The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-19 00:00:00

DINNER AT THE WHITE HART HOTEL.

A DINNER also took place in honour of the event at
the White Hart Hotel, when eighty of the merchants
and tradesmen of the town sat down under the pre-
sidency of Mr. it. Hoskins, Mr. W. Waterman, the
olde4 tr.desmen in the place, occupying the vice•chair.
The dinner, which ocnsi.ted of all the delicacies of the
season, was served up in first-rate atyle by Mr. Sheppard;
the dexuert was abundant, and tile wines were of the
choicest quality.

On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN said tint
he felt proud to be called on to preaide at that meeting,
although be was convineed that there were many at
that meeting who would have filled the post with mush
greater honour than he could. ("No, no.") The first
toast he had to propose to them was the first In the
heart of every Englishman, in whatever clime, or how-
ever far distant from his country he might be placed.
She promoted and encouraged all that was great and
good. She ayinpathised with all who needed sympathy.
She poured into the wounds of the bereaved the balm
of consolation, whether those bereavements took place
In the trenches of the battle field, or in the mining
regions. Ass sovere;gn she was • pattern to all Europe,
as a woman she was the ornament of her sex. She thus
reigned in the affections of all her subjects, and he WM
sure that all present would drink to her health, praying
that she might be long spared to reign over them. "The
health of the Queen" was then proposed and drunk with
three times three.

