The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-06 00:00:00

SHEFFIELD CUTLERS' FEAST.

On Thursday-, the Cutlers' Company held their
annual festival on the inauguration of their newly-elected
Master, W. Webster, Esq. In the morning the company
attended Divine Service at the Parish Church, and went to
the Town-hall, where the new officers were sworn in.
About tour o'clock the guests invited to the banquet began
to assemble at the hall. It was six o'clock, however, hetet*
they sat down to dinner. The banquet was provided in the
sumptuous style which distinguishes the entertainments of
the company.
The Master Cutler was supported by Lord Wharncliffe,
the lion. Mr. Wortley, Sir T. W. White, Bart., E. B.
Denison, Esq., M.l'., John Parker, Esq., and J. A. Roe-
buck, Esq., members for the borough ; le Mayor of Shef-
field, the Rev. T. Sale, vicar of Sheffield; W. Walker,
Esq., Judge of the County Court; Wilson Overend, Esq.,
W. Jeffcock, Esq., of High Mules; the Mayor of Doncas-
ter, Captain Gleeson, of the Royal Artillery; Captain
Cresswell, and Lieutenants Inglis and Lowe, of l'rinco
Albert's Own Hussars; the Rev. E. S. Humphrey, chaplain
of the company ; James Wilson, Esq., law clerk of the
company ; Captain Howell, representing the Royal Com-
missioners, &e.
The usual loyal toasts having been given from the chair,
as also the hcalths of " the Duke of Norfolk and the house
of Howard," "the Duke of Devonshire," "Earl Fitz-
william," the "Earl of Effingham," and "Lord Wham-
cliffe " _ _

.....
Lord WIIAILNCLIFFE—It is now many years—indeed,
it was before this spacious hall was built, that I first
accepted an invitation to this feast. I have since met you
on various occasions and under different circumstances, but
I am able with no small pleasure to say that I never met you
with more satisfaction than on the present occasion. (Cheers.)
We have been assembled in this hall in much less cheerful
times, when a gloom hung over the community, and even the
most sanguine were in some degree dispirited with the 'pros-
pects of the material interests of the country. I out not
going to tell you that you are now prosperous. I have lived
long enough to know that Englishmen do not like to be told
of their prosperity. It seems a denial of that indispensable
birthright which every Englishman boasts—the privilege
of grumbling. But this I may venture to say, I trust,
without trespassing upon that neutrality which is sacred to
meetings of this character, that, at any rate, the revival of
the trade of' Sheffield is a proof that the cunning of its arti-
sans is not lost, and that their energy and skill have still
means of commanding a market. (Cheers.) I never much
doubted this, and I take the present aspect of affairs as a
confirmation of our better hopes. But my attention has
this year been turned to that point with more than ordi-
nary interest. Among the many recollections we all must
retain of this remarkable year—this year of the jubilee of
arts and manufacturing industry, there is none that I shall
cherish with greater satisfaction than that of having been
thought worthy of selection to preside over the jury to
which was committed the investigation of that depart-
ment of this Great Exhibition in which the trade over
which this corporation is set was especially concerned.
(Hear, hear.) You will believe me when I say that, when
that proposal was first made to me, I had conic hesitation in
accepting it. I felt, as 1 stated to the commissioners, that
although I lived iu the neighbourhood, and had heard much
iu a general sense, of its manufactures, nevertheless I had
no peculiar knowledge of its details. And for me to pre-
sume to offer an opinion on the question of the merits of
the works of the artizans of Sheffield, would he an unrea-
sonable presumption. But I was answered that if I under-
.

