The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-18 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.) LT WOPENCE:

BANQUET To HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS.

Lent night the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor en-
tertained her Majesty's Ministers and a distinguished cant.
"any of guests at a magnificent banquet in the Egyptian
Hall at the Mansion-house.

During the dinner the lend of the Coldstream Guards
attended in the gallery, and played an excellent selection of
music ; and, what is a novelty on these occasions, the ser-
vices of a party of vocalists were engaged, to enliven by their
effort' the proceedings in the interval between the toasts.
They were under the direction of Mr. J. L. Hatton, who
was efficiently assisted by Miss Poole and others.
After grace had been chaunted and the bating cup sent
:mod.

The LOAD Meson gave the " Health of the Quetta" in
appropriate terms, which was druak with enthusiasm, and
followed by the usual musical accompaniments.

The next Mae wee " The Prince Consort, the Prince of
Wales, and the other Members of the Royal Family."
The LORD MAYOR briefly proposed "The Army, Navy,
and Volunteers ;" and the Mae having been drunk,
The Duke of Roman= said—L have great pleasure in
thanking you for the honour yon have paid to the British
miry. It arse always be • source of gratificetion to that
gloriosa peofeesion to rewire sash a nark of repent mid
espealladeer hoe their felieweisaabrymes,, especially whoa
it comes from so di►tinguisbed an assembly as that I have
aow the honour of addressing. At the preset tune the
services of oar navy, I believe I may confidently say,
will may be required to guard our commercial interests
and to protect our merchants throughout the world, rod
for that service I believe they are fully gambled.
(Hear, bear.) But different circumstances may arise ;

and I would say, for my part, that it would be most I
tutwies to reduce our naval power or to lower our
=titans strength. That power and that strength
will never be and for way aggressive purpoee, or for
the purpose of attack, but they are, in my opinioc, •
guarantee for pesos, and we shall do wisely in maintaining
them imisapaired. (Cheers.) I hope the City of London
will always be willing to maintain, as it has done in past
times, the strength of the British navy ; and then, if cir-
cumstances should arrive such as the Lord Mayor has
alluded to in our pest history, I am sure the deeds of the
future will justify the memory of the past. (Cheers.)
Major-General DAVY replied on behalf of the army.
Loyd B 011; in aeknowisdging the toast on the part of the
voinsliseen, said those who belonged to the volunteer force
mild set but feel a pardonable emotion of pride on boding
that within the short space of two years they had made I
suck a oases as to be deemed worthy to ha coupled with
the tout al " The Army and Navy" in societies of that
desetiption.
The Loan MAYOR said he had now to propose " The
Health of her Majesty's Ministers," those distinguished men
who had dose them the honour of partaking of the hospi-
tality of the City el Landon. (Cheers.) Having expressed
his regret at the sbssnos of some members of the Cabinet in
oessequenes of ill-health, be enlarged upon the import-
unes mid gravity of the duties which devolved upon the
Ministers ion piped both to foreign and internal Oahe,
and said they had to undergo an amount of mental toil
widish so ordinary minds were capable of sustaining. The
country at large and the citizens of Loudon were deeply
sensible of that, and they always gladly did honour to her
ifejesty's Ministers, totally reganlices of all political con-
ailerationa. Of whatever party they might be, those who
carried on the affairs of this great empire satisfactorily
might sleep be ewe of finding • heathy welcome in the
City of Leedom. iCheen.)
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

Lord PAutruurroN—My Lord Mayor mid gentlemen, on
behalf of my colleagues present, no less than on be•
half of those who, from various circumstances beyond

