^J IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // 1.0 I.I [filM IIIIIM ■^ li^ 1 2.2 I" 1^ "'"^ 1.25 mil 1.4 1.6 V] ^9) v io '?ioN bbidgs. ScePENSION 'iDIDOE, Nz"" YoilK. 1 July 28, 1873. / Adam /Jroun, Chairman oj Committee, Uamitton. Sir : I tlmnU yourself nnd tbo committuo fortho iuvitatiou to the lanquet to bo given to tbo Uou, F. N. Ulake, nt liumilton, on tbo evening of the firist proximo, and sincerely regret that nu engogemeut from which I cannot bi* relieved, will compel mo to forego tlio pleasure of being present thereat. My relations with Mr. Ulakc, both otiicinl nnd private, have eugeudered an esteem for his qualities such tliat I would not permit any ordinary matter to prevent my uniting ia person r/ith hi.^ friends at lliimiltou on the occasion of this their testimonial in his lionoi. I have the honor to b?, Very respeolfiilly, Vour obed't. serv't., T. E. Ellsworth. FROM CAPT. BORR, DDFFALO BcTALO, July 25th, 1873. Adam Bromn, -tVy., Chairman Hamjiut Coy^ ■ mittee, Humilloii, My Dear Sir ; I have the honor to ac- knowledge with many thanks tlie kind nnd hearty invitation this moment received from you to attend the banquet to bo given by good fiend Mr. Blake, American Consul at your city on tho occasion of his retiring from tho position. Nothing would have given tho writer moio pleasure than to be present at that time. L'nfovtunately on tho 3l8t of July I have to leave BulMo to carry outa long-standing appontm -nt. Allow mo to say to you, gentlemen, that you honor every American citiz'.-n in honoring Mr. Ulake. The peacelul Louds of commerce and amity when cultivate 1 between nations and peoples are lar more potent and lasting than the treaty made from the cfl'ect of the cannon's mouth and the diction of the sword. Again thanking you personally for tho honor you confer upon me by the invitation and for my countvyman, I am^dear Kir, for you and associates, very respectfully your obliged and obedient servant, K. r. DoRt. FROM COL. A. n. SlIAW, V. B. 00N8DL , TORONTO Chaumont, N. Y., July 28tb, 1873. Adam Jirown, Esq , Uamitton, Ontario, Dear Sir : Vour kind letter of 21st inst. inviting me to attend a BauquBt to Hon. F. N. Blake, tUo retiring U. 8. Consul, at Ham- ilton, on tho 1st August, has been forwarded to me here, where I am stopping with my family, on liavo of absence. I regret exceedingly that I shall not bo able to be present on thiit occasion, for it is always very gratifying to un.te in doing honor to public (;(licials who have well earned Ihe respect and commendation of the community in which they live. Jlr. Blako was an active participant in the stirring events of early border life in turbulent Kansas, when contending factions struggled to make her "free" or "slave," and bin manly work, in connection with that of the lamented Loveioy and others, resulted in tho adoption of a State Costitution, broad in its freedom, wiso in its freedom, and one in every way worthy of tlio good and brave men who secured it to tho Stale. His ollicial connections, in later years, are well known io you, and tho pioposcd action of tile citizens of Hamilton will lie, I am conlHent, a source of great gratification to one who has .ilways endeavored, in the laith- ful discharge of his duties, to cultivate tho most Iriendly relations bftween the United States and the Dominion of Canada. I am, sir, very roepectlully your.-", \ Albert D. Kuaw, U. S. Consul, Toronto. Hamilton, 1st August, 1873. Adam Brow.v, Esq., H.imilton, Chairman Committee. My Dear Sir,— It i.i with very great regret that I most unexpectedly find .iiyself unable to be present at the Dinner to be given to Mr. lUake by his friendt; in Hamilton this evening, ou his departure from Canada. ■\Vo all know that oflicial duties can be perfornic join him in a toa.st to do honor to tho head of that nation, ^>■hich is our ncare.st neigh- bor ; that nation speaking the same language and governed by similar laws with our own, which both mi- airo and circumstances had combined U> make England's most suitable ally in the world sonlightenraent and progress; that nation with which we wished to enjoy t/ic most intimate relationship, both of a neighborly and commercial character. We were willing to barter and trade with them to their hearts ncignuoriy ami commercial cnaracier. we were willing to uartcr anu naue «iiii lukTm ^^ •■• content, to give them our goods for theirs, our daughters for their sons or vine versa, to swap almo.st any- thing we had but our Hag. This was the first opportunity he had had of publicly recognizing Col. Myers, the newly appointed American Consul at this port. He bid him a hearty welcome to Hamilton, and hoped ho would find himself very comfortable and entirely at home. Band: " Star .Spangled Banner." The toa.-^t was replied to by Col. H. l!ay Myer.s, now U. S, Consul here. When rising to respond, tho Col. was most lustilj' cheered. His reply is condensed "as follows. . , He said : Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, ^ sincerely thank you for your kind and friendly expressions and generous allusions to tho President of my country, and I assure you that no man in the United States or in England is more desirous of maintaining tho intimate friendly relations existing at present between tho two countries than President Grant, (hear, hoar,) and while ho is a great soldier, yet no man moro 8 than ho appreciates the ITossing of pence, and I fool satisfied that tliero is no man in your countrv or in mine, wlio will do more than he to maintain it. (Great cheerinj,'.) llo thanked the gc'it-l'^men for the heartiness with which the toast had been honored, as well as for the kindness with which ho iiad been received, lie referred to the pleasant relations now existing between the nation which ho represented and that to whi'..h ho had just been accredited a rojirosontativo, relations which ho trusted would bo continued through a long succession of years, lie felt proud of being accredited to such a nation, and rejoiced exoeedingly that the scene of his oflicial labors was to bo among the peoplo of Hamilton, in whftse praise ho had hoard bo much. lie assured those present that his coming to tako the place of bis respected predecessor, did not indicate a change of policy on the part of the United States towards this country. There was no idea of changing that policy. Whatever of fairness and amenity had been received at the hands of Mr. Blake, would bo awardetl by himself; and ho trusted bis career among this jioopio would be such, that whatever kindness they had extended to the gentleman ho suc- ceeded, would bo merited by and awarded to him also, lie could assure this largo and intelligent com- pany gathered hero to do honor to his predecessor by this magnificent banquet, that the pooi)le of tho united States a])preciated tho kind mannor in which the Canadians received and treated their represent- atives. He praised tho Civp.ulians, and spoke of the lasting amity that should exist between them and tho Americans. Tho Colonel resumed his ooat amid rapturous ajiplause, having created a very favorable impression. The chairman then gave in succession tho toasts. " Tho Prince of Wales and tho Royal Family." '' Tho rJovernor-Genoral and Lieut. -Governor of Ontario." " The Army and Navy and Canadian Volunteers." Col. Sprout, of Walkorton, responded in a very eloquent speech to the last toast. The next was the toast of the evening. Tho Chairman, in introducing the toasc, saiil ho now !-nd to remind them of tho occasion which had brought them togethci-. The honorable guest on his right, after a four years residence in your city, and anollier four years in this vicinitj', was about closing his official career and taking his departure from amongst us. On such an occasion, what more fitting than that his attached friends and the leading men of the city, whoso business had brought them in contact with him in tho ])ast, should assemble as they had tlono to-night, and in that splendid banquet bear testimony to their attachment and to the faithful, courteous, attentive and capable manner in which bo has discharged tho important duties of his office. (cheers) During tho period' mentioned several impo-tant jiagcs had been added to the history of our country. Our Dominion had had its birth and been cabled to England, tho Eeciprocity Treatj- under which wo had prospered, bad been abrogaletl, but we prospered still. We would bo glad to see it renewed, but not at tho sacrilice of our national dignity- or honor. Tho Fenians had been repulsed, and that invasion had placed the hon. gentleman in a most delicate position, but ho thought they would boar him out in saying that he had so acquitted himself in that alfair as at least to give neither his own government or ours any cause of complaint. I5ut that page of our history to which he wished to draw more particular attention, was that which related to the opening up of a very important trade between our city anil the now Pro- vince of Manitoba. Mr. Blako had ! oen the medium for passing our goods through tho United States to tho red Jiiver country, and ho questioned very much if that trade would have attained anything like its present very considerable proportions if an incapable or disobliging official had held tho position of United States Consul at this port ; uniformly attentive, both to our merchants and to tho wants of the public and other strangers, be has still found time to furnish his government with ample statistics of our cxijorts and imports, and much information valuable for reference. But ho had endeai'ed himself more particu- larly to our citizens by identifying himself in a quiet way with every local movement, whether of an educational, benevolent or commercial character, that would tenil to the progress and well-being of tho l)eople; at the same time ho has observed a becoming dignity that has reflected honor on tho Govern- ment that selected him as its representative. (Cheers.) Mr. Blake's summer sky in Canada had not, h.owever, been without its clouds. Wo had been called upon to symjiatliize with him in !iis family bereavements, and ho was leaving behind him in a neighbor- ing cemetery touching mementos of his sojourn here. He earnestly trusted