The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-28 00:00:00

SECOND COURSE.
Woodcocks—Pheasants—Partridges—Hares.
aNTawsTs.

Creme a la Macaroni :
I
Gelee-de-Vin trq
Salado a litalierine El' --;
Sir Watkin's Puddings I Plum Puddings; tis,
Genevoise Paste 0.
Rhubarb Tart
Meringues _ Snowdon Puddings

Creme a la Vaiille
Rum Arraok

DESSERT,
Grapes—Pears—Oranges—American Apples—Filberts—
Dried Fruits—French Olives, &c., &c:

The chair was taken by Sir Watkin W. Wynne, Bart
On the right of the Chairman sat colonel Yorke (the
guest of the evening), Lieut.-Colonel Sir William Lloyd,
C. Renardson, Simon Yorke, and Major Tottenham. On
his left were Colonel Brownrigg, Lieutenant Palmer, E S.
Richards (judge of the County Court), T. Mainwaring,
Charles Townsend, and Captain M'Coy. Grace was said
by the Rev. Dr. Cunliffe, Vicar General. When the cloth
had been removed,
The Chairman said : Gentlemen, the first toast j have
to propose to you is a toast which is alwaye drunk in this
country, at all convivial meetings, the health of the lady
who reigns over this country, her Majesty the Queen of
England ; and if anything were wanting to endear her to
her loving subjects, that want would be supplied on
the consideration of the kind sympathy which she showed
to all the brave men who fought and bled for the honour
of their country. (Cheers.):.
";;;Air " God Save the Queen."l
'l'he toast was ch pult with ail the honours, and qmicl

