The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

THE CUTLERS' FEAST.

SHEFFIELD, SEPT. 5.
The annual feast of the Ancient Corporation of the Cut-
lers of Sheffield took place last night at the Cutlers'-hall in
this town. The great attraction of this dinner is derived
from the presence of the distinguished strangers who upon
such occasions are usually invited, and yesterday the now
Master Cutler (Mr. WoPtenholm) was honoured by the
company of the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. Dallas, the Ame-
rican Minister, Mr. Mines, M.P., Mr. Roebuck, M.P.,
Mr. Oliveira, M.P., Mr. B. Denison, M.P., Lord Denman,
Lord G. Manners, the Mayor of Grimsby and Doncaster,
M. Gudin, of the French navy, Mr. Bessemer, whose im-
portant improvement in tho manufacture of iron is now
attracting such general attraction, and a general company
of about 200 of the principal inhabitants of Sheffield, and
friends from a distance.

The Master Cutler occupied the chair, and the cloth
having been removed, the usual loyal toasts were disposed of.
The MISTER CUTLER, in proposing " The Army and
Navy," remarked that England, to be wealthy, succoesful,
and free, must be strong. It was by might as well as right
that they must hope to preserve their present position
among the nations of the world. We must maintain and
strengthen that noble British navy which floated on every
water, and whose flag was respected by all nations, and
we must also cherish and support that gallant army whose
prowess had been distinguished in so many victories. The
names of Wellington, of Nelson, and of Marlborough had
become household words.
" Who does his best where circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly, angels oould no more."

&nd our triumphs in the late war, in the battle field o:

Alma, on the heights of Inkerman, at the deadly charge
of /541aklava, in the perilous trenches about Sebastopol,
before the wall of the doomed fortress, had acted the part
of heroes. (Cheers.)
Colonel HODGE, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, now sta-
tioned at Sheffield, acknowledged the toast.
The MISTER CUTLER, observing that they were ho-
noured upon the present occasion with the presence of a
distinguished French officer, said it gave him great plea-
sure to propose the health of the Emperor of the French,

coupling the toast with the name of M. Gudin. Ho was
quite sure that the people of England, and none more than
those of Sheffield, appreciated most highly tie friendly
feeling which happily subsisted between the two nations.
➢T. GUDIN, in returning thanks, said that nothing had
pleased him more than the last toast—that of the English
army and navy. He was sorry to say that England and
Francs had been pitted against each other too long, but
perhaps there was no great harm done, for as they had
tested each other's courage in the field they could now fight
with greater confidence together against any enemy who
might present himself. (Hear, hear.) But peace had come,
and for that reason Birmingham might well be jealous of
Sheffield, for Birmingham forged weapons of war while

Sheffield forged knives and forks—knives with which when
young we used to cut our pens to write love letters, but
when old to write accounts. (Cheers, and laughter,) He
was quite sure that the knife which was to cut the tie
which bound England and FraijgeAogether would never be
forged in Sheffield. (Cheers.) He had the pleasure of
personally knowing the Emperor of the French, and had
the honour of presenting to him Mr. Bessemer, who had
received great encouragement and support from him. The
people of France were deeply indebted to England for the
noble subscriptions they had raised for the relief of the
sufferers from the late terrible inundations which had
taken place in his country. He concluded by drinking
"Health and Prosperity to the good, noble, ancient, and

wealthy town of Sheffield."
"The Health of the Duke of Norfolk" having been

drunk,
The MASTER CUTLER proposed that of " The Duke of
Newcastle," observing that the diligence shown by the

noble Duke with regard to the public service had procured

him general confidence and esteem. (Hear, hear.)
The Duke of NEWCASTLE, who on rising was greeted
with general Leheering, said—Mr. Master Cutler, often as
your predecessors in the chair have invited me to your
hospitable board, and greatly as I have desired upon each

successive occasion to appear among you to renew some
friendships and to origisat., as I hope, other acquaintance-

ships which may afterwards ripen into intimacy, circum-
stances of various kinds have hitherto prevented my being
here, and I say, with no mock humility, that I am unable

,o account for the fervour and kindness with which you

have received my name. However anxious I might be in
my public capacity, as a member of the Legislature or as a

titled me to such a reception at your liana. y4lfib

Cutler has referred to the offices I have held in the Govern-

ment of the country. I do not forget at this moment the
remark, "Abuse me as much as you like, but for Heaven's
sake don't pass me over in silence"—(a laugh) —and if I
am not to depart from this axiom, all I can say is that I
feel I have deep reason to be grateful for much tint ha
been said, and, still more, that has been written of mo
within a very recent period Upon this occasion politics
are properly excluded, nor will I be the first to encroach
upon that wholesome rule; and, although the Master Cut-
ler alluded more especially to the offic I lately held of

