SIR COLIN CAMPBELL IN GLASGOW. Presentation of the Freedom of the City and The Sword of Honour.

On Tuesday the Ist of July one of the most brilliant companies that ever met in Glasgow assembled in the City Hall to do honour to the distinguished hero of a hundred fights, Major General Sir Colin Campbell. Almost every one of our citizens were desirous of seeing the renowned veteran. Sir Colin Campbell is a native of Glasgow, and it well becomes our citizens to be the first to acknowledge publicly the high estimation in which they hold his services. The assembly to«day will not soon be forgotten as one of the grandest demonstrations to worth and bravery ever made in Scotland. The excitement in the city was most intense at the time Sir Colin Campbell was expected, and when the cortege reached the Royal Exchange in Queenstreet, the carriage containing the illustrious warrior was surrounded by thousands of his enthusiastic admirers, who applauded him most vociferously at every -stage. The cortege approached the 'City Hall by the Albion-street entrance. Sir Colin's appearance in the hall wa9 the signal for a tremendous outhurst of warm and prolonged applause and vociferous cheering, during which was played, "See the Conquering • Hero Comes." The chair was taken at twelve o'clock by the Right Hon. the Lord Provost, who was supported on the right by Sir Colin Campbell, Sir Archibald \lison, Bailie Wright, and Bailie Young ; and on the left by Bailie Harman, Bailie Thomson, Bailie Clouston, Bailie Taylor, and other gentlemen. The sword was placed on the table before the Lord Provost in front of the platform. The scabbard is of rich crimson velvet, beautifully adorned with goldplated thistle and scroll work, and bears within a wreath of laurel the following inscription : — "Presented to General Sir Colin Campbell, G.C.8., by above six thousand of his countrymen in Glasgow, &c. — 1856." Among the ornaments aie two antique shields, on one of which are the armorial bearings of Sir Colin, with the motto, on a scroll of "Be mindful." In a compartment near the middle of the scabbard aTe represented the various articles which constitute the dress of a Highland chieftain, including the sword, pistol, dirk, Lochaber axe, horn, sjporan, &c. The is likewise another beautiful compartment of thistles and blue bells. On the basket hilt is a species of scroll work, from which spring in a very graceful manner thistles and leaves intertwined, embracing an antique shield bearing the arms of Glasgow, with a motto on a scroll in bold relicf — "Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word." The blade is of Scottish steel, supplied by Messrs. Hawkesworth and Co., (Avon Steel Company), Linlithgow. On it we find, beautifully emblazoned, the armorial bearmgs of Sir Colin, surmounted by the royal arms of Scotland, with tbe following inscription within a shield : — Presented to MajorGeneral Sir Colin Campbell, G.C.8., by above six thousand of his countrymen in Glasgow and Scotland, in testimony of their high sense of his distinguished conduct and gallantry, and glori ous services in Portugal, Spain, France, India, China, and the Crimea, from the battle of Yimiera, in 1808, to the Storming of Sebastopol, in 1855." The work of the blade, designed b) Mr. Rait, is of the most minute and elegant description. On the accompanying breast-plate are the royal arms of Britain, within a wreath of laurel, in pure gold, exquisitely enamelled. On the right and left of the arms is a figure of Fame, with a trumpet, and Victory, with a wreath of laurel, surrounded by a wreath and scroll of brilliant diamonds of the highest water. The burgess ticket, which bore the usual inscription, was enclosed in an elegant silver gilt box, beautifully chased with thistles and laurel leaves, and surmounted by the Glasgow arms. It measures eight inches by five, and is made to fit a velvet case, lined with satin. It was manufactured by Mr. James Muirhead, Buchananstreet. The Lord Provost rose, amid applause, and spoke as follows : — Gentlemen, — It is now many months ago, and when General Sir Colin Campbell and his brave companions were 'before the walls of Sebastopol, amid the roar of cannon, that the corporation of Glasgow, with a wish to cheer those brave men in their difficulties, unanimously voted the freedom of this ancient burgh to the hero of Balaklava (Cheers). His lordship then, addressing Sir Colin, proceeded to say : We, the Lord Provost, magistrates, and council, are therefore met to-day, in the City Hall, in presence of three thousand of our citizens, to ask you, sir, to receive this honour. The intrinsic "worth of the