Northern Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-02 00:00:00

„ regar° disadraii; , - der petitiori ve , in ieP shad. Sr. Clay id b e st at In° 1,, an d tp, "." ing . int e nlotl°ll THE LIVERPOOL REFORM CLUB, INAUGURATION DINXER. The Inau g uration di nner of the Liverpool "Reform Clubi are, ia.k% last night. A large company assembled, the arranged for the occasion being completely occu pied by the members of the Club and their friends. The chair was taken by Mr. Charles Willmer, and the vice chair by Mr. Robinson. The dinner was most excellent in its character, and sustained to the highest the repute Which the "London Hotel" has always borne for an admirable cuisine. The following is the BILL OF FARE POTAGES. Jullien Demi Tortu Ox Tail POISSONS Salmon Sauce d' Homard Soles. ENTREES Karie de Laperean Olives de Veau. Patties d' Huitres Ox Rump Etuves FEICK'S DE EXSISTANDE Saddles of Mutton. Boiled Legs of Mutton Chicken Pies. Roast Beef. Round of Beef. 'Veal and Ham Pies Legs of Pork. Le Jambons La Dinden Rot Foulards Roti, Tete de Veau. La Dinden Bou illi Poulards EN"TRENIENTS. Baudin la. Raisin. Baudin Qla Cabinet. Gel6e et la Madeira Gelee k la Rhum. .Patiasier O. la Contitere During the dinner the Chairman read a telegraphic despatch. just received from Mr. J. R. Jeffery, stating the fate:of the Docks Rating. Bill, which was received with. loud marks of disapprobation. The Chairman said, before entering upon the business of the" evening, he felt it necessary to explain why he occupied that chair.. If either his own feelings, his con venience, or his inclination had prevailed, he certainly should not have sat there. Their respected friend, a gentleman whom they all knew and appreciated, not Only for his talent, but for the extreme energy and per severance which he had ever shown in the cause of reform, Mr J. R. Jeffery—(loud cheers)—was to have occupied that position ' and would have discharged its duties much more satisfactorily than he (the chairman) felt he should be able to do . . However; he would endeavour to supply the vacancy to the best of his ability, and he should first read the letter which Mr. Jeffery had been kind _enough_ to address to the council of the Reform Club, which would show his, feelings in reference to that insti tution : •• London, 28th February, 1959. My, dear was by no means certain till this morning, when 1 sent you a telegram, that I should not be able to occupy the chair to - morrow;evening, as had been arranged. It is clear, that those who desire that the docks should continue to be exempt from bearing their fair share of the local burdens, are exerting all , the influence they can command, to accomplish what object; and if the advocates for an equitable adjustment a r v e not equally zealous, the former may succeed. You are desk ni z al ' e I have -been here upon this business during the past fort or 0 ,,,i,,1 as there is now no doubt but tht the second reading h -- will be brought to-morrow s evening, the Town know, as- specially, requested that I will not leave till its fate is rend,„l.* , 1 have, therefore, decided upon remaining, and to In t,c,„ "'II aid as my humble efforts may enable me to afford. zne els absenting myself. upon an occasion most , interesting to th a ' t ''one that you and the rest of my friends will consider ;, _ under, existing circumstances, I have selected to attend to— , net the more agreeable duty-at least that which is the more MPortant to the immediate interests of the Liverpool local ratepayers. —I am, my dear air, Tours very faithfully, J. R. JEFFIRT. • To Thomas Cope, Esq., &c., lion. Sec. to the Liverpool Reform Club. A note had also been received from the Mayor, in which he regretted that a previous engagement prevented him 'from having the honour of dining with them. knote 'had been received from Mr. Robertson Gladstone, regret ting that a long standiug engagement prevented him from availing of the honour intended him. The following letter had been received from Mr. C. T. Bowring, who had intended to be present up to three o'clock that afternoon, but was suddenly called out of town; Liverpool, March Ist, 1859 My dear Sir, —I am very sorry to intbrin you that an unexpectra call to go out of town this afternoon will deprive me of the pleasure of dining with the Reform Club, as I intended, and as otherwise I should have had great pleasure in doing. Permit me to add, that any institution which will in any way tend to give life and activity to that party in this town, which seeks progressively to adapt our laws and principles oflegislation to the requirements of the times, will always have my warmest RYmpathy ,• and, believing that the object of the promoters of the Reform Club is entirely of this character, I wish them every success in their undertaking.—l am, my dear sir, yours faith fully, C. T. Bowan o. To Thomas Cope, Esq., lion. Sed. Reform Club. The- Council had farther invited Mr. John Bright (loud cheers) to attend that meeting ; and the following lett,er d been received from him : r ~ Rochdale, Feb. 24, 1859.* Bear Sir,—l must ask yon to convey my thanks to the Council of Your Reform Club for their kind invitation to the opening dinner on the Ist of March, and to express to them my regret that I am not able to avail myself of their kindness. It I expect to b e in town on Monday, and I have so many things P . 11 , • w aiting my attention there, that I cannot give up the time 'Or ' necessary to allow me to come down to Liverpool, I hope we s h a ll hear from Liverpool an expression of opinion A tf ' on the gre a t ques ti on o f R e f orm , an d th a t b e f ore •long a measure 1 9 ' . caa,_ 3 7 Pass which shall give a fair share of Parliamentary influence . w the great commercial interests of the country.-1 am, with great respect, your's truly, Jpn BRIGIIT. ' v eil To Chaa.Wilimer, Esq., Liverpool. The Chairman also read the following letters : ! • 64, Pall Mall, 23rd Feb., 1859. Cl eC). Dear Sir,—l am much obliged to you for your note of the •r fib' . 21st, and b eg y ou w ill ex p ress t o th e C ou nc i l my great regret that my dutieF here prevent me availing myself of their kind O te i imitation for the Ist March. —Believe me, very truly your's, To C. Willfn er , E sq . I. C. E WART . • 0 0 1' Croxteth,. Liverpool, Feb. 25th, 1859. Lord Sefton presents his compliments to the Council of the Liverpool Reform Club, and regrets that he cannot accept their kind invitation to dinner on Tuesday next, as he has a large Party staving with him, lk To the Council of the Liverpool Reform Club. Hazles. Feb. 22 Dear Sir,—l hope you will have the kindness to make known to the gentlemen of the Connell of the Reform Olub my sense of the compliment they have been good enough to pay to me, in inviting me to the dinner proposed to take place on ',Tuesday 'next, and express to them my regret that an immediate engage ment prevents my having the honour of accepting it. I should have been very glad to have been able to be present.—Your very Obedient servant, T. B. BIRCH. 4, William-street, Lowndes-square, Feb. 25, 1859 Dear Sir,—ln consequence of my absence fro 6 town, I have not been able to make an earlier reply to your letter of the 21st inst. May I beg you will convey to the council of the Liver pool Reform Club my acknowledgment of the honour conveyed in their ihvitation to a dinner to commemorate the establishment of the club, on Tuesday, the let of March, and my regret that I am unable to avail myself of it, in consequence of engagements I have for that day here. I wish every succers to your club, whose objects cannot but enlist the sympathy of every re former.