The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-10 00:00:00

[STAMPED, ld. AI DITIONAU]

LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

THE BANQUET.
The usual grand banquet to her Majesty'.
ministers, the foreign ambassadors, the members of both
houses of parliament, the judges, the aldermen and cow-
men council, and other dignitaries, took place at the
Guildhall, and was in no way inferior in magnificence to
any which have preceded it. The decorations of the
great hall were nearly the same as last year, and were dis-
tinguished by chaste simplicity. A novelty, how-
ever, was observed in the lighting of the courtyard,

which was illuminated by Larkin's patent magnesium,
which produced a very peculiar and beautiful light. The
company commenced to arrive about half-past 5 o'clock,
and from that time till 7 a stream of carriages continued
to set down the company at the entrance. The ministers,
judges, and other dignitaries were well received on enter-
ing the hall.

The banquet as usual was a very magnificent one. The
loving cup having been passed round
The Loan MAYOR gave " The Health of her Majesty
the Queen." He rid—Ladies and Gentlemen, for centuries
past the walls of this ancient hall have reverberated with
expressions of loyalty. But on no previous occasion have
they been more sincere than they will be on the present,
for never has the throne of this country been filled by •
monarch who has more richly deserved the love and esteem
of bee people. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was followed by the National Anthem, admi-
rably rendered by the choir, the solo part by Madame
Lemniena Sherrington.
The next toast was " The Health of the Royal Family,"
which was proposed by
The Loan Maros, who then gave "The Army, Navy,
and Volunteers," to which General Past and Sir ions
PARDIOTON responded.

The Loan Maros next proposed " The Health of the
Foreign Ambassadors." He said—Ladies and gentlemen,
the interests of this great commercial city are so intimately
connected with the interests of peace, and our citieensao fully
recognise the fact that the presence of the foreign ambas-
sadors is II token of the good-will and peaceful intentions of
their respective sovereigns, that we at all times are de-
lighted to welcome the presence here of the foreign ambas-
'adore. (Applause.) I therefore ask you to join me in
drinking their health.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
The PORTUGOEsE MINIsTER (Count de Lavradio) briefly
acknowledged the toast. He said—My Lord Mayor,
my lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I thank you much.
I The SPANISH AMBASSADOR also returned thank.. He

said—l wish, my Lord Mayor, that in this magnifieent
Town-hall of London, surrounded by the free citizens of
this great city, I could so speak the English language as to
convey my feelings to you, and also to make you
acquainted with the feelings of Spain, the old friend of
England. (Cheers.) My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I
drink to the health of Queen Victoria—(loud cheers)—of
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress--(cheers)—and the
people of England. (Renewed cheers.)
The Loan Maxon again rose, and said—My lords and
gentlemen, the citizens of London have ever possessed a
most profound respect for those who are engaged in the
administration of the law, and they are well pleased to
find that her Majesty has placed the administration of the
law in the hands of those in whom they have the fullest
confidence. The h-ghest position in his profession has
been conferred for the second time upon one who has long
been known to the citizens of London. They recognise in
him one who has been an able and fearless defender of the
rights and privileges of the City of Loudon. (Cheers.)
The high office of Lord Chancellor of England is en-
trusted to one who has won for himself the affection of
the bar and the regard and attachment of the citizens of
London, and of the people at large. (Cheers.) I give you,
with every confidence that it will be drunk with cordiality,
" The Health of the Lord High Chancellor."
The Low" CHANCELLOR, who on rising was received with
cheers, returned thanks. He said the government
were disposed to introduce such amendments and reforms
in the law as on full consideration they deemed to be
necessary. (Hear, hear.) Some were, he thought, over
hasty and eager in the matter. There should be no experi-
mental legislation. New laws, before they were made,
should be very carefully considered, so that they might
take Ore.r place as a permanent part of the legal sys-
tem, for experience had shown them that it was more easy
to make a bad law than to repeal it when it was made.
(Hear). With the d isposition he had intimated entertained
by every member of the government, he trusted it would
be in their power to introduce such reforms in the law as
might be acceptable to the country, and when the year
went round, and such a great and brilliant assembly as
that he saw before him was again collected in that hall,
he trusted that that which they would have done would
meet with the respect and approval which had been el-
-1 premed on the present occasion, and which he had vides-
I voured imperfectly to acknowledge. (Cheers.)
The Lorin MATOR next proposed " The Health of her
Majesty's Ministers," which was received with loud cheers.
The Earl of Dee BY, on rising, was received with cheer..
He said—My lords, ladies, and gentlemen—l rise for
the purpose of expressing, or at least endeavouring to ex-
press, on the part of my colleagues and myself, our grate-
ful sense of the high honour you have done us on the pre_
sent occasion, and the kind and flattering terms in which
your lordship has been pleased to speak of myself and col-
leagues, and the cordial, and I may say more than cordial,
manner in which our health has been accepted. (Cheers.)
Yet, my lord, my colleagues and myself do not so far de-
ceive ourselves as to attach to this demonstration of your
goodwill any political significance. We know that the
manner in which you have received us is the generous
expression of English feeling, which always desires
to cheer and encourage those who, in what they
believe to, be the )iuterest of the country, are taking
on themselves onerous and laborious duties, and are en-
deavouring to fulfil their duties to the beat of their belief.
(Cheers.) We may, indeed, have some claim, my lord,
from common feeling and some small similarity of position.
I speak not individually of myself, but I speak of the go-
vernment collectively, that in entering on a new career of
office you and we feel alike, that in attempting to discharge
the arduous duties of that office our beat support must be
the confide- ce and good will of our fellow countrymen.
(Cheers.) Our first and principal object must be to deserve
and win that good will for we, every one of us,
consider that good will and confidence and
public esteem as the highest honour to which
public men can look in every station of life,
and I think, my Lord Mayor, that both will be equally
discreet in abstaining from stating by what peculiar
measures we shall endeavour to gain that confidence.
(Laughter.) It would be utterly out of place on the
present occasion if I were to presume, in the slightest
degree, to touch upon any question that could approach
a party significance, but speaking in the midst of this
great metropolis, and in the presence of your lordship,
the chief magistrate of this great city, the heart and
centre of the commerce of this island, speaking in this
room which has witnessed so many generations of great
and illustrious men, I think I may congratulate your
lordship on the state of the country, and upon
the gratifying fact that, notwithstanding the monetary
di the
ngne upon
dispretsrieuLeatiwich
dhcaim weitihea.swThigocnhehattroeugbrohug, nhottwinithforstantu
many and ruin upon some public credit stands unimpaired, re-
venue yet maintains itself, and the commerce of the coun-
try never, to my knowledge, was in a better, or stronger,
or more worthy position. (Cheers.) My lord, it is a
subject of intense gratification that we have had the satis-
faction of witnessing the close of two sanguinary
werw—
one of them much shorter, and another of longer duration,
but both of them accompanied with an amount of blood-
shed far beyond that which attends ordinary warfare, and
both of them bearing the character of that whisk is most
to be deplored in all vrarfares--semely, that of civil war.
We rejoice to see the return of peace. (Hear, beer.) With
regard to that great country, our natural friend or relation
I may call it, the great republic across the Atlantic, the
storm of war has indeed ceased, but the surface, nay. I
may say the interior of society, is still ruffledsad
tated ; but I believe that great nation, which lac
made such efforts for the purpose of keeping down the bur-
den of debt which that war bas entailed on the national
finances, and which is making such superhuman efforts to
recover its financial position—l cannot but believe that

