The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-21 00:00:00

DINNER 70 MR. EDWIN J. BRETT.

Last Saturday a complimentary dinner, and after-
wards a testimonial, was given to E. J. Brett, Esq.,
proprietor of " The Boys of England," and "The
Young Men of Great Britain," by the staff engaged
on those journals, and by many friends, in testi-
mony of their appreciation of his efforts to provide
cheap, pure,,,and interesting literature. The dinner
was held in one of the spacious and pretty out-door
dining rooms opening into the charming grounds of
the Crown Hotel, Broxbourne. The ladies who
were present dined in a " boudoir" contiguous to
the dining room, and joined the gentlemen when
dessert was put on the table.
The cloth having been removed, the usual loyal
and patriotic toasts were proposed and responded
to, after which the Chairman ('William Spicer, Esq.,
the eminent city paper merchant) called upon the
company to fill a bumper for the toast of the day.
The CHAIRMAN said—Ladies and gentlemen, I
have often had the honour of invitations to gather-
ings of this kind, and I have invariably shrunk from
them, but on the present occasion I consented to
preside, because I thought it was my duty. (Hear.)
I assure you that it is also my pleasure to do honour
to our friend, Mr. Brett. (Cheers.) This meeting

is rather a peculiar one, and I do not know that I
have ever attended a similar one. The staff and

friends of Mr. Brett have thought it right—indeed,
a privilege —to invite him to a dinner, and to em-
body their esteem and good wishes, as it were, in
a handsome piece of plate. (Hear.) There must
be something more in this than we usually find.
(Cheers.) Most of us have attended, and all of us
have heard of, gatherings where principals have in-
vited their staffs to meet them, for the purpose of
expressing their goodwill. But I never remember
just such an affair as this, and I think it says A
good deal for the respect and esteem in which our
good friend is held by his staff and by his friends
here present. (Cheers.) It gives me very great
pleasure to come down here and present to gr.
Brett, on your behalf, this very pretty piece of
plate. I hope it will go down as an heirloom to
his son, and to his grandchildren, and that when-
ever they may look at it they may read the lesson
it teaches. It testifies the respect and good feeling
of those who are employed by Mr. Brett, as well
as of friends who esteem him. Mr. Brett, you all
know, has originated two very successful publica-
tions. He has endeavoured not only to interest
but to instruct young people. (Cheers.) I have
very much pleasure in presenting this handsome
piece of plate on your behalf, and I call upon you
to drink the health of Mr. Brett, Mra. Brett, and
their family. (Loud and continued cheers.)
Mr. EDWIN J. BRETT said—l assure you that on
rising on this, to me, very happy occasion, and one
I shall ever remember, I cannot adequately
express my sincere thanks. I thank you,
Mr. Chairman, for the very complimentary refer-
ence you made to the two amusing and, I hope,
instructing, journals I have established. In this
instance the boy is father to the man, for "The
Young Men of Great Britain" came after " The
Boys of England." The establishment of those
journals was an idea of my own, and I was a long
time maturing my plans. I tried to merit the approval
of the public, and I have succeeded. (Cheers.) I knew
that many efforts had been made in the establish-
ment of journals, and I had seen prospects, once al)"
parently bright, overflow into that black river—rine:
(Hear.) I attribute much of the success achieved
to the start. (Hear.) The path I chose was one
out of the old and beaten track that other jolly
nalists had trod, and I selected that new road,
because I did not want to take a bath in that
Black River. (Hear, hear.) I marked out, as the
Americans would say, a " new track," so that '
might not have that ugly and gaunt figar°'
failure, following my footsteps, or, perhaps/ le
close companion by my side. (Cheers.)
wished to avoid that, and, therefore, I though'
I would give the old path full breadth,
and start into a new one. I thought, in fact'
that a journal, constructed on purely a novel plan'
with good original domestic stories, reliable 1118"
torical tales, written by gentlemen of talent, COw
bined with educational instruction, would be 0118
that the young men and boys of this country
might sit down and read with pleasure, and thet
their parents might also reasi in their hours o.f
.
leisure with profit and gratification--I thought tl3O
such a journal would stand a fair chance of meet-
ing with public support and attention. His ROAi
Highness Prince Arthur and Count Bernstoff
both testified to the excellence of the journals, 0'
the pleasure they receive in reading their con-
tents, and this alone should be a source of Pride
and satisfaction, not only to me, but to those geel
denim who have assisted in the production of thoS;
two works. (Cheers.) Mr. Brett's health was the
drank amid the most enthusiastic applause.
The testimonial consisted of a silver epergno
a handsome and graceful pattern, resting on lb
stand of appropriate design.
Mr. BRETT then proposed the health of "
Contributors to the Boys of England and Yoti3
Men of Great Britain Journals," coupling fir.
them the names of Mr. John Cecil Stagg and °J,
Vane Ireton St. John, who responded in afeo
priate speeches.

Births. A tb°
GASCOIGNE—On the 19th inst., at 51,Warwick-square'
Guar
wife of Lieut.-Col. Gascoigne, late Grenadier 0118"
of a daughter. riot.
IIIcKLEY—On the 19th inst., at Ashcot, the wife of
V. G. Hickley, R.N., of a daughter. 0 veil'
MORANT—On the 19th inst., at 24, Bentinck-street, ot,
dish-square, the wife of Lieut.-Col. Horatio 13. 3"1.-
of a daughter.

Marriages.
bO'
EDWARDS—FREEMAN—On the 19th last. at at Saxtuuti--adges
Suffolk, Henry Charles Edwards, Esq, of Woodbrioat
to Sarah Jane, only daughter of floury L. Free°
Esq., Sasuntudham.

sto"

JONES--GOSNELL —ou the 19th inst., at St. nary's7„--„,ises
Newington, Samuel Jones, Esq., of New-park 1.,'"„01'
Ilighbury New-park, to Gertrude Annie, eldest u3t-i'coS
ter of the late John Gosnell, E;q., of Lombard-s
and of llighbury.

... _
Deaths. of
Bouvrox—On the 19th inst., Frederick Bonito", s(11
2, Granville-park, Blackheath, aged 35. licarl
D.twsoN—On the 20th inst Bu'sh-hilf, Enfield, ..;-,11,
Dawson, Esq., Veterinary _Surgeon Ben ''''lt
. , .
aged 33. hfor`ii
LIALL—On the 19th inst., at 1, Gloucester Villas, .1"-.
Middlesex, John Hall, Esq., aged 37. willio
Hounis—On the 18th inst., at Fast Sheen, Mr• ,";
Morris, late of Lewisham and New-cross, aged "I,oro'
WurrE—On the 18th inst., John White, Esq., of S. ,
ditch and the Vicarage, Leyton, aged 68. if ia ltP
YGLESIAS —On the 19th inst., at Belle Vue, Reigate, '..)
Yglesias, of King's Arms-yard, London, apid 61.
__.---!---

-.------.---"'"----
London : Printed and Published by WILLIA.M. AN"L'? Om,
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at MB SUN 0120, ti '
Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the 0-/n/
Iliddlesex.—Friday, August 21, 180.