^ SPEAKING MADE EASY. 1^ ] TOAstm »«i HOW TO MAKE-ANIi^WKitt SPEECllESKEAD\JVIy\DE FOR EVERY OCCASION /^^ << jROVAL PERSONAGES PATRIOTIC TOASTS TEMPERANCE SPEECHES, SOCIAL TOASTS &c. &c. &c. 1 M "Wahp Loch;^; CofLof/DO|^<%NEwYop^}<| CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Wm, Sulzer Cornell University Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924027293103 Cornell University Library PN 6341.S74 Speeches and toasts: how to malie and pro 3 1924 027 293 103 BY THE SAME AUTHOR Price One Shilling: THE CHAIRMAN'S GUIDE AND SECRETARY'.S COMPANION Includes ; Choice of a Chairman — Duties cf a Chairman — General Meetings — Rules of Meetings — Motions and Amendments — Furnis, Pliraseology and Construction — Withdrawals — Polling and Voting — Points of Procedure, etc WARD, tOCK & CO., LTD. SPEECHES AND TOASTS: ffOlV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. t' ' I VI .- ■ A HANDBOOK OF -^ » SOCIAL SPEECH-MAKING FOR EVERY OCCASION BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE CHAIRMAN'S GUIDE," ETC. With a List of Toasts and Sentiments ; Directions foe THE Arrangement of Local Parliaments; Temperance Addresses ; and Rules OF Social Precedence. t/Elf EDITION. WITH ADDITIONAL TOASTS LONDON WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED, WARWICK HOUSE, SALISBURY SQUARE. E.C. NSW YORK, MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY. CONTENTS. HINTS TO SPEAKERS. On the Aet of Speaking _. g Common Errors in Speaking ... _ la SECTION I.— ROYAL PERSONAGES AND PATRIOTIC TOASTS. Toast— The Queen 17 The Prince and Princess of Wales, &o. ao The Royal Family .. 22 „ The Aemy, Navy, and Reserve Forces . 23 Speeches in Reply to the Foregoing 24 ,, Response for the " Navy " ... 25 ,, Response for the " Reserve Forces" ... 25 Toast — The Army 26 Speech in Response for the " Army " 27 Toast — The Navy 27 Speech in Response for the " Navy " ... 28 Toast — The Volunteers 28 Speech in Response for the '* Volunteers" ... .. 29 Toast — The Militia 29 Speech in Reply for the " Militia " .. 30 Toast — The Navy and the Naval Reserve 31 Speech in Response to the preceding 31 Toast — The Naval Volunteers 33 Speech in Reply to the preceding Toast 33 Toast — The Volunteers (proposed officially) 33 Speech in Reply by the Senior Volunteer Officer 35 Toast— The Services, proposed by Sir F. Leighton 35 Speech in Reply for the " Army," by the Duke of Cambridge ... 36 „ for the " Navy," by Lord Northbrook ... ... 37 CONTENTS. SECTION II.— TOASTS ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL. AT A CONSECRATION— pagh Toast — The Church AND Our Bishop .. 39 „ The Clergy . 4" „ The Vicar of the Parish . .. .. 40 Speech in Reply by the " Vicar " .. ,., 41 Toast — The Clergy of the District . 41 . SECTION III.— THE LEGISLATURE. Toast — The House of Lords 43 Speech in Reply by the Lord Chancellor ... 43 Toast— Her Majesty's Ministers 45 „ The House of Commons 45 Speech in Reply for "The Commons," by Sir W. Harcourt 46 Toast— The Members FOR THE Borough 48 ,, The County Members 49 Speech (i) — Proposing a Candidate for Parliament ... 50 ,, (2)— Another on a like occasion . 50 SECTION IV.— LEGAL. Toast — Her Majesty's Judges 52 „ The Lord Lieutenant of the County ... . 53 „ The Magistrates 53 „ The Lord Lieutenant and the Magistrates of the County 54 Toast— The Borough Magistrates SS Speech in reply by a Magistrate 56 SECTION v.— TOASTS SOCIAL. WEDDINGS— / Toast — The Bride and Bridegroom ... g) J The Newly Married Couple ... 58 ,, The same on another occasion ... 58 Speech in Reply by the " Bridegroom " 59 ,, ,, by the " Bridegroom " and proposing " The Bridesmaids" 59 Speech in Reply to " The Bridesmaids " by the " Best " Man 60 ,, ,, to "The Bridesmaids "bythe "Groomsman" 60 Toast — The Groomsmen 61 Speech in Reply to " The Groomsmen " ... 61 CHRISTENINGS— Toast — The Little Stranger 62 ,, The Health of the Baby 6a Speech in Reply to the foregoing 6f „ J, to the Toast of " The Godparents ' 63 CONTENTS 7 BIRTHDAYS- pagb Toast — The Hero OF THE Day 64 Speech in Reply to the foregoing 65 Toast — The Heir 65 Speech in Reply by the Heir 66 Toast — The Tenants 67 Speech in Reply to " The Tenants " 67 Speech by the Squire in acknowledgment of his health being drunk ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 SECTION VI.— SPORTING TOASTS. CRICKET (OR FOOTBALL) DINNERS— Toast— Our Opponents 70 Reply by the Captain of the opposing team 71 Toast — Success to the Cricket Club ... 71 Speech in Reply by the Secretary and proposing "The Captain" ... ... ... ... 73 Response by the Captain of the Eleven... 74 Toast — The Health of the Host ... 74 Speech in reply by the Host . 75 REGATTA DINNERS— Toast — Success to the Regatta 76 Speech in Reply by the Secretary to the Committee 77 Toast — The Health OF the Competing Crews 77 Speech in Reply by the successful Stroke . 78 AN ARCHERY MEETING— Toast — The Archery Club 78 Speech at the Prize Distribution 79 AN ANGLING CLUB— Toast — Prosperity to the Angling Club 80 AT AN ANNUAL ■' HOUSE DINNER "— Toast— The Firm 80 Speech in Reply by a Partner ... , 8t Toast — The Employes 83 Speech in Reply to " The Employ& " .. 84 Toast — The Visitors 84 Speech in Reply by a Visitor ... 85 Toast — The Ladies 85 Speech in Reply by a Bachelor 86 AT PENNY READINGS— Opening Address by the Chairman 87 Concluding Address by the Chairman 87 SECTION VII.- MISCELLANEOUS TOASTS. Toast— The Press 8g Speech in Reply to the above Toast 9^ Laying the Foundation-Stone of aMuscu:n 92 Toast— The Ladies '°9 CONTENTS. At a School Festival . ... 93 Address at a " Prize-giving " for Sports .. 94 A New Railway Line — " The first sod turned " .., ... ... 95 Speech in Reply to the Toast of " Success to the Line ' ... 96 Toast — Town and Trade 97 SECTION VIII.— TEMPERANCE AND BLUE RIBBON MEETINGS. Address by a Member of the Blue Ribbon " Army " 98 Speech upon Temperance and Total Abstinence ... .;. 100 The Blub Ribbon— What is it ? 102 Total Abstinence — Speech by Cardinal Manning 104 ,, ,, Speech by Professor Blaikie ... ... 105 The Temperance Question— Speech by Lord Claud Hamilton lo^ SECTION IX.— RULES FOR THE FORMATION OP LOCAL PARLIAMENTS. Of Standing Orders no Of the Officers of Parliament no Of the Council iti Of the Formation of a Ministry in Of the Meetings of the Parliament 112 Rules and Regulations of the " House ' 113 Specimen Speeches in Debate 114 SECTION X.— THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS DUTIES. Of the choice of a Chairman at a Meeting ... 120 Of the Duties of an Elected Chairman .. ... ... 120 Of the Chairman at Social Meetings 121 Of his Duties on such occasions 122 The Arrangement of the Guests .. ... ... ... ... 122 The Chairman at a Public Dinner ... 122 SECTION XL— TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. Loyal Toasts and Sentiments 124 Military Toasts and Sentiments .. ... . .. 124 Naval 'toasts and Sentiments ... 124 Love Toasts and Sentiments ... ... ... 125 Masonic Toasts and Sentiments ,. ... ... 126 Friendship Toasts and Sentiments 127 Convivial Toa.sts and Sentiments ... ... ... ... ... 127 Comic Toasts and Sentiments 128 Sporting Toasts and Sentiments ... ... ... ... ... 