The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-11-27 00:00:00

THE LUNCHEON, ETC.

Shortly after three o'clock. an invitation luncheon
lock place at the Royal Victoria hotel. at which Colonel
Manse' presided. The oompany comprised :--Lady
Augusta Fremmtle, Admiral Gambier, Lady Selina
Bond, Captain Ward, J. H. Calereft. Esq.' the Rey.
E. 8. Sunken, Mrs. Bunress, Captain Calcraft, M.P.,
Mrs. Travers. C. W. Digby, Req., W. Fremantle, Esq.,
N. Bond, Req.. T. Phippard. Esq. (Mayor of Wareham),
Mrs. Chamngton, Lieut. Campbell. Dr. de la Motto,
Wm. de la Mott*, Mrs. Hodges, G. B. Crickmay, Esq..
Miss Burt, the Rev. R. D. Travers, Miss Powell, H.
Mortice, Iraq., the Rev. 0. Mansel, Mrs. Morrice, A.
Lurikham. Esq., G. Burt, Req., Mine Doewra, Miss Hunt,
T. Randall. Hag.. S. S. Hunt, Esq., J. Johnson, Fag.
(Mayor of Corte Castle), T. Doewra, jun.. Esq., Mrs.
Pope, Dr. Thorne, Miss Docwra, Captain Burger), gar.,
Mine Powell, the Rev. 0 V. Garland, Mrs. Burt, J.
Howlem, Req., Mn. Randall. the Rev. D. Burrows,
Miss Onslow, Mrs. John &sett Beak's, J. 8. Bankes,
Esq., G. M. Dison, Esq., Sties Phiopu4, W. Chiming-
ton, Esq., George de la Nolte, Esq.. he. After the
luncheon • number of speeehes were made, but the repre-
sentatives of the press were placed in such a position
that they could hear but very indifferently.
- .

The Ctiatiogaw, in proposing "The Queen," referred
to the circumstance of the two best monarchs of Ent.
land being ladies—Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria
—(cheers)—and remarked that our present sovereign
was • patroness of the Lifeboat Institution—(applause).
Colonel MAIIIIEL then gave "The health of the donor
of the 14.-boat." He was 'unposed not to know the
name of the donor, indicated by RAUB., bat she was a
lady who had been blessed not only with ample mesas
but with a good charitable heart desirous of relieving
the distresses and sorrows of her fellow creatures—
(applause). He believed that E.M.B. had spent some
very happy days at Swanage, and seeing the various
s,orms which had taken place on the coast, she had
directed her charitable mind to that particular institu-
tion; and, strange to say, the Institution selected
Chapman's Pool as the very best spot for the lifeboat.
She had very kindly pluied • sum of money in the I
hands of her relative, Admiral Gambier, to provide a
host wh he thought proper. He believed that
E.M.R. originally undertook to furnish the whole sum
the maintenance of the station would require, but
afterwards she agreed that the Isle of Purbeck and the
*minty of Dorset should participate in the work, and
h. felt sure that the people of the district 'soul.' gladly
subscribe what was yet required for the boathouse and
ether preliminary espenaes, and the C3O • year neees-
gory to defray the annual charges, and it would be a
pleasure to F.. 111.8. to hear of the interest they '
manifested in the lifeboat—(applatue).
Admiral GAIIIIIIII said that as the representative of
LILA on that occasion, he begged to return them, on
her behalf, slow., thanks for the ocedial way in which
her name had been received in oonnection with the
donation of • lifeboat to be stationed at Chapman's
Pool. Tie had also in the name of E M.S., and by her
request, to thank Lady Augusta Freemantle for her
kindness in naming the boat—(hear, bear)—and be had
further in her name as well as for himself, through
whom the lifeboat was given, to thank Captain Bargees
1 for the very great trouble he had taken to further the
1 wishes of KICK., and in bringing the day's promedinge
to so happy and s.fe • eonclasion—(hear, bear). He was
quite sum that if E.M.S. had been able to be present—
unfortunately, she eras prevented attending by
health—che would have been much gratified to observe
the feeling manifested not only as regarded the great
question of lifeboats in rescuing men from shipwreck on
the coasts of our sea-girt Isle, but also to notice the way
in which her name had been mentioned and placed upon
one of the etches, and the respect shown towards her
—(applause). When he lived there formerly she eras
very much in that neighbourhood, and staying with
them each year and seeing the wrecks which occurred
on the coast, she felt anxious for "auld long syne" that
• boat should be placed in Chapman's Pool, and her
wi.h had been acceded to by the Institution. He
thought he shonld not be doing justice to her feelings,
which were not merely charitable but religious and
prompted by gratitude to God for His peat mercies to
her, if he were not to ask them to join in • sincere
prayer on that most solemn occasion in the words of the
last verse of the wsll-known hymn for those in peril on
the sea:—

"0 Trinity of love and power.
Our brethren save in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe.
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea."