—l am, dear air, yours truly, d . CREETHANI. To Charles Willmer, Esq., President. Wolverton Park, near Newbury, Ilants, Feb. 25, 1859. My Dear Sir,—lbeg to thank the Council and yourself for their invitation to be present at the opening , dinner of .the Liverpool Reform Club, and to express my regret that other engagements will prevent me from accepting it, and meeting many of the old familiar faces. I hope the Club may be a meant of anitifig the Reform interest, and tend to extend the number of Liberal Politicians. I shall look with interest for a report of your pro teedings.—l am, truly your's, • Joe. WALMSLEY: To Charles Willmer, Esq., President of the Council. London, Feb. 28th, 1859. • Dear Sir,—On Saturday, at the request of the Chairman of the Health Committee, I agreed to form one of a deputation to London to assist in the second reading of the Bill for rating the 'Mersey Docks. This prevents my accepting the kind invitation to be present to-morrow at the dinner of the Reform Club, otherwise I should have been glad to have been present.- - Believe Meyocvs faithfully, Tuos. - AvisoN To Thos. Cope, Esq., Hon. Sec. Liverpool Reform Club. Letters were also received from Messrs. J. J. Stitt, C. Mozley, Ronalds, Shiel, Aikin, Wm. Rathbone, Ryley, Thornley, S. Rattles, Walter MacGregor, A. Holt, Cor bally, George Melly, Charles Melly, C. E. Rawlins, Charles Robertson R. Johnson, Francis Boult, William Brown, M acrae ,. tt:e. &c. The Chairman said : Gentlemen,—There is one toast which I must call upon you to drink, and that with all sincereity and with all enthusiasm, and I am quite sure when I introduce it, considering the lady to whom it refers, and remembering the • many virtues which she possesses, both public and private, it will be a waste of time for me to use any words in recommending. that toast to your favourable consider ation, and the re f ore , w ith ou t' , f ur th er pre f ace , I b eg t o propose the health of the Queen. The toast was drunk with all tokens of loyalty, the company singing, " God save the Queen." I n proposing t h e next toast, the chairman said: Gentlemen, I have another toast to propose, which I am quite sure will be received with' the same enthusiasm which you granted to the last. Hire have a good Queen, as we all admit we have, we certainly have no less a good Prince Consort, mid very excellent children. I will, therefore, propose " the health of Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal family." I n g i v i ng that sentiment, may we all hope that our future King may prove as popular, and study the interests of his people as thoroughly, as his mother has done. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr. Samuel Campbell was called upon for a song, and he gave the company "Look forward and hope for the best," in excellent style. He was encored, and he then sang " Beautiful Star " very sweetly. The Chairman said : I have another toast to bring under your notice. It is one of the old fash ioned sort, and so long as we have despotic monarchs, and tyrannical emperors I suppose we shall be obliged to keep up standing armies and standing navies. And I _ am sure th ere i s no gentleman around this board that will withhold from these two services that gratitude which they owe them for services rendered in past times ; and i, l sure no perso n i n thi s meet i ng h as any o th er opinion, that when , called upon again, if they ever be called upon, .Pfey wilt shOw th e same p ersevera n ce an d no bl e -courage "they did farmer' occasions, and I hope with_ the- Sarnia Imcdess. But the topic is one on which I need not occupy your time. You know them, you can appreciate them as well as I do, and therefore I need not expatiate upon W e ir merits. . _ The toast was drunk with three cheers. Mr. M'Cabe was then called upon, and gave with great comic effect, two Irish comic songs, whiuh created much laughter, and were warmly applauded. The Chairman : Gentlemen, since 1 proposed the last toast, I have had placed in my bands a telegraphic dispatch, addressed by Mr. J. IL Jeffery to the Daily Post office,wbich I shall read to you : " The Dock-rating . Bill thrown out without a division. The prevailing opinion is, that the Government are not sincere in the promotion of their new measure." (" Oh, oh," and hisses.) A voice: What new measure ? The Chairman : The new Reform Bill they have had the honour of introducing. The, next toast I have the honour to propose is one which I am sure you will respond to with even a more heartily enthusiastic accla mation than you responded to.those which preceded them. I say so, because it is one which, has more of a personal character; and however much we may respect those who govern us, we all know that human nature is so constituted that we love Ourselves, better. (Hear, hear.) On that ground we' shall perhaps drink the toast I am about to propose, even more enthusiastically, but I hope not more sincerely. I say it concerns us more inti mately. And why? Because I propose that we shall drink success to the measures of parliamentary reform, which the people of this county, who are the large majority of the country, have been agitating for during the last ten years, but which they have been unable to find any government capable or willing to carry them out. (Cheers.) With that toast is identified the name of a gentleman, which when I mention, lam sure it will touch the chords of the hearth of most of you. Gentle men, the man of whom I speak is known by reputation from one end of the world to the other—l mean John Bright. (Enthusiastic cheering.) Gentlemen, if there was a time when any oeveifierable rtion of the reformers of England held aloof Mr. B right as the loader of the Reform party, it was in the' expectation that some practical measure of reform would be proposed by some recognised government. (Hear, hear.) But I apprehend the time has now arrived when no such expectation can any longer keep reformers back. (Hear, hear.) I ap prehend that we have now arrived at a period when few gentlemen, who call themselves reformers, can refuse to give in their adhesion to Mr. Bright, and to oter him all the support in their power to 'carry out his measures. (Cheers.) I, for one, may confess that for a long time I was not prepared to g,o the length which Mr. Bright was prepared to go, and I was rather inclined to hesitate in order to see what the present government would give us, and I believe that I am not single "in the position or the view I took. (Hear.) But lam prepared to say that the government bill proposed in the House of Commons hai failed to lold out a hope that any of our expectations will be realized. (Hear, hear.) Finding then that they are not prepared to 'meet our requirements, there is only one course for reformers to adopt, and that is, to unite, as one' man for 'one purpose. (Loud cheers.) If the measures of reform which we demand 'should be fifteen or twenty years in advance of thp times, let us bear in mind the statement which' Mr. Disraeli made in the House of Commons last night, that the former Reform Bill was fifteen or twenty years in 'advance of the time, but notwithstanding that, England has progressed most satisfactorily in all her departments. (Hear, , hear.) Take that statement and the consequences which flowed from the admission of the measure which Mr. Disraeli declared to be so much in advance. of the time. If the results have proved that the government was right in giving a measure of reform fifteen or twenty years in advance of the time in the year 1832, let us try the same experiment again, and get a measure 15 years in advance of the time now - (hear, heal)--and, let hope that the same measure of prosperity, orrather a far groater measure of prosperity, may follow such an enactment. