The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-14 00:00:00

FAREWELL BANQUET TO LORD

ELPHINSTONE.

On Saturday evening, the chairman and directors of
the East India Company entertained at dinner Lord
Elphinstone, previous to his proceeding to his post as
Governor of Bombay, to which he has recently been ap-
pointed. The dinner took place in the London Tavern,
and was characterised by all the splendour and magni-
ficence for which that establishment is famous. The
display of gold plate was profuse in quantity, and curious
and rare in workmanship. The dinner comprised every
delicacy of the season, and the wines were of the first
order.

fig 4.,

Mr. Russell Ellice, chairman of the board of directors,
was in the chair, having Lord Elphinstone, the guest of
the evening, on his right hand. There were also present,
on the right—Earl Granville, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
Lord Canning, Lord Hardinge, Sir Charles Wood, Mr.
Wigram, Lord Campbell, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir James
Graham, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Card-
well, Sir James Hogg, Vice-Chancellor Page Wood,
&c. On the left of the chairman there were—The Lord
Mayor, the Deputy Chairman of the Company, the Earl
of Elo•in, the Earl of Bessborough, the Earl of Shelburne,
Lord Sydney, Mr. Lock, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord
Stanley of Alderley, Mr. S. Lushington, Mr. Hayter,
Mr. Baines, Lord Justice Turner, Vice-Chancellors Kin-
dersley and Stuart, Sir Richard Jenkins, the Solicitor-
General, &c. Among the company there were also pre-
sent —Sir Willoughby Cotton, Sir George Pollock, Mr.
Mills, Colonel Sir Colin Campbell, Hon. Leslie Melvill,
Sir C. Pasley, Mr. Masterman, M.P., Sir H. M. Wheeler.
Sir Henry Willock, Mr. Mangles, M.P., Mr. Lowe,
M.P., Mr. James Wilson, M.P., &c.
After giving the healths of the Queen, Prince Albert,
and the rest of the Royal Farfaily, which were duly
honoured,
The CHAIRMAN said they came now to the toast of the
evening. They were assembled to bid farewell to the
noble lord on his right, who was about to proceed to
India as Governor of Bombay. (Applause.) He had
been elected by the unanimous vote of the court of direc-
tors, and that vote had been cordially approved of by
the Crown. Lord Elpbinstone was no untried man ;
they had already had experience of his abilities in ad-
ministering Indian affairs. They had had experience of
his talents as Governor of Madras, all the duties of which
office he had discharged to the entire satisfaction of the
directors ; and they had, therefore, complete satisfaction
in having appointed him as Governor of Bombay, being
assured that in his rule he would not only study to for-
ward the interests of the East India Company, but to
promote the happiness of the many millions of our fel-
low-subjects entrusted to his care. He was sure that
all present would join him (the chairman) in the wish
that it might please God that the noble lord might be-
spared to return to his native country, and live long to
enjoy the satisfaction of feeling that he had advanced the
happiness and promoted the interests and the welfare of
the millions of her Majesty's subjects over whom he was
now called to rule. (Great applause.)
Lord ELPHINSTONE thanked the company for the flat-
tering manner in which they had received his health.
This was not the first time that he had stood in the posi-
tion of returning thanks for an honour conferred upon
him of a similar nature ; but he mast confess he did not
find that that at all lightened the difficulty of finding
words in which to express his thanks to them. lie did
not go out to India an untried man, but in going he felt
the full responsibilities of the situation he was about to
undertake. And he must also add that he would be
ungrateful, indeed, if he did not also remember the
assistance and the support which he had received when
he was Governor of Madras, both from the directors of
• the East India Company and their servants in India,
and without which assistance he felt he should not have
been equal to the situation. But it was the peculiar
good fortune of the Indian Government to possess a body
of servants, both in the civil and military departments,
which he believed to be altogether unequalled for
their zeal and ability—men of tried experience, who
had been educated and brought up in the service of
the company; and, with their assistance, he did not
despair of accomplishing the objects for which he had
been sent out. (Applause.) It was unnecessary for him to
dwell at any length on what he conceived were the prin-
cipal objects of an Indian governor. He would only say
that the principal objects which he proposed to himself
in his government were three—first, to develop the re-
sources of the country ; second, to promote the sound