gift is small to a man in your, proud position ; but I have no doubt the value of the presentation will be immeasurably enhanced in your estimation, when I tell )'ou that, with this box and burgess ticket, I am asked, in the name of this large city and neighbourhood, numbering nearly half a million of inhabitants, to convey to you the admiration they entertain of your career as a soldier and a warrior, and of the glory you have won for yourself, and the lustre you have shed on your native city, by the faithful and gallant discharge of your duty to your Queen and to your country. Sir, I find it is over 50 years S ( ince you left our High School to engage in a military life, and that during that long term of years your name has been frequently and honourably mentioned in the military despatches from every country and cliuie where British arms we're required in the service of the Crown. (Loud cheers.) It is a matter of pride for us to know that you first learned the art of war under our brave and ever-to-be-lamented townsman Sir John Moore, and that you were with him in his memorable advance and afc his retreat on Corunna, in 1808 — that you were also in the Walcheren expedition, 1809 — in the Peninsula with the Great jDuke, from 1810 to 1813 — and were present and 4oolp an active part in most of the brilliant achievements of those great campaigns, at some of which you were severely wounded — that you served in America during 1814 and 1815 — in Demerara in 1828 — in the expedition to China in 1842-and in India from 1848 till 1852, where you covered yourself with honour, and gained those laurels which stamped you an officer worthy of a nation's praise. But, Sir, it has been during the last two years in the Crimea, when the eyes of all, the world were turned to the desperate conflict of anns which was to teat the military powers of the greatest nation* of the earth, that fpnv fellow-townsmen have been led more partijuiarly to watcVyour movements, and I have now ;o inform you in the name of this city and neigh)ourhdod, that your conduct in command of the -Highlanders at Alma, at the red line of Balalara, and before Sebastopol, has stamped you as ne of the bravest of the brave. (Cheers.) You, ir, may be said, from youth to age, to have spent our days and nights on the field— to have enDuntered the dangers of every form of combat, to aye braved every physical endurance with devotion id self sacrifice, and thus to rank high among le family of true heroes, roakiug us prouder of ir'old.oity frqm your' having been born amongst i. Far be it from me, sir, in thus doing faint slice to your distinguished services, to detract the least from the bravery of the whole ritish 'army and the high courage of our no less aye allies— bat. as Scotchmen, we recur with

pride )to the achievements of our gallant countrymen. When I name Generals Sir George Oathcart, Sir.. John Campbell, and Uoldie, who tell in the midst Of victory — Sir George Brown, and the hero of the Redan, Sir James Simpson, and to the gallant, officers and men who supported them, we must feel thut Scotland, through them, maintained her ancient renown, and the high place she has ever won when the nation enjoined her daring sons to stand by her in tin hour of danger. Knowing that the British public will applaud the act, and having the hearty conour rence of this community, I beg, in the name of the municipal council, as a mark Of our ostoam, and for the valuable military services you bavo rendered to your country, to present you, Gonural Sir Colin Campbell, G.C.8., with the freedom of the City of Glasgow* (His lordship resumed hhs seat amid enthusiastic upplause.) His lordship then banded the burgess ticket to Sir Colin, enclosed in a handsome box of solid gold, amid great applause Sir Coliu Campbell, on receiving the diploma, said— My Lord Provost, ladies, and gentlemen, — On arriving to-day in my native city, after i an absence of upwards of half a century, it has become my lot to receive this civic honour, and it is also intended to confer another honour of a military kind (Cheers). These both coming from my townsmen, it is hard to say which I value j most highly. I can say thai I shall always be j ready to draw the sword, about to be presented jto me, in defence of my freedom (Great api plause.) I shall always value, as I ought to do, highly and gratefully, the manner of my reception to-day, and the great honour conferred, iind about to be conferred on me. The recompense which I desire to give you is, in every possible way to do my duty to my country (Sir Colin feat down amid trpmendoua cheering ) Sir Archibald Alison, amid much