The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-11-17 00:00:00

BA.NQUET AT ILNIINSTER IN HONOUR OF

CAPTAIN SPEKE.

On Wednesday Capt. liplike, the discoverer of
the source of the Nile, was entertained at • grand
banquet in token of his hearty welcome to his
, ancestral home at Ilminster. For several days pre-
vious to the event it was found necesaary to stop
the sale of tickets, enough having been purchased at
guinea each to ensure the large:room full of company
at the George Hotel. The room itself was exquisitely
decorated with floral devices and appropriate mottoes,
such as " Welcome to the Hero of the Nile
" Victoria Nyanza," " Religion," "Science,"
"Commerce," "Agriculture," " Discovery,"
"Success," " Energy," "Courage." The dinner
and accompanying etceteras were of the must
recAerche description, and the meeting was preluded
over by IL T. Coombe, Esq., and Mr. Langworthy
and Mr. Miles acted as vice-presidents. There
were present—Capt. Speke, and his two brothers
the Rev. Benjamin Spoke and Capt. William Spoke,
W. H. P. Langton, Esq., M.P., and the Hon.
W. Addington, M.P. There were no leas than
seventeen magistrates present, and • large number
of clergymen, among whom we noticed—the Reeds.
C. Allen, J. P. Billing, H. Band, Prebendary Coles,
Ethelstone, 'Evans, H. Guy, H. Gowring, Hamilton,
Hoskins, Lance, J. Mickleburgh, Nash, H. D.
Palmer, B. Spoke, Templemen, Tons, A. P. Trew-
man, and T. A. Vowles, Masers. W. Allen, J. Baker,
(2), W. Baker, Bragg, Brown, Bryant, Bent,
Cannicott, Channing, Chipman, Christmas, Cliapple,
Collins, Combo, Dorington, England, Everitt,
Franklin, C. and J. C. Gilpin, Hagley, Heck.
worthy, Henderson, Hewing*, next, Hine, Hoskins,
Jeffery, Kensington, Lang, Langdon, Lee,Lovibond,
Love, Marshall, Illessiter, Mills, MID• 00,
Menden, Murdoch, Nicholetts, Norris, S. Palmer,
Palmer (Hinton), 11. Penn, J. W. Paull, J. Paull,
Plowman, Rutter, Richards (2), Salter, Sanders,
Shepherd, Slade, W. Sparks, Spoke, W. Spoke,S. Spicer, J. Spicer, Stayner, Stevens, Symonds,
Taylor, Thorne, Were, Webber, Walsh, Wight.
man, Woolley, ./. Wood, C. A. Welman. On
the removal of the cloth the Chairman proposed '
the health of "Her Majesty," and said the Queen had
been pleased to signify her admiration of the
endeavour' and success of Captain Spoke. (Loud
cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the health of the
"Prices and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the
Royal Family," expressed a hope that England would
take • lesson from other nations, and give. • more
speedy recognition of individual merit. (Cheers).
On the Cuaisie•it &spin rising, he said, slightly
reversing the order of things,a cause he was fully jus-
tified in doing, lie would now propose,"Tbe Health of
Captain Spoke," and in the name of all present bid
him a welconie to Ilmiruder. ((roat applause.)
Magnificently feted as he had been elsewhere, their
humble endeavours might appear insignificant,
yet they had reason for welcoming him more warmly
than others. Some might receive him as an English.
man; others might do honour to him as a Somerset-
shire man i but they did all that and more—they
received him as the son of an old neighbour, and
himself a good-hearted fellow, who had made himself
an everlasting fame.—(Cheers.) Captain Spoke
bad eared the great geographical problem ; which
nobody else had seen or told them so plainly about,
and therefore they might claim the honour that an
Ilminster man had discovered the source of the Nile.
(lieuewed cheers.) A meeting at Taunton had
decided to present a memorial to Captain Spoke
in the shape of a picoe of plate—or rather that the
memorial should be of plate, but what it was to be,
depended upon the exertions of the whole county ;
and at a dinner at Taunton on the 22nd of December
something of acceptance would be presented him.
In the name of all present he wished him health and
happinem, and if he made another expedition he
hoped ho would return again in good health, having
added another laurel to those he had so nobly
earned. (Great cheering.)
Captain SPZICE, on rising to respond, was received
with renewed applause, whizli lasted for a long time.
On silence being restored, lie said, for the honour-
able way in which they had been pleased to drink
his health he felt deeply grateful, and only wished
he could find words to express the feelings of his
