The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-12 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL TO MR. ETV-£11( GS, OF TILE
LONDON AND WESTXINSTER BANK.

At the late half-yearly meeting of the London
and Westminster Bank proprietors it was publicly
announced that Mr. Gilbart, the manager, who had
conducted the affairs of the institution from its first
foundation and contributed so largely to its extra-
ordinary success, had, yielding to the inexorable
demands of increasing age and its consequent in-
firmities, resigned his onerous and laborious posi-
tion. It was at the same time stated that Mr. Wm.
Ewings, who had with almost equal success con-
ducted the branch establishment in Holborn from
its first beginning, nearly a quarter of a century
ago, had been appointed to succeed him. The
principles of banking pursued by Mr. Ewings at
Bloomsbury were such as not only brought a
large amount of profitable business to the bank,
but secured amongst the customers a large number
of personal friends to himself. These 'personal
friends, and other customers, who appreciated the
courtesy and attention of Mr. Ewings, considered
that his elevation to a more important sphere in the
bank he bad served so well was a fitting occasion
for them to express their feelings in his favour in a
substantial and permanent form. A subscription
list was accordingly opened, and in a short time
something like 500 guineas was collected, with
which a handsome set of dinner plate was pur-
chased (designed and manufactured expressly by
Messrs. Widdowson and Veale, of the Strand), con-
sisting of an elegant and massive centre-piece, with
candelabra; two epergne side pieces to match, and
a salver. Last night the ceremony of presentation
took place, when some 150 of the gentlemen who
had subscribed assembled together at dinner at the
Albion Tavern. _

Joseph Turnley, Esq., was in the chair, sup-
ported by Mr. Ewings as the guest of the evening
by Mr. Commissioner Murphy, Mr. Taylor, &e.
After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the toast of the
evening. He said, my friend Ewings is the son of
a country gentleman, who like many others who
had occupied high positions in this land, not being
fond of country pursuits, came to London to try
his fortune. Good fortune has ever since followed
him. He commenced life as a banker, and was
lucky enough to nestle himself under the wings of
the well-known firm of Gosling and Co., and how
the goose's milk agrees with him you are enabled
to judge. After the London and Westminster
Bank had been for some time established, they
thought it would be advantageous to open a branch
in Holborn, and my friend having been pointed out
as a man of business habits, strict integrity, and
thorough knowledge of banking operations, who
would be likely to carry out such a concern success-
fully; he was appointed accordingly. They put
him, as it were, into a baker's shop without a single
roll, but he had turned out one of the best batches
of bread in the country. (Cheers and a laugh.)
Going in without a customer he now counts
thousands upon the books, and, in short, the
Holborn branch of the London and Westminster
may be said to be the most successful branch
establishment in the country. In present-
ing to him this testimonial I feel that we,
who are the customers of that branch, are
only doing our duty by him. I believe that
no testimonial has ever been got up as thin
has been. There has been no flourish of trumpets,
no beating of drums. It has all been done
quietly. One friend has informed another what was
proposed, and we have got together a creditable
sum without any display or any trouble whatever.
I now beg my friend to accept this very handsome
present, and I am pleased and proud at having the
honour of presenting it to him, and I will only add
a wish that as the general manager of one of the
largest banking establishments in England he may
be as successful as he has been at the Bloomsbury
branch. (Cheers.) The chairman concluded by
proposing Mr. Ewings' health, which was drunk
with loud cheers and great enthusiasm ; and after
an appropriate song by Mr. D. King,
Mr. EWINGS returned thanks. He said—Mr.
Chairman and gentlemen, how shall I express my
gratitude ? How convey to you in words my heartfelt
thanks for the great honour you have this evening
conferred upon me ? I feel that my abilities are
quite inadequate to the task, though the task is a
labour of love. What is it but a labour of love to,
offer my warmest acknowledgments to our worthy
and eloquent chairman for the flattering terms in
which he has complimented me. What is it but a
labour of love, to thank you, gentlemen, for the kind,
the friendly, the enthusiastic manner with which
you have received them? (Hear, hear.) Nearly
25 years have passed away since I came amongst
you, almost a stranger, as the manager of the Blooms-
bury branch of the London and Westminster Bank.