(TWOPENCE

that country, which is so deeply interested in the science
of self-government, will know how to compose the %ela-
tion which at present prevails, and will exhibit to -the
world at no Matted period again the gratifying proege4 of

a plat, powerful, and united republic (aleesen) My
Lord liayor, I may be permitted to say that if the mass-
queues* of that dreadful war which lasted so long is that
country should be that any questions have arisen between
that country and our own, sad may have produced the
slightest unpleasantness, I have • confident expects-
tiou that the two governments will approach
such questions in • spirit of mutual forbear
lace and kindly conciliation, and that we shall ar-
rive at such • solution of this question as will not eel,
remove all ruminants of unpleasantness, but will place up in
a better position than we have ever yet stood in relation.
to that pest country, to which we are bound kg so
many ties. (Cheers.) Of the war in Germany I do not
pretend to speak. It is not for us to pass an opinion on
the merits of that war, and it would be premature to ex-
press an opinion as to what may be its ultimate result, but
with regard to the countries implicated in the war, with
regard to Austria and Italy, now that there has been a
transfer of Venetia, sad • burden has been taken away
from cue sad a long desired provinoe joined on to another.
I enemas* in the best interests of the word, • confident
hops that these two ceentrias will ass abst their

minas' winnings lies it AO maintenance of the wool
friendly relations ; and that Italy especially, relieved from
any apprehension of foreign war, will devote its attention
to the diminution of the disproportionate, enormous firm

by which its national energies arc crippled and curtailed,
and devote its attention to the further development of the
greet interests and resources of peace, My lord, it is quits

true that we claim no pert in any great military achieve-
ment. We have no sanguinasy battles to deplore and no
military triumphs to celebrate. But, my lord, pesos bee
its triumphs as well as war. In the course of the present
year we have achieved a triumph of more advan-
tage to the world and which will redact
more credit on this country than anything
which can be acquired by warlike operations, however
skilfully conducted and bravely carried out. I allude to
that great triumph gained by British science, British
skill, British perseverance, and British energy, by which
we have maintained our claim to exercise dominion over
the sea, and by which we have combined the great con.
Unmet of Europe and America, and between which we

