COLONIAL SYMPATHY WITH THE QUEEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 983, 12 April 1862, Page 3

COLONIAL SYMPATHY WITH THE QUEEN.

On the sth January a meeting, very numerously attended, of the Australian and New Zealand colonists, convened at the instance of the General Association of Australian Colonists, was held at the London Tavern, to adopt an address of condolence to the Queen on the death of the Prince Consort. The chair was taken by Sir William Burton. The following gentlemen were present: —

Sir Daniel Cooper, late Speaker of the House of Assembly of New South, Wales; Sir John Dickinson, one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales; Mr. Justice Thierry; M. Marsh, Esq., M.P.; James A. Youl, Esq., chairman of the Australian Association; Captain Bagot, P. J. Smith, Esq.; Messrs. Ducroz, J. Morrison, Dalgety, J. F. Foster, John Airey, Skene Craig, John Gilchrist, Cape, M'Combie, Marshall, Bowden, Miller, Paton, Barnard, Josephs, Otley.Hislop, Joseph Harrold,Charles G. Platts, George Green, D. Power, Alex. Lawson, Venour, J. Alger, Alex. Maefarlane, Farmer. D. P. M'Ewen, G. Witt, A. B. Thompson, D. H. Cleve, James Curtis, Charles Stephens, J. Hughes. J. O. R. Looker, Malcolm, Reynolds, Captain Cole, Messrs D. Larnach, T. B. Rosseter, Nowland, Dr. A'Beckett, A. W. Bell, Robert Russell, Messrs. Airey, Goode, J. Gilchrist, Labilliere, Pharazyn, Benjamin Boote, W. Fawdington, C. C. Macdonald, A. C. Daugar, James Palmer.

Mr. J. A. York, the chairman of the Australian Association, stated that the meeting had been convened at the request of a number of gentlemen connected with the Australian colonies, who were conscious of the deep interest which the late Prince Consort took in these colonies. As one proof of that interest he could mention that at this moment there were in the Home-park, at Windsor, a collection of red deer, rabbits, pheasants, &c\, a present from the late Prince Consort to the colony of New Zealand, for purposes of acclimatisation. He suggested tliat Sir W. Burton, formerly a judge in New South Wales, President of the Legislative Council in that colony, and subsequently a judge of Madras, sohuld be called to the chair, and a motion to that effect was carried.

Sir W. Burton took the chair, and introduced the business of the meeting by saying that on any other occasion he should have accepted with pleasure the duty which had been imposed on him; but on the present occasion such a phrase would be out of place when they had met to express that sorrow which pervaded every household in the kingdom. He was, however, happy to meet so large and influential an assemblage of Australian colonists, representing as they did the attachment which was felt in those colonies to the Queen, and with the object of condoling witli her on the bereavement she had sustained. The Australian colonies filled no unimportant position in the geography of the world, and would hereafter occupy no small space in its history; and their inhabitants sprung from the loins of Englishmen, were devoted in their loyalty to the English crown; while, if we looked elsewhere, he would only say what a contrast was to be seen. They, representing the interests of the Australian body, felt that they could vie in every repect with their elder sister, America, but they surpassed her in loyalty and attachment to the throne and people of England. Seeing himself surrounded by so many influential colonists,;he could not but feel that on the present melancholy occasion they were almost acting as a public body. The hon. gentleman also, in very forcible and feeling terms, dwelt on the character of the "late Prince Consort, and enlarged on the afflicting nature of the bereavement of the Queen.

Sir James Palmer moved the first resolution, viz.: " That this meeting, actuated by the most devoted loyalty towards her Majesty the Queen, desires to express its earnest and sincere sympathy and condolence with her Majesty, under the afflicting bereavement with which Almighty God has recently visited her Majesty, her illustrious family, and people." He said that the past year had been somewhat an uneventful one, but at its close two important events had occurred, the insult to our flag and the death of the Prince Consort. There was still a doubt whether there would be a war, but there was no doubt of the fact that a gloom would overcast the Great Exhibition which had been projected under the auspices of the Prince. The hon. gentleman passed a strong eulogium on the Prince Consort, pointing out the tact and knowledge which he had brought to bear on all the duties of his blameless life, displaying qualities which, however they might adorn private life, were rare among princes. He had successfully overcome the difficulty of a position which precluded his taking any part in politics, and instead of sinking into a puhlic puppet, had chalked out a path for himself, which he had trod successfully, and had extended his useful and active patronage, not to the mere decorative, but to the substantial arts of life connected witli industry and science. He dwelt on the Prince's capabilities in reference to architecture and agriculture, and especially adverted to the judgment and discrimination which he had displayed in the training and education of his children ; and he urged how great must have'been the anguish felt by the Queen and her children at the loss of such a man. The hon. gentleman then paid a marked tribute to the high-souled conduct of the Queen under the severe stroke to which Providence subjected her; to which she submitted, but by which she had not been prostrated ; and he thought that nothing could be more noble, or magnanimous than her Majesty's assembling her family at the moment of her bereavement, and appealing to them for support in the discharge of the duties of her high office as a Queen and a mother. The address which would be proposed, though it did not exclude an expression of pity, ought not to be confined to the expression of that feeling, but should also contain expressions of admiration for the queenly bearing and womanly virtues of her Majesty.

