est reward that a public man can attain. The generous feeling that has prompted you to welcome my colleague and myself on our return to England will inspire and strengthen our efforts to serve our country [cheers], and it is not merely that in this welcome you encourage those who are doing their best for what they conceive to be the public interest, but to tell to Europe also that England is a grateful country and knows how to appreciate the efforts of those of her public servants who are resolved to maintain to their utmost the Empire of Great Britain. [Prolonged applause.]
[Speech of Lord Beaconsfield at the dinner of the Royal Literary Fund, London, May 8, 1872. Leopold II, King of the Belgians, was present as chairman, and his health was proposed by Lord Beaconsfield, who addressed His Majesty as "Sire." The King's father here alluded to was Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, elected King of the Belgians in June, 1831.]
Sire:—Forty years ago a portion of Europe, and one not the least fair, seemed doomed by an inexorable fate to permanent dependence and periodical devastation. And yet the conditions of that country were favorable to civilization and human happiness : a fertile soil skilfully cultivated, a land covered with beautiful cities and occupied by a race prone alike to liberty and religion, and always excelling in the fine arts. In the midst of a European convulsion, a great statesman resolved to terminate that deplorable destiny, and conceived the idea of establishing the independence of Belgium on the principle of political neutrality. That idea was welcomed at first with sceptical contempt. But we who live in the after generation can bear witness to the triumphant success of that principle, and can now take the opportunity of congratulating that noble policy which consecrated to perpetual peace the battlefield of Europe.
Such a fortunate result was, no doubt, owing in a great degree to the qualities of the race that inhabited the land. They have shown, on more than one occasion, under severe trials, that they have possessed those two qualities which can alone enable a nation to maintain the principle of neu-
