The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-02 00:00:00

ruE GOVERNMENT AND THE HOURS OF ; BANQUE2 70 MR. CYRUS FIELD.
POLLING.
Last night a grand banquet was given to Cyrus
W. Field, Esq., at Rooms, St. James's, as
an acknowledgment of the eminent services which
he has rendered to the New and Old Worlds by his
devotion to the interests of Atlantic telegraphy
through circumstances of protracted difficulty and
doubt. The chair was taken by his Grace the Duke
of Argyll, (C.T., and, as a proof of the general in-
; terest which was felt in the proceedings, the fol-
lowing were announced to speak : the Right Hon.
the Earl Russell, K.G., Lord Stratford de Redcliffe,
G.C.8., Lord Dufferin, K.C.8., the Right Hon.
Sir John Pakington, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon.
Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart., M.P., Mr. John
Bright, M.P., Mr. Charles Dickens, and others. The
1 committee of invitation, of which the Duke of
Argyll was chairman, included gentlemen of all po-
litical opinions, and those most distinguished in
science. Amongst a long list were the Earl of Airlie,
K.T., Viscount Amberley, M.P., Colonel Finley
Anderson, Sir James Anderson, Mr. Thos. Baring,
M.P., Mr. Thomas Barnes, M.P., Captain R. T.
Baxter, R.N., Captain A.B.B.3echer, R.N., Captain
A. S. Bolton, Mr. Thomas Brassey, Mr. Thomas
Brassey, jun., Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P., Sir Charles
Bright, M.P., Mr. Charles Buxton, M.P., Sir T.
Fowell Buxton, Bart., M.P., Sir Samuel Canning,
C.E., the Right Hon. Stephen Cave, M.P., Lord
Frederick Cavendish, M.P., Lord A. S. Churchill,
Captain lion. A. Cochrane, R.N., the Right Elon.
the Earl de Grey and Ripon, M. Ferdinand de
Lesseps, the Earl of Denbigh, the Hon. Geo. Den-
man, M.P., Mr. Edward Dicey, Major-General H.
Doyle, Mr. C. Edwards, M.P., Professor Fawcett,
M.P., Mr. %V. E. Forster, M.P., Sir C. Fox, C.E.,
Mr. C. Freshfleld, M.P., Captain D. Gallon,
C. 8., Mr. R. Garth, M.P., Sir Richard Glass, Sir
Daniel Gooch, Bart., M.P., the Right Hon. G.
J. Goschen, M.P., Mr. R. S. Graves, Sir
John Gray, M.P., Mr. G. G. Glynn, M.P., Earl
Grosvenor, M.P., Mr. Samuel Gurney,' M.P., the
Marquis of Hartington, M.P., Sir F. J. Halliday,
K.C.8., Admiral B. Hamilton, Rear-Admiral Sir
J. C. D. Hay, Bart., M.P., Lord John Hay, Lord
W. Hay, M.P., Sir 11. Holland, Bart., Sir George
Honeyman, Bart., Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., the
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Mr. Loyard, M.P.,
Mr. G. S. Lefevre, M.P., Lieutenant-General Sir
Gaspard Le Marchant, the Marquis of Lorne, M.P.
Captain L. B. Mackinnon, M.P., Sir John H. Max-
well, Bart., Vice-Admiral Sir Alex. Milne, K C. 8.,
Viscount Milton, M.P., Captain Moriarty, R.N.,
C. 8., Mr. W. Morrison, M.P., the Hon. Freeman
11. Morse, Mr. Henry Wikoff, Sir Roderick I. Mur-
chison, Bart, K.C.8., Capt.S. Osborn, R.N., C. 8.,
Capt. Gerard Napier, R.N., Sir C. Nicholson, Bt.,
Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P., Dr. W. H. Russell, Right
lion. the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G., Sir J. K.
Shuttleworth, Bart., Mr. J. Stansfeld, M.P., Sir R.
Macdonald Stephenson, F.R.G.S., Mr. P. A. Taylor,
M.P., Mr. W. T. M'Cullagh-Torrens, M.P., Mr.
E. W. Watkin, M.P., Professor Sir C. Wheatstone,
LL.D., Mr. H. Martin, and Mr. W. M. Bell. There
were upwards of 300 guests present, amongst whom
were most of the gentlemen named above. The
band of the Coldstream Guards, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Frederick Godfrey, was in attendance,
and performed a selection of English and American
music. The room was decorated with a number of
flags of different nations, Amongst which those of
the United States and Great Britain were the most
conspicuous. Mr. Toole, toastmaster to the civic
corporations, ably discharged the duties pertaining
to that office.

