The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-03 00:00:00

THE SHOFFIELD CUTLERS' FEAST.

The annual grand banquet on the inauguration of the
Master Cutler (W. A. Matthews, Esq.,) took place on
Thursday, and for the first time in the annals of the
borough, this office and that of the mayoralty are centered
lin one individual. In the morning the Master, War-
dens, Searchers, and Assistants for the ensuing year,
attended before the magistrates, and took their oaths of
office. They then returned to the Cutlers' Hall to lun-
cheon, and afterwards, in company with other members
of this ancient corporation attended divine service at the
parish church, the sermon being preached by the Rev.
E. S. Murphy, the chaplain to the company.
The guests began to arrive about four o'clock. They
were met at the entrance of the reception-room by Henry
Atkin, Esq., one of the past Masters, and presented to
the Master Cutler. Much apprehension was felt in
consequence of information that several distinguished
guests had been seriously injured by the collision which
happened on Wednesday evening to the Great Northern
express train shortly after leaving London. Amongst
those who were then on their way to partake of the hos-
pitality of the Master Cutler, were the Lord Mayor of
London, Sir James Duke, M.P., J. A. Roebuck, Esq.,
M.P., Edmund B. Denison. Esq., M.P. The Lord
Mayor, Sir J. Duke, and Mr. Denison returned to town,
but Mr. Roebuck came forward, and arrived in Sheffield
about two o'clock on Thursday morning. Mr. Denison
came down on the following day. The anxiety mani-
fested in the town on Mr. Roebuck's account was
very great, and exaggerated reports were circulated
as to the injuries he had sustained. The hon. member
arrived at the hall in company with Alderman Dunn.
Mr. Roebuck looked feeble, and bore on his face the
marks of the injury he had received. His entrance into
the reception-room was greeted with loud cheers, and
many were the congratulations addressed to him on his
reappearance amongst his constituents, and his provi-
dential escape on the previous day. In consequence of
the pain experienced in standing, arising from injury by
the accident, a chair was provided for him, and he sat
amongst the guests, in the reception-room, until dinner
was announced.
When the company had assembled the folding-doors
of the hall were thrown open, and the gentlemen took
their seats.
The number of guests was upwards of 300. The
Master Cutler was supported by Lord Wharncliffe, the
Lord Mayor of York, Lord E. Howard, the Hon.
Francis Wortley, J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P., B. Deni-
son, Esq., M.P., G. Hadfield, Esq., M.P., S. M. Peto,
Esq., M.P., Walter Stanhope, Esq., &c.
The usual loyal toasts, followed by the "Army and
Navy," having been duly honoured,
The MASTER CUTLER then gave " The Duke of Nor-
folk, Lord of Hallamshire, and the house of Norfolk,"
to which Lord E. Howard responded in befitting terms.
The healths of the Duke of Devonshire and Earl Fitz-
william having been drunk,
J. JOBSON SMITH, Esq., proposed the health of Lord
Wharncliffe and the House of Wortley.
Lord WHARNCLIFFE returned thanks, and in the
course of his speech said—Looking to the continent and
at the face of the world, I cannot but anticipate a con-
tinuance of commercial prosperity. I cannot refrain
also from an expression of satisfaction when I look
at what is passing before our eyes in this country. We
now live in remarkable times, and of all the events of
the day, perhaps none is more remarkable than what
has been called the exodus of the people from one quar-
ter of the globe to another. There is the exodus of the
Irish to America, of the Americans to the shores of the
Pacific, and of large numbers of our countrymen to dis-
tant regions. It is impossible that such events should
fail to influence the relations of men at home, especially
in their commercial intercourse. They have had that
effect. We know now that there is an altered relation
between the employers and the employed in this coun-
try. It not unnaturally arises from the course of
events, that those who have labour to bring to the mar-
ket should expect to sell it at a higher rate than they
could some years back when the supply exceeded the
demand. There were times when, if such demands were
made by workmen as are made now, they would have
been made in a different spirit from the present. We
can look back to times when strikes, turn-outs, and dis-
turbances of all kinds, bore a more threatening aspect
than now. We see in all parts of the country that,
though the expectations of workpeople may be raised
too highly, higher perhaps than circumstances warrant,
the result of their demands is friendly and rational
communication—(hear, hear)—which tends ultimately
to adjust the questions at issue and restore harmony.
Hear, hear.) Looking at this state of affairs, I find
another element—l may almost say another gua-
rantee for the continuance of commercial prosperity.
I hope it arises from causes not temporary, and
that we shall see, from time to time, a more con-
ciliatory spirit of communication between all who
are employed in the various branches of in-
dustry. If that be so, I look with confidence
to the time when I shall meet you again ; and whenever
that may be, it will give me increased gratification to
Lind you in unabated activity and with unclouded pros-
pects. (Loud cheers.)
The healths of the Lord Mayor of London, the Lord
Mayor of York, the Master Cutler, the Vicar and Clergy
of Sheffield, were then given and responded to.
The health of the West Riding Members having been
proposed,

