The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL TO MRS. SULLEN, OF
YEOVIL.

" le the stook dsperbaset there are 165 exhibitors,
branding hem the musty of Somerset 33, Devoe
23. Doneeshire 10, 'Cantwell 7, Glosiontarshire 31,
Bristol 2, Herefordshire 14, Wiltshire 14, Hampshire
I, Olsescrputehire 9, Mossoatlnhire 4, Berkshire 5,
Oxfordshire 2, Shropreire 1, Warwickshire 2,
Staffordshire 1, Yorkshire 2, Sussex 2, Ireland 1,
Gooresiky 1. T 0461 165.
The salmis ehowik may be this .numerated:
Ws 82, am 40, beihres 72, walls 194, rams 149,

About 50 or 60 gentlemen, chiefly of Yeovil and
its neighbourhood, but including likewise several
commercial gentlemen from • distance, assembled
around the festive board on Tuesday night at the
Choughe Hotel. The secondary object was to par-
take of the rich repast that bad been provided for
them—the primary one, that of presenting to Mrs.
Bonen the handsome testimonial which had been
subscribed for her, and to which nearly 300 gentle-
oleo bad contributed, as an earnest of their apprecia-
tion of her conduct as hostess of the Cboughs Hotel
during the peat fifty year,. The testimonial chosen
by the Committee, of which Mr. T. Manning, jun.
and Mr. John Ilya' were the secretaries, consisted
of two handsome silver epergnes of the vine pattern.
From the body of each of them spring three arms,
to be used either for lights or flowers, whilst in the
centre of each there rise* a stand to support •
glass dish. Each of the articles stand on •
handsome plateaux of plate glass, which is also
ornamented with a vine wreath to correspond
with the epergnes. They are of exquisite work-
manship, and have not only met the approval
of the whole of the subscribers, but have also excited
the admiration of all who have teen them. They
were supplied by Mears. Hancock and Co:, silver-
, smiths and jewellers, of Middle-street, who in this
have added another laurel to their former reputation
for presentation plat*. On each of the epergnes
was engraved the following inscription:—" To Mrs.
M. Bullen this epergne, with another like it, is pre-
rented by upwards of 300 of her admiring friends in
various parts of the kingdom, as • token of their
esteem for her private virtues and benevolence, and
her far-famed and eaemplary conduct during 50
year. as hostess of the Three Choughs Hotel,
Yeovil." As we have already said, the repast was
an excellent one,—the viands consisting of all the
dainties of the season, the wines of the choicest
vintage, and the dessert plentiful, and laid out in the
most costly style. The chair was occupied by Mr.
Edward Raymond, and Mr. Hawkins ably filled
the vice-chair.

—The CH•IRYAIf read letters from G. Harbin, Faq.,
T. Lyoo, Esq., Mr. Lycott, Captain Palmer, and
numerous others, apologising for not being able to
be prevent, and having briefly introduced the subject
of their meeting, concluded by propoeing, as the
first toast, "Th. Imola of Her Most Gracious
Majesty the Queen." (Cheers)
The toast of " The Prince and Princess of Wales"
was next given, followed by that of "The Army,
Navy, and Volunteer.."

Ensign WATTS, and 13•TraSTO BRUTTOS and
RT•LL, briefly responded for the Volunteers, and
Mr. Caocxxa for the Yeomanry Cavalry.
Mr. DUNN, next proposed "The Mayor and Cor-
poration of Yeovil."' Of coarse it was right and
proper that this tout should be given; but where
were the Mayor and Corporation? The former was
absent, and the latter represented by only two of its
members, so that they had only the shadow of the
Corporation there. Now, he had every respect for
the Mayor and the members of the Corpo-
ration personally, but he said it was a diagram
to them that there were not more present.
It seemed to him that they had thrown cold
water on the affair altogether. Mrs. Bullen bad been
a tenant to the Almshouse trustees for the last fifty
year', and be did say that they bad not come for-
ward with that support on that occasion which she
had a right to claim. One would have thought there
might have been • letter of excuse. But the
Mayor bad not even written. Had be bad
health? If bad health was an excuse, then
he (Mr. Donne) might have made an excuse,
for he was so ill that it wee as mach as
he could do to be upon the earth at that moment.
(Laughter.) But he had determined to pay Mrs.
Sullen the compliment that be felt she deserved.
Now the reporters, no doubt, would pat his remarks
in the papers, and then there would be
letters criticising what he said; but be asked again,
where were the great men of the town? No-
where. Where was the Mayor? Nowhere. Where
was the Corporation? Only two of their number,
whose hearts and souls were so big as all the others
put together, represented them. (Laughter ) We
should therefore give the health of Mr. Marden
and Mr. Cogan for the compliment they had that
evening paid Mrs. Bullen.
Mr MARDIS and Mr. COOLS acknowledged the

oomplitnent.
Mrs. Bailee, who was led in by Mr. Bart at this
juncture. advanced to the bead of the table, when
the CHAIRMAN addressed her as follows ,—My
deer Mrs. Bullen,—l have bad the pleasure
of knowing you ever since I wait • boy,
and se you are well aware it has often fallen to
my lot to reeet you on many cocasioes
to consult you on matters of business which have
appertained to your own family conDOXiOllll, and I
have alao met with you on many social and festive
ooraeices, but I bare never met with you under any
circumstances which have afforded me so much real
pleasure am that under which we ars brought to-
gether this evening. The position which I now
occupy in relation to you and your friends is one of
which I bare great reason to he proud. You must
bear in mind that lam not speaking to you in my
own name, but in the name of others. lam addreee-
inn you, in fact, as • representative man. I have
the honour to represent a very large sad
oonunittee of your especial friends, linTLeat:::::
two and three hundred gentleness, living in differ-
ent parts of the country, and who are as respectable,
as intelligent, end se influential, perhaps, la MO4
to be lotted in this kingdom, all of whom, I am
happy
oloutell yea, entertain a moat profound and
rasped for the asceilieriss of
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