and practical secular education of the natives ; and third,
to advance and promote, as opportunities might offer,
those natives who might qualify themselves for situations
of trust in the public service. (Applause.) In all these
objects he relied with perfect confidence on the counte-
nance and support of the court of directors. He was
convinced, from all he had seen, that it was the wish of
the people of this country that the natives of India
should have their full share in the advantages arid pri-
vileges of British rule ; and it was a great comfort to
him that upon this subject his feelings and views should
be in:entire unison with the views of the court of direc-
tors and of her Majesty's Government. (Applause.) He
would only say, in conclusion, that if he were in any
degree enabled to promote these views and objects, he
should feel that he had not gone to India in vain. Next
to the approbation of his own conscience, his greatest
pride would ever be to receive the approbation of the
honourable the court of directors, and of her Majesty's
Government. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave the toast of that truly na-
tional service, " The British Navy," upon which they
mainly depended for the maintenance of their dearest
privileges. They would all agree with him that to be pre-
pared for war was the best preservative of peace, and that
preservative they had the good fortune to possess at the
present moment. As they were honoured on this occa-
. Bien with the presence of the Right Hon. the First Lord
of the Admiralty, he would beg to couple his health
with the British navy. (Applause.)
Sir JAMES GRAHAM confessed he ought not to be
ashamed to lead the van or to break the line on behalf
of the British navy ; and yet, when he looked round the
table, and saw that the sister service was so well repre•
.; seated by the presence of so many officers so distin-
guishp d as
,his gallant friend Lord Hardinge, Sir Wil-
loughby Cotton, Sir George Pollock, and others, he
confessed he did regret that Sir William Parker or Corn.
modore Lambert was not present to return thanks for
the British navy. The gallant officers to whom he had
referred in connection with the army had led the Queen's
and the Company's troops on many brilliant fields, and
in a manner which reflected the highest honour upon
them. If Sir William Parker or Commodore Lambert
had been present, their services perhaps might not have
been so brilliant, yet they also had done good service in
heading the combined services of the Queen's and the
Company's marine. Sir William Parker had led the
two arms of the service up an unknown river without the
loss of a single ship through the whole of that difficult
navigation, and had carried the terror of her Majesty's
arras into the heart of the Chinese empire, and had there
negotiated a peace which had been productive of lasting
benefit to the country. More recently, Commodore
Lambert had also done good service, in carrying her
Majesty's ships up the rivers of the Burmese territory
and there compelling the Emperor of Burmah to submit.
But this was not the only connection which the East
India Company had with the welfare of her Majesty's
navy. Their possessions yielded some of the finest tim-
laer of which the ships of the navy were constructed, and
the arsenals of the East India Company had sent forth
some of the strongest and best ships in her Majesty's
navy. This happy combination of the Queen's and the
Companyes services had led to brilliant victories in every
sea. The connection had been honourable to both in
past times, and he prayed that that combination might
long continue, when he was satisfied they would never
disgrace the expectations which the country formed of
them. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Army," a ser-
vice whose deeds of valour it was needless for him to
sent commemorate.
They had the good fortune to have pre-
withthem on that occasion a gallant nobleman, the
Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's forces, who had
nd the done so much in his own person to promote the efficiency
acomfort of the British army. He need hardly
mention Lord Rardinge's brilliant victories in India,
where he had won imperishable renown. He would
give "The ITealth of Lord Hardinge and the British
Army." (Applause.) ,
Lord HaramsmEhadgreatpleasure i
returning, on the
part of the British army, his cordial thanks for the honour
On
which had been conferred upon them.an
the ordinary
occasion he would have confined himself to
task of returning thanks for the British army ;
but meren
the present occasion he felt that such a mere routine
re-
ply was impossible, for he saw opposite him his gallant
friends Sir Willoughby Cotton and Sir George Pollock
the first of whom had performed, both in the first -w4
with Burmah and later in Hindustan, important services,