that wherever he went ho might soon find a rapidly widening circle of warm friends such as those who now bid him a hearty God sjieed. (Loud apjilouse.) JIc bogged to present an address which expressed tho feelings of the hon. gentleman's Hamilton friends far better than tiny remarks which he might make. ADDRESS. " To Hon. F. ]\\ Blake, U. S. Comul : '• Siu: — Tho banquet to which you have been invited to-night expresses to some extent the esteem in which you are held by tb.o citizens of Hamilton, but we feel it due to the sentiments which have caused this gathering to give them expression in an address which may serve as a memento of the occasion. Four years you have held the p>«ition of U. S. Consul at this port, and, while in you your country has had a faithful representative, you have also been to the business community of this city a courteous and attentive ollicer, doing everything iii your power to ensure celerity and accuracy in tho discharge of duties which required no ordinary tact and ability to give satisfjiction to all. We commend very highly, on the one hand, tho prudence with which you have kept aloof from all questions in which your actions would be likely to bo misunderstood by our people, and on tho other hand, the hearty .sympathy which you have manifestoil in every movement for the general good ; in all such movements you have been, not alone the representative of another country, but one of our own fellow ciiizons as well, co-operating as heartily and cordially with us as if this had been your permanent home. To promote friendly relations between Iho people of your country nml of oura in n work which conunendrt itself to all j^ooil citizens of either country, and wo arc glad to bo able to boar testimony to your praiseworthy conduct in this respect. Wo believe it is but the uncolorcd truth to nay that all who have had the pleasure of your acquaintance here have received a more favorable impression of the people of the United States than they had before. We beg j-ou to accept our assurance that wherever your now ticld of labor may be allotted, you will bo followed in it by the heartfelt esteem of tho people of this city, and vo shall hcarof your prosperity with the pleasure which friendly feelings kindle. With hearty good will we offer you our earnest hopes for tho health, comfVu-t and hajipincss of yourself and family. May you and they bo long spared to lives of usefulness and honor, and may we, j-our friends in Hamilton, obtain a place among your pleasant recol- lections. On behalf of your ilaniilton friends. B. E. CIIAKLTON, Mayor. The toast was howored with prolonged cheers, tho band playing " He's a jolly good fellow." MR. BLAKE S UEl'LY. Mr, Mayor and Gentlemen, — It has been said, tho lack of power of expression deprives tho world of many a noblo sentiment. Bo this as it may, mary of us know full well it i.s often impossible to find language to express tho emotion.s that possess and co. trol us ; yet, believe inc, gentlemen, however meagre my woitls may seem to night, my heart is cloquer u A generous friendship makes tho whole world kin. Allow mo to reiiirn my most hearty thanks for tho cordial good will manifested towards me during my residence in llanulton, arising more, perhiH)S, from the kindliness of your Iiciirls than from any real merit I may possess. And I would thank j-ju more particularly, gentlemen, fn- this present expression of your esteem. That I consider myself honored, and that I shall look back to this occasion as one of the bright pages in my life, j-ou may be assured. As we grow in years we are apt to look backward for tho sun-lit spots, and enjoy in retrospect what younger people do in anticipation. Eight years ago last March, President Lincoli\ sent mo to Canada to represent a nation which his wisdom and sagacitj' had freed from the stigma of hunian slavcrj-, and upon the fourteenth of the next r.ionth ho sealed tho emancipation of the black man with his blood. In the language of your Poet Laureate — " He knew the reasons, when to take Occnsion by the hand, nnJ moUc The l)oun(ls of freodora widiT yet, By slmping some nugust dei'rco, ^Vhic•h kept big throne unshaken still. Broad-based upon his people's will. Then came tho administration of President Johnson, during which transpired the Fenian Raid, and for a few d.ays Can.ida was tho .scene of the only warlike demonstration on this continent, and I believe at that time, in tho world. But those exciting scenes belong to tho past and I sec no reason to-d.ay why peace as well as prosperity should not abide wtliin your borders. To be sure, I have heanl it intimated in some quarters that you would liUo to anne.x Maine, my native State, and New Hampshire to tho Dominion ; but upon reflection I think you must conclude yoa have quite enough territory of your own, and to improve and utilize this would bo more practical and practicable than to cast longing eyes upon your neighbor's lands; for even if we do not lovo our neigh- bors sufliciently to give them our inheritance, we can at least come near enough to the Bible rule to leave them in jjcaceablc possession of their own. A littlo over four years ago I removed to the Consulate at Hamilton, from President Grant, our former General, whoso policy '■ to flijht it out Rebellion and made an end of the civil strife. This foreign shore of Ontario washed by a chain of glorious lakes and rivers, I have found a goodly land to dwell in, and although tho nationality of these same lakes and rivers may be somewhat mixed, they have proved an equal blessing to the countries they separate, and in fact the United States and Canada have many blessings in common. The freedom of opinion which has tlono so much for the political and religious liberty of the United States has not been confined to that portion of the American Continent. Tho same freedom prevails throughout Canada to day. The same industry and enterprise bavo secured to you prosperity and happy homes, and in other countries genius, science and energy are soaring above the high i)laco3 of birth and pageantry. Even the Japanese are awakening to a sense of tho value of this progressive element and have not only employed foreign teachers to initiate the rising generation into the good old English tongue, but have chosen an American to revise their statutes, and have constituted him Court Lawyer. I am glad to find that the city of Uamilton is also protturing aid, in the way of useful inventions, to their Jaiianeso brethren, one of your enterprising manufacturers having this week sent to Japan tho useful, invinciL'eand omnipresent sewing machine. A missionary work doubtless, but one which our disinterested friend devoutly prays may prove romunorativc. The various agricultural implements, machines for simplifying and economizing labor, the wonOerful Btretches of Eailroad intersecting the country at every point, the numerous manufactures springing up vrherever wo gaze, point out iuv your country and for mine, triumphs gi-eatcr by far than those of war, for tho former developc the means of supporting our poj)ulation, while tho latter ministers to its destruction. i-ccoiving a new comm-ssion on this tine," conquered the Tho jiroj^fess of inaniifaoliiros in Iluinilton iliiririf? my term of offlco has been most mar' d, wliowiiig your oiicoHragomont of lioino iiuliistrios, whicli, to^ollier with homo products nro a socurit, in time of j)Ciico and n Hupport in war. Mon of tino talent and uroatoiiorfjy arc at tho licad of tiioso industrio.-". Tiio status and difjnity of Lilior is Hccurcd, Iho mochanio finds no barrier to liis progross, tho sliilied artisan may not despair of luac'liin;^ the iiii,'host round in tiio ladder of sueiess. Your riiilway extensions havo attriieted /^reat attention. I'lojects for tho development of your rich country conceived by tho wisdom and forcsij^hl of your leadinj; merchants, have been carried, in ."ome directions to completion, while others of importance aro in sure jtrogress, giving to this city tho influence of a commeirial centre at tho licad of Lake Ontario. The projection and completion of the railway connecting thisl'ort with Southampton on liake Ifuron, is an ontorprisc of the greatcBt value to tho commerce of this city and to all tho fertile region traversed by it. That branch of it now nearly finished, starting from I'almerston and approaching tho Lake in the direction of Ivincardinc, is tlij capstone of tho monument of this good work for your people. Tho practical carrying out of this cntorjjriso, and tho providing of ways and mean.s, has been aecomjilislied by two well known gentlemen, Col. Mctiiverin and Adam lirown, who contributed largely to this end, not oril3' by convincing argument, but by the happy faculty of saying a pleasant word at tho right time, and I consider the man who can do this naturally and opportimely, a i)ublic benefactor. A little commendation upon an occasion where, for instance, a bonus is in question, does not come amiss, it docs no harm and freiiuently accomplislics great good. Ono likes to have his own estimation of himself confirmed u])on another's lips, and if it were not for the occasional good word of a friend, ono miglit almost fall into the l»ad habit of tloubting his own merit. My friends, give a kind word when j'ou can, not confining j'ourselves to railway campaigns, and accept a word of ])raise when you may, for j'ou liave earned and richly merit tho public approval j'ou receive. In the North looms up "Hog Vjiiy," of euphonious name; but icliat d in n name. Doubtless our good friends particularly interested in the road in that direction wuuld a|>|)reciate its advantages xmCtor any name. This road, as I understand, jiroposes to make connection wim Montreal, througli tho New Pacifio llo.ad, and will perform a neighborly ollieo for our Toronto friends, providing a means of transit for tho pnjduco of their surroimding countr\' totlie port of Hamilton. I do not hear that they are grateful, some people never are ; my sincere wish is that success may attend the undertaking n.iwell as the gentlemen interested in it. You have also bound ]?rantford lo your commerce, with ties as strong as the iron rails over which its products and that of the surrounding country are borne to your port. Bull think tho Lake Krio Road is a standing monument of your great patience and perscvoi'ance. This road, forty miles in extent, was I believe commenced some twentj' years ago, and j'ou will know from tho fact of invitations having been sent out (by the contractor) at two several times for its formal o|)ening| that it is very near completion ; and although a ircll seasoned roud, is somewhat erratic, and seems opposed to formal openings. Yet f hopo our successful friend of '!.