ade, and to assure you how deeply I am with you on this
occasion, both heart and soul."

It was no formal compliment when Earl Granville, who followed the
President, said, that "the illustrious Prince, following the example of
his noble father, and of other members of the Royal Family, not only
presided on this occasion with dignity and grace, but had spoken with
earnestness and power on this great question." He also paid a generous
tribute to the memory of Lord Palmerston, under whom he had begun his
own official life, and who had laboured long and zealously in the
anti-slavery cause.

The speakers who succeeded, without exception, rose to the height of the
great argument. Sir Stafford Northcote, the Lord Iddesleigh of after
years, closed his speech with a noble peroration: "They had deep reason
to be thankful for the position which England had been allowed to take
in this great controversy. They knew what that great position was; they
knew how it astonished the world, and how it astonished ourselves, that
this island had spread itself in its intentions and designs over so
large a portion of the world's surface, and what responsibility it had
taken upon itself in consequence. This position had brought us into
communication with every portion of the globe where Slavery prevailed.
It gave us great opportunities, and we must see that they are not
neglected. England's mission was not to magnify herself and speak of the
greatness she had achieved: it was rather to look to the happiness and
the advancement of the world. There were lines written by a great poet
which were originally applied to the great Empire of Rome, but which
were applicable to England. They spoke of that which became an Imperial
race, and of the aptitude of other nations for other arts and pursuits.
It was the Imperial position and the boast of England to release the
captive, and set free the Slave; and, in the words of the poet to whom
he had referred, he would say: 'These are Imperial arts, and worthy
thee.'"

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of the duty of the clergy to promote
and direct public feeling on this question. Lord Derby, then Foreign
Secretary, in referring to direct action by England, said that
international diplomacy set limits to carrying out all that they might
wish in regard to foreign slavery. "The English Act of 1834 had
practically given the death-blow to slavery throughout the world. I do
not think this is saying too much,