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, .this toast is to be responded to by a gentleman on my left hand, and I shall not anticipate the observations which he will make, but will simply say that, although not a citizen of Great Britain, yet, having lived in British colonies and under British rule, he thoroughly understands the political constitution of Great Britain, and he can tell us something, too of the 'political institutions of the United States. I call upon you to give him an impartial hearing, quite -satisfied that he will tell us some truths worth the knowing In conclusion, gentlemen, I beg to propose the 'toast of " Mr. John Bright," coupling with it "Parliamentary Reform," and I call tra my friend Mr. George Francis Train to respond to it. (Cheers.) Mr. M'Cabe sang " A Man's a Man for a' That." Mr. George Francis Train, of America, rose to respond, and was received with loud cheers. He said : I know not why, Mr. Chairman, you have thrown so Royal a mantle over my shoulders when others surround me, so to the manor born it would fit them and suit you better, I like responsibility, but to respond to the senti ment on which you have called me up is weightier far than chartering ships or negotiating contracts. This noble welcome almost makes me forget where I am or what to say. Forget that I was born in another land, in a distant country, forget that I am a citizen of Eng land, for by your courtesy and your cheers you have made me one of you. (Applause.) What have I done,where is my right to this high honour ? ' Tis true I was active as a merchant in despatching ships here some ten years ago. That I paid large sums of money to your docks, your merchants, your bankers, - and your . tradesmen. It is true that I took a deep interest in your commerce when I was among you, and the' hospitalities which were tendered me I never forgot, when serving in other and far-off lands. A boy in New England, a youth in Old England, a man in Young Australia, I know something of all' the Saxon lands. In an English colony I was asked to represent the diggers in the council, but I was not a politician. I was simply a merchant ; not an English merchant, but an American merchant ; and as a colonist, I was an advocate for Reform in pilotage, Reform in tonnage dues, Reform in the sales of land, Reform in the modes of transacting business. The Australians will give me credit, while not mixing in their local politics, for being a reformer in the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. on the land question, and the Liverpool merchants will also give me credit for being a reformer in removing some of the restrictions upon their shipping ? (Applause.) If that is why you thus honour me, I accept the honour, but decline, as I did in Australia, to interfere in your politics or your government. If I can respond to the toast in an off-hand way, I will do so. 'You permit it—l proceed. Americans like John Bright, (Hear, hear.) Senator Douglas told me he considered him one of the ruling minds of Europe. I like the man ; 1 like the speaker"; I like the matter that he speaks. In the intel- leetuil forest, ',.111r% Bright is an oak ;—(cheers)-- 1 . among the animals, a ion ,in commerce, a steam-ship of 2,000 horse power ! a Mont Blanc among the mountains ; and among the nations—he is Englaml : if his reforms will benefit England, I hope that it will succeed. With his name I see connected Parliamentary Reform. Now I must; in speaking to it, ask you to remember, that am not a politican. lam a merchant. I make books. I make speeches. 1 write letters, but not as a politician, only as a merchant ; and in speaking of Parliamentary Reform, i will respond to it as an American—and only as an American, as a guest, and not as a member of your association.. In a few words I will define my position. If- Reform means placing men in Parliament who will cultivate American friendship, who will, disdain to misre present her; who will bear towards her the . affection that America bears to England ? Who will study her geography ? examine her institutions, appreciate her progress, and not slander her character—if Parliamentary Reform means to elect members that will spend a hundred pounds or so, and run the risk of a little sea-sickness on the water, and a little extract of tobacco on the land by visiting America —lf that is one of the virtues of Parliamentary Reform, you may count on me as one of your most enthusiastic sup porters! (Cheers.) The people of America want to knowthe people of England.—l wish yon knew us better, and we wish to know you better. Reform is the offspring of knowledge. Reform means improvement—a desire for something better. There are many things that I wish mother England would reform in— but none more than reformation in her opinions regarding America! I want her, as a matter purely experimental, to turn her phtlanthropy to Africa during the next ten years, and buy our cotton at present prices. In other words I want her to look through the practical eyes of commerce instead of the theoretical glasses of Exeter-Hall. (Cheers.) Englishmen and Americans do not m e et often enough over the soeial board. I believe in the Aristocracy of good dinner, but more in the Aristocracy of intellect. The physical treat should be hidden in the shadow of the mental. I believe in the Aristocracy of good nature, the Aristocracy of good fellowship, the Aristocracy of a good hearty laugh, and would advocate that aristocracy in Parliamentary reform that would remove all taxes on the mind. (Applause.) I should say to' the statesmen Tax the belly—not the brain ! Remove the tax on knowledge, but tax bachelors, tax widowi, tax young men parting their hair in the middle, tax crinoline, and, above all, tax grumbling, but remove the tax on , paper! (Laughter and applause.) Here is a field for par liamentary reform. Why pay out of yoUr pocket 2,000,000 for education, and then force half of it back again in taxing the chief agent of educa tion —paper ! I am a free trader. Free trade in shipping, Free trade in finance, Free trade in theology, Free trade in education, Free t r ade. in newspapers, Free trade ,. in parliamentary reform. Remove' the tax On paw, and everybody would r ea d, e dit ors wou ld wr it e ki n dl y about America , and people would become better aequainted oji this trihtter:i'o p l y to. the - toast John Bright, and Ocean postage reform. Remove the taxes on news- ThE NORTHERN TYLMES,WEDNSDAY, MARCH 2 1859 papers. Remove the high protective duties on letters, and be a Free-trader in the expansion of the mind. Why is it that Englishmen know so little of America F Why is it that members 'of parliament like Mr. Roe buck cannot come within 30 per cent. of any Airerican statistics—as to number of. states —or number of population ? (Laughter.) It is because that England takes our money for her iron her coal, her manufactures, and we take hers fo r our cotton, our sugar, and our tobacco, but the free trade in geography, and in history is all on our side, simply because she needs tome Parliamentary Reform in removing the tax on knowledge—by reducing the Atlantic postage —and the tax on paper ! - No other land, bar barous or civilised, in this respect follows Eng . land's example. Strange as it may appear, England is the only place on the face of the globe that levies a tax on paper ! (Hear, hear.) Through the courtesy of Charles Mackay, of the Illustrated Hews, I was present as a correspondent to the New York Herald at the delegation that waited upon Lord Derby. I heard Milner Gibson, Chambers, Frazer, Cassell, and others plead their cause, and I was surprised to see the coolness and the boldness with which a Prime Minister would dare to snub a hundred editors. " You have told us nothing new— and the treasury is short—good morning !" (Laugh ter.) The ' Press is greater than the Com mons—the Lords—even the Sovereign! The Press, said De Tocqueville, is