-cat Western reputation, now in charge, will bear us in remembrance a-< heretofore, when tho opening trip is really made to that distant shore. The opening up of the surrounding country liy those various roads brings additional business to tho Consulate. The value of invoices verified at this port for tlic last four years is ten millions, ninoty-throo thousand, nine hundred and thirteen dollars, indicating a henlthy state of tho increasing wealth and pro- ductiveness of the country. It is also interesting to myself, as it might be to you, to trace the rise and progress of tho commerce on tho great lakes. In 1G70, ono hundred and ninet3--four years ago. Do LaSallo, a French Jesuit, with the consent of the Indians then in ])osscssion of this vast country, built, at Schlosser, the nearest port above Niagara Falls, tho first vessel tliat over sailed upon the ujj]km" lakes, name>l "The Grifhn," From 17(J4 to 178!), only eighty-four years ago, we are informed there were but six small vessels upon all these waters, and to-day their surface is whitened by over two thousand sail, employing more than twenty thousand men By the means of your clllcient canals tb so great inland seas, with their connecting rivers, are united with tho ocean, and I am sanguine enough to believe that before long we shall see the great coursers of tho ocean conio surging up Lake Ontario and Burlington Bay, and delivering their precious cargoes at this port without the necessity of breaking bulk as at present. These lakes and rivers constitute an inland navigation equal in extent to twenty thousand miles, and in area to the twenty-fifih part of the Atlantic Ocean. This water communication is capable of being extended two thousand mil' 'rther, bj- the course of the liediiiver, Lake Winnipeg, and the Saskatchewan, to tlio base of tho Eol .ountains. To Mr. E.II. Walker, former commercial cditorof thoBuflalo/Wtrr^iscr, I am ii. .btod for some of these figures, and his reports on the commerce of the country aro deeply interesting and instru''tivo. The territory which these waters traverse contains live hundred thousand square miles, and is capable of suswaining a population of thirty millions, and the recent discovery of precious metals will insure its early settlement, the completion of those continuous water communications, and the construction of tho Great Pacific Kailway across the continent. I have often experienced a sense of gratification and pleasure as I have noticed the growth ><{' your eouairy tho last few years. Nor do I lovo and value my own country loss that I appreciate and esteem yours, for I am not sure that the man who can see no good in any other land will bo tho most loyal to his own. I am not sure that in time of peril his arm would bo tho strongest or his heart bravest. Pre- judice, envy and ill feeling are not the motive powers that always nerve the arm or load to success. The love of country is a strong sentiment in every human breast. " Urentlies tlierc a man wltli goal so dentl, Wlio never to I'.imself bnth anid, This is mv own, mv native laiul. . ■-•T: (J UoiUlt'iiu'it, lliis sciitiiin'iil is not <)ri;;iiial, but it is v.rpressice. If any ol'you would liko to roali.-.o tlio unavailini; iiii{,'iiisli of s|iirU oniliirod liy a ])0;)i' uiilorlnnato, to whom tlio iirivilo.^'o of naiionality was (Icnii'il, 1 Wo\ilJ cilo you {> a small volunio imlilislu'cl Mn-cial yi'ai-s a,;;o, ami oiilitKd " Thf Man icithoiit a Countri/." (icntlonRMi, tlio Ito.rui's 01' lii.s position wiaikl nialco yonr iilood run Culd. I iiil}- llu! iniui wlio cannot sny of his country "With nil thy 'luilt.s, I love tluf still," for nalinns, lil, 1 can only iviily : ''['rom all blindness of heart, from ui'ide, vain-;;lory and hypoeiisy, (iood Lord, deliver us," or, in the wonlsof the eminent lirooUlyn ])i'eaehcr,''l'oliver nio from a person wiio never does wroni;-, and knows it ! J)oliver me from a man whose lon<;uo never made a mistake, and who k(!e]is a nolo of llri fact! Jl'thuro is any one thini^ more pr.ivokini; to a sinner — and wo aro all sinners — than another, it i;i one of these consciously periect folk." I'ul, my IViends, it' we aro not (inito infallible, and do not consider others .so, wo can at lea.sl be cliuriiablo-; in the wonis of the martyred J,incoln, 'iri/h //la'kv foiv/(r(ls none, icilh chanti/ to all." Ami now havini;- tresspassed on your f:;nod nature so lonj^, permit mo lo oH'or Iho following,' least, and I do so with the >i;reatest pleasure, as J fool that it convoys my heartfelt •wishes, it is '■The Corporation of the city of Jlamilton, and prosjiirity to the citij." The Mnjorcallediipon AlJorraouMillsiuid 1 1 i.s thus clear that the pinctknl ohject of | Riuml this grout bloskint; even if iluy liiiil Mackenzie to rcsiiond. 'I'liey iliil to. Imtli people is the kiuup ; p.tid thoiis'i wcMU ' the iutclli;j;etue, whieh wv. may fiiiily infer The chairuiftu iheu salJ tlint ho (raua. (-'anailii believe llmt paliiolistu in h ;,'islati(in j they had nut, Beein;; that even in the prc- ean be carried out here under a nionarc hial i Meiit day, after the wurUinj; elapses liave {;ot form (if government (if once we are free from votes, they seem hnnihn^ged into tlie ideii Enropean publie n])inion) an well as under j that tlie po.ssis.sioii of the power to rel'urin ia a liepnldie, and lliat we in Canada have the '■ form, and they do not exereise tlie power additional advantage (as we siijipose it) ot _iven tlniu liy tlieir votes to do away with fertod to the viee-ihuirmau the ehargu of the liauqiut fur lliu leiualuder ol the evening. TOASTJ i;y the vick CnAlU.MAX. Hon. Isaac Buchanan, V:c".(.'h':irKiau, in his happiest manner iutro, need the tirtt toast on his pn gramme : "May tlie \mm\ feeling between the United Slates and Canada bM iv-riietuatcd r.nd ix- tended." Little had been left forhim(Jlr. lluehanau) to say of the honored gnist of the evening, who however well knew that there was lio one present who entered more into his gratilied feelings on the oeeasinn, (applause). That the good feeling between tlie United States niul Can.iila should be perpetuated is the univerpal sentiment in this assembly, and is very nearly so also tliroughont tlie United States and Canada among llie two people ; and he trusted and believed that the day has gone by when any government in America would be so insane as to set up a governniont interest contrary to the interest and wishes of its people. He as eon- lidently as fondly believed that both peojile arc determined to act upon their iiiutual ex- perienec and to insist that the (luestion how to secure the largest anil best paid employ- went for their own producers, (how to tind markets in a word) must hereafter Ik- the liist question in American polities (applause). I'arties may take dillVrent views of how to attain this most patriotic end ; but no partv Bliould be tolerated, and no man listened to on the hustings, who does not recognize the employment of our own people to be the first question in our national politics (applause). It was for this control over their local legisla- tion the battles of the the American llevolu- tion were fought, anil it was to secure this that we in Canada struggled t)reing a return tosjiecie payments, not hav- ing the decency even to wail till the Conti- nent was securely pacilied. And so bad was their i ause tl.at for live years they failed in producing any report likely to carry in I'arli- aiueut, and, would have continued to fail, had not tlie Ministry (Lord (.'astleneagh being the instrument) bought oil' theaiistoc- nuy or landed interest. The Ministry admitted that the object in returning to specie payments was to putdown iiriee.s, and restrict the circulation, and ipll'ered by special legislatl' , (by the Com liill in fact,) to se- cure the landed interest against reduction of price, showing them also that they would have a great advantage in having everything else made cheap by the eoiitraetion of th(; currency. The fact that the price of money was by their usury law fixed at ,5 percent, was used al.so as an argument for gold being fi.xed in price I I do not object to the repeal of the usury law or of the Corn liill, which its base inception justified, even if there bad not been necessity for this from the land of England being so liniite.i a quantity ; but I say that in coi.imon jiisliee to our own in- dustry the fixed iirice of gold should havo been repealed at the same time that England opened her ports to foreigners. The gold England would require did not exist in Eng- land nor in the world, the world's annual production of gold in 1S4G being only six million pounds sterling, and the result was that in 1847 there was the most heart rend- ill);; iliritrcKX, 11irn'»tiU (pf rnf,'tii!icl'soiie fiidfd I''riM' Tm(li',iiiiil tliiii!.'slii(iUiil iikui- tliroateii- iiif! in Kii(,'liiiiil timii in Knitici', tlionj;li tlic IC(>V(iliiti(>n (iiciirrc'il in tlu^ latl< r couiitiy ; Kiiirlmiil Iji'iiit? providcntiiilly savid liy Hit' (limjovcriiH III' (,'1)1(1 in Ciiliruruiii iniil Aiistm- lift. (A|)|iliinsc,) Wlmt hIkiuIiI liiivo In ( ii ilnni' in KtiK'nnd. nt tli(" K'-cT 'Inidc^ Krcii in lH|il, is wluit nhonld still in' done, viz : — to ninlir IJiink of Kn(;liinil nutis ii ligiil td.di r to tlic cxtrnt :Aiv Mdw liciIdH !:iiid, i(iin|ullin},' licr n(V on incnnsini; it iis tint wnnts o( tlic ((itiiiliy luiiuiii! tliiH. In nil lliin liinicry and i\|i!ana tion, my olijucl Inis lu'on to rxpiiso tliu root of liittiTiios wliicli lias Ir'iii suili ii uiiiso to i:n;,'laiid and all coiMicctiil with liir, and all wlio liavo cojiiid Inr nuimtaiy kgislation, ffulin,!,' it t\n: Ki'i'ati-st Uiiidne»y kc lun do to tlio Ijnitid StatoH to warn tlikiii ajrainst a I'utiirn to HjieciL' paynu'ntii, wliic h we liiliovi' would causi' siuli a contraction of tlii-ir (■iirnncy us would result in wide spnad dis- trrss, Biudi as tlic world lias ii'Vir yi t witni'ssid, Jly Ion;,' ixptriciue lias laiij;lit mc that iiiori' than nine tenths of our evils have a lefjislativi! cause, ai.d, therefore, may have ft legislative cure, and that notliinncan Iv.i moru falaeioiis th:'.1Hlie often iinotid lines of the poet : " Miiw «ni;ill ofiill tlml Iiiiiiinii In-art" omliiro, '• '1 lie jiiirl Ur.it liiiiiiaa laws citli cuiiau ornire." ((Jivat u[iiihuise.) Tlio toast was duly honored, Ihu tiand playing ''Caiindii, Fair I'uiiad i." Mr. iiryan .'