The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-04 00:00:00

presence to the encouragement of those societies
whose object is to promote the best interests of the
country. (Cheers.) Among those societies none
are more important or deserve more o r cur grati-
tude than the Corporation of the Trinity House, for
we cannot but recognise how muca the safety and
welfare of our sailors and ships are owing to their
exertions. I need hardly, lam sure, recal to your
recollection the deep interest my beloved father
took in your Corporation and its success,
and how proud he felt in being your Master.
It is therefore doubly gratifying to me to be your
guest on this occasion. I once more heartily
thank you for your kind reception of this toast.
(Loud cheers.)
A glee, diversifying the entertainment, was then
sung to the words of Richard Brinsley Sheridan ;
is Marked you her eye of heavenly blue ?
Mark'd you her cheek of roseate Jane ?
That eye, in liquid circles moving ;
That cheek, abashed at man's approving ;
The one, love's arrows darting round,
The other blushing at the wound ?''
Viscount PALMERSTON next rose and said, the
toast I have now to propose is one which concerns
the whole of the United Kingdom, and I may say,
through the United Kingdom, concerns the interests
of the world, because I hold that the prosperity, the
independence, and the civilisation of the United
Kingdom are matters of great moral and political
importance to "all other nations. (Heil., hear.) I
propose "The Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers,"
and I beg that you will drink in connexion with
that toast the healths of his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge—(cheers)—his grace the Duke
of Somerset, and Lord de Grey and Ripon. To
dilate upon the merits and achievements of the
army and navy of lireat Britain would only be to
recount some of the most interesting pages of the
history of the world. All that one can say is that
they are now upon that moderate footing which
befits the peace establishment of a free country and
an insular country, though we do not imitate those
gigantic establtshments which we see on the con-
tinent of Europe, which would draw large num-
bers of the community from the pursuits of industry,
which would impoverish the nation in which they
were maintained, which only tend to menace
neighbouring countries—(hear, hear)—and which
are maintained ostensibly for purposes of defence,
but reslly for purposes of aggression. (Cheers.)
Although, I say, we do not imitate that bad ex-
ample, we have an army and navy perfeet in them-
selves so far as their extent and magnitude go,
capable of great and rapid development in case
necessity should require it; and, I believe, more
efficient in officers and men, and in respect to the
material of war, than at any period of our history.
We have also a new force, which not less commends
itself to the respect and good wishes and to the
support of the community than the army and navy,
I mean the Volunteers, an institution peculiarly
adapted to our country, because, I will venture to
say, there is no country governed by despotic au-
thority that would not feel alarmed at having
150,000 or 160,000 armed men, citizens, coining
forward at their own free will, subject only to the
laws of the country, and well aware of the moral
support which that obedience gives to its institu-
tions. It is a proud thing that the civil population
of the country should have turned out with such
zeal, should have made such rapid progress in the
science of arms and should show to any foreign
country that should think it prudent to dispute
with us that they would have to contend not only
with an army and navy, but with a people skilled
in the use of aims and the evolutions of war.
(Cheers.)
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE, in iesponding to the
toast on behalf of the armyt said he need not re-
mind the company that the army was scattered
over every part of the world, that its duties even in
times of peace were very onerous, and that it was
exposed to the vicissitudes of climate, which were
sometimes hardly less deadly than actual service in
the field. The same amount of courage and force
was required to resist these vicissitudes and the
knowledge that the services of the army were al ways
appreciated by their countrymen at home was grati-
fying to tne heart of every British soldier. Their
noble chairman had rightly stated that the army was
at this moment on a footing of peace. We were
essentially a commercial country, and as such it
became us not to be aggressive. At the same time
the present condition of the army, thanks to the
liberality of Parliament, to the manner in which it
had been supported by successive Governments, and
to the enlightened views of successive Secretaries of
State was such that if at any time its service should
be required in the defence of the country it would
not be found wanting. We lived in times of pro-
gress in the arts of peace as well as in the art of
war, and with respect to the twin services, it was
difficult to decide what improvements to adopt and
what to reject. It had been often their lot to be
blamed for not going ahead fast enough. That was
a natural ground for complaint, but one against
which they were able to defend themselves. Al-
though they ought not to stand still, they might go
ahead a little too fast. He hoped that, acting in
conjunction with the present Secretary of State, and
his predecessors, they bad gone just the right pace
—(a laugh)—and that the efficiency of the service
was now such as to satisfy the country. His royal
highness concluded his observations by thanking
that ancient Corporation for affording him the op.
portunity of being present on so interesting an oc-
casion, and resumed his seat amid cheers.
The Duke of SOMERSET thanked the company for
the honour they had conferred on her Majesty's
navy, an honeur, he said, they were accustomed to
receive, but which they had never received in a more
distinguished society. It was quite unnecessary,
speaking in that hall, to say anything as to the ser-
vices of the navy, so intimately connected was it with
the Trinity House. He might say, indeed, that the
Admiralty and the Trinity House were cousins,
united together in many ways, and now more closely
connected than ever by means of the Royal Naval
Reserve. (Hear.) He might also speak of the dif-
ficulties with which the Admiralty had to contend
in reference to suggestions made from time to time
for the improvement of the navy. Some time ago
they were warned that the Monitor which the
Americans built would show them the way. Sne
did, indeed, show them the way, but it was to the
bottom of the sea (a laugh)—an example which they
wisely avoided, but by which they were admonished
at the same time nut Cu advaacn too fast is the
career of progress. (Hear, hear.)
Earl DE GREY and RIPON, in responding for the
Volunteers, argued that the position of that force
after an interval of five years was such as to negative
the assertion made by some at the commencement
of the movement that it was the result of temporary
effervescence and excitement, and would never be
permanently established. Its numbers, he said, were
now as high as at any period of its progress; the
liberality of Parliament had placed it on a suitable
footing, and, as far as he could judge, it had entered
on a career of permanent utility. (Hear, bear.)
The Prince of WALES,—Your Royal Highness,
my Lords, and gentlemen, a duty now devolves upon
me which is happily a very easy one to perform.
It is to propose a toast which cannot fail to give
pleasure to every one present. Let us drink " The
Health of the Master of the Trinity-house, Viscount
Palmerston." (Enthusiastic cheers.) It would be
superfluous in me to recount the long and valuable
services which your lordship has rendered to your
Sovereign and country. (Renewed cheers.) Among
those services, though, perhaps, less prominent than