129 Miscellaneous Toasts and Sentiments ... . 129 THE PRECEDENCE OF GUESTS. Pjiles of Precedence ... ... .. t^ HINTS TO SPEAKERS. I. ON THE ART OF SPEAKING. Silence may be " golden," as the proverb has it, on certain occasions when by speaking strife may be protracted ; but there are times and seasons when spealcing is not only ad- missible but necessary. The power of a speech, the influence for good (as well as for evil) that a powerful speaker can exercise over his hearers, is a possession greatly to be desired. But not every speaker can enchain his audience. Still it cannot be denied that a man who can speak well upon any subject will have a following ; and it is a fact that nearly all, if not all great movements, have been set going by the power if speech. " Deeds, not words," is a good motto ; but deeds are done and over. Words excite or calm ; grow and bear fruit. Deeds may create or destroy ; oratory builds up and incites to deeds. Speech, then, is the mainspring of action, the advocate of peace. " Eloquence is the queen of the world," and by oratory comes fame and power. The power to turn men's minds and influence their actions by persuasive eloquence is a grand possession ; to carry away an audience in parliament, in court, in pulpit, or theatre is a sign of power of brain, the result of study and application. Now how must this power be attained ? How can we inscribe oi;r names upon the roll of fame and have it handed down to posterity ? Let us see ! There are certain essential qualifications for the speaker which will be immediately recognized — clearness of utterance, deliberation of manner and repose of mien. The hurried Uian will stammer, the nervous man will flounder in his talk- IC HINTS TO SPEA/TERS. The unready will " hum " and " haw " until he becomes a bore to his audience. Some men are too fast and spoil all by hurry, which they think is fluency. So there are many things to avoid and some to gain. Study is a very essential point, study of good models. Just as a writer should read and form his style, so a speaker should study for oratory. What said Lord Brougham upon this ? " The beginning of the art is to acquire a habit of easy speaking," and it must be had. The learning to speak is the foundation of all. "But it must be got by a habit of easy writing (which as Wyndham said proved hard reading) ; by a custom of talking much in company ; by speaking in debating societies with little attention to rule, and more love of saying something at any rate than of saying anything well." So the art or habit of easy speaking is gradually acquired. But of course to speak easily upon any particular subject you must know what you are talking about. This knowledge alone gives you confidence, and helps one to keep it after- wards. " The next step is to convert this style of easy speaking into chaste eloquence." The way to do this is to take a good model or models from modem orators, such as Burke, Fox, Sheridan ; or Cicero and Demosthenes amongst ancient orators. Lord Brougham in his letter to Zachary Macaulay gives instances of the usefulness of setting up such models, and the composition of addresses upon such masterly lines as Demosthenes' speeches. It is also a good plan to listen to good parliamentary debaters, such as Mr. Gladstone and others in the House, on important questions. Upon such speakers one can foim his style, and when confidence has in a measure been gained it will be well to join a debating society or local parliament There are a number of parliaments in and about London at the present time, and any person may become a member of one or other of them by paying a small entrance fee. If, however, speaking does not come easy, it will be much better to write the speech and commit it to memory. This method has been recommended by masters of oratory as tending to ease in speaking. Lord Brougham, from whose letter we have already quoted, says in this regard — " This leads me to remark that though speaking without writing beforehand is very well till the habit of easy speaking is acquired, yet after that he can never write too much : this is quite clear." (The italics are ours.) " It is laborious, no doubt, and it is more difficult beyond comparison than speak- ON THE ART OF SPEAKING. u Ing off hand ; but it is necessary to perfect oratory, and at any rate it is necessary to acquire the habit of correct diction. But I go farther, and say even to the end of a man's life he must prepare word for word most of his finer passages." Thus much for spealcing, and learning to make speeches. The two essentials amongst many minor points are easy speaking and the acquisition of eloquence by models and study. There must also be natural qualifications present, such as common sense, to steer one correctly between shoals and rocks of discord and bad taste. There must be intelli- gence, not necessarily intellectual superiority, but a power of grasping points in an adversary's speech, in turning his arguments, and in planning a speech, particularly when extempore speaking is required. We need hardly insist upon such attributes as imagination and earnestness, which have already been referred to. The studies to be pursued will be touched upon later. At present we will turn to " open air" speaking, and add a few simple rules respecting such addresses. Open air speakers often fail from the very cause which they imagine will ensure success, viz., loudness of address. By loudness we mean mere shouting and great muscular strain of the voice. But clearness and distinct utterance are the essential points to be observed, and they are obtained by filling the lungs before beginning the sentence. It is only common sense to say that distinctness of utterance wiU carry words more readily to the hearers than any amount of in- distinct energy. Let all vowels be particularly clear. The tongue should form the syllables clearly ; the mouth should open well so as to give the rounded utterance to certain words which carry conviction to the audience. An earnest manner with appropriate action, a composed energetic and not too rapid enunciation, with regularity of diction, will send "winged words" across a large space. Of course the power of the speaker is a factor in the sum total ; but even a moderately strong man, by attention to clearness and the distinct enunciation and pronunciation of vowel-sounds, may make himself understood at a considerable distance. We have only been referring to the attributes of the speaker. The condition of the atmosphere will have much to do with the success of the speech, for air is very hostile to the pro- pagation of sounds under certain conditions. At any rate, whether we speak extempore, by rote, in the hall or the open air, the grand object to be aimed at should be the gaining of the audience. We have, whether it be a «2 HINTS TO SPEAKERS. sermon, a lecture, or an address, to win the adherence of om hearers. If we are speaking with a definite object, for money, or influence, it is all the same. We speak to win hearts. We must impress our audience with the notion that we are in earnest, and