. Hake, who lind so ali!y, modestly, and alV.ilily dLscharged thu delicato and inipiirtaijt duties luitaininjr to tl u i>o- 8itiou of I'nited States Consul. An additional, cat. so for (uatiliention en the puit (if the Biieaktr ccn^istiil in the fact (hat li'i was au EuKlis'i-American citizi n, proud nlite of the coblo land of his adoption and ct the land whoso till,' had Liaved a thoua- i-and years thu Ift'.ilo and the Ireeze. Mr. Ihyan then proceeded to pay .111 '.1- q'leU* tribute to the grand hi.storic greatnei-s and power of Oreat Britain and h- r iihistrious achiovcnitnts on behalf of livilization, pro- RWssiou and conslitutioURl liberty. Ho e..- presscd the opinion that in overwheltninf; majority of the people of the UnitLd Stacs coidially, earnestly and hiartily de^irt(l to cultivate an I perpetuito lo all coming time those relations 01 jieace and those sentioKUta tf mutual respect ami esteem which now so lortunately exist between Ih'' ': f;''">t Knylith speak- ing raei d of the woild. The Geneva Treaty was the great event (f the nineteenth century. It meant " | eace o'l tatth and tood will toward men." Finally, llr. Ii. proposed as a sentiment, " May the Cross ol St. (ii Oiice and the glotiouu Stars iind Siripts ever lloat in union and harmony, and may each nation emulate! the other in uJvancinp and perpetuatinj; tho piieoles.s bb ssimrs of constitutional freedom." Thu toa.st was eulhu.^iasticilly received. The next toast, given by the Vicc-Chair- man, was •'Tho Senate and the House of Commcns of Cunaila, an I the Legitlativo Assembly of Ontario." Mr. liuchanan would only recommend the honorable members the cherishinf,' the sentiment of the last toast as among tlieir| to a fjcntleman, who during the perioil, that lie had 01 eiijiiul the position hire 0( Consul of the niighhoiiring llepiiblic, had disch. gill thediiliiH ol that mission with great ability and judpnu nt. Mr. lilakc linil al.so ih the diseliarge of his duties been dihtiu- giiishi'd for the grnceriil lonrtcsiis of lil'o, whicii ever comniaiided 1 steins and which bavei ndeiired him toiillwhohaveknuv.nhilii. The diplomatic and iclisiilar setviie is one in which tiiose courtesies ai" duly ciillivntt'd. Jliglit we hope, to see a little more cf tlicnj amenities in our pulllieal conlliets — or at nil events a little more charity and mercy in tho judj;nieiit pronouiu'eil iiiion all oliiciais ihcnr. ri.o I oininioii of Canrda had prcdueed pnli- bighest duties as legislators, for Canada has no other | reccdent from wlio.se experience to gather wisdom than the adjoining Uepublie,a country in the same circumstances as herself; and it were the greatest prai tical disloyaliy (o legislate so that Canadians will liave anything to envy in looking across the frontier, (applause) According to this rule Canada must have the advantage of paper-h f,M|-teiider at the tir.-t moment, and this will soon render her independent of I'.ngland in building hir I'acilie liaiiway, and enlar;;iiig her canal system to admit of sending vessels to reaeli the head of Lake Superior. Ill this rispiit Canada will set} an example to the world, being able tocom-i menre with Inr paper nionev, vhere the i s)stem nf the I'nitcd ^'•^tls it is to be hoped will cm/, free from the two causes of depreeiatinn, over-ii^sue, and possible in- security, every (ireoiiback being secured by lienieii,of H hie h any country miiditlVel |n'iiud, men whom the late Lord Palnii rstun, and Mr. tJladstone have declared to be Ktali.smca of no mean ability. I!ut, Mr. Mayor, wo camo here to niglit, not only \o do honor ti> I'vlr. lllidce, but to express how sincere Iv we the precious niituls, a consummatiem which I ,.,,ji,it^^,, „.i(|, ,i„, citiiiens of the United a lew years will make very casyjor tnej states, that, all causes of ndsumlerstanding I'liited states. The Doininieiii paper eif Canada e'an easily be Secureel, ever pe'iiiiy by (iolel or .Silver, by simply ilispeising of the ilebe ntures wdiicli are now seeurity fur eighty per e'cnt of 't. AVe have ten millions of l.)omin- iou note.s, and at present only two millions of golel against them, the rest eif the security fe>r them being eight millions of Dominion Debentnre.s wdiicli arei really no additional security at all, (laughter.) Canada must repudiate the prin^iiile intro- duced by Sir A. T. (ialt of riising revenue for tho government from the circulation of Dominion notes, this being n b.ail feature which renders his plan only a fair weather me'asure', lormi'd as it is of ijcL' pi'dnq', li:i/- ingtiiismagnilii'enteiiilineiit, has astonished the old world, we mmht surely to rejoice in tlieir suicess. Tiny are jike ourselves, ilescndant.s of the tin at Anglo Saxmi liace, wlios'j mission it is to inrry civili/.alion and Christianity to the mi'st remote r.gions of the' earth. We are both of a kimlnel race, with community of language and traditions. They are the elder berii and have entered upon their national i xist. nee ^ century before us, and naturally the ir [loiiuiation and Volume of their coniniercn is in. measurably beyond ours. I'lit .Mr. lilakc, will tell hia fidlow citizens when he returns amongst them, that although only in Hie moruin.q; of life the peo, '.'of this Dominion are now disp'iiying a tin' enterpiize. V/e have already the' tireit Western liaiiway, n road secon 'o non.! upun this continent, as Aant n paper money iu whic). gold may ap- regarding all its appointments, .''nd nniny preciate to its value ns a f' reign exchange, (for which nione gold is ranted.) whicli it will do in paper secured entirely by geild and therefore free fremcithcrof the two causes of depreeiation - insecurity anil over i.ssue. I'laetically this jiaper money will not really be in tirn^lu ion but in the banks vaults to suit the purpose for which golel i.s now wanted. We would thus come bade to a circulation of bank notes entirely of wiiich our experience in C'nnaela has been so favor- able. f.\pplause'.) To humanity, as well as te> the I'nited States and ourselves, ami to Knghind too, we can reneler no service so incalculably great as in this way to co-oper- ate in preventing the return to specie pay- ments ; and in discarding the monstrous error of the ieg.al tender which is a synomine of ronjitkiicc being an exportable commodity; ami in establishing the great patriotic prin- ciple that inane:/ sIkiuIU i;' u tlfin;/ of or heKiiijing to a co"n('i', not of or helontfinf; to tJiC irorlil — should bo the hhnd-maid of others such as the Wellington Cirey and Bruce, are being cimslructed tod.'velopi! our valuable territorv. But I trust that Mr. Blake will not iuil to tell them also, that although this cnuntiy has prosjieriet more, since the abrogation of the Ibeiprocity Treaty, tlian it ever eliel before, that still wo shall al\va\s be prepareel to term the mo,st favorable consideratiem to any future treaty wdiicli will draw our commereial ridations more closely together. Mr. D. B. Chisholm, JI.P., ne'xt respondecV by thanking them for the hearty manner in wliich they had received the toast. He saiil if the Hon. Mr. Alexander, a veteran in the Legislative Halls ef Ceinail.i, felt a djlicncy in speakiugon tbissubjict, howminh greater must the feeling be with hims.' If, who but a few months ago hael been taken from among the people and elected to the higliand responsible position of a member of the House of Commons ofCaiiaela, Mr Alexanelerhad paid tliepii sent House of Commons of Canada a Vi ry high home tr.aile and home transactions alone, and ..oniplimcnt, but he was satisfied that the not of the foreign only ns at present. (Ap- eompliment was no greater than tluy ile- rl«"«<') ' served. He believe -> that the higlicfit am- The Hon. G. Alexander, of Woodstock, bition of the present House was to be ag ncknowkdged the toast on tho part ol the nearly as possible liUe: toe Commons of Kng- Senate, and Mr. D. B. Chisho m, AI. I',, lor land, an in.itilutie'n that hael been in cxiet- tho Commons. ance at leastsime the days of King John in The Hon. Mr. Ah'xande r, alter some 1 2 1, I, and which bad bee.i improving ever lenghtened remark.! respecting the position since, so that as n delihi'iative assembly it the the public alVairs of the Dominion, stood nuequalleel, and ehallcngcd the admira- observed, that as a member of the Senate, '< tion of the whole civilized world, (hear.) He he had very great pleasure in coming here j thought he might be permitted to say, with- to day, to unite with them in iloing honor out causing any ofl'euce', that a large major- 8 ity of the present IJousc of Commons ol Canada were men wlio lind the interest of Canada at licnrt ; mid while he did not wish to introduce party politics to disturb the (leliglitful liarmony of the present occasion lio fe;t it tobti his duty as a member of the House of Commons to say tliat while to some ixjrsous there seemed to be a cloud resting upon distinguislii d members of that House, he believed that this cloud would bo dispelled and the characters of the men who had been nsiailed woulu be found to be be- yond reproach, at all events, so far as any .ittempt would to be made to convict them of being traitors to the best interests of their country. The last parliament of Canada lind the opportunity of ratifyiuf; the Washington Treaty, a treaty which he had strongly up- held from the tirst, and which was destined to do more for the best interests of Canada than any other act of modern times, (hear) It had been the privilege of the present House during last session to admit into the confed- eration Prince Edward's