The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-12 00:00:00

APRIL 12, 1853

and, if the candidates for Liverpool should be rejected,
he was sure they would, all of them who had the power
to exercise a vote, go to the poll and vote for Mr. Hors-
fall. (Tremendous cheering.) They knew what he was,
and others knew his worth too ; for, though the rejected
of Derby, yet the very people who had thrown him out,
regretted now that he had been lost. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN gave " Prosperity to the Mersey Steel
and Iron Works." For the first time in my life (Le said)
I found myself, a few days ago, in the character of a wit-
ness in a court of justice. I had then to give my evidence
as to the existence of certain facts. If a jury were em-
panelled here at this moment, and if their inquiries were
directed to ascertain whether there had been prosperity in
the Mersey Steel and Iron Works, I would only have to
say—Look at this body of men. (Groat cheering.) I
would say—Do these men look like a set of men on half
work, or like people who are not paid a fair day's wages
for a fair day's work ? (Cheers.) Such a respectable
body of men I have seldom—indeed I may say never,
seen gathered toge her. (Applause.) It has come to my
knowledge since our arrival upon these premises to-day
that the good order, good conduct, and respectable ap-
pearance of our procession has caused a sensation. We,
have had, along with the whole body of the iron trade, a
great degree of prosperity during the past year. There is
every likelihood of that prosperity lasting for some time
to come. We shall hope that it may be not for a little
time, but for a lengthened period. (Cheers.) The iron
trade of this country is one of the greatest branches of our
national prosperity—one of the most prolific sources of
our national wealth. Unlike the cotton and wool trades,
the raw material in our trade is not brought from foreign
lands :it is procured at home. The value of the raw
material and of expensive importation has not to be de-
ducted from the value of the goods produced. In the
iron trade it is the muscle and sinew of the men employed
which the purchaser buys. These are my reasons for be-
lieving that the iron trade is the most important staple of
this country, and long may it continue to be so. Other
trades may export larger quantities of goods, but ours is
the national trade of England, for no country can in this
respect compare with us. Long may it be so, and long
may we profit by it. (Cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE GOULDER responded. It had been his
lot from infancy to be connected with the iron and coal
trades ; but he could recollect, before he had blacked his
hands with either of them, how it used to be remarked,
that if the coal and iron trades were good, then all other
trades were good. Therefore, if that were so, they must
be the keystone of all other trades. (Loud cheers.) And
they should not stop there. Let them try to be the key-
stone of something else ; let them try to set other branches
of society an example ; let them be the keystone of a more
elevated mora'ity among their fellow-workmen.
In reply to his health being drunk, the CHAIRMAN
assured them that, if he had merited anything at their
hands as manager of the works with which he was con-
nected, it was a source of pride and gratification to him.
(Hear, hear.) The management of a large body of men
like the present is a matter of great difficulty, if you de-
sire to give satisfaction to all. If he gave satisfaction to
the greater portion of them, he would be satisfied.
It would always be his endeavour to promote the prospe-
rity of the men connected with the Mersey Steel and Iron
Works, for whom, since the beginning of bis connexion
with them, he had entertained the very highest respect,
as being the most orderly body of men which he had ever
known.

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.rt:.orthy vice-chairman, Mr. Benjamin Eastwood, than
real good sort. (Cheers.)
Mr. EASTWOOD having briefly acknowledged the com-
pliment, Mr. THOS. J. SMITH gave " The Press," which
was enthusiastically received. Mr. WYLlE,ofthe Liverpool
Standard, replied.
The CHAIRMAN gave "The Strangers," acknowledged
by Mr. Mossox, Phoenix Foundry ; then followed the
health of Mr. Benjamin Eastwood and Mr. Hughes,
who had superintended the preparations for the day's
proceedings.
At a little after seven o'clock wives and sweethearts
began to assemble in the ball-room, and thither the party
adjourned. A very happy
evening was spent. The
refreshments during the evening were on the most liberal
scale, and the arrangements and orderly conduct of the
assemblage were such as to reflect the highest honour on
all concerned.
The Marquee and its arrangements reflected great credit
on Mr. Richard Miller, under whose superintendence it
was erected. 1