Mr. Justice Thierry seconded the resolution, and said that the name of the Prince Consort was always well received on public occasions in the Australian colonies and New Zealand, and he was sure that there would be expressed there as deep a sympathy as was felt in this country in the mighty loss which had been sustained. After what had occurred there had been almost a reversal of the relative positions of the Queen and her people ; for they were now called on to become the guardians and protectors of her and of her children, and for the latter, the best wish which could be uttered was, that they might imitate their father, who was at once a model of a prince and a man. ' A prince without pride, a man without guile, To the last unchanging, firm, sincere, For friendship he had ever a hand and a smile, And for misery ever his purse and a tear.' Sir Charles Clifford moved the second resolution, viz.:—'' That the following gentlemen be appointed n committee to draw up an address:—Sir Charles Clifford, Sir James Palmer, Sir Daniel Cooper, Sir J. Dickinson, Mr. Marsh. M.P., Mr. Childers, M.l\, Captain Bagot, Mr. J. A. You!, and Mr. L. Mackinnon." He stated his gratification that the Australian colonists now in England had been called on to express not only their own but the feelings of their fellow citizens in the colonies in reference to the loss which England had sustained. He was sure that they would be grateful to that meeting for representing them on that occasion, and that the address which was to be moved would be supplemented in every legislature, and by the public of

the colonies. He referred to the admirable manner in which the royal children had been brought up, and expressed his belief that the princes of England would prove to be the means of creating a new bond of union between the mother country and the colonies, and he added that he believed that the education of the royal family would prove the best memorial of the late Prince Albert. ;

Sir Daniel Cooper seconded the motion, and dwelt on the attachment to the Queen and lioyal famify in the Australian colonies, and especially towards the late Prince Consort, who had shown himselftohe of the best friends of the interest of the educational establishments of those colonies.

The resolution having been agreed to, the committee retired to prepare the address. On their

return,

Sir J. Dickinson moved:—"That the following address be adopted, and be signed by the chairman, on behalf of the meeting, and handed by the committee already appointed to hjs Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State for the Colonies, to be laid by him before her Most Gracious Majesty, the Queen: —

"' Most Gracious Sovereign—We, your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects belonging to theicolonies of Australia and New, .Zealand, now resident in England, assembled in public meeting, in the city of London, desire to express to your Majesty our earnest and sincere sympathy and condolence.under the afflicting bereavement with which Almighty God has recently visited your Majesty, your ■illustrious family, and your people. That, independently of the deep sorrow with which as subjects of your Majesty's imperiaLcrown, we deplore the early death of so great, so.good, so wise, and so useful a man as his late Royal Highness the Prince Consort, we'hare the melancholy duty to perform of recording our especial gratitude for, and high appreciation of the great personal interest which his Royal Highness always manifestedin the advancement and* prosperity of those portions of your Majesty's dominions with which we are most immediately connected. In conclusion, we devoutly pray that the Father of-all mercies may sustain and, console your Majesty in the midst of your severe affliction, and that your Majesty may be cheered by the thought, and comforted by the knowledge, that the tears of a sorrowing empire, from the humblest cottage to the stateliest mansion in your Majesty's world-wide dominions, freely mingle with those of your Majesty and the Royal Family in mourning the loss of a Prince whose virtuous and exemplary career has shed a lustre on your Majesty's reign, and left an impress on the nation at large of high precept and example which will descend with elevating, effect upon generations yet unborn '"

The.lion, gentleman, in a very able speech, dwelt on the virtues of the« Queen as a matchless monarch and an incomparable lady.

Captain Bagot seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.

The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.— New Zealand (London) Examiner.