Island, and nothing more remained than to admit Newfoundlanci and this vast confederation which was des- tined to be of such great importance to this continent, would be complete. Once com- plete ami formally consolidated, and the (Canada Taciliu Uaihvay in operation, a bright iUid prosperous career would certainly be the destiny of this fair Dominion, They had met together this evening to pay a parting tribute of respect to the guest of the evening, the American Consul, the Hon. ]•'. N. yialie. He would fully endorse everything, and more, that had been said in Mr. ISlake's favor this evening. It had been his pleasure to be intimately acquainted with Jlr. iJlake, especially during the years 1871 and 1H72, when he (.Mr. Chisholm) was Mayor of the city, .ind he must say that he never had met a gentleman from the United States or from any other country for whom hi, entertaineil n greater degree of resjiect. He liad upon all occasions been courteous and gentlemanly, and while in every infitancc he jealously watched the interests of the country that he represented, he had both the tact and kindness of heart so necessary for it. man in his position, that enabled him to maintain thodignity of his own position and be on the very best terms with the people of this country. (Cheers.) He was sorry that Mr' lilake was going to leave Hamilton, not only on public grounds but ho felt that in losing Mr. lilaUe lie was parting with a warm personal friend whom he bad learned to esteem and love. He was glad to sje that in Colonel .Myers, his succes- sor, we had a gentleman who entertained the same kindly feelings towards the people of this country. He felt it to be a great pleasure and privilege to lie present at this IJanquet ; it was a great pleasure to meet so nuiny gentlemen from our sister cities of lUitfalo and Toronto, and to hear from their lips such kindly Bcntiments expressed towards the people of Canada, and lie could assure those gentlemen that these sentiments were recip- oroated in the highest degree by the people of this country ; and he trusted the day was not f.ir distant when the peace which now so hapi ily existed between the two countries would be mure firmly cemented by even closer commercial relations than now cxist- eil, and when iu fact reciprocal trade between them would be revived never more to be abrogated, but firmly and lastingly perpetu- ated. He was in favor of lasting f ■. ace between the United States and Canada, and any Cana- dian who did aught to disturb that peace was not only an enemy to his country, but an enemy to the whole human race. (Cheers.) 'Uur other distinguished guests" was th.n proposed, the names of the Secretary of the liuffalo Board of Trade, and Mr. Hadlield and the British Consul at Uuffalo, and the Vice Consul of Norway and Sweden at Hamilton being coupled with it. Mr. Th;.rston, Secretary, and Mr. Haddeld responded for the Ijullalo Boar 1 of Trade. Mr. Orr, British Con.sul at Bullalo, and Mr. Gregory, Swedo-Norwegian Consul, also re- sponded. S. E. GnEOoav, ior Norway and Sweden said : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, being called upon to respond to the toust ' Just (.rjposed, and with which my name as vice-consul for Norway and Sweden was as- sociated, I have great pleasure in returning thanks on this occasion iu the nan.eofthu country I have the honor to represent. I sincerly echo the sentiments so eloquently expressed by the distinguished guest of the evening, the Hon. F. N. Blake, whom wo all so heartily honor. "That frlo.iaship be per- petuated between this country and the United States." J .et us also earnestly seek to perpetuate the friendship a'd good will of all nations. The large omigratiun now com- ! iug to theee shores fiom many foreign coun- ] tries, is the best evideuie we ccfiild have of i the deep interest Canada is attracting — aud favored as it is at present with peace and great prosperity its people cannot too highly Cstimato the importance ol securing the friendship and good will of all nations, aud especially those nations trom which Canada is now reaping the greatest benefit, either through commerce or emigration. This city, from irom its highly ftvorablo position, can bonst of being one oi the most important points in America tor the arrival aid departure of emigrants from all parts of the world. My friend, Alderman Mills, in his remarks this evening, stated that not many years ago this city was but a village ot 500 inhabitants. Little did the worthy Alderman dream at that time that within a few years it would contain a population ot over 30,000 inhabi- tants aud become a leading manufacturing and ci nimerc.al city, end on-; of the most important points iu America lor emigrants. From a table very kindly furnished me by one of the most eliicieut otlicers in the service, Mr. lUe, (JoNarnment emigrant agent lor this poit, I lind that in the year 187a 45,955 emigrants from the old world arrived hero, via the St. Lawrence and the Suspension Bridgr, o! which 10,187 settled iu diftercnt part: of western Cauada, and thu lemaiudtr paescd on to the western states. A (ewycar:! ago commerce and emigration to Canada was almost ixclusively with the mother country. But now the onterpiising merchants of this city trade directly with the largest aud best maikets of the world, while berener;etic manufacturers s;.'nd lortli I heir manufactured wans to many distant landi*, and foici^jn nations have deemed it necessary to establish co isu'ates f )r the pro- tection of their pco de aud international commerci These facu are alo enough. But he claimed that tho Wellington, Grey and BiucoCom* pany understood thoroughly all the prioci. pies of financing, and the financing they ha.I done on an empty treasury and without any particularly largo amount of credit (laughter) lie was greatly pleased to paiticipate in the present galheriug, aud to assist in paying a deserved compiimint to their guest, Mr. Blako. In their railway enterprises they had always had that gentleman's active sympathy, and if his position was such that they could not also have his active support,, he, (till speaker) was sure Ihat it waj not his fault. The toast opened up n subject of sub vast scope that it was impo" Me to mapplewith it in an after dinner speech. The time was aud not very long ago either, whiii tlie rail- way interests of the continent wculd not have been a large subject to handle, nor wa,s the p;tiod very remote when I here was no such interest at all. Let them tiy to picturo in fancy, what tho continent would be ntw without its railways. The rushii/g messen- gers which were born of the genius of George Stevenson, had now become so in. corporated with our commercial and indus- trial system that it wab impossible to con- ceive what it would be without them. Tho iron bands which uow stretchtd from tho Atlaut to tho Pacific and from fh'j North to the South on this continent measured not less than G0,00il miles iu length. He was pioud to say that so far as the Canadian rail- way system was concerned the city of Hamiiton occupied tho position of a pione>tr in its piomoticn. It was from this city the suggestion first came that munici- palities should be allowed to take stock in railways ; that is what gave tho first impulse to railway construction in Canada, It was in th 8 city, too, that tho bimus system had its origin, and that was the power which led to the recent revival of railway progress. (Hear, hear). It is always allowable oa occalons of thiB kind to depart frcm the text which one is calKd upon to sj,eak to, ard availing myself of this privilege I have gieat pleasure in saying that my past iutercourso with Mr. Blake has been ot the most pleasing char- acter, and I believe in making thai statement I express tho feelings of the people of the whole of this section of Canada. (Hear, hear) Ho has been amongst us some time and we have been enabled to form a very high cstimatu of his character. By hiB rectitude and tho willlngue8,4 he has at all times displayed to promote tho commercial' interests of Canai^a, while at tho same time ho endeavored to promote thu Interests of his own country, he has endeared himself to ttie citizen.s o f Himiltou with whom he was immedlat ly asBooiatod, and I am sure that every oin here regrets that circumstances should have occurred to call him away— let ua hope, to a sphere where he may And more scope for his abilities. Wo have found him to bo a sincere American genlloinaD, ami altboi'f'h no may Imvo diflered in our politiciil views, nllhougli wc may prefer our own nutionol llig that lias " braved a thousand years tho battle and tbo breezi-," al tbu samo time we renp'ic* the Star Spaugled Lianuer uud-r which he has the honor to servo. His people and our people have the somo feellugs aud tho samo senti- ments, speaking tho same language, and there is no re»eon why we should not goon forever in CO cord trgcthor. \Vu have a country here cxtomling from tho Atlantic to tho Paciiic, which for many years h^a been united by an iron band with tho great country ocrosa tho border. And while wo have tho spirit of enterprise in this country ; whilj wo have men in Canada who cany out groat railway enterprises, and who.