the gist of which lay in a story about his walking with Sir Walter from Holyrood Palace to the Castle, when he attended George the Fourth at Edinburgh in 1S• He spoke a third time, in ackeowlede,ment of a bumper to Lady Peel; and told his entertainers, that her Ladyship would have been there, but that she had four or five " young Conservatives" to attend to, who were at home for the holidays.

Speeches were also delivered in the course of the evening by Mr. Finlay, Dr. :Macleod, Mr. W. E. Gladstone, Sir Daniel Sandford, Mm. Emerson 'ferment, the .Marquis of Tweeddale, and Dr. 1PFar- lane ; but they were all of a very commonplace description, and supply no interesting matter for quota ion. The party broke up about past one. Sir Robert got into his carriage ; end, bidding farev " the gentlemen of Glasgow," commenced his journey to Netherby. Previously to quitting Glaszow, Sir Robert Peel sent a check for two hundred guineas to the Secretary of the Banquet, enclosed in the

following note. .• 13th Jan. 1337.

" Siy dear Sir—i saw with great satisfaction. that in the event rnot a very probable one, I fear) of the receipts of the Festival of to-day exceeding tile expen- diture, the surplus was to be Oared to the account of the public clot tt:, of the town. He good enough. in the course of to-morrow, to place the amount ol the inclosed draft

to the same account. Very faille-ally yours,

" Hobert lanmil, Esq. ROBERT Parr.."

A very large number of the operatives of Glasgow held a public meeting, in the Bazaar, on Thursday night, and passed resolutions re- pudiating all connexion with such members of their body as signed the address to Sir Robert Peel. They also adopted an address of a strongly Radical character to the Reformers of Great Britain and Ire- land. The following are the resolutions-

-1. That, to rescue our character from utter contempt and reproach, and to lay before the public what our real principles are, we, the operatives of tilasgow, hereby disclaim all connexion With the euntemp:Ne ratty who have got up tit.. address to Sir Robert Peel; also the sentiments contaitied m mho doettment ; and further, that wet hold in utter execration the policy both of Sir Robert and the party with whom he is allied, as being inimical to our tights and liberties. "2. That to show what our real pi inciples are, and consequently that we cannot approve of the policy of Sir Robert Peel. who considers that the Helot m bill should be the extent of our desires. we hereby declare that no limits shoold b. or to tite prin- ciples of reform. till every man of sound mind. not disqualified by crime, be eligible to to the full possession of all the immunities of the state."