The Express.
London, England, 1863-12-17 00:00:00

MR. STANSFELD, M.P., AT HALIFAX.

Laid night the inhabitants of Halifax gave com-
plimentary diaper, in the new Tows Hail, to lfr. Joba
Crossley, the ax-mayor of the borough. About 200 Leads-
men eat dare to dinner. Laistenant.Colonel AKIROTO pre-
sided, and situ the usual loyal touts the Chairman pro.
proposed "T'be Army. the Navy. and the Volunteers."
Sergeant-Major Cam, of the 2nd West York Yeomanry,
responded on behalf of the army.
Mr. STANSIELD, M.P., said the toast to which, IS far ea
the navy was conoerned, it was now his duty to reply, was
one which was always proposed and received with so-
thuaissat in every meeting of Englishmen. (Hear, hear.)
It was • toast to the honour of men who risked their lives,
and sometimes lost them, is the service of their country.
He felt that it was a tout—being one, as be might
say, of the personnel of the navy—to which it would
be more fitting that one of the professional member*
of that board to which he had the honour to belong
should be present to reply. He did not know in what
sense he might be considered entitled to reply to the toast,
unless it was that he occupied a kind of intermediate posi-
tion. He might be said to be, is some seam, a connecting
link between the navel and the civil elements of the
state, in the adminisladion of a great department which
absorbed perhaps more than any other the interest, and
which attracted also, and rightly so (he would never for one
moment object to it), the criticism of the public. He felt
it to be a privilege—civilian as he was—to have to t
anon that occasion for that noble profeesion—foraN
Akers and men who were a profession, but who ranked
themselves above all, as in common with at English-
mee. citizens of one country, though devoted to =ovule&
service is the State. It had sometimes been thought, and
he had sometimes been inclined to think, that what bad
bees wandered as the poetry of the sea had fled, or was
fast departing—departing- with the whits sails which used
to stud the VAS—with the wings which had bees clipped to
make way for those great and noble mechanical power
with which in these parts of the country we were so cos.
versant ; and it might sometimes be thought, with the
mere personal courage and daring so fascinating as it
was to men which appeared to be able to achieve any.
thing sod everything in the days of Nelson and Dun-
doriald. (Applause.) But personal daring bad now to
take counsel of science, and to invoke the aid of mighty
instruments of offence and of defence which were never
dreamt of in bygone days. But he believed that the
day would never come when that kind of courage which be-
came and which proved the man would be below its price ;
and he believed, moreover, that we bad no cause to regret
the pregame of mechanical invention as applied to the
nave, for it rendered more and more necessary, and it
tended more and more to produce, an elevation of the
general character, intelligence, and education of the
men who composed the crews. (Loud applause.)
He appealed to all those who might have bad the op-
portunity, in the course of the past summer, of coming
in contact with the men who composed the crews of the
Channel squadron, whether be woe not right in what he
said—whether in point of orderly conduct, whether in
respect of a firm and yet, as compared with former times,
a gentle discipline, and whether in respect of general intel-
ligence, sobriety, and elevation of character, the navy did
net stand higher now than in any days which had gone be-
fore. (Applause.) He was proud, in the name of the officers
and of the men of that navy—unworthy though he might
be—be was proud upon that occasion to express, in their
name, their hearty thanks for the honour which bad, with
such cordiality, been conferred upon them.—(Cheers.)
After the toast of the evening had been proposed and re.
speeded to,
Dr. PIGGOT proposed "The Health of the West Riding
Members."
Sir FIUNCTS Csossurr, Bart. M.P., replied. Referring
to the policy of non-intervention punned by this country in
foreign affairs, he said he believed it was one which met
with the approval of the country at lug& We had gone
through a long experience before adopting this policy, and
that experience had bees dearly bought. It was no small
honour to England that she should be appealed to by all ea-
tans in time of war and distress, and we were at all times
anxious to give advice in favour of libertyand opposed to op-
prooion and tyranny ; but when we were asked to supply
force, it became England first to consider her duty to her large
population and her extensive colonies before interfering
elsewhere. Alluding to the struggle in America, the hon.
baronet said that whether the Union were preserved or not,
he well sure that what would he best for the majority of
the people of America, would be best also for the majority
of the people of this country. With raiment to continental
affilipieirroved of the letter of Earl Russell in reply to
the that England should join a worms. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wit. MORRIS next proposed "The health of the
Borough Members."
Mr. STANSPTLD, M.P., responded. He bad, he said.
spared no labour and so patience in the investigation which
he had made into the affairs of that department over which
he had beep placed. His aim had been not to make out a
case for this side or the other, but to get at the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He would
sot disclose secrets which belonged to the next statement
of the Secretary of the Admiralty, but again say that his
object had been to discharge the duties devolving upon him
in a worthy manner. Referring to the absence of Sir
Charles Wood, who had been summoned to town on Ingest
businees, be said he would read a letter which Sir C. Wood
had received from General Knol!ys. It was as follows :
" Marlborough House, Pall-mall. Dee. 3,188.3.
" My dear air Charles,—The Prince of Wales has heard
that the inhabitants of Halifax are about to place, by
subscription, the portrait of their late Mayor, Mr. Crosslay,
in the Town-hall. It would be a source of great gratifica-
tion to his royal highness, in remembrance of all the bowl-
tidily he received at Mr. Crowiley's house, and of all the
pleasure which his visit to Halifax afforded him, to contri-
bute his quota in common with the citizens of Halifax
towards such a testimonial to Mr. Creesley's valuable ser-
vices as mayor.—Belleve me, my dear Sir Charles, very
sincerely yours, " H. KNOLLTS."