The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-10 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

The dinner took place at the Victoria Hotel.
Nearly 100 persons were present. They consisted
chiefly of the • gentlemen of the locality, though
there were also present gentlemen from Hull, Man-
chester, and other places, :as well as some of the

passengers by the prince Alfred. Viscount Emlyn,
M.P„ who is connected by large possessions with
the locality, presided ; and on his right and left sat
the guests a the. evening7--Messrs.
:Pearson and
Coleman. Col. Greville occupied the vice-chair.
After the_ usual loyal toasts, the CHAIRMAN pro-
posed the " Navy and Army," which was responded
to by Lieut..Hornby on the part of the navy, and
by Lieut. Gladstone on the part of the army.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the
evening, said he felt, grateful to these who attended
on that occasion, and. who filled the room so well.
He hesitated at first to occupy his present post for
fear he should not discharge its duties properly ;
but still the interest he felt in the subject, and m
joining with other gentlemen who resided in the
neighbourhood were such that, however inefficiently
he might discharge his duties, he trusted they
would not allow their interest and sympathy in the
question to be on that account diminished. (Hear,
hear.) Many of those here present recollected
when there was not a houSe built within half a
mile of the place where he then stood, so that any
person might have asked, like Imogene—
" How far is it •
To this blessed Milford ?"
Would, like Imogene, have been obliged to do with-
out an answer. (Laughter.) But things were
changed now, and Imogene would not remain long
unanswered, because persons were now coming to
Milford from all parts of England. (Hear.) He
rejoiced that not only those gentlemen whom they
met to honour on that- occasion—he meant those
gentlemen who were connected with the Inter-
colonial Royal Mail Steam-packet Service—were
present, but that others from various parts of Eng-
land were present also. (Hear, hear.) He was
glad that they surveyed with their own eyes the
shores of Milford Haven, for they could then judge
for themselves of its capabilities and merits, and he
trusted they would return to their various homes
with no unfavourable account—of what they had
seen. (Cheers.) He was reminded on the present
occasion of the lines of the distinguished poet :
" Lives of great men oft remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time."

He hoped when the pioneers of the commercial in-
terests of these shores had run their course that the
spirit they kindled would still live on the shores of
the Haven. (Hear, hearlf he were to speak for
l
ever he did not know t at he could say more.
(Hear, hear.) There was no man, whether he came
from Neyland or from Milford, who did not regard
with the greatest satisfaction and with every desire
for its success the commercial enterprise of these
gentlemen. (Cheers.) He was sure they were
welcomed by all alike, and would feel that, how-
ever much they might desire to see lite success of
their own particular views, all present must see
that the prosperity of any one part would conduce
to the prosperity of all. (Applause.) It was,
therefore, with the greatest heart and confidence,
proposed to drink he
"Success to the Enterprise
of Messrs. Pearson and Coleman," coupling there-
with the name of Mr. Pearson and Mr. Cave.
The toast having been honoured with every mark
of enthusiasm,
Mr. PEARSON said the manner in which the toast
had been proposed and received made so deep au
impression on him that he scarcely knew how to
express the sentiments he felt. He could assure
them that though he had paid but one visit before
to this noble harbour, he was glad to have the op-
portunity of meeting again so many of the friends
he then made. (Cheers.) On that occasion he re-
solved to visit Milford Haven, and thought that as
they had been so handsomely treatel and received,
they could not do otherwise than bring their friends
with them. (Cheers.) They did brill.- their friends
with them, and grateful indeed they felt at the way
in which they had been received by the people of
Milford Haven. He had that day been down to
the mouth of the harbour, and wAnossed with lively
satisfaction its splendid capacities, and only felt
astonished that the great advantages which nature
endeavoured to bestow on it had not been turned to
account by men of commercial enterprise. He felt
satisfied that Milford only required to be known to
be appreciated, (Cheers.) He at least gave the