The CHAIRMAN next gave "The health' of the
Emperor sue Empress of the French, and of the Prince
imperial." He did hope that the time had now arrived
whet the people of England and France could look each
other in the face, and regard each other as cousins or an
brethren. The time had evidently arrived when our
Mends on the opposite side of the cbaonal looked with
wester pleasure on imports and exports than on imply.
.mepts of war—when they regarded the produce of our
looms of more value than shot from the cannon's
month, and he trusted that by the blessing of Provi-
dence the trade and commerce of the two great
eountries would be so strongly cemented and united that
tit would be impossible for all the devils of war to break L.
the bends. The Emperor of the French was a great, a
valuable, a strong, and a most important ally of
Ragland, and so long as England and France were
united, it would be impossible for any other nation
to attack them with sluices, Napoleon 111. had ever
professed a desire to act in unison with England,
end, although there had been times when some might
.think that appearances were somewhat against such a
profession, be (the chairman) never had any doubt of
.Emperor's sincerity. They often prayed. "Give
pease in our time, 0 Lord ;" but he prayed that peace
I might not only continue our time, but that it mightiest
for ever. The Emperor had declared, when the proper
time arrived, the world would see and know that be
was an enemy of all despotism, and a friend of liberty,
pesos, and progress. He was, undoubtedly, suroeunded
by circumstances which made some things which he did
appear inexpliceble, but he (the chairmas) had great
confidence that his professions for desiring liberty, peace,
and progress, were sincere. He congratulated the
people of France on this, and trusted the good-fellow-
ship between the two countries, which had of bite Teem
more eape,iallv been promoted, might ever continue.
The toast was drunk with three times three.
The CHAIRMAN then gave "The bealths of the Prince
of Wales, of the Princess of Wales, and of the rest of
the Royal Family." In watching the progress of the
Prince they had seen, with pleasure, that he was step-
ping in the footsteps of li, deeply-lamented father.
He hoped it would be many years yet before he would
be called upon to sit on the throne of England, but,
when he was so called, he hoped that he would be as
bright an ornament in his position as both his parents
had been in theirs; and that his reign would be as
peaceful, as prosperous, and glorious as that of his
revered mother. (The toast was drunk:, with three
times three.)
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said the next toast he
had to propose was one which he was sure they would
receive with a great deal of pleasure, as it was "The
health. of the armies and navies of England and France."
They bad before now worked together; they had fought
side by bide ; they had slaughtered their enemies by
thousands, and expended resources by millions • and
proved that the two nations eimbined were irresistible.
Might they ever be united, atid if ever called upon to
take up arms, be found on the side of liberty and pro-
gress, and for the destruction of despotism. The toast
wu'received with three times three.
" The health of the Rifle Volunteer." was next given
from the chair with .the usual honours and briefly
acknowledged.
Mr. J. P. Ottrat, . ex-Sheriff, next proposed "The
health of the Municipality and Chamber of Commerce
of Cherbonrg." He considered that be had great honour
conferred upon him in being Called on to propose this
toast. . The Chamber of Commerce was a very impor-
tant body and he looked upon cultivating friendly feel-
ings with them at a matter of great importance and
interest. It showed the good feeling the people of
Cherbourg had towards us in that they exchanged
. hospitalities with us in the way they had done. He
I was aware that in proposing the toast entrusted to him
be was virtually including in it the whole of France,
for it was well-known that the municipalities of France
expressed the general sentiments of the whole of France,
including those'of the Emperor of the French himself.
It was recognising such as toeing the (eet, that he looked
upon the exchange of courtesies between the chamber
of Commerce and the Municipality of Cherbourg end
the Corporation of Poole as an earnest of the reciprocity
of feeling existing between the two countries. Not
only was he proud to welcome their visitors In the Way
they had done, but he rejoiced the more that Poole
had had the honour on the part of this country, as
Cherbourg had on the part of France, of being the
'`thectium of expressing these kindly sentiments of amity
illisd . good-will towarde each other. He regarded our
WRAC. with France as ti subjeet of the highest impor-
Aimee, as the two eountriee combined, in the arts, arms'
and in war, were a match for the whole world.
4Drunk with three times three.)
I.„ The VICR-CHAIRNAN next gave "The Mayor 'and'
Uorporation of Poole," remerking on the differences that(
asisted, under the old close borough system and the
rt etate of things. Formerly they were an
t:sePtoissible body, being self-elected. Now the mem-
bers were elected by the rate-payers, who bed the
pater in their bands of ejecting them from office if they
44101 do that which they considered right towards the
town. Hitherto the new system had worked much
Setter than the old, and he trusted that in time to oome
.fee system would work better still, and that those who
were elected to the office would prodiete those measures
which should tend to the interest and prosperity of their
indent port and borough. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. P. GUTCH, as se-Sheriff, watt tailed upon to
acknowledge the toast. .
The eIIAIRMAN said that the lest toast OD the list for
-him to have the honour of introducing to their notice
,was, "duocess to the steam communication between
Cherboerg and Poole. In order that it might be kept
up economy was required in its management, and
friends were required to support it. He did not say
that steam communication between the two ports should
Ike Maintained at any eost and at any sacrifice, but he
did maintain that steam communication between the
two. ports was of the greatest importance to the town of
,Poole. He was afraid it did not pay now, but whenever
sine of them could give the company • good word, or do
ihein any good whatever in any way, by all means let
Om do so. If they came to interchange commerce
,maci expressions of good-will towanis-each otter, they
.would strike out the foundation of mutual intercourse
between the two nations which would he durable. Some
elglit oonaider them selfish in seeking to make Poole one
q( the chief points of communication with France. He
tWorild acktiowledge they were striking high, but selfish.
jless was a very foolish thing. Was, however, what they
. ware striving for right or wrong? It was a rule of God's
Jaw that they could not benefit themselves by • tree
'lnd honourable course without benefiting their neigh-
boars also. Poole was not a self-supporting town. It
drew its supplies from all parts of the county, as witne,s
the trtickestitt *arts from lilhaftesbury. Wimborne, and
'ether places coming daily into their town laden with
geovisiens. The .11.006+ Bof the town of Poole then was
'of vast importance to the county, and if they enlarged
!their% trade and increased their commerce' the whole of
_Dorset would be benefited by it. Poole had bog been
tramping in the mud ; let them all, whether butchers or
takers, or wbatever else they might be, seek to increase
strode of the town to the utmost of their power.
Me proposed, cordially and sincerely. "Success to the
theem communication between Cherbourg and Poole."
Iflesibli With three times three.)
I Mr. W. M. PINICIIT acknowledged the compliment. It
~end to him that the suocess of the oommenica-
tion between Cherbotrg and Poole derailed upon
themselves. Some time ago the Municipality and
fChamberof Commerce of Cherbourg invited the Mayor
and Coeporation of Poole to a grand banquet at
'Cherbourg in honour of the opening of steam corn-
municetion between that port and Poole. 'This was a
proof of the value they put upon this syStein of com-
munication between the twrecomitries and of their desire
to promote and support it. Would Poole exert itself and do
Its duty in the mattes? There had been a "skit" put
forth in which Poole was represented to have been a
town before the "birth" of Adam. Poole was not a new
town, and it had at one time risen from a small fishing
village to a port of considerable importance Liverpool
nothing in comparison with it. The time was
If a cheque were drawn with Liverpool on it,
‘ re- i to say, strike out "Li, " '-a't
it was the reverse. If a chime..
on it, re wanted" ^ word pee,-
--ell it pose.

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