Last week the secretary of the London Working Men's
Association addressed a letter to the Prime Minister,
calling his attention to the fact that, owing to the limited
hours now allowed for taking the poll at parliamentary
elections, viz., from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m., fully one-half of the
working men now on the electoral register in the metro-
politan boroughs were deprived of their franchise, and
that this evil would be greatly augmented under the new
Reform Act. The letter pointed out that a large
proportion, if not the majority, of working men followed
their occupation at long distances from their place of resi-
dence, and were obliged to leave home in the morning at
five, six, and seven o'clock, not returning home until seven
or eight o'clock in the evening. This large body of men
were thus unable to use their vote without losing at
least half a day's wages, and in many cases risk-
ing the loss of their situations by absence. The
letter concluded by suggesting the insertion of a clause
in the Registration Bill extending the hours of polling
from four, p.m. until eight p.m., and asking the Prime
Minister, as this was not a party question, to receive a
deputation from the association on the subject. To this
letter the following reply has just been received :—" 10,
Downing-street, June 29, MS.—Sir, I am directed by
:qr. Disraeli to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 25th inst., requesting him to receive a deputation from
the committee of the Working Men's Association as to the
hours of polling at parliamentary elections, and to express
his regret that the great pressure of his parliamentary and
official duties renders it impossible for him to fix a time
for receiving the deputation. lam at the same time to
say that as the question of the extension of the hours of
polling has been discussed and decided in Parliament, Mr.
Disraeli is quite unable to hold out to the members of the
association the hope that any change can be Made before
the general election.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,

" C. W. FItEMANTLZ.
" The Secretary of the London Working

Men's Association."

CONVOCATION OF THE PROVINCE OF
CANTERBURY.

Both Houses continued their sittings on 'Wednesday.
The adjourned debate on the report about the Bishop of
Natal, which was brought forward on the previous day,
was resumed by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, and
continued by the Bishops of Bangor, London, Lincoln,
Lichfield, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Arch-
bishop expressed his sincere thanks to the members of the
committee for the trouble which they had taken in the
matter. He had never shrunk from saying that he con-
sidered Bishop Colenso to have been spiritually deposed.
That had been objected to, but here in this report
they had a statement of very much the same character,
namely, that the Church of England as a spiritual
body might accept his deposition. He had considered
that the Church in South Africa had been placed under
circumstances of remarkable difficulty, if not of isolation,
rendering the position of the bishops most embarrassing.
He could not understand how any branch of the Catholic
Church could be said to be deprived of the power of depos-
ing an evil minister. The Articles of the Church of
England were explicit on this point. The 26th Article
said : " Nevertheless it appertaineth to the discipline of
the Church that inquiry be made of evil members" (not
only those of the Established Church), " and that they be
accused by those that have knowledge of their offences,
and finally, being found guilty by just judgment, be
deposed." His Grace put the resolution to the meeting,
and it was agreed that the report be sent to the Lower
House, with the remarks of the Bishop of London
upon it.

The Lower House voted concurrence in the congratula-
tory address to her Majesty agreed to by the bishops, on
the preservation of the Duke of Edinburgh from the
attempted assassination by O'Farrell in Australia. The
motion against the disendowment of the Irish
branch of the Established Church was postponed in
consequence of other business intervening of no
general importance, and of a communication from the
Upper House of the resolution passed by their lordships on
the subject, in which the concurrence of the LoWer House
was requested, and the consideration of which message,
together with Dr. Jebb's resolution if brought forward,
will tlea be taken. The report of the committee of the
bishops in reference to the Bishops of Capetown and Natal
was also communicated. The rest of the sitting was
occupied in making alterations in the standing orders, with
the view of facilitating business in future convocations.