that our motive is good, our object true ; and then we must make them act with us. Politically, the orator speaks to win suffrages. He wishes to bend his opponents to his views, or at any rate to draw the sting from their remarks by strong argument or ridicule. He can do this by feeling that his aim is good ; or, by force of imagination, putting himself in the place of a man who has such views. Such is the power of oratory that a versatile speaker may bring forward arguments, and turn upon himself and tear his own opinion to shreds. Such a feat has been performed successfully. But we need say no more concerning the speaker here. Emphasis, clearness, intelligence, and above all study, are, if the person has any natural aptitude for speaking, all necessary for public speaking. We cannot go into many minor points in this brief sketch. Every one will be able to gather the hints we have thrown down, and we hope any wtio do glean may profit by them. II. COMMON ERRORS IN SPEAKING. Pronunciation of words has already been insisted on in the foregoing pages, but there are many errors of speech in daily use which have been frequently noticed in public and private speaking, to which we may fairly call attention. Not unnaturally every one will repudiate the commission or omis- sion of such errors and forms, but did any one ever see an " h-less " speaker who was sensible of his error ? We have heard a fluent speaker, and one quite equal to writing his speech correctly, say " 'ee 'eld up 'is 'at," " 'ee put 'is 'and to 'is 'ead," quite unconscious that he was infringing any gram- matical rule ; and yet had he written the sentences quoted he would have put them quite correctly, with aspirates in the proper places. Any reader can imagine how such errors in pronunciation will militate against a speaker ; and though it may appear very ridiculous and worse to tnunt a man with such mistakes, COMMON ERRORS IN SPEAKING. r;, Still an opponent in debate will find means to hold up such a person to ridicule ; and even a mixed audience will laugh at such mistakes as these, and imperil the whole lecture, speech, or sermon. The letter " H " is the one most sinned against in England, particularly in London. As an aspirate it is condemned, and often when hiding in the centre of a word it is dropped, like as iu " fore'ed," " be'old," " w'en," for "forehead," "behold," "when." The Irish are apt to accentuate " h " more than is necessary, and say " hwhat " for " what," " hwhen " for " when," &c. These strong aspirates with the long vowels, like " ah " for "a," " dooin' " for "doing," make up a peculiar " brogue." Letter "R" is also misused. Some affection^or affectation we may almost say — makes it w, and many words have it pu,; on after a final vowel. We can all recall " idear " for "ic'ea," and "sor" for "saw," "Victoriar" for "Victoria." Puyxji supplies us with an excellent example, to wit, in reply as to what she said "made her friend ill." " I didn't say anytljink made 'er hill ; 1 said she lived at Maiifor 'ill ! " Here ive have " ink " for " ing," another error in Cockneydom. There are many other instances, such as " ast " for " ask," " git " for " get," &c., which will occur to every reader. But clergymen and preachers should be specially caieful to pronounce words correctly. The word GOD is one most frequently mispronounced, and yet one would imagine it almost impossible to make a mistake in it. We have heard it pror.ounced "Gawd," " Gaad," "Got," " Gord," and " Goad," by various preachers. Indeed, the elocution of clergymen is curiously faulty, and yet these are the very men of all others who ought to attend to elocution and correct pronunciation. To hear a chapter in the Bible read with correctness is a treat too seldom vouchsafed to a con- gregation in these " intoning " days. We need not do n-.ore than refer to the vulgar London accent, which makes " day " hideous, and the " straight way " anything but tempting. When Pronundation has been mastered, the next thing to be acquired is articulation or Enunciation. The consonants are the principal letters to be attended to in this part of the study of speaking. Slurring will then be completely put aside, and every word will run by itself, connected with its predecessors and followers, but not colliding with them. When we wish clearness in speech — and this every speaker will desire as a matter of course — we should be particularly careful concerning the articulation of the consonants. The vowels give us sonorous and open sounds, intensity and 14 ffmrs TO SPEAKERS. volume. " The element of audibility," says a writer, " is the pure, well-sustained vowel : the element of distinctness is the firm, clearly articulated consonant, and in reading and speaking both elements should be combined." It v/ill do us no harm if we practise for distinctness some of the old " catch " sentences of our youth. " Peter Piper " need not be quoted, but the following sentences will prove a trial to some, possibly : — " His sister is a thistle-sifter, and she sifts thistles with a thistle-sifter." " An itinerary literary lecturer." " Year after year the o'er ripe ear is lost." " Truly rural " is another and better known example, and many others will occur to every reader. But even_ distinctness in speaking will fail, unless the speaker happens to hit the correct tone and pitch wherewith to address his audience. It is particularly distressing to a listener to be able to catch only a few words here and there which come far between. All interest in the discourse very soon ceases, and apathy supervenes. A rule generally re- cognized is to fix upon an auditor in a remote part of the the hall in which you are speaking, and address him. The voice will then fill the room, and the speaker will become aware of the fact by the return of the tones to his ear. Practice alone will make perfect, and the needful force will soon be expended, and no more. It is only exhausting to continue to speak at full power after the correct pitch and force have been ascertained. Good effects may be made by modulating the voice according to the circumstances you are describing. A bold deed, an assertion, angry quotation, or any excited state of mind, triumph, &c., should be rendered with a loud tone. Conversation and description, &c., of course in a gentler voice. Pain, secrets, caution, fatigue, or fears, in a low tone or whisper ; all these tones varying in relative intensity according to the size of the building and the mass of the audience addressed. But pitch is not force. Soft speeches may be made in a high tone, and a low tone is compatible with loudness. The higher the voice the greater distance it will travel. A shrill whistle will penetrate farther than a low one, and, besides, bass tones are as a rule indistinct. The ordinary tone of conversation is quite suffi- cient to use under ordinary circumstances. Action, again, has a great deal to do with speaking, and suiting the action to the word and the word to the action is very necessary. True it is we see most clergymen utterly COMMON ERRORS Iff SPEAKING. '5 devoid of action in the pulpit ; but this