enthusiastic applause, Sir Wm. Lloyd called for nine times
nine, which was cordially responded to.
The Chairman gave " The Prince of Wales, Prince
Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family."
The toast was fully honoured.
The Chairman gave " The Army and Navy," and in
doing so referred, in a few words, to the services rendered
by each in the late campaign. The assembly that night
had met more especially to do honour to an officer
who had served in the heroic charge of Balaklava.
(Cheers.) As to the advisability of that charge,
that was a subject which had been dissussed over
and over again. It had engaged the attention of a
committee of the House of Commons, of a Crimean corn-
mission of enquiry, and latterly it had even come into a
court of law. But whatever might be the opinions as to
the proprie'y of the charge, he thought all would own that
there the British soldier did as the British soldier always
does—(cheers)— obeyed his orders and did his duti-•
(Hear, hear, and renewed cheers) The chairman re-
ferred to the glorious day of Inkerman, and to the winter
of hard privations which followed, and which was borne
by men too noble to complain. He said he had near him
then an officer who served upon the staff of the Duke of
Cambridge, and who was present during the whole of the
campaign, whom he would ask, being the senior officer, to
respond to that toast, and who would tell them what the
army did. Perhaps the services of the navy in the B iltio
Sea were not so brilliant as those of the soldiers, but he
believed that what was done in the Baltic contributed as
much as anything else to ruin the trade and injure the
strength of Rassia, an I thus helped to produce the peace
almost mere than what was done in the Black Sea. (Hear,
hear.) The fleet in the Baltic came nearer to the
heart of the Government, and it was difficult to con-
ceive what must have been the feelings of the. Autocrat
of Russia with his armies, which he thought invincible, to
see the flags of England flying within sight of his capital.
(Hear, hear.) With the toast of the navy he should
couple a gentleman who had served years ago, and for
many years, in the navy, but who latterly had more
endeared himself to the people of that town and neighbour-
hood as au active magistrate, and a kind neighbour—
Captain Panton: (Cheers.) The chairman then concluded
by calling upon Colonel Brownrigg and Captain Panton to
respond to the toast.
The toast was then drunk with all the honours, the band
playing " Rule Britannia," and " The British Grenadiers."
Colonel Brownrigg rose, and was received with enthu
siastic cheering. He said: . Gentlemen, I very little
anticipated, when I left London yesterday morning, the
responsible duty which awaited me this evening. I wish
that it could have fallen into other hands to return thanks
for the toast which has just been proposed by the presi-
dent. At the same time I cannot regret that it has
afforded me an opportunity of doing honour to a gallant
comrade. (Cheers.) lam one of those, gentlemen, who
consider when a man embraces the honourable profession
of arms, he should alway; remember that in be
coming a soldier he does not cease to be a citizen
(Hear, hear.) I think, therefore, that next to the
approbation of the fountain of all honour, our Queen, and
the approval of our own conscience, there is nothing
which the soldier values so much as the good opinion of
his fellow citizens. It was this time two years ago that
we were going through our greatest hardships. It had
been tardily forced upon us, a little before this time two
years ago, that we were to make up our minds to remain
the whole winter on the bleak plateau before Sebastopol.
It very often has been asked, I am sure, of all of us—
" How was it that you managed, with all the difficulties
you had to go through—how was it you managed to do
the work you did ?" My answer has always been the
same—my'feeling has always been the same. That feeling
which animated us was the feeling that we all had—
" What will they think of us at home?" (Cheers.) We
knew perfectly well, that from Windsor Castle to the
poorest cottage of this happy land, one prayer went forth
for us through the length and breadth of it. (Cheers.)
We knew that what we did would be appreciated by
those we loved at home. We knew perfectly well that a
mother, a wife, or a child—or some one whom the gallant
young soldier hoped to make a wife when he cam back—
was thinking of us' and praying for us, and I am quite
convinced that nothing was a greater incentive to us to
do our duty than the feeling that those prayers were
wafted from the shores of England across the sea to where
we were. (Cheers.) It was this feeling which enabled
us to make the stand at Inkerman to which you have
heard allusion made. It was this feeling which made the
gallant 23rd—I am glad to see some of my own Light
Division hero (cheers)—it was that which made them
swarm up the Alma hillside as I saw them do. (Loud
cheers.) It was that which made the brigade of Guards
at the Sandbank Battery go into action 1,243 strong, and
lose 623 of their number. (Cheers.) It was that which
inspirited the gallant death-ride at Balaklava, which you
call upon us more especially to commemorate this even•
ing. (Cheers.) I cannot sit down before I bear testi-
mony,—although I am gratified to hear that there is an
officer of the navy here present who will especially return
thAn, kaisyfourutLat ta_t Lvls dnei navvye
rendered during the whole of the protracted siege.
9 (Hear hear, an cheers.) I never, so long as I live,
shall forget the way in which the gallant blue-jackets
toiled through the sultry sun for two days after
the battle of the Alma, carrying our wounded
and sick down to the ships ; and I do believe that the
greatest pleasure any of us could give to the captains of
the different meu-of-war, was when we were able to go on
board their ships to be nursed. Those who were obliged
by sickness to go down there to pe nursed for a short
time by them, will bear testimony with me to the fact that
the tenderness with which we were oared for there, could
only be exceeded by the tenderness of women. (Hear,
hear.) On behalf of the army I return you my best thanks
for the honour you have done us. (Cheers.
Captain Panton, who rose to return thanks) for the navy,
was loudly cheered. He said: Sorry was t that age pre-
cluded me from taking part in the late struggle, being
considered incapacitated by a late rule of the service from
so doing. Still, gentlemen, whatever has occurred in the
navy, has shown you that the ancient spirit of the country
still keeps her predominant upon the waves, and I hope
that she may long remain so, We must all be well aware
that the new engines introduced have set winds and waves
at defiance, and reduced the power of the country most
materially as a naval nation, by giving others nearly
the same power which you had before, owing to the
valour and seamanship of your seamen. These are
now completely sunk. Any man can drive a atom
engine which has been brought up to it. But it requires
a good deal of pluck to fight with our present weapons.
(Hear, bear.) Ido hone that the pluck of the country
will keep her what she is, and that the new power will be
found equally effective in the bands of Britain as the
canvass has been. (Cheers)._ -

