The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-05 00:00:00

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TAE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 5, • 1863.

THE SHEFFIELD CUTLERS' FEAST.

fulness and duo humility to the Giver of all good for the
blessings which we as a country enjoy. (Hear.) As to
foreign politics, we have endeavoured to preserve the peace
of the world, and not to undertake any Quixotic crusade for
the liberties of other countries—(hear)—have given our
moral support to all who aro struggling for freedom—(ap-
plause)—and in the great civil contest which is waging at
the other side of the Atlantic, we have, I think, performed
our duty by preserving a strict neutrality. (Cheers.) I
should have been glad to have said no more, but, after the
observations of Mr. Dunn, I cannot help referring to that
department over which I have the honour to preside.
(Hoar.) I concur in what Mr. Dunn has said, and bear
out the truth of his observations. I have now, for the second
time, become connected with the Administration of India.
(Hear.) I must say that the power of this country in India
seems to me to be something miraculous. No man would
have believed, four or five years ago, that the energy of a
few Englishmen could have suppressed that most formid-
able mutiny, which nearly desolated the country from one
end to the other. Undaunted by numbers—standing almost
alone—no man, no woman quailed, and in the end they
triumphed over the mutiny in the most splendid manner.
(Applause,) Since that time tranquillity has been restored,
the country has attained a degree of prosperity which it
never enjoyed before, and the whole of its institutions have
been revised. (Hear.) I do not wish to take more credit
to myself than is my due, but since I have been at the
office which I now hold the government of the country has
been recast, natives admitted into the administration—
(hear)—the judicature has been revised ; the penal code,
civil proceedings, the army, and the navy have all been re-
modelled—(hear)—and I hardly know a point in which
administrative improvement was required in which we have
not done that which was best, and which has met with
the approbation of Parliament at home, and the approval
of the great masses of the population of India. (Cheers.)
We are performing our mission to that country in govern-
ing it for the benefit of the great masses of the people there,
and in the welfare of the people of India we shall not only
derive the best pecuniary reward, but we shall have per-
formed, I hope, that great mission to which we have been
called, of improving and civilising the largest population
which at present exists under the rule of any one sove-
reign. (Cheers.)
Mr. Alderman JACKSON proposed q The healths of Sir
J. W. Ramsden and Sir J. Crossley, the members for the
West Riding."