their control, have been prevented attending this hos-
pitable templet. I beg to return you our most sordid
thanks for the honour you have done us in thee reeelefsig
the toast which you, my Lord Mayor and gentlemen, have
responded to. I can assure you that nothing tan give move
heartfelt satisfaction to theme who ars engaged in what you
' bud, have tense had ea the Mama, legs. AA anxieties of
public life—nothing can bee. pester ashen to theist than
meeting in the happier hour of social ease the citizens of
this great metropolis of the commercial world. ft is grail-
tying to us to feel that those who do us the honour of
inviting us to their board are in ono respect the faithful
organ. of the nation of which they are the ornament—
that they do, as you have stated just now, my Lord ,
Mayor, receive without distinction of parties those who,
placed in arduous public situations, are performing to
the best of their ability the duties which their Sovereign
sad their country have imposed on them. (Hear, hear.)
It II also most agreeable to us on these most festive
omissions to see, as I now do, the faces of honoured
friends of long standing who have been our associates
our public labours, as they now are at this hosed.
It is satisfactory, my Lord Mayor, to those who, standing
is the position we occupy, are able to congratulate the
public, as I think we may, on the internal condition of the
country. After a swam most inclement, which in former
times would have produced either famine or a financial
oriels, my right boo. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer
has shown to parliament and the country a surplus of
revenue over expenditure which has enabled him to pen.
pose a large remission of the burdens of the people flood
cheers)—without diminishing in the slightest degree those
military sad naval means of defence, a diminution of
which on our part, in the present state of the world, would
have been a betrayal of the trust confided to us. (Con-
tinued cheers.) I say that it is a grant proof of the solidity
of the resources of the country, and of the productive
mature of the national industry, that, in spite of those nu-
fortunate circumstances, and notwithstanding the large
seductions of taxation made last year, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer his been able to present to the nation as
favourable a prospect as that which he has, no longer than
two days ago, submitted to parliament. (Hear, hear.)
Onelienten, this is most encouraging, not simply with a
view to our internal condition, but also in regard to our
external relations. The function of England is, to en-
deavour, by that influence which she justly possesses, to
maintain the peace of the world. (Hear, hear.) She
has no ambitious objects ; sho has no aggressive policy; she
has no warlike propensities. We wish not only ourselves
to enjoy the blessings of peace, but we wish, by the legiti-
mate exercise of our influence with other countries, to
secure for the rest of the world those blessings which we
via for ourselves. (Cheers.) But I need not, I am sure,
reemek that the influence which a musky can exercise by
ifs stip sad prudent °Demob with others must necesearily
depend en its own internal and defensive strength ; and an-
ima • idiom is able to bout that she is secure against any
foselp• attack—that she is in a condition to repel hostili•
ties, ems frau what quarter they may—her counsels may bmr
the appleresee of timidity oa her part; she may seem to be
disimusglog war because she is afraid of its recoil on her-
self, and her advice therefore would naturally have propor-
tionally leas influence and weight.. (Hear, hear.) My
lord and gentlemen, the state of the world at present is
such that the useful influence of this country may perhaps
be as well exercised a■ at any former time. There are mum
tions pending in different parts of the continent, which,
if judiciously made use of by those who wish to disturb the
peace of the world, may furnish at least half-a-dozen res-
pectable wan. (Laughter.) Yet there is not one of these
questions which may not be amicably and honourably
settled without any appeal to arms, and I trust that the
wisdom, good sense, and good feeling of the rulers of the
nations and of the Leaders of parties may lead to a
happy conclusion. I trust that the clouds now lowering
over some parts of the Continent may be dissipated and
dispersed. (Hear, hear.) I trust, at all events, that the
glorious consummation of the unity of States may be accom-
plished without any check or hindrance. (Cheers.) There
le no subject to which, I am sure, the wishes and feelings
of the people of this country point with greater intensity
than the accomplishment of that object. (Cheers.) I can
osly say the influence of England, as exercised by her Ma•
jeety's government, will be directed to the maintenance of
peace, and that, whatever may be the aspect of affairs in
some quarters of the world, I do still trust that the year
1861 will pass over as • year of peace ; and that the appre-
hension' which were at one time entertained that the
spring and summer of this year would be disturbed by the
clash of arms and stained by the effusion of blood, will be
disappointed, and that we shall arrive at the termination of
the year with that happiness which peace confers, and enjoy