took the'duty eshould have well qualified colleagues to re-
move any such objection. I consented to act, oust however
I may have discharged those duties, I may venture to say,
without revealing those secrets of the jurors which I am
bound to keep within my own breast, that my duty in
connection with that office satisfied me, ad it must satisfy
every man who took the trouble to examine the display
made at the Exhibition, that the portion belonging to Shef-
' field sustained the reputation of the town for the supe-
riority of those manufactures in which its population
isem-
ployed—(cheers)—and proved that there was no lack of
that skill and perfection which had marked the produc-
tions of this town in former times. (Cheers.) But lam
bound to add, and I am not about to flatter you so far
as to conceal the fact—l say I ant hound to add, that in
looking over other parts of that singular building, that you
are not without formidable competitors. (Hear, hear.) No
man can look at the productions of France, the Zollverein
of Germany, Belgium, and the United States, without
seeing that they have made a most material progress in
productions of this description. I cannot doubt, uutwith-
standing that, that we have here resources, energy, and
skill sufficient to enable you to maintain your position, if
you only conduct your trade with prudence, and I must add,
also, with harmony; for I believe that no trade of any
description can he expected to nourish, if it has not in the
first place energy and industry, and, in the next place, if it
is not conducted with harmony. And I trust that we shall
hereafter see, as the result of a generous rivalry which has
been excited by the singular and inernorulile events of this
year, a still higher and speedier progression in the manu-
factures of Sheffield. (Loud cheers.)
The MAYOR of Sheffield briefly gave—" The ntombers
of the Royal Commission of the Exhibition of Industry of
All Nations," which was acknowledged by Capt. Bowel-1..
Lord WHARNCLIFFE proposed the health of the
Master Cutler, who returned thanks.

W. F. DIXON, Eso., proposed "the Vicar and Clergy
of Sheffield," and th; toast was acknowledged in suitable
terms by the Vicar.
'WILSON OVEREND, Esq., gave the "Health of the
members of the. West-Riding." (Cheers.)
E. B. DENISON, Esq., M.P., in returning thanks said, I
had the honourof being invited in the eourseof last autumn,
by the Lord Mayor of York and others, to meet his Royal
Highness Prince Albert, who went to York for the purpose,
no doubt, of recommending the exhibition which you have
all witnessed this season; and on being called upon
to return thanks on behalf of the House of Commons,
I ventured to say that the oiler elves and manufacturers
of Yorkshire would nut be found wanting when the
time sh'uld arrive ; for I felt that every man would
do his duty. You have all done we'l at the Exhibition.
You have done yourselves isreat credit and have got great
honour, but do not fancy that you are superior to all the
world. Depend upon it that lie who fancies he has arrived
at a state of perfection is sure to be beaten in the race.
Take credit for what you have done. Trot it be a strong
stimulant to future exertion; and I doubt not with respect
to Sheffield, or with respect to any other part of the king-
dom, retaining your energy, perseverance, and skill, you
will still maintwn your superiority ; but without these ek-
meats depend upon it you will fail. For, as the noble lord
has said, the world is thrown open to competition, and the
race must be severe. Your knowledge has, within the last
six months, been manifested to others, and, perhaps,
taken away to foreign countries. It is to he hoped
that in return you have learned much from them,
by which you will profit, so that in the end, I
believe, this great oxhibition will contribute materially to
the advancement of science and of civilisation, and add to
the comfort of the population of this country. (Cheers.)
I represent a constituency containing the greatest variety
of interests in the kingdom ; for, in point of fact, I may
say that the West Riding is an epitome of the whole king-
dom, in every description of interest, trade, and manufac-
ture, that can possibly be imagined. Well, now then, I
want to ask a question, to which, I thine, I can anticipate
the answer. What is the state of the West Riding of York-
shire? Is it, or is it not, comparatively apeuking, pros-
perous? Is it not advancing in wealth? I. it nut ad-
vancing in ? Is it not advancing in science?
Are not the working classes of this great community
enjoying daily increased comforts to what they did
20 or 30 years ago ? (Cheers, and a cry of "Yes,
Or five years atfo.") If you answer " yea," then, I ask you
to what is it owing? I venture, with all humility, to sug-
gest that it is owing to that commercial policy which was
adopted by that great statesman—(loud cheers)—who took
the helm of government just ten years ago. It was in
1841, exactly ten years since, that he, who I may be per-
mitted to call my private and intimate friend, Sir Robert
Peel, took the reins of state. It was he, who with his
comprehensive mini. and abundant courage, dared to lay
down awl recommend for the adoption of parliament
.and
the kingdom, a distinct and new line of L pon
that I will not detain you. I only wish to call your
attention to a fact—to carry you to the end of ten years—
awl ask what is the result W that policy ? (Cheers.) Why
does any men living doubt that it has been of the greatest
possible value to the whole of her Majesty's subjects?
There is one interest--I say it with pain, I say it with
grief—that is still labouring under disadvantage?, but which
I firmly believe will still survive the incinvenienect of that
pre, and
becomea then,ubuo ylaiknet
matovoethr.er
(Cti
cersh.e)s
Tofhati ndtiluitstt ry,
in-