The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-10 00:00:00

LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

THE BANQUET.
In the evening the usual inaugural banquet was
given in Guildhall, which was tastefully fitted up

for the occasion.
The following is a description of the decorations:
—The entrance lobbies leading into the Great Hall
were decorated with military trophies, figures in ar-
mour, sculpture, mirrors, and flowering plants. The
Great Hall was used as the banqueting room. In
addition to the usual accommodation, a gallery, with
an open Gothic front, had been erectedatthe western
end, which afforded additional dining space, and
was also used as a music gallery. The windows on"
the north and south sides of the hall, which about
the beginning of the present century were built up,
bad been opened and restored. Three of these had
WTI filled with stained glass, the subject being his-
torically connected with the city of London.
In the lobbies in the Aldermen's Court Room and
in the Council Chamber was placed various works
of art. The more distinguished of the company on
their arrival, soon after 6 o'clock, were presented to
the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress in the Court
of Aldermen. One of the first Ministers to arrive
was General Peel. He was received with loud
cheers. Sir 11. Cairns arrived soon after and was

-- -
cordially cheered. Mr. Disraeli was enthusiastically

received. The arrival of Earl Derby elicitedshouts

of applause. The Lord Chancellor and Sir John
Pakington were also most cordially greeted.
Dinner was announced at a quarter to 7 o'clock.
The following is a list of the principal guests : The
Lord Chancellor and Lady Chelmsford, Earl and
Countess of Malmesbury, the Right Hon. General
J. Peel, Earl of Bradford, Earl and Countess of
Derby, Hon. G. J. Noel, Sir G. Montgomery, Lord
Stanley, Earl of Devon, Right Hon. Sir S. H. North-
cote and Lady Northcote, Viscount and Viscountess
Cranborne, Right Hon. J. S. Pakington and Lady
Pakington, Vice-Admiral Sir A. Milne, K.C.8.,
Vice-Admiral Sir S. Colpoy Dacres, K.C.8.,

•
Admiral Sir J. C. Dalrymple Hay, Right Hon. B

and Mrs. Disraeli, Right Hon. Lord J. Manners,
Earl of Carnarvon, Right lion. Stephen Cave and
Mrs. Cave, Lord Naas, Right lion. Sir Hugh
Cairns, Right Hon. Sir William Page Wood, the

Portuguese Minister, the Salvador Minister, the
Peruvian Minister, the Brazilian Minister, the

Mexican Minister, the Columbian Minister, the
Spanish Minister, the Marquis of Salisbury, Col. T.
E. Taylor, Mr. G. W. Hunt, Mr. G. A. Hamilton,
Earl of Longford,Earl and Countess ofßelmore,Right
Hon. C. B. Adderley, Sir J. Fergusson, the Hon.
G. Barrington, Mr. Montague Corry, Mr. Lancelot
Holland, Mr. J. Newman Hunt, Sir J. Rolt, Sir W.
Bovill, the Archdeacon of London, Mr. R. W.
Crawford, M.P., Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, M.P.,
Lord Robert Montagu M.P., Mr. W. AP Cullagh
Torrens, M.P., Mr. J. A. Roebuck, Q.C., M.P.,
Mr. A. Smee Ayrton, M.P., Mr. F. Doulton, M.P.,
Mr. W. H. and Mrs. Twentyman, Mr. IL N. Nissen
and Mrs. Nissen, Mr. T. Cave, M.P., and Mrs. Cave,
Mr. G. J. Cockerell and Mrs. Cockerell, Mr. J.
Figgins and Mrs. Figgins, Ale. H. Jones and Mrs.
Jones, Mr. T. Cotterell and Mrs. Cotterell, Mr. R.
W. Kennard, M.P., Mr. W. F. White, Treasurer
of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Mr. F. Hicks, Trea-