that prosperity which our security and our industry must
afford. I beg again, on the part of her Majesty's
ministers, to return you, my Lord Mayor, out -ellfewe '
thanks for the honour you have doe us in drinking qps
healths, and for the splendid entertainment to which we
have been invited. (Loud cheers.)
The LOAD Meron next gave " The Foreign Ministers."
M. Meetid/n, the Turkish Ambassador), in replying to
the toast, said—Milord Maire et Massieun, Je vow remercie
an porn do Corps Diplomatique du toad qua le Lord Haire
a lien souk porter en son bonneur, et do la maniere cor-
dials dont mos I'avez aocuetli. A I'OCCAIIiOII de cette
beil-
lente reunion, of le premier magistmt de la grande Cite de
I Loodres donne l'hoepitalite aux Iliuistres de IA Maier* la
Heine, et oil je suis appeli i avow l'hooneur de porter la
parole au nom de men colleges, II serait naturel glees
s'attendit de ma part i one appriviation de la skim
tiro scent's, des affairs ioternationales. YAM par
I ewe mean quo eras situation se presente sous on -
aspect complique, je dole me borner it coos assurer,
measlier , quo le Corps Diplomatique eat unasime our
en point 'mantel, sequel voue attaches vommemee, •
jest rob ear, le plus beet prix. En effet, sou you anemo—
ne' inspire par l'objet mime de as tithe, et je pas dire de
sou mandat—Ceet de vote Is moderation prevaloir putout,
ke:peix se.maintedr, et le monde &hipper an: sour d'une
=ghteala Heureemmeat ors vane du Corm
se root conform,* I son attests. Coolant dans
la regime des gouvernementa, comptant sur le °meows de
ye, minisres, dont 11111 consteste efforts kindest vim co
grand but, it • le forme cepoir qua noes ve-rrons s'iloigner
lee mega qui se montrent anioucelee i l'horizon, qua Is
ideation extuelle sent traverses mum danger reel, et que la
Divine Providenoe, toujoun propice aux intentions loyales,
aidesi assurer l'accomplimemeut de ce vceux general.
(Cheers.)
The LOST, MeVOl then gave "The House of Lords."
Lied CAIIPULL, in reply, said it gave him great plasmas
to And that in the City of London they did not wish to get
rid of that house. (Laughter.) Without a mead branch
of the legislature to oecalonelly moderate the efferveseeme .
of the Commons, there might be • little danger to Heir
tranquillity and liberty. The House .of Lords,' Witi
iti faults, deserved the eulogium preeesseed *pee
by the Lord Mayer. It bad hequently stood up r•
&Gam of the liberties at the country, and never would
be wanting in that respect when the 00C116011 required.
There had been proposals for reforming the House of
Lords. Some would have peers for life, some' would get
rid 'of the bishops, and some of the law lords—(laughter)—
bat, on the whole, be believed they tolerably fulfilled the
pupae which the constitution intended for them.
,•He believed that there might be some advantage in
a geseral reprementation of the satire without
local onnetituencies, and that there should. be a rallying
place for enlightened public opinion, whoa the fever of
particular bodies might lead a nation astray. We had in
this country no odious division of families into nobles and
veinier. The peerage wee recruited from the middle
ranks of the people, of • which be was himself as
exempla and the grandpas of • duke, without degreda-
lion, might become plain Mr. Howard or Mr. Pitt. He
trusted they would continue to deserve the approbation
of their fellow-subjects. At all times they might not
entirely agree in the sentiments they entertained. He
himself, though presiding on the woolsack, had frequently
been at valance with noble lords on certain subject.
There we. sow a muses before the House of Lords in
which 401•111.1cifil damns of London mud and did Mee a
deep inWreet, and es which their illustrious espreeestative,
Lord John Hassell, bee bestowed great care and pins. That
measure was now in • critical situation, but he hoped in
real peril, and he traded that es the measure bad obtain,
the approbation of the City of Loudon as well as of
Lower Hew el Parliament, it would receive the sanction
of the Hems of Lords, end before long become the law of
. the lend.

