The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-28 00:00:00

TIME'S CHANGES.

The members of the Metropolitan Board of Works and the
Guardians of the City of London Union dined with the Lord
Miyor of London at the Mansion House on Saturday evening.
In proposing "The Navy, Army, and Reserve Forces,"
The Lord Mayor remarked that seventy one years
ago on that day the gallant Nelson had died, and he
would, in his toast, give precedence to the navy, and,
on the anniversary of one of the most glorious naval
victories that England had ever won, pay a tribute of
honour to one of her noblest sons. He was honoured
by the presence of General Sir William Codrington,
whose gallant father had won the battle of Navarino,
the anniversary of which was the day before that of
Trafalgar. (Cheers.) Seventy-one years, though not
much in the life of a nation, was a long span in the life'
of individuals, and it mishe t those who heard
him to learn the names of the yet surviving officers
•who had contributed to that victory—namely,
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Sartorius, K.C.B. ;
Admiral Robert Patton, Admiral William Percival
Johnson, Vice-Mmiral Spencer Smyth, Commander
Francis Harris, Commander Wm. Vinery, Lieutenant-
Colonel Jas. Fyuroore, R.M., were midshipmen,
and Deputy-Inspect4r of Hospitals Peter Suther was
surgeon in the Sztiftsure. (Cheers.) The army had
anniversaries which were looked on with just as much
respect as the victories of the navy. It might be that
our forces won-ti soon have something to do—Gud
forbid that it chould be so—but, if the necessity arose,
the country falt perfect confidence that each and all
wonld do th ir duty. (Cheers.)
General Sir William Codrington who was cheered
on rising -11 reply said he thought ate Lord Mayor had
i
done quit right n giving precedence to the senior ser-
vice an' the first line of national defence. It was a
mrinn,illustration of the way in which varied phases
in potties affected the services of the Army and the
Nay., that at Navarino his f ather, Admiral Codrington,
bei,g. in command of a fleet of English, French, and
Raman men-of-war, had to destroy the Turkish Fleet
teorevent the cruelties the Turks were then perpetra-
tig in Greece. A quarter of a century later he, the
an of that Admiral, bad been sent to the Crimea to
ght the very Russians with whom we had been in
dliance not very long before. The Navy and the Army
,and to do their duty irrespective of politics or Party
feeling, and they would do so in the future as in the past.
(Hear, hear.) As an officer of the Army, he desired to
testify. how completely the Navy had assisted the Army
in all joint operations in which they had been engaged.
That hearty co-operation was the life and soul of the
two Services, and he felt assured that it would be as
cordial in any future operations as the country could
desire. Speaking for the Volunteers, Sir William
said that when 170,000 men devoted their time, talents,
and attention to the defence of their country, every
one must feel that we had a valuable reserve to fall
back on in the hour of difficulty. (Lond cheers.)
When so large a body of men voluntarily educated
themselves in the use of the rifle our possible enemies
would not lightly estimate the national spirit which
had induced those men to step forward. (Hear,
hear.)
Mr. Roche, who responded to the toast of the even-
ing, the "Metropolitan Board of Works," in the
absence of Sir James Hogg, said the Board was giving
its immediate attention to the preparation of schemes
under the Artisans' Dwellings Act for removing the
acres of dwellings whizh are a disgrace to our civiliza-
tion.