surer of St. Thomas's, Sir J. Thwaites, Sir R. Mayne,
Sir T. Henry, Capt. Burstal, Capt. Baker, Mr. S.
Warren, Mr. J. Johnson, Mr. H. Hawkins, Q.C.,
Mr. C. Freemantle, Mr. J. H. Sanderson, Mr. C.
S. Pcrceval, Hon. E. P. Thesiger, the Assistant-
Judge and Mrs. Bodkin, Admiral Sir F. W. Gray,
K.C.8., Mr. S. Hart, R.A., Mr. C. Gilpin, M.P.,
Capt. Derriman, R.N., Major-Gen. Baker, Viscount
Turnour, Rev. W. Rogers, Mr. W. H. Barlow, Mr.
W. Vaughan, Mr. S. Bucker, Mr. D. Meinertzhagen,
Mr. P. N. Laurie, Col. Hon. H. Duncornbe, Capt.
C. E. Mangles, Mr. R. M. Ebsworth, Lord Colville,
Mr. S. Clarke, Dr. Burge, Mr. J. D. Allcroft and
Mrs. Allcroft, Sir J. Tyler, the Mayor of Notting-
ham and lady, Mr. C. Sherriff, M.P., and Mrs.
Sheriff, and Mr. W. Lord.
The distinguished guests in proceeding through
the hall to their seats at the principal table were
loudly cheered.
The Earl of Derby conducted the Lady Mayoress
to her seat on the left of the Lord Mayor ; and Mr.

Disraeli gave his arm to Mrs. Phillips, the late Lady
2.Jayoress.

The dinner was provided by Messrs. Staples, of
the Albion Tavern.
The Rev. Mr. Stock, of All hollows, Upper
Thames-street, the Lord Mayor's chaplain, said
frrace
•
The LORD MAYOR, in rising to propose the first
toast, was received with loud cheers. He said—For
centuries past, on the 9th of November, the walls of
this ancient hall have reverberated with the expres-
sions of loyalty from the citizens of London, and on
no occasion have those expressions been more sin-
cere and hearty than on the present ; for never was
the throne occupied by a monarch who deserved and
enjoyed more of the esteem and love of her people. cheers.) Long may her Majesty reign over a
loyal, free, and prosperou- .
snation I give you "The
health of her Majesty the Queen."
The toast was drunk with all the honours, and
followed by the National Anthem.MAvon—Loyaltyanda
The LORD attachment to the
Throne naturally suggest our next
toastai t
hT
and
dn
ha
ot nation
en,
reaard the whole Royal Family with f
believing that they will in every Way
seprove them-
selves worthy of their illustrious ut ; and so
far the country has not been disa •
ppomted. The
bearing of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and
Princess of Wales and of his Royal Him: the
Duke of Edinburgh has won for them the affec-
tionate regards of all classes of the people. (Cheers.)
The citizens especially recollect that in addition to
this being the inauguration of their Lord Mayor it
is also the anniversary of the birthday of their
noblest citizen, the Prince of Wales. It is with
much pleasure, therefore, that I propose the toast
of the health of " Their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales and the other members
of the Royal Family."
The toast was drunk with all the honours.
The LORD ILLY on, in proposing the next toast,
said--The military and naval services of this coun-
try have always been held in special regard by the
people ; for while human nature remains as it is—
so long as the principle of aggression and the de-
sire to possess what belongs to another continues
a characteristic of mankind, armies and navies
must be maintained ; and the more efficient they
are the more likely- will they be to prevent the
horrors of war. (Cheers.) Desirous as this coun-
try is of being at peace with all the world, WO
recognise the necessity of being at all times
prepared for the casualties of war, and with this
view incessant vigilance is required in the prompt
adoption of scientific inventions in the material of
war, otherwise the well armed and accoutred force
of to-day might to-morrow be found armed with
only obsolete weapons and totally unprepared to
meet the enemy. (Cheers.) It is therefore with'
great satisfaction that the nation sees the care of
her army intrusted to one who from long ser-
vice knows what a soldier is, and what he requires,
as General Peel—(loud cheers)—and that the navy
is confided to a First Lord so well tried and effi-
cient as Sir John Pakington. (Loud cheers.) Our
Volunteersheaviece osorfecently distinguished themselves
service in foreign that kind which we hope will
service
ever be the only required of them, that no
culogium is
necessary from me
Secretaryinpropo of State
fur sthetie
I give their
health, which I shall theleaveto
for War to respond to.
you " The Army,
tie Navy, and the Volunteers."
"
The toast was drunk with loud cheers.
General PEEL—When I was called upon by
the
those
late Lord Mayor, on the occasion of oneof
magnificent banquets for which his mayoralty was
so distinguished, as well as by the great zeal
and
ability with which he performed his duties—whenl
was called upon to return thanks on the part of the
army, I predicted that before the conclusion of the
year armies would excite much greater attention
than was then accorded to them ; and I think that
my prediction has been verified, for I would venture
to say there is not a country that has got an army
whose attention is not now called to the necessity
of rearming and reorganising it. With regard to
organisation there is no regular army that can ex-
ceed our own in point of discipline, or requires less
re-organisation so far as the regimental system is