(Hear.) Take the nearest country to us—there is no liberty
there ; while we are free to say and to do what we like, so
that we injure no man. (Hear.) Austria is in the very
throes of establishing a constitutional government. We
have gone through that difficulty ourselves; she is now in
the very heart and midst of that great attempt. (Hear.)
Prussia is under the control of one who—it would be a great
mercy to his people if he were to be [after a short pause]
relieved of the trouble of government. (Hear, and laugh-
ter.) Russia is in the very throes of a revolution. And if
we stretch our view across the sea, to our friends, as we call
them, to our descendants, as we know them—(hear)—what
is there to be seen ? Liberty gone ;no man able to say that
his soul is his oven—(hear, hear, and oh, oh)—compelled to
do the commands of two or three men at Washington—
(cries of "Shame," and " Despotism")—creat;ng misery
throughout the world. (Hear.) Now we here, sir, enjoy
freedom such as mankind has never before known. We are
well governed; every man before the law is equal. The
poorest man in the country before the law is equal to the
greatest man among us. (Cheers.) Now, sir, for all this,
we are not altogether indebted to our Government. (Hear.)
There are in the people themselves, a prudence, knowledge,
and virtue that have vindicated for themselves the great
power which they possess. I acknowledge, sir, that the
rulers have very often paid deference to public opinion, that
they have yielded to public opinion when it has been too
strong for them. At the present moment I feel very much
tempted to talk—but I wont talk. (Go on, and hear, hear.)
I feel that there are things which press upon us here, that
we in this town shall know of before 12 months are gone
over our heads ; and I would ask any right honourable
friend (Sir Charles Wood) to bear in mind what I am
about to say. There has been one great symptom of politi-
cal advancement in the people of this country. They have
suffered a calamity such as hardly ever was thrown upon
any country before. How have they borne it ? Quietly
and with patience. They have not turned round upon the
employer; they have not turned round upon the Govern-
ment. And why ? Because political knowledge has reached
them, and they know that neither their governors nor their
employers were answerable for the mischiefs of which they
complained. (Hear.) But let my right hon. friend (Sir C.
Wood) recollect that that knowledge and that feeling will
not very much longer continue. They will ask themselves
if they could not have been relieved from the sufferings that
they will have to bear; and if they could, then the blame
of the miseries which they suffer will be visited upon the
heads of those who have created them. Let my right hon.
friend bear this in mind. Sir, I won't go further. I have
trodden now upon very dangerous ground. (Mr. Dunn and
others—Hear, hear.) I know my friend Mr. Dunn. (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) If I had been terrified in that way, great
things would not have been done that have been done.
(Hear.) If my countrymen had been alarmed in that fashion
we should not have been in the proud position we now
occupy. (Cheers.) Therefore I say, sir, I thank you most
heartily on behalf of my colleague and myself for the way
in which you have received the toast, and for the great
honour you have done us in drinking it.
Sir C. goon--Mr. Master Cutler, ray Lord, and Gentle-
men—l have obtained leave to propose a toast, without
which no assemblage of English gentlemen would willingly
separate. It is a toast which will be drunk gladly by an
assemblage among whom I see so many of that noble pro.
fession who are renowned for their gallantry in arms no less
than for the devotion which they cherish towards the
ladies. Not that I believe that the toast will be less
willingly drunk by the civilians whom I see around me.
(Hear, hear.) Indeed, I augur from what I have heard
to-night that the ladies of Sheffield are not less deserving of
the compliment we are about to pay them than the gentle-
men of Sheffield are assidious and enterprising in their
attentions. It seems to me that the trade of Sheffield has
undergone a great change of late. The town used to be cele-
brated for weapons of offensive warware ; now it seems to
have entirely taken the defensive line. The mayor does
nothing but provide defensive armour for the waists of our
ships, and the Master Cutler tells me I don't know how
much steel he furnishes for defensive armour for the waists
of the ladies. (Laughter.) I suppose that that mode of de-
fensive armour was invented here because the charms of the
ladies were irresistible, and the gentlemen were too enter-
prising to be withstood without some such defence. (Loud
laughter, and Oh, oh.) I entirely agree with all that yoir
worthy neighbour said on this subject, that it is most de-
sirable that those defensive measures should be somewhat
diminished. (Oh, oh.) I don't mean to say should be ren-
dered less effective for the purpose for which they were
invented—(laughter)—but I believe the ladies could be.
rendered quite as safe and less inconvenient to their neigh-
bours. (Renewed laughter.) I have not the pleasure of the
acquaintance of many of the ladies of Sheffield, but I am
sure their charms are such as to induce you to drink with
the greatest goodwill "The health of Mrs. Jessop, the wife
of the Master Cutler, and the ladies of Sheffield.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
Several other toasts were proposed, and the company
separated about 10 o'clock.

SHEFFIELD, Friday.

The annual feast of the Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire
was given at the Cutlers'-hall yesterday evening, by Mr.
Thomas J.:ssop (of the firm of Wm. Jessop and Sons, steel
manufacturers), the newly-elected Master Cutler. The
feast, as usual, was most sumptuous, and the hall was
crowded with guests. The Master Cutler presided, the
principal guests being Lord Wharncliffe, Sir Charles Wood
(Secretary of State for India), Sir J. W. Ramsden, M.P.,
Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Remington Mills, M.P., the
Hon. Francis S. Wortley, Sir T. W. White, Mr. Dunnage
(the Master Cutler of London), the Mayors of Sheffield,
Leeds, and Doncaster, &c.
_ _

.
Atter the loyal toasts had been duly honoured the MAS-
TER CUTLER proposed " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,"
tae toast being acknowledged by Major WHITE on behalf of
the army and navy.

