The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-05 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

THE BANQUET AT THE HALL

The banquet was held in the evening, at Poynton Hall, now
the residence of
spacious dining room of which it was served up. The room,
which is octagonal, was tastefully, though not profusely, fitted
up for the occasion ; and the fine lofty ceiling, empannelled
and ornamented in trellis work in stucco, had a fine effect when
filled with an enthusiastic and happy audience. Immediately
behind the chairman was a large mirror, in which was reflected
the festivities then going on, and on either side of which were
placed appropriate banners. In each of the three windows
were arranged, so as to form a sort of transperancy when
viewed from the exterior of the building, the emblems of the
three integral parts of this great empire,—England, Ireland,
and Scotland,—whilst immediately opposite were the flags of
America, and the various nations with which we now carry on
an extensive trade. There were also elegant devices repre-
senting Agriculture and the Arts, together with several appro-
priate mottoes and inscriptions. We were particularly pleased
with the chasteness and boldness of the whole of the decora-
tions, and especially so with the fine effect produced by the in-
troduction of a few choice evergreens. A party of glee singers
were in attendance, and, by their excellent performances, con-
tributed to the gayness of the evening. Covers were laid for
about eighty gentlemen, but more than that number were
provided for ; and in the cuisine department Mr. Feeney, if
possible, outdid himself, for we may truly say that we have
never seen a dinner served up in better style.
JAMES BAIN, Esq., presided.
Grace having been pronounced, the good things done ample
justice to, and the cloth removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose, and said that he had now a toast to
propose which he was certain would find a loyal and hearty
response in the heart of every gentleman present. (Hear,
hear.) He would, therefore, give them—
`• The Queen." (Drunk with all the honours.) Air—'
National Anthem

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, said that he
had no doubt that. from the manner in which the health of
their gracious Queen had been drunk, the next toast on his list
would also receive a cordial reception. He had now to propose
the health of

" Prince Albert, and the rest of the Royal Family." (Drunk
with applause.)
The next toast given was—" The Army and Navy." (Ap-
plause.) Air—" The British Grenadiers."
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said that the pleasing duty
now devolved upon him of introducing a toast which would at
once command their approbation. He alluded to the names
of Lord and Lady Vernon. (Hear, hear, and enthusiastic
applause.) It were superfluous for him, addressing as he did
an audience who had each an opportunity of forming an esti-
mate of the kind-hearted benevolence of the two Plustrious
personages whom he had just named, to dilate upon their
merits in any way. The deep interest which they both took in
everything calculated to promote the welfare of the people of
that district, —the deep interest which they took in all that
appertained to their spiritual as well as their temporal wants,
had endeared them to every person, from the highest to the
lowest, upon their vast estates. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
Their many acts of kindness, combined, as all such acts had
ever been, with an unostentatious urbanity of manners, formed,
be was certain, the best eulogium he could pronounce upon
their names. (Loud applause.) He w6uld, therefore, give
them—

fine old Tnglish gentleman

The CHAIRMAN, in rising to propose the next toast was
greeted with loud applause. When silence was restored, he
said that he had now come to the toast of the evening—(hear,

and applause)—the health of the young gentleman—the heir ap-
parent to these vast estates—the Hon. Augustus Henry Vernon
—(Thunders of applause.) He felt assured, from the manner in
which the bare announcement of that name had been received,
that no lengthened observations or preface were required.
(Applause.) Therefore, he would not detain them. He could
not, however, help observing that in
house of Vernon, whose majority U.

heir young scion of

brate, ihey;etelikely to find a tientleman whose every act and
word would support the high and ancient character of his noble
family. (Hear, hear.) All they had yet known and heard of
him argued well for his future distinltion,—and he (the Chair-
man) hoped that through a long, hcznurable, and happy life be
would never spend a day less happily than he had done that.
(Cheers.) He would now give the health of
" The Hon. Augustus Henry Vernon." (Drunk upstanding,
and with all the honours.) " Hail, Smiling Morn."
JOHN ASHWORTH, Esq., (in the absence of young Mr. Ver-
non. who was unavoidably detained in Stockport) responded in
brief, hut appropriate terms to this toast,—after which he pro-
posed the health of—
The Chairman"—(drunk with great applause.) "German