concerned ; but we have lessons to learn from the
past. Depend upon it that in future wars will be
so sudden, so sharp, and so short that there will be
no time for preparation. This was proved by the
rapidity of action in the late campaign. The report
of the Royal Commission will enable us, I hope, to
improve the condition of our soldiers ; but it is not
to the regular army merely that we must look for
the defence of the country. We have also the
Militia and the Volunteers to look to.
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON—My Lord Mayor, my
Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I see in this splendid
assembly naval officers of high rank and great dis-
tinction who might well be called on to acknow-
ledge the toast which your Lordship has just pro-
posed ; but custom prescribes that on account of

the office which I have the honour to hold I should.

acknowledge that toast on behalf of the navy. I

know that I speak the sentiments of those gallant

officers whom I see near me when I say that they

highly appreciate the feeling which is expressed by

this toast—that they enjoy the confidence and good

opinion of their countrymen. The officers and
sailors of the British navy never deserved that con-

fidence more than now, and I am sure that under
no circumstances would the assurance of that good
feeling be more acceptable to them than when ten-
dered by the Lord Mayor of London, and sanctioned
by the unanimous feeling of this great gathering of
the citizens of the metropolis. But I may be

allowed to regard this toast on this occasion in
another aspect. I cannot be unmindful of the rela-

latious between her Majesty's Government and the
navy of England, and I feel bound to say that we
are not insensible of how costly are those great

establishmentsby which the navy of England is main-
tained. I am afraid, and especially in these

days of advancing science, costly they must remain ;
but it will be the duty of those who administer
the navy to take care that those great establishments

shall be managed with the most strict regard to
economy, and that there shall be no wasteful expen-

