The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-03 00:00:00

which has now grown into a fixed principle in sup-
port of our military system. Gentlemen, the Prime
Warden and this company have this day dote me a

great honour. You have selected me to become an
honorary member of this ancient an 1 important
civic company. It is a compliment ghly value,
first as a compliment paid to myselfperonally, next
as a compliment to the royal family to which I be-
long, and thirdly, to the service with which I am

more immediately connected. Although I can well
believe the first two reasons must have operated in
your mind in doing me this honour, I cannot but
feel the compliment is really more due to the cir-

cumstance of my being connected with the army
than to any other, for I feel that it is to the army I

owe everything as regards my present position. I
have from early life been associated with the service.

I have invariably found among its members the
greatest support and the kindest feeling towards
myself; and it is my pleasure and pride, after serv-
ing in the lower grades, to find myself at the head

of this noble profession. It is a profession of which
I am sure the country bas a right to be proud, and
which will at all times do its duty, in whatever pc)

sition it may be placed. As you are well aware, the
army of this country has often been placed in diffi-
cultie9 and dangers, but these have been overcome,
and the result is that England possesses an army
which it delights to honour. On this occasion you
have honoured the army by drinking the toast
which you have been pleased to associate with my
name, and you have also honoured me as the head
of the army by electing me a member of this ancient
and honourable company. I feel that this is the
greatest compliment which you could have paid me
and them, and I beg to thank you in the name of
the army for the honour you have done it in my

person. (Cheers.)
The PRIME WARDEN then gave the toast of
" Her Majesty's Ministers," remarking as he did so
that it mattered little which political party was in

power provided the Government for the time being
was composed of men earnestly desirous under Pro-
vidence of promoting the welfare of this great em-
pire, and its just position among nations, the pro-
sperity of its people, and the peace of the world.
The company would probably concur with him in
thinking that the country was never in a more sa-
tisfactory condition, on the whole, than at present.
He coupled with the toast the name of the Right
Hon. Robert Lowe, a member of her Majesty's
Government.

Mr. LOWE said there was always some delicacy
in returning thanks for a toast like that, which
seemed to trench on the confines of party politics;
but, happily, at no period was that delicacy ever
less than at present, for it was the rare felicity of
the present Government to see the old distinctions
of party almost wholly obliterated. (Hear, hear.)
That was not the time nor the place to go deeply
into the causes of that most happy state of things.
It had arisen from the settlement, in an amicable
spirit of compromise, of a vast number of questions
which had divided the statesmen and politicians of
the country into hostile camps, and was due also in
a great measure to the high personal character, the
great attainments, and the conspicuous place in the
public eye of that remarkable man who had out-
lived a generation of statesmen—(cheers)—and who
led, with almost unexampled power, popularity,
and authority, the deliberations of the House of
Commons, of which he was the ornament and the
trusty head and adviser. (Cheers.) He would
only say on behalf of the Government that as a body
they were gentlemen sincerely anxious to do
their duty, and to discharge conscientiously towards
the public the functions devolving upon them. It
was not for him to say that they had been the
cause of the present happy state of things ; but he
believed the second Government of Lord Palmerston
would in future times be regarded as one of the
most glorious in the national history. We were
happy at home, our empire was extending, and he
believed we were never more respected by foreign
countries. These advantages had been secured by
the practical wisdom of the people and by the con-
cord of our public men, and long might such a state
of things continue. (Cheers.)
The toast of " The House of Lords" followed, the
PRIME WARDEN associating with it the name of
Lord CRANWORTH, who briefly acknowledged the
compliment, dwelling on the important part which
that assembly played in the Constitution of the
country, its deep-rooted seat in the feelings of the
community, and on the public advantages which
result from the admission into its ranks from time
to time of men wbo had fought their way in life
and gained a seat in it, not from ancestral con-
nections, but from merit, citing the names of Carys-
fort, Ashburton, and Overstone as worthy of men-
tion in a company, for the most part, engaged in
the pursuits of commerce.
To the toast of " The House of Commons," Mr.
R. W. CRAWFORD replied, stating that at no time
did that assembly more fitly represent the opinions
of the country at large than at present, and that
there was no well-matured opinion which did not
find a ready expression in it.
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE said he had a duty to
perform most agreeable to himself, and which he
was sure would afford equal satisfaction to all
whom he addressed. He had the honour of sitting
next to Mr. Cabrtt, the respected Prime Warden of
this ancient corporation, and the very fact of his
having in two successive years filled the office
of chief magistrate of this great and important
city was the best proof that he was honoured and
respected by his fellow-citizens. (Cheers.) With
their and his permission he would propose his
health, coupling with that toast " Prosperity to the
Fishmongers' Company," of which he had that day
become a member. He had at times heard it said
that these great companies had seen their day, and
that it would be better that they should cease to
exist. He did not share that feeling ; on the con-
trary, he believed, and. that was an opinion he had
long held, that those companies had very useful and
important public duties to perform, and that they
discharged them with the highest credit to the body
corporate and with a great amount of general good.
For himself he should always entertain a grateful
recollection of the hospitality and kindness with
which he had been received on this occasion; he
believed in that respect he might also speak for the
rest of the guests ; and he hoped this great and
ancient corporation might " flourish for ever, root
and branch." (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with acclamation.
Lord Justice KNIGHT BRUCE, whose name had
been connected with the toast of " The Bench and
the Bar," said, speaking of the Judges, it was their
destiny to pass a
great part of their lives in dis-
satisfying and displeasing half the litigants who
came before them, unless, indeed, at times when
they succeeded in disappointing both sides.
(Laughter.) Nor, he said, ought they to expect or
wish to be popular, but it was impossible not to feel
sensible of the good opinion of men at once upright,
intelligent, and independent. They did so feel, and
they gratefully acknowledged it on this occasion.
Mr. BoviLL responded to the toast on behalf of
the Bar.
The PRIME WARDEN then gave in succession
"The Corporation of London and the City Com-
panies" (for which the Master of the Drapers' Com-
pany spoke) and the " Royal Hospitals," associating
the name of Mr. Foster White, treasurer of St. Bar-
i tholomew's.
The company separated shortly after 10 o'clock.
In the course of the entertainment the bargemaster
presented to his Royal Highness and the Prime
Warden the six young watermen who had that day
rowed in the race on the Thames for the livery and
badge given by Mr. Thomas Dogget, deceased, a
time, t e
happy accession famous comedian
of his
to in commemoration of
h
Majesty.
Th
the throne of the family of
her presentwinnereth. was Thomas
te
Young, of Prinee'stairs Roa
doe watermen
They were
accompanied by about half
watermen who
had gained this distinction former
in
whom, named Campbell, bearing
seveyraelars, me one of
his breast, was recognised by the Dot medals on
Cam-
bridge as having served in the flagabip Britannia
during the Crimean war. The competitors in the
race, according to custom, received each a couple of
bottles of wine from the hands of the Prime Virar,
den, and the former winners of the coat and badge
one bottle each, with some kindly hints as to the
prudent use of it.
On the gold casket, containing the record of the