may in many cases arise from a mistaken notion, and a fear of appearing "theatrical." But if eloquence is to hit the mark— and surely preaching is its highest aim— then gesture should be studied to " ram home " the shots to be fired in earnestness. In pictures of the great Apostle preaching, we find the extended arms most eloquent. Why then should Paul's successors be less earnest, and, we may say, less dignified. We refer merely to appropriate gestures- -no straining after effect or inelegant movement. The proper movement helps the speaker to speak ; it impresses his audience, and carries conviction where the inactive speaker will fail to impress. To those desirous of studying action, Addison's opinion upon it, as an attribute of oratory, may be commended. The passages will be found in the Spectator. Action should not wait upon the words, although it has been said that it " should wait upon our speech." But there are attendants who wait upon one and yet precede ; so let it be as the herald to the monarch, the leader of a king. So action should be graceful, easy, and to the word. All stiffness should be avoided, and on the other hand frequent, or rather unceasing, action should by no means be indulged in. But this is a mistake. Some actors are ever moving ; but quiet acting is most telling and impressive. The advice of Fenelon is useful in this regard. We should make our arms move because we are animated ; we must not endeavour to appear animated by moving our arms. Thus, briefly, we have examined some of the points to be noted before we can expect to speak so as to create any real impression by our oratory. The numerous speeches in- cluded in the following pages, which extend over most subjects fitted for any social display of talking, are not meant so much as models as outlines, which the speaker — the diffident speaker — may find some ideas to cling to. We think it is Thackeray, in " Lovel the Widower," who says something like this : " I could have retorted most effec- tively — crushingly — only, unfortunately, I did not think of the repartee until I was in bed." Now we venture to say this is by no means an ideal experience. Many persons who are unready with their tongue at the time when they most wanted to get upon their legs and say something, have within an hour, or as they proceeded homewards, rehearsed the speech they would have made — and made very effec- tively — had they only had that one idea to set them going ! There are hundreds of people who wiU speak fluently i6 ffWTS TO SPlEAKBR^. enough if they are only wound up, just as hundreds will write a very respectable letter when you have mastered the way to commence for them, and set them upon the right road with a gentle push. To speakers, particularly such as we have referred to, wf hope the following speeches and toasts will prove useful. There are several bond fide after-dinner orations included in the sections, and these are all plainly distinguished from the rest by the names of the speakers attached to them. The rest of the suggested toasts and speeches have been written specially for this volume, and will, we think, if not all original in idea — for it is impossible to be wholly original in the matter of toasts and speeches upon so many social subjects — will at any rate be found quite original in matter. There are grave toasts and gay toasts ; toasts social and political ; toasts sporting and serious. We think the separate sections will furnish ample food for beginners to model their efforts upon, and when they have studied these Speeches and Toasts we are assured they will know how to make and propose others on any suitable occasion. H. F, SPEECHES AND TOASTS HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. SECTION I. ROYAL PERSONAGES AND PATRIOTIC TOASTS. The Queen — The Royal Family — The Army, Navy, AND Volunteers, Naval Reserve, etc. I. THE QUEEN. [Proposed by the Chairman^ Your Royal Highnesses, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — ' My first duty is to call upon you to drink to the health of Her Majesty the Queen, the gracious Sovereign of these realms. It is, perhaps, the highest tribute to the many virtues possessed by the Queen, who has now reigned so long on that unassailable throne — far out of the reach of treason and attack — the hearts of her faithful subjects, to say that wherever this toast is proposed a ready and enthusiastic response is always given. Each gathering of Englishmen seems to have some cherished feehng, some bond of union however varied their experience, towards the Queen, whosf; sympathies are so far-reaching. I am sure that, seeing, as I do, so many representatives of rank, literature, art, and fashion here, the reception of the health of Her Most Gracious Majesty will be responded to with no uncertain voice. I ask you now to drink to Her Majesty the Queen, and long may she reign ! ' This address, of course, vartes with the company a(idre-ssed- [8 SPEECHES AND TOASTS II. THE QUEEN. [Proposed by the Chairman.'] My Lords and Gentlemen, — The first toast which it is my duty and privilege to put before you this evening is one which I am sure all present will unite with me cordially in drinking^I mean the health of Her Majesty the Queen. It would be intruding upon your patience — indeed, time would fail me — were I to enu- merate the many claims Her Majesty has upon our hearts as individuals, and upon our loyal attachment as subjects. No matter in what part of our Empire the toast is proposed, we know that it will be most sincerely and warmly responded to ; and here I may reckon upon a most hearty recogni- tion of it. Gentlemen, I beg to give you the Health of Her Majesty the Queen, and long may she reign over us. :il. THE QUEEN. {Proposed by the Chairman at a Charity Dinner.] [Ladies and] Gentlemen, — Before we proceed to the business of the evening, I must request you all to drink to the health of Her Majesty the Queen, who has most graciously been pleased to permit us to inscribe her name at the head of our list of Patronesses. We are highly sensible of the honour thus conferred upon us, and I am sure you will all concur with me in respectfully thanking Her Majesty for her condescension. It is our good fortune to be governed by a Sovereign who has the true welfare of her people at heart, and whose ready words of sympathy for the poor or the afflicted finds an echo in all our heart*. We have rejoiced with her in her gladness, and mourned with her in her bereavements. The example set us in her relations of wife and mother is of the highest, and I am sure the ladies present in the gallery would be amongst the first to urge upon their daughters the necessity to follow the example in their domestic relations set by Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Gentlemen, I request you to drink the Health of Her Majesty the Queen. IV, THE QUEEN. {Proposed by the Chairman at a Public Dinner^ My Lords and Gentlemen, — The first toast which I have to propose to you this evening is the Health of Her Majesty the Queen. I confess that '.