Lord WHARNCLIFFE, in responding on behalf of the
Volunteers, said—lf the necessity should ever arise, which
God forbid—for calling out the volunteers, not only will the
volunteers of the coast districts offer their services; we who
are in the inland parts of the empire, and positively free
from any chance of disturbance in our own districts, should,
on the first call to arms, rush to the assistance of our fellow•
countrymen. We should be followed, I doubt not, by every
man whose name is upon our roll, and shall not, like many
of our friends on the other side of the Atlantic, " skedaddle"
in the day of battle. (Cheers.)
Lord WHARNCLIFFE next proposed "The health of the
Master Cutler." (Cheers.)
The MASTER CUTLER, in responding, referred to the re-
cent extension of the Cutlers' Company by obtaining a new
act embracing steel manufacturers and some other trades,
not previously included. Many manufacturers previously
excluded had joined the company under the new act, but he
was the first of them who had had the honour of being
elected Master Cutler. (Cheers.) He was satisfied that
the new act would add greatly to the usefulness and pros •
perity of the Cutlers' Company. (Cheers.)
The toast of "The Neighbouring Nobility" having been
next given and acknowledged by Lord Wharncliffe,
Mr. T. DUNN, who was received with prolonged cheer-
ing, said,—The toast which you have called upon me to pro-
pose is, so far as I am aware—and I am not a novice at the
festivities of this hall—quite unprecedented. Ido not recol-
lect that previous to this occasion the toast of " Her Ma-
jesty's Ministers" has been given at the dinner of the Cut-
lers' Company. Sir, I am well aware of the rule which from
time immemorial has been adopted, and in the main carried
out, on these occasions, of excluding party politics. That is
a wise and a just rule. We meet here not as members of
any political party, but as members or all political parties,
and members of one great mercantile town. I infer, there-
fore, that this toast has been put on the list to•-night in
honour of Sir C. Wood, who has attended this meeting as
one of her Majesty's Ministers. (Cheers.) Sir Charles is a
good Yorkshireman—(hear, hear)—and I may say without
(silence, speaking merely personally, a good Whig. (Hear,
laughter, and some cries of "No party politics.") lam
speaking to the toast of her Majesty's Ministers, and 1 con-
fess it is most difficult to steer clear of questions of party
politics, but I will on that point say no more than this—
that whether the Ministry be of one class or the other, I
believe that in our own time, or within the last 30 years,
they have in the main had at heart the welfare of the coun-
try. (Cheers.) I believe they have sincerely endeavoured to
carry out at home those principles which should lead to the
prosperity of the country, and abroad I believe they have,
with equal sincerity, endeavoured to carry out those prin-
ciples which should render this country honoured, respected
beloved, and, if need be—though we should regret such
necessity—feared. (Hear, hear.) No doubt, sir, we differ
as to the best means of carrying out these principles. I do
not say, and gentlemen here know me too well to be-
lieve me if I did say, that I believe all Ministers have car-
ried out these princi2les on the best plan. But I believe
that for the last 30 years they have honestly endeavoured
to promote the prosperity of the country on principles and
in a manner they believed to be the best. (Hear.) But
confining myself a little to what I conceive to have been the
reason for placing this toast on the list, let me restrict my
observations to the office held by Sir Charles Wood. If I
was asked to point out an office in which the wealth, the
power, the good feeling, the morality—nay more, the Chris-
tianity of this country could be exercised with most effect,
I should point to the office of Secretary of State for India.
That country was civilised when we were in the depths of
barbarism, but we now call it in some degree uncivilised,
and so it is, and I fear I might be right if I were to say
that such civilisation as it has is one of the great hindrances
to what we believe to be the proper civilisation. Here is a
country of countless myriads of different faith, oppressed for
ages, a country with a language, with literature, with laws,
with institutions at a time when we had none, except per-
haps a barbarous kind of semi-language. Fate, to use a
common term—Providence, as I would rather say— brought
us English to this country some hundred years ago. A few
British merchants settled there, and what do we now see ?
We see the whole of that immense peninsula, with its hun-
dreds of millions of people, subjected to British rule. We
have seen 100, or I scarcely know how few men, trained to
the British system of warfare, and commanded by British
officers, doing wonders. And we have seen the revolt of
these men. Then we sent a few red coats—a " thin red
line," losing no heart, using no bombastic language, eaying
in their hearts and with their tongues " We are few, but if
we give way what will they say of us in England ?" We
saw the Outrams and the llavelocks, men worthy to be
named with the Olives and the Hastings and the Wellesleys,
serve the country. We are again masters of India, and now
we see Sir Chas. Wood Minister of that country ; the troops
being, not the troops of a mercantile body, nor the agents of
a trading company, but the troops and the agents of what
we call her Majesty's Government, the agents of the great
• power of this country, Now, I know no position in which
it is possible for a man to distinguish himself more than in
the administration of that country. Its difficulties—ah I
who can even attempt to estimate them ? Great they are,
because they are difficulties connected with a certain state_ of
civilisation—great because they are connected with a religion
which makes falsehood and trickery a part of its system.
Over this people Providence has placed us; there we have a
work to perform ; that work has been begun. Five years
ago who dare have whispered even in his own heart that
India would have become in this time the country which we
now see it—self-supporting, paying its way, making its
roads, its railways, and its laws, and offering to the natives
a share in the administration ? We see all this, and I doubt
not that England, going on with this work, will achieve
one of the greatest triumphs that have been achieved in
modern times, and will bring India not only within the pale
of what we believe to be real civilisation, but within the
pale of what we believe to be necessary to all real civilisa•
tion—the pale of Christianity. (Cheers.)

