The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-12 00:00:00

The next toast proposed was that of " The Army, Navy,
and Volunteers," in proposing which the PRIME WARDEN
said they were all deeply sensible of the debt of gratitude
they owed for the important services they had rendered to
the country on land and sea. Should circumstances unhap-
pily arise in which the honour and interests of England
rendred resort to arms again necessary, both services would
promptly resort to their country's call, and display the
same patriotism and gallantry as in former periods of our
history. They were honoured on this occasion with the
presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge,
Commander-in-Chief, under whose auspices the army was at
the present moment in a state of efficiency never surpassed
at any other period of its history. The volunteers, an ad-
mirable auxiliary force to the British army, deserved to be
mentioned with the greatest respect. When they thought
of the fact that more than 150,000 men were sacrificing their
time, leaving their ordinary occupations in order to qualify
themselves for the defence of their native soil, and that
without fee or reward, it was a circumstance that coald be
not less gratifying to the English nation than it was sur-
prising to foreigners. (Cheers.)
His Royal Highness the Duke of CAMBRIDGE, who was
loudly cheered, said—l rise to respond to the toast on the
part of the army. The service over which I have the honour
to preside feels with great satisfaction that they are remem-
bered by their fellow-citizens and friends on festive occa-
sions like this in any part of the kingdom. The army is
scattered all over the globe, and the duties they have to
perform are very numerous. The time they have least to
do perhaps is during war. They have real and onerous duties
to discharge in time of peace. Not only are they scattered
as I have said all over the world ; they are exposed to the
vicissitudes of climate which are very severe—they have
the tedium and monotony of a colonial existence to sus-
tain ; but they are ready at all times to respond to the calls of
duty, and to submit to every hardship, for which they are
always kindly remembered by their fellow citizens. With
respect to the army, the problem we have to solve is not
an easy one. We have to unite efficiency with economy.
The requirements of the age are very considerable, and
the expense incurred must therefore be great. Still it is
to be hoped that we have now placed our army in such a
position that we may be able to despatch it on very short
notice. We have 'also the advantage of an admirable re-
serve not only in the Volunteers, so well alluded to from
the chair, but also in the Militia, and having recently in-
spected some of them, I can testify to their great efficiency.
Under thee circumstances, I am happy to think that,
while the efficiency of the service has been so well attended
to, the moral and social condition of the officers and sol-
diers have not been forgotten. I beg to thank you for the
honour you have done me in drinking my health in con-
nexion with the army. It is a source of great gratification
to me that lam a member of this ancient guild. I highly
prize the honour, and I cannot help adding that I entirely
concur in the reference which was made by my illustrious
relative to the name and character of the late Mr. Cubitt,
under whose auspices as Prime Warden I also had the
honour and advantage of becoming a member of the Fish-
mongers' Company. (Loud cheers.)
Lord C. PAGET—It is my agreeable and, I confess, some-
what unexpected duty to have to return thanks on this oc-
casion for the navy. Like the army, the navy is spread all
over the world, and wherever the navy has served they have
distinguished themselves. (Hear, hear.) There is a portion
of that navy now in the Channel. 1 would advise any lady
or gentleman who is not afraid of a little sea-sickness to visit
that portion of the fleet, and I think they will be satisfied
that it is a magnificent one. (Hear.) I am aware that there
is something like official reticence in keeping certain move-
ments secret; but still, at the thought of being indiscreet,
I will state a fact that I think you will.be pleased to hear.
We have just received an invitation from the Emperor of
the French to send our armour-plated fleet round the coast
of France, while the French armour-plated fleet would
come round the coast of England. (Hear.) I need not say
we have responded to this courteous and friendly offer with
the very greatest satisfaction, by accepting the proposal,
and I am sure you will all accept it as an earnest of the
goodwill and friendship which should prevail between these
two great nations. (Cheers.) I would recommend any lady
or gentleman who wishes to see a very magnificent sight
to go to Plymouth about the middle of next month, where
both are to be assembled. (Cheers.)