the only engine that can place the same thought before millions at the same time ! When Sir Robert Peel removed the dead weight from the springs of trade in 1844, industry prospered, and the - revenue was more than recovered. So would Lord Derby find it with the paper duty—mote news papers—more magazines - more printed matter would require more paper-mills, and more workmen. Prosper ous workmen buy luxuries, and back comes the revenue. Painters were afraid of photonaphy—now thousands of artists are employed. In reality, the Pressis the first notthe fourth estate; and, 'as Dr. Mackay said at the Washing ton anniversary in London, on Tuesday last, " The Press should be first on the list, not last." But the noble Earl smilingly bowed out the delegation —and I saw these words in a hundred editorials on the perceptive faculties of a hun dred editors, Remove the paper duty, or we will remove you ! While responding to this important toast, I have one equally important ,to propose. I am an advocate for reform. I would sweep out the corners - brush down the cobwebs—scrub up the floor, clean out the Cabinet — and put the House in order. (Laughter.) This can only be done by association. It is the Creator's 'law —united we stand - disever we fall. Association the lever , .that acts tipiin the balance of thel Augean accumulation in masses—fish in shoals s in herds —fruit in clusters reform, and removes of abuse. Insects move —birds in flocks animal —trees in foreSts —so the association' of virtuous men can make an empire more rapidly than an 'association of vicious men can break one. (Cheers.) Free discussion is the way, says Macauley, to winnow the grain of virtue from the chaff of vice. While none respects the advanced in years More than myself, I believe in the united action of young men. I soon discovered, in moving among the world's loaders, that,' as many clerks are, Cleverer than their employers, so many secretaries furnished brains as well as hands for their ministers. (Applause.) Think well of yourselves ; your, fathers did it before you. The old Chinese . proverb says, that if a man is not tall at 20, strong at 30, wise at 40, rich at 50, he will never be tall, strong, wise, or rich. I like LiverpOol, I like London, I like Old England; ,but I do not like' to see her. misrepresent' her best friend— Young AmeriCa. I like year pavements, your policemen, your penny pestage ; but you are pound foolish upon the Atlantic, though penny wise upon the land. I advocate parliamentary . reform in the Ocean Penny Postage. I am a free-trader in thought and in letters—in pamphlets, in printing. One shilling the half ounce on a letter to America is a serious tax on knowledge. (Hear.) Thirty-six hun dred pounds sterling is too exhorbitant a freight to pay for one ton of letters ! Reform is wanted here; and John Bright is the man to oil the wheels of legislation, and bring the two countries together by an. OceanPennyPostage. (Cheers.) Before proposing the sentiment of " The Reform Club of . Liverpool," I want to ask of it one' favour. While you are reforming your weights and measures—while the Centel is working its way on the Corn Exchange, and decimals are being introduced in selling grain, pre paratory to displacing the cumbrous machinery of pounds, shillings, and pence—while parliament is agitat ing political reform—l am anxious to see some reform in the education of your ,children---Reform in your school houses. It is morally wrong to place in the hands' of your children a geography that devotes but one half page to the United States of America! (Hear.) Childrenshould be taught that Americins are not all Filibusters and slave drivers—not all praetisers on the bowie-knife and spittoon.' How many present can tell me the population, the num ber of states, of the union ? ' Who knows of our prorrress in canals, in railways, in education ? Who is aware hat America has 3,300,000 square miles, and forty are states and territories, while all Europe has but 3,750,000 square miles, and 55 states and territories ! (Hear.) Reform your school books, and teach your, children, that the only true friend you have on the face of, the earth is America ! While the four millions of armed men point their bayonets . towards your from Europe —because they , hate your. freedom, -while the volcano, of discontent is seething, boiling, and bubbling on the Continent — let England turn towards America, who loves this old land as much as England will permit - and there she will find more true friends than among those of a different language, a different religion, and different institutions. (Applause.) Whatever may take place on the morrow, England and America will be strong and steadfast friends. Gentle Men, , I give you what I should have proposed before I occupied so much of your time—l give you the sentiment of ' The Reform Club of Liverpool, success to it., and may it prosper." Mr. Train resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged applause. Mr. Samuel Campbell was then called upon, and gave " My heart is still with thee," after which The Chairman said : Gentlemen, the honour of re ' sponding to the toast which you have received with so much enthusiasm and cordiality, has been assigned to me. I could very much wish that it had been assigned to some gentleman more competent to enter largely into the question which naturally rises in considering such a sentiment. And I still more regret the absence 'of one gentleman, who would have done such ample justice to it. But, gentlemen, I suppose we must be contented, seeing that that gentleman is engaged on public business in London, and for the same reason we have been deprived of a 'number of gentlemen, who would have been here to countenance us with their presence, as they do so by their notes. Yon have responded to the toast of the Liverpool Reform Club. Well, then, the gquestion arises, what is the Liverpool Reform Club ? . (Hear, hear.) It is an association of sincere, earnest, and I hope, honest citizens, for the advancement of those measures of political pro gress and amelioration, which . a large number of them consider to be especially necessary for the progressive character of the town in which they live, and the nation under which they enjoy their liberties. Some of the older heads, perhaps, may not now see the neces sity which exists, which the younger portion of the com munity believes does exist. But let us cast back our recollection to some 30 or 40 years ago, and consider the position of the gentlemen who stepped out from the ordinary rules of society, and became the leaders of the then political party, and through their exertions the great measure of parliamentary reform of 1832 was accomplished. If the young men of that day had re ' mained in their secluded recesses of private life, and said, - " Well, no public matters have a right to concern us, we are satisfied to deal with our private affairs," the probability is, that if these gentlemen of Liverpool and elsewhere had taken that stand, there would have been no parliamentary reform in 1832. And I take it, considering that, as gentlemen take this as a final measure, and I think we should stop there. It is necessary for a new set of men to see how far, by their humble yet honest efforts, they can succeed in promoting those measures which they sincerely believe to be necessary at a future period. We know that reforms are not carried in a day or in a week. We have evidence from the state ments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons, that we have been trying for a reform the last ten years, and are as far off as ever ; and unless a more earnest agitation, in Liverpool and other towns, is commenced, the probability is that you will be as far off ten years hence as you are now. It is