Sir JOHN RAMSDEN, who was received with applause,
desired to be allowed, in the first place, to return thanks on
behalf of his hon. colleague end himself for the honour
done them. However little it might be in his power to
deserve all the kindness which they never failed to show
him, he trusted, at least, that he might never have reason
to reproach himself that by any act of his had it been
diminished. The remark was often made that the late
session of Parliament had been barren of results, because,
contrasted with former years, no great measures had been
passed. Some people always seemed inclined to assume
that the relations of Parliament to the country were those
of an over-indulgent master to en over-idle servant. It
was unnecessary for him, as their representative, to vindi-
cate the House of Commons from any such mis-coustruc-
tion ; but, so far from believing that at the present time the
House of Commons could be guilty of neglect of duty, he
would even be so bold as to say that he believed there never
was a time when it was more true to its representative
iunctions than during the last two years of quiet. (Hear,
hear.) If, indeed, there were no difference between
Parliament and the country ; if public opinion had de-
manded any change, and Parliament had given no response
to that demand; if any great measure could be shown
upon which the opinion of the country had been pro-
nounced in a clear and unmistakable manner, but upon
which no legislative action had followed, then there
would be indeed just grounds of reproach. But, he
would ask, could this be alleged now ? No. To
what, then, could they attribute the state of calm
which had now existed for so long a time ? Was it
true that the country had gone torpid or apathetic ? Could
they believe that in an ago like this—when education was
being every day more diffused--when hardly a day passed
without bringing to light some new truth of political or eco-
nomic science—could they believe that people like ours—so
keenly alive to everything passing in other and distant parts
of the globe—could be struck with apathy and indifference
upon those domestic questions respecting which they had
until now ever been so clamorous and vigilant ? They
knew, however, that indifference was not a characteristic of
the present age. Experience had shown them that great
benefits had arisen from those reforms already alluded to by
Sir C. Wood. They had been so universally acknowledged,
that at the present time, without any distinction of party,
we might truly call ourselves a nation of reformers, who
were earnestly and unanimously desirous of removing every
abuse. What could be the cause of this calm ? What
but profound contentment and wide-spread prosperity ? The
influence of perfect freedom and equal laws becoming dif-
fused throughout every class of society; ought they to re-
gret the calm which sprung from so happy a source as that?
Or could it be said it argued fickleness on their part, or dis-
loyalty to their ancient principles on the part of the people,
that no great measures of change were called for ?ilWas not
that calm the most conclusive proof of the reasonableness of
their policy? If the people were not clamorous for change,
was it not a proof that the changes already made had been
so vast and beneficial that the desire for change had of ne-
cessity become to some extent exhausted ? So much having
al eady been done, there remained of necessity less to do.
Prosperity might have produced contentment and caution,
but contentment or caution was not indifference. They
might be sure that improvements would be as welcome as
ever—that they would be as resolutely demanded as ever,
but perhaps more deliberately weighed and carefully consi-
dered by a people who have now learned that there is wis-
dom in forbearance as well as wisdom in action—(cheers)—
and who are determined not to encourage the introduction
of any change until that change has proved itself in their
convictions to be a real improvement. But if our apparent
inactivity in domestic legislation were no proof of indiffer-
ence, could it be said that because they refused to meddle in
affairs of foreign nations that therefore they took no interest
in the great events passing in other quarters of the world ?
Could it be said that we viewed without interest that most
moral and to Englishmen most gratifying event—that as-
sembly of princes convened together, summoned by the ruler
of that empire which in times past had been regarded as the
fountain of all European reaction and obstruction, and that
those princes were doing nothing less than considering a
reform bill for Germany. But they would experience feel-
ings far different when they turned to that disastrous civil
war now raging in the Northern States of America, He
feared that that war, so far from promising to come to a
speedy end, seemed to gather strength and ferocity every
day it continued, until at last they had before them the
fearful spectacle that, as the white population was becoming
exhausted, men who professed themselves Christians and
brethren were arming negroes to carry out that vengeance
which they desired to wreak upon their own kindred. (In-
terrupticn.) Whatever their opinions might be upon the
merits of that war, he was free to confess that he had very
strong opinions, as he doubted not most of those ho ad-
dressed had of their own, although that was not the proper
opportunity of discussing them. Still he thought they must
all join in a common desire that peace might be restored.
(Cheers.) We had the greatest cause:not only for gratitude,
but for wonder, in the proof we have just had that, while
our best market had for the last two years been entirely
closed against us, when the raw material of our most impor-
tant manufacture had been cut off,that still the mightyfabric
of our prosperity remained unshakened ; that our commerce
had not been impaired; that our finances had not been de-
ranged; and specially, that they must be glad to know that
those great articles of consumption by which they were wont
to test the prosperity of our manufacturing classes were
consumed as largely as ever. And if anything were wanted
to complete this happy picture of peace abroad and content-
ment at home, there was never a time when this country
was more powerful abroad, or when its opinion weighed in
the councils of Europe with greater power or strength.
(Cheers.) Again thanking them for the honour they had
done him, the tight hon. gentleman sat down amid loud
cheers.

