The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-24
Anniversary Banquet at belmont
co.'s Last Evening.
Important Speech of the British
Minister.
He Suggests that We Can Waive Our
Claims for Consequential Damages
Without Dishon0r.
Cyrus Field Curses National Mis-
chief Makers.

The st. Georges Society OF this city celebrated
their forty fifth anniversary last evening by ban
quet at Delmonicos. About two hundred guests
were present, and the festvties-with the excep-
ton OF one or two prosy speeches sandwiched in
between half a dozen amusing, weighty or brilliant
ones-were OF sngularly genial and pleasant
character. Mr. G. Dale presided and at his right sat
Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister. As soon
as the more material portion of the banquet had
been exhaustivey discussed, and solids and fluids
had assumed the shape of coffee and cigars, Mr..
Dale rose and returned thanks for his reelection as
President. He described briefly the good work
done during the past year by the society, which
was now in highly satisfactory condition. Its in
come was greater than ever before, and so neces-
sary also, owing to the increasing field opened to
its operations, had been its disbursements. There
were now 1872 permanent pensioners of the society,"
receiving regular monthly allowance besides
large number Of casual dependents upon it's bounty.
Thrty-two beds had been arranged for in st. Lukes
Hospital in connection with the society. Mr. Dale
then touched upon
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS,
and said he wished he were able to congratulate
them upon the absence OF any disturbing differences
between their home government and the country
they were now residing in. But whether the Treaty
of Washington were carried out not, whether the
good feeling on both sides that prompted the sign
ing OF that instrument did did not lead to salts
factory settlement OF all outstanding diff
culties, he thought they would all bear testi-
mOny that the national affection between
the two countries had increased during
the past year, was increasing now and would in
crease in the future. They might be well assured
that when any great calamity such as that dreadful
disaster at Chicago should occur it would ever call
forth, as it had done only few months ago, not
only expressions Of sympathy from England, but
n vuhfl that
was the case, 1t would not be possible for any tenn
porary cloud to create permanent estrangement
between Great Britain and America.
The tOasts of ''The Day and All Who Honor IT,.
"rhe Queen-God Bless Herr and 'The President of
the United States were then enthusiastically given.
To the toast OF "Her Majesty's Minister"
Sir EDWARD THORNTON responded as follows =
Mr. President and Gentlemen-Tt affords me the
veliest satisfaction to be able for the first time to
be present here in the midst of so many OF my
countrymen, and to thank you, as do most sin
cerely and warmly for the hearty manner
health of our good Queen was responded to- as well
as for the kind mention you have now made of her
representatives in this country. There is no So
ciety which could have more cordial sympathy from
Her Majesty than this-established for the benefit
of our countrymen and countrywomen who may
unhappily be in Distress And 1t has done its work
well and bravely 1t is pleasant to that British
subjects who have migrated to this country have
even watered it. Appause.) True it is that in this
grandy prosperous country the need Of 1t Is not
great great as at home, and still more true that
L
what It is show us the most glorious example of
open-handed and generous charity, without limit
and without restraint cu,G MpplauseJ
Terrible as was the recent sad disaster in one OF
the most nourising cities of the Union IL was almost
and swiftly sudden outburst OF good feeling and
generous help which. by the power Of steam by the
electric spark and in the twinkng OF an
unfortunate sufferers from their fellow citizens
In every part of the country, almost before they
und from f.r,
flames. Such traits of character cannot fail to be a
bond of union between the two Englishspeaking
generous rivalry, they may make still warmer
that earnest friendship which | hope will always
exist between us. Sir Edward thornton then
stated that he had often before been DESTROYS of
participating in the celebration OF St. Georges day
In New York, but that his duties in cementing the
BONDS OF THAT FRIENDSHIP
which IL was his ardent desire should be established
between the two countries whose flags now waved
so tremendously around him had detained him in
washington. He then contnued:-It has been my
labor TO insure this friendshp-with what success
hope is not doubtful and have therefore been
Obliged to remain In Washington more constantly
than would have been the case had been guided
wholly by my own inclinations. As one OF
the the ,,a results of those labors | was much
Of the sigpers OF the Treaty of Washington. I had
the hrmest faith In the principle involved In arbi-
WHAT the JOINT HIGHS DID NOT THINK
NO one, believe snpposes that the British Com
mfssloners had any fdea-the slightest idea-that
indirect damages were included i'm that treaty.
Mpplause.) subsequent and thorough examina.
ton OF the treaty and Its wording has not now
persuaded them to the contrary but has rather
confirmed them In their original and publicly pro-
claimed belief. The government Of
THE UNITED STATES THINK OTHERWISE,
and have so declared, andfthey have an undoubted
right to their own opinion. cannot, however but
hope that the present attempt to apply the great
principle Of arbitration may not fail on account Of
that misunderstanding. And
THE SOLUTION
seems TO me to be palpable. For, while between