. _
Secretary of War, I will not be tempted evenby that alla-
sion into any vindication of myself, however well it might
be received by you. Nay, more, I will not be tempted by
the presence even of my hon. and learned but somewhat
aggressive friend
.the member for Sheffield—(laughter)—
to enter into any explanations on this point. The time may
come when—nay, I am ready at this moment—l shall see
fit to venture on so audacious an act as to break a lance
with him. But the time still more probably will come
when the publication of documents will establish facts
which may induce even my hon. and learned friend to some-
what modify his opinion. At all events, you will, I am
sure, be convinced that the long and determined silence
which I have maintained for many months past has been
dictated by other and higher motives than an acceptance of
the blame which has been cast upon me, or an entire aequi-
essence in much of the self-laudation which has been as-
sumed by others. I will only make this further allusion to
my recent connexion with the Government of the coun-
try, that, having resolved from the hour that I gave up
the seals of office that I would go to the Crimea and visit
that army myself, as well for the clearance of my own con-
science as to acquire a knowledge which I knew neither I
nor any one else in this country possessed—having deter-
mined to go in spite of the earnest remonstrances of many
sincere friends, I only felt one regret, and that was that I
had not for a companion, when visiting the trenches, the
camp, and the hospitals, the hen. chairman of the Sebas-
topol Committee. (Laughter and cheers.) I assure the hon.
gentleman, however, that that feeling was not dictated by
the circumstances of the numerous balls of various sorts
and sizes that occasionally whizzed about my head, but
that he might have the opportunity of witnessing the uni-
form and generous kindness with which I was received,
not only by the officers, but by every private in the army.
(Cheers.) And let me say that before I left the camp my
grey jacket and white cap became as well known to the pri-
vates as the uniform of their own officers. (Cheers.)
Enough and more than enough upon a topic upon which I
would not have ventured to address a word had it not been
for the allusion you, sir, made. Now let me turn to a more
agreeable and more important theme, and congratulate you
upon having among you, for the first time, I believe, a dis-
tinguished representative of, I will not say a foreign, but
a cognate country—(cheer s) —the representative of a coun-
try the like of which has never yet been seen, springing
as it has done to so mighty a size, and into such immense
political importance, within BO short a space of time ; for the
United States at this moment can reckon very little more
than the ordinary span of a human life. There are men now 1
alive who can remember the Declaration of Independence. I
believe it only reckons some four score years' existence as a
nation, and yet in that short space of time it has increased in
population from little more than 2,00 ),COOto something short
of 30,000,000 of inhabitants, while the country has ex-
tended from a mere seaboard to an extensive continent,
and we now greet in this isle one of the most distinguished
men as its representative. (Cheers.) The reception you
have given to my faint allusion to his merits will convinc e
him, if conviction were necessary to a mind of his enlight-
enment, that not only this community, but those who are
bound up with the interests of the community—l speak
of the whole country—are resolved to do everything in
their power to maintain the most friendly relations with
it. (Cheers.) I am satisfied ho will be convinced that this
country would make every sacrifice but ono to avoid a war
with the United States ; and that ono he would, I am surd,
never wish to filch from us—l mean the sacrifice of honour.
Wo must not bo alarmed if occasionally some little difficul-
ties arise between us and our Transatlantic brethren, for I
believe it is the nature of the two freest countries in the
world that there should be a difficulty occasionally in
maintaining peace between them, which arises from the
very circumstence that they are the two freest countries
in the world. We should see, therefore, that the relation-
ship between England and the United States be carefully
maintained ; but of this I am certain, that so long as we
have such a representative from the United States as is
here to-night, there is little probability of any rupture be-
tween the two countries. I believe that the exportation of
unwrought steel—not to speak of manufactured articles—
from this town to America amounts at present to 6,000 tons,
which of itself forms not a golden, but an iron link between
the two countries. I congratulate you upon the present
prosperous state of your town ; and I am not afraid of ad-
dressing you in terms of congratulation, for it has been of
such a duration as to promise that it will not only con-
tinue but increase. I will not go into the causes to which
that prosperity may be attributed. I believe it is due,
not merely to the course which Parliament has . pursued
within the last 10 years, but also to the greatly improved
eeling existing between the masters and the workmen, and

to the confidence and goodwill which appear to have ani
mated all classes of society. I can remember visiting Shef-
field when I was not able to make these pleasing observa-
tions, but at periods when masters were distrustful and the
workmen in something like a state of revolt. In short,
Sheffield fluctuated between alternations of prosperityand
distress, and distress at one time continued so long that it
threatened to break the hearts of its inhabitants, and to
make them apprehensive that the prosperity of this an-
cient town had indeed come to an end. But I believe that
within the last few days a most important element of fu-
ture prosperity has arisen among you. I think that that
great discovery will not only increase the prosperity of this
town, but be of lasting benefit to the country at large. I
allude of course t) the wonderful discovery of 3,1 r. Bessemer.

