The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-28 00:00:00

Inauguration Banquet of the Lord Mayor

of Dublin.

DUBLIN, Friday Morning.

The inauguration banquet of the Right Hon. the"
Lord Mayor took place yesterday evening in the
round room of the Mansion-house. At least 600
gentlemen were present, and the gallery was occu-
pied by a large number of ladies. The room was
brilliantly lighted up with gas and chandeliers.
Immediately over the entrance was placed the
Royal Arms in coloured glase, surrounded by a
garland, consisting of the shamrock, rose, and
thistle in the same material. The band of the con-
stabulary was placed in the gallery, and played
during the evening a selection of music. At seven
o'clock his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant arrived
from the Castle, attended by Mr. Wodehouse, pri-
vate secretary, and Capt. Everard, assistant private
secretary. He was accompanied by a mounted
guard of honour.
Shortly after his excellency's arrival the company
took their seats in the round room—the Right Hon.
the Lord Mayor in the chair. To the left of his
lordship were—His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant,
the Earl of Clancarty, the Right Hon. Joseph
Napier, Mr. Justice O'Brien, Judge Dobbs, Mr.
ITstiCe Keogh, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Serjeant
Sullivan, the Right Hon. James Whiteside, M.P.,
Sir James Power, Bart., Sir Percy Nugent, Bart.,
Mr. George, M.P., Col. Taylor, M.P., Sir George
Hodson, Bart., Judge Kelly, the Yen. the Arch-
deacon of Dublin, Dr. Beatty, President of the
College of Physicians, the Hon. Mr. Boyle, Sir John
Gray, &c. To his lordship's right were--Alderman
M'Swiney, the Right Hon. the Recorder, the Earl of
Charlemont, Lord James Butler, Judge Keatinge,
Major-Gen. Larcom, K.C.8., Sir Edward Grogan,
M.P., the Hon. George Hancock, Lord St. Law-
rence, the Right Hon. A. Brewster, Q.C., Hon.
Charles Trench, the Very Rev. the Dean of St.
Patrick's, Sergeant Armstrong, John Vance, M.P.,
Judge Berwick, Col. Dunne, M.P., Capt. De Courcy,
R.N., Isaac Butt, Q.C., M.P., lon Trant Hamilton,
M.P., Sir Colman O'Loghlen, John Little, Esq.,
Mayor of Belfast, &c.
The dinner was of the most re'cherche description.
After the cloth was removed, the Lord Mayor pro-
posed the usual loyal toasts, which were most warmly
honoured. He then.rose to propose "The Health of
the Lord Lieutenant." He said he felt very proud
of having present on that occasion a nobleman so
able and of such experience and celebrity as Lord
Wodehouse. He had not been long amongst them,
but since he came he had shown, by his great tact
and ability, his capacity for performing the
part of a right Viceroy for Ireland. He was thoroughly
acquainted with questions of a social and economic
character, and he felt assured, from what he had
heard and read, he had at heart the welfare of Ire-
land. He considered his excellency's presence
amongst them that evening was an evidence that
there was no chance of the Government of this
country abolishing the office of Lord Lieutenant. He
believed its abolition would cause great injury to
Ireland. He maintained that the existence of the
Viceregal Court, around which the aristocracy and
gentry of the country could assemble, was of great
value, and it was also of great importance to have a
man of ability and judgment directing the govern-
mental business of the country in Dublin. Every
man of sense and judgment would agree with him
that the present system of absenteeism was doing a
vast amount of injury to Ireland. (Hear.) It was
most injurious to have so many of the nobility and
gentry of Ireland spending in other countries the
revenue they derived from this. (Cheers.) He held
the principle that a landlord was bound to spend at
least some of his rents among those who camel them
for him. He also held that the presence of the nobi-
lity and gentry tended much to elevate the moral
and social condition of the people by precept and
example. Their absence worked a contrary effect,
and much of the present state of Ireland might be
accounted for in that way. (Hear.) After referring
to the proposed measure for the sale of land by regis-
try of title, and to the necessity for a complete system
of drainage to be carried out by the Imperial Govern-
ment, the Lord Mayor adverted to the advantage
conferred on this country by the extended growth of
flax in Ireland, consequent on the prosecution of
the American war, and concluded by proposing
" The Health of the Lord Lieutenant and Prosperity
to Ireland." (Applause.)