The Confederate Steamer Florida at Brest.

A correspondent in a contemporary says—Arriving in
Brest the day before yesterday by way of Quimper and
Chateaulin, the first thing I heard on getting on board the
steamer which navigates the picturesque little river
Elora from the latter place to Brest was the arrival of
the Confederate States' cruiser Florida, and on crossing
the glorious Rade de Brest for the mouth of the harbour
I had no difficulty in making out this now celebrated
vessel as she lay at anchor among some of the giants
of the French navy—a long, low, black, rakish-looking
craft, not over-smart in appearance, yet useful every inch
of her—a pigmy among these monsters, and yet a formidable
pigmy, even to the unpractised eye, the Palmetto flag flying
proudly from her mizen. We happened to have a French
Vice-Admiral, a liussian Vice-Admiral, and a senator of
the Empire on board, and you may imagine there was an
infinity of gossip, but no reliable nformation.
When we landed at the Cale in the harbour, the crowd
which usually assembles to welcome or pester new comers
was full of "La Floride":and.her doings. Elle a," cried
an enthusiastic commissionnaire to me, " elle a, Monsieur,
je vous assure sur ma parole d'honneur, pour deux millions
de livres sterling a bord, tout en or, je vous assure." " Eh
mon Dieu ; c'est beaucoup I" cried a smart little mousse
from the Turenne. I could not help agreeing with the
mousse that the sum named was certainly a great deal.
That evening (aided by my fellow-traveller, Mr. Henry
Tupper, Vice-Consul of France in Guernsey and one of the
jurats of that island), I found some of the officers of the
Florida at the Hotel de Nantes (Rue d'Aiguillon). Lieu-
tenant Lingard Hoole (a young man who apparently did
not number more than three-and-twenty years) received us
courteously, and gave us his card to assure us admission on
board. He stated, however, that his superior officer, Capt.
Maffitt, was generally to be found on board his vessel, and
would be glad to see us. The frankness, courtesy, and
total absence of boasting manifested by this young officer,
impressed us most favourably.
All next day it blew a gale of wind in the Rade, and wo
could not find a boat to venture out. To-day, however, the
wind was most propitious, and early morning found us
alongside the Florida. We sent our cards to Capt. Maffitt,
and were immediately admitted on board, the captain him-
self coming to the top of the companion to receive us.
Directly Captain Matt understood we were British sub-
jects he invited us below to his little cabin, and when I told
him that there were many people in England who regarded
his career with great interest he entered very freely into a
recital of his adventures.