Perhaps as a coalowner I ought to be a little afraid, but I
have such confidence in my politico-economic creed that I
believe, however Mr. Bessemer may reduce the consump-
tion of coal, your prosperity will equally tend to produce
my prosperity, nor do I pretend to be extremely disinte.
rested when I express my earnest hope that that great dis-
covery may produce all the benefits which I most sanguinely
anticipate from it. I believe there never was a time
within the memory of most of us when all party politics
were at so low an ebb, and party feelings so little intlu-

enced men as at the present moment. Ido not deny
that this may ha►e some disadvantage, but I speak
feelingly when I say that, isolated as I am from
public life, disconnected from every party whatever,
I am a somewhat useless individual. (Cries of " No,"
and cheers.) But this state of things has this great ad-
vantage—it is a season when all social improvements may
be greatly promoted. For instance, we see at this moment
parsons of all creeds and political professions—men who en.
tertain on a variety-of subjects the most different opinions
—uniting together without any party feeling to obtain one
common end in the promotion of the education of the
people. Still mere recently we have seen an important
movement made for the reformation of juvenile offenders.
These are most important social questions, and I know that
in the town of Sheffield they have never been neglected. I
know that recently you have appointed a committee upon
tie subject of the reformation of juvenile criminals, who
have reported at considerable length, with a view to the
practical adaptation of the principles so ably discussed at
Bristol. (Hear.) If I allude to these important social ques-
tions I do so with the hope that another important point
will not be forgotten—l moan the improvement of the
physical condition of the people ; for I am convinced you
must go to the root of the evil, and while endeavouring to
promote the reformation of juvenile offenders you must
weed and root out the nascent seeds of vice before they
have pervaded the minds of the young. Never let us for-
gat that while we should support schools it is our duty to
improve the physical condition of the people, without which '
all our efforts will prove feeble and ineffective. If there is
one politico-economic axiom more admitted than another, it
is that crime is in exact proportion to the poverty of the
country. I know of nothing more certain than that if you
succeed in rendering the situation of the labouring classes of
the country more prosperous you will, to a certain extent,
eradicate and prevent crime. Look at that country a short
distance across the water, which has afforded to every
statesman a lesson that he should learn and ponder upon
every hour of his life. What was the condition of Ire-
land some years ago compared with its present state ?
Seven or eight short years have elapsed, and the convic-
tions in that country have been reduced from 21,0J0 in
the year to not more than 5,000; and can you doubt that
that state of things has arisen from anything else than the
improved physical condition of the people? And, again,
look at home, at what has taken place in your own county,
the West Riding, and you will find that even within the
last six months the diminution of pauperism is extraordi-
nary, while in the neighbouring county, to which I be-
long, it has been reduced from 18 to 16 par cent. These
are subjects not merely for rejoicing, but for instruction,
and show us that while we support reformatories and edu-
cation we ought to do everything which can better the
physical condition of the labouring classes, and never forget
that it is not the position, wealth, and patriotism of the
aristocracy, but the industry, the enterprise, the riches,
and the virtues of the middle classes, which, combineu
with the prosperity of the working population, produce th,
chief strength of the nation. With peace we may hope t.,
continue happy and prosperous, for with these we may be
assured of strength in war. Nobody knows better than au
assembly of this character that the strength of a beam is
just equal to the tensile power of its weakest part, and 1
trust we shall always endeavour to strengthen the weakest
part in the body politic that it may be enabled to bear
tkate2lrretyriesiliislaanuet qre Ipne from many quarters De
eluded by again thanking the company for the kind recep-
tion they had given him.
The Ma.sren CUTLUR, in giving " the health of the
American Minister," said he should have been proud to
have the honour of his company at any time, but it was
doubly welcome now after the settlement of the recent
complications with the country he represented.
The toast was drunk enthusiastically.

