The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-23 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DrilLtx, JAN. 22.

THE CIVIC BANQUET.

The hospitalities of the Dublin Mansion-house were
revived last evening, and it must be added, with all
the Mae, too, which the occasion el. mended. Great
anticipations were entertained, and I am not aware
that any of them were disappointed. The new lord
mayor displayed a degree of munificence worthy of
the occasion, and his first banquet will ion; be re-
membered as a fitting inauguration of the new era
which has dawned upon the municipal affairs of Dub-
lin. The dinner was given in the Round Room of
the Mansion-house, which was decorated with suitable
splendour; and it may be observed that that building,
as well as the wholes f the Mansion-house, has, since
the new corporation assumed office, been subjs elect to
A course of repairs, of which it sadly stood in nerd.
The Lord-Lieutenant honoured the banquet with his
presence, and seemed much pleased with what it was
natural enough he should consider the result of his
own measures, by which the new corpovte body has
been called into existence. It must be observed, how-
ever, that his Excillency's reception on his arrival,
end when his health was toasted, was not as outhu-
aiastic as it might have been, owing. as was well
enough understood by all present, to the strong feel-
log now entertained in Dublin on the question of the
viceroyalty abolition, which it is believed Lord Cie-
residua is so desirous to promote. Covers were laid
for 400, and among the guests at the principal table
were the following :
The light Iton. the Lord Mayor presided. The Lord
' Lhutenma, his Grace the Archbohop of Dublin, his Grace
the Doke of Lerner's, the Margot, of Conyigham, Lord
leliiltown,Lord C. Russell, Lord W. Fitscerald,Lsrd
Baron de Reheat, Lord Gust, Lord Near, the Bishop of
Meath, Lord Talbot de Malahtdo, Sir William Somerville,
Hun. Captain Lindsay, Hon. G. Ponsonhy, Hon. W. H.
Hutchinson, the Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench,
the Cmet Justico of the Common Pleas, Baron Pennetather,
Sir Philip Crampton, Baron Letrol, Mr. Justice Moore.
At tie left of the chair were the .x Lard Mayor, the Lord
CLancellor, the Marquis of Drogheda, the Marquis of Kil-
dare, the Lord Viscount Suirdale, L ,rd Dunesny, Lord
1.1,11ew, Sir Thomas Redington, lion. and it-v. Dear,
P-kwahass, Hon. R. Lawless, Master ol the Rolls, the Chief
Baton, Baron Richards, Mr. Justice Jackson.

After the toasts of " The Queen" and "Prince Al-
bert," the Lord Mayor Face that of " His Excelltncy
the Lord Lieutenant, and prosperity to Ireland." The
Lord Lieutenant then rose and said :

My lords end gentlemen, I beg to express my grateful
sense of the hunour that has been conferred on me ny you,
' my lord mayor, in proposing my health in terms so gratify-
ing, and by this distinguished company, for the great kind-
ness with which they have received it. I beg also to express
to your lordship my thanks for your invitation to this
princely entertainment—fur haying been.. permitted to be
present at a scene of munificent luespitality, such as I have
seldom seen equalled, and never surpassed. (Applause.)
But though we must all be delighted, u I am sure we are,
with the reception which has been given to us here this
night, yet our =sedan appears to me to afford matter of
red action still more gratifying, and, I would say, of fax higher
impact than anything that is connected with personal
enj Iment. (Hear, hear) In meeting here we meet not
done to inaugurate the first magio:rate of this great
city—we have met not alone to celebrate the ad-
vent to epics of an eminent and justly esteemed citiz n—
(applause)—but our meeting records a principle more Uni-
versally extolled than practised, the benefits of which are,
pernaps, more firmly established by theory than deduced
tram experience.. I consider, gentlemen, that this night
we record, we celebrate the principle of purity of elecuon.
Never w■s it better illustrated, nur upon a larger scale,
than at the recent municipal elections—(hear)—and con-
nected—if I may without presumption so speak—connected
as 1 feel n pelf with this city—anxious as I am for all
that concerns the honour and welfare ot its citizens, I do
rejoice that It should have been the good torten* of Dublin
to set an exempla which other cities and other constitu.
nicks will agree in admiring, end wi:l, I trust, not neglect
to imitate. I think the example which Dublin has set will
have its effect upon other corporations and other constitu-
encies. I think both will reflect, perhaps, more than they
have hitherto done upon the gravity of the duties wbtch they
have to pertorna They will btu in mind that confidence
would not :toady be placed Olt the one hand—that neither
en the other should solemn ohligt.tions be lightly undertaken
by men neon whom devolves the guardianship of the health,
the peace, the security, sad the Kcal interests of their fellow
townsines. ; and that it is alhe the interest of all to impart
I 3 one of toe must ancient and most valuable of institnuons
all the capability, all the purity, which circumstances per-
mit. Bpeakin,,, gentlemen, he the presence of many so
much better informed than myself upon the subject,
I should regret to indulge in any expectations
which they might think coo sanguine ; but still,
I hope it is net an exaggeration to say, with reference
to the times that we have lately passed, that the commer•
dal ulisdastrlal prospects of Dublin are improving, that
'way of our artisans are better employed, tr at this
necessaries of life are mot, within the reach of the
power dune, and that business, although terhape not
so extensive as lurinerly, )et is now conducted en a
systole tar more undone and lecture. 0 Ily, too,
throughout the country, I trust that the tide has
turned, and that the tesmination of the disasters which
for five years have fallen so heavily upon Ireland has been
hailed by increased energy and exertions on the part of all
Muses of the community. And if each be the ewe, and it
the present general state of tranquillity be maintained—
which I see no reason to doubt—it the diminution of mime
contistata to give the tn .et satisfactory evidence of
diminished destitution—as it has done in the year 18.50—1
trust that this state of things will beneficially react on the
metropolis, and that your lordship's year of office will be
one or progressive amelioration : and this would repay you
fur the personal sacrifices you have made, end for the reason•
lability you have undertaken. (Applause.) Knowing as
I do how boundless are v.:e resources of this country, and
!Wing cot.fiteut ea 1 feel in its future destinies, I can with
truth say that, wheedle r in or out of ollice, my endeavour—
my humble endeavour—will be to serve Ireland, and the
object nearest my heart will be her welfare and prosperity.
(Loud applause.)
. _