diture of the public money. (Cheers.) It is not in-

consistent with this declaration that the Government

establishments must be managed with strict eco-

nomy to turn for a moment to another not less im-

_ .
portant branch of this great department. I speak
not in the sense of menace or in contemplation of
war, but I speak sincerely in the interests of peace
when I say that her Majesty's Government will deem
it to be one of their first and greatest duties to
maintain unimpaired the strength and efficiency of
the British navy, and take care that it is maintained
at that point which is imperatively required by the
extent of our empire, and the greatness of that com-
merce which stretches into every corner of the
world. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR—The interests of this great
city are so bound up in the maintenance of peace,
and the citizens so fully recognise the presence
of foreign Ambassadors as a guarantee for its
maintenance and the goodwill of other nations, that
they are at all times gratified to see foreign Mi-
nisters as their guests. (Cheers.)
The SPANISH MINISTER returned thanks.
The LORD MAron next proposed " The Health of
the Lord Chancellor," which was drunk with great
cordiality.
The LORD CHANCELLOR—Notwithstanding the ex-
treme personal kindness which has been manifested
by you, my Lord Mayor, I cannot consider the pre-
sent toast, which I rise to acknowledge, as personal
to myself. I regard it as the expression of the an-
nual homage which on these great occasions is in-
variably paid to the law, through its representative
—the individual who happens at the time to be its
head. Whatever difference of opinion may exist with
respect to many other institutions there is a universal
feeling pervading the country that to our equal laws
and the impartial administration of them we owe the
security of all the rights and liberties of the people.
One circumstance which, perhaps, attaches the
people to these more than any other is the part
they are called on to perform in the administration
of the law. That is strikingly and continually
demonstrated within the precincts of this
great city. At one time the highest criminal court
of justice in the kingdom, presided over by the Lord
Mayor, holds its sittings, where the citizens, assem-
bled as jurymen, de6de upon the rights and liber-
ties of their fellow-subjects. At another time the
Judges of the Superior Courts hold their sittings
here, and all the great commercial questions and all
the great questions which are interesting to a com-
mercial community are practically decided by mer-
chants and by persons interested in the trade and
commerce of the country. And these tribunals are
presided over by Judges of great learning, of per-
feet integrity, of entire independence, securing the
confidence of the people in their decisions, and never
more decidedly so than at the present moment. But
all human laws are necessarily imperfect ; laws which
at one time were adapted to the circumstances of
the community at another time fail to be appro-
priate. In the complicated relations of society
new interests spring up which require new adap-
tations of the law; and, consequently, reforms
and amendments of our laws from time to time
become necessary. There is no more important
duty imposed on a Government than to observe
what is required for the amendment of the laws and
apply themselves to it. (Cheers.) Now I know there
is nothing more dry or uninteresting than anything
connected with the law, and I have not the least desire
to mar the gaieties of this festive scene by any de-
tails on those subjects. I can only say this, that my
noble friend who is at the head of the Government
has always shown himself to be an earnest legal re-
former. I believe that disposition to be shared by
all my colleagues, and I can only say in general
terms, without entering into particulars, that we are
all of us disposed to introduce such amendments
and reforms of the law as have become absolutely
essential. (Cheers.) I would say one word only
to those who I think are over hasty and eager in
those matters.
in atters. There can be no experimental legis-
lation. New laws, before they are made, ought to
be very carefully considered, and to be so tho-
roughly
matured that they may take their place as
a permanent part of the legal system ; for expe-
rience has shown usatnhartepeitalis
itmwuhchenmiotreiseamsyadteo.
make a bad law than
With the disposition I have expressed, and so sin-
mc e
er
ne lt,
Iy entertainedtrus t
it mby every
be
in our power to introduce
member of the Govern-
, such reforms into the law as may be acceptable to
the people; and when this anniversary comes round
again, and such a great and brilliant assemblage as
that I see before me is again collected together in this
magnificent hall, I trust that all we have done for
the law will not diminish that respect and reverence
which have been entertained for it; which havebe
expressed on the present occasion, and for whichl
have endeavoured thus imperfectly to thank you.
(CheersiO
The)
RD MAYOR—During the last three cen-
turies that have elapsed since the Lord Mayor first
gaveole thea
l n
auguration banquet in this ancient and
b ever
the citizens of London have been
noble
l,
honoured by the presence
o o
of
f Kings,al l nations,
Princes,
and nobles,y
and distinguished statesmen
shade of politics ; the occasion being recognised as
one on which all parties for the time are on perfect
equality—the history of the Guildhall of the city of
history of the struggles and
London being, in fact, a
triumphs of the people in their efforts to secure their
civil and religious liberty, endangered by the
en-
croachments of the Crown on the one hand, or tur-
bulence and disloyalty of the people on the other.
It would, therefore, be incorrect to say that politics
are excluded from this hall. This, however, I may
say with perfect truth, that the citizens ever wel-
comed with sincere cordiality her Majesty's
Ministers, whatever be their politics—(lear,
hear)—and always rely upon them for the main-
tenance of all our civil and religious rights and
privileges, and, I will add, on no party with more
perfect reliance than the present Government. We
admire the patriotism which prompts men of the
ihighest standing in the country, of the fairest powers
of mind, of refined tastes'and magnificent fortunes,
to
forego ease, and for love of country dedicate all to
its service. (Loud cheers.) We are satisfied that
the present Government will loyally and faithfully
serve the:country, and maintain its honor and dig-
nity. In this confident assurance, I have great
pleasure in proposing as a toast " The health of her
Majesty's
toty'sas twas Ministers."
The drunk
with
great enthusiasm.
The Earl of DERBY, who waS received with great

