The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-27 00:00:00

BANQUET AT SOUTHAMPTON TO LORD
CHIEF JUSTICE COCKB URN.

The building known in Southampton astheAudit7
' hall was on Saturday evening the scene of a banquet
of a novel and interesting character. The public need
hardly be reminded that forlo years the present Lord
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was the repre-
sentative in Parliament Qt the borough of South-
ampton, but perhaps it is not so generally recol-
lected that some 16 years since he also filled the
important judicial office of its Recorder. The Cham-
1-:er of Commerce of that town, anxious that this
double connexion should not pass away without
some solemn and ceremonial kind word at parting,
determined on inviting his lord-lip to a public din-
ner ; and so popular was the suggestion that the
list was spee3ily fil'ed up with the names of men of
all parties in politics. As a general rule the judges
do not dine in public except at the Mansion-House,
but in this case the strict judicial etiquette was de-
parted from, as no' only did the Lord Chief Jus-
tice accept the' invitation of his old constituents,
`but he was accompanied by Mr. Justice Williams
nnd Mr. Baron Bramwell, who both bore testimony'
to the fact that the popularity which had marked
h;s lordship's forensic and Parliamentary career had
not deAerted him since his eevation to the bench.

The dinner was got up by a committee of the Cham-
ber of Commerce, the respected president of which,
Mr. J. R. Stehhing, was the chairman of the even-
ing. Amongst the company were men of all parties
in the borough, and there were many present who,
having strenuously opposed the noble and learned
lord a' his successive elections, now eagerly snatched
at the opportunity of showina, by the fervour of
their demonstrations, that, while they bad differed
him as a politician, they had never ceased to
esteem him as a man. There were present the
Lord Chief JuLtice of the Common Pleas, Mr. Jus-
tice Williams, Mr. Baron Bramwell, the members
for the borough, Messrs. Wilcox and Weguelin,
the county Members, Sir J. C. Jervoise, Hon. Mr.
Dutton, Capt. Mangles, M.P. , the High Sheriff of
the county,' Messrs. Lankester, Cooper, Croskey,
and nearly all the members of the Chamber of
Commerce of Southampton, and a large number of
the most respectable and influential inhabitants of
the town. Covers were laid for eighty. ,
On the removal of the cloth the Chairman gave
" The Queen," to whom he said a recent interest-
ing event gave an addition claim on the affections
of her subjects.
After " Prince Albert and the rest of the Royal
Family," came " Her Majesty's Ministers," which
toast gave the chairman the opportunity of passing
a warm eulngitim on Lord Palmerston, from whom
hie said he digered in politics, but to whom he still
gave the credit of having rescued the country when
in her deepest 'distress. Under the most adverse
circumstan7es his lordship had
" Held him country's honour fast,
And ',ailed his colours to the mast."

The CHAIRMAN then said—l have now the grati-
fication of calling your attention to the toast of the
evening, the health of the distinguished man in
whose honour we have collected this remarkable and
most agreeable public meeting. (Cheers.) Gentle-
men,, it must be a matter of great pride and plea-
sure to a great commercial community like this to
ba thus enabled, uninfluenced by any unworthy
motives, and avoiding all political or polemical
discussion, to do honour to a member who has
served them well, and who has always shown a jea-
lous care of their commercial and municipal inte-
rests. One of the strongest reasons, one of the
greatest inducements why this meeting should take
plawi, was the desire that one of the most dis-
tinguished men of the prevent day, one who could
vie in eloquence with the greatest orators this coun-
try has ever produced, one who has retired to the
position of one of the Chief Justices of England,
might not be said, politically speaking, to "die
and make no sign." (Loud Cheers.) As commer-
cial men, you remember the benefits he has con-
ferred upon this great commercial town, and you
would not wish, I am sure, that he should pass into '
comparative solitude without receiving some proof
that whatever might be your political differences,
they had not destroyed your sentiments of political
or personal gratitude. (Cheers.) I am rejoiced,
and I am sure you are rejoiced also, that, setting
aside some difficulties which might have interposed
to prevent the appearance of a judge at a public
meeting, his lordship has thought fit to be here to-
dep., and that while politics are rigorously excluded
from our meeting, he can receive from us those
warm and sincere expressions of gratitude which
commercial men are always ready to offer to
representatives who have served them well. (Loud
chews.) But neither, gentlemen, must we forget
that our distinguished guest has served us in an-
other capacity. Long before his lordship accepted
the distinguished office which he now fills, he com-
menced his judicial career as Recorder of South-
ampton, and he will not, I am sure, even now be
displeased to hear that while filling that compara-
tively insignificant office, not one of his decisions
was ever called in question. (Loud cheers.) I
mention this because I thought it would be grati-
fying to his lordship to have it recorded that his
conduct as Recorder of Southampton had been as
free from taint as I believe will be his career as one
of the Chief Justices of England. (Great cheers.)
Since then, his brilliant career in the House of
Commons is matter of history, but to that, as
politics are excluded, I shall not more particularly.
allude. As a chamber of commerce simply we re-
ceive our distinguished guest, and to the members
of that chamber I propose that we think his good
health with every mark of fervour and approbation.
(Great cheering.)
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE then rose, and was re-
ceived with loud and lung-continued cheering. He
said—Mr. President and Geutlemen,—l am at a
loss, I assure you, for words to express the emo-
tions I feel at this moment. To receive this com-
pliment from the Chamber of Commerce of South-
ampton, a body so eminently qualified to represent
the wealth, the intelligelice, and the respectability
of this great community, to be by them thus re-
ceived, thus entertained, and thus welcomed,' in
common with my honourable colleagues, is indeed
an hononr and a happiness 'which it is difficult to
find words properly to ache ewledge. (Hear, hear.).
And it is the more grateful to me to be thus re-
ceived by you, because I Fief) in this assemblage
many gentlemen whose politics I know to differ
from my own, whose supp ort I could never have
asked for, nor they have given, during the time I
was candidate for +eat In" Parliament. To see
these men united with tlae old and kind friends
who have always supported me, is an indication
that, although I bad not the happiness of repre-
senting the opinions of all my constituents, still I
may entertain the hope that ill are of opinion that
the representation of Southampton was not dis-
honoured while committed to wy hands. (Loud
and general cheering.) . But, alas ! gentlemen' all
good is more or less alloyed, with something of bit-
terness—something of regret ; and while I feel that
the honour you have done your late members this
day is one of which both, but above all I indiVi-
dually must be proud, because I cannot place my
merits in comparison with those of your other
efficient member,, still .1 cannot but feel a pang of
regret when I reflect that this is the termination
of all connection between us. (The speaker here
paused, and appeared deeply moved, while the
company cheered tremendously.) I cannot but feel
that my political sun has set, and that although
your kindness may to some extent gild the evening
which I see gathering round me as a political man
—(" no, no")—it cannot permit me to hope that
that which was the pride and glory of my ex-
istence—the honour of representing you in Par-
liament—can ever again be mine. I cannot tell