The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-21 00:00:00

leisure the Gallant Gentleman who was their guest that
evening, that none of his countrymen sympathised more
'with him or were prouder of his glory than his (Captain
Daniel's) brother officers.—(Cheers.) They too had a
Charles Napier, and he would say that he was a rum 'un;
but he had taught them what a Charles Napier could do
in the navy, and enabled them to appreciate what Sir
Charles Napier had done in the army.—(Cheers.)
The Noble CHAIRMAN said that the next toast did not
need any comment, and he was sure he had merely to
mention the name of the Duke of Wellington to ensure
a warm and general response.
The health of the Duke of Wellington was drunk with
all honours.
The noble CHAIRMAN' again rose, and said he then rose
to propose " The Health of Major M'Murdo and the
Heroes of Sinde, who fought under Sir Charles Napier."
(The air played as an accompaniment to this toast
was that to which the 22d ,Regiaaent marched to the
battle of Meanee.)
Major M•MuaDo, when the cheering had subsided,
said he rose to thank the Noble Chairman and the com-
pany for the great honour which they had done the army
of Sinde, and for the flattering compliment which they
bad paid himself.—(Cheers.) It would be more becom-
ing in a young soldier to remain silent under such cir-
cumstances; but in the absence of his able and gallant
colonel (Pennefather) it was his duty to return thanks
for the honour which had been conferred upon the Sinde
army, both European and native; and he would be
allowed to say that nothing could be more gratifying to
the soldier serving in a foreign land than the knowledge
that he was remembered and his actions were approved
of by his fellow-countrymen at home. The honour which
had been dome them that night would reach them where-
ever they were; the proceedings of that night would be
read with exultation by the maimed soldier in the hospital
and forthwith he would tell his battles over again. The
widow would hear it, and amidst the bitter pangs caused
by the bereavement of the soldier whom she loved, one
feeling of satisfaction would arise to cheer her lonely
heart, and that was that the cause which deprived her
of her stay and hope, had been made sacred by the
voice Cof her approving countrymen.—(Hear.) The
honour they had done the Sinde army that night, would
ring against the walls of Moultan, and be heard by the
soldiers of that old Sinde army, who were then re-es-
tablishing the invincibility of the British arms, and
making them once more a marvel amongst the nations
of the east.—(Cheers.) The proceedings of that even-
ing would be to them a presage of future victory, and
there was not one man amongst all that army who
would not refer to their old:commander the honour which
had been paid to him. He was to them a sun revolving
in the east, from whose resplendent glory his host of
lesser stars did gather theirs.—(Cheers.) There was
not a man in all that host who would not and did not
render at his feet the honour which that assembly had
done him that night.—(Hear.) In conclusion, he trusted
he might be permitted ,to drink the health of the come
P osy, in the name of the army of Sinde.—(Cheers.)
The Noble CHAIRMAN next proposed " The House of
Lords."
The Earl of DEVON said it would be equally bad taste
to detain them at any length as it would be to remain
altogether silent. He could not refrain from acknow-
ledging the toast which had been proposed in connexion
with the Legislatve Assembly of which he was a Member.
He confidently hoped, and as firmly believed, that that
House would continue to do its duty.—(Loud cheers.)
It was a very important part of that glorious constitu-
tion, the valise of which every day's experience had
taught them to feel. Having said these few words re-
specting the particular toast to which he had been called
upon to respond, he might be permitted to express
a few sentiments in connexion with the object of the
meeting that day. It had happened to him already
within a very recent period that ho had the happiness of
forming the acquaintance of their gallant guest, but an-
other branch of this family was long known to him, and
it had been his good fortune to be acquainted with that
frZlant trio of brothers whose names invariably figured
la every dispatch of the Duke of Wellington during the
Peninsular war. They had a sister, beloved and ad-
mired by all who knew her—a true-hearted woman—and
he adverted to this circurns ante to add this anecdote,
that when, during the winter of 1846, he was living in
the county of Limerick, witnessing scenes of the greatest
distress all around him, ho received from Lady Banbury
a letter expressive of her sympathy for the poor, and in-
trusting the munificent sum of 2001. to his distribution.—
(Cheers.) lie had, therefore, personally, good reason
to be pleased at paying a compliment to her gallant bra-
ther.—(Cheers.)
The next toast given was " The House of Corn-
snons."—(Cheers.)
Mr. JAMES HANS HAMILTON, M.P. for the county of
Dublin, briefly returned thanks.
Mr. JOSEPH NAPIER, M.P., also responded to the
toast. He was very inaudible in the place where the
reporter sat. He expressed the great gratification which
he felt at representing upon that occasion so high a con-
stituency as the University, and ascribed the difficult
position in which he was placed that evening, in a great
degree to the name which he bore. It was a task of
difficulty, because he felt the embarrassment of even un-
consciously alluding to any topic which might mar the
harmony that prevailed, or interrupt the feelings of
kindness and generosity that he was sure pervaded the
bosom of every individual in that assembly.—(Hear.)