\ndei ordinary circumstances it is not an easy matter for me HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 19 to propose a toast at all. But when speaking of Her Majesty the diffidence usually present with me becomes less, because you are all aware of the many virtues of our Sovereign Lady, and we all appreciate her goodness and noble qualities. I speak of a familiar and welcome topic, I need not, there- fore, dilate upon the toast. No matter to what political parties we here assembled may belong, I am sure there is no man " with soul so dead " to his responsibilities as an Englishman who will venture to deny the excellent example and true womanly excellences of the Sovereign of these realms. To the purity of her court and life we owe more than we can well estimate. The English nation is a nation of households, and upon the leaders of the household, the family, the village, the town, are all successively based, and become the nation ! If the head of the nation be corrupt the members will also be tainted. We owe the social position of England to the mothers of England, and to the bright example set by the most august parent in our land. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have detained you perhaps too long upon a topic already familiar to you all, for I am sure you require no words of mine to induce you to drink loyally and respectfully the Health of Queen Victoria, and that she may long remain upon the throne of these realms. Gentle- men, the Queen ! V. THE QUEEN. [Speech at a Banquetl\ Your Royal Highness, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — My first duty is to call upon you to drink to the health of Her Majesty the Queen, the gracious head of this Academy. It is, perhaps, the highest tribute to the many virtues through which the Queen has now for so long reigned on the only unassailable throne, tW% hearts of her subjects, to say that each class and group of Englishmen seems to have some especial ground besides the common bond of British loyalty for receiving her name with enthusiasm wherever this toast is given, so far-reaching in their effect and influence are the gracious sympathies of which Her Majesty gives so many proofs. How rich, then, in manifold gratitude must not the enthusiasm be with which that name is received at this table, round which are gathered representatives of so many and such various forms of life. Nowhere could the deep loyalty with which I propose this toast find a more certain or a more sincere response. I ask you to drink to Her Majesty the Queen. 2© SPEECHES AND TOASTS. Vl. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES AND THE ROYAL FAMILY. [Proposed by the Chairman..'] My Lords and Gentlemen, — The next toast which I have to ask you to drink is that of ■' The Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family." My task in doing so is a most grateful, but at the same time a most delicate one ; for if, on the one hand, I am impelled to express those feelings of affectionate respect which it is the privilege of their Royal Highnesses to inspire in the hearts of Englishmen, I may not in the hearing of the high personages who honour us here to-night dwell with embarrassing emphasis on the qualities to which those feelings are due. Meanwhile the unvarying warmth with which the name of the Prince of Wales is ever received must year by year remind him, if he needed to be reminded, how stead- fastly and unwavering are the sentiments which animate us, and the clamour which never fails to greet that of the Princess, his august consort, cannot, I think, but convey to his Royal Highness more than many words of articulate praise. But if taste imposes on me restrictions in any allusion to the personal claims of the Royal Family in all its members to the attachment of Englishmen, a topic on which you are well aware I might enlarge at great length, there is a feeling to which I cannot refrain from giving words — namely, our deep sympathy with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh under the circumstances which deprive us of the presence of his Royal Highness this evening. I need not remind you of the black crime which has brought grief and mourning on her who is dearest to him, and, while we deplore from our hearts the cause, we cannot but appreciate with respectful sympathy the motives which keep the Duke of Edinburgh from us this evening. I give you, my lords and gentlemen, " The Health of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest ot the Royal Family." VII. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES AI^D THE REST OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. [Proposed by the Chairman at a Banquet.] My Lords and Gentlemen, — The next toast I have to propose is that of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family. The ever increasing popularity of the Prince of Wales must assure him of the regard and respect in which he is constantly held by ff-QlV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 21 the nation at large, while the enthusiasm that always greets the name of his august and charming consort is spontaneous. With the Princess and Prince of Wales I must include the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, lately in such deep afflic- tion, and the rest of the Royal Family. We have the Queen's sons constantly amongst us, doing their duty as soldiers and sailors, and I am sure that no one can work harder than the Prince of Wales, who is always ready to lay a foundation stone, or hold a lev^e, or to assist any good work by his presence. I give you therefore the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family. VIII. THE PRINCE AND PEINOESS OF WALES. \_Pro- posed by the Chairman at a Public Dinner^ Gentlemen, — It is my privilege and pleasure this evening to ask you to drink a toast which I am sure, after the loyal way in which you have received the toast of the Queen's health, will be cordially welcomed — I mean the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales. There have been few heirs to the English throne so popular as the Heir Apparent, and no royal lady in a similar position, as you will acknowledge, can compete in the regard, I may say in the affection, of the people of all classes with the Princess of Wales. The affability, courtesy, dignity, and good-nature of the Prince and his consort have won all our sympathy and regard personally. He mixes in our midst and without fear, knowing that the true safety is in the liberty of the people he will one day be called upon to govern. May he follow the example set him on the throne by his august mother, and may his domestic happiness be ever as assured and permanent as hers. No words of mine are needed to recommend to you this toast to the health of the first gentleman and the most respected lady in the land. Gentlemen, I give you the health of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. IX. THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OP WALES. \Pro- posed on any Public Occasion^ Gentlemen, — ■ I have to call upon you now to drink the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales, and I am sure my request will be most cordially and loyally