heart I but emotion overcame him. Their chairman
had told these that he had been feted at banquets,
but he assured them that be would rather sit down
to what he called their pour fare than at ten
thousand banquets of the grandest description.
(Loud cheers.) To feel that one's envious bad been
recognised by • nation was a great thing, but it was
mach more touching to feel it when it was evinced
by one's own particular and immediati friends.
(Great cheering.) He hoped they would believe
him when he said Victoria Nyaoza was the great
source of the Nile. He had been from the bead to
the mouth of that river, andel* Nile ceased to be a
river when it emanated from the lake at the Ripon
Falls. Many persons might cavil at a river rising in
a lake; they might say it emanated in some moun-
tain springs, but the river ceased to be a river at the
Ripon Falls. And for that reason he said he had
settled the Nile when he traced the river the whole
way down from the southern extremity to the
Mediterranean sea. True, there were important
tributaries to the Nile, but the source of it was
Victoria Nyanza. He saw it was divided into four
arms or branches, which branches emanated from
smaller lakes in the hills, which he called the Moon- .
tains of the Moon. He believed now he had told .
them the whole circumstances with regard to the
Nile that he thought worthy of mention, and be
should be glad to see any person go into the same
regions that he had traversed,and contradict what he
had said; and if he would follow up what he had
left undone he should he too glad to welcome him
back again. (Loud cheers.) In addition to the
discovery of the Nile lie had discovered the great
fertile zone of Africa, and the fall of rain over all
those regions had made it fertile, lie believed
that one of theme days that zone would be
the foundations of great empires—a trade was
working up to them, and as icon as they had become
more thoroughly known, so soon would they be
occupied by a raoe of white men, for the African bad
not the gift of ruling any more than the East
Indians in Hindustan. He should rejoice to see that
day, fur he had met with kingdoms on the equator,
and enjoyed the hospitality of the kings that
governed them. Still those kings knew nothing of
the blessings if Christianity, and in consequence
ruled with a rigour that would make them all
shudder if he told them one-half he had seen there
with his own eyes. He had only now one-half done
in Africa what he had long wished to do ; and please
God, if he had the power and the energy to open up
that great continent, and the Government would
assist him, be would lead into those countries some
missionaries, who would aid the kings in governing ,
. their countries better, and in those regions they
, would find Chrudianity extend to the utmost part
of that continent. (Loud cheers.) Talking of
missionaries, the first man he would recommend
would be Dr. Livingstone, who, Al they all knew,'
had a failure. He had had many failures too, and
considered there was nothing like a failure to teach
• man good experience. Dr. Livingstone was
imbued with a manly spirit, and considerable talent
for dealing with the natives; and he hoped, that as
soon as he arrived in this country, the Government
would assist him in going to the equatorial regions,
and helping the King of Uganda to govern hie
country better, and protect the people from the
incursions of the ivory merchants, who were at
present devastating it, and turning it into an infernal I
region. Sine* be (Captain Spoke) came down the
Nile the Viceroy of Egypt had sent a commission
and a tome to inquire into the system of slavery
carried on there, but whether he took the hint from
him er the Government officials, he had acted upon
the advice, and he hoped great and beneficial results
would arise from ir.. (Load cheers). But there
was a great deal more to be done than the Pasha
know
ftcouldretpin.dormeideodybtoieleds.:yxdnprantht
project his the
a The gallant
'nitre pursued,t
n captain
p re e.
non of the slave trade, and concluded by saying, that
although he should be unwilling to again leave his
native shores, he should never be happy until the
project he had in view of opening up the African
zone WWI carried out in his his time. (Much
cheering).
W. H. P. Gone LANGTON, Esq.. proposed "the
health of the Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese.
_