not only for Parliamentary reforms, but local reforms, and local reforms of great importance. We know by the tax collectors who come to our doors that if we do not exercise some influence upon our representatives, we shall suffer for it. This association has been established to promote parliamentary reform, and promote enlarged views, both political, commer cial, and social. It has been established for the promotion of local government, whether it be in our Town Council, or at our parochial boards, and at our dock committees. These bodies are influenced more or less by the expression of public opinion, and as opinion is formed by men associating together, interchanging opinions and sentiments, and:these finding their way into the Press, which was read by their representatives, and thus exercise their influence upon them. At present the Reform Club is not three months old. It is not neces sary for me to go over the short history under which it has been brought into existence. On the 21st December, a meeting was held at the Adelphi Hotel. A constitu tion was' adopted, and a council appointed. That council had to,contend with difficulties; which were unforeseen, . and certainly A great Many' tilt Were nnexpected, These difficulties, by determination w ere unexpected, pe rs ev er ance, . the I mull have overcome. (Applause.) And we have the pleasure to-night to meet you here, not for the purpose of making any great political demonstration, although some may have considered that to have been the object, but to commemorate the taking possession of a home and a habitation. (Cheers.) The Liverpool Reform Club will now . be known as having a local habita tion, and a name also, in the "London." I have said that this was not intended to be a political demon stration—nor is it such ; but, as a matter of course, considering the character of the association, it must partake of that character appaiently. Well, then, I may say that, at a future period not very far distant, under the auspices of the Reform Club, there will be a demon stration worthy of the town. (Applause) And I may say, perhaps, without any breach of confidence, that some negotiations have already been set on foot for that purpose ; and if we are heartily assisted by those gentlemen whose assistance we have a right not only to claim, but demand (hear, hear), then I say that that political demonstration will read to the country such a lesson of the opinions of Liverpool as should leave no doubt as to what the sentiments of the. Liverpool public are upon the questions of Reform. (Applause.) Under these circumstances, and seeing that this is likely to take place in so short a period, it is not necessary . for me to go into political elements. Although a short time since the club had not a name, it has now two or three hundred members, and before long I hope to, see another cipher added to it. I wish to say to some of those who think that the Liverpool Reform Club would become antagonistic to the Reform Association, that so far as the Liverpool Reform Club is concerned, it is not antagonis tic to the Reform Association, but was established to assist it in all things necessary. All honour to the gentlemen of the Reform Association, who have ably and efficiently done their duty,' and attended to the matters of the legislature, affecting the interests of the burgesses of the - borough of Liverpool. I say that that portion of the political business of this community has been discharged in a most efficient and satisfactory manner. But there are other measures that have to be attended to, and to these measures this association will direct its attention. Therefore, let it be clearly understood by all members of the Club, by all true Reformers, that there is no antagonism, but a spirit of unity and determination to work together for the public good. Having said this much, gentlemen, I am sure I need not say any more to induce you to drink the toast I am about to propose with earnestness and sincerity. I beg, therefore, to propose "The continued success of the Liverpool Reform Association;" and I will couple the name of a gentle man at the bottom of the table, apparently very modest, but, I must say, a most energetic; Reformer—a gentleman to whom the Reformers are deeply indebted for the success which has so far attended the Reform Club, and more especially, indeed, for the services he has rendered as a member of the Reform Association. He therefore begged to propose the toast, coupled with the name of Mr. Robinson. The toast was drunk iv th all enthu The Vice-Chairman, in returning thanks, said he had been amember of the Reform Association for some years, and ho confessed he was one of those who believed at first that there was a certain amount of danger in starting another reform body ; but he now thought from the chairman's lucid remarks, and the character of the Reform Club, there was no such danger at all to be apprehended. (Hear, hear.) The Reform Association was a body which had bled well. (Cheers and laughter.) He hoped that phrase was well understood by all gentlemen present. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Bleeding well indicated a capital constitution. (Laughter.) Bleeding well was one means of standing well. .(Laughter.) The Reform Association had done that. In that association they had every honoured name which Liverpool honoured and respected. (Hear ' hear.) They had the name of Ewart, of Rathbone, of Holt, of Earle, of Langton, and of all the other families which had done so much during the last twenty years to promote the service of reform. (Hear, hear.) These were reformers in the dark and cloudy days ; they were reformers at the time when re form was not popular. They spent their money over and over again when there appeared no prospect of success. These were reformers of whom they all liked to hear. They had plenty of reformers when the measure was carried—when the goal was about to be passed. The difficulty was to be reformers when the goal was distant, and the object was uncertain—the labours great, and the sacrifices many. (Hear, hear.) They should be wanting in gratitude if they did not pay a high compliment to the veterans of the Reform Association. (Hear, hear.) Having acknowledged the toast with gratitude, he thought, upon such an occasion as the present, he was called upon to offer a remark or two. He had read a summery of Mr. Disraeli's speech ; and the first thing that struck him, and which he might call a "staggerer," was the ridicule which Mr. Disraeli heaped upon the idea of those who founded representation upon population and property. The answer to that was that, according to Mr. Disraeli's idea, the tailors of Tooley-street would have as much right to return four members as the city of London. (Loud cheers, and laughter.) Another very extraordinary notion of Mr. Disraeli's was his scheme for extending the franchise by conferring it upon the undergraduates of all universities, ministers of . all religious denomina tions, all members of legal professions, registered medical men, and a certain class of schoolmasters. The last class would probably be such sehoolmasterS,as might be duly approved of by the Derby administration. [Loud cheers, and laughter.) Matter-of-fact Englishmen might well be surprised that any man who had had the oppor tunities which Mr. Disraeli had should understand so little of the temper of the country as to suppose for one moment that a representation which was to be conferred upon undergraduates, ministers of all religious denominations, and a certain class of school masters, and from which the people were to be entirely excluded. Such a system of representation was certainly worthy of the best illustration of John Leech, in the last number of Punch. (Laughter.) What had the undergraduates ever done ? What great measure had the undergraduates ever helped to carry out ? All he knew of them was that they were fast fellows, who generally tried to get up a good race at Kingston, and to develop their biceps muscles. