The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-12 00:00:00

leg
_ea -ding of
bus( —, they wo•
tnd fathers, and,
,o tell their fells,
it would be well for them to see. A- was 6atiafis
of this,. that whether he remained their representativeor not it would always be a pleasure and a satisfaction
to him to do all that be could to promote the happiness
and the prosperity of working men of the. city of Nor-
wich.—(Loud cheers.) He did not feel that it would be
appropriate to refer on that occasion to his present posi-
tion. He would simply say that, under Divine Provi-
dence, he owed all he possessed in the world to his own
exertions and the co-operation of the working classes,
and he should ever continue to show his gratitude by
doing all he could to promote the interest of those -who
had placed him there.—(Loud cheers.)
The PRESIDENT shortly after rose and proposed the
" Health of Mr. J. Seltzer," who, he said, had done
much to secure the comfort of the artizens on that- oc-
casion.
The toast was drunk with three times three and
reiterated cheers.
Mr. Suerzen responded in a speech of some length.
• The health of Mr. Honey was given and drunk to
with great enthusiasm.
Mr. HONEY responded in a speech of much warmth.
This was followed by the healths of C. Leach, M,P.,
and Mr. H. W. Kinnard, which were responded to re-
spectively by those gentlemen.
The PRESIDENT then proposed the last toast of the
evening--" The Operatives of Norwich."
Drunk with loud cheers.
Mr. LINES, a Norwich weaver, acting secretary to the
Working Men's Association, responded to the toast. lie
said that on entering the room ho had not the least idea
that a toast would have been proposed which would have
called forth any remarks from him; but occupying the
position which he did in reference to the Working Men's
Association, he could not hear the compliment which
had just been paid by Mr. Peso to that body without
risine to respond to it. From his heart he thanked
Mr. Peto and the gentlemen of the committee, on behalf
of the working men, and he only regretted that more of
the latter had not availed themselves of the eller hild
out to them, some time since, to see the Exhibition—the
wonders of Which must be seen to be appreciated. The
secretaries and the committee had done their utmost to
induce parties to join the association on its formation,
and had circulated information amongst their fellow-
workmen in All quarters, bat large numbers refilsed tipon
one grolenel or. another. At last, when they found out
what was about to take place; they exclsimed—" Oh,
that we hatl repented in timesie, and heeeould assure
them that the door of his humble cottage was scarcely
ever closed for a moment during the last-few days, by
parties asking what could he clone, in order to enable
them to visit.the Exhibition. Ho told them he had only
one reply to make, and that was --.e The day of your
I salvation is past, and you cannot be saved."--(Laugh
ter.) Of course that did not- please many,—
(Hear, hear.) They came as working-nsen least
Norwich, they had been employed in Producing these
articles of ladies' dress which appeared-in the Exhibition,
some of which bad Keen patronised by the Queen, amd
they would all join with all their hearts in saying e God
bless her."—(" So say we all," and cheers.) They had
consequently come in the expectation of seeing a great
sight, and they had not been disappointed. On the con-
trary, all that they had previously heard respecting the
Exhibition fell far short of the reality, and it was im-
possible in one or two visits to realise anything like
an adequate idea of its greatness and roegnificeece. It
exhibited to them various productions of the earth,
and it showed the working men the difficulties with
which they had to contend. When he viewed the
various splendid productions which were there displayed
to their notice, the result of the labours of working
men, ''he 'blessed God that he belonged to them.
They had there seen the result which had at-
tended the efforts of the working classes combined
with the employment of capital.—(Cheers.) They re-
joiced at the result—they rejoiced, and must continue to
rejoice that the day had dawned when the nations of the
earth could meet together to view and examine their
respective productions without any jealous bickerings.
They had seen what other nations could produce, and, as
English artizans, they were not afraid, nor did
they shrink from the contest.—(Applause.) They
believed all men to be equal, and consequently
with the means and appliances which they possessed they
had no doubt that they should be able to maintain their
position. At the same time, while the contest of skill
was going on they should rejoice to see so many en-
gaged in the manufacture of articles of utility to the
people. Every one who had 'visited the public
works at Woolwich that day must feel gra-
tified. The Government had permitted them
to inspect the various operations which were
being carried on; but they had seen more than this—
they had seen the result which had attended a violation
of the laws of this country. They had seen men who
were once as free as themselves—with hands to work
like them, and with ability to perform that work, chained
together in the most degrading manner. He trusted
that this sight would be a moral lesson to them, and
that the painful picture would be impressed upon their
minds in a way that would deter them from ever falling
into habits or practices likely to' place any
of them in a similarly painful position. He trusted also
that they would impress this painful picture on the at-
tention of their children in a way that would keep them
from evil doing. He urged them to compare the condi-
tion of these criminals with the position of his fellow_
workmen, who could assemble in the Crystal Palace and
meet the workmen of other nations in harmony and good
fellowship, none daring to be, afraid.—(Applause.) Ha
thought they were marching on in a right direction. At
one time it was otherwise. Employers, perhaps, did not
act rightly, and working men might have conducted
themselves in a more objectionable manner. There was
jealousy here and jealousy there, and there might pro-
bably be a little fault on both sides. Let them now
bury all remembrance of this—let them forget all bad
feeling, and endeavour for the future to be better men,
and if they did they might depend upon it they would
arrive at a better result. He again expressed his thanks
to Mr. Peto for his splendid hospitality, and to the Mayor,
Sheriff, and Mr. Sultzer for their exertions, first in
enabling them to visit the Exhibition, and in taking such
care for their comfort while in London; and expressed
an ardent hope that they should return to the bosoms of
their families better men and women. The working
men must advance—they must progress as they obtained
greater information, and the facilities which they now
enjoyed by means of cheap and valuable pub-
lications would enable them to do this. He
trusted, then, that his own order would en-
deavour to obtain information in every branch in which
they were engaged, and that they would no longer be
considered a class of ignorant men, but one the members
of which might state their opinions frankly and freely,
without offence to any one. Were employers to allow
the men, on occasions when differences arose, to do this,
he felt assured they would, never encroach upon that
respect which was due from the workman to the master,
while he had no doubt that by such a system all dif-
ferences would be speedily and satisfactorily re-
moved.—(Cheers.) Ile concluded by again thanking
Mr. Peto and his friends for the compliment that had
been paid to the working men of Norwich.
The PRESIDENT gave " The wives, children, and
sweethearts of the workmen," which was drunk with
loud cheers, and the company then separated. A special
train conveyed them to town, where they arrived' shortly
before ten o'clock.