The Chairman gave " The Lord Bishop and the Clergy
of the Diocese."
Rev. Dr. Cunliffe, the vicar general, returned thanks.
" The Lord Lieutenant and the Magistracy of the
County" was acknowledged by Mr. Meredith.
The Chairman then rose and said : Gentlemen, I now
rise to propose to you the toast of the evening. (Cheers.)
it is the health of an officer who commanded a regiment
at the charge of Balaklava, and who, unfortunately, from
the wounds he had received there, had not the capability
in the end of the war of further distinguishing himsel...
Now he came here among us, his old neighbours, some of
them who have recollected him from his earliest days.
All the people in this room respect his brother. (Cheers.)
One does not know whet to account for this large
assemblage and enthusiasm by ascribing it, on the one
hand, to the gallantry shown by Colgnel Yorke, or the
affection of the whole of this to wn for their neighbour,
Mr. Yorke. (Cheers.) You all know that the people of
Wrexham have no kinder friend than Mr. Yorke. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) But I am wandering away
from my text. I shall now come back to Colonel Yorke.
He is known among us as having fought and bled for his
country (cheers), and I am deputed by the inhabitants of
this town to express their appreciation of his services. I
wish it could come from some body who has more power
of oratory than I have, and who could express his own
fe lings and the feelings of this assembly. Let me now,
Col. Yorke, in the name of your neighbours, the inhabi-
tants of this town, present you with this sword (great
cheering), and I hope that Colonel Yorke and his descend-
ants who, at later times, shall see this sword, will know
that the people of Wrexham appreciate bravery, appre-
ciate valour, and also appreciate kindly feelings. (Cheers.)
Gentlemen, I see you wish to do him honour, and 1 beg to
propose to you "The health of Colonel Yorke," with all
and every honour. (Enthusiastic applause.)

The toast was drunk with the most rapturous acclama-
tion. The band played " See the Conquering Hero
comes."

Colonel Yorke, having taken the sword which the chair-
man handed to him, rose and said—Sir William Wynne
and gentlemen, I feel that is totally impossible for me to
express my gratitude for this reception, this presentation,
and the hearty welcome you hive shown me. I have no
words to try to express my feelings upon this occasien.
I appear before you this evening without a sword,
to receive Ulla nAgnificent testimonial. (Cheers )
appear before you without a sword, for one simple
reason. which I shall relate. I never possessed but one
regimental sword during my whole service. That sword
had been presented to me when I first joined the Royal
Dragoons, at Cardiff, by a king relative, now a general
officer, Sir Edward Cast. (Cheers.) I prized the pre-
sent, and it served me my entire career, but I regret to
say 'it fell out of my hand involuntarily, wben T was
wounded at Balaklava. (Loud cheers.) It may appear
very stupid and ensolgierlike in me to have dropped my
sword nefore the enemy, to become the spoil of Cossacksa
and it distressed me very much at the time; but the blow
I received was severe and paralysing, and I contented
myself with supposing that no man can tell me he wpuld
have acted otherwise. (Rear, hear, and cheers.) The
subject of the war, I fear, has become, and indeed is, to us
rather a tale which is distressing to relate, and I do not
wish to enlarge upon it, I am sure. There is one quiet
and .peaceable :circumstance which occurs to me since I
came to my native:home—the extraordinary similarity of
my own native home to the very spit whore 1E was
wounded in the Crimea. If any person, who has visited
the Crimea, or served in the Crimea, will go over the
Ruabon Road, at take his position near Esless
farm, with Ertthig in front, he will see a crescent ridge
extending from Plas-gronow, the birth-place of "Nim-
rod," on the right, to Ertthig Wood en the left, singularly
like the ridge of hill which extends from the village of
Camera tq the heights of Inkerman. Upon that hill the
Malry videtto was centred to acquaint the army with