applause, rose and said — Sir Colin Campbell, you have just received from the Lord Provost and magistrates of this city the highest honour they have it in their power to bestow. It is now my honoured privilege to present to you a testimonial of another description — a sword, the gift of 6UOO of your grateful countrymen, in token of of admiration of your distinguished services, and respect fur your manly character. (Applause ) Such and so varied, General, have been your exploits, that the victories of Wellington, many and splendid as they were, form but :in episode in your glorious career. (Cheers.) From the time when the British armies landed in Spain in 1808, under j Xheir renowned leader, to that when the combined standards of France and England waved over the ruins of Seb;istopol, you have borne a part in nearly all the triumphs which have immortalised fheirarms. (Renewed cheering). You shared as | a young officer in the glorious charge which, at Vimeira, first taught the legions of Napoleon the i prowess of the British arms ; you underwent the j hardships of the Corunna retreat, and partook of the mournful triumph which, at its close, redeemed their character. To enumerate the many fields of fame in which your courage and prowess have been subsequently proved, would be to recount the long series of Wellington's victories. Fortune gave you an opportunity, in your changeful career, of evincing all the virtues of a soldier ; for if, in the defence of Tariffa, you proved how the fiercest attack can be shattered by the steadiness of British Grenadiers, in leading the forlorn hope at St. Sebastian you showed that even the strongest ramparts can be carried by their impetuous assault. The battles of Barossa and Yittoria, and the passage of the Bidassoa, have subsequently called forth your military virtues in the field ; and you there learned, under your immortal leader, the arts of strategy and war in its highest department, which you subsequently applied with such decisive effect in the fields of Asia. When Wellington sheathed his victorious sword, and applied to peace those talents which had gained for his country such renown in war, you did not close your military career. You sought in the West and East those fields which were no longer to be found in Europe, and then the scholar of Wellington proved himself worthy of his immortal master. The brief but bloody campaign in America in 1814 witnessed your military talent, as if to leave no part of the world which could not bear testimony to it ; but the wars in the East presented a field more worthy of your talents and experience. At the head of the 98th Regiment, you did good service in the struggle in China, and bore a part ia those decisive operations, near Nankin, which at once prostrated the strength of an empire wielding the resources of 300 millions of men. (Cheers). You shared in the severest battles in the Punjaab, in 1849 — stemmed the tide of disaster at Rummugur and Chillianwallah, and swelled the flood of victory in the decisive triumph of Goojerat. To recount your many and varied exploits since that time in India, terminating with the rout of Iskakote, when with 3000 men you defeated 8000, would exceed the limits prescribed for this occasion. (Applause). I hasten to the last and most glorious part of your military career, when at the head of the Highland Brigade you were dispatched to sustain the ancient military honour of your country in the arduous conflict in the Crimea. You there found a field worthy of your renown. You were there to confront the best troops of Continental Europe, to fight side by side with the victors of Austerlitz, and to measure swords with the conquerors of Leipsic. (Hear). But if the crisis was perilous, you proved yourself equal to it. If the danger was great, great also was the glory won, great the triumph achieved. It was your moral resolution which, at the decisive moment, brought forward the Highland Brigade, along with the Guards, to the attack of the key of the enemy's position in the Alma ; it was your undaunted personal courage which led you at their head into the midst of the enemy's tiralleuird, and, though your horse was shot dead under you, enabled you to plant the British standard on the blood-stained Russian entrenchments. (Great applause). Military historians of all countries concur in ascribing to that splendid attack the glorious victory which eventually followed it, fraught, as the event proved, after an arduous struggle, with the ultimate fate of the war. At Balaklava you performed the feat, so rare in war, of defeating the charge of a powerful body of Russian horse by the 93rd