lie therefore desired to avoid referring to the hopes and
disappointments of parties, but merely wished to allude
generally to the House of Commons. It was the basis upon
whicla popular liberty and rights depended. They had the
Sovereign and the House of Peers, that portion of the
constitution which not merely gave it symmetry but
strength. It was not like an office resting upon the soil
which supported but did not strengthen it—it reminded
oie more of the royal oak whose roots struck deep in the
earth, anti whose branches were filled with the sunshine
above.—(Hear.) It was thus with their constitu-
tion—they had the gradatiohs from the Sovereign down
to the lowest person in the State—every man's rights
wore respected, and, like the light from Heaven, its spirit
pervaded all thing, displaced nothing, animated, en-
nobled, and irriadisted everything it touched.—
(Cheers.) He felt very peculiar pride in his connexion
with the House of Commons. He regarded it as the
great mirror of the conntry, and he desired to see every
man of intelligence, wisdom, and good sense, taking
a real interest iu the constitution of that great
and powerful body.—(Bear.) He rejoiced to think
that an assembly like the present, where so
much of chivalry, intelligence, and wisdom, was to be
found, united in the approval of the character of that
constitution; and he was confident that if this interest
were 'very where felt, and an endeavour was made to
attach a moral influence to it, it would prove a blessing
not merely to them but to the wholecivilised world. When
he considered what their gallantguest had accomplished,
he was taught what might be dune by the chivalry of
an indomitable spirit, the c nergy of virtue, and the
power of a single-hearted man.—(Cheers.) Ile was
delighted to see the chivalry of the British soldier
coupled with the genuine eloquence of a feeling heart.
Major M'Murdo rejoiced to think that they sympathised
with the success of the British arms; and he (Mr. Na-
pier) w,iuld ask if there was a man in that assembly
whose heart did not respond to every sentiment uttered
by him? But, much as they rejoiced in the achievements
of the British arms, they rejoiced still more to think that
the progress of those arms was marked by wisdom and
the spread of civilisation. A topic was suggested to
him, which he would mention—namely, that in his
opinion they made a mistake in depending too much
upon the exclusive aid of lrgi.lation. Depend upon it
the Legislature might do much; but while the chasms
of society were left unsupplied—while they had the
sr...cancies of the absentees unfilled up—and they wanted
the plain, honest, country gentlemen to exercise their
local interests, much remained to be done; and he told
them to be true to themselves, exercise their privileges
in their immediate localities, and when these efforts
failed then was the time to look for aid to Parliament.
Ireland had done much for civilisation. It had given a
Wellington to the field and the senate, and a Burke to
assist the councils of the nation, to scatter the teeming
truths of his rich philosophy; but they wanted honest,
homely exertion amongst themselves; and let no man
think because he could not do much that he could not
do anything. In conclusion, the Learned Gentleman
returned thanks on behalf of the Legislature of which he
was a Member.
The next toast was " Prince George of Cambridge,
and the Garrison of Dublin."—Grand March.
His Royal Highness Prince GEORGE of CAMBRIDGE
briefly responded to the toast. Upon the part of the
soldiers 01 the garrison of Dublin he remarked that the
approbation of their country was the highest reward
which they as soldiers looked for; and he thought he
might further remark, and he did so in the presence of
the distinguished officersel:l
did that
n had served under him, that
a mere loyal set ofoet exist, and that no men
innr
could be found who were
gootrady to sacrifice them-
selves, if needful, for the
their country. (Loud applause. )of their Sovereign and
The PRESIDENT then rose to propose the health of
Lady Napier, the wife of Sir CharlesiT
marked, what a great consolation it mast be to et
ns re es
Gal-
lant Friend to have one present that evening to
the reception he had met with, in whose affections
glory and all his honour had a share. He all his
was sure the
ladies who were present would not refuse to assist in the
toast he was about to fropose, namely, " The Health of
Lssly Napier."—(Loud applause.)
Glee—" Here's a health to all good lasses."
Sir CHARLES NAPIER responded. He said•-•lfy Lords
and Gentlemen, I return you my very sincere thanks for
drinking the health of my wife.—(Hear, hear.) She is
not an Irishwoman, but she is as good a wife as if she
was one.—(Cheers and laughter.) And now, having
thanked you for having drunk my wife's health, allow
me to make a little complaint.—(Hear, hear.) I think
this habit of drinking ladies' healths and making their
husbands respond for them has existed mush too long,
particularly when we recollect that the ladies are them.
selves such excellent adepts in the use of their tongues.—
(Loud laughter and applause.) And I really think that
whenever the health of a lady is proposed it should be
the universal rule that she should answer for herself.--
(Laughter.) Ido not wish to throw any burden on the
married ladies, but I am strongly of opinion that they
ought to return thanks for themselves, because I believe
they could do it much more eloquently and gracefully
than we could.—(Renewed laughter and cheers.)
" The Agricultural Prosperity of Ireland." Air--
"Speed the Plough."
The Hon. S. MoNete returned thanks. The Learned
Gentleman, in an able speech, dwelt at length on the
importance of developing the agricultural resources of
this country ; and referring to the efforts which the
Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland had
contributed towards this desirable object, took an op-
portunity of bestowing a tribute of praise upon Sir
Charles Napier, who, he observed, after having served
his country upon the battle-field, had subsequently, as a
private individual, devoted his attention to the further-
ance of improvements in the agriculture of his native
country, Ireland.
" The Bench and the Bar of Ireland." Quartette.
EDWARD LITTON, Esq. Master in Chancery, re-
Plied to the toast. He said that, as the senior member

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