Lord ELexo—ln obedience to your demands I rise to re-
turn thanks for the volunteers. We now hear, happily, less
of the volunteers than we used to do. There is less drum-
ming through the streets at unnatural hours than used to be
the case. (Laughter.) This, I think is a healthy sign of the
stato of the volunteer force, because it shows that we have
arrived at that hum-drum jog trot which shows that it is
one of the permanent institutions of the country. (Cheers.)
It must be satisfactory to the people of this country to find
the force increasing in numbers; and if any proof were
wanted to show that the volunteers are a great fact, that
they are in a safe and secure position, it would be found in
this, that the health , of the volunteers has the honour of
being invariably coupled with that of the army and navy.
(Cheers.) While returning thanks on behalf of the volun-
teers, and seeing the splendid display of cups displayed on
that sideboard, I cannot help recollecting that the con-
test for prizes at Wimbledon is near at hand. (Laughter,)
I, therefore, think it may be the wish of the Prime Warden
and the Company of Fishmongers that their names should
be associated with those of the Prince of Wales and the
Duke of Cambridge as the donors of a prize at our annual
contest. (Cheers and laughter.) The volunteers are not as
ancient, but they are as loyal, a body as that which I have
now the honour to address. We have struggled into exist-
ence, but I hope we have a long life before us, and I trust
that the Prime Warden and the corporation over which he
presides will set an example to the other corporate bodies
of this metropolis by contributing to our sideboard of plate
as prizes to the volunteers, so that in 2865, when the Na-
tional Rifle Association entertains the Prince of Wales of
that day it may be able to point to a sideboard of plate
equally rich and magnificent. (Cheers.) 1 hope that in this
very hot evening this very cool suggestion may not be con-
sidered inappropriate or unacceptable. (Cheers and
laughter.)
The PRIME WARDEN, in giving the " Health of her
Maje Sty's Ministers," said—l feel assured that every ono
I have the honour to address this evening will most heartily
respond to the toast which lam about to propose. On an
occasion like that which has brought us together we breathe
an atmosphere which is altogether free from politics. All
of us have our individual opinions onthe great questions of
the day, and no Englishman shrinks, on fitting occasions,
from the unreserved expression of his views, yet we all
feel that, whatever party is in power, those who are charged
with the labours and responsibilities of the Executive Go-
vernment are entitled to our respect and admiration. The
duties of official life are at all times onerous, but during the
last five years they have been especially so, owing to the
state of affairs in America and on the Continent. It is not
for me to pronounce an opinion on the various measures
which her Majesty's Ministers have introduced and carried
through Parliament; they will no doubt be variously viewed
according to the political bias entertained by different par-
ties ;. but of one thing I am quite sure, all will cheerfully
give them credit for thorough sincerity, and an earnest de-
sire to promote those measures which they believe to be
most for their country's good. (Cheers.) I give " The
Health of her Majesty's Ministers," coupled with the name
of the Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was received
with loud cheers, said—" Mr. Prime Warden, your Royal
Highnesses, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, at all times
it is matter of groat satisfaction to those who hold office
under her Majesty to have the opportunity of meeting
their fellow subjects upon festive as well as upon political
occasions. Rarely, sir, is that pleasure greater for mem-
bers of the administration than when they have the hon-
our to be invited to the board of this company ; and among
the agreeable occasions when you have given us such an
opportunity none could be more gratifying than that which
is afforded us to day, when we see as if we were met to-
gether to congratulate his royal highness upon the addition
which has been made, not. only to his domestic circle—
(loud cheers)—but likewise, I may truly say, for it is true
of the birth of every prince added to a royal family like
ours—(cheers)—the addition that has been made to the
hopes and treasures of the nation. (Cheers.) Mr. Prime
Warden, you have very truly said that upon these occa-
sions we rise above the distinctions of party politics; at
the same time I must beg for a moment, apparently at
least, to deviate from the sound And wholesome rule you,
have laid down, in consequence of the lesson and sugges