The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

Wardens, and Court of Assistants ventured to
offer for your Royal Highness's acceptance the
honorary freedom of a corporation venerable for its
antiquity, distinguished for its loyalty, and eminent
tor its usefulness in dispensing its noble charities,
and promoting education based on sound Christian
principles. The gracious condescension with which
your Royal Highness was pleased to intimate 3 our
acceptance of the freedom was gratifying to every
member of the fraternity—on whose behalf I teg
,cave to tender to your Royal Highness their most
grateful acknowledgmt nts, and to solicit permission
to enrol the name of your Royal 11,ghn(ss among
its illustrious honorary members, and to welcome
your Royal Highness to its hospitalities as a citizen
and merchant tailor."
His ROYAL HIGHNESS made the following reply :
—Mr. Warden and Gentlemen,—lt is with a real
pleasure that I have come here to take up my free-
dom of the Merchant Taylors' Company. The his-
tory of the princes of England who have become
freemen of your ancient corporation has increased
my ambition to follow their example. Were another
motive wanting, it would be supplied by the revered
and dear memory of him whose words on a similar
occasion you have heard in this room where 1 now
address you. The wealth and respectability of the
Merchant Taylors proclaim the wisdom with which
its affairs are administered, and its widely-extended
charities the spirit in which its wealth is used. The
history of its educational establishments tells its own
tale of the success which has attended the liberal
principles and sound basis on which they are formed.
Mr. Warden and gentlemen, I am proud to belong
to a company which thus nobly works for the benefit
of the human race, and I esteem it a honour to have
my name enrolled among the freemen of the . Mer-
chant Taylors' Company.
The ceremony of admitting his Royal Highness to
the freedom of the company having terminated
his Royal Highness, accompanied by the honorary
members and the master wardens and court of as-
sistants, repaired to the drawingroom and joined
the many distinguished guests there assembled.
At the banquet, which was shortly afterwards
served in the hall, an extraordinary magnificence
was observable. The display of the company's
famous resources of hospitality was carried to its
utmost height ; and the massive wealth of decora-
tion was crowned with flowers of the choicest kinds,
in a profusion scarcely to be imagined. The Master.
Warden presided, having on his right hand the
Prince of Wales, and on his left the Duke of Cam-
bridge. The toast of " Her Majesty the Queen"
west drunk with great enthusiasm ; and
The MASTER WARDEN then said—This is an
eventful day for the Merchant Taylors' Company.
The heir apparent to the throne of thess realms has
honoured this ancient and loyal corporation in be-
coming one of its honorary members, and has, with
gracious condescension, accepted the invitation of
the master and wardens to honour the entertain-
ment with his company en this occasion. I feel
that in his Royal Highness's presence it would ill
become me, to say more than to ask you to join
with me very heartily in drinking the health of
their "Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of
Wales," assuring them of our loyal and dutiful re-
gard, and of our earnest prayers that they may long
be blessed with a continuance of every earthly hap-
piness, and dwell in the hearts and affections of the
British nation. (Great cheering.)
The Prince of WALES said—Waster Warden, your
4oyal Highnesses, my Lords and Gentlemen, It
would ill become if I did not in a few words re-
spond to the hearty and cordial manner in which
you have referred to my admission as a member
of your ancient corporation. I have in an-
other place alluded to the noble hospitality
of the Merchant Taylors' Company, but I am now
elnabled practically to bear testimony -to • the
splendid entertainment which has been so liberally
dispensed in this hall, and of which I shall ever
retain the most lively as well as the most grateful
recollection. (Loud cheers.)
The next toast was "Their Royal Highnesses the
Duke of Cambridge and the Crown Prince of
Prussia, Citizens and Merchant Taylors, and the
other illustrious branches of the Royal Family."
This was succeeded by " The Army, the Navy,
and the Volunteers," coupled with the names of the
Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Somerset,
His Royal Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE
said—Master Warden, you have done me the
honour to propose my health in a double capacity,
;first as a member of the Royal family, and next as
the head of the army. You have also requested me
to return thanks for the volunteers, As a member
of the Royal family, I beg to assure you that we are
deeply sensible of the kind feeling which is mani-
fested towards us on all occasions like the present
one. As regards the army, let me say that I am
convinced that the best and surest mode of securing
that peace which is so beneficial to the whole world,
and to no portion of it more than this great empire,
is to maintain the efficiency of the services over
one of which I have the honour to preside ; and I
can assure you that nothing more stimulates the
exertions of that service than the kind and liberal
manner in which the toast is always received in every
assembly of Englishmen. (Cheers.) As to the vo-
lunteers, I am proud to think that I am myself the
head of one of the volunteer corps of the City of
London. lam happy to say that the most cordial
feeling of friendship and fellowship exists between
the army and the volunteers; and I trust that year
after year their value and importance will be in-
creasingly manifested. Let me, in conclusion,
congratulate the Merchant Taylors Company
on having now added to the list of its members the
name of the Prince of Wales—a compliment, the
acceptance of which evinces his Royal Highness's
with that the old institutions of the country might
continue, including those noble guilds at the hos-
pitable board of one of which we have this evening
the pleasure of meeting.
