The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-30 00:00:00

CIVIC BANQUET TO THE LORDS OF THE

ADMIRALTY AT CORK.

( From the Cork, Examiner of Wednesday).

Yesterday evening the entertainment of the Corpora.
_ _

tion to Sir James ciraltara and the Lords of the Admi
ralty, and the naval and military cffieers at present sta,

tioned in this harbour and garrison, was given at the
Royal Victoria Hotel. The large room of the Chamber
of Commerce, in which the banquet was served, was
most appropriately and tastefully decorated; over the
centre door was placed a very handsome illuminated
civic arms, and the walls of the room were becomingly
ornamented with festoons. The company numbered
over 200, among whom were the principal military and
naval officers at present in Cork.
The guests of the evening were—Sir James Graham,
Bart., First Lord of the Admiralty ; Admiral Dundas,
Captain Milne, Bernal Osborne, M.P., Secretary.to the
Admiralty ; Sir Baldwin Walker, Captain O'Brien,
Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty ; Rear-
Admiral Sir W. F. Carroll, Rear-Admiral A. Corry,
Commodore Henry B. Martin, 0.13., Captain Frederick
Thomas Mitchell, H.M.S. Queen; Captain Sir Thomas
Maitland, C.B:, H.M.S. Agamemnon ; Captain Hon.
Frederick Thomas Pelham, H.M.S. Blenheim ; Cap-
tain Charles Eden, H.M.S London; Captain S.
G. Fremantle, H.M.S. Arrogant ; Captain George
Goldsmith, IM.S. Sidon ; Captain R. B. Watson,
H.M.S. Imperieuse ; Captain Frederick Hutton, H.M.S.
Prince Regent ; Captain Hon. S. T. Carnegie, H.M.S.
, Tribune; Captain Claude Buckle, H.M.S. Valorous ;
Captain George Gifford, H.M.S. Leopard; Captain T.
H. H. Giessen,. ; Captain W. W. Cham-
bers, H.M.S. Desperat%; Captain John Moore H.M.S.
Highflyer ; Captain JO es J.sll:Tleiierty,Ail,§, Tr„,
rible ; Captain Astley cooper Key, H.M.S. Amphion ;
Captain Hon. H. Keppel, H.M.S. St. Jean d'Acre; Com-
mander P. Cracroft. H.M.S. St. Jean d'Acre • Comman-
der W. T. Burrett, H.M.S. Queen ; Commander George
H. Gardner, H.M.S. Blenheim ; Commander W. H.
Stewart, H.M.S. Prince Regent; Commander Octavius
Cumberland, H.M.S. London ; Commander Henry H.
Hellyar, H.M.S. Agamemnon ; Charles Richards, Sec-
retary to the Rear-Admiral ; Lieutenant H. Bacon, Lieu-
tenant Williams, flag-lieutenant, Admiralty, Queens-
town; Captain of H.M.S. Banshee ; Captain of H.M.S.
Black Eagle. The military guests comprised—Major
General Mansel, commanding the Cork district, Cap-
tain Connolly, A.D.C.; Lieut.-Colonel Ferguson, com- ,
manding. 89th Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel Wright, com-
manding 39th Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel Maunsell,
Lieut.-Colonel French, Lieut.-Colonel Wynward, Royal
Engineers ; Major Stewart, commanding local pension-
ers ' • the _officer commanding 49th depot ; Major Sharpe,
72d Highland Regiment ; Lieut.-Colonel Dalton, of the
Royal Artillery • Lieut.-Colonel O'Brien, Lieutenant-
Colonel Burke, Prospect House ; Adjutant Wilson, 39th
Regiment ; Lieut,-Colonel Balders, sth Dragoon Guards;
Major Tenley, 39th Regiment. And among the general
guests the Right Rev. Dr. Delany, the Catholic bishop ;
the Right Hon. the Earl of Bandon, Lord Viscount
Bernard, • Wm. Fagan, M.P. ; F. B. Beamish,
M.P. ;E. B. M.P.Roche, M.P. ; Isaac Butt, ; Hon.
Cecil Lawless, M.P; the Worshipful Thomas Forsyth,
recorder of the city; Archdeacon Kyle, Martin Con-
way, Daniel Meagher, Sub-Inspector Walker, Sir John
Benson, Captain White, J. P., Harbour Master, &c.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor, J. F. Maguire, ,
Esq., M.P. presided.