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) These were very worthy objects of ambition—(laughter)—but still he did not.think they involved anything which es pecially deserved the franchise. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) With regard to the ministers of all religious denominations, he thought with . great deference for them they were almost invariably laggards, and never led the van in endeavouring to gain for the people the blessings of free and reformed representation. (Hear, hear.) As regarded the school masters, he could only say that he feared when the scheme was broached, the schoolmaster was undoubtedly abroad. (Hear, and laughter.) He felt satisfied that this reform scheme would be scouted by the entire country as a mere chimera, worthy of the author of " Vivian Grey," and " Vivian Grey'" + only. The feeling of the country was that the thousands and tens of thousands of working men who made their railway bridges, erected their tubular bridges, spanned the ocean with their vast steamers, and did everything to promote the mechanical appliances of the age, were not the men who ought to be excluded from a vote. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He apprehended that reformers' were all agreed that 'that _ class of men ought to have a vote. (Hear). The people were not so obtuse as some suppose. Let them take a lesson from the past. Take the highest example of all teaching. Some 1,800 years ago, a certain person came upon the earth, and the common people received him warmly. It was the "nobs," the big-wigs, the under-graduates, and a certain class of school-masters, who rejected his doc trines, who treated him as an • impostor, and helped to execute him. (Hear, hear.) Now if the mass of the people were capable of receiving the • very highest forms of.truth, when the elite of' the land and the learned Rabbis rejected them, was there anything in ordinary municipal or parliamentary affairs which the same class of people were not able to comprehend ? (Hear, hear.) He looked on such a measure as that now prepared,. as an insult to the common sense of the country. Every other measure of reform, no matter by whom proposed, had for its object the enfranchisement of the people. Mr. Disraeli alone entirely ignored them. There was nothing else to be expected. The people were indebted for no favour to Mr. Disraeli's party. When the chairman very truly spoke of many gentlemen having held back to see what the present Government would do, he (the vice chair man) felt as • he had always felt, that they would and could do nothing. They were so thoroughly bound up with a certain class of ideas,• they were so thoroughly the Mrs. Partington's of the age, that no advance could be expected from them. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) He did not know why the working classes should be excluded from all share in the representation. He thought the management of their sick and burial funds was at least upon a par with the administration of the British Bank. (Laughter and cries of " hear, hear.") Few of their self-managed institutions had come to so miserable an end as many of the great commercial schemes of the past ten years. The vice-chairman eloquently described the courage and the patience of the poor under suffering and privation, as shown even in LiverpoOl during the prevalence of long continued easterly winds, and maintained that among that class were to be found examples of virtue, of pe at r severence, and of intelligence, which entitled them least to a share in the political and social power enjoyed by those above them in rank a acknowle and wealth. He co the toncluded a mid loud applause, by againacknowledging ast, and thanking the meeting for the patient hearing they had given him. Mr. Peck proposed the health of the " Mayor and Town Council of Liverpool." The toast was coupled with the name of Mr. John Rogers who was called upon to respond. Mr. Rogers, in responding, said that the town was represented in the council by many excellent men, gentlemen who were serving the town to the best of their ability, but he would say that if the people did not keep them up to the mark, the fault was not their's but the people's. Mr. Simon Frazer proposed " The Press," and in alluding to its progress, mentioned the fact that Addison, with all the charms of his genius, was unable little more than a hundred years ago to secure for the Spectator more than 4,000 subscribers, while the penny provincial papers numbered ten times as many every day now. The Chairman aknowleclged the toast. Mr. Robinson (the Vice-president) proposed " the Members for the Borough and County." The toast was drank with enthusiastic acclamation. The Chairman be gged leave to interpose a toast, which he thought it desirable - and necessary that they should drink. They had drunk success to the Reform Club, and identified with that toast was the name of a gentleman to whom they were mainly indebted for the position which the club held. (Hear, hear.) As chairman of the meeting, he could not allow the, opportunity to pass by without recognising the services which that gentleman had rendered. (Hear, hear.) Whatever credit was due for the organisation of the club, that credit was certainly due to the honorary secretary, Mr. Thomas Cope ; and he, therefore, begged to propose the health of that gentleman (Cheers.) The toast was received with the most cordial and general applause, and drunk with full honours. Mr. Cope, who was received with loud applause, acknowledged the compliment. He said he felt great pleasure in being one of the promoters of the club, and he could bear witness to the abilities of the gentlemen who had been associated with it. They had had many difficulties to surmount ; but difficulties were intended to be surmounted, and they had dealt with them in that fashion. (Cheers.) AU the difficulties had now vanished ; and, if he, might judge from the eminent auccess of their opening dinner, he could not conceive what size of room they should require for their anniversary celebra tion, when an apartment of such capacity barely sufficed for their inauguration assembly. (Loud cheers.) They were daily increasing in their numbers. Members were rolling in like the tide of the Mersey, with simply the difference that they did not roll out again. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Alluding to the advantages which such a club might realise, Mr. Cope remaiied that members of the Town Council might be able to canvass public opinion there. They might, at least, be able to consult practical men there, as to the management of hats and coats upon the occasion of such' a festival as the Bur- Centenary. (Cheers and laughter.) Some ger' had said the club would not succeed becaus, Some gentlemen patronised by the aristocracy of the town asked, what was the aristocracy of Liverpool hear.) Did they. not all live by buying and selling What was the difference between the man who bone a hogshead of sugar and the man who sold it . ? If the grades of aristocracy were thus to be traced backwards in the purchasing and selling process, the highest rank must finally be conferred upon the grower, probably some woolley-headed,nigger in some remote part of America. Now, he (Hear, oo (Laugflter and cheers.) Mr. Cope pointed out many of the advantages which the institution would possess, as enabling the members of the representative bodies to meet their constituents, and to learn the direction of public opinion, and concluded, amid loud