From the latter he (Lord Eardinge) had himself re'

ceived important assistance. That gallant officer had
performed feats of a brilliancy which were excelled by
few—he had advanced through the Punjaub, conquered
the Kyber Pass, relieved the garrison of Jellalabad,
taken the fortress of Cabul, and then marched back tri-
umphantly to India. (Applause.) It was impossible to
separate the two services of the Queen's and the Com-
pany's troops in the performance of these great services,
and fortunately the kindest and most generous feeling

I LLIJOi)

.l 1

towards each other pervaded both at the present time.
He hoped that that feeling would long continue, and he
should be the most ungrateful of men if he did not
acknowledge how much he owed to the courage and fide-
lity of the sepoys. He was happy to be present on this
occasion at the entertainment given to his noble friend
in connection with his appointment to the government
of Bombay. He had had the pleasure of forming an
acquaintance with Lord Elphinstone on the banks of the
-Sutlej—he had since known him intimately, and he be-
lieved that a better governor could not have been se-
lected. With regard to his own position, he believed
that the British army were at present in a high state of
discipline, and he was convinced that if ever their ser-
vices should unfortunately be required, they would prove
that they had in no degree degenerated from their old
renown. (Loud applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then said it was well known that the
East India Company was of no politics, and that they
had nothing to do with party feeling. But they were
well aware of the arduous duties which devolved upon
those who administered the affairs of the country, and
they had ample opportunities of seeing that the present
Government devoted their whole energies to the task.
Unfortunately, they had not the honour of having the
Prime Minister present with them ; but there many dis-
tinguished members of the Cabinet present, and he was
sure the company would all join cordially in the toast of
"Her Majesty's Ministers." (Applause.)
Earl GRANVILLE felt much embarrased in rising to re-
turn thanks on behalf of her Majesty's Ministers in the
presence of so many of his more distinguished colleagues,
but it had been so long his pride and gratification to obey
the orders of the noble marquis near him (the Marquis
of Lansdowne) that he could not refuse to do so now.
He might state that her Majesty's Government, after
long, careful, and anxious deliberation, had resolved to
take that course which appeared to them the best
adapted to promote the welfare of the natives of India,
without showing favour either to one side or another at
home ; and he could assure the meeting that he and all
his colleagues appreciated the straightforward and single-
minded manner in which the East India Company had
met their endeavours so to act. And in future he was
sure the East India Company would find that her Ma-
jesty's Government would always be ready to co-operate
with them in every measure that was calculated to pro-
mote the welfare of the inhabitants of India. (Applause.)
He should not do justice to the feelings of her Majesty's
Ministers if he did not express on their part the gratifi-
cation which they felt at the appointment of his noble
friend Lord Elphinstone, which appointment had also
met the approbation of such a high authority as Lord
Hardinge. (Applause.) It had happened to him that
by such an accident as that which called him to-night to
return thanks for her Majesty's Ministers, he was placed
in the chair of a committee of the House of Lords to
inquire into the affairs of India ; and when there, he
found himself in the position of that young member of
Parliament who, on being returned for a certain borough
was asked if he found much difficulty in public speak-
ing. His reply was, that practice made perfect ; and
that for his part the only difficulty he found was in hav-
ing something to say. (Laughter.) So he (Earl Gran-
ville) had no difficulty in putting questions ; his only dif-
ficulty was in knowing what to ask. But he must say
that while he found from all the witnesses full and clear
information on every subject, he had especially found from
Lord Elphinstone, whether in the committee or in the
House of Lords, that he not only was in possession of
a vast amount of information with respect to India, but
that he also appeared to have formed clear and candid
opinions on all questions affecting the welfare of those
great dependencies. (Applause.) He believed he might
say with the greatest truth that not only her Majesty's
Ministers, but all present, wished him every prosperity
in the administration of those affairs which had formed
the study of his whole life. An acquaintance with him
of twenty years' standing enabled him (Earl Granville)
to say that his noble friend was one of the most honour-
able and high minded men it had ever been his good for-
tune to meet with. (Applause.) He begged again to
thank them for the honour they had done her Majesty
Ministers, and he cordially joined them in wishing all
health and prosperity to his noble friend. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave the health of Sir Charles
Wood, the President of the Board of Control. Of course
it was not to be expected that they approved of every
measure adopted at that board, but no one would doubt
the honourable purpose and the high motives which on
all occasions actuated his right honourable friend.