Grace having been said by the Right Rev. Dr. Delany,
and the viands disposed of,

The CHAIRMAN rose exactly at 9 o'clock, and said the
first duty of the assemblage on that most interesting
occasion was to express their feelings of loyalty to the
Sovereign of these realms, her most gracious Majesty
Queen Victoria. (Hear, hear.) It did not always
happen that an enlightened attachment to the Throne
and Government under which a people lived was
coupled with a true respect for the individual by whom
that form of Government was represented, but
happily for them the monarch who sat upon the Throne
of those realms was herself a model of every domestic
virtue—(hear)—and'claimed the respect of her subjects,
not alone by the high office that she filled—great and ex-
alted as that office may, be—but by her own personal
character and virtues. (Hear.) And let it not be said
for a moment that the personal character of a sovereign
was a matter of indifference to her people—(hear, hear)
—or that it was not a matter of the greatest importance
to the interests and honour of the country, for if they
looked at past history, many gentlemen in that en-
lightened assembly would see that the vices, and even
the weakness, of monarchs had been attended with the
most disastrous consequences to, the country which they
ruled.. (Hear.) They had seen, not only public morals
lowered, but they had seen all classes degraded and cor-
rupted by the influence of the court. They had seen art
debased, literature prostituted, and even religion itself
scoffed at ibut thexeop,Kof this =Rim lived under dif-
ferent circulisarnais atthtpresent day, for their Monarch
was one who gave an example of every domestic virtue,
as a daughter, as a wife, and as a mother. (Hear.) Her
example purified the questionable atmosphere of a court,
and exercised a beneficial influence upon every class in
the community. (Hear.) With the greatest respect for
the public and private virtues of her Majesty, he, there-
fore, gave "The Queen."
The toast was received in the usual loyal manner.
Air.--" God save the'Queen."