My ambition then was, as it now is, to merit your
confidence and good opinion. I hoped by the faithful
honourable, and courteous discharge of my duties
to obtain your encouragement and support. The
hope was not in vain. (Hear.) That magnificent
token of your approbation bears ample testimony
that my humble endeavours have not been unsuc-
cessful. I accept it, gentlemen, with pride and
pleasure. A pride and pleasure greatly enhanced
by the presence of so many old and valued friends.
If I dare not flatter myself that I have deserved
your splendid gift, I shall at least have the happi-
ness of regarding it as an enduring memorial of
your kindness and munificence. It would be un-
grateful in me were I to omit the expression of my
thanks to my friend Mr. Ford, as well as to the
gentlemen of the committee who so kindly
undertook the arrangements and have so suc-
cessfully accomplished the wishes of the sub-
scribers. To have been the cause of so much trouble
and the loss of so much valuable time to them and
to my friend Mr. Lloyd, is my onlyregret. But,
gentlemen, my obligations to the subscribers and to
you all arc too deep and lasting ever to be effaced
from my heart, for if the gratifying proofs of your
esteem I have this evening received had been
wanting, I could never forget that it was your pa-
tronage and favour which mainly contributed to the
prosperity of the Bloomsbury branch, and to raise
me to the high position in the bank which I have
now the honour to fill. I trust my future conduct
in a more extended sphere of action wil strengthen
the good opinion of which I am so'justly proud and
that you will permit me to indulge in the sanguine
hope that the personal friendship which has for so
many years subsisted between us will be neither
interrupted nor diminished by my advancement.
(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, my thanks are due to
you for the delight you have conferred upon me by
your kind invitation to this social meeting, and I
hope you will pardon me if I again express my
graqtude for your cordial reception, and for the very
elegant and flattering testimonial your generosity
has provided. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I
have the honour and the pleasure to drink your
health, and to -wish you long life, prosperity,
every happiness this world can afford. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. TAYLOR proposed the "Health of the Chair-
man," whom he eulogised for the able manner in
which he had conducted the business of the even-
ing. He also referred to the ability which the
chairman had displayed when recently Master of
the Merchant Taylor? Company. He saiel the city
of London was proud of their chairman, and de-
• servedly so. He referred to the recherche banquets
given by the Merchant Taylors, of one of which he
appeared to have a lively recollection.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and said that if
his friend Taylor had not been to the Merchant
Taylors' dinners, he should have thought that he.
was spelling for a ticket—(laughter)—for nearly
all that he had said in his (the chairman's) favour
was in relation to his culinary tastes, after which
his friend had rushed off into a general laudation
of cookery. (Laughter.) He, however, begged to
thank them for the manner in which they had re-
ceived the toast, and he assured them that he never
presided over a more social and joyous gathering
than that which he had the honour of addressing,
, and he had no doubt his friend Ewings was very
proud of it. (Hear, hear.)
In proposing " The Legal Profession, and Mr.
Commissioner Murphy,''
The CHAIRMAN delivered a speech replete with
humour. In the course of it he said he had once
been asked why members of the legal profession
were like those who could not rest quietly in bed ?
To which the response was, " Because they lie first
on one side and then on the other." (Loud
laughter.)
Mr. Commissioner MURPHY responded to the
toast
in a very amusing speech. There was a
skeleton, he.
hadh
aass4
said, in every house, and that evening
they
nessed one of the contrasts of nature.
They
cessful banker,ve
n a handsome testimonial to a sue-
the Judge 0, and they had drunk the health of
Insolvency Court. Judicial
purity and commercial credit went hand in hand
together, and he was proud
ato say that there never
was a time when the legal
profession stood higher
than at the present men
(Hear.)sh They had
heard something about bakers' and batches
that he
of bread in connection with his frieonpds
Ewingsnever
; but
and
rcheoeund
for his own part, he could say
him "crusty" in his life. (Laughter
little
On the contrary, if he could not do their
—(loud laughter)—h
bills" at any time e declined
with so much courtesy that they went away with-
out a murmur. Good breeding and good manners
might be backed against all the world, and he hoped
at the end of another 25 years they might present
him with another testimonial of £5,000.
Mr. WARING then propose—
"the health of Mr.
Reeves, Mr. Ewing? successor at the Bloomsbury
Branch." He was one of the very first customers
of the Bloomsbury Branch, and this be could say,
that if he had opened his account with £lO, he had
never distressed the bank by drawing it out all at
once without due notice. (Loud cheers and laugh-