The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-07 00:00:00

THE CUTLERS' FEAST AT SHEFFIELD.

Laid night, the annual feast given by the Cor-
poration of Cutlers took place in the Cutlers' Hall, Sheffield.
This feast is the great event of the year in Sheffield, ;Lad
during the afternoon the bells of the pariah church rang out
merry posh in honour of the occasion. The Sheffield Ride
Volunteers acted sea guard of honour at the Cutlers' Hall,
and the line band of the Yeomanry Lltvalry wee in attend.
ance, and played &pleasing selection of music both during; the
art ival of the company and whilst the tanquet was going on.
The banquet took place in the large hall, and about 210
noblemen sod gentlemen sat down to dinner. The master
cutler, Michael Hunter, jun., Eeq., presid,sl, and amongst
those present were the Duke of Rutland, Lord George
Manners, Earl Fitiwilliam, Lord Wharucliffe, Loot Den.
man, the Lord Mayor of Landoll' in court costume, wearing
hit chain of office; the Mayon, of Birmingham, Lends, HuU,
and Stalybridge ; Mr. J. A. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Ceorga
Hadfield, M.P., Dr. F. Watson, ac.
The dinner which was served was of the most ncheni.e
description. The company set down at half•pest five
o'clock, and the cloth was not withdrawn until eight
o clock.
. .

The Clitiiins.e proposed the first toast, "The Queen,"
followed by " God save the Queen," the whole company
standing.
The CIiAMIAN next proposal " His Royal Highness the
Prince Consort, Albert Prince of \V ales. and the rest of
the Royal Family." Of his royal highness he would only
say that he was everything he c..uld desire, and the highest
compliment he could pay him was to say that he was an
Englishman in everything except birth. (Cheers) As to
the Prince of Wales he hoped that when the time came for
him to ascend the throne, he would remember that he
was heir to a great name and position, and to tarnish that
would be the darkest blot upon his name.
Glee—" Hail Star of Brunswick."

The Clisoutot said the next toast he had to propose was
one that was always received amongst an assembly of
Englislunen with the greatest enthusiasm—he meant
"The Army and Navy." (Cheers.) The army and
navy were the bulwarks of old England, and to them we
owed a mighty debt of gratitude. Had it nut been for the
services of the army and navy, the trade of Sheffield would
not have been what it was at present, for the world
would not have been open to receive their manu-
factures. He hoped that the time was very far distant when
from motives of no-called economy the army and navy
would be minced below their present strength. We had
kuown what it was to want them, anal he hoped that we
should never know what it was tsr want them again. There
had been some talk of a foreign invasion, but he hoped that
the day was very far distant when anything of that kind
should be attempted ; but if that day should ware England
waa prepared, for a powerful force of volunteer riflemen
had arisen Rs if by magic. (Loud cheers.) He should not
wish to see them called into action ; but if the day should
amve, England was prepared. (Cheers.) He called upon
them to drink the toast with three cheers.
Lord Grimes MANNERS returned thanks. He said it must
at all times be a matter of great gratification for a soldier to
return thanks on behalf of the army in any body of English.
men. He believed he might say with truth that the arm
u now coostituted was in amost efficient state. (Hear, hear.)
It might be small compared with some of the armier on the
continent, but it was inferior to none in point of bravery
and skill. A short time ago, when the continent of Europe
began to be convulsed, the question arose--whether the
army was sufficiently strung for the protection of the coun.
try, and whether some means should not be devised to lilac."
us iu a state of security. In that emergency the noblest of
the youth of this country stepped forward as cue man—
(cheers)—and said, " Upon us shall be the burden of defend.
leg our native country ; we will join lama and Lend with
the regular army, and we will assist in making the country
secure. (Loud cheers.) Ho would say all honour to those
melt who had come forward as volunteers, and he hoped that
they would not relax their labours until they had arrived
at that state of proficieucy which it was desirable they
should attain to. On behalf of the army and navy he
to turn Lis heartfelt thanks.
be rd re
OVERININ se Aker of the Sheffield Velma.
teen, also responded.
Several other toasts of • complimentary nature having
Leen proposed, the chairman gave " The members fur the
borough. '
Mr. G. HAIMILLD, M.P., responded first, and was re-
ceived with loud cheers.
. . .

Mr. J. A. Rom:we, in responding to the toast, said that,
under the cireunuitaneee, by doing nothing during the
past session, the borough members had best served
the iuteresta of their tionstituents. With respect to
reform, lie might say that the Heform Bill would have
been passed had the house been backed by the wishes of
the people. He laid particular emphasis on the fact that
the people had nut supported those members of parlia.
meat who had been favourable to the pwisiug of the Reform
Bill. The learned gentlem►n referred in enthusriudic terms
to the success of the volunteer movement, and spoke of
the check which it would b, sure to exert over the salmi
of foreign devote, while it relies ed us from the fear which
ambitious foreign rulers were calculated to engender.
Other heists tullowed, and the pus:cedillas terminated at
a very late hour.