The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said, in proposing the
health of Prince Albert and the. rest of thelloya.l family,
raised to a position only second to that of the Sovereign
herself, the Prince Consort had entitled himself, by his
conduct since he came to this country, to add to the ad-
miration of the country of his adoption ; to him was due
the Great Exhibition of 1851, to which the arts and
talents of the world contributed. (Hear.) Since that
period he had devoted himself consistently to every
beneficent object, and, therefore, he (the mayor) gave
them "The Health of Prince Albert and the rest of the
Royal Family."
The toast was received with enthusiastic cheers.
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast on his list was
"The Lord-Lieutenant and Prosperity to Ireland ;" and
in proposing it he said he had some personal experience
of the courtesy and kindly treatment which the Lord-
Lieutenant was ever ready to accord to those who ap-
proached him on matters of public interest. So much
on that branch of the toast ; and, as to the other, the
prosperity of Ireland, near and dear as it was to their
hearts, however much they might differ as to the mode
and manner in which it was brought about, still love of
country was not monopolised by any one class, section,
or creed—it was common to the human family—an in-
stinct implanted in the human heart—a love of country,
every day becoming more and more strong, which led
them to discard some cherished prejudices, and to unite
in wishing that fraternity and that cordial union which
could alone bring about the wish they had at heart.
(Cheers.)
Mr. BUTT, M.P. for Youghal, was called on to re-
spond, and on rising was received with loud cheers. He
commenced by stating that the call that they had made
on him to respond to the toast, took him by surprise ;
for when he came there, anxious, in the first place, to do
honour to the mayor of the city—to those entrusted with
the administration of the affairs of this great empire,
anxious to do so, from, he said, sincerely and personally
respecting the characters of those whom they had the
honour to meet here upon this interesting occasion—
and anxious, independent of all that, to mark his
humble sense of the value that might result to their
magnificent port, and anxious from old associations,
which the mayor knew, and which made him (Mr.
Butt) rejoice to see that gentleman occupying the chair
—he-had come there for the reason, though he could
not have supposed that that partiality which he knew
the mayor felt for him would have induced that exalted
functionary to call on him (Mr. Butt) to return
thanks. He could not refuse that call, and in a
very few words would discharge his duty. For the
distinguished nobleman who represented her Majesty
in this country he (Mr. Butt) had no claim to speak—
no claim to be called on—except, perhaps, this one—
and if he alluded to political differences for once—it was
for the purpose of making the symbol of political differ-
ences, differing as they did do in party politics—he could
better testify to the impartial sense all, every Irishman,
entertained for the impartiality of that nobleman.
Speaking there among those who knew him, he might
say he had some claims to speak. He rejoiced he
could say that they had prosperity in Ireland. Passing
through years of difficulty and distress, he believed that
the dawn of prosperity was beginning to shed its light
over them. They saw it in the assembly of that even-
ing • and he said that when men of different opinions
could meet and assemble round the festive board without
a danger of one single word of difference—(cheers)—
meet with the promise that religion or politics would not
disturb their harmony—they had an evidence that the
generosity of Irishmen in many meetings such as the pre-
sent had given a better pledge than any other that could
be given, that they would observe the guarantee given.
(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) He believed he made use
of the expression on a former occasion, that we were
wasting our energies and injuring ourselves in speaking
against each other, as they had done many times ; and
he believed he had uttered the observation, that when
each party of Irishmen gave a bad character of each
other, there were Englishmen who believed them both.
(Loud cheers.) They had met, not to give a bad cha-
racter t) each other—not each party to represent the
other as wholly unworthy of a position in the country,
but to give a good character to each other, and he thought
he might venture to say they had Englishmen present
who would believe them both. (Cheers.) They had met,
not to give a bad character of each other —not each
party to misrepresent the other as unworthy the position
they hold in the country, but to give a good character to
each other ; but he might venture to say, as they had
Englishmen present who would believe both, that differing
as they did, and as he hoped they always would do—for
true honest difference of opinion was one of the elements

by which honest government would be carried on, they
would not be fools enough to represent they dissented
from as unworthy of any credit, but would say that
there was honour, integrity, and patriotism on both
sides, but yet occasions might arise when, for the com-
mon interests of the country, and of the great country
with which it was their pride to be identified—all that
honesty and all that integrity might be a combination in
which they might defy the world, (Loud and protracted