some others, those connected with the Trinity-house
are by no means to be accounted less important.
The work performed by this corporation speaks for
_ .

- -
itself, but additional lustre has been conferred upon

it by the eminent men who from time to time have
filled the office of its Master. That in Lord Pal-
merston the dignity of this ancient corporation is

worthily represented every one of whatever shade
of politics will,
I am sure, acknowledge. (Cheers.)
Lord PALMERSTON said he begged to return his
Royal Highness his most cordial thanks for the kind
and flattering manner in which he had been pleased to
propose the toast, and his thanks, also, to the gen-
tlemen present for the way
in which they had
received it. He felt great pride and much gratifica-
tion in filling an office in virtue of which he had
had the honour of having
his health proposed by
his Royal Highmss. The institution of the Trinity
House WAS one of the greatest interest, and when

he reflected on the number of great and eminent
men who had filled the office of Master before him,
it was a subject of pride and satisfaction to him that
he had been thought worthy of having his name
added to the list. He now begged to propose a toast
which might savour a little of egotism, for it implied
a demand on the gratitude of the invited guests for
the hospitality afforded them. He proposed " The
Deputy Master, and Prosperity to the Corporation
of Trinity-house." (Cheers.) The Deputy-Master
was a most active and valuable member of the in-
stitution, and rendered many very important ser-
vices to the public. (Hear.) With regard to the in-
stitution itself, it belonged to the civilisation of the
age and was connected with some of the most im-
portant interests of the country. In former times the
inhabitants of this country were stigmatised and re-
presented as being divided physically and morally
from the rest of the world. (A laugh.) Nature, for-
tunately for us, had separated these islands, and,
luckily, the physical division still continued. (A
laugh.) But the moral division had ceased, thanks
to the progress of science, the development of the
arts, and the ingenuity of man—as shown in the
steamboat, in railways, electric telegraphs, and
various other contrivances. These islands were now
the centre whence the holy flame of social, civil,
and religious liberty is spread throughout every
country in the world. But we were not only accused
of being entirely divided from the rest of the world,
but we were described as very cruel to those who
came to visit U 9. (A laugh.) Thanks, however,
to the exertions of this institution, that report
could no longer be made. These islands were no
longer in the condition described by the poet, when
he said—
"— Benighted travellers, their journey o'er,
Curse the saved candle and unopened door."
The benighted mariner who approaches our shores
finds now a series of splendid illuminations and
other appliances to guide him through the dangers
which beset the narrow seas and lead him to that
harbour which opened wide its arms to receive him.
Happily, he brings commodities from every part of
the globe to a country where he finds good markets
and willing purchasers. (Hear, hear.) He had
heard it said that the dangers of a voyage from the
East Indies were nothing in comparison with those
which environed the chops of the Channel. The
lights established by the corporation of the Trinity-
honee enabled voyagers to avoid those perils, and
the institution was therefore entitled to the grati-
tude of the public. (Hear, hear.)
The DEPUTY MASTER briefly responded to the
compliment.
The MASTER (Viscount Palmerston)—Your Royal
Highnesses, my lords, and gentlemen,—l now rise
to propose a toast in respect to which I stand be-
fore you in a double capacity, like a child with two
heads. (A laugh.) For the moment, however, I
only retain one of them, and, regarding myself
simply as Master of the Trinity-house, I propose
the toast of "Her Majesty's Ministers." (Cheers
and laughter) Idosoin no other capacity, and in
that capacity I know full well that any toast pro-
posed here should be divested of ell political im-
portance, because we meet here on neutral ground.
This corporation is ne political body, and the noble-
men and gentlereen who assemble round this board
come without reference to politics or party. Well,
now, can a toast of " Her Majesty's Ministers" be
divested of political import ? (Laughter.) I think
it can. I don't ask you to drink political health to
her Majesty's Ministers. The health or the sick-
ness, the life or the death of her Majesty's Ministers
depends on the Sovereign and the Parliament—(a
laugh)'—and not on after-dinner politics. But I
trust the gentlemen here will only drink to the
physical health of those who for the time being are
engaged in the public service, because it is quite
