io WITH MR. CHAMBERLAIN IN THE 



tries should be continually preserved (cheers). 

 But with you, gentlemen, there is something more 

 than an interest in the Mission — there is, I know, 

 some little interest in the man who has undertaken 

 it (hear, hear). I am grateful to you for the 

 kindness you have always shown me (cheers, and 

 cries of ' God bless you '), and I reciprocate the feeling 

 which you have now expressed. I have spent thirty 

 years of my life amongst you in Birmingham (cheers), 

 and Birmingham is the home of my adoption and of 

 my affection (cheers). I hope that I may see you all 

 once more in the course of a few months (cheers) ; 

 and be sure of this, that I shall take with me to 

 America the pleasantest recollection of your good- 

 ness to me (cheers). And, gentlemen, if these 

 should be the last words I should ever speak to 

 you (cries of ' No ' and ' Never ') I say to you — 

 ' Stick firm to the Union ' (cheers). I say to you, 

 spare no effort to maintain the magnificent inheri- 

 tance which has descended to you from your fore- 

 fathers (hear, hear), and, believe me, those are the 

 greatest enemies to the Commonwealth, whether 

 they are known as Separatists or by any other name, 

 who would do anything to weaken or impair the 

 integrity of the United Kingdom. Good-bye (loud 

 cheers)." 



During this brief address one or two interruptions 

 and cries of " Coercionist " came from a small 

 faction of the Gladstonians, but the dissentients 

 were speedily overwhelmed by Mr. Chamberlain's 



