The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-11 00:00:00

THE CUTLERS' FEAST AT SHEFFIELD.

The following is a more extended account of the
speeches delivered at the above festival than appeared in
our columns of Saturday.
Mr. ROEBUCK, M.P., rose amidst protracted cheering
end said—l have to thank Mr. Matthews for the kind
manner in which he has proposed our healths, and you for
the manner of its reception. The right hon. gentleman
who has preceded me has cut out for me work which
this evening I cannot perform. He said I should descant
On the past, the present, and the future. Now, I believe
that this is far beyond my sphere. The custom of this
evening has been marked by the hon. gentleman who
immediately preceded me. He said that politics were
eschewed on these occasions, and I believe he was right,
but politics being eschewed, I am silent ; for if life hold
anything for me worth having, it is in politics. It is
the only thing about which I can speak ; and, therefore
U I am prevented talking on politics, I am really ren-
dered silent. But still I think habit will allow me to
talk on the subject with which I am familiar, and yet
not break through your rules. I think you will allow
me to congratulate you on the present position of the
country. Last year, I recollect my single voice was
raised in this room to warn you against what would
occur. I was then, I believe, deemed a croaker. I
prophesied to you that war uld happen, and un-
has come too true. But
fortunately my prophesy
while that is the case other things have occurred which
have rendered war but a light calamity to this country,
for it has pleased Providence to bless us with such a
harvest as was never before seen, and to enable us to
meet all the exigencies which that war creates. We
have not lightly undertaken that war. We have not
rushed into it, as the noble earl has said, with any
desire of conquest. We have undertaken this war
with no wish for our own aggrandisement. We were
drawn into it from a spirit and feeling of duty—a
duty which we not only owe to the weak of all classes,
but to ourselves, for the encroachments that have
been made on others would very soon have reached
ourselves ; and, therefore, the war we have under-
taken is not only a just war, but is necessary to protect
our own interests. This being the case, lam quite sure
that the people of this country will pub their shoulders
to the wheel, and thrust forward the vessel of the State
through all the difficulties that beset it. Those difficulties
are great; and I cordially agree with the noble earl, who
told you he thought this was a calamity that would not
soon end. The war that we have begun we shall not
speedily finish; but for that we are not to be downhearted.
Our condition at home and abroad is such as will enable
us to meet all the exigencies that war may create ; and,
while we are so favoured at home, while we are so fa-
voured iu the way of alliances abroad, we need not fear
even the power of Russia. (Cheers.) But I don't agree
with something that has fallen from the gallant officer,
(Major Byrne), who said that Russia was a Power that
could be ridden over by the English people. I recollect
her powerful resistance to the greatest conqueror the
world has ever seen. I recollect the past war with
France, and the part that Russia then played. Auster-
litz, Eylau, and Breslau are things not to be forgotten ;
and therefore do not let us get into the position of under
valuing on opponent. He is strong, and it will require
our combined and united efforts to put him down. He
is almost invulnerable in his position. We can hardly
reach him by any means which we possess ; and by the
mere force of his inertia he will be able to resist long the
power of France and England. Butall thatnotwithstand-
ing we need not be downhearted. We can accomplish what
we have undertaken—we can curb the power of Russia.
(Cheers.) I think, gentlemen, you must be aware that
-the condition of the person addressing you is not that of
great strength, and you will excuse me if I am brief on
this occasion. But the thanks I return you are hearty
and sincere, and the duty which I have undertaken is
cheerfully performed on your behalf. I sincerely believe
that the kindness you have shown me will not be thrown
away, and that returning health will show you that the
gratitude which ought always to follow good deeds will be
evinced by me. I can only show it by one means, by faith-
ful discharge of my duty, by following out that which I
believe to be your interest, in spite of all opposition, and
even in spite of your opposition. (Lond cheers and
laughter.) I must say that my duty has been lightened
by the assistance which I have received from my worthy
colleague. That assistance has been given to me with
the utmost kindness. It has never been refused—it has
always been ready. I owe him my thanks for the kind-
ness he has shown me, and I hope he will accept them.
There are few points upon which I differ from him ; but
I rather suspect they are fewer than is usually imagined,
for I have found myself usually in the same lobby with
him. Sometimes, indeed, I have opposed him, as there
are never two conscientious men who are always alike
in their opinions. In my own behalf I return you my