Glee:" _
The CHAIRMAN, in responding to the kind manner in which
his health had been proposed and received by the company,
begged to assure them that in whatever he had done that day
to promote the harmony and good feeling, which he was proud
to see exhibited, he had only done his duty. It was a source of
great satisfaction to him, as indeed it must have been to all
present, to witness the very excellent manner in which all their
proceedings had gone-off. (Hear, hear.) Had it not been for
the able attention of all the gentlemen around bim, this flatter-
ing state of things might have been marred. There was one
gentleman in particular whom he felt honoured in alluding to
on this occasion—that was Mr. Ashworth. (Loud cheers.)
He could not in the presence of that gentleman allow himself to
speak in terms consonant with the feelings which he, and all
upon his lordship's estates, entertained for his kind, upright,
and gentlemanly conduct on all occasions. He felt the utmost
pleasure, therefore, in proposing to them the health of—
" John Ashworth, Esq., agent to the Poynton Estate"—(drunk
'with great applause.) Air, "Merrily let the health go round."
Mr. AsnwoßTH, in rising to respond to the compliment just
paid to him, was received with loud demonstrations of ap-
plause. When silence-was restored, he observed that he was
quite inadequate to find language to convey to them the deep
sense he entertained of the complimentary manner in which
his name had been received. He was right glad to see them all
together, and to see them enjoy themselves as they had done.
He hoped this would not be the last time they would have the 1
opportunity of enjoying such an evening as the present. This
was a memorable event in the life of the heir to the House of
Vernon, and he hoped that his life would be as auspicious as i
that day had been. (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and, after a few pertinent obser- i
Nations, proposed, in.connectlon with R. Wetherall. Esq.,
" Success to the Poynton and Worth Collieries." (Drunk
-with loud applause.)
Mr. It• WETHERALL, in responding to this toast, said that
it never had been his good fortune to sit before at that hospi-
table board, and it was very likely he never would again ' •
but still he could assure them that he had enjoyed himself.
(Hear, hear.) He had now a pleasing duty to perform, one
which had been imposed upon him, but which he undertook
• with pleasure. They had all witnessed the admirable manner
in which all the arrangements of the day lied been carried out.
(Hear, hear.) It was nearly incredible to reflect that some
four or five thousand people had been feasted tLat day ; that
the elegant and chaste decorations which not only ornamented
that room, but the various buildings in which this festival had
been held, and that the banquet of which they had just parta-
ken—and which, by the way, spoke for itself—could be pro-
vided by any one establishment. (Hear, hear, hear.) Yet so
it-was, and to the Merchants' Coffee and Dining-rooms of Li-
verpool, under the able management of Mr. Feeney, one of the
proprietors of that establishment, they were indebted for all
that had been done. He felt certain that all who then heard him
would drink in a flowing bumper
" The Health of Mr. Feeney, and prosperity to the Mer-
chants' Coffee and Dining-roams." (Drunk with enthusiastic
applause.)
Mr. FEENEY, in responding to the sentiment, said, that so
unexpected and flattering was the compliment just paid him
that he really felt at a loss for language to express his feelings
of gratitude and satisfaction. <Hear, hear.) He was proud to
find that his efforts to please the good people of Poynton had
met with their approbation. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Yet
he could assure them, that successful as it appeared those efforts
were, they fell short of what he should like to have done. He
had been fortunate in falling into the bands of a few friends
but for -whose assistance he never could have carried out the
noble idea-of his lordship ; and to those men he was desirous-
of returning his mostsincere thanks—in particular, be alluded
to Mr. AFjiworth and their worthy chairman. (Applause.) He
felt deliglked that the proceedings of the day had passed off in
such a manner as to leave nothing but pleasurable reminiscences
to all engaged.in its festivities. This was what, from the com-
mencement, be most ardently desired; and now, that it was
accomplished, he felt not only delighted, but, he confessed,
somewhat surprised, at their success. He had also the pleasure
of informing them that his lordship had expressed his satis-
faction at the -manner in which their proceedings had been
carried out. On •behalf of himself and his partner, who was
necessarily absent, he begged to tender them his most heartfelt
thanks; and lie -could only assure them, that, should it so
happen that any gentleman from Poynton—from the highest to
the lowest on that estate—came to Liverpool, they would always
be received at the Merchants' Coffee and Dining Rooms with a
cead maile failtha, or, in plain English, they would be ten
thousand times welcome. (Tremendous applause, amid which
Mr. Feeney resumed his seat.)
The health of Mr. Owen was then drunk, and that gentleman
- Ihaving responded, " The visitors to Poynton" were next
toasted to which Mr. Clarke replied in handsome terms.
TheCHAIRMAN then gave, "A free English press," to which
the reporter for the Standard briefly responded.