have succeeded in annihilating time and space. And yet
my Lord Mayor, though we have not been engaged in any
warlike operation, I can hardly say we have no military
achievemente of which to beast, because in the course, of
the present year we have seen the capital of Belgium
occupied by a military force combined with the joint forces
of France and England, and have seen that invasion
conducted with the most perfect success, prominent
amongst the invaders being no less a personage than the
late Lord Mayor of London. (Cheers.) That Men-
Ilion was one of a very remarkable character, and our vo-
lunteers and riflemen have achieved by their conduct and
admirable behaviour the conquest not over the territory.
but over the hearts and affections of the people whom they
visited. It is well known that the appetite for foreign in-
vasions grows by what it feeds upon. The next year we
contemplate a bolder one. I frankly state, though it 'may
not be diplomatic, yet I frankly state that it is the in-
tention of her Majesty's subjects to invade the neighbour.
ing country of France upon en extensive scale.
I think that the great and beautiful city of
Paris is in very serious danger of being in the
occupation of the citizens of Europe and the world to
such an extent that they will find it extremely difficult
to billet and provide for them and us; but there is one gra-
tifyieg fact in this invasion, that it differs from all other
invasions in this, that the apprehended invaders and not
the invaded are the parties most likely to be laid under
contribution. My lord, it is my earnest hope, and I am
sure it will be the fervent and anxious hope of all those I
address, that such an invasion, such contests, and such
conquests, may be witnessed in Europe for many years to
come. For such invasions and conquests leave behind no
sting of bitterness, but, on the contrary, excite amongst
the various populations mutual feelings of re.
spect, admiration, and esteem— (eheers)—resultimin better
security than any statesmen can give for the continuance
of the general peace of the world—(hear),—which is con-
veyed in the terms " Peace on earth and goodwill towards
men." (Cheers.) My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I thank
you for the attention you have paid to me, and I desire on
the part of my oollaagues and myself to express our sense
of the honour you have done us, and our satisfaction at
being received as ministers of the crown in this venerable
and time-honoured hall with the princely magnificence
you have exhibited. (Loud cheers.) Li conclusion I beg
to ask your permission to propose "The Health of the Lord
Mayor;" and I cannot but express a hope, having had an
opportunity of witnessing the admirable manner in which
the late Lord Mayor discharged his duties, that in vacating
the chair his lordship will receive the Mlle cordial recog-
nition of the affection and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
(Renewed cheers.)
The 'map MAYOR having responded, a toast to the late
Lord Mayor was given, to which Alderman PHILLIPS
replied.

The Earl of MALIIESBURT having spoken for the House
of Lords, and Lord Chief Baron KELLY for the judges,
The Loan MAYOR then proceeded to propose " The
Health of the House of Commons," coupling with the
toast the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the
Right Hon. B. Disraeli).
The CHANCELLOR of the Ex CHEQUER, in citing to respond.
was received with loud cheers. Ho spoke au follows—
When I last, some few years ago, bad to respond to the
toast which has just been given from the chair, I had
before me a comparatively easy task, for I bad only to ex-
press, on the part of the House of Commons, our sense of
the distinction conferred upon us by the City of London
in drinking our health', and offering to the City of
London our reciprocal regard and consideration. The re-
lations between the City of London and the House of
Commons are of so long a date, and they are so memorable.
and are, I doubt not, so deeply cherished, that
any other observations of mine would have been
superfluous. You, my Lord Mayor, have reminded
us this evening that some busy spirits since that day
have arisen who have challenged the claim of the House of
Commons to public respect and regard, and have even
denied its title to that noble appellation which it has se
long borne. (Hear, hear.) But when we are told that
the House of Commons has only for gent rations perpe.
trated a system of misgovernment—when we are told that
their claim to be the representation of the various classes
and interests of this country is a mere imposition, I cannot
prevail upon myself to believe that such opinions will ever
be favoured by the City of London. (Cheers.) I cannot
believe that the City of London will forget that for gene-
rations they have co-operated with the Holit, of Commons
in building up that great fabric of public right and popu-
lar liberty under which it is our boast and our blessing to
live. (Cheers.) I cannot believe that the City of London
will forget that to this reviled House of Commons is
mainly to be attributed the triple blessings which above all
others have contributed to and caused both private and
public happiness—l mean personal liberty, freedom of
the press, and the pure administration of justice.
(Cheers.) These things which have been so happily estab-
lished in this country are in no slight degree owing to the
leaders of the House of Commons. (Cheers.) Nor can I
believe that an enlightened community like the City of
London will forget that for now nearly half a century the
House of Commons gradually, but by continuous efforts,
has adapted the commercial system of this country to the
requirements of the age, and to the ever•fluctuating
circumstances of human affairs. (Cheers.) I trust that
great deeds like these will be not only remembered, but
repotted in this country. They have been caused, and
they can wily be accomplished in a land which is biassed
by parliamentary sad municipal institutions. ladlvi-•
duals may form communities, but it is institutions alone
that can create nations. (Loud cheers.)
To other toasts responses were made by Sir 3. DEFES,
Sheriff WATIRLOW, and the ATroagzT-Gaxss►t..
The company separated about 11 o'clock. Lord Derby,
Mr. Diereell, eat the principal personages present were
loudly cheered as they left the Guildhall. The Lord
Mayor himself was slim spin received with the meet oar.
dial expressions of esteem.

I,

iii;

I 0.
, • h
;4 I