The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-28 00:00:00

TES MATTEL TESTIMONIAL BANQUET.

bud evening the testimonial subscribed for by the
1,14eal memkers &ad ex-members of the Home Com•
on the retirement of Mir W. Hester. M.P., from
hie peat of Political Secretary to the Treasury, was pre.
mooted to him at Willis's Rooms. St. James., The event
MY dobristril by a banquet of the moat reehriat cha-
',ter. rover" every laid fur IA but ameiderably more
thin that number were prevent. The ailike were elegantly
4s...rated with silver and gilt candelabra, groups, &c.,
tie, biale•li. supporting the choicest dowers of the season.
Th.- testi toomal couseita of • very massive table onia-
tient. •arneeintel by a large group of live emblematical
hJ J. • The desiim is in the pure Louis XI V. perks!.
cur§ 11,1 with li.liAterl iwiullS and Mowers. The shape is
and spun each angle of the lose is supported
v.. fir Mown and fruits. The figures represent
Britannia in the centre, with the lion, and at the four
~szlo. of tie. plinth -Fidelity, Justice, Industry, sad
Weight, 1,100 ounce.. The inscriptiou le as
("Hoes : ~This testimonial WWI presented on the '../th day
r..F,ru.n% led, to the Flight lino. William :ocalesough
flirter. flirt., M.P., by Viscount Nintendo% M. P., cad
kluilf of Ali:. members of the House of Commons, in re.
es edifier. of the courtesy, fairness, and efficieacy with
li he performed the duties et Political Secretary to the
Ti .norm, between the youv 1$ i 0 and 1a.19."
The selecription list wee coußnel, with but one camp-
toe, lo the member, of the liberal party. Maley hoe.
sionlien sad exteeenbent belonging to the conservative
parte were ensitiee to testify their esteem and regard for
Sir w. Hayti% both politically sod privately. by becoming
selecrihen to the fowl ; but the coniniittee considered it
better hi melee it toe ilentoestration of feeling on the part
the party -lb. es option above alluded to being
la the ear at the late Mr. Rohert Stephenson.
bed Pibitgaisndi, who presided, in proposing the
beat of the evening, enWged upon the nn ,ituilities dia.
Oared by Sir W. I. ilayter during the eaecutioe of his
aviii.ditr. Julies. In the course of his career, Sir William
hal ne‘er made one enemy, oar " forfeited his coasetency."
',a W. It %ink who oo rising was loudly cheered,
said—
I -on uwl.lr witiiiirritely to thank you for the humour you
Lise done me, and the noble lord for the magnificent IMO.
see is which be has intnsduced no. to your notice on
this iseasioe. When I first catered the norm I felt
the tattering distinction of being the invited guest of
the evening, but I did sot anticipate that the noble
Lint would have so @elegised my past cooduct, nor could
I have foreseen that yin wouhl have given me so
hearty. so generous, sad so warm • reeeptioe. (Cheers)
Is endeavouring. therefore, to express to you my
sleeks fir the high compliment you here paid me through
ear table chairman, I must, throw myself upon
.s our Maul.
pare mid kindness, and ask you to accept the will for the
died, sedreatia( yen to believe in the sincerity of these see-
timeete of raped sad peditude which 1 nacerely red
deeply feel, though 1
hear.) sand adequately express them. in
thank*/ yes fee this ilistingstiahing mark el your esteem
eel reped. Wear, The liable lord has been pleased
to advert in ten. far too fenneashle to those serekee which
I have been eaishlesi to reader to the great party to which I
bike/ daring the lengthened period I had the honour of dis-
charging the dutiesof the pesitens I then held ; and 1 nn only
my that, if these services have
If
of any value, heartily
rejoins at it (Hoar, hear.) If there is any merit to be
Attributed to them it sas sot belong to roe, but to others.
I owe it to that freak and emeritus confidence that was
eniforinly reposed is ins by these noble chiefs under whom
I had the happiness hi serve. (Cheers.) To the noble lord
the niendirr fir the Pity of Loehr' I am indebted for my
tint seineluctem into public tife' sad for the great many
lowletemes I have aims received from him ; to the noble
chetrinan, antler whom it was my happiest. for is lengthened
period to serve, fur the support and ennouragenseut I have
always received from him ; and, more then all, the
ro-opeestion, the courteous sympathy, sad the uneoltieh
forbeassans which I have always met from every
rambre of the Shand party. (Great cheering.) What-
ever, therefore, these mervires might have been, I aware
not they have bees snore than amply rewarded by this
public acknowledgment, jollied is and presided over by one
who is admitted by all to he the foremost statesman in
Estop,- flood ehems)—as well se conatesenced 'oy the
sad* lord the member for the City of Loodes, who
frees early yenta to mature age has been the enlightened,
the and the successful champion of civil
sad ',home liberty. (Intel cheers.) When, io addi-
hoe to tint 1 me myself warrosoded by °there ovally
distiagaished tae their private worth cad public ems-
raogdw so many with whom it barn
tens me happiet., for w. many ran .4 my life to live
a Irma of friendly sad familiar intercourse, and when
I stand here the Melted guest at this enagaiieeet leusquet.
I feel irises' that say services of mime bans bees more
than amply repaid. But when I tarn from these around
ass to that eploodid ornament, sad refine that tt has bees
presonted to me by the aphis, lord en has and your behalf,
am well se sm behalf of many absent and valued friends.
m as enduring memorial of the approbation which
psi have bees pleased to ezteal to my public
coaduet, I feel altogether unable to express to you my
acksowledgmente is whilst* language. Behave me that
I attribute but little commingles value to the costly
material .4 which that ornament is composed, or to Use.
Mai chaste sad choice decorations which add to its
timely sail sobasiee It. value. The priceless worth is in
the Assured cooviction that it is the ri•ward of honest see.
SWIM and a farther testi:tame of that perormal esteem and
heads/up which have brightened many • past day, mid
siorli, I hope will continue to brighten these which into
tome, and endure as long as life is given to um (Cheers.)
l'srunt use hi offer you is return my humble sad hearty
thanks. Believe me the events of this evening will in over
prcseat to my recollection, sod fern. nee of them bright
soul ...Joey spots in the carver of life ue which memory will
era tore to dwell. (Loud cheers.)