The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-13 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 13, 1858.

1104

to her Majesty's Government was hardly [intended so much
in the spirit of advice, as thrown out to elicit an expression
of our opinions. ( Hear, hear.) You have baited the hook,
no doubt, with great skill and address—( a laugh )—butsome
of us have lived many years in the world and have learned
to he somewhat cautious. We do not intend to take the
bait. (Laughter.) We prefer to be judged by our
actions rather than by our intentions, b) our per-
formances rather than by our promises, and, with what-
ever respect I may regard this important assembly, I
cannot persuade myself that this is an occasion on which
to anticipate the speech to be delivered from the throne
at the commencement of next session, or on which to take
out of her Alajesty's mouth, from which it would fall so
much more gracefully than from mine, the announcement
of the intentions of her Government. But this I venture
to say, that, after enjoying that brief period of partial
repose which alone a Minister of State can hope to obtain
at any time of the year, I am actively, daily, and assi-
duously engaged with my colleagues in considering and
maturing the details of those measures of legal, social,
financial, and political improvement which I hope by the
commencement of the session to be able to submit to the
impartial judgment of Parliament. (Cheers.) As a Con-
servative Government we look with reverence and adhere
with affection to the great institutions of this country,
under which I will venture to say the people enjoy as great
an amount civil and religious liberty, as perfect and
entire a freedom and independence of thought, word, and
action, as any nation on the face of the earth now or at any
former time. (Cheers.) But we shall not forget that
those institutions were not the creation of a day or the
simultaneous production of a single generation ; that, on
the contrary, they have been formed by successive
additions and improvements ; that they possess a flexibility
which enables them to be adapted to the growing intel-
ligence and the growing wants and requirements of each
successive generation; and, though I may be unable to
satisfy your lordship's very natural curiosity as to the
precise nature of the measures which we shall bring
forward, I venture to assure you that they will be couched
in a spirit of not endeavouring to serve this or that section
of the community, but the whole people--not to legislate
for the high or for the low, for the rich or for the poor, but
for the well-understood benefit and advantage of all classes.
(Cheers.) As I have said that those institutions under
which we have the happiness to live are only an aggregate
of successive improvements heaped up by successive gene-
rations, so I trust that when the present Government
comes to a close it will not do so without leaving some-
thing in the shape of a contribution to those improve-
ments which it is our anxious and earnest desire
to make, consistently with the maintenance of
the great fundamental institutions of the country.
(Cheers.) I must apologize fur having detained
you so long, yet I beg to assure you that if the
Government required any stimulus to exertion—if any
additional motives were wanted to induce them to devote
their best faculties of mind and body to the duties in
which they are engaged—they would be found in the kind
and cordial reception which you have given to us this
evening; for, to deserve the esteem of such an assembly
as the present, and of our fellow-countrymen generally, is
the highest aim of our ambition, as it is the best reward of
our labours in the public service. (Cheers.)
The noble earl concluded by proposing " The
Health of the Lord Mayor."
_ _

The LORD MAYOR Lriefly acknowledged the com-
pliment, and proposed " The House of Lords,"
associating with the toast the name of Lord
Brougham.
The toast having been duly honoured,
Lord BROUGHAM rose to respond. He ascribed the
honour which had been done him to the fact that he
bad the privilege of being a citizen of London—a
privilege which he highly esteemed. The city of
London had been well described as the cradle of our
liberties, and he believed it would long remain true
to its ancient traditions. The purity of the judicial
bench and the independence of the bar were the best
securities for rational freedom. In this country the
bar had always upheld its independence, and in
France, too, the same honourable profession had
displayed equal courage and fearlessness. He
believed that the bar of France would, in the worst
of times—in worse times even than any yet seen in
that country—continue to be animated by the same
noble spirit.
The LORD MAYOR next gave " The Health of the
Judges," which was cordially received, and suitably
acknowledged by Lord Chief Baron POLLOCK.
The LORD MAYOR proposed " The Chancellor of
the Exchequer and the House of Commons," which
was received with great applause.
Mr. DISRAELI, who on rising was received with
loud cheers, in acknowledging the toast said :

I rise on behalf of the Honee of Commons, which it is
my high honour to represent on this occasion, to thank you
fur the compliment which now for so many generations has
been offered on this anniversary by the corporation of
London to that assembly—cordially offered, 1 believe, and
cordially accepted. Nor is it wonderful that there should
be this reciprocity of feeling between the House of
Commons and the corporation of this great city when we
recollect that the history of our country contains a record
of their united efforts on so many memorable occasions
to establish and to vindicate the liberties of England.
(Cheers.) We cannot forget that in more than one
instance the House of 9,ommons has found, not only
support, but security in the city of London—that on more
than one occasion it has appealed to its love of freedom
and itspublic spirit under circumstances of great difficulty.
(Hear, hear.) Believe me, my lords and gentlemen, the
collection of those times, trying and critical in the history

of our constitution, is still fresh in the memory of the
House of Commons. These things are not looked upon
by that assembly as musty legends, but the glorious tra•
ditiou has at all times influenced its opinions, and I trust
the day may never arrive when between the House of
Commons and the citizens of London there may not be
identity of sentiment and identity of interest. (Cheers.)
On their part I beg to return you their thanks, and I hope
the time is far distant when their health will be proposed
in this chamber without being recognized as that of a body
entitled to the support and gratitude of free Englishmen.
(Cheers.)