v.Prebendary Ltici, late rural dean, returned
thanks. He said be had sent in his resignation ex rural
deans few days previously, at the requectof Mrs. lance,
having held the office for a period of 30 years, and
being within two months 0( 70 yearn of age. liothwith-
stand:rig Ire aaw so many smiling faces at the end of the
room, he could not help saying that he had an utter
contempt for • man muter petticoat government; still
he admitted that in this instance he bad acted upon
the urgent request of Mn. Loner. (Laughter.) He
hoped that, although advanced it, years, he had still •
good deal of work in him, but Mrs. Lance seemed to
think be was in declining health. (Roar. of laughter.)
This he attributed to his most intimate and valued
friend, Mr. Spicer. (Renewed laughter.) Mrs. Lanes
maid to him "you are 70 years old, you have 700 peoe•
to care for, you have two full %nice* to perform Sad •
school to attend to, and you ought to rest and be
thankful." (Renewed sheers and laughter.)

planse.

Tie Rev. A. 0. P. l'imensali, on being also Who
for, likewise acknowledged the e .mpliment In lA,.
ring to the event which lied celled them togeth.r he
expressed a hope that on the meeting of Perliament,
the county of Somerset would speak out trumpet.
tongued, and time compel Government to reeogniao
the services of Captain Spcke. (Loud cheers)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the "Army, Navy,
Militia, and Volunteers," said that Captain tipeke hda
solved the greatest problem of l 863; but it remeeed for
some one elm to wilve the problem of 1864 whele the
Emperor of the French had placed before them.
Captain MURDOCK, in acknowledging the toast, erao
that when in future ages the historian should tell of the
events of Queen Victoria's reign, in the army would be
Found the names of Goneh, Raglan, Strangways, Cetl,.
cart, and Campbell ; whilst amonpt the great travellers
would be found • Bruce, • Rose, a Franklin, and his.
gallant band, who yielded up their spirits to the Gad
who live them in the service of their country and in the
cause of misuse—how that the problem. the greet diM-
malty of ages, was solved by a gallant °them in her
Majesty's army, who bad rendered great service to his
country is discovering the source of the Nile. (Loud
cheers.) The future historian would associate lipeke
and Grant with the discovery of the source of the Nile.
Grant WAS • gentleman and • noble fellow, and he was
sure that Captain Simko was only too truly glad that he
was associated with such a mu in the discovery.
(Chem.) Grant's health had suffered from his trials in
Africa, but be hoped ROMS day they would see him who
had been the companion of him they loved so well.
(Greet cheering.) Be begged to return thanks for the
Volunteers.
The Hon. W. W. ADDINGTON proposed the health of
the
name "County.v. coupling with the toast the
n
AR • good friend and warm-hearted neighbour. (Great
cheerinji.)
Mr. LANGToN, on rising to acioowledge the toast, was
ur. Member', coupling
whru.
b.
chameutri.od
.
warmly greeted. He thanked the'm most sincerely for
the honour they had done the Cusuir members, and
then turned to address thenr in the eba-seter of a friend
and neighbour. It gave hire the greatest .satisfaction
to
bi able tob.dbe
health
...1,,
preventedhi.n, ..thing but
eatreme . from
doing honour to his old friend and schoolfellow, Crtaila
Spoke. (Cheers.) He bailed the day that saw his fru:nd
return safe, and he congratulated the town of Ilroinetsa.
on the spirit they had shown. Nothing on his part
should be wanting to show his admiration for the energy,
the courage, the endurance, the perseverance of his
friend in following up his researches on the Nile. (Loud
cheers.) Captain "'peke went there three times, and be
Felt proud that 'hamster should be the AIM to fete him
in the Trey he ought to be feted. (Mach cheering.)
Nothing should he wanted on his part, and he believed
Ire could answer for Sir A. A. Hood, Sir William Miles
and Mr. Knarahbull, as the representatives of
this great county, that they would urge upon Parliament,
if necessary, to recognise his distinguished eel-vices.
(Great cheering.) At the conclusion of the last Par-
liamentary seesaw, it was his good fortune, in conjusc-
tion with Sir Alexander Hood, to wait upon Sir Roderic
Murchison with respeat to it. thinking that through
as the bead of the Royal Geographical Society, they
should approach the Government in • more appropriate
and successful manner Man if they themselves took the
matter in hand. They wire desirous that it should be
a spontaneous act of her ,Majesty's Government, and
that they should not be the leet to recognise the dis-
tinguished services of their peel that evening. (Cheers.)
He still hoped that that intei-Mew might have the
desired effect ; but if it should nOt, nothing should be
wanting to stir up the Government to do honour to their
worthy friend, neighbour, and county Nan, CaPLSPeka.
(Prolonged applause.)
Mr. NlevoLerrn next proposed "The Lord Lieut-
enant and Magistrates ofthe County." (Lotai cheers.)
Mr. Ihmenkang briefly acknowleged the ow.opliment.
Captain Brrite proposed the health of the Ch airtime.
He, himself, hod met with lions and elephants in India,
the hippopotamus and the rhinoceros in Africa. bat he
never enjoyed a day's sport better than he did • short
time aloes with Mr. Combe. They all knew him to tv
• worthy landlord, and one who contributed to the sup-
port of the great majesty and might of England, which
rendered them superior to all other nations, both in
science and enlightenment. Were it not for the land-
lords and gentry of this great kingdom, they would not
possess that mighty power they did, which extended
