The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-11 00:00:00

THE ARMY AND THE NAVY.

The annual banquet of the Royal Academy was held in
London on Saturday, at Burlington House, Sir J. Gilbert in
the chair. In the course of his speech, in responding for the
"Army
,and the Reserve Forces," the Duke of Cambridge
said:—

---"Everyone, lam sure, in this room will be glad to
hear the statement lam about to make. We have
been passing for some time through considerable
changes in the Army under the new system of short
enlistment, and we were not aware what the exact
effect of that system might be ; but circumstances
have enabled us to test it, and I am happy to say that
the success of the measure has been complete.
(Cheers.) When it was first introduced by my
noble friend, Lord Cardwell, I had some doubts
whether it would answer; but it has succeeded
in a manner that neither I nor anyone connected
with the Army could have expected. (Cheers.)
I must also say that the system introduced by my
gallant friend General Peel in connexion with the
Militia Reserves has been most successful. I have
seen large numbers of men from every portion of the
country, not only Englishmen, but Scotchmen and
Irishmen, belonging to the Reserve, who, both
-physically and in every other respect, were entirely
fitted to take their place in the ranks. (Cheers.) I can
only say, though we are supposed to be given some-
what to grumbling, I have heard no complaints from any
quarter. So far as the Army is concerned, it is every-
thing that could be wished. It is not a large Army, but
it is a useful Army, and ready for anything it may be re-
quired to do. (Cheers.) I have not been personally con-
nected with the Indian service, but I am in daily cor-
respondence with the officers of the Indian Army;
and I rejoice to be enabled to state that our Indian
Army is in the highest state of efficiency and disci-
pline. You may take it anywhere, and it will be pre-
pared to do all you require of it. It is my firm con-
viction, from the enthusiastic feeling which I know
prevails in the Indian Army, that it would be able to
hold its place with her Majesty's British Army in
every portion of the globe.

- -
In responding to the toast of the "Navy," Mr. W. 11.
Smith said—
I have great pleasure in responding to the toast,
which has been received in this hall for many years
with great enthusiasm, and never, I believe, with
greater enthusiasm than on the present occasion. Fol-
lowing his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief,
I can say that the Navy has been passing of late years
through great changes. The material of the Navy has
been changed even more completely than the Army.
My friend sitting on my right has complained to me
that the ships of the present day are unpaintable.
That, no doubt, is to be regretted; but the sailor
always conceives that to be a beautiful ship which
is capable of doing its duty thoroughly and main-
taining the honour of its flag. (Cheers.) I believe
there never was a time when the ships of the
Navy .were more fit for the discharge of the
duties expected of them. (Hear, hear.) I cer-
tainly could wish that our reserve was larger than
it is; but if the force is not great, it is, I believe,
adequate for the work that may lie before it. (Cheers.)
I am sure that the sailors of the British navy will
maintain the character and reputation which have
always been associated with the name of England.
(Cheers.) I have within the last few days had an
opportunity of seeing something of the reeently-
manned ships of the British Navy; and whereas it
used in former times to be said that the last-manned
ships were by no means what could be wished, I am
glad to say that from all I hear from men of expe-
rience the last-manned ships had the most magnificent
crews. (Cheers.) I beg to thank you for the toast
mi have drunk on the part of Her 'Majesty's Navy.
(Cheers.)
The Earl of Beaconsfield, in acknowledging the
toast of "Her Majesty's Ministers," said it was the
act of a wise Government to recognise the influence of
the fine arts on the character and conduct of the
nation, and he should be prepared to act upon that
conviction. He also spoke of the advantages enjoyed
by the British school of artists, and what they had
accomplished. The Lord Chancellor responded for
"The Guests."

MR. GLADSTONE AND MR. BRIGHT
ON THE LIBERAL PARTY.

Mr. Gladstone and Mr. John Bright have written letters
to Liberals at Accrington congratulating the town upon
having elected twenty-four Liberals as members of their
first tolin council. Mr. Bright writes :

" At this moment you; election has a special signifi-
cance. You are not in favour of war nor in favour of
a party that is clamouring for war, and you take the
first opportunity of declaring your adherence t ) the
party which is truly anxious for peace. When the
working men of England comprehend their own in-
terests, they will give no support to the war party.
They will have discovered that the wounds and suf-
ferings of war are mainly for them, ancf its profits, if
there be profits, are reserved for those far above the
men of their social scale."

Mr. Gladstone says :—" I received the account of
your election with much pleasure, and I hope I may
read in it an omen of steady caution, united counsels,
national sinking of minor differences, which are all
that Liberals need in order to show themselves as,
what they really are, the majority of this nation."