cheering.) He could not say one word more on the pre-
sent occasion, than that they had a right to share in all
the wealth, and all the glory and prosperity that great
empire with which they were associated could attain.
They bad that evening the Lords of the Admiralty—
(cheers)—and he might venture to say that fifty years
ago intelligence could not have been sent from Cork, as
the Movements of the fleet from that harbour had been
sent with the same rapidity to the Lords of the Admi-
ralty. They could now have more certain intelligence
of what the fleets in the Dardanelles were doing from
Cork than they could have some years since from White-
hall. After expressing his sense of the high compliment
paid him upon such an occasion, Mr. Butt sat down
loudly applauded.
The CHAIRMAN rose, after a short pause, and said,
that the next toast on his list had a peculiar interest on
the present occasion, when they had the members of the
sister services, the army and navy, present. (Loud
cheers.) It would be churlish on the part of civilians to
trace the respective interests and duties of those two
powers which formed the might of this great empire ;
every Christian country and every wise government
should use its best exertions to promote peace and con-
cord in the world ; but in the present condition of the
world, and the peculiar temper of certain states, when.
the peace of the world was threatened, it was most satis-
factory that they bad those two great powers to depend
on for the maintenance of the honour and the indepen-
dence of the country. (Cheers.) He then gave the
" Army and the Navy."
The toast was received with the most enthusiastic ap-
plause.
Air—" The British Grenadiers."
Rear-Admiral Carroll and General Mansell both
briefly returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the evening,
" Sir James Graham and the Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty," eulogised in high terms the public ser-
`Vied tsrSir Janies-Gralfini. He alluded co the pledge
asked, and the promise given, that nothing of a political
character should be introduced. His worship said that
Sir James Graham had only expected what was right in
the matter by acting as he had done, and observed that
if the right hon. gentleman had only known as he had
done he would not have asked the pledge.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM rose to respond, and, after the
enthusiastic cheering with which he was received had
subsided, said—Mr. Mayor, my lords, and gentlemen,
it is almost unseemly to begin with apologising when
the cordiality with which you have received the toast
just proposed from the chair demands a sincere expres-
sion of my thanks ; but after what has fallen from the
hon. member for Youghal, and from your worthy chief
magistrate of this city, I think a few words of apology
are due from me at the commencement of what I am
about to say. It would seem that there had been some
misunderstanding of the pledge which I sought to ob-
tain before I accepted, on behalf of the Board of Ad-
miralty, the kind invitation with which you honoured
us. Your worthy mayor has rightly explained the mo-
tives which actuated me in seeking that pledge. Her
Majesty's navy knows no politics. (Hear, hear.)
They have but one duty, which is the defence of our
common country, and, united with her Majesty's army,
they are prepared, without distinction of party—with-,
out any knowledge of political differences— at all times,
and in all circumstances, faithfully to do their duty
to their common country. (Hear, hear.) It would
appear unseemly, therefore, to have exposed either of
these gallant professions, who accepted your invitation
with cordiality and with confidence, to any expressions of
political difference. (Hear.) As your worthy chief
magistrate has remarked, the highest personage in the
state, the consort of her Majesty, has wisely and pru-
dently abstained from all interference in political affairs.
It has been my duty, during a long political life, to take
an active part in those matters which are naturally in-
volved in political differences, and I did fear that in my
own person, after all that has occurred during the lapse
of that long period, I might by my presence excite
somewhat of angry feeling. (No, no.) That was my
fear, which your kindness to-night, however, has entirely
dissipated. (Hear, hear.) But I thought it prudent,
under the circumstances to which I have referred, to
ask an assurance in the manner I have mentioned. My
friend, the honourable member for Youghal, has oh-
served,
and with remarkable truth and justice, that I
whatever may have been the difference which existed on I
some sub)ects, many cherished prejudices have been dis-
sipated and laid aside—(hear, hear)—but there is one '
prejudice which is still strong and common to all ; that
is the confidence in the naval profession, over which the
worthy Admiral presides, and the earnest desire that its
flag shall brave as heretofore, " the battle and the
breeze" untarnished and invincible. (Hear, and cheers.)
Now, gentlemen, it has been the endeavourof,successive
governments to use all the modern appliances of science,
and all the improvements which that science has
effected, to increase the efficiency of that gallant pro-
fession, and I and my colleagues thought that it would
be agreeable to the Irish people—(hear, hear)—in this,
one of the most splendid ports of the empire, to see a
British fleet in that state of preparation of which I am
proud to say it is a bright example. (Hear.) Now,
gentlemen, foreign navies may multiply, and foreign