-^e ambition it is to unite the two ceun- trles by the grtat modern civilizer, wo can feel satislied that there aro public spirited men in tho United States who desire to reciprocate with us in this common object. I feel proud to sue the reprssentativo of that great country here on this occasion. I spoiik ns one of tho busiuess iron of Hamilton and us a citizen of Canada, and I am proud that we aro assembled hero to welcome that geu- tleman, a' d I hope interchanges of courtesy will coulinuo to bo more and more frequent between tho people of Canada and the peo- ple of the United States than they have been in the pat^t. The spiaker then gave a sketch of tho railway progress of Canada, and concluded a most eloqueut speech amid loud and con. tinucd cheering. Jlr. Duelmiian, Vicc-piesident then pro- posed " the Agricultural, Manufacturing and Commercial interests." He was delighted to see the proper order of the great interests now adoi)te(l, there being no (luubt that apricultiiro is our chief in- terest, and nianul'acturing the second great interest, liis own, or the mercantile class being only middle men howeverbenelicieut their in- flaence might boon the country. In agricul- ture the pr'jductions of Canada arc now super- abundant. He remembered the infancy of the country when it was not so, and when that man was thought tho jiatriot who mado two blades of grass grow where ouo grew before. Hut now this is all changed, production can can take care of itself in Canada, and he is the practical patriot who by patriotic legisla- tion finds the best markets for tho now re- dundant produce of Caaada — creating a home market to aiKNT or an AMBaicAN Zoi.vK«ElN, auchasexUlanmnni; thii (Serinan SlaliH. Under this Ihc Unlled States and Canada would nellher of tlicni l«vy any cnstoms taxes oa their fn- terlor fronilcrs, liiil only at ilio .'»ttn>n oMls |>oiiulatii>n. Let it bo thereforo resolved, that for otir commercial system, the principle should bo adopted by ('anada ol'an Anieriean Zolveroiu, or, ill othur words, free trade with Atnerica, but not witli Kuropc. Alul this Itcciiirocity Treaty can only eventually bo secured and rcnilercd perinauent, by ttio British tiovernment adopting the great principle of (Ucftitralizing the inauutacturini; power of the lOuipire— a prineiplo which would nRRrandisc tho ilriilsh Einpiru and lie an inealculablo benefit to tho working classes in Lingland, Ireland and Heotland, as creating a great healthy demand for them as laborers aoroad, iii place of an nrilflelal and pre- carious demand lor their labour at hoi.ie. To jire- scrvo iho Ein|)iro, Itritaiu has to yield the seltlsh lirinciplo of centralizing which has mined Ireland and India, so far ns such countries could be rulneti, and cost ns the old American colonies. The prineiplo of dccentralizinKthe inauutactures of the Kinpire is a principle wldch would secure f(»r the Empire an enormous adilitionitl trado and influence.— Through tho instmineiilalily of some one or other of her dei>cndenciei* (which nliglit bo calhul Kngland in America— England in Australia— I'^ugland in India, Ac. Ac,,) she conld secure I'rec Trade for all her m hibil, in full bloom disclesed, *'Tlio graces and llie beauties "Thai toriil the cliar.,eter he sivks, " Kor it is an union that bespeaks " Iteciprocaled duties. *' The pri.ibl(!m wo want to prove is that the United [States and Canada may become an industrial an 1 commercial unit, ivitlioiit tlie alteration of our present political relations. (Applause.) With refeionco (said Jtr. liuclianan) to former remarks of mine to-night about the necessity of paiier money for Canada, I am asked to explain wherein lies the ailvant. age of the Issue of paper money if the Gov- ernment is to hold gold to the iv/iole amount. I answer there would bo no advantage to tho Government ; but tliere would bo incal- culable advantage to the people, and especi- ally to the p'odnrevs of Canada. It is only by means of an emblematic legal tender — by which means tlie foreigner would get paid to tlio same value in somo other commodity, including gold, nt its value or murkef pii^-e ill Ciinndi — tliat our own producer can be put on a par with the foreigner who gets tho Canadian market price for his imporla- tion, but has not to pay the Canadian price under t'.ie law of supply and demand for his gold or foreign Exdian^o ; and except by al. lowing tho law of supply and demand to af- fect tho price of gold as well as other com- mcdities there is no other way to get men of money to co-operate in discouraging over importations — seeing that tho oflect of IhoBO is to give them less gold for their money ; | And, more important still, tho making ou. , legal tender nnl an export ibic rimmO'lili/ 1 docs away with tbo foreign trade as a cause (and it is now tho great cause) of over re- curring monetary distress and panic in tho country. (Applause.) George Rooch, I^sq., for many years Trcs- ident of the Hamilton and Weulworth Agriicultural Societies, responded. — Mr. Chairmin, Vie-C/iairmiin and Gentle- men, — It is with v.'iy great pleasure I rise to reply to a par, of tho toast proposed by our Hon. Vice-Ohairman, and I am proud he estimates so liighly the agricultural interests of this glorious Dominion by naming it first on the list. Farmers are not expected to bo expert at making speeches ; for this reason I did not expect to be called upon ou this occasion. I shall not therefore occupy much of your time, more particularly as our worthy friend, Mr. Adam Drown, has told you that he did not wish to reply to a previous toast, ho having been sot down to reply to another more important, having reference to tho great interests of Comiucrce, for which he ig so hajipily qualified by his power to instruct in extended oratory. This is not tho time or place to propose suggestions in regard to agriculture. This all commanding and honored industry is now in its full career; but whatever may be the wonders it has already excited, wo have reason to believo greater triumphs are yet to come. All tho forms of productive art arc every where multi- plying ; new methods aro discovered, and new implements and machinery aro invented; but let no one suppose we have reached tho limit of advancement. Our Canadian farmers do not fall behind those of our neigiibors on tho other side of the line, as to intelligence and enterprise ; and in tlieir relation to agri- culture and tho improvement of stock, we claim they are far in advance of agriculturists in every portion of tho new world. We can and do exhibit the finest display of hordes and cattle, sheep and swine, of the various breeds, that are to bo seen in Americ.i. Wo ear not only Iinpcrltr.', but very large Export- ers ; and to our honored guest we aro grcatl)r indebted for the inllueoco ho exerted somo short time since in securing the admission of breeding animals to tho States free of duty (hear, bear), plocing our stock on equal footing with stock imported from beyond tlio seas. For heretofore a duty of twenty per cent, was rf quired to bo paid ou all stock that was exported from Canada tor brooding purposes. I believe the clause in tho statute exempted only such stock us crosseil over the setf, so that on all purchases mad'j hero was assessed this duty. I speak from personal knowledge, for I happen to know the etTorts he made to secure this boon to our farmers and to those of tho states, ond for this our honored guest is entitled to our heartfelt gratitude. 'While I have, in my intercoutso on official luisincss, KHind him exceedingly particular in his requir;inonts, I have found him also obliging, an-l desirous on his part, that there should be '.he least delay and trou- ble in sending animals forward to their des- tination in the states. And before I sit down, permit lue, on behalf of the Agriculturists, to thank him for his courtesy and attention to our more particular interests. I assure you it is a very great gratification to me to have this puplic opportunity, on an occasion where so many join in heartfelt respect to him, to acknowlcege his good service's and amenities on all occasions,which have tended greatly to advance tho welfare of our owa country as well as his own which he has so ably and faithfully represented in Canada 'or more than eight years. (Cheers.) Mr. R.M.Wanzcr replied ably fertile man- ufacturing interoBts. 10 Mr. Adiim Brown I'resiilont oi tho Ilaiailton i Board of rrailo ropliud lor Commcrcu Mr. Adam ISkuwn uaiil : I f^ul it to ba a peculiar plua.siiro to uoito wltli otliers in this city to piy a compliumnt to tl>u lionor. able guest ol tlits i v iiing. Mr. Blalio hul for lome v>^ars tilled tho position at this import- ant point of (JoQHul for the great nation across the border. He discharged his nlwiiys delicate duties iu a manner reflecting great credit to himself — by a dignilied fidel- ity to hi8 own eouulry, and, at the same time iu a courteous and pleasant manner to the people ot Oulario. (Applause.) Uentk- meu ocLUpyiu^ tho poBitiou from which he now retires are iipt, oy uureaajn.iblo people to be regarded as obstructionist'*; but they should reu/umber thit iuteruatioual laws must bj respected, and the man who dis charges the duties ri quired l>y l.ie two countries impurlially, tuthlnlly and plea- santly, is oue wiij destrvidly commaud.s respect, (lliar, hear) Jlr. Blake hia done this, and lie has had the piculiar faculty — as a public ollicer representing tho Uepublic adjoiniui; us — of makin,' everylhini? smooth in the forniilitiei- winch are necessary at all Consulates. As merchants havii.g traasac- tiouj with him, mmy here can testily to what I have taid. 1 should, however, perhaps have first thauk< d you for coupling my name with the commercal interests ol the country ; but 1 felt impelled to pay a tribute to our IrlenJ in passing. I can assuro you I always feel it to be an honor to speak iu response to this toast. Tho merchaut, hewever, is to ba no more respected than one belonging to any other calling, except in f.o laras he may deserve it. Still tho Biitiah merchant is regarded the whole world over as a representative ol intearity, enterprise nnd thorough wore; (cheeiB) and what was true of tlie old stork ig true of the new — both in Canada and the United ytatos — lor they and we, though war had once fired its h rrid torch between us, were all shoots from the grand old tree. Neither of tho branches had degenerated, they had no cause to be ashamid of the stock fiom whence they came. (Cheers.) I c innot say that, like England, our commerce was co.extensive with the globe, bat it was ta^t becomlug fo. We have busy men among us whose energies seem bounded only because they cannot get further. To-day tho goods of Ontario go to supply our new made Province of Manitoba, and, in return wo can take all the furs they cau send UB. Tho products of the Boil,the forest and the mine of Canada are increasing into im- mense volume, and go to almost every country ; and while we may not, as does England, sona its cotton productions to the East to piy for her importations. We s. e cnterpiisQ iu other shapes striking out in that direction. I feel proud lo say that the great Wanzer of Hamilton was shipping Bewiug machines to Japan, and hiscitculars in the Japanese