The Duke of SOMERSET briefly returned thanks
for the Navy.
The MASTER WARDEN then proposed "His Grace
the Archibishop of Canterbury," who acknowledged
the compliment in a short speech of thanks.
The next toast was " St. John's College, Oxford,
and the President of the Senior Fellows thereof."
The Rev. Dr. WINTER, President of St. John's
College, returned thanks.
The MASTER WARDEN then proposed " The Hono-
rary Members of the Company," coupled with the
name of the Earl of Derby, which was received with.
much cheering ; the other names nientio.ned_Sbei_nsg.
the Duke of Northumberland, the Marquis of all
bury, the Earl of Elgin, LordeCheerlamissfoirrd,
George Lord
Clyde, Sir John Lawrence, and Gn
Pollock. it please your
The Earl of DEMRB
asY
Master Warden,
my Lords and
Royal Highness,
Gentlemen, I have learnt, if I did not know it be-
fore, since I have been an honorary member of this
illustrious company, that the first and principal duty
s strict, immediate, and unquestioning obedience to
orders, and consequently, although amid the illus-
trious names which have been read I know not why
mine should have been selected as that of the per-
son who was to return thanks, I do not hestitate
for a single moment to obey the order which I
have received. None can feel more warmly the
compliment which you have been pleased to pay
to me amongst the rest ; but I have considerable
difficulty in returning thanks on the present oc-
casion, because I have so frequently expressed my
gratitude in this room for similar kindness which I
have received. Indeed the task is more difficult on
this occasion than on any other, because I am for-
cibly reminded of memorable occasions on which I
have received marks of kindness and consideration,
and on which I was not merely permitted, but re-
quired to touch and to enlarge on topics from which
I am wholly debarred from alluding this evening.
(Hear, hear.) It is obvious that on this occasion it
would be wrong to touch inTh theis fo sligrbidden bhtest degreey the
on
any political question. is

mixed character of the assembly which I
by the presence of many from wham I di:
political opinions, but for whom I enterta.
regard' and friendship; and above all by
senco of the illustrious Prince who has this .11ty.
honoured us by his company and membership ; for
although no man can take a greater interest than
his royal highness in the affairs of this country, yet
from his high position he stands above, and must
at all times be kept separate from, all political con-
neetions and all party considerations. Yet so much
I think I may say on the present occasion without
hurting the feelings of any one, that there are topics
on which in the present day there are no differ-
ences of opinion. Indeed, upon most of the political
topics the differences which separate us are differ-
eueGs rather of degree than of principle ; and while
we are all—some faster and some slower. somemoro
cautiously and some more eagerly—anxious to im-
prove and amend the institutions of onr country,
we are all, with the exception inthed of a c:.naparu.-
lively insignificant fraction, disposed to rest evcrv-
-ement and every adaptatien to the spirit of
upon our old, honoured, acid valued institu-
(Cheen.) It may be that sumo of these
valued institutions are at present unavailable for
the purpose for which they were origina ly in-
tended. God be praised that these companies are no
longer called upon• to perform ,those valuable ser-
vices, and to discharge those important functions
by which in earlier and less happy days they ren-
dered great benefit to the country. (Hear, hear.)
There is no need now for the guilds of London to
stand up to defend the privileges of the people
against the encroachments of the Crown. There is
no need now for the interference of the guilds of
London as the guardians of our infant commerce,
no need for the nursing, it I may venture to whisper
the word, the protecting—(leteghter)—and if .I may
also add, the monopolising, of the trade and com-
merce of the country. (Cheers and laughter.) That
infant commerce has now outgrown the necessity of
being sustained by means of nursing—(hear, hear)
—and whether to assist the commerce of the coun-
try or to resist the encroachments of the_ Crown,
guilds are no longer required, or indeed able, to
perform the ancient functions by which they for-
merly rendered such great service to the country.
(Cheers.) Indeed, I may say that unless it be the
Goldsmiths' Company, there is now no one company
in London which has any real practical connection
with the duties of the trade which they originally
represented. Yet I do not believe the most ram-
pant utilitarian would propose or suggest to any one
the idea of dispensing with the great and valuable
guilds, although their original functions may not
now be performed by them ; feeling, as all must
do, that if they do not now discharge those func-
tions, they perform others hardly less valuable, and,
moreover, that they remain as a standing monu-
ment of the honour which this country has always
paid to its commercial interests—a proof of the vast
extent of prosperity which those interests have at-
tained, and a proof also that those who are connected
with those interests have not merely known how to
make their own fortunes by successful industry,
but have nobly and generously expended the riches
which they have acquired. (Cheers.) Amid the
alterations made in the superstructure the buttress
may no longer be required, yet the buttress remains
not leis an ornament to the building—an ornament
which antiquity has reflected upon modern times.
