The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-03 00:00:00

THE BANQUET

Was supplied by Mr. Speiser, of the Victoria Hotel,
Lime street, and was such as to please the most fastidi-
ous, and everything the season afforded was there in
abundance. The wine was excellent and varied. There.
was one thing, and we cannot refrain from stating it--
the arrangements made for the Press were admirable,
and such as enabled the reporters to hear and chronicle
what was said. In this respect we wish other public
bodies would imitate the committee. There was
another feature also, that of punctuality, for precisely at
six o'clock, the guest. J. B. Jeffery, Esq., entered the
room, accompanied by the following gentlemen: J. Haigh,
Esq., the Rev. Thomas Horton (of Devonpott), A. C.
Stewart, Esq., G. Maxwell, Esq., J. J. Stitt, Esq.,
J. Fernie, Esq., C. E. Rawlins, Esq., J. Crossfield,
Esq., T. C. Avison, Esq., J. Finch, Esq., R. W. Ronald,
Esq., J. Woodruff, Esq., John Rogers, Esq., G. Melly,
Esq.. J. Corbally, Esq., J. B. Spence, Esq. ; and among
the company present were— Messrs. Robertson, E Roberts,
H. J. Hobbs, Black, D Marples, Gibson, H. Dodd, S.
Thornelv, Medley, E. Willmer, D. Smith. Walker, Clarke,
Bayes, Barker, Liversedge, Condliff, M. Connall, H. Tate,
J. Sharp, D. Baugh, M‘Millan, Corkhill, Nodder, Flower,
Burden, S. B. Jackson, Graham, J. Dignan, Durandu,
&c., &o The chair was taken by J. Haigh, Esq., who
acted as Mr. Jeffery's chairman throughout the
contest for the ward. We had intended to give the
names of the whole company present, but from the
number, we found it quite out of our power. There were
upwards of 400 gentlemen present. Messing having been
asked by the Rev. Dr. Horton, the band played " The
Roast Beef of Old England." We should have stated
that, when Mr. Jeffery and his friends entered the
room, they were received with long continued applause.
The following is a copy of the

BILL OF FARE.
Soup a la Reine.
Gelantines de Veau . ITetes de saugliers fareis

Turkeys farcies et Gelee Game Pies, ala francalse 4
Pigeon Pies Itoula de de Boeuf
Galantines de Poularde garni kspic de Soles
de Gelee 1 (oars Heads
Aspic de Veau et Jambou i i:

Roasted Turkeys
Tongues, Garnished
Roasted Beef
R msted Fowls
Hams, Garnished '
Rounds of Beef
Gelee au Citron
Gelee au Via de Madero r
Gelee au Kirschwasser

Plum Puddings
Tourtes Suisse
Tourtes de Pommes
Meringues au Fruits'; ,Les Cremes au Cognac
Blanc Mange Les Cremes au Marasquin
Gelee au Rum Les Cremes au Citron

Cheesejand Celer,

DESSERT

Apples, Pears, Filberts, Raisins, Almonds, Figs,
Chesnuts, Oranges, Grapes, Walnuts, &c , &c.

When the good things had been discussed, and grace
pronounced,

- The Chairman said: Gentlemen, before we proceed to
the ordinary business which will lie before us, I shall
read notes of apology from two or three gentlemen, to
whom I feel it to be due that I should account for their
absence. The first gentleman for whose absence I shall
account is Mr. Robertson Gladstone. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Jeffery: Three cheers for Mr. Gladstone, (Loud
and long cheering.)

The C,lairman: When Mr. Gladstone consented to
attend this dinner, it was on the condition that if he were
not called to London, as he expected to be, before the
time, he would have pleasure in attending. The circum-
stance which he intimated might take place, has taken
place, and Mr. Gladstone was called to London, impera-
tively, last night or this morning. He explained to me
only last evening, and I feel it due to you as well as to
him that I should account for his absence. The second
gentleman whose presence was expected, although it was
not announced in our placard, was our old, and tried, and
sincere friend and reformer, Mr. William Rathbone. Loud
cheers.) _ _

Mr. Jeffery : Three cheers for the veteran philanthro-
pist. (Loud cheers.)
The Chairman : Mr. Rathbone has addressed to me
this note, which I feel it to be due to you to read

TO THOMAS
_HAIGH, ESQ., CHAIRMAN

Dear Sir,—Confined to my bed by a slight attack of
sore throat, and a severe attack of influenza, I am obliged
to emp:oy an amanuensis to express my great regret that
I cannot be with you this evening. I have much wished
to be with you, because I felt that we met on neutral
ground, and that I did not compromise opinions which I
continue to hold as firmly now, as I did when I was rightly
dismissed the service, as I could not consent to be a
delegate, and was no longer the representative of the
constituencies. The fight in Lime-street and the adjoin-
ing wards was a successful stand up fight for those
Liberal principles in which we all cordially unite, proving
what the Liberal party can accomplish when they put the
shoulder to the wheel. The toast to which you had
requested me to respond, embraces so wide a view of the
future, may I be excused if I refer to one of the topics to
which I hoped to draw the attention of your meeting :
The situation in which the country is placed at the termi-
nation of the late glorious victory of Right over Might.
That contest has involved a fourfold greater loss of life,
in proportion to the numbers engaged, from causes which
might have been prevented, than the disastrous Walcheren
expedition, which roused to indignation the whole British
people. In the present instance, those to whom these
disasters have been attributed have been promoted. I
will not say have been honoured • for real honour would
require the nation's sanction. These evils were remedied.
The remnant of the finest army ever sent out from British
shores was saved by a most well-chosen, well-advised, and
efficient commission, sent out by her Majesty's govern-
ment ; and 1 assert without danger of disproof that, with.
out that commission, Sebastopol would never have been
taken. The nation has been waiting to see the recognition
of such service by her Majesty's Ministers, or by the repre-
sentatives of the people, An attempt was made, in the
House of Lords, by Lord Panmure, and in the House of
Commons by Mr. Frederick Peel, to sneer down those
services, which was gallantly met by the Premier. There
has, however, been no public recognition of such services.
The country owes it to those noble and disinterested men
to call forth that recognition. Unless able and high-
minded men are supported by those who have appointed
them, and by the country at large—how can the country
ever hope that it will be faithfully served when that
service shall require the exposure, not of subordinates,
but of those belonging to and linked in with the most
powerful and highest classes of society? Such is the ser-
vice rendered by the Crimean Commissioners, which as yet
remains unrecognised.—With much regret at my unavoida-
ble absence from your meeting, I remain, dear sir, your
faithful servant, (Signed) Wm. RATHBONE.
Greenbank, Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The Chairman : The next letter is from Mr. Picton,
who had accepted an invitation to dine with us to-day :
Wavertree, Monday morning, Dec. 1, 1856.
Dear Sir,—Having been confined to the house by illness
for some days it will be impossible for me to be present at
the banquet to-morrow evening, which I much regret, as
I should have had great pleasure in taking part in the
proceedings to do honour to our representative.—Yours,
&c., J. A. Picrort.
Cope, Esq,
-• The Chairman: The only other note of apology I shall