empires may totter and may fall, but it is the duty
of the British Government to see that native arm
of its strength always ready for the defence of our
native country—(hear, hear)—and, if it be so ready,
and, let me add, if peace at home be preserved, and
if we are united among ourselves, as wo are this
evening—(hear, hear)—we have no reason to fear the
world in arms. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) But,
gentlemen, I beg you not to mistake. Although con-
nected intimately with the naval profession—a profession
of arms, I am certain that I speak the sense of my col-
leagues when I say that, though always prepared, our
most earnest and most anxious desire is to preserve the
peace of Europe, and to take care that while treaties are
religiously observed— (hear, hear) —that while there
shall be no meddling interference with the domestic con-
cerns of foreign countries, the honour of England, the
interests of England, and the commerce of England, and
of Ireland and Scotland, and the United Kingdom, shall
be maintained in every part of the world, far as those
distant countries washed by the furthest seas to which
our commerce and our flag has access. (Hear.) It is
in the spirit of peace that those preparations are made;
and I am confident that while Lord Aberdeen presides
over the councils of our Sovereign, every effort will be
made in the spirit of peace to maintain the honour and
character of this country. (Hear, hear.) Something
was said with respect to another pledge of abstaining
from asking any pledge from me with reference to the
interests of the harbour of Cork as connected with the
public expenditure. Now, gentlemen, I came here to
return thanks, and not to read a lecture--(hear, and
laughter)—but I must say this, that my experience of
public affairs has led me to this conclusion, that the less
the people of this country—lreland included—rely on
the efforts of Government, and the more they rely upon
their own exertions—(loud cheers)—the more certain is
their success, and the more honourable will be the re-
ward of their industry. Now, what shall I say ? Re-
ference has been made to the Great Exhibition in London
--that which certainly exalted the character of this
country throughout the world—and that which will pro-
duce a permanent effect upon its future industrial efforts,
was that a work of Government? It was a work—the
independent work of the industrious people of this
country. Take again the Exhibition in this your own
city, which led to a most splendid Exhibition in the
metropolis of Ireland. That was an effort of the
people of Cork, unaided by any administration, that
splendid Exhibition, which I am on my way to
visit, after my official labours are over—is the splendid
exhibition in Dublin the work of an administration ?
Was that aided by any government money ? It is the
work, the almost unaided work, of a single citizen—(en-
thusiastic cheering),—whose name will be handed down
as one of the benefactors of his country, and as a bright
example to the people of Ireland. (Hear.) He feels
that he has an honourable title to the gratitude of his
countrymen, and he has therefore refused, as I am told,
any other honour ; but he received the graceful compli-
ment of a visit from the first lady of the realm—her
Majesty in person—as a mark of how highly she appre-
ciates the spontaneous efforts of an industrial spirit. On
my first arrival in Cork I was gratified extremely by
taking part in one of those works to which the govern.
ment has given some aid—a smal work, but useful to
the harbour of Cork. (Hear, heart) Well, I was asked
yesterday, not for any aid out of the public money, to
give the consent of the Admiralty—merely the consent,
not to give a negative to vast improvements about to
be commenced in this harbour, the piers, and docks,
which will be a proof of the industry of the community.
Well, that is what is in progress. Between Queens.
town and this very city there are docks and other most
magnificent works to be commenced, unaided by public
money. There are many marks, I am glad to see, of
that returning prosperity which the hon. member for
Youghal has adverted to, and those marks of prosperity
are intimately connected with the doctrine which I have
been maintaining. It was feared-that the alterations
and resolutions lately made in trade would bear hardly
upon the people of Ireland. (Hear.) Well; now they
have entered into competition. The great staple trade
of this city was the provision trade. I feared that
foreign competition would overpower it : but let us come
to particulars. The navy contracts have been, by the
alterations lately introduced, brought within the power
of the smaller contractors resident in this city, in the
neighbourhood of the market. The public of Ireland, re-
turning to the provision trade, have outstripped allforeign
traders—(hear)—and I am told by those persons who
manage the contracts and inspect the provisions, that
the marked improvement, both in the beef and pork
of the country, is most extraordinary ; and that within
two years the quality of both is so improved as scarcely
to be worthy of comparison with all they have hereto-
fore produced even in this city, which was the centre of
the provision trade ; which clearly shows that the agri-
culture of Ireland has, within the last four or five years,
made extraordinary improvements. And although this
may appear insignificant to many, it is of those small
cares that the interests of the community are composed,
and by which the wealth and future prosperity of the
people will be secured. Now, your mayor has told you