lauguuge were already print- ed. ^Checrs.) The commerce of Canada is in a most prospirou.s condition. The country is being rapidly opened up by railways, and men seem to buckle to with a will s/cywhere. Through railways commerce will extend ond grow r.nd push ic8 way into all part of this vast cntineut. Everything that tends to bring men Irom dis- tant pans together, encourages trade and in- dustry. Swift locomotion through a country brings in its train a sort of liberal e illghten- m(nt. (Applause.) It seems to teach m' n, too, the value of tho arts of pcacB. KallwayB are the pathways of peaceful conimerco. In war, commerce does not flourish. There may ba a spurt, bat it is not genuine. Peace is tho great stimulant of commerce. (Hear hear.) This was a fitting occasion lo f 'low up the point. Allusion has been made to the abrogation of tho recipioeity tieaty ; it was a good thing, but when it wag annulled it taught oiir people self reliance ; caused us to find new outlets for our productions and manufacturer, still I shall hall the day with gladness when that treaty is renewed [Cheers.] Lot the two great nations abreast of oath other forever march abreast in the great task of bettering the woild. (Cheers.) Let that he the rivalry between them. Let them dot tho seas with the white sails of their .ommerco See what triumphs commerce has achievuJ. See how it has knit tho earth together by the ties of common i'lterest (cheers.) Many a man has originated great ideas in relation to com- merce, as a proof, the trafUc ol India an I China, and yet ho may not have lived to see tho full fruit of his work ; but still the good woik poeson. My gallantJfriendCoI. Sjroat has told you that when ten thoufand men were called for by tho government to djfend their hearths nnd homes, thirty thousand left their plough and responded — ten times fhflt would turn out If necessary — [cheers,] — still, all should seek to cultivate tho best and most friendly relations with our neighbors of tho United States. Nothing is so cementing as commercial intercourse, as free as it can con- sistently bo made. Already has the tide turned in favor of peace ; once we thought it tight to go to war to extend our domain, or resent some fancied or real insult, no matter what the sufl'ering or what the slaugh- ter, but men and nations are being better taught now. What a glorious thing to think of, that tho two most enlight- ened nations of tLe earth have thought alike on the greaiest subject that, I may say, has ever occupied their attention (cheers) in case of dispute, to appeal to the arbitration uf common sense and calm discussion rather than the sword. (Loud Cheers ) Nobly done 1 lllgut thit two nath ns hiving a common origlu, clalmiug tho i-ame history nnd enjoying tho blessings of freedom of thought and action, sliould lead the way in this grand work. They have inherited the saiu; laws as our. selves. Laws which have taken cenluues to make, 1 may .■^ay almost perfect and which have been cemented with tho best blood of a natim — [Che:;rs.] Proud are wo of our beloved yueen for her action in the great movement Her heart has often been wrung for her bravo sufljring soldiers. Sho will now be foremost among monarcha to inaugurate a new methotl of treating with national dls- pute8,and blot out tliehorridcursoof war from the earth. [Cheers.] This grand effort to ex- tinguish the horrors of war originated I be- lieve in the United States Senate, I shivend with joy when I read tho nioUon — may history honor the naino of the noble man who conctivid tho thought — the idc» is ono to inspire the poet.— [Cheers.] Let ui hope that we aro don.i with tho ogeofnar and are entering on u peiiod of pence, in wl ieh commerce and every Industry shal; TDurish ; when, in stead of ambition seeking new lands to connuei ijy tho sword, commercial enterprise will jiant for row fields of efl'ort ; when national jealousy shall cease — when there shall be ao more conflict and no more carnage. [Cheers] This meeting to-night is o fine chopter in tho history of tho two countries, and the time ig coming when the fruit shall be seen. I do not dedre to enter into politics, but I would sacrifice anythini.', anything but national honor, to secure peace between ui, nnd I know our frtends accross tho border feel ns wo do. (Cheers.) Wo each glory in our country,no is no man who d-es not. (Cheers ) But I fuel in my inmost soul that the task of civilizing nnd enlightening the world is to o the work of England andAnierica (Applause) The day is hasttning fast when that datiou shullhave the strongest bulwarks, which hag the best educated aad must enlightened peo- ple, progress and enlightenment is to-day the aim of tho two great rations whose flags are 60 peacefully entwined iu tliis room, all they aro doii g is to that end~the modem dragon ofhro is the messenger of civilization man i° permitted to cimtiol tho elements to do hii- bidding, under seas ond over lands, tho li;,'btning carries tho meiBuge of tho mer- chant, uniting as it were, tho whole earth by an unseen power in mutual interest. (Cheers) tho great Parliament of man whose con- stituency is tho whole earth, has a nohlo mission before it iu the interest of progresa and peace. I have trespassed too long on your pa- tience, (no no, go on) and wll! concludo Iheso hasty observations witii a few lines by Mackay, which I know you will receive with cordial sympathy. There's a good time com Irg, boys, A K'loil tinio comlnn ; We may not live loseo the day, lint earth shall gllsteii In the lay Ui;ht'.> u weapini stroug'^r ; We'll win our battle by Its al i : Walt a little longer. There'^ a good time corning, boys. A gooj tlm9e:)mlng: When war In all men'.-; e;"os Khali bo A imn.'sterof liihiully In the go d tlice coming. Nations shall notis from iibroiid,'' said, Mr. President, and tientlemen, you have assembled hero to do honor to the late Con.sul of the United States at this port, Mr F. N. Blake, and it is really quite gratifying to me to be present and bear kind and cheering words that have been spoken in his favor. Mr. Blake, as the representative of a great nation, has been cordially received and warmly appreciated by you while acting in his ollieial capacity. I hope that his new field of labor may be both profitable and pleasant ; and that in years to come the episode of this evening's gathering and banquet will all'ord him cheer- ing recollections. (Applause.) I have to think you most heartily for tho e.\])i'es.siona of good will and friendship that you have uttered by word and extended by hand to the citizens of tho United States dwelling in Buffalo, and especially for tho members of the Board of Trade — a body second to none in honorable denlings, actu- ated by sound commercial principles, and warm lienrtednnd generous men (Applause) 1 will not trespass upon your time to di- late upon the immense commerce of our beautiful city, its manufactures, its charities, its thousand and one attraetlons as a place of buiness or a haven of rest ; but I cannot help remarking that in your rity are the samo evidances of industry, wealth and means of happiness — in fact are visible on every side. I celebrated the birth of your Dominion in this city and have watched tho development of your nation and city's growth with great pleasure. Jlay your nation's childhood grow into a noble manhood ; may yeais never to 11 bo finnlly numbered be yours among tho enlightened God-fouring Christian nations of tho tftrtli, with commerce and industrial pur- suits, the summit of human ambition in the hearts of all; and may war, witli its atten- dant horrors lie only snokeiiof as a cursed thing of the past, to be loathed and shunned. It would be giutil'yinc; tome an ' huudreds of republicans if our trade relations were made more intimate by a freer commercial intercourse obtained by the abolislang or modification of eiistom duties on both sides of the line — surely there should be statesmen found in either country to solve the problem, ■which divested of nil narrow prejudices, is a very simple one. May commerce, that great leveler of fac- tions, annex the Dominion of Canada and the United SUites together — each country carrying out its allotted minion of political existence in its own way j and side by side, mutually encouraging and supporting each other, work out the problem of national life, viz : giving tho greatest happiness to tlie greatest number of its citizens. (Applause.) Deeming on an occasion like this that short speeches are better relished than lengthy ones, let me express my thanks for the hearty welcome extended to me and through me to the Hoard of Trade of lUiflalo — and as 1 observe at the extreme left of the worthy diairm-.n my friend Jlr. Iladlield who is, like ra.vsel , a citizen of Buffalo, a gentleman well known to many of you, and one with whom you should be belter ac- quainted, I am sure I cannot do a kinder act than to introduce him to you and ask him to continue my remarks, feeling well agnued that vou will be gainers by the intro- duction. (Applause). Mr. Robert Iladlield, of liuffalo, in reply to tho same tons!, said, I did not expect to say anything on the present occasion, still less to be brought beforj vol as I now am ; but have observed with deep gratitication, the friendliness of the farewell testimonial you are reuilering to our esteemed friend Mr. Blake, on his leaving the post he has so long am) so happily occupied, of Consul of the United bttites at this port. (Applause.) Since his residence in Canada, there have been some trying times, and stormy scene <,and they afforded opportunities for one in his position to gain a base.spurious and temporary reputation, not unattended by a certain art of popularity, by pandering to the passion of evil-mi'ided men, exciting ill-will between the two great nations, which above all others are best fitted for mutual esteem and friendship. (Applause,) From the intimacy \vith which I was honored by Mr, Blake, 1 knew at the time when, what to some men might have been temptations wei« offered, how instinctively he cajt them aside nnd labored quietly, privately, and with the approbation of his own conscience, to pro. mote amity between your country and that he so worthily