He hoped that the lifeboat question, and the men who
risked their lives for the safety of others, would always
be held in remembrance by those who were safe on
abore—(aPPlante).
The Castaway next gave "Success of the Royal I
National Lifeboat Institution." He observed that they
all ought to be very grateful to this institution, because
it kept in order the lifeboats on the coast, ready for
immediate use if required. He believed the institution
bad not been formed more than forty years, and during
the first twenty it bad to struggle very hard to get but
a few boats placed on the shore; but at that time
Captain Hamilton Fitzgerald died, and bequeathed I
£lO,OOO to the Institution, and, instead of funding the
money, they spent the whole in lifeboats, and placed ,
between 40 and 50 on the coasts, That gave such on ,
impetus to the work of the institution, that in 1865 ,
it had not less than 198 boats, and this year eight more
were added They ought to be very thankful to the
institution for providing such means to mune their
fellow ereatures. Last year, 2,012 ships were wrecked
and 698 men were lost on the oust of Great Britain.
Being an officer of ride volunteers, he remembered that
698 was just the number of volunteers present at the
Sherborne review this year. The fact of such • number
of men perishing in one year, on our shores made him
feel very gratefurto the National Lifeboat Institution for
having provided means, under God's blessing, for sav-
ing the lives of those who are shipwrecked. He had
great pleasure in propoainir "Success to the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution"—(applause).
Capt. WARD said he had much pride as well as
Pleasure in being there so the representative of the
Royal National Lifeboat Institution on so very in-
teresting an occasion. As their Chairman had
said, the institution woo established about 40 years
ago in 1824, but at that time it was not founded
as a lifeboat institution, but as a society for the
preservation of life from shipwreck, and as its means
were mull its funds were chiefly devoted to rewarding
thou men on the coast who risked their own lives to
save those of others. But In 1852 a very sad accident
happened to • lifeboat on the coast of Northumberland,
when no less than 20 out of 24 men were lost. That
gave a Feat impetus to the institution, and it was now 15
yearn MOO the society seriously undertook the placing
of lifeboats on the coast, and became • lifeboat institu-
tion. He believed at that time the institation had less
than 15 boats, and those nearly worthless, and only
nominally connected with the institution. At the
present time they had 172, and the remainder of the
number the Chairman spoke of were the property of
private societies at the chief ports, viz., Liverpool,
Portsmouth, Hartlepool, Sunderland, kc. When the
society undertook this national work and the great
responsibility attending efforts of that character, they
would have shrunk from it had they foreseen the mag-
nitude to white it would arrive, because at that time
they could scarcely have hoped for the universal support
and sympathy which had since been manifested towards
the institution by all grades and ranks of our countrymen.
They would feel he ass sure that the managing body ip
London, who devoted their time and attention gratuit-
oualy to the work, had need of all the encouragement
that could be given them, and they were greatly
eneourged in the first place by the success of the In.
Caution, and in the second by baring so many lifeboats
presented by individuals and public bodies. Daring
the hut few months he had attended 'emend presenta-
tions of lifeboats in inland and manufacturing towns.
Only • week since he was at Rochdale; and Manchester,
Birmingham, Sheffield and towns of • more aristocratic
character, such as Cheltenham and the University cities
bad given lifeboats. A few months back a lifeboat was
presented by Oxford, launched in the river Isla, and
manned by the Oxford eight, and within three months
that boat and her crew were the means of saving the
crew of • vessel who would otherwise have been lost.
The ladies constantly came forward in every good work.
and many lifeboats had been presented by ladies ; and
such acts tended greatly to strengthen the hands of the
committee of the Institution in carrying on their work,
and being, under Divine Providence, instrumental in
saving many lives. He was sure that when Admiral
Gambier informed the donor of the "George Scott"
lifeboat of the wonderful interest °Cooed in it, of the
multitude of reople that mumbled to witness the launch,
cad of the number at that festive board she would he
cost gratified, as he wss sure would be the committee of
the institution when he reported in how kind a manner
they had received the lifeboat, and acknovrledgei the
work of the society. In the name of the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution begged to return them very hearty
thanks,

The CNatinciw then proposed "The health of Lady
Augusta Fremantle," with thanks to her for the perk
she bed taken in the day's naremoity—(applaute).