enthusii sin, said—My Lord Mayor, my Lords,

Ladies, , and Gentlemen, I rise for the purpose of
express sing, or at least endeavouring to express, on
the pa rt of my colleagues and myself our grateful
sense of the high honour which you have done us on
the pr esent occasion, of the kind and flattering
terms in which your lordship has been pleased to
spmk of myself and colleagues, and the gratifying,

the cordialLmay I say the more than cordial man-
ner in which our health has been accepted by this

great assembly. (Loud cheers.) And yet, my
Lord A layor, my colleagues and myself do not so far

deceive ourselves as to attach to such demoustra-

tions dof your goodwill any political significance.
We know, and we know well, that the manner in
which. you have received us is the generous expres-
sion of English feeling, which always desires to
cheer and to encourage those who, in what they

believe to be the interest of the country, take upon
themselves onerous and laborious duties, and endea-
vour to. fulfil those duties to the best of their ability.
(Cheers.) My Lord Mayor, we may have a claim

upon your sympathy from our common feelings and
from some similarity of our position. You and we
—I speak not individually of myself, but of the

Government collectively—you and we are entering

upon a new career of office. You and we feel alike
that in attempting to discharge the arduous duties
of that office our best support must be the confidence
and the goodwill of our fellow-countrymen. (Loud
cheers.) Our first and primal object must be to
deserve and win that goodwill. We both of us con-

sider that goodwill, that confidence, and that public
esteem to be the highest honour to which a public