represented. In your appro- bation to-night, he receives some portion of his reward. Gentlemen, I trust the sua of good-will between us has arisen, nnd will never (gain be obscured. What I may say on this Bubjict is of course, derived principally fioin my knowledge of the United Htates, tho country of which I a-n a citizen, and you can, to some extent, judge of the depth and warmth of my feelings on this subject wlun I tell you that while my child an I grand- children were born in the great coun ry near us, on the other side of the lakes, I and all ihese of my race who preceded mo were, as far we can trace their origin, like most of those whom I see around me to-night,natives of that little island on the other side of the Atlantic, among whose many magnilieeut and marvellous achievements, the chief is that she has peopled this continent with men industiious and free. (Applause.) Of tiie ill-will which did exist in the United States towards Great Britain, and was chiefly the offspring of the revolutionary war, I need say no more than that it concentrated ujion what are known as the Alabama depredations and claims. They were the head and front of the whole javelin of hatred; so deeply have I been for many years interested with this belief, that I lelt compelled several years ago to call upon one whom I had long known, the late W. Cobden, who was then confined to bed, Bufl'ering from exeitions of tlio celebrated stand Jie had made at Buffalo, ^vhere he made his last public appearance out of parliament, and to him expressed my strong convictions as to the best means of promoting these international relations which we all know he had so deeply at heart The treaty ultiiUHtely made at Geneva gave a practical form to the best wishes, thoughts and efforts of multitudes of the friends of the people of our race in both conntriesjwhatever may be. its merits or defects in each partiru- hir, it is not needful for us now and here to discuss. It is a more pleasant duty to tell you that ever since that time a very grati- fying change has t;dceu place in tho senti- ment expressed by the friend.s and public menoftWe United States towards the gov- ernment of Great Britain [Applause.] Doubtless the good fruit will be more and I more abundant. It is when ] think ot the .extensive and fertile territory and future population of those regions of this continent over which the shades of the two or three of the leauing nations of Western Europe is now ailTused, that I begin to appreciate the j value of a good understanding between the old country and the new, cspeeiaily to those whose homes are, as those of their decond- jants will be, in either of the two young : nations on this side of the Atlantic. What I will be the power of our race, which when its powers were confined to a minute lerri- torial portion of the Old World ledmankihd, be when it has fully occupied this vast con- I tinent ? lleferenee has been appropriately made this evening to the commercial relations of I tho Dominion of Canada and tho United j States. No practical question in politii'al economy can be more plain, than that unim- I peded ingress, egress, nnd exchange of the products of industries between the people of the two countries would confer upon both advantages to those arising from the same free j development of mutual interests which may ; exist between the dift'erent States of the I Union, and on the other side of the frontier ' between the several provinces of tho Doiniii- jion. Enlightened self-interest and mutual good-will point to the same conclusions. JThe high tariff of the Unitid States may for j the present postpone any reciprocal bene. , fieial arrangement lor these purposes, but I [trust the time is not far distant when such ft consummation may be attended, and the strong bonds of mutual interests may yet more closely unite tho people of these two young nnd piogrcssive nations, and by tho overrated piospe.ity which must arise from their., bo not only profitable to all who arc connected with either countries, but also furnish to the world at large one more -roof of the advantages of unrestrained commer- cial intercourse. (Great clrerirg.) A. B. Orr, British Vice-Consul at Buffalo, rer.ponded next to thit toast, and said .■ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, I thank yon for the hearty greeting bestowed n|on mo as one of your guests. I can assure you it affords me great pleasure to bo present and take a part in Jds gathering, doing honor to .Mr. Consul Blaue. on his retirement. I havo had the pleasure of his personal acqua^ntanotf for the past eight year.-), a portion of which time he was placed in rather a cji'i''.'i inltr- na/iOndJ! position, and can bear testimony to the fairness and impartiality in which lio discharged his duty, and to the urbniuty that has always characterizeil him in his otiicial capacity. I am sorry he is now about to leave you, trusting it is only to occupy a more advanced position in the service of his country. (Applause.) At this lato hour of the evening there is little lelt for mo to say, especially after tho eloquent remarks of previous speakers. It is gratifying to me to meet so many ijrescnt representing the commercial interests of tho Dominion on an occasion like this ; it tells me that you are alive lo the best interests of Canada, and that in assembling to do honor to a foreign ofiicer in his retirement from hi.^ post, you bear testimony to his faithful- ness in the performance of his duties, (although at times they may have been nu- pleasan'. to him to perform.) JIc mi.st feel honored thereby. I 1, for one, regret that it was nei ,sary ou I the part of the United States Gov .ument to [abrogate "the Ueciprccity Treaty.' I have 'always believed that it was cf mutual benefit. The then unrestricted use of American approaches to the seahoard,was a convenience jto Canada, and the traffic in transportation was no doubt piol'itable to the -\mericans. I I have alwaj s been of the opinion that the two counlnt-'ata-inhif; a siiij'linof.i in itarjwdiic- i^ior-i were only competitors in the outside world, but as matters stood previous to the abrogation of the treaty, Canada and tho : United States were of mutual advantage to leach other. (Apphius'.) I trust, gentlemen, that the wisdom of tho I representatives of either country, may by legislation soon restore the old commercial j relations ; if not on the old terms — as near as possible to afford a just position to either I country. I trust that the present cordial feeling now existing between the two great commercial and (Christian nations of tho world may ever continue. 'Jo the satisfactory progress, in both com- merce and production, in the Dominion, I can bear testimony ; to tho cnterpriso dis- played in the advancement of m.iiuifaetures and the enlargement and improvements of your own " Ambitious City," all who visit it can testify. Again I thank you for the cordiality ex- tended tons as guests. (Applause) Tho toaslB of "Tho Pic-hs" and "The Ladies'' were thru duly honored, alter which tho company separated. CORRESPONDENCE : Board op TniDE lioosis, "t Hamilton, Julv 7, 1873./ Jfo)i. F. N. lllcke, lliimil' n. Sill, — At tho Annual Meeting of the Board of Trade lield here to-day, the following motion was unanimously carried : Jloved liy D. Sloore, Ksq., Vice-President, Chairman, seconded hy Adam Brown, Esq., and Resolved, " That on the retirement from this port of the Hon. F. N. Blalu', United States Consul, the Board of Trade of Hamilton feels it n duty (o him to express tlio deep regret of the mrrelmnts as well as the community generally on the occasion, ho having not only heeu an admirahle oftieial, doing all tliat could he done to facilitate thi' trade between the countries, but having done much to create and perpetuate that good filing which should characterize the intercourse of near neighbors like the people of the United Scales and Canada." ] have tlie honor to bo, sir, Vour obcd't serv't, (Signed), Wu. JIacKav, Sec'y. KEI'LV. U. S. C'ONSCI.ATE, 1 ' ly II, 187;i. i Hamilto.v, July Adim Uroxcn, Esq., rrefiilenl of li.e Bo.nd (■/ T.ade, of Hamilton : Sib: I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of the resolution passed by tlie Board of Trade en tlie 7th instant, transmitted to me by Wm. Mackay, Esq., secretary, in which tho merchants of Hamilton are pleased to express the favorable opinion they entertain of tho manner in which 1 h.avo discharged tho duties of my oflice, and of the influence of my course of action in connection therewith in other respects. I beg to assure you, and tlirough you, tho community generally, for whom jou speak, that I am deeply sensible and gratefully appreciative of this unexpected expression of esteem and conlulence, on the occasion of my retiring from this Consulate. It is in the interest of commerce and trade that the two nations to which wc respectively belong have entered into a special compact to give eJl'ect to sucli law.", customs and regulations beyond their rospectivj jurisdictions as are in force and exercise within the same. To secure harmony in the full and free sxercise of tho laws, customs and regulations, to watch carefully over, and to promote the commercial and gineral interests of the nation he represents, consistently with a due regard foi the rights of the nation to which he is accredited, are among the Consul's most delicate an important duties, and if he can faithfully serve his country in tluit capacity, and at tlie same time fostei and encourage the snirit of harmony and friendship between the difl'erent powers, I believe ho has suceBSi'uUy fnlUlled his tru>t. On this assumption I am gratified to llnd from the terms of your resolution that you consider I have, as Consul at this port, discharged my duty, nothing more, while holding that position, and I hope and trust that tlie same friendly feeling and facility of intercourse which now exists between my country and yours, may long endure, and strengthen with corning years, and I have great satisfaction in my firm belief, from tho present complexion of the times and current events, that such will be the case. I have the honor to he, sir. Most respectfully, your obedient servant. Freeman. N Bljkb. 7Xln|