Sir CHARLES WOOD returned thanks. It was not
more than six months since he had had the honour of ad-
dressing the friends and members of the company in that
room on a former occasion, and he was glad to find that
\
whatever alterations had taken place in the government
of India, no alteration had taken place in the magnifi.
cent hospitality of the company. Since that time great
changes had taken place in the government of India
both at home and abroad. He could not suppose that
all the propositions he had made should have met the
cordial approbation of all whom he had now the honour
to address, but of this he could assure them, that in al,
he had proposed he was actuated by the belief that
they would conduce to the good government of India.
In epite of much opposition, and of numerous at-
tacks, they had succeeded in preserving entire the
home government of India and the independence
of the Court of Directors. They had been told
that constant altercations and differences of opinion
were going on between the Government and the Court
of Directors ; but he had early expressed his opinion
that the two bodies would cordially co-operate together
in all those great purposes for which they were called
upon to act together ; and he was bound now to de-
clare that the result had more than fulfillled all his ex-
pectations. He had, both from the late and the present
chairman of the company, without the slightest excep-
tion, received the most cordial and undeviating support.
(Applause.) They had now met to celebrate one of the
most important acts of the Home Government. He
called it so, because he believed that that which was
most essential to the good government of India was the
choice of those who were to be placed at the head of
affairs, and that nothing was so important as the choice
of governors. In celebrating the appointment of Lord
Elphinstone they were celebrating the concurrent choice
of the Court of Directors and the Crown. They had
had two important governorships to fill up within the
last six months, and he was happy to say that in both
the most perfect unanimity of sentiment had prevailed.
He believed it was the unanimous opinion of the Court
of Directors that two abler men could not have been
selected than Lord Elphinstone for Bombay, and the
late Mr. Thomason for Madras ; and he felt assured it
was not too much to say that that opinion would be
confirmed by all who were capable of forming a judg-
ment on the matter. (Applause.) He hoped that, even
at the festive board, it would not be out of place for him
to pay a passing tribute to the memory of Mr. Tho-
mason—(Hear, hear,)—who had been selected as a
governor of Madras simply on account of the zeal and
ability he showed in the government of the north-west
provinces. They believed that, in paying a tribute to
his talents by rewarding him with the government
of Madras, they were consulting the best interests
of that province in placing them under the care
of a man whose zeal and ability were al-
ready so conspicuous. He could not express how
deeply he felt the loss which India had sustained, when,
as they all knew, the last mail brought the melancholy
tidings that he had fallen a victim, it was to be feared,
to over-exertion in the government of the north-western
provinces.
It was a sad loss, and one which he foresaw
it would not be easy to fill up. With regard to his
noble friend whose appointment they had met to cele-
brate, he might remind them that he had administered the
affairs of the sister presidency of Madras for many years,
and that subsequently he had visited the other parts of
India. It would be no slight advantage to his govern-
ment at Bombay that he should previously have made
acquaintance with the other parts of India. He had
also the great advantage of the advice'of a distinguished
relative of his own (Mr. Mountstuart Elphinstone), who
had formerly been governor of Bombay, and who had
left there imperishable records of his government. From
the experience which his noble friend had already ac-
quired in the government of India, they all expected
much. He had stated the objects to which he thought
his attention, as governor of Bombay, ought to be
directed ; and he (Sir C. Wood) had no doubt that to
these objects he would devote his best exertions ; and
that he would receive the warm support both of the Go-
vernment and of the Court of Directors. He could tell
his noble friend that from what was known of his past
conduct much was expected of his future. The eyes of
the people of England were more fixed upon India now
than they had ever before been, on account of the in-
creased facilities of intercourse, and the greater informa-
tion that was consequently diffused with respect to it.
His noble friend had a difficult task to discharge ; but
he (Sir C. Wood) believed he was fully equal to it ; if he
had not, he would never have given his own consent or
the directors theirs, to his being placed in that situation.
He cordis.llAjoined in the wish that his noble friend
dmight braeon
bbdal ett sihos
aentd
ofw he ihtwhi
so hueldal
bet h
Sovereign, andspar
eaadbni Idiot irteehstelti or
gnpr
homeaetr fitourdm,,ev
ibot ihfs
thuetiaeps'p
thonseehengexotvetrnoased;
were "The
"The Marquis of Dalhousie,
Governor-General of India," and "The Lord Mayor."
To the latter, the LORD MAYOR shortly replied.
The Marquis of LANBDOWITZ said he should hardly