The LORD LIEUTENANT, who, OD rising, was re-
ceived with loud cheers, said :—My Lord Mayor, my
lords, and gentlemen,—l most sincerely thank you
for the very kind welcome which you have given to
the toast that has been proposed by the Lord Mayor
in terms so very kind towards myself. Since I
have been in this country I have received many kind
words of welcome, and I deeply feel how much I
owe to those who have been pleased by their words
of welcome, to encourage me in the task which I
have undertaken. I feel most deeply the responsi-
bility of the office which I have the honour to hold,
and I am most truly desirous to make use of that
office, as far as lies in my power, for the good of
the people of Ireland. My Lord Mayor, I have
received, beside words of welcome, many deputa-
tions, who have addressed me upon subjects of great
interest and importance to this country. I have
listened with great attention to what they have said,
and I trust that I have not too much disappointed
some of those gentlemen who came to me by not
always being able to agree in the views they may
entertain. In considering the interests of a whole
country there are balances of opinions to be looked
to—there are balances of interests—and what may
be for the advantage of one section of the commu-
nity may interfere with that of another section ;
and it is necessary that he who has to advise the
Government on these subjects should take the
whole country into his consideration, and not any
particular section of it. (Hear, hear.) It is a pleas-
ing thing to say "Yes," but it is, unfortunately, too
often the duty of a man in my position to say "No."
All I can ask is this, that you will give a fair con-
sideration to the opinions I may form, and I pro-
mise you, at least, I will make a frank and honest
declaration of them. (Cheers.) My Lord Mayor,
you were pleased to couple with my name that
which is of far greater importance than the health
of any man who may hold the position I occupy
—I mean the toast of " The Prosperity of Ire-
land." (Cheers.) Now, I ventured when I had
the honour of addressing a similar assembly to this,
under the patronage of your late excellent Lord
Mayor—l ventured then to say that, though the
condition of Ireland may not be all we wish for now,
yet I saw some hopeful signs. Now, since I have
come here I have taken some pains to see whether
the state of the country bears out the view that I
then ventured to express, and I will lay before you
very shortly two or three facts, which I hope will be
well weighed by those who are continually dinning
in our ears that Ireland is a ruined country. (Hear.)
I:shall trouble you with but very few facts, for this
is not an occasion for enlarging on such subjects.
Let me point out to you one remarkable fact. Since
the year 1847, which was the year I referred to on a
former occasion—since that year the tonnage in-
wards and outwards in twenty of the principal
towns
of this country has increased no less than 45
per cent. No it
wexceeds ten millions in extent,
and that at least is a proof that you have shared in
the general advallcesof trade. lam happy to say
that the port of Dublin
has shared remarkably in
that increase. In the year 1862 the tonnage of the
port of Dublin inwards and outwards
was 2,000,000,
as compared with 1,180,000 tons
than
the year 1847.
(Hear, hear.) Facts are better
thaerguraents, and
It for that reason I trouble you with
also pleasing for you to know that this.
shippinglmay be
s
to a great extent owned by Irishrtlen,andewrorkeil
been increasing
in Irish capital. Shipbuilding has
port of Drogheda, in the port of Dublin, the
port of Belfast, and other ports in Ireland. will
now allude to one or two other indications of im..
provement. Let me point out to you that the crime__
the serious crime of the country—is decreasing.
(Hear.) During the last two year—l mean the
years 1862 and 1863—there was an increase of the
offences for which penal servitude is awarded ; but
that increase has been followed by a considerable
diminution in the year that has just passed ; and, as
regards the condition of the city:of Dublin, I under-
stand the reports of the police for the past year will
show that there has been_ a vast decrease in the city I