cheers, by expressing his thanks for the honoui which had been done him. _ _ _ Mr. Townsend proposed the "Town and trade of Liver pool," and, in doing so, referred to its great increase, and the influence it was likely to exercise on other towns, from such associations as that they were met that evening to inaugurate. The toast was drunk with the usual manifestation. Mr. Williams responded to the toast in an eloquent speech, in which he also referred to the rapid progress Liverpool had made, when compared with other towns. He also referred to the dock rating question at some length, which he said must again be renewed, as they had been defeated in Parliament. . The v Chairman gave " The Ladies," to which Mr. William Martin replied. The health of the chairman was then proposed, and drunk with all the honours. _ _ The Chairman replied, and proposed " Our Absent Friends.". The toast was warmly received. _ _ _ Mr. Charles Millwara proposed the health of the host, Mr. Barrett, and spoke in the highest eulogy . of the manner in which the company had been entertained. The toast was received with loud applause, and Mr. Barrett in a few words expressed his acknowledgments. The proceedings soon after terminated. TIM GAS AND WATER WORKS, AND TEE LIBRARY COMMITTEES THE PROPOSED TOWN HALL SERIOUS COMPLAINT BY 'SIR. GOUGII qualification was, township and be rated to the value of eluded by asking whether Mr. Harduninewas so the same time positively - aßserting that' he was no led to the display of a little warmth of leelin- Hardman declaring that be was rated at but that he only paid on £33, being a ded Fer cent, but he Wai instructed that tl interfere with his qualification. 'Ultit Bailiff lout the question direct to who read the clause alluded to, and, after some said it certainly did appear thatithe qualification I it was not be a rating of £35 per annum. After some diSeussion, it was decided th should examine his books, and see if Mr. Has so rated, and make a report thereon to the next me( NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr. Gough gave notice that at the next meeti board he should move the admission of reporter committees THE LAIRD EXPLANATION an increase of £1,597 illness of six months. Poor man, he stiffer° deal. Tie lay a long time in Icarulsions, quiet and speechless, and all the time talker . . gently and inquiring for water loss to tell ye what his death was occasioned concluded by her Majesty's government with tt sular and Oriental Sfeam . Nivigation Company tc conveyance of mails, once a month, between this cc and the Australian colonies, including Tasmani the 18th MarA Stibseanently to thos( the mine period, was in 1858, £15,020 10s. Id., and for 1859, £19,272 Bs. 9d. On the motion of Mr. Harrison, they were unanimously confirmed. Proceedinfp were also confirmed without comment. The librarian of the latter, had a donation of L 5 pre sented to him. In reply to - the ques tion of the lately proposed new • Town Hall Mr. Harrison explained that he had used his utmost endeavours to accomplish that object, but had not met with the support he had anticipated He was sorry to say he had been left alone, for this year he had called two meetings of the committee, and no person but himself was present. With the assistance of the Mr. Laird and Mr. Brassey, he had however succeeded in raising £4,000, but they required £B,OOO. Therefore, unless some further assistance was rendered, the original project would have to be given up ; and instead of having the public offices and an assembly room, they would only be enabled to have the latter, which he thought could be done for about £4,000. The Chairman thought the money should be raised, and not have such a building, if it commenced, with a debt upon it In the course of the discussion on the proceedings of the Finance Committee, Mr. Gough, the newly-elected Commissioner, came in, and claimed to make his declara tion, This was assented to, and he took his seat at the Board. After the general business had been disposed of he said he had a question to ask the Chairman, Clerk, relative to the qualification of members fo. that. Board. The Chairman objected; but after some diser sion, it was decided that the question shout being the general wish of the Board. after prefacing his remarks by detailing; what and how he had been treated, all of been repeatedly before the public, pr the clause of the act of parliament spr fication for a commissioner, which M. Gough, ad occurred, t. This and Mr. did not ly, Mr. 'man was The Chairman then entered int( explanation, relative to his proceeding as the representative of that board, to oppose the Mersey Dock Bills then before Parliament. He denied that it was a factious opposition. He then detailed all the proceedings connected with the opposition in terms very similar, and nearly to the same effect, as at the discussion of the Mersey Dock Board on Thursday last, urging that he had only supported' the interests of Birkenhead, and said that if the Mersey Dock Board would have come to an amicable arrangement, and agreed to complete the docks on the Birkenhead side, there would not have been any opposition offered to their bill. He concluded by saying, that he should always uphold the interests of Birkenhead. This concluded the business. n london The Brighton Railway traffic return shows, this we( Av InisEtmAN's LETTER. - The following is a ,rue copy of a letter received in Boston from across t►' Ater —" Tipperary, Ireland, March 27, 1856. dea Nephew,—l have not heard anything of ye sens the las time I wrote ve. I have moved from the place where I now live, or I should have written to you before. I did not know where a letter might find you first, but I now take my pen in hand to drop you a few lines, to inform you of the death of your own living uncle, Kilpatrick. He died very suddenly, after a long kEy dear I'm very much at the doctor" thinks it was occasioned by his last sickness. for he was not well ten days during his confinement. His age ye know just as well as I can tell ye ; he was twenty five years old last March, lacking fifteen months, and if he had lived tilt this time he would have been six months dead, jist. N.B. - Take notis, I inclose to ye a tin pound note, which your father sends to ye unbeknown to me. Your mother often speaks of ye ; she would like to send ye the brindle cow, and I would enclose her till ye but for the horns. I would beg of ye not to brake the seal of this letter until two or three days after ye read it, for which time yell be better prepared for the sorrowful news. PATRICK O'BRANIGAN:—To Michael Glancy, No. Broad-street, United States of America, State of Mas-- sachusetts, in Boston." New York paper: MAILS FOR AUSTRALIA AND MAURITIUS.