The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-10 00:00:00

MB LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

THE BANQUET.

The customary banquet with which the Lord
Mayor and the Sheriffs inaugurate their annual
term of office was held in the Guildhall, which was
fitted up for the occasion with all the splendour
that marks this time-honoured festival, The hall
was brilliantly illuminated by chandeliers, aided
by countless gas jets which traced in outline the
niches, windows, and other architectural details of
the spacious apartment. Flags of all nationi,
banners, steel armour, and trophies of every de-
scription were gracefully grouped and festooned
along the roof and walls. From the west window
shone a resplendent cut glass star ; while the east
window was decorated with a gigantic Prince of
Wales's feather of spun glass. The various
ante-rooms were converted into reception
rooms, and ornamented with sculptural, pictorial,
and floral devices. The company began to arrive
about 5 o'clock, and when the whole of the guests,
who could not have numbered fewer than 1,000
ladies and gentlemen, had taken their places, the
banquet hall presented one of the gayest and most
animated spectacles. Mr. Alderman Carter, the
new Lord Mayor, presided, supported on his right
and left by members of the corps diplomatique, the
judges, and her Majesty's Ministers, who all ap-
peared in their official costumes. Among the guests
were—The Turkish Ambassador, the Lord High
Chancellor and the Hon. Miss Campbell, the Duke
of Newcastle, the Duke of Somerset, the Marquis of
Ailesbury, the Marquis Camden, the Earl of Ripon,
Viscount Sydney, Bishop of London, Mr. Justice
Willes, Mr. Baron Channell, Mr. Justice Hill, Mr.
Justice Blackburn, the Queen's Ancient Sergeant,
Baron Lionel de Rothschild, Baron Salomon de
Rothschild, Sir W. Dunbar, Bart., Sir F, Currie,
Bart., and Lady, Mr. E. W. Crawford, M.P., the
Hon. Geo. Byng, M.P., Mr. Robert Hanbury. M.P.,
Mr. George Grenfell Glyn, M.P. Mr. T. Norris,
M.P. Mr. W. Tit?, M.P., Mr. A;M. Rendell, Mr.
B. W. Horne, Mr. B. Dobree, Governor of the
Bank of England ; Mr. A. Latham, Deputy-Gover-
nor-of the Bank of England; Major-General F.
Smith, Major-General Douglas, Lord Proby, the
Hon. Sir G. C. Lewis, the Danish Minister, the
Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Right Hon. Sid-
ney Herbert, the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, the
Right Hon. W. Cooper, Lord Stanley, Lord Head-
ley, Lord Chief JusticeErle, Vice-Chancellor Stuart,
Vice-Chancellor Wood, Mr. Justice Williams, Col.
Sykes, Mr. P. Rolt, Mr. H. W. Morrant, Mr. Jas.
Appleford, Mr. E. Lawrence, Mr. W. F. White,
Sir R. Mayne, the Dean of St. Paul's, Mr. E. R.
Huggeson, Admiral Pelham, Capt. Eden, Capt. C.
Frederick, Hon. H. B. W. Brand, Mr. G. Clive,
M.P., Mr. S. Laing, M.P., Mr. T. F. Elliott, the
Hon. E. Ashley, Mr. 0. L. Ryan, Mr. T. Thwaites,
Mr. G. Cox, Sir C. Anderson, Mr. Anderson, Capt.
Ford, Capt. Eastwick, Mr. J. Sonies, Mr. W. D.
Child, Mr. H. J. Leas, Dr. Van Oven, Mr. R. C.
Bevan,Mr. B. Smith, &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been duly honoured,
The LORD MAYOR gave " The Bishops and
Clergy of the Church of England," for which
The Bishop of LONDON briefly responded.
The next toast was the " Army and Navy," which
was drunk with much cordiality.
The Duke of SOMERSET, in returning thanks for
the Navy, said he believed there never was a time
when a more general desire existed in the country
to see that branch of the service powerful and effi-
cient, and capable of defending our shores, protect-
ing our widely diffused commerce, and maintaining
our colonial possessions in every part of the world.
Among none, he was sure, was that feeling more
earnestly entertained than among the citizens of
London. (Cheers.) Many great naval heroes lied
passed away, whose names were embalmed in their
country's memory; but their spirit still lived and
animated the service which-their achievements had
rendered illustrious. As in times past the Navy had
always come forward nobly at its country's call, so
he was confident it would act in future. (Cheers.)
Mr. S. HERBERT responded on behalf' of the
Army-. He said—l am hardly worthy to have my
name associated with this toast, which belongs
more properly to a soldier than to a civilian like
myself to acknowledge. I regret that his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge, who is so com-
petent to return thanks for the Army, which he so
well commands, is not here to discharge the duty
that you have imposed upon me. This ancient mu-
nicipality is the best representative in the world of
the interests of commerce, and therefore of the in-
terests of peace. But I may be allowed to say that
those pursuits have not enervated the citizens of
London, because at the head of the great movement
which has lately been begun for the formation of
volunteer corps throughout this country stand the
names of the Lord Mayor and the citizens of Lon-
don. (Hear.) And permit me, while acknowledging
this toast, to express my thanks to you, as the
