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

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 10, 1866.

have done us in drinking our healths. I hope I need
not assure you of the deep satisfaction which wefeel
at having had the honour of being received here as
Ministers of the Crown in this noble and time-
honoured hall, with that princely magnificence
which has long been characteristic of the city of
London. And here I might close the observations

I have to make, but that I have your permission to
offer a toast which does not require much comment
on my part. In the early part of my observations, my
Lord Mayor, I drew a parallelbetween your position
and ours. lam not about to continue that parallel.
I am not about to say anything about our imme-
diate predecessors. (A laugh.) Perhaps we are not
exactly the persons to do that—(a laugh)—or the
best judges of their merits. But with regard to
your predecessor I have no such hesitation. I ven-
ture to say that, having had the honour of being
received by many Lord Mayors, I never had the
honour of meeting with any one who discharged the
social duties of his high office with more grace,
ability, and dignity than the late Lord Mayor.
(Loud cheers.) It is not for the purpose of any in-
vidious comparison_ for, as Mrs. Malaprop says,
comparisons are odious—that I make this reference
to your lordship's immediate predecessor, but know-
ing your own qualifications, and the manner in
which you have discharged the duties which have
devolved upon you, I entertain a confident hope
that you will not disappoint the expectations which
have been formed of you in attaining the high posi-

tion to which your fellow-citizens have raised you,
and when the time comes when you must retire from
it—l don't mean to suggest any comparison between
the period of your tenure of office and our own—(a
laugh)—but when you have to say to your fellow-
citizens valete you may add with confidence et
plaudite. (Loud and continued cheering.) The
noble lord concluded by giving "The Elealth of the
Lord Mayor," which was drunk with alp the honours.
The LORD MAYOR, having briefly acknowledged
the compliment, said—lt is at all times a pleasing
task to propose the health of one who, while filling
his office, has on every occasion received marked
testimony of the approval of his fellow-citizens as to
the manner in which he discharged his duties. My
predecessor the late Lord Mayor—(loud cheers)—
has received the most ample expressions of applause
for his dignified and admirable conduct as chief
magistrate of the city of London—(cheers)—and he
now retires into comparatively private life with en-
hanced claims to the respect and esteem of his fel-
low-citizens, founded on the honours of the chair

well sustained, and its duties faithfully performed.
(Loud cheers.) I have great pleasure in giving you
.‘ The Health of the late Lord Mayor."
The toast was drunk with much cordiality.

The late LORD MAYOR (Mr. Alderman Phillips),
who was received with loud cheers, said—lt was
once said by a distinguished statesman that the two
happiest days of his life were, first, that on which he
accepted office, and, secondly, that on which he
quitted it. If this applied to a distinguished states-
man, how much more must it necessarily apply to a
Lord Mayor, whose tenure of office is one series of
anxiety, of responsibility, and of labour. (Cheers.)
I have had the good fortune to serve my fellow-
citizens during the past year. I know that I have
served them faithfully and conscientiously—l wish I
could hope that I had done so efficiently. (Cheers.)
I retire from this office with a deep sense of grati-

tude, with a hope that I have won the good feeling
and the confidence of my fellow -citizens, and that I
may have the still greater fortune to retain it.

(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR—The next toast I have to pro-
pose is " The House of Peers." (Cheers.) The
House of Lords is one of the most cherished insti-
tutions of our noble Constitution, formed as it is of

the most distinguished members of all the profes-
sions. Not a few of these have sprung from eminent
citizens of London. (Cheers.) While the House
of Peers contains much of the wisdom, learning,
and dignity of the nation, it no doubt holds fast to
many of our national prejudices, but even in that
respect it may be said to reflect the feelings of the
British public. (Cheers.)
The Earl of MALMESBURY returned thanks.
The next toast proposed by the Lord Mayor was
that of " The Judges," which was acknowledged by
the Lord Chief Baron.

The LORD MAYOR next proposed the " Health of

the House of Commons," which lie said, notwith-
standing the sweeping changes with which it was
threatened, fairly represented the intelligence and
general interests of the people. He only hoped,
however it might be altered, its new constitution
would represent them as efficiently, and would se-
cure for it as thoroughly the respect and attachment
of the people. (Cheers.) They were favoured to-
night with the presence of the able leader of the House
of Commons. (Loud cheers.) He was sure they
were all disposed to do Justice to the high motives
which actuated that right hon. gentleman, and that
they would be prepared fully to suport and sus-
tain him amid all trials, difficulties, and anxieties
with which he would have to contend. The right
hon. gentleman, he sincerely believed, had only the
welfare of the community at heart. He desired to

do his best for the commerce of the country, and he
earnestly hoped his measures would be successful.
(Loud and continued cheers.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was re-
ceived with great applause, said—My Lord Mayor,
when I last, some few years ago, had to respond to
the toast which has just been given from the chair
mine was comparatively an easy task, for I had only
to express on the part of the House of Commons our
sense of the distinction conferred upon us by the
city of London in drinking our health, and to offer
to the city of London our reciprocal regard and
consideration. The relations between the city of
London and the House of Commons are of so long a
date—they are so memorable in events, and are, I
doubt not, at this moment so deeply cherished that
any observations of mine would be mere surplusage.
But you, my Lord Mayor, have reminded us this
evening that some busy spirits have since that day
arisen who have challenged the claim of the House
of Commons to public respect and regard, and even
have denied its title to that noble appellation which
it has so long borne. But when we are told that the
House of Commons has only for generations perpe-
trated a system of misgovernment ; when we are
told that their claim to be a representation of the
various classes and interests of this country is a mere
imposition, I cannot prevail upon myself to believe
that such opinions will ever be favoured by the city
of London. (Loud cheers.) I cannot believe that the
city of London will forget that for generations they
have co-operated with the House of Commons in
building up that great fabric of public right and popu-
lar liberty under which it is our boast and our bles-
sing to live—(renewed cheers)—I cannot believe that
the city of London will forget that to this reviled House
of Commons the triple blessings which above all others
contribute to form and establish private and pub-
lic happiness—personal liberty, the freedom of the
press, and the pure administration of justice, which
have been so happily established in this country,
are certainly in no slight degree owing. Nor can
I believe that an enlightened community like the
city of London will forget that for now half a cen-
tury the House of Commons, by gradual and by
continuous efforts, has adapted the commercial
system of this country to the requirements of the
age, and to the ever fluctuating circumstances of
human affairs. (Cheers.) My Lord Mayor, I
trust that great deeds like those will not only be
remembered, but repeated in this country. My
Lord Mayor, I maintain that they have been, and
they only can be, accomplished in a land which is
blessed by Parliamentary and by municipal insti-
tutions. (Cheers.) Individuals may form com-
munities, but it is institutions alone that can create
a nation. (Loud cheers.)
The following toasts were then given and duly
responded to " The Aldermen of the City of Lon-
don," "The Sheriffs of London and Middlesex,"
" The Attorney-General and the Bar of England,"
" The Lady Mayoress," and " The Recorder."
After which the company separated.

Some months since it was mentioned that
Dr. W. Byrd Powell, a phrenological enthusiast in
America, bequeathed his bead to a widow lady who
had been a favourite pupil. A Kentucky court
ordered the head to bo severed and given to the lady, which
was done. The widow with this odd dowry was soon after
married to Professor A. T. Kickeler, who is now lecturing
in
.New York on physiological subjects, and illustrating his
subject with Dr. Powell's head.