thanks for the honour you have done me. (Cheers.)
Mr. HADBIILD, M.P., rose amid loud cheers. The
hon. member said, I should have preferred to sit down
after the eloquent address of my hon. and learned col-
league. I think, if he would just have undertaken in
the latter part of his speech to thank you for us both, I
need not have intruded myself upon your attention. I
beg, first of all, to thank him for the kind acknowledg-
ment of personal assistance which I have been too happy
at all times to render, and in the next place to assure
our mutual friends and constituents that it is my pride
and pleasure if I can at any time relieve him of any
burden, and so minister to his comfort and prolong his
life. (Cheers.) The representation of such an active
borough as my native town is hard work for any one ;
but I have never shrunk from doing my duty whenever the
occasion has demanded and circumstances have deprived
me of the aid of my colleague. I never executed alone any
duty for my constituents and friends without feeling the
loss occasioned by his absence. Mr. Roebuck is so inured
to politics that he says he cannot live without them, and I
for my part cannot live without hard work. If any mau
desires usefulness or enjoyment, let him try to become a
hard-worker. Sir, I am debarred, I know, from entering
on politics, nor need I do so on this occasion. I have filled
the borough with my doctrines, and no man needs informa-
tion as to what they are. Though ardent in politics, I am still
more earnest in anything that concerns the interest and
prosperity of my esteemed constituents. I have, to the
best of my ability, watched the proceedings of the House
of Commons to support every proposition that, in my
judgment, could conduce to the advantage of my country
or my constituents. lam delighted to see the triumph
of that commercial freedom which you will bear witness
has been attended with such magnificent results. I trust
it will serve as a pattern to all the world. However, I
cannot help bearing in mind that it is not those who
come in at the victory that are most entitled to be re-
membered. It is the men who struggle for good and
great principles in the day of their weakness and oppo-
sition. That is the time when assistance is really
valuable—(cheers)—and, sir, it is with satisfaction
almost beyond my power of expression, that I bear tes-
timony to the conflict which the nobe earl maintained
year after year before it was adopted by the world as a
great question. (Cheers.) But that is one portion of
his exertions to which he may look back with infinite
satisfaction when he considers the benefits which he has
bestowed upon mankind at large, and on the poor in
particular—a satisfaction which he cannot fail to enjoy
to the hour of his dissolution. Sir, I hope that the pre-
sent system of financial improvement will continue.
Night after night I have lent a willing support to that
object. I have, from time to time, given au indepen-
dentsupport to the Government in a policy which I
trust will be successful. It has been said—l hope in
mistake, but undoubtedly by high authority, coming
from the noble earl and my hon. colleague—that this
war is likely to last long. I hope it is a mistake. I
trust the time will speedily come when, with honour to
advantage to the world, we may ter-
mthienateeouthnetrwy and
feel
ar.
earnest on this subject, for I be-
lieve this great country
has
important mission to
fulfil in the world. I believe there aZhee ore is no class of society
in this country that can
much to promote the
i
tn interest. I
welfare of the world as the manufacturing
am anxious to see some great ements in the
government of India and the colonies,rr
Ivvas one of
13 who sat and heard that earnest appeal of Sir Charles
Wood, the President of the Board of Control;
demandingeo erning
India. It is a most magnificent question
the attention of the country, and I trust the time will
come when the restoration of peace shall enable to
give attention to our eastern empoir Teh. e
health
Mr. Alderman DUNN gave of Mr. R.
Monckton Milnes, (Cheers.) This was the first
occasion on which Mr. Milnes had honoured the old
town of Sheffield with his presence ; but he might be
assured that, with respect to his own career in Parlia-
ment and the somewhat unique career of his father, they
had been observed and appreciated in Sheffield. Mr.
Milnes would pardon him if he said this toast would be
received with pleasure in the classic town of Sheffield,
not •only in reference to his labours as a member of
Parliament, but for the essential service he has rendered
in his literary character. (Cheers.) And, undoubtedly
it was an honour to have such men attend meetings of

the working classes, for such he considered those pre-
sent to be, as they were all working men in Sheffield.
#l,„ y-When they ceased to consider it an honour to be work-
/7i-T,, ".0-- ing men, from that day the prosperity of the town would
kj..4.4 t, ;-.0., have ceased. They were accustomed to watch narrowly
f-- the character and progress of public men, and he believed
'I ~, '9: that nowhere was there a fairer latitude given for inde•
4,-,.-
Pedal judgment in Public /Uri, They duly pre
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