Mr. DALLAS, on rising, was received with a bunt of
cheering. lie said—As I had never been at Sheffield, it
was with very great pleasure thatl accepted the invitation
most kindly transmitted to me on this occasion. An
American citizen and a representative naturally desires to
see a community so eminently distinguished for its indus-
trial energies, of whose active enterprise it is impossible
that he can be ignorant. But I did not flatter myself
with the hope that I should receive a welcome so cordial
as that with which you have greeted me. It is too little
merited by your unknown guest to be regarded by him in
any other light than as a sign of generous amity towards
his country. (Cheers.) As such it is received and recipro-
cated with the highest gratification and the warmest
thanks. (Cheers.) Like yourselves, the sons of the Wes-
tern Republic love the land to which they belong, and they
listen, especially when abroad, as to sweet music, to those'
who express towards her sentiments of friendship, of hon-
our, and of goodwill. (Cheers.) It is not for me, a mere
stranger, to refer to the local topics of interest which
justly pre-occupy your minds. As to them lam a mere
looker-on, eager for instruction and anxious to understand.
But as, perhaps, not the least inappropriate to the occa-
sion among the numberless vestiges of this progressive age,
let me allure your minds to a single ono, perhaps the
latest, which I think must be of great moment to the
social relations existing between the two nations. Let us
hope that the consequences may be mutually advantage-
ous. You have probably heard of the irrepressible cupi-
dity of my countrymen. They are about to undertake a
daring exploit of annexation—an annexation that will at
once embrace these islands, and must ultimately include
all Europe, Asia, and Africa. (A laugh.) I have actually
in my possession a piece of a bar which has been forged to
bind those three Eastern venerable continents to the fresh
one of Columbia. We say in the far West that you pos-
sess accumulated treasures, which we covet and must have.

(Hear.) The great discoveries of your explorers in the
earth and in the heavens are innumerable, and the
additions made to the comfort and happiness of
the human race by you are hundreds of millions ;
the schemes of your commerce, every step you make in
morals, in jurisprudence, in the press, even in finance and
the stocks, we want and we must have, and have them as
quickly as yourselves. We are aware that there is not in
the wings of the carrier-pigeon strength enough for this,
and that steam is too wretchedly slow for our impatience.
But a subterranean electric cable, with one grapple at St.
John's, Newfoundland, and the other at Valentin in Ire-
land, resting on 1,700 miles, secure and indestructible in
the depths of the Pacific, will realise all our objects, achieve
all the desires of our hearts, and rivet an annexation more
wonderful and infinitely more praiseworthy than that of
Texas or of Oudo. I should not have indulged in this flight,
even to beguile you for a moment, were you not perfectly
satisfied that the astonishing fact whence it has sprung is
no longer disputable. Our two countries, the dominions of
her Britannic Majesty and the United States of America,
though separated by the stormy sea thousands of miles in
width, will, in the course of coming years, be drawn by
the magical machinery, so to speak, of science, within con-
versational distance of each other. The preliminary sound•
ings were perfected a few days ago between these two great
arteries of sympathy of thought. I wish the line were now
in operation, and why ? Because I would instantly illus-
trate its moat glorious adaptation to the promotion of good-
will among men iu distant places by sending your toasts to
my compatriots, and giving you before you rose from this
table a fall-hearted American response. (Cheers.)
" The Health of the Chairman" having been drunk on
the proposition of the Duke of Newcastle,
Mr. DUNN gave "The Health of the Members of the
West Riding."
Mr. B. DENISON returned thanks, observing that it was
now two years since ho bad been called upon to respond to
the toast, it not having been in his power last year to be
present. In that period groat events had taken place ;
mighty battles had been fought, and splendid victories
won, until at last the armies of England, conjoined with
those of their great ally, had at last been crowned with
suss ;ess. We sent our soldiers to take Sebastopol, and they
had done it. The war had begun while his noble friend
the Duke of Newcastle was one, and, in his opinion, one cf
the most efficient, of the Ministry. (Loud cheers.) That
nobleman worked from morning till night and night till
morning. (Hear, hear.) He was the most abused of any
man in the service, and, as he (Mr. Denison) maintained,
had been most grossly calumniated. But the page of his-
tory would reveal the truth— (cheers)—and, as ho believed,
would record the fact that the noble duke had been made
the scapegoat of the Ministry and the party. What his
colleagues had not been permitted to carry out their suc-
cessors had executed most satisfactorily, and he must say
that, in his opinion, Lord Palmerston deserved the thanks
of the United Kingdom. (Cheers.) He hod nothing to do