over the fire grafters of the earth, and by it. means
they had extended Christianity according to their own
forms, which was the best form hitherto accepted by
man, and were it not so they would not puma such de-
lightful and prosperous homes. (Cheers.) Although •
Somersetshire man he had devoted himself to distant
lands for the benefit of the whole country, which he had
always thought of and had always been his pride.
(Much cheenng.)
The CHAIRMAN acknowledged the compliment in •
few brief remarks.
The Rev. PILBENDART Lance, in a rpeech of con-
aiderable length and humour, proposed " the health of
Mr. and Mee Spoke of Jordan'," the parents of the
hero; and the toast was drunk with enthneastie cheer..
Captain W. SPECS responded on behalf of his parents,
and referred to the reception given to his brother on the
envious Friday at Taunton. He said be bad known
Taunton for many years, but he never saw each • sight
there as on that occasion. (Hear, hear, and applease.)
All the inhabitants, the military as well as civil, turned
out to do honour to one who, having lived abroad the
greater part of his life, was a stranger to most of them,
as they would torn out to do honour to any neighbour
of theirs who had in any way distinguished himself.
(Hear, hear.) And when he reached his native town he
was received with an enthusiasm which could not have
been exceeded if he had been the greatest man that ever
lived. (Hear. hear, and Applause.)
Mr. T. WOOD said he hoped after what they had
heard that evening, that it would not be said again that
Somersetahire WM famed for the fatness of its rail and
the folly of its country gentlemen. ((lear, hear.) For
although it had been he good fortune to attend =
public meetings, he mid, in all sincerity, lie never
sentiments, with most of which he cordially concurred,
expressed in better terms than he had that night. Mr.
Wood then proposed "The health of Mr. Lee Lee, the
Lord of the Manor, and brother-in.law of Mr. Spas,
sen, and said he was pleased to give that toast, and at
the same time to express his great regard for the gentle-
man who had honoured them with his presenm that
evening. It was • pleasure to hear him give utterance
to those Christian sentiments, which, after all, must be
the basis, if any good was to result from the discoveries
which he had been instrumental in making. (Hear,
Incas.) He (the speaker) could not help making a alight
allusion to a letter which appeared in the Summit
Comely (lazene • few days previously. The writer, whom
be had not the pleasure of knowing, was a very talented
man, and aligned himself X X X, or, as he might be
called, treble X. He (Mr. Wood) read that letter with
• great des' of pleasure, and not one air, ri should
escape his Bpi in disparagement of the gentleman who
wrote it, except so far as it tended to arraign their
conduct in assembling at dinner to do honour to
Captain Seeks, and upon that point ho joined issue.
(Hear, hear). He did not think that, in testifying their
respect for Captain Spree, a better course could have
been taken than that which had been adopted that
evening. (Hear, hew, end applause.) They were not
all able to give him entertainment at their own houses.
and if they were, Captain Spoke's time was too much
occupied to enable him to visit them. Therefore Sh..l'
called that a large family party, all the members oa.
which were anxious from their hearts to pee that
homage to Captain Spoke which be so eminently
deserved. (Hear, hear and applause.) He (Mr. Wo)
could recollect, when • very young man, reading in tho
celebrated Illaristone's ConawroWarics, that the confluent
law of England was as undiscoverable as the source
of the Nile. Why, could Justice Blackatone now rise
op from his ashes, bow meedily he would obliterate
that note from the book. (Hear, hear, and •pplause.)
If Captain Spoke wanted another subject to engage
his attention be might now set hard to work to discover
the common law of England; but from the little taste
which he (Mr. Wood) had himself of the laws
of this country he could not recommend him to engage
in so worthless a pursuit. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.)
He should rather advise him to take the common law as
it was and leave the entree alone. Treble X—and in
saying this he did not mean anything disrespectful to
that gentleman—had said that a dinner was not a at
mode of expreming their opinion; that they would
thereby be unduly burdening Captain Spoke,
and to-morrow be en mplaining of indigestion and
other things which existed only in the im.agination of
the writer. (Hear, hear.) They knew how to use the
good things which God had given them, without
abusing them. (Hear, bear, and applause). He had
read somewhere "Ex niAilo nail fir;" and his inter-
pretation of that was " How can • man delouse the
source of the Nile upon an empty stomach?" (Hear,
hear, and a laugh). They might depend upon it
they had taken a right course in inviting earitein
Spoke to meet them there that evening; and if they
want conclusive evidence of the propriety of the
step they bad taken, it was in the worthy Captain's being
SIOWO-41S•sr, hurl. He congratulated Captain Spoke most
heartily upon having been an instrument in the heads
of God for aocovapliahing what would undoubtedly tura
out to be • great work; and should he go out again on
another exploring visit it was hoped that he might be,
in the bands of that High Power, an instrument for
accomplishing still further good—(Hear' hear, and
appleusel. Might he Lave the power to do, and the.
goal to will. Renewed applause.)
The toast was drunk unid hood cheers.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Vice-Chairman." (Ap-
Muse.)
Mr. MULES returned thanks.