complied with. Smce the 22 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: bereavement sustained by the Queen in the loss of her beloved consort Prince Albert — a bereavement we regret the more because it has, to a great extent, deprived us of her presence amongst us as formerly — since that sad calamity it has devolved upon the Heir Apparent and the Princes, of Wales to perform many of the functions of Royalty, and we all know how loyally and popularly they have acted their most difficult parts. The actions of a Prince are always illuminated " by the fierce light that beats upon the throne," and every detail is brought out more clearly, while any acci- dental shadow is blackened by contrast. Few of us can realize the immense amount of bodily and mental fatigue undergone by the Prince of Wales and the Princess in their endeavours to be present at and to give countenance to the various ceremonies to which Royalty always brings success and dclat. Those who will take the trouble to consider will find that there are few hours of the day which the Prince can call his own, and even when apparently seeking his own amusement we know that his presence renders the occasion popular ; and when he is mingling with the people he is studying his future subjects, and giving them an opportunity to study him. Though we loyally trust that the day may be yet distant when he will assume the duties and responsibilities of this mighty Empire, we may be sure that when he is called upon he will respond to the English nation, and rule us as becomes our past traditions and our future hopes. Gentlemen, I call upon you all to drink Health and Happi- ness to the Prince and Princess of Wales. X. THE ROYAL FAMILY. {Proposed by the Chairman at a Charity Dinner !\ Gentlemen, — The time at our disposal and the numerous toasts which I see have to be got through this evening preclude me from giving you in detail the health of the various members of the Royal Family. You have responded like true Britons to the former toast — that of the Queen — and I now call upon you to proclaim your attachment to her children, and particularly the Heir to the throne and his ever popular Princess by drinking their healths. I need not dilate upon the many good and generous qualities of the Royal Family. Wherever there is a social duty to be performed, or where the suffering of the afflicted can be relieved, or popular sympathy can be Invoked for a deserving institution or other object vou will HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 23 find the name of one at least of the Royal Family. The Princes of the Royal House are ever ready to recognize talent in art and literature, in the studio or on the stage. We find them patronizing the Art Galleries and the Theatres, popularizing entertainments, and laying foundations of good and useful institutions. We lately saw the Duke of Edin- burgh distributing food to starving Irish men and women, and Prince Leopold taking part in scientific pursuits by opening a museum and a town hall, &c. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke of Connaught, with his wife and Royal Sisters, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Teck, and the Princess Mary, are always ready listeners to the call of charity, and to consent to keep the stalls at bazaars with other distinguished personages, in order to help the cause of their poor and afflicted fellow subjects. Gentlemen, I am sure I need say no more. You will, I am certain, fill a bumper, and drink the toast to the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family. XI. THE ARMY, THE NAVY, AND THE RESERVE FORCES. \By the Chairman at a Banquet^ My Lords and Gentlemen, — Next to the toasts in which we express our allegiance to the Sovereign and the Royal Family, we are accustomed to drink to those services which exist for the protection of the Queen and for the safeguard of our nation — the Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces. Our Army is on a different footing to any other European force. It is purely voluntary service, and the conditions under which it frequently is engaged is so different, being liable to service in all climates, that a great interest attaches to it, and a great responsibility rests upon those who so carefully endeavour to carry out the organization of this detached force. Although in some instances lately we have heard of disaster to our little bands of troops outnumbered as they were, still we believe that man for man the British soldier will hold his own, ay, and more than hold his own, against any enemy. Our officers are, as of old, brave, true, and to be depended on in e.nergency — as Yorke's Drift and other localities will at once remind you. When we look back upon the march from Cabul to Candahar, can we say that pluck and endurance are failing our troops and their leaders ? The Royal Navy has not had so much oppor- tunity for distinguishing itself of late years except in Egypt, but the Naval Brigade and the Royal Marines, an invaluable 24 SPEECHES AND TOASTS . force, are always foremost when work, and real work, is to be done on land, while at sea we know what our ships and men have done they can do again, witness the plucky Condor under Lord Beresford, lately. With these, the Reserve Forces, the Militia and Volunteers, are always ready to co- operate ; and should war unfortunately again call out our Reserves, I am confident that the old British spirit will not be wanting, and that our Reserves and Volunteers will be found equal to the occasion and brave defenders of our hearths and homes. For the Army I must call upon — to respond ; for the Navy I am permitted to name ; for the Reserve Forces . I give you the Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces, coupled respectively with the distinguished officers' names I have mentioned. [Replies to the foregoing^ XII. EEPLT TO THE TOAST OF THE ARMY. Mr. Chairman," my Lords, and Gentlemen, — I feel much flattered at having been called upon to return thanks for the Service to which I have the honour to belong when I see many distinguished officers around me. It is always a pleasant thing on these occasions to find that the Army is remembered, and this good feeling on the part of the public towards the Service is very gratifying to the soldier, and is likely to increase its efficiency. You, sir, have referred to the smallness of our Army and the manifoldandarduous duties it is called upon — sometimes very suddenly called upon — to perform in an inhospitable chmate and against savage enemies. This statement is evident in its truth, and the difficulties against which men and officers have frequently to contend can be but very partially estimated by those who sit at home at ease. Much has at different times been said about the Army expenditure, and com- parisons are made with foreign establishments, but how would British work-people like conscription ? We know such a course would be exceedingly distasteful, and indeed un- necessary, for the Englishman is always ready to fight his country's enemies. But the very fact of our system being voluntary entails great