W. Fign.ffing, Esq., returned thanks on behalf of
his wife. for the kind way in which her name bad been
received. Colonel Maned had alluded to the fact that
Lady Fremantle was more accustomed to attend the
christening of children than of lifeboats; he (Hr. Fre-
mantle) was perfectly convinoed, however. that though
she might have been present at the christening of many
, children, she never took part at the christening of any
' child which she was so confident would do her credit in
the future as would this lifeboat—(anplause). One had
mid with reined to • lifeboat being placed at Chapinan's
Pool, that upon such • difficult coaat the occasions
would be comparatively rare when the lifeboat could be
of service, but he was sure that such • gift as had been
offered to the Isle of Purbeck, rutrt under all circum•
stance,.s be very warmly and thankfully received, and if
the occasion should be rare when life could be saved by
it, yet if one or two such occa•ions occurred and they
had not • lifeboat be thought it would he • mares of
great regret to all persons in the neighbourhood; but if
on the other hand, occasions should rarely occur when
the beat could be of service, and but a few liven he
'eyed in two or three or mane yearn, he felt that it
would be • source of great eatisfaction and pride to
every one who hail taken part in that eim's doings or hind
in any way promoted the work, and especially grati-
fying to "K. MS.," who had so generously given the
lifeboat. and to the Institution ready and willing to
superintend the manning of the host ant the working of
the branch —(applause). A lifeboat was • thing one
would be Sony to see oemai in arise for ils use. He
letely heard a frier.' sey respecting the volunteer.,
though it was rather ungallant perhaps, they were like
, old maids—always ready and never wanted—(laughter).
: He hoped that might long be the ease with the "George
Scott" lifeboat. hut if her Resistance should be required
he was quite Pertain that 'he would be always reedy,
and that the erew who manned her would ever Inn pre-
pared to fuse the perils of the sonth-weeterly gales on
this iron-bound coast, with the spirit and pluck charac-
teristic of the English sailor—(applause).

The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The reception com-
mittees," making mentisn of the satisfactory manner in
which they had carried out their arrangements for
welcoming the boat.

Ms. RIODALL responded. and said he was only sorry
that their limited means precluded them from making
• better demonetration in honour of the boat —(voioes
" No, no"). He hoped that now • lifeboat had been
stationed on this west else would do her work nobly.
He tnoted she would be manned with an efficient
experienced crew, characterised by good judgment. de-
oisinn, and readies'm of action, and then he had no
doubt she would render important services in saving the
lives of those who were wrecked—(applause).

G. BURT, Eaq., proposed "The health of the Chair-
man. He was delighted to find Colorel Mensal aasoclat-
ing himself with such a noble cause as that of the Lifeboat
Institution, and be also honoured him as being the
worthy Colonel of the Dorset Rifle Volunteers—
(applause.) He then spoke of the rapid strides the
volunteer movement has made in this part of the
000ntry, and of the impetus given to it by the formation
of • camp yearly at Lulworth, which was originated be
the gallant colonel. They owed Colonel Mengel thanks
for the exertions he had made in connection with this
lifeboat, an 3 be hoped that his (the colonel's) example
would generously stimulate the hearts of subscribers,
in order first to pay for the boat-house, and then
to provide a sum of money so that the crew might
he led to take their places in the boat cheerfully
whenever they were required. He was sure that their
I would drink the chairman's health very cordially—
(applause.) In conclusion he expressed a hope that it
woold be long are the services of the Isle of Purbeck
lifeboat and her crew would be required—(applause).
The CHAIRMAN, in responding, said it gave him the
Crt pleasure to be in the Isle of Purbeck, for which
eeds feeling of affection, and where be was always
received very kindly. At the present time he was an
absentee from the island, but at was not his own fault,
and he hoped that at some future time be should come
and live there altogether, when he trusted that all who
came to see him would feel as much "at home" in his
house as they made him in theirs—(applause). He was
very pleased the other dai when sitting on the Bench
at Blandford to learn the interest manifested in the
Isle of Purbeck lifeboat by those living out of the dis-
trict. The prosecutor in a cash, and • very respectable
, man, • carpenter, and a sergeant in the Blandford
' rifle soma, asked for his day's expenses, and when 50.
was given him, he requested it should be added to the
I fund for the Lifeboat Institution. He afterwards
learned that the man had heard a lifeboat was about tie
be launched at Swanage that day, and he indicated the
interest he took in the benevolent purpose by that act
—(hear, hear). He was much gratified with what
that volunteer sergeant did, and he felt that
when such good feeling was manifested towards the
lifeboat by a person in that position of life, it would find i
friends higher up in the social scale, and t gave him
confidence that if the country was properly solicited the
expenses incident to the lifeboat establishment would be
readily obtained—(applause).
Captain WARD proposed the managing committee
of the lifeboat, as apart from the reception com-
mittee. He was sore they would all feel that the
committee of gentlemen in London who represented the
institution oonld not control and manage the whole of
the lifeboats around the coast of the United Kingdom,
without they had the assistance of gentl-men living on
the spot. The services of the local committees mana-
ging the different branch institutions were most
valuable. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution was
a British and Irish Institution, existing not only in
London but everywhere, and he begged to give "The
health of the managing committee of the Isle of Pur-
beck branch," who now,had • lifeboat animated to their
care' and upon whose exertion. sad judgment the sue-
ciessof the boat very mot+ depended—(applause). He
associated with the toast the name of Captain Burgess,
R.N., whose services he had great pleasure in acknow-
ledging on the part of the institution, and he felt sure
they were appreciated by all present—(applause).