Regiment in line. Nor was your confidence in the brave men you commanded misplaced on that occasion ; for 1^ have it from the best authority, that such was the precision of their fire that scarcely a Muscovite horse was unwounded after their discharge. The fame now acquired for yourself and the Highlanders whom you commanded, and whom Pelissier has described as " the . finest and most splendid troops in the world," led to their being intrusted during the winter and spring which followed with the post of honour, that of defending the heights around Balaklava — the vital quarter most exposed to attack from the immensely superior force of the enemy, which covered the armies' communications — the point where the thunder cloud, which had so long hung over the Tchernaya, at last broke, and where defeat would have been ruin to the whole army. It was to the skill with which you fortified, and the vigilance with which you guarded, that important post, «s well as the heroic valour of the English troops, that the failure of the well-con-

ceived combined attack, of winch the battle of Inkerman was a part, is to be ascribed. (Cheers.) During the terrible winter which followed, when the strife with men had ceased but that with the elements began, your administrative powers shone forth with the highest lustre, and there is not a soldier in your division who will not recount how their beloved commander was to bo aeon, regardless alike of the floods of autumn and tho snows of winter, early and late, indefatijjahly engaged in providing for the soldier's comfort and assuaging the soldiers' sufferings. We j Iwivft heard much of administrative neglect in other services «nd other departments, but no one hus hoard u whisper of such complaints in" the Uighluurf Division. The result was, that that division was so preserved thac it obtained al*-o tlie nopfc of honour in the decisive events which followed, for they were brought up to the trenches during tho latter months of the siege, when the danger had beoomo greatest, and hundreds perished avory night in the deadly strife in the trenclie , and to them was entrusted in both assaults of the ISth Juno and Bth September the perilous duty, of maintaining the work when carried — the duty it is well known, in all oriental wars, of mo?t difficulty and dnnger, as was proved too dearly in the storming both of tho Malukoff and the Redan. And when the decisive moment arrived — when the fate of the war quivered in the balance — when 700 noble Englishmen lay dead in the bloo.ly ditches of that formidable fortress, it Was to the Highland Division that £{11 eyes weie turned to renew the assault, and with Highland bayonets that the front trenches were lined, to j rush up the ensanguined slope with the first dawn of day (Cheers) What the result qf that assault would have been had it n«>t beeu prevented by the Russian retreat, it is not for me to say, fi r fortune often disposes of the best-convinced military opeiations; but of this I am well assured — that nothing which skill and experience could suggest wuuld have been wanting to insure its success ; and hsid the assault been delivered, I much fear that your ardour ,'as a soldier, would have caused you to forget your duties as a general, and that the hero who was first on the breach of St. Sebastian would not have been the last in the enbrasures of the Redan Since that time, I speak the voice of the whole army, and of its highest and noblest leaders, when I say, you have not occupied the position in it to which'your iong and glorious services entitled you; but though I may, in common with others, lament that for the sake of your country, I cannot but rejoice at it for the sake of yourself. It has brought to light the in herent nobleness of your character, which might otherwise have remained concealed. It has shown that in the school of Wellington you have learnt not only to conquer others, but to subdue yourself; and, like him, you can subjugate the strongest feelings of a personal kind at the call of patriotic duty, and a chivalrous devotion to a revered Sovereign. Yielding to natural and wellfouuded feelings, you returned home in spring last ; but at the call of your Sovereign and your coun-try gallant soldiers, prepared to bra/c alike the hardships or a campaign at the head of your corps d'armee in the waterless mountains of the Crimea, or sustain an arduous struggle iv the snowy ridges of the Caucasus. You did this at a time when most men would seek — and none were so well entitled to find — repose after the fatigues of a life of glory — proving that you are alike superior to the love of ease, the first wish