The LOAD KATO% is a few words, proposed " The Howe
of Comma."
The Caurczuo• of the Excusqueaesaid—lfy Lord Mayor

my lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I rise, by your kind psi-
mission, to return thanks for that which, after the speech
of my noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor, I may
without impropriety call the effervescent part of lb* em-
atitutio•—(laughter)—but there is cause, as I believe, in
which on the whole so remarkable a harmcmy has to be
maintained between what is effervescent soil what is not
effervescent, as in the instance of the two houses of the
British parliament. Whatever be their faults and merits
—and I am far from claiming for either of them absolute per
things may at least be said : the one that their
reciprocal relations have beam governed by a 'Angular felicity
in almost every act ; the other, that they are both
of them ecine•tly in harmony with the character of the
nation to which they belong. A friendly rivalry may
subsist between them, but of each it may be said that it is
most thoroughly and peculiarly English. If, indeed, we
look to the test of experience, perhaps it is true that to
reproduce the conditions of an institution like the House
of Lords in another country is more difficult than to imitate
the House of Commas'. I apprehend that each civilised
nation has its own functioas to fulfil, and that we who
rejoice in our own national traditions may have much to
learn from others ; but something has been reserved for
England to do on behalf of others, and I trust that at this
time of day we .may say that England has dope some-
thing for the world in offering to it the pattern of a
popular legislative assembly. (Cheers.) That problem
which is so difficult at all times to solve—namely,
the means for bringing • free representation of
the wishes and feelings of the community at large
in harmony with fixed laws and with nocieot and monar-
chieal institutions, has, I trust, reached its solution among
us ; sad never, I think, was there a time when it might
be more truly said than the present that the British con-
stitutioa, old as it is, pomemed more of the strength and
vigour of youth. It is with no slight satisfaction that we
see that other nations, as they cuter on the path of free-
dom, seem to make it a first condition of progress in their
career to attempt to create for themselves what resembles
oar House of ihimmons ; and among the distinguished men
who sit at this table, the representatives of foreign Sove-
reigns at the Court of our queen, I rejoice to think there
are some in whose countries have been growing up institu-
tions like our parliament, in which the popular voice is felt,
where the wants of the community are represented, where
the spirit of the nation is reproduced, and where at the
same time, so far from that free representation forming a
coerce of danger to the permanent end fixed authorities,

it is discovered that it is the real secret of national strength
and vigour. My Lord Mayor, these are truths which we
see acknowledged in the practice of nations, and on which
I trait before many generations—perhaps before many
years have elapsed —we may find that the whole civilised
world shall have been agreed. Under these circumstances
I heartily rejoice—if, indeed, I may venture to do eo with-
out presumption—in returning thanks for the House of
Commons here in this ball, before yourself, the reprensen-
Wive of the corporation of London —a body itself drawing
its existence from the same period iu which the House of
Commons sprung into existence, and • body which has
always lived, moved, and acted in singular harmony with
the popular branch of the British legislature. My lord,
mar that harmony continue, and may the House of Com-
ma= continue to represent, as it still does, the whole and
entire character of the English people, answering to its
wishes and witnessing its wants and mean of supplying
them, exercising the first and greatest among all the powers
of the state, but still mindful, as it is end ever has been
mindful, that though first, it is not the only one—that it
exists under the shadow of the Crown. and owes to the
the
ceave"thhLihottiserivebbo; branch
ofn which,C
its rown,
ewn
e Ili' yl et
a::::ltcchlia.ctthhue(rer.alcowhneercte-nh, erdlig mesa and
Lord Patmmurros proposed "The health of the Lord
Mayor," which was warmly responded to.
The remaining toasts were "The Members for the City,"
"The Bank of England," "The Lady Mayoress," and
i • The 1114W:etas of the City ;" and these having been die•
posed of, the proceedings of the evening came to a close at
• rather advanced hour.
I Mr. Harker acted as toastmaster.

Mr. A. Bmagh, wine and spirit merchant, of
tit. Strand, has snared his piens In accordance with the further
reduction of the wine duties. He la now xellinz excellent rots
and Sherry at let perdism, and a good sound Claret at Kt. Pee
dozen, bottles iscmass.—Easvertisemesst