Mr. DENISON, M.P., who was received with loud
cheers, rose and said—l have again to thank you for the
honour you have conferred on my absent colleague and
myself, and to say that I wish for your sake, for his sake,
and my own, that he were present to return thanks him-
•;elf, because I think that we all lose materially by his
absence. The two noble lords and my rev. friend on my
left have alluded in marked terms to the prosperity of
the town of Sheffield, and they have made statements
which cannot be contradicted. If their assertions were
doubted, I could produce figures that would place the
matter beyond all doubt, because I hold in my hand the
Board of Trade returns, which shows that, within the
irst six months of 1853, the exports of hardware and
cutlery from this kingdom were one-third more than in the
corresponding period of 1850. They have risen in that
period from 1,246,6391. to 1,663,3021. Ido not presume
to say that Sheffield has contributed the whole of that
hut it has done it to a very material extent ; and if such
be the fact as to the first half, what may we expect from
the whole year ? for I am told, on undoubted authority,
that trade is as prosperous now as it was at the begin-
ning of the year. I venture to congratulate you on this
healthy state of things, trusting, as I do, that they who
get rich will take care of those who are uneducated, and
that the uneducated, while receiving large wages, will
lay by something of their earnings to guard against an
unfortunate reverse, What I have said of Sheffield, lam
proud to be able to say of the whole West Riding, which I
'lave the singular honour to represent. The trade of the
IVest Riding never was in a more prosperous condition
than now. The staple trade of my native town of Leeds,
which town may well be proud of my worthy friend, the
Mayor of Leeds, who will hereafter address you, is as
prosperous as tbat of Sheffield, or any other place. I
believe it may be said of the whole Riding that we are
getting rich faster than at any previous period in our
history. Ido not say faster than any portion of Lanca-
Mire ; but, I believe, while so large a part of her Ma-
jesty's subjects in the West Riding are prosperous, I
may say without fear of contradiction that our agricul-
tural friends are throwing up their caps for joy as well
as you. (Cheers.) And, therefore, at the end of seven
years, since 1846, I am proud to he able to say that I
believe I am in one of the happiest families in the United
Kingdom—the population of the West Riding of York-
shire. But is this state of prosperity likely to con-
tinue, or soon come to an end ? It appears from
the returns that America is swallowing up your pro-
ductions as fast as you can send them. Long may she
continue to do so, and may we make with hera beneficial ex-
change, which should continually be made between re-
lations so near. As to Australia, we may consider that
that market is hardly opened yet, and we know that the
exports sent there have been of the most profitable cha-
racter. But there is another market opening, the re-
sult of which no man can tell. What is to be the issue
of the movement in China ? That China can go back to
what it-was, or can remain as it is, I think no sane man
can believe. I believe that Christianity is beginning to
dawn on China. What will be the immediate result, no
man at present can tell ; but it opens out to my mind
changes so immense, so overwhelming, that I do not
feel able to express an opinion upon them. But of this
I feel certain, that if Christianity should make head
there, as I believe it it will, England will become more
than ever the workshop of the world, and the 300 mil-
lion of people in China will become the customers of this
country. (Cheers.) The state and prospects of the
country, then, are of the most encouraging character. I
know full well that we are precluded here from touch-
ing on politics, and I do not intend to do it. But I
hope I shall not be accused of doing so when I allude,
for one moment, to what has passed in Parliament
during the last 10 months. I see some of my hon. friends
on my right, and I am glad to meet in Yorkshire my
hon. friend the member for Norwich and others. We
have had one of the longest and most arduous sessions
h2aosthbAeeungduosnt.e
?NTowra,dweihthaosubteegnoirneglieivnetdo
ever known. It began in November, and ended on the
ptoolaitilcasr,gwhat
ex-
tent from customs and excise duties. That must be a
benefit even to you who were prosperous before, and it
must be a still greater relief to those who are working for
wages. Their tea is cheaper—the soap duty is repealed—
other customs duties are reduced, and excise restrictions
swept away. It is impossible that the public should be
otherwise than benefited by these changes. There can
be no doubt about that now. There may have been

doubts some years ago, and if doubts yet linger in any
mind, those who differ from us are entitled to respect.

But the great fact is proved, that the more we repeal
duties on articles received from abroad, or on articles

manufactured at home, the more do we give expansion
to the industry of the working classes—(cheers)—the
more do we add to the wealth of the nation, and the

stronger does the country become. Approving and en-
forcing all that my friends have said on this subject, I
believe that if it should unfortunately happen that Eng.
land should be called upon to draw the sword or load
her ship's cannon, the world would find that she has
nev
er been in a more efficient state. (Cheers.) But I
ncaencronfirm what has been said by others that the best
way to avert this necessity is to be prepared and duly
armed at all quarters. Deeply should I regret to see
an economical system in the navy or army prevent our
being prepared. (Cheers.) Before I sit down, permit
me to say a word or two on a subject interesting to this
town. Within the last few months, the militia regi-
ments have been embodied, and a great number of men
for your town have been embodied at Doncaster. I
was not at home at the time, but I am authorised by
one or two of the officers to state that it is impossible
any men could have behaved better than the men from
Sheffield. (Cheers.) I will not conceal from you, and
were they all present I would not conceal from them—
for having had the honour of meeting them face to face
now and then, we have spoken plainly to each other,