Sir C. Woo D—l should be the most insensible of men if
I did not deeply feel the kind manner in which my old friend
Mr. Dunn has proposed the toast of my health in connection
with her Majesty's Ministers, but still more the kind man-
ner in which you, to most of whom I am necessarily a
stranger, have received it. On my behalf, and on behalf of
my colleagues, I return you my best thanks for the honour
which you have done us, believing that, in no patty spirit,
a large and intelligent community like this will give its sup-
port to whatever Ministry is in power, provided that Minis-
try does its duty. (Cheers.) I have a somewhat difficult
task imposed upon me, for I am to avoid politics, and yet
to speak of a political body—(laughter)—a body which exists
only as a political one. Fortunately for me, in looking back
at the events of last session, I am able to say that party

politics can hardly be discovered ; that tho course her Ma-
jesty's Ministers have felt it their duty to pursue has
received the general approbation of the House of Commons,
and, as far as I can judge, the House of Commons
faithfully represents the opinions of the people of England.
We are sometimes reproached for having done little, but
the truth is we have approached a time when there is a
lull, when the time of great measures has passed. My
hon. friend referred to a date—some thirty years ago—
which calls to my recollection the last time I had the honour
of appearing before a Sheffield audience, when the country
was in the throes of the agitation for reform. (Hear, hear.)
It is net for the want of most hospitable invitations that I
have not been hero since that time, but unfortunate circum-
stances have prevented my presence on many such festive
occasions. However, when we look back to the measures
which have been carried since that time—when we remem-
ber the fact that every department of the Government, every
institution of the country, has undergone a searching in-
quiry and a general improvement, it is not surprising that
at this day there are no great measures to press. Dr. Dunn
has said, and I entirely concur with him, that the measures
which have been carried have not been due to one Adminis-
tration or to one party alone—(hear, hear)—but each suc-
cessive Administration, as it came into power, has done its
best to improve the institutions and departments of the
country. (Loud applause.) The truth is, that there is a power
prevalent in this country greater than the power of the Ad-
ministration—the power of enlightened public opinion,
which sometimes encourages, sometimes retards, but in the
end guides the course of public affairs. (Cheers). Public
opinion is aided by a free and intelligent press—(hear, hear)
—and it is ultimately decisive as to the course to be pursued
in public events. (Hear.) The administration of affairs is
generally carried on in conformity with the wishes of the
great msjority of the country, and putting reason aside, the
instinct of a great nation always leads to what is right.
r(
alli
seeadr , eto aa r.s t) a
tTe hoe
fr epsoul tt oc
af
l allc
ot is,
nh s
n tm thatent at
nh countryprosp er
prosperity
which is perfectly:unexampled, and which is hardly effected
even by the sad calamity which has befallen our neighbours
in a sister country. We have been enabled to look with
considerable pride at the happy and contented state of this
country, so different to some other nations, which are
now experiencing the dreadful effects of a civil war, and
struggling for liberty. We may, I think, leek with thank-