clear that if they remain in the public service and
de not aiso remain in health the public service will
be very imperfectly managed, (Laughter.) There-
fore, gentlemen, in the interest of all, and I trust
in accordance with the feelings of all, I beg to pro.
pose the health of her Majesty's Ministers. (Cheers
and laughter.) lam persuaded the Lord Chancel-
lor, who has the custody of people of all states of
mind—(laughter)—both those who are in our
opinion sane, and those who in the opinion of our
political adversaries are not sane—wilt respond to
this toast—(laughter)—divesting his remarks as
much as possible of any political bias, and render-
ing them entirely in harmony with the feelings of
every gentleman present. The noble viscount re-
sumed his seat amid great laughter.
The LORD CHANCELLOR rose in the general mer-
riment, and briefly replied to the toast in a face-
tious speech.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER next pre.
seated himself to speak. He rose, ho said, to ask
them to drink to "The maritime and commercial
interests of the country." That was a toast which
could not pass unnoticed within the walls of an
institution which was itself so nearly connected
with those interests, and for that very reason it was
not necessary that he should detain them on so fer-
tile a subject. He would only say, in the first
instance, that one of the most remarkable charac-
teristics of those interests was their elastic pro-
gression—a progression of such a character that it
might he, when the illustrious Prince who now came
among them in ail the vigour of youth should be
descending into the vale of years, the men who
should then assemble at that board would look at the
trade and commerce of the present day as trifling in
comparison, That commerce was beneficent as re-
garded the people of this country, for it had done
much to raise the standard of comfort in the home
of the labouring man, to generate a sentiment of
cheerfulness and contentment, and to bind together
the various classes of the community. (Cheers.) It
was beneficent as regarded mankind, for it was the
link of amity between the various nations of the
world. Lastly, it was free, for it did not owe its
strength to the agency of Parliaments or Govern-
ments, but to the inborn energy of Englishmen.
(Cheers.) Little was it in comparison that Go-
vernments could do for its expansion, yet that little
might be well done or ill done. He had been asked
to couple with the toast the name of his right
hon. friend Mr. Milner Gibson, and he did so
with great satisfaction, because it was not easy to
find any man—certainly but very few men—who
had laboured with greater assiduity or with greater
effect to promote by the wisest and most judicious
means the expansion of the trade and commerce of
the country. (Cheers.)
Mr. M. lalßso.r, :u replying to the toast, said
Parliament had established relations between the
Board of Trade and the Trinity Corporation, which
were somewhat peculiar. Any one who took up
the Act of Parliament which had wedded the two
departments together would see that neither of
them had sufficient power to control the other, nor
to do anything official by itself. But whatever
might be said of theory in this country we cared not
if the results were good, and although there had
been predictions of the evils of divided respon
sibility and a double government he could bear wit-
ness to the harmonious action of the Board of Trade
and the Trinity Corporation, and to the most bene-
ficial results which had flowed from it. They had
been enabled to reduce the cost of lighting the
ports of the United Kingdom. Shipowners now
paid less on that account than they ever did before,
while at the same time the number and brilliancy
of the lights had been increased, and he could con-
fidently compare the way in which the coasts of
this country were litwith the lighting system of any
country in the world.

The DEPUTY.MASTER gave "The Honorary
Brethren," coupling with the toast the name of the
Duke of Argyll.
His GRACE, in responding, adverted to the pre-
sent high state of prosperity of the maritime corn.
merce of the country, which he did, be said, not
merely on the strength of statistics, but from what
he saw by residing a great part of the gear on the
waters of the Clyde. He referred more farticularly
to the powerful class of steamers whici had been
built there, though he was not sure that he could
, exactly explain the destination of them all. (A
laugh.)
Mr. M. GIBSON next proposed "Bitish Ships
and British Seamen," associating with the toast the
name of Dr. Lushington, Judge of the High Court
of Admiralty.
The toast of " The Distinguished 'Visitors" was
proposed by the MASTER in a short facetious speech,
and Lard SHAFTESBURY having acknowledged the
compliment, the company separated.