The Rev. Prebendary LLSCE proposed "The health
of Captain Grant." (Loud cheers.)
Captain SIM said : It affords me • great deal of
pleasant to Ond that the health of Captain Grant has
been oo warmly received. He was a good and a noble
corupanion.—(4l744l and • hometer man
I never
met with —(lou app ass.) Indeed, his esteem.)
honesty often surprised me. I knew him in India, and
had I not known him to be what be is, I would fleecy
bare taken him—(hear, hear, and amlsuse). W. ware
brother sportamen in India; we killed our dem to-
gether there; and when we net out upon our journey
Into Africa together, we hoped we should thcre kill mem
lions—(applause), hot we saw none. We had a hard
time of it. I recollect that at one time we had to drag
tie caravan through • wilderness, with wild animals
around us ; and the only way we had of procuring
food was by means of my gun. I was persuaded net
to attempt to croft the dwelt, but I pushed on
because I knew there would otherwise Imre been
greater difficulties, and Grant fed the caravan.
(Applause.) Had we not done so. we should not have
disoovered the source of the Nile. We were in rear
but they all failed in cross-
ed our many Arab caravans,
lug ; and but for Grant's assistance .we could not have
gone through. (Loud apPl?eu)
The other toasts were" The Be.eretery" (acknow-
ledged by the Rev. J. P. Owning); 'Th.
I.oknowledged by Mr. Langwort.bg; "The profs..
pions" (acknowledged by Nom her and Burt);
..8„0:oog to Agriculture. (aoksoetkidged by Mr. J. W
p.un) prority to tie Tows sad Trade of
'lntimater" The Prue l" *ad "The Ladies."
ast!artii

eleeiioii

On an ...on of a member of Parliament
for tha ray eiOnford took place. There was only one
...Acme, Mr. Neat.. who was once before elected, but
unseated on • charge of treating. M. Nesteis is. Liberal
in politics; and be succeeds a Liberal, the late Mr.
Laagston, so that the election makes no change In the
relative position of parties.
Prin aliEn—i—d or the Proprietor, iVriiir•Ail
WHITBREAD MILLARD, Of Dorchester, Printer, at ths
Office of The Dorset County Repress, Chnreb-street,
Dorchester, Tueeday, November 17, 863.

Y/K'

1

_.mill