I will here subjoin a copy of some notes which Captain
Maffitt subsequently handed to me relative to the career of
the Florida. promising, at the same time, a continuation,
which has not yet arrived. They are as follows :
"The Confederate States' steamer Florida, Commander
J. N. Maffitt—This steamer was built in Liverpool and sent
to Nassau in April, 1862 ; was put in the Admiralty Court ;
cleared on the 6th of August, when her present commander
took charge with some 18 men, went to sea, met her tender,
and received guns, dee. On the 16th of August the yellow
fever appeared on board, and Captain Maffitt had to perform
surgeon's duty, until necessity forced the vessel into Car-
duces. There she lost nearly all her crew, her paymaster,
and third engineer. She ran the blockade off Havannah in
and out, and on the 4th of September appeared off Mobile.
The entire blockading fleet put after her. Captain Markt
was brought up from a bed of sickness (yellow fever) to take
her in. For two hours and forty-eight minutes she was
under a close fire. All the crow were sent below, and the
officers only remained on deck, for she had but 11 men on
duty, and her guns were not furnished with rammers,
quoins, beds, or rights ; in fact, she was almost helpless.
Three heavy shots struck her hull. One shell struck her
amidships and passed through, killing one man and wound-
ing seven. Her standing rigging was shot away, and some
1,500 shrapnel shot struck her hull and masts."
So far the notes which Captain Maffitt has as yet found
time to send me. Of the captain himself I may say that he
is a slight, middle-sized, well-knit man, of about 42 ; a
merry-looking man, with a ready, determined air, full of
life and business; apparently the sort of man who is
equally ready for a fight or a jollification, and whose prefer-
ence for the latter would by no means interfere with his
creditable conduct of the former. his plainly furnished
little state-room looked as business-like as a merchant's
office. The round table in the centre was strewn with books
and innumerable manuscripts, and on the shelves were for-
midable looking rows of account books, charts, ST. I may
observe of the cabin, as of every part of the Florida, that
none of it appears to have been built for ornament—all for
use. "You see," said the captain, pointing to the heaps of
papers, letters on files, account books, &c., which literally
littered the table, " you see I've no sinecure of it. Since
my paymaster died, I've had to be my own paymaster.
There's a young MAD, named Davis (no relation tp our Fre-

In responding to the " llealth of the Borough Members,'

Mr, J. A. RornucK, M.P., was received with cheers,
which were again and again repeated, and some time elapsed
before he could proceed. At length, the applause having
subsided, the hon. gentleman said,—lt is my duty to return
thanks fur the toast which you have just so cordially drunk.
For the absence of my colleague I can only grieve, and ex-
press ray sorrow for the event, and more especially for the
cause of it. Sickness in his house has prevented him from
being here : and he has told me that the real misery of those
whom he loves would have made it a matter irksome and
miserable to -himself to have been feasting hero. Therefore
I am sure you will excuse his absence, and grieve for it and
for its came, as I do. (Hear, hear.) Now, sir, on behalf
of myself, I beg to return you and the gentlemen present
my most humble thanks for the kindness with which th-y
have received the mention of my name. Sir, there was a
phrase of the old Napoleon which I have often thought a
very wise one, which has been called to my mind on the
present occasion—namely that it is a very unwise thing to
wash one's dirty linen in public. (Hear, hear, and laugh-
ter.) Therefore, sir, I will content myself with this expres-
sion, that I hope that long service—faithful service—(bear,
hear)—will be no disadvantage—(cheers)—and that the best
way to retain confidence is to deserve it. (Applause.)
Here, sir, I might end, but still upon an occasion like this
I should not like to cud without making one or two obser-
vations upon the present state in which we find ourselves
—(hear, hear)—and more especially as I have at my
right hand one of the great rulers of this country. Sir,
it must be obvious to any one that we in England are pecu-
liarly favoured at the presmt time. When we compare our
position with any of the great Powers of Europe, we have
every reason to congratulate ourselves upon our position,

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