The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

TIME'S CHANGES!

A complimentary banquet was given on the evening
of the 29th of December, at "Delmonico's," in New
York, to Professor Morse, the inventor of a system
of electric telegraphy. Chief Justice Chase presided.
Mr. Thornton, the British minister, Attorney-General
Evarts, General 1V1•Dowell, Goldwin Smith, ex-Go-
vernor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and Buckingham, of
Connecticut, were present. After the first regiihr
toast, 'The President of the United States," Mr.
Chase proposed the health of Queen Victoria in the
following terms:—

Amerians son only repay with gratitude the numerous
proofs of considerst.on. honour, lOW re,Thert with hy various
sovereign's and peoples of the out world have heel. Is-stowed
UPIII our distingui,hell guest (alluding to Professor Morse`.
But there is one sovereign a. d One people to whom especially
our thanks are due, I mean the great and good Queen of
I. rest Britain and the great anti magnanimous British
people. As men of release their capitalists furrished the
means of laying the Trauslautic cable, aml British ships co-
operated with the American ships in that enterprise. %lay
they never meet in less friendly encounter.

The toast was drunk amid much enthusiasm, when
Mr. Thornton made the following response :

Mr. President and Gentlemen,—l thank you sincerely and
most cordially for the kind manner in which the health of
ray ladoved sovereivii, and of other ..overeigns mid nations
who appreciate the telegraphic enterprise of the lnlli
States, haa been proposed and responded to by the dis-
tinguished company here present, and more particularly for
the kind sentiments which have been expressed by Mr. Chief
Justice Chase. I hope I may be allowed to avail myself of
this opportunity to express my great gratification at the

- - _
sentiments of esteem and regard whieh I have observed have
been almost universally entertained towards her Majesty
Queen Victoria by the press atiti people throughout the length
and breadth of this great land. , Applause.' lam confident
that there is no one in England rib, is more anxious than
the Queen for the maintenance and improvement of that
harmony and good understanding which ought to exist
between the two nationa—omplausey—and which is of such
vital ifelsntance to both of them; and none who would
rejoice. so much that all honour should be done to no great a
benefactor to the human race as is the distinguished pro-
fessor, to show our high appreciation of whose character we
have assembled in this place. I ate unwilling, however, to
fall into what seems to 1110 the error of talking too much
about peace. Laughter and applause.' A good deal
has bees said upon the subject lately, both in this
country and in Europe ; more perhaps than is either
absolutely necessary or altogether useful. iAPPLM'e-
Peace Is not to le produced by talking about it. Applause.)
Statesmen ought, I should imagine. to endeavour to discover
what is most likely to engage men's interests, and to con-
vince them that a state of peace is absolutely necessary to
their well-being, and to their moral and material tomfort.
What can be more likely to effect this than a constant alto
complete intercourse between all nations and individuals
in the world: ,Applause.) But statesmen are not always
• scientific men, and it is to science we are indebted for the
means of communication. Steam was the first olive
branch offered to us by science. The voyage which my
father made to this country in 17tle in a "foot" sailing
vessel Is, 75 days— laughter —is now easily accomplished
in nine or ten days. There came a still none effective
olive branch—tins wonderful electric telegraph, which
enables any man who happens to he within reach of a wire
to conmumicato instantaneously with his fellow-men all
over the world. Should I have the good fortune to live to
the good out age of the venerable professor, I still hope to
sec SOMO such improvoment as will enable us to carry on a
vies roe, conversation by means of the cattle. ,Laughter.)
We shall then have merchants on this side of the water dis-
cussing their affairs with those on the other, by means of
the cable, at'' so Mlleb" O minute. We shall hear perchance
of some love-stricken youth of London or Paris wlibporing
soft nothings along the cable to tine of those bewitching
sirens of New Vork applause I suppose it will be at so
much an hour—Oaughter —she tempting blur all tile While
to throw himself upon the gulf which semuates them.
Laughter: We shall then have statesmen, aye, and in
those days of progress, even stateswomen, secretly discussing
international questions at SO much a conference— laughter,
—and we, poor unhappy diplomatists, shall ran a very good
chance of being exploded altogether. But I nmst not take
up more of your time, which will be letter employed by the
friends and co-labourers of your distinguished guest, WhO
can speak, and are tuitions to speak probably, of the high
totalities which adorn him. I cairst,t, however, sit down
without expressing my great satisfaction at being able,
through the kind invitation I have received, to contribute
my mite of that admiration and esteem for Professor
Morse which must be telt by all its-sit ;neat a benefactor
of his fellow-creature, and of posterity t:reat applause.,