Captain 801101166 responded. He disclaimed being
entitled to thanks above the rest of the committee, who
be said were so zealous that if one were disposed to he
!sly as secretary he could not help working and assist-
ing their endeavours by every means In his power -
both by collecting subscriptions and in the management
of the boat. lie feared th•t he should not remain much
longer on the island, but he felt sure this branch of the
institution would prosper while the present committee
were In charge of it. He did not expect it would be
very bag before all the sulocriptions towards the boat.
house and slip were paid up, and he did not believe
that the institution 'would be called on to pay one
penny of that outlay. That was the opinion of himself
and other members of the committee who said that the

laie of i'urbeck would regard it as • diagram if they did
not meet so comparatively small an expenditure for
such • noble purpose -(applause).
The Rev, G. V. GAIILLND proposed "The health of
J. Mowlem. Esq.," making mention of the Institute that
gentleman founded and the fulfilment this day witnessed
of the motto inscribed upon it, " Man the Lifeboat"—
(applause).
J. MowLffir, Esq.. in responding. expressed his grati-
fication at the establishment of a lifeboat station on that
coast, and said that he felt more proud of !het day for
Swanage than be had done any day in his life before. He
intimated his heartfelt interest in the lifeboat, and his
assurance that funds would not be wanting to maintain
the efficiency of the station, nor Purbeck men to man
the lifeboat, resolving to save those wreaked on the
coast, or perish in the attempt —(applause).
This concluded the list of toasts, and shortly after the
party separated.

A dinner was provided for the cosstguardemen and
the crew of the lifeboat at the Victoria Hotel. A tea
meeting took place at the blowlem Institute later in the
afternoon, under the auspices of the Swanage branch of
the Dorset Friendly Society, and in the evening there
WAS dancing to the strains of the Swan•ge band in front
of the Victoria Hotel, and • display of fireworks took
place near the pier. The illuminations, the male, the
fireworks, and the crowds of people in the streets
rendered Swinge an animated teen., and the day's
rejoicing was without alloy. In closing our report we
cannot refrain from expressing • hope that the lalle of
Purbeck Lifeboat may be "always ready, bat
wanted."

It may not be inappropriate briefly to notice
the progress which this pleasant old-world town
has latterly made. The Darlston park estate,
stretching across the upland from the beach towards
Durlaton bead, hsa been kid out for building pur-
poses, and • number of good roads have been
formed ; from this agreeable and commanding
situation may be obtained magnificient views of the
Perbeek hills and cliffs, whieh poems. such charms for
the geologist, and indeed for every one with • mind and
heart attuned to admire Nature's beauties; and, to the
seaward, the British Channel, closed in hy the heights
of Hampshire, with the bays of Poole, Bournemouth,
and Christchurch, and the distant cliffs and hills of the
. t. _ .

Isle of Wight. --A
more delightful spot for villa resi-
dences one cannot well imagine, and, in "the good time
coming," when Swanage shall be connected with the
east of the world by &railway land of which, by the war,
we were pleased to learn there is good hope) it will
doubtless he quickly covered with handsome dwelling-
houses. There have been many new and large hand-
some shops built, for the fashionable and sea-side-visiting
world is beginning to recognise the attractions and
advantages of Swanage as a summer resort, and these
things follow aa a matter of Daum. Further, water-
works have been established for supplying the town
sufficiently and well with that important element; and
it is confidently anticipated that this time next year the
streets, which on this occasion were brilliant with the
illuminations in honour of the lifeboat and the fair
donor of it, will constantly present • no leas cheerful
aspect, through the introduction of gas.