expenditure, which has to be kept down to its very lowest point. Even then we have outcries from some M.P. on one side or other objecting to it, but if the soldier be not well fed and paid he will not serve, and ^ Or his name, if he be titled. ffOfV TO MAJCE AND PROPOSE THEM. 25 where then will your Army be ? When a war comes we have fo spend more money to bring up the efficiency to fighting point. I am glad to believe that the pluck and endurance of the British soldier is as great as ever, and considering the very trying climates he endures at short intervals, the health and well-being of the Army is a subject for congratulation. We shall always strive to do our duty and to defend our country and our homes. Gentlemen, in the name of the British Army I thank you for the very kind way you have responded to the toast, and for the manner in which you received my name in connection with it. XIII. RESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF THE NAVY. Mr. Chairman,' my Lords, and Gentlemen, — I have to return thanks to you for the very cordial manner in which the toast of the Navy has been received, and for the kind way in which my name has been associated with it. We are always proud of our Navy, once the renowned " Walls of Old England." Now we have substituted iron and steel for Heart of Oak, but the hands who manned the guns under Nelson have worthy descendants and successors in the sailors who are now aboard of our fleets and mercantile marine. Whenever the time comes for fighting the big guns, I am sure they will be worked with the same bulldog courage that cha- racterized the old smooth-bore cannon which won us so many triumphs. The Royal Marines have also been men- tioned, and in their behalf I can fearlessly assert that there is no finer body of men, or better disciplined battalions than the Marines — men who have always done their duty, and are ready to do it again ! I thank you on behalf of the Service for the welcome acceded to the Navy, the back-bone of the country. XIV. RESPONSE TO THE TOAST OP THE RESERVE FORCES. Mr. Chairman, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — I rise with diffidence to return my sincere thanks for the honour you have done the Reserve Forces in proposing a toast in such eulogistic terms. The Militia (to which I have the honour to belong) have in former critical times shown of what stuff they are made by volunteering for foreign service, and I am glad to recollect that they performed the duties ' Or his name, if a peer, baronet, or knight. 26 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: allotted to them in a manner which called forth public approval. We, as well as the other Reserves and the splendid and efficient Volunteer regiments (many very effi- cient members of which I see around me), will always be ready when called upon to fight (or our native land. We have heard a good deal lately, and we had some unforttmate experience of sharp-shooting in South Africa. It is in this very particular that the Volunteer— the " Citizen Soldier " — excels, and in which, if his services should be required, we should find his value — no small value, believe me. I think we shall all do our best to uphold the honour of our country, and I can answer for it that the Reserve Forces will not be found wanting whenever they have the honour to be associ- ated with the Army or to co-operate with our brave " Blue Jackets " at home or abroad. The Efficient Reserve and the efficiency of the Volunteers are annually increasing, and the country, we hope, has now no reason to be ashamed of her second line of defence. XV. THE ABMY. \By the Chairman at a Public Dinner^ Gentlemen, — It again falls to my lot to address you, and I am sure the toast which I am about to bring to your notice will meet with a hearty response from all in this room. This toast, gentlemen, is the Army — the British Army — which has carried our victorious colours all over the world. If we pos- sess the smallest army of any European power, we also pos- sess a very efficient one. Notwithstanding all the criticism that has been expended upon our young soldiers, we must remember that these young men have proved on more than one occasion that they can endure without complaint, and can fight when called upon. But it is the old soldiers to whom we look chiefly, and we are glad to retain them in the ranks. The public has it in its power to make the profession of a soldier very popular, and when the Army finds the civilian appreciative, a reciprocal good feeling is engendered, and the Army will go forth to fight with the enemies of our country with renewed zeal and, as in past times, with honour, and with eventual, if not immediate and instant success. Gentlemen, I am sure you will join heartily in the toast of our gallant British Army at home and abroad, coupling it with the name of . ffOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 27 XVI. THE ARMY. [Reply to the above.] Mr. Chairman [Mr. Vice- Chairman] and Gentlemen, — I assure you that until I heard my name pronounced just now by our worthy chairman when proposing the health of the profession to which I had [or have] the honour to belong, I was quite unaware that I should be called upon to address you. But fortunately the able manner in which the toast of the Army has been proposed, and the cordiality with which it has been received, takes a great weight from my mind. You all as Englishmen are proud of the British Army, and, speaking as a soldier, I can assure you that we highly appre- ciate the good feeling and comradeship extended to us by the non-military portion of the population. In this town we have had frequently to acknowledge the kindness of the in- habitants, displayed by all classes, towards the regiment to which I have the honour to belong (or to command). We appreciate that feeling, and we shall all regret the inevitable severance of the friendly ties when the occasion unfortunately for us comes, as come it must. Gentlemen, I will not further waste your time by dwelling upon the Army. We try to do our duty, and when we are called to battle, you will find that the old esprit is still in the corps, and that the old pluck and the same brave heart is beneath the red coat, whatever be the facings, or whatever be the weapons of the wearers. I thank you, gentlemen, on behalf of my comrades and myself for the kind way in which you received the toast of the Army this evening. XVII. THE NAVT. [Proposed at a Semi-official Dinner.] Gentlemen, — It is my very agreeable duty to request you to drink the toast of the Navy, and to the audience I see before me I need not enter into any details concerning the splendid services rendered to the nation by the British Navy. From the days of Elizabeth, when the bold Drake and his companions went out to harass and finally to conquer the " Invincible Ar- mada,'' we can point to a roll of victory at sea extending far beyond that of any other nation. England was and is the Mistress of the Seas, and though happily we have not been engaged in any serious naval conflicts, who can doubt that when called upon the ironclad will repeat the successes of the old wooden walls of which we are so justly proud ? Gentlemen, the Navy, if you please, coupled with the name of . 