,
" The Army and Navy" Laving been given and re-
sponded to by Colonel Cochrane and Captain Diticl,
It.N., his excellency again rose, and, in proposing the
health of the Lord Mayor, said :
The position of L ,rd Mayor is ells of peculiar distinction,
and I doubt it a parallel is to be found for It in the recorder"l
municipal history ; for so anxious were the cirporotion not
only to mark Vaeir stoical his fitness and merits, but also to
record their opinion of his hereditary claims to their esteem
—(applause)—that the usual mole of proceeding appeared
to be too formal for their feelings, and to wait for the usual
day of election was too long for their impatience. Your
lordship was, therefor,,, almost unanimously solicited to
occupy the chair which you now so worthily fill. This,
the first act of the corporation, was one of good omen,
and I believe that in no way could they have better proved
that they rightly understood the feelings, and that they
deserved the c.:nridence of their fellow.citisens, than by
raising the honoured son of an honoured father to that
chair. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, in the presence of the Lord
Mayor, I feel that it would be bad taste on my part,
and I am sure it would be disagreeable to him, if
I were to dwell even for a moment upon the personal
character, the social position, the courtesy, the munificence,
the business habits which place upon the Lord Mayor tee
stamp of peculiar fitness for the office which he fills. (Hear.)
There icons circumstance to which I will allude, both be-
cause it is independent of hint, and because it must increase
our satisfaction that the civic dignity of Dublin has been
conferred upon him. We are abut to make the boldest
experiment, upon the g scalar that the world has ever
yet seen, an experiment worthy of the illustrious prince by
whom it was conceived, and by whose untiring exertion+, it
will be carried to a successful issue. We all know the great
preparations that are making for this event, and the vast
titan of foreigners that are expected to witness and to
take part in this noble rivalry of nations in she arts
of peace. (Hear, hear) Many of those foreigners must
visit our shores. (Hear.) It would be a libel upon their
good taste to suppose that after having seen the beautiful
productions of Ireland in that exhibition they would not
desire also to see Ireland Itself. Therefore, as we may expect
many distinguished visi.ors here, and as on every amount we
must desire that Dublin should be seen to the best advantage,
I think that it is most fortunate that its dignity and hospitality
should be represented as it now is. (Cheers.) I give you,
gentlemen, " The health of the Lord Mayor, and prosperity
to the chiming of Dublin."

The late Lord Mayor was the next toast, to which
Mr. Reynolds, M.P., responded. He said:
I heard with feelings of pleasure that part of his Excel-
lency's speech in which he expressed his sausfaction at the
result of the late municipal elections, at.d spoke so very
favourably of the prospects which await u. (Hear, hear.)
In all those expressions I fully agree, and I almost regret
that we have not an opportunity of enrolling his Excellency
amongst us, because I am sure he would not long be a mem-
ber of the corp .ration until we placed the civic croon upon
his head. (" Hear," and cheers.) This is, in my opinion, a
geese night for the city of Dublin. I see assembled in this
room mea of all sects and all parties, and I am happy to find
not only here but throughout the entire city a total absence
of everything like party bitterness. ("Hear," and cheers.)
There le I think, a better spirit growing up amongst ns—a
disposition to sink for the present, and I hope for ever, all
those differences which cannot fail to mar the prosperity of
this city in which we all ate so deeply cmcerned. (Hear.)
His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin responded to
the tout of hie own health, which was next in sitooss-
sion ; and this was followed by the health of Arch-
bishop Murray, in whose absence the toast was
acknowledged by the Very Rev. Dean Msyler.
The o:her toasts were, "The Lord Chancellor and
the Irish Bench." The Lord Chancellor returned
thanks. " The Attorney-General and the Irish Bar;"
for which the Attorney-General returned thanks.
"The Duke of Leinster, as the head of the Irish No-
bility ;" to which his Grace responded. He said :
He sincerely thanked them for the very kind meaner in
which they had proposed his health, coupled as it was with
the resident nobility of Ireland. (Cheers.) He hsd the
pleasure of living, during a long period, in this ,ouutry, sad
he could assure the company that he did net consider it a