The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-25 00:00:00

BANQUET AT LIVERPOOL.

The Earl of Derby, after laying the foundation■
stone of the Southern Hospital in Liverpool on Wed-
nesday, attended a banquet in the Town-hall. The
guests were received in the west drawing-room by
the Mayor and Mrs. John Grant Morris, and after
the formal introductions had been gone through,
the Mayor escorted the Countess of Derby to the
ball-room,the Earl favouring the Mayoress with his
arm, Colonel Wilbraham leading Lady Constance
Stanley, and Mr. S. R. Graves, M.P., the Hon. Miss
Wilbraham. The ball-room was magnificently
draped and decorated for the occasion, the chande-
liers being lighted, and a profusion of wax lights
tastefully and artistically placed along the tables
and around the walls. A most recherche banquet
was laid out on three tables. that ran the whole
length of the large room. Covers were laid for 130
guests, the following being the principal persons
who had received invitations :—The Earl and
Countess of Derby, Hon. Frederick A. and Lady
Stanley, Colonel, Mrs., and Miss Wilbraham, Lord
Barrington, Lord Stanley, M.P., Admiral and Mrs.
Hornby, Mr. and Lady Alice Des Vceux, the
Bishop of Chester and Mrs.- Jacobson, the Dean of
Chester and Mrs. Howson, the Archdeacon of Liver-
pool and Miss Jones, the Rev. Rector and Mrs.
Campbell, the Rev. John and Mrs. Stewart, the
Rev. W. and Mrs. Leveson, the Rev. Gilbert and
Mrs. Sandbach, the Rev. J. and Mrs. Robberts, the
Recorder and Mrs. Aspivall, the Town Clerk and
Mr. Rayner, Colonel Sir John Jones, K.C.8., Lady
Jones; Major Greig, C. 8., and Mrs. Greig; Mr.
Thomas B. Horsfall, M.P., and Miss Horsfall ; Mr.
S. R. Graves, M.P., and Mrs. Graves Mr. Charles
Turner, M.P., and Mrs. Turner ; Mr. John Laird,
M.P., and Mrs. Laird ; Admiral G. Evans, R.N.,
and Mrs. Evans, Sze.

After the dessert had been placed on the tables,

The MAYOR rose, and gave in succession the
health of the Queen, the Prince and Princess. of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal family, each of
which was duly honoured.
The MAYOR next proposed " The Bishop and
Clergy of the diocese," and in some brief remarks
alluded to the great interest they at all times took
in the local charities.

The Lord Bishop of CHESTER responded. He ex-
pressed the great gratification it afforded him to
have been permitted to take part in the ceremony
they had just witnessed. The work they had en-
couraged was eminently and emphatically a Chris-
tian work, the relieving of suffering humanity being
one of the virtues of our Christian faith.
The MAYOR again rose and said—l rise with sin-
cere pleasure to propose the health of my distin-
guished guest to-day, the Earl of Derby. It would
be presumption iu me to attempt by my feeble lan-
guage to do justice to the toast. It is, however, un-
necessary, for there is not a place or corner in our
country where it would not be received with feelings
of respect and affection. (Applause.) Tlic noble
earl's life has been one of true patriotism. Ile has
devoted his great talents and the high prestige of
his name to the service of his country, and in all
the relations of life has act an example of industry
and duty to.all, from the highest to the lowest in the
land. (Applause.) I have only now to express our
grateful thanks to his lordship for being with us to
take part in the interesting proceedings of the day,
and I sincerely hope his lordship's health will not
suffer in consequence. I trust that every blessing
may attend the noble lord, and that he may long be
spared to be the joy and happiness of his own do-
mestic circle, and that his health may enable him to
continue his valuable se:vices to his country. His
lordship has done us a great honour in being pre-
sent and taking a part in the interesting proceedings
of this day, and I have now to give you a toast
which I hope you will receive with all the acclama-
tion it deserves—" The Health of the Right Honour-
able the Earl of Derby." _ .

The toast was enthusiastically received, and
honoured with three cheers, which were led off by
his worship.
The Earl of DERBY, on rising to respond, was
greeted with loud and prolonged applause. He said
—Mr. Mayor, ladies, and gentlemen, I trust that
upon the present occasion you will not expect from
me anything like a speech, and, if for no other rea-
son, I hope my physical inability to make any such
an effort will be a sufficient excuse. But I trust
you will not mea sure the amount of gratitiide I feel
for the very kind and:flattering :reeeption you have
given me by the brevity of the terms in which I
have to acknowledge it. It is not the first time by
many that I have had the pleasure in this room of
meeting the society of Liverpool, and I must say
that upon no occasion have I failed to receive the
most gratifying marks of their respect and esteem.
Those marks, coming from those who are my im-
mediate neighbours, who have the opportunity of
knowing something of my personal and private, as
well as political life, I need not say, are deeply gra-
tifying. (hear, hear.) Allow me, Mr. Mayor, to
offer you my best thanks for the manner in which
you have spoken of the public services I have refl.
&tot In the course of a long life—of a political
forty years—l have life now of some !IyA And
en-
deavoured faithfully to discharge the , duties of the
station I fill. (Applauge.) put I cannot claiin for
myself any special merit for what.; have done, in-
asmuch as I have only endeavoured to do tL.It which
I am sure each and all of you endeavour to do--
natndly, to perform my duties to the best of my abi-
lity. (Applause.) • I cannot sufficiently express the
great gratification I felt in being permitted to take
a part in the iuthreging ceremony of this day. The
memory of .that occasion, and the part I took in.
laying the foundation stone of the new hospital,
which I trust,-at no distant periodv will be brought
into operation, will ever live upon my mind, and I
need Mot remit j yott thattlw coiitly and oniatuental