Minister charged with the- administration of the
Army and of the defences of the country, for the
spirit which you have displayed in this matter—a
spirit which I doubt not that you, my Lord Mayor,
will foster as your worthy predecessor has done.
" Prosperity to the Trade and Commerce of the
City of London!' having been drunk, his Lordship
next poposed " The Health of the late Lord
Mayor," passing a warm eulogium on him for the
manner in which he discharged the duties of his
office. [Mr. Alderman Wire was prevented by ill,
health from attpnding the banquet.]
The LORD MAYOR then gave " The Corps Diplo-
matique," coupling with the toast the name of his
Excellency the Turkish Minister.
M. Musunus expressed on his own behalf, and
on that of his colleagues at our Court, his deep
sense of the compliment paid to them, and also their
gratification at the honour done them by the invi-
tation to that festival.
The LOED MAYOR then proposed "The Health
of the Lord chancellor ;" for which the noble and
learned lord briefly returned thanks.
The LORD MAYOR next gave "The Health of her
Majesty's Minister.," connecting with the toast the
name of the Home Secretary.
Sir G. C. LEwis (who, as well as most of the
-other speakers, was very indistinctly heard from
the incessant hubbub going on in the hall) was un-
derstood to speak nearly as follows :—M'y Lord
Mayor, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—rn acknowledging
the toast with which. you have honoured her Ma-
jesty's Ministers, I may be permitted to express my
regret that in consequence of the necessary absence
of my noble friend at the head of the Government,
who is now in attendance on her Majesty at Wind-
sor, and in consequence, also, of the unfortunate in-
disposition of my noble friend the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, the duty of addressing
you, in the presence of colleagues far more compe-
tent for the task,las devolved upon me in accord-
ance with the rules of official precedence. My
Lord Mayor, the portion of public affairs in
which the inhabitants of this city are more im-
mediately interested is our domestic and inter-
nal concerns; and I may congratulate the citi-
zens of London that at perhaps no previous
period in our history has our internal condition
exhibited greater prosperity than at the present
moment. (Cheers.) Whatever standard or test
you apply to that prosperity, whether you look to
the great increase in our revenue, the present state
of our trade, or the diminution of pauperism
throughout the kingdom, you will still find the
most gratifying evidence of the sound and healthy
condition of our domestic affairs. There have, no
doubt, been slight ripples on the surface of the
stream, which would otherwise have been un-
touched. We have seen one unfortunate event in
which the inhabitants of this metropolis have been
especiallyinterested—l mean the disturbance which
has occurred in the building trade, but which I
trust is now approaching its termination. That
has been an event of which her Majesty's Govern-
ment have been no unconcerned spectators, although
in regard to it we have felt it our duty to maintain
a policy of consistent non-intervention. (Hear,
hear.) It has been our desire not to interfere in
any question between employers and their work-
men, but to leave both parties to adjust their dd.
ferences_ according to the natural law of supply and
demand. And I trust the time will never arrive
when any scheme of intimidation will be attempted, or any endeavour made to introduce a system of
protection for labour, which must prove not less
unsound in principle than the exploded doctrine of
protection - to. agriculture, which was recentlyex-
punged from the leeislation of this country with so
much advantage to all classes of the community.
(Rear, hear.) It will not be expected that I should
detain a company composed of many persons who
are not politicians with lengthened remarks upon
the measures which her Majesty's Government may
contemplate in the existing state of the country.
I need only say that their time has not been wasted
or their attention diverted from the discharge of
their public duties ; that early in the ensuing ses-
sion they will be prepared to redeem the pledge
they formerly entered into to submit to the consi-
deration of thaLegislature a measufe for the amend-
ment of the representation of the people. (Cheers )
There is, however, a branch of our public affairs
over which we have not so much control as over
our domestic concerns—l mean our foreign relations.
In regard to these we are more dependent on the
conduct of other States, and. cannot always maintain
that undisturbed tranquillity which lam happy to
say has characterised our internal condition. We
have seen our Minister who was sent to obtain the
ratification of a treaty at Pekin treated with outrage.
We have seen that our agents, acting literally upon
their instructions as to ascending the river which
led to that capital, were without notice fired upop
by the Chinese, and that a disastrous loss of life en-
sued. (Hear, hear.) My Lord, it will be the purpose