Grace was said by the Rev. Newman Hall before
and after meat.
Almost immediately after dinner was com-
menced, the noble CHAIRMAN' rose and said that.
during the repast messages would be sent to the
continent of America by electricians who were
present in the room. Arrangements had been
made, under the charge of Mr. George, for the
transmission of telegrams in the course of the
banquet, and the remarkable speed with which
they were transmitted to and fro was one of the
most distinguishing features of the occasion. The
instruments were placed in the corner of the room
to the left of the orchestra. The wire with which
they were connected had uninterrupted communi-
, cation with Valentia, from which place the various
messages of friendship were sent to the station on
the American shore.
While the banquet was proceeding, his Grace the
Duke of ARGYLL read telegrams which had been
received in response to those sent. The congratu-
lations which passed between the chairman and
various eminent personages are appended :
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duko of Argyll to his Excellency Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, Washington.
I am now surrounded by upwards of 300 gentlemen, and
many ladies, who have assembled to do honour to Mr.
Cyrus Field for his acknowledged exertions in promoting
telegraphic communication between the New and Old
Worlds. It bids fair for the kindly influences of the At-
lantic cable that its success should have brought together
so friendly a gathering; and in asking you to join our
toast of " Long life, health, and happiness to your most
worthy countryman," let me add a Highlander's wish, that
England and America may always be found in peace and
in war, " Shoulder to shoulder."
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duke of Argyll to his Excellency Lord Monck,
Governor-General of Canada.
.1 am now presiding over a banquet of upwards of 300
gentlemen and many ladies to do honour to Mr. Cyrus
Field, of New York, for his devotion to the interests of
Atlantic telegraphy. It is a good omen of the influence
which the submarine cable between the New and Old
World can exercise in our offering this homage of respect
to a most worthy American ; and I shall be glad to find
You reciprocate the sentiment from the table of the Go-
vernor of the Canadian Confederation.
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duke of Argyll to his Excellency the Governor-
General of Cuba, Havana.
As president of a. banquet, attended by upwards of 300
gentlemen, to do honour to Mr. Cyrus Field, of New York,
for his eminent services in assisting the promotion of the
Atlantic Telegraph, I invite you to join in the compliment
offered to him this day, and to ask you, while drinking his
health and happiness, to add the good old Spanish con-
gratulation, "May he live a thousand years ! "
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duke of Argyll to his Excellency the Governor of
Victoria, Vancouver's Island.
I am president of a banquet of upwards of 300 English
gentlemen, met to pay a homage of respect to Mr. Cyrus
Field, of New York, for his exertions in promoting the
laying of :the Atlantic Cable. Its success enables the Old
World now to talk to the New, and we shall be gratified to
find that the English colonists, divided from us by thou-
sands of mi!es, are ready to join in so worthy a compli-
ment to an American citizen, and ask you to drink his
good health.
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duke Duke of Argyll to his Excellency the Governor
of Newfoundland.
I am surrounded by upwards of 300 gentlemen, and
many ladies, to do honour to Mr. Cyrus Field, of New
York, for his well• known services in promoting the At-
lantic Telegraph. I ask you to join in drinking his health
and happiness, and that every prosperity may attend him
in all his important pursuits.
Willis's Rooms, London, Wednesday Evening, July 1.
The Duke of Argyll to Miss Mary Grace Field and
Brothers, New York.
I have upwards of 300 gentlemen around me to do
honour to your worthy father for all his past labours in
connection with tne Atlantic Cable ; and in asking you to
join us in drinking his health, let me offer you my congra-
tulations in being blessed with so excellent a father, and
also to express the hope that his example may inspirit all
his children to follow in the good path he has hitherto led
them.

The following were the messages received :
" From H. Seward to his Grace the Duke of Argyll,
London.
" Your salutation to the President from the banqueting
hall at Willis's have been received. Tho dinner-hour hero
has not arrived yet ; it is only 5 o'clock; the sun is yet two
hours high. Whoa the dinner-hour arrives tho President
will accept your pledge of honour to our distinguished
countryman, Cyrus W. Field, and will cordially respond
to your Highland aspiration for perpetual union between
th two nations."
From Samuel F. B. Morse, Columbia, July 1, 10 p.m., to
his Grace the Duke of Argyll, Willis's Rooms.
Greeting to all met to perform an act of national jus-
tice. May this divine attribute ever be the companion of
the telegraph in its true mission of binding the nations of
the entire world in bonds of peace ! Special greeting to
the guest, to Cooke and Wheatstone, to Sir Charles
Bright, and to Whitehouse.
From Frederick Seymour, Governor, Victoria, June 28,
via Valenta, San Juan Island, to his Grace the Duke of
Argyll.
Columbia joins heartily in the cheers with which the
toast " Cyrus Field" will be received. We owe much to
the telegraph ; three clap' news from England, inetanta-