—AU off notice has been issued stating that a contract has 1 Penin- New Zealand, via Egypt. The first mairto be dispatched from Southampton, under the new arrangements, will be made up in London on the morning of the 12th of March next, and the first snail to be dispatched via Marseilles will be made up in London on the evenine of THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS, The usual monthly meeting of this board was held last night, at the Public-offices, Hamilton-square, Birkenhead. Mr. J. Laird presided. The other members present were—Messrs. Willoughby, M'Gill, Bailiff, Bayliss, M'Whirter, Bell, Goulborne, Bradley, Verelst, Hard man, Hind, Keightley, and Harrison. . . _ The Clerk read the minutes of the last meeting, which were confirmed. LIGHTING AND WATCHING COMMITTEE On the motion of Mr. Goulborne, the proceedings of this committee were read and confirmed, without comment. TILE MARKET COMMITTEE The proceedings of this committee were also read without comment, on the motion of Mr. M‘Whirter. THE HEALTH COMMITTEE The proceedings of this committee reported that the chemical works in the Railway-yard, Waterloo-place, had been complained of, the stench from which had at times reached Hamilton-square ; the law clerk had been instructed, to write to the proprietors on the subject. The number of deaths reported were 46, twelve of which had been from Zymotic diseases. Mr. Bradley moved the confirmation of the proceed ings, which was confirmed. ROAD AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEI The proceedings of this committee contained an applica tion from the Cheshire Junction Railway Company to permit the widening of the bridge on the east side, sufficient to the laying of another line of rails, it was resolved that the bridge should be widened, and that the 'arch should be substituted by girders, but so as not to interfere with the present abutments. Mr. Cook, in moving the adoption of the proceedings of this committee, Said, he begged to call the attention of the board to the portion of the proceedings which related to the flagging of the township: The commissioners had had the power of doing this before, but had not put it in force until very lately, as many of the houses in the township had been unoccupied There was no doubt but that. it would be a great im provement, for hitherto the streets had been so very bad, that there had been frequent complaints. The have, therefore, called upon the owners and the ratepayers to flag the streets, and there could not be the least doubt but that the flagging of the streets would be a great improvement. (Hear, hear.) If such was done, he (lid think that there would not be any such complaints in future. The proceedings were then confirmed, without any further comment. FINANCE COMMITTEE It appeared from the proceedings of this committee that the law-clerk had been instructed to write to Mr. Hartley, the engineer, to inform him that the committee were of opinion that in the working of the ferry they would require that portion of the landing stage to be dedicated to the committee to be of the same height as the present landing-stage at St. George's pier. It was then resolved that the contractors of the Monk's ferry should be allowed to no by the Woodside boats, on showing their tickets; and in reply to an application from Mr. John Laird, as to whether the commissioners would part with a piece of land situated between the Monk's Ferry Hotel and the river wall, it was resolved, "That in consequence of the boats, during spring tides being obliged to go on each side of the wall to land their passengers, the request could not be com plied with. It was also resolved that the overseers of Claughton should be indemnified against any expenses they might incur in testing the legality of the Claughton Constabulary rate. Mr. Keig tle' moved the adoption of the proceedings. Mr. Bailiff wished to know what steps had been taken. in regard to the lett in g or dis p osin g of the Monk , s it offered hotel, upon which, at the suggestion of the chairman, be was understood that the entire premises v by tender. then moved, th a t that portion of the proceedings, which related to th e C laughton police rate y t i en 3r. d ß ei a .. should be referred back to the committee. A rather warm discussion took place on this portion of the pro ceedings, and the board divided, when only three per sons supported the amendme_nt; and, upon the chairman puting the original motion, Mr. Bailiff objected, and com plained, that the chairman aid not allow a fair discussion to take place, and, notwithstanding., the motion was put and carried, and the proceedings were consequently n e y om c m o confirmed, Proceedings e of interest beyond the receipts, w it h 7 i e:e h r re wereoE : l i t . ai n a e s d n followsomotn `For the month of February, 1858, were £1,867 4s. 9 for' 1859, £1,942 15 s. 2d: ry, The receipts from April 24th, 1 to the 28th February, were for 1858, 26,689.155. 6d. ; and for 1859, 425,489 3s. 7d., while the expenditure for the mails will continue to be dispatclei via South on the morning of the 15th of el seilles on the 18th of each M3ll however, when the 12 the mails for Aus up and despatched ou th,2 p 18th falls On Sunday, t LI of the thonth made up and despatched ou the folloWi packet will not, as heretofore, call but will call at Port Louis, Mauritius on Sunda'c :mug, and he mac for Ceylon, will be forwarded henceforth with the Australian Mails ; but mails for Mauritius will be made up for transmission by each Australian Packet; and all letters for Mauritiii; not otherwise 'addressed, will be sent in such mails. The first homeward packet under the new contract was appointed to leave Sydney on the 12th inst. The mails brought by it, and forwarded, via Mar seilles, will be due in London on the 4th April ; and those forwarded, via Southampton, on the 10th April. Subsequent mails will be dne about the 4th and lOth of every month. THE ROTHSCHILD BRIDAL DINNER.—The Paris cor respondent of the LiLef.ary Gazette says :—A gre a t even t in the beau mondo oMis place has been the Rothschild marriage. The magnificence was beyond all description, and it would appear that splendours, vying with those recounted in the Arabian Nights, were lavished upon an entertainment to which nobody wai'admitted. /bean the dinner given after the nuptialeereniony id at which some sixty - or seventy Rodisebilds aloie were prese n t As no one but the family was_ preqe!4, at this fancion— amusements—ofa as t h the Spaniards course e entitle t 1; t e et femininehxaeimi i n b e u d l lb- by the publicgtlhit s e y curiosity auyairouodlnsai malete ladies has h er o f been immeasurably excite -t d h b at y it, and ever r all the plate of all the houses of knowledge of the "festive fi n o,ar o lt t hi h sce e m l: e l rn d as i h nfo a cr s e,t h h e ii e ns o ob e ra r dn o e s qr s u et ; they may arrive at an ap proximatestcheeneL.'o' nd l o t n s e e h em i ; atleast sent his dinner Rothschilds nearly was dessert was belonging service over to his cousin of Paris, and the entire ma d e i n 8-:s of the more than threescore guests we r e was of silverthe precious and . silver-gilt ; plates, dishes, everything precious metals, as at the royal tables, only at perceived the priceless service of old Sevres, to the Paris paterfamilias and whereof each plate represents somewhere about a king's ransom As to the viands on the table, they came from every country and ever clime . ; there were swallows' nests from Cr.ina, sterlets (a fish of excessive high price in Russia, of the size of salmon, and of fat, orange-coloured flesh) from Russia, reed birds and canvass-back ducks from America, bustards from Spain, .pheasants from Bohe mia, entrees of peacocks' brains, fillets of buffalo hump, and—one of my lady informants declares — salmis. of Brazilian parrots ! Every salt or fresh water had yielded up its fish ; every moor, marsh, and forest its fowl ; every hot-bed. heated by fire or the sun, its fruit ; and every grape that ever hung anywhere its wine. As to the flowers with which the table and the dining-room were ornamented, it is affirmed that there were 1500 pounds' worth (I mea n 1,500/. l e as h : ef l i c o e ua g ns t c e p r m e e r e p f P e tt i r m n o g r es p o l f a a n l a l round. If the repast was w ort All the windows were covered w ith trellis work, over centuryE ts ng o l f i sh t h ! ) e . twrhopicihes,w sheddinger e framed t h e t h i r e wo rth y ago, tne tribe of Rothschild seems to have been worthy of it, and 'to have done it due honour. In the first place it is 'affirmed that th e l a di es present wor e upontheir persons between 20 and 30 millions ofthe way of doing sewho'partook of it sat a t the t banquet, tila°hßlf6eruarrnroctmso w orh of jewels, those and in half-past six to midnight !"