man can look in any situation of life; and I think I
may add, my Lord Mayor, that we shall both of us
be equally discreet in abstaining from stating by
what particular measures we shall recommend our-
selves to the country. (Loud cheers.) My Lord
Mayor, it would be certainly out of place on the
present occasion and at the present time if I were
to presume in the slightest degree to touch on any
question which could approach to party significance;
but, speaking in the midst of this great metropolis—
speaking in the presence of your lordship, the chief
magistrate of this great city, the heart and centre
of the commerce of these islands ; speaking in this
room, which has witnessed so many generations of
great and meritorious men, I think I may congratu-
late your lordship, the city, and the country on the
gratifying fact that, notwithstanding the monetary
pressure which we have endured, notwithstanding
the disasters and calamities which have brought dis-
tress on many and ruin on some, yet the public
credit stands unimpaired ; yet the revenue maintains
itself ; yet the commerce of this country never, to
my knowledge, was on a better, sounder, or healthier
foundation. (Cheers.) Again, my Lord Mayor, it
is a subject of gratification that we have had the
satisfaction of witnessing the close of two sangui-
nary wars--one of shorter, the other of longer dura-
tion; but both of them accompanied with an amount
of bloodshed and misery far beyond that which
attends ordinary war, and both of, them, also, bear-
ing too closely the character of that most most de-
plorable of all wars—namely, civil war. 'We rejoice
to see the return of peace. With regard to that great
country, our natural friend, our relation, I may call
it—that great republic across the Atlantic—the
storm of war has indeed ceased there, but the surface,
nay, I may say the interior, of society is still ruffled
and agitated. Yet I cannot but believe that that
great and powerful nation, which has made such
glorious efforts for the purpose of keeping down the
burden of debt which that war has entailed on its
national finances—which is making such superhuman
efforts to recover its financial position—l cannot but
believe that a country so deeply interested in the
science of self-government will, and speedily, know
how to compose the agitation which at present pre-
vails, and exhibit to the world at no distant period
again the gratifying prospect of a great, a proud,
and a prosperous community. (Loud cheers.) And,
gentlemen, I may be permitted to say that if in the
course of that dreadful war which has so long de-
vastated that country any questions may have arisen
between that and our country which have produced
the slightest amount of unpleasant feeling, I have a
confident expectation that the two Governments
approaching these questions in a spirit of mutual for-
bearance and kind conciliation—(loud cheers) —will
arrive at such a solution of those questions as not
only to remove all remnants of bitterness, but place
on a better foundation than ever our relations with
this great country, to which we are bound by so
many ties of interest and regard. (Loud cheers.) Of
the war in Germany I will not pretend to speak. It
is not for us to pass an opinion on the merits of that
war, and it would be premature now to express any
opinion as to its ultimate results. But with regard
to two of the countries mainly interested in that
war—with regard to Austria and Italy—now that
by the transfer of Venetia a burden is taken off from
one and a long-desired province is acquired by the
other, I entertain, in the best interests of the world,
a confident hope that these countries will de-
rive mutual advantages in maintaining the most
friendly relations, and that Italy especially, released
from any apprehension of foreign invasion or war,
will devote its attention to its internal affairs and
the further development of its great interests and
resources. (Cheers.) It is quite true that we can
claim no part in any great military achievement ;
but we, thank God, have no sanguinary battle to
deplore. We have no military triumphs to boast ;
but peace has its triumphs as well as war, and in
the course of the past year we can point to a triumph
more advantageous to the human race, redounding
more to the credit of the country, than any which
could be acquired by any warlike operations, how-
ever skilfully conducted and however bravely car-
ried on. (Cheers.) I allude to that great triumph
which has been achieved by British science, by
British skill, by British perseverance, by British
energy., by which we have maintained our claim to
exercise dominion over the sea, and combined in in-
timate and enduring bonds the great continents of
Europe and America, between which we have suc-
ceeded in annihilating time and space. (Cheers.)
And yet, my Lord Mayor, although we have not
been engaged in any warlike operations, I can hardly
say that we have no military achievements to boast
of, because in the course of the present year we have
seen the capital of Belgium occupied by a military
force, comprised of the joint forces of France and
England. (Cheers and a laugh.) We have seen
that invasion conducted with the most perfect suc-
cess, and prominent among the invaders are no less
a person than the late Lord Mayor of London. (A
laugh.) That invasion has been one of a very re-
markable character. Our riflemen—the Volunteers
—there have reaped laurels on a bloodless field, but
they have achieved a still greater conquest by their
good conduct and admirable behaviour, a conquest
not over the territory, but over the hearts and affec-
tions of the people whom they invaded. It is well
known that the appetite for foreign invasion grows
by that which it feeds on, and next year we contem-
plate a bolder step, and I may frankly state—it may
nt
eont
tbi
oendei pf ltohme a(tli
Government
b
v,
erunt I
me
nwti l
nextstate
yearthat
ei t isnv
at
dh
ee in-
the
neighbouring country of France on a very exten-
sive scale. (Cheers.) I think that the city of Paris,
that great and beautiful city, is placed in very
serious danger of being in the occupation of the
hosts of Eurqme and the world, to such an extent
that our neighbours will find it a very serious diffi-
culty to billet and provide for them. (A laugh.)
But it is one gratifying fact in such an invasion—
it differs from all other invasions in this—that the
invaders, and not the invaded, are the parties most
likely to be laid under contribution. (Cheers.) It
is my earliest hope, and I am sure it will be the
earnest hope of all those whom I address, that such
conquests and invasions may be the only ones that
Europe is destined for many years to witness—
(cheers)—conquest and invasions which leave be-
hind them no sting of bitterness, no envenomed
feelings, but which, on the other hand, by exciting
through various countries mutual feelings of respect,
admiration, and esteem, are a better security than
anything which kings can offer or statesman devise
etaheee tie'
no r
earthl d s
and
we xi l-1
general
walpoeradcse,, pof
p tor foren steel:d in
e.
~
(Cheers.) I have now, my Lord Mayor,
into
ltilsl hank t
ehi
hygo t fortiem thee f kin
e rsodlno esngs Navthiinach you hav
e.(Chaheeerssh. n
I
gratefully to express our sense of the honour you
desire, on the part of my colleagues and myself,