Among the remaining toasts were—" The Sheriffs
of London and Middlesex," " The Bishop of London
and the Clergy," " The Lady Mayoress " " The Bar
of England and Sir R. Bethell," and " the Members
for the City and Lord J. Russell."
The musical arrangements, which wore excellent,
were under the direction of Mr. Henry Ball in the
vocal department, and of Mr. Godfrey, jun., in the
instrumental department. The band of the
Grenadiers performed several admired operatic selec-
tions during the banquet.
The dinner was supplied by the Messrs. Staples,
whose arrangements were of the most satisfactory
order. The following was the general bill of fare :-
250 tureens of real turtle, containing 5 pints each; '2OO
bottles of sherbet, 6 dishes of flst.s, 30 entree, 4 boiled
turkeys and oysters, 60 rout pullets, 00 dishes of fowls,
46 ditto of capons, 50 French pies, 60 pigeon pies;
hams, ornamented ; 43 tongues, 2 quarters of house lamb,
2 barons of beef, 3 rounds of beef, 2 stewed rumps of beef,
13 sirloins, rumps, and ribs of beef; 0 dishes of asparagus,
60 dishes of mashed and other potatoes ; 44 dishes of shell-
fish, 4 dishes of prawns, 140 jellies, 50 blancmanges, 40
dishes of tarts, creamed; 40 dishes of almond pastry, 30
dishes of orange and other tuurtes' 20 Chantilly baskets, 60
dishes of mince pies, and 56 salads.

The Removes.--80 roast turkeys, 6 leverets, 80 pheasants,
21 geese, .10 dishes of partridges, 15 dishes of wild fowl, and
2 pea fowls.
Dessert.-100 pineapples, from 21b. to 31b. each; 200
dishes of hothouse grapes, 230 ice creams ; 50 dishes of
apples; 100 dishes of pears ; 60 ornamented Savoy cakes ;
75 plates of walnuts ; 80 plates of dried fruits and pr Nerves ;
50 plates of preserved ginger ; 60 plates of rout ()tikes and
chips ; 46 plates of brandy cherries.
Mr. Harker acted with his usual efficiency as toast-
master.

A MEETING OF CITY MERCIUNTS WAS held At the
London Tavern on Monday, to consider the Bank-
ruptcy Bills introduced by the Lord Chancellor and
Lord John Russell during the last session of Parlia-
ment, and to try to obtain a satisfactory amendment
of the bankrupt laws. A committee was appointed
to consider, with especial regard to the interests of
the mercantile community, the two bills, and to re-
port on the general subject of bankruptcy and insol-
vency to a public meeting, to be held on a future day.
THE VESTRY OF Sr. GEORGE'S, Hanover•square,
held a meeting on Thursday in the Boardroom,
Mount street, to consider the resolutions agreed to at
the St. James's-hall, on the 18th ult., protesting
against the confessional and other innovations in the
Church of England ; and also to adopt a petition to
Parliament. The ltev. Mr. Howarth, rector, in the
chair. The Hon. C. S. Vereker moved the adoption
of a petition, in a speech of considerable length. Mr.
Bertolacci seconded the motion ; anti, after some dis-
cussion, Mr. Peel moved, and Mr. Lyon seconded, an
amendment, to the effect that while sympathizing
with the petition, the meeting did not consider
theological discussion to lie within the sphere of the
vestry's duties. Sir J. Shelley, M.P., supported the
original motion. On a division, only six appeared
for the amendment, with thirty-nine against it. The
original motion was then put and carried by forty-
three to two. A vote of thanks to the chairman con
eluded the proceedings.

LARGE MASSES 0; WILLS have been removed
from the old Prerogative Registry and placed in St.
Paul's Cathedral and in other localities ; but solicitors
and others whose business leads them to the Registry
still complain of the inconvenience to which they are
subjected by the overcrowded state of the building.
THE SUBMARINE TELEGRAPHIC direct communica-
tion between London and Paris has just been re-
established.
THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM was visited
during the week ending 6th November, 1858, by
(1,602 persons.
THE BIRTHS of 890 boys and 919 girls, in all 1,806,
were registered last week in London. The deaths
during the same period were 1,217, showing a rather
high mortality, arising principally from bronchitis
and pneumonia.

of rain, however, fell in the latter part of the evening,
which had the effect of dispersing the combatants
somewhat earlier than usual. As the proctor and
his men were passing Exeter College on Friday
night a considerable quantity of water was poured
upon them from some of the winilows. This
indignity, however, is not likely to be passed over
unpunished, for they at once entered the college and
ascertained the names of all the delinquents con-
earned in its perpetration.
SISTERS OF MERCY have been refused permission
to visit the workhonse at Liverpool, but the select
vestry on Tuesday came to a resolution according the
privilege to lady visitors.

NEW MAGISTRATES have been appointed for the
city and county of Bristol, namely—Messrs. James
Poole, John Fisher, W. C. Beloe, W. 3. Bigg,
W. D. Wells, and William Sanders. The first four
gentlemen are Conservatives, and the last two are
Liberals.

MESSRS. ROEBUCK AND HADFIELD'S CoinurrEE
held a meeting at Sheffield on Monday, to consider
the propriety of inviting both representatives to
address their constituents. A resolution was pro-
posed to the effect that it was inexpedient to ask the
members to come down until the basis of a Reform
Bill had been agreed upon. An amendment wt
moved, proposing that the members he invitPd to
come down as soon as possible. Ultimately the
motion was carried, that the members are not to be
invited at present. It was moved and carried that a
public meeting be convened of the inhabitants of the
town upon the subject of parliamentary reform be•
fore the borough members be invited.
THE BANQUET TO MESSRS. BRIGHT AND GIBSON, at
the Free Trade-hill, Manchester, has been fixed for
Friday, December 10.