of ordinary, and the whisper ngs of ambition, the last infirmity of noble minds. You have now returned to your country, where the star of peace again shines upon the earth, and you have been received an honoured guest iv the halls of /your Sovereign . But I am confident that, should the storms of war again arU-e, the sword which I now present to you will again be drawn in defence of your country, and again achieve deeds an example to all future times, and which will live for eversin its grateful recollections; and however feeble may have been my expression of the feelings with which at this moment all in this vast assembly are animated, I am confident that the applause which will follow your reception of it will cause you to feel for a moment "the electriee shock of a nation's gratitude.' (Loud applause.) When the learned Sheriff presented the sword, the whole audience rose to their feet and gave three hearty and and enthusiastic rounds of cheering. Sir C-»lin Campbell then rose and said, — Sir Archibald and fellow-countrymen, I was quite unprepared for the eloquent manner in which this honour has been done me. (Applause.) I can never forget the reception I have met with on this occasion, and the honours that have been conferred j on me, surpassing, in amount of recompence, all the services I have been able to perform. (Great cheering.) There is another party who ought not to forgotten on this occasion. I owe all this to my hardy veteran soldiers of the Elighland Brigade (cheers), and to them is the honour due for what you have now conferred on me This should not be forgotten, that these are conferred in their name, as well as my ovrn. (Tremendous cheering ) On the motion of Mr. Monteith of Carstairs, three cheers were given for Sir Archibald Alison ; and shortly thereafter the immense assemblage dispersed.

Colonial FrnitES ron Manufacturing Purposes. — • At a meeting in the Manchester Town-hall on Thursday 26th June Mr. Watts, mayor, presiding, Mr. Young, a director of the recently formed Colonial Fibre Company, and Mr. Sharp, gave some interesting information relative to the attempts which have been made to obtain manufacturing fibres from tropical plants growing in British colonies. Mr. Sharp said the sheetanchor of the Fibre Company's undertaking was the plantain-tree (rnusa paradisiaca), as the colonies included in their charter of British Guiana and Jamaica could furui-h 500,000 to 700,000 bales of fibre, each bale being about 3 cwt. In those two colonies this tree was universally cultivated, its fruit being there the chief article of food. Each trfe, on arriving at perfection, bore from 251b. to 60lb. of fruit, and was then left to rot, as it never produced fruit again. It was propagated by suckers, and did not require renewal for 12 or 15 years. The concentric riiigs of the outer part of its trunk formed one mass oftibre, and fibres could be obtained even to the end of , the midrif of the leaf. It would be exported in the form of bundles of fibre. Mr. Sharp described the process of converting this tree into fibre, and exhibited bunches of it; al«o pointing to fibres obtained from the leaf of the American aloe, and to a much finer and different quality from the aloe variegata. 1 hese fibres were adapted to various texile purposes, one of the fabrics being of the character of silk* but in some respects superior and worth 3*d to 4d. per lb. Fine paper could be obtained from the fibre, and the mucilaginous centre of the plant yielded a material not unlike t-otton. Mr. Sharp said from these materials could be obtained articles from the fineness of French cambric to the strength and thickness of a cable. The fibre could be dyed, and in this country would sell at not exceeding 2d. per lb. 3 allowing a large profit. It was further stated that cloth could be manufactured from a mixture of fibre and wool ; and that the plantain fibre though somewhat inferior in strength to Russian hemp, resisted much better the action of salt water. While, on the average, an acre yielded 4 cwt. of cotton, 6 cwt. of flax, or 7 cwt. of hemp, it yielded 48 cwt. of plantain fibre, and there were manifest advantages from the plantain being perennial. In British Guiana, especially Demerara, the c inipany had been offered nearly a million reaJy grown plants at 2d. each ; but in Jamaica, where there was neither railway nor rivpr, the company must cultivate for theJiselves. Mr. Young stated that such had been the depreciation of property in the West Indies that he knew nn estate, possessing buildings and machinery, which could he bought for lesp than £4000 while a few years, ago it cost £70,000. — Times.