the movements of the enemy. There the Turkish redoubts
were forthed equidistant along the hill. I can point out
the spot. On the promontory near the bridge a valley
intervenes in the north easterly direction where the Light
Brigade charge took place. The ground is singularly like
the scene: It is not wooded and watered as our valley
would be, but in every other point of the landscape it is
singularly like. With my own regiment and the Greys
at the head of the Talley, I saw the Light Brigade go to
destruction. I was a passive spectator of that terrible
scene, sitting inactively is command of my regiment. In
every line the attack could be traced, the men on horse,
the sword, the lance, the carbine or the shako. the whole
line of their career. I remained in command of my regi-
ment untouched for a considerable time, until at le.:t my
horse was severely wounded at a spot which will be
known if I give it the name of Cold.y-Glvn, and
my own leg was blown out of the stirrup. I
have; seen models, maps, panoramas, and drawings
of that scene, but none in my mini's eye C 3 ne up
to that spot in my own native borne. Pr:or to that
calamity, 1 believe I may say my services had been fortu-
nate. I was a strong, active, and healthy man but after
that fatal day, the 25th of October, I made a rapid descent
from activity to infirmity, and am now a poor Chelsea
pensioner. I was fortunate in other circumstances, if
unfortunate in that. On one occasioa in Turkey, I had the
providential satisfaction to move my regiment miler a
burning sun, when pestilence pervaded, and where I iniget
have lost a number of men, and we escaped the pestil-nee.
I was again fortunate in keeping my health during the
whole of the stay at Varna. Until the very day of
Balaklava, I was better than I had toen during, the who',
of my foreign service. There are near nelqi-hnt‘rs to us
here whom [Should wish to mention, in speaking of those
scenes. There are three men belonging to the of
Liverpool. who have, I may say, saved my life. 11 0
board the transport for five, nearly six months, had I can
say that the kindness which the whole army received from
the captains of transports, was something more than I
could express. Three men, belonging to:the port o; _,fiver_
pool, saeed my life. One was Capt. Forest, ‘"the Arabia,
transport:; another., Captain Moodie. of the transatlantic
steamer Alps; and the third was a Welshman. C etaia
Roberts, of the sail;ng transport Gartrude. My wound
was far ton severe for medical skill to assist me at the
time. Nothing but my constitution, with the care,
kindness, and attention which I received, brought me to
this country. I think I may avoid saying any more of
those painful circu-nstances of mine, and can only again
endeavour to thank you for the testimonial you have given
me. I feel I have done so very inadequately; but I do
most gratefully acknowledge your most deep kindness.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. Meredith, in an eloquent speech, proposed the
health of the chairman.

Sir W. Wynne returned thanks in a few words.
Mr. Mainwaring proposed the health of Miss Nightin-
gale, and the ladies who accompanied her on her errand
of mercy ; and, in paying a high eulogium to those ladies
added. that it was gratifying to know that a Welsh lady was
one of those who left their horne3 on that noble mission.
(Cheers)

Sir William Lloyd : I would suggest that with the toast
should be coupled the name of the noble lady who went to
the Crimea to look after her brother—my friend here,
Mr. Palmer. (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Mr. Penton proposed the health of the Crimean heroes
who honoured the assembly by their presence. He alluded
to Colonel Brownrigg and Mr. Palmer, and added, that
he had great pleasure in seeing there a representative of
that gallant band which did honour to the principality of
Wales—the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. (Cheers.) That
regiment had always been conspicuous, wherever it was
employed, and although it had to lament the loss of many
men, it had won honours impsrishable. (Hear, hear.) He
was also glad to see there a representative of the gallant
55th, which had borne a part equally distinguished in the
late war. (Cheers.)
Sergeant Price, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was called on to
respond, and was loudly cheered. He said: Noble pros!.
dent and gentlemen, the t oast Just delivered warms my
heart by its commemoration of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
When I went out to the :Crimea, I went out in a white
coat. I was band sergeant of the regiment at that time,
but latterly, through the Crimea and the winter of 18.54,
of course I lost my health. I came home and I changed
my cloth. (Cheers.) I was in the Crimea during
the three eng,agements--Alma,. Inkermann, and Bala
klava. (Cheers.) I remember well when I knew Colonel
Brownrigg in America. He was then on the staff at
Kingston, in Canada. His brother-in law was Captain
Wynne, of the Royal Fusiliers. It hurts me very muoh
to have to mention that gallant gentleman's name. We
had to place him alongside the gallant colonel and nine
men wounded. But my feelings overcome me. But I
return my sincere thanks to the company for the kind
honour they have done us. (Cheers )
The I‘4 Denbigh Rifles," and the " Denbighshire Yee.
man Cavttlry,7 were se veralkpmri and viv---Erk,-4-- 6t:
Erddig,"• was proposed, and replied to by Mr. lorke.
The health of the " Chairman, the Vice-president, and
the Committee," were ;Also :severally proposed and
acknowledged,
StICEM other toasts having been proposed and aeknow-
!edged, the assembly dispersed after having enjoyed
most gratifying evening's entertainment.