Cheers). There is no man, however high his sta-
tion may be, however distinguished may be his
position—l will not except even the illustrious
Prince who has this day done us the honour of be-
coming a member of this company—who may not
well be proud of being associated with a company
so distinguished as the present ; a company which
is distinguished, not only by its splendid hospitality
—a hospitality which is not merely a vain show, or
an empty profession, but which serves the practical
purpose of bringing together in social intercourse
classes of the community which might otherwise see
little of each other—but, far more than that, a com-
pany which knows how to make such a noble and.
generous use of its wealth, which subscribes so
liberally to the charities of this country, and which
has done so much by its example and its means to
maintain and uphold in this land the great funda-
mental cause of moral and religious education.
(Cheers.) In the name of theAaonorary,thettbers of
this company, including, I am perfectly confident,
the illustrious Prince himself, who has this day been
enrolled, I may say that we feel it the highest
honour to be associated with a body so distinguished
es that which I have the honour to address; and
that we are deeply grateful for the invitation to be
present this day, and for the kind manner in which
the toast has been proposed and received. (Cheers.)
The next toast was the" House of Lords."
The Duke of RICHMOND returned thanks.
The Prince of WALES said—l have now the
pleasure to propose a toast, which I am sure re-
quires no remark, it is "Prosperity to the Merchant
Taylors' Company," coupled with the name of the
Master.
The MASTER-WARDEN returned thanks.
The next toast was " The Colonies of Great
Britain," coupled with the name of the Duke of
Newcastle.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in responding, said he
was glad that the colonies had not been overlooked
on that occasion. They were, he believed, actuated
by a feeling of thorough loyalty towards the
throne, and he declared there was not one of them
that did not desire to remain attached to this cowl-
' try as long as possible and to adopt its institutions.
It was remarkable that events had recently occurred
in two of those colonies which those who had de-
voted attention to them would a short time ago
have believed to be impossible. One of them had
by its voice of the legislature already adopted
universal suffrage; and the other, one of the Aus-
tralian group, had already taken steps for the same
purpose. These appeared to him sure indications
that the loyalty of the colonies to the Crown of
England was based on a thorough conviction that
by adopting the institutions of this country they
would best promote their own happiness.
The next toast was" The Judges of England," for
which Lord Chief Justice ERLE returned thanks.
This was succeeded by " The Merchant Taylors'
School," for which the head master, the Rev. Dr.
HESSEY, responded.
aauTphleadnwexitthtotahset
nwaasme"oTf The
Mr.H nouissreazfi.
assAuirre. DthiesnaAssEehme,bliyn responding,that
ttheCommons,"
hallowed b y g generations rwabt
which
io
en
hs the
ww ah
si
historych
perhaps h a d
uo usseat ihod f t
Commonshe
kind
dou l could
did not look upon compliments of a k. on
ntesrs.ooff
respect ou t n e
and u t
teedccastihoennis aass
asucceehp
precededsympathytheeols,ecarnatded
of an ancient Ineexrperemssaiot
nation. Corporations were
not the least inconsiderable securities they
possessed for that public liberty
per-
mitted
elatsreyn.timlehnetyto
t the
privilege
of
ff
individualt this
as-
sume, when it was necessary, the massive and ma-
jestic form of public opinion, which controlled and
regulated the course of public affairs, They were
indeed in times of trouble and perplexity something
around which men might rally. But it must be more
gratifying than usual to the House of Commons to
have had its health pledged in the presence of such
illustrious guests. The Prince of Wales, however
exalted his position, was, it should be recollected, a
Member of Parliament. (Hear, hear.) He had taken
his hereditary seat in the senate of this country :
there he had learnt the course and conduct of legis-
lation, and there, if imperious duty prompted him,
he might legitimately express his opinion by his
voice. His Royal Highness had that day taken up
the freedom of the company, but the country recol-
lected that he had before, in the House of Lords,
oa
circumstances were to the pe
taken up the freedom of his count
plery.
nd a
of EnglThese public
source of proud satisfaction. The people looked upon
them as a guarantee on themfuture as
a source of proud
land, they looked up
for the we fare of
satisfaction to to the illustrious Prince himself, and as
the best security for the happiness of the country.
(Cheers.)
The last toast Wes " The Visitors," for which Lord
STANLEY returned thanks.
The band of the Coldstreams, under their leader
Mr. Godfrey, played an excellent selection during
the dinner; and a selection of vocal music was after-
wards performed under the direction of Mr. Donald
Ring, who was ably assisted. Mr. Harker off,.
elated as toastmaster.