have felt himself called upon to obtrude upon their at-
tention on this occasion, were it not that he knew it
would be agreeable to their feelings that they should
not part without paying a tribute to the chairman of
the East India Company. (Applause.) With respect
to the particular occasion on which they had met—the •
occasion of celebrating the appointment of his noble
friend to an important station, in India—he need scarcely
say anything. As one of her Majesty's Ministers, they
had already spoken by the mouth of their foreman—his
noble friend near him, and who was the first in official
rank among them, and by whom they had been ably re-
presented to-day—so that there could be no doubt as to
their feelings on the appointment. In another capacity
he might be held to appear among them as a member of
one of the most important constitutional authorities in
the country—the House of Lords, who, as well as the
other house of Parliament, have always been in connec-
tion with the East India Company, and who have ever
felt the advantage of leaving the affairs of the company
in the hands of the directors or their chairman ; and he
was sure both houses would always be ready to ac-
knowledge the merit, the skill, and the judgment with
which they had administered them. As a member of
the House of Lords he was certain he spoke the feelings
of all composing that assembly when he said that if a vote
could have been proposed there, or if any proposition
could have been made in conformity with the principles
of the constitution with respect to the merits of the
selection which the East India Company had made in
the new governor of Bombay—if ever vote was passed
unanimously in the House of Lords, that vote would
have been a vote in favour of his noble friend. (Ap-
plause.) There are and there always have been in that
house members who derive their right to sit in that as-
sembly from their connection with services rendered in
India to the East India Company and to the country at
large. Even in this room they had great living instances
—(applause)—and among the first families in the coun-
try there were persons who dated their origin and their
position from services in the East. There were others
who had made for themselves a career, in some respects
a new career, by serving not only the company with zeal
and fidelity, but also, as his noble friend had told them,
by holding it to be a great and solemn duty so to admi-
nister the affairs of the country as to benefit the natives
who were committed to their charge. He had every
confidence that Parliament had acted wisely in placing
the government of India once more in the han 's of the
Company, and his confidence was all the greater from
finding his honourable friend in the chair placed at the
head of the Company, to whom he begged to return
thanks for the generous hospitality with which he had
brought them together to-day, and he would beg to pro-
pose as a toast " The Chairman and Directors of the
East India Company." (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and afterwards pro-
posed " Mr. Millett and the Civil Service."
Mr. MILLETT returned thanks.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed "The Indian Army,"
whose services he said it would be impossible to over-
estimate. (Applause.)
Sir GEORGE POLLOCK, in returning thanks, said he
was gratified to have that opportunity of acknowledging
publicly how much he had been indebted to the officers
who served under his command, for they had served
him with heart and soul. With respect to the army of
India, he need only say that it was always ready to act,
and that it always acted with effect, whether in the east
or the west. But after the eulogium that had been pro-
nounced on that army by Lord Hardinge it was un-
necessary for him to add another word. (Applause.)

The last toast of the evening was, " The Indian Navy,"
which was replied to by Captain Campbell, after which
the company separated.