28 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: XVIII. THB NAVY. {Response to the foregoing Toast.} Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I was quite unprepared for the honour done me in connect- ing my name with the toast of the Navy, and I regret for your sakes, as my hearers, that either my friend or was not called upon to respond, both those distinguished officers being more fitted than I to undertake an important duty, pleasant though it be. Gentlemen, our worthy chair- man has alluded to the services rendered by the British Navy in old days. Those were glorious days for England. But, gentlemen, if war should unhappily break out, there are still glorious days in store for England. We may enter upon a campaign, as we have done, unprepared, our organi- zation may be incomplete, but in the face of all difficulties, I will answer for it, the British sailor, whose light-heartedness is proverbial, will come to the front as cheerfully and as man- fully as ever. I have Uttle to add. The Navy is at present quite efficient and well manned. As an old hand I may re- gret the great advance of costly scientific mechanism for various purposes, a failure in which may leave us at the ■nercy of an enemy quite unexpectedly, but the hands on board are as ready as ever, and the ship won't strike up ; but in one way it will strike hard, and strike home ! Gentlemen, most cordially do I thank you on behalf of my colleagues ind myself for the toast of the Navy. XIX. THB VOLUNTEERS. [Bji a Vice-Chairman at a Social Meeting^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Although this is not an official occasion, I rise to propose a toast which I am sure you will all respond to with warmth. 3 mean the Volunteers of England — or perhaps I should say of the United Kingdom— to whose patriotism we owe in a great measure our security from invasion and our freedom from alarm. Some years ago you will remember there was a great scare, and we heard of Battles of Dorking and other mythical sensational engagements. The talented author of that pamphlet, the late Colonel Chesney, depicted the Volun- teers as behaving well. It was the unprepared condition of the country that would be, in the opinion of the writer, the great fear for England. Let Englishmen then be prepared for war if they wish peace to be secured. Not in making war or in interfering with other people's territories ; but let all Volunteers be good shots, perfect in discipline, and atten ffOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 29 tive to drill. I am glad to know from my own observations that our Volunteers are year by year increasing in efficiency, and would now be able to give a very good account of any enemy against whom, for the defence of the country, they may be called upon to act. Gentlemen, let us drink to the Volunteers of Great Britain. XX. REPLY TO THE TOAST OF "THE VOLUNTEERS. Mr. Chairman (or President) and Gentlemen, — In the presence of so many senior officers, and many o( the Regular Army, I may perhaps be excused for feeling somewhat diffident in returning thanks for the Volunteer Service. But there is one point upon which I have no hesitation in speaking, and that is the firm and universal feeling of patriotism existing amongst the Volunteers. I assure you they are second to none in their wish to defend their country, and to fight their country's battles if necessary. In many instances lately we have seen our Citizen Soldiers perform their duties with a precision which has called down high praise from His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief and other officers in the Service. When judging the Volunteers, we must remember that nine- tenths of them are engaged in mercantile or professional pursuits, and that they have arrived at the degree of excel- lence which they have attained by strict self-denial and by intelligent attention. There are hundreds of first-rate marks- men among them, and their general conduct in camp has been found very satisfactory. Public opinion, we know, in- fluences us all, and as a Volunteer [and as one who has seen military service in former years] I can speak with confidence of our Citizen Army, and I am convinced it will merit and appreciate any attention bestowed upon it. Gentlemen, in conclusion I thank you all heartily for the very kind manner the toast of the Volunteer Service has been proposed and received, and I trust it will continue to deserve your good opinion in the future. XXI. TOAST OF "THE MILITIA." [Proposed at a County Dinner by the Chairman^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — It is my duty, and I may add my pleasure, to propose to you a toast which is closely connected with the county in which we reside, and in the prosperity of which we are all interested. You wiU doubtless have anticipated me in my 30 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: announcement of the County Corps, and I hope you will all fill your glasses and presently unite with me in drinking the health of Colonel and the Officers and Men of the Royal Militia. The Regiment is, as you are aware, a very old- established one, and although the regulations of the Service do not permit of us seeing much of it, we would gladly see the Corps more frequently assembled, for it is composed of as fine a body of men, and as good "food for powder," as any regiment in the Service ; and we hope it will always continue in as good a state of discipline as it is at present. But before I sit down I must say a few words concerning the be- haviour of the men now embodied. We often read of attacks made by tipsy militiamen upon passengers, and of miscon- duct in the streets at night by men out "on pass." But I am glad in my official capacity as a magistrate to bear witness to the very few instances in which the enrolled rank and file have misconducted themselves. In such a large body oi men there must be some less well-conducted than others ; but owing to the County feeling, and the excellent discipline maintained by the Colonel and Officers, we welcome our County Regiment among us instead of dreading, as some towns do dread, the date of their enrolment. Gentlemen, I give you the toast of the Royal Militia, coupled with the name of [Lieut.-] Colonel . XXII. REPLY ON BEHALF OP THE MILITLA.. {By the Colonel (or Lieut.-Colonel) of the Corps.] Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — In response to the call made upon me by my friend Mr. , who has so kindly proposed the toast of the Militia, I rise to thank him and you for the flattering manner in which it has been brought before us and received. Gentlemen, 1 feel deeply grateful for the high opinion which has been ex- pressed concerning the efficiency of the Corps which I have the honour to command. I can truly say that the Regiment is ready and willing to go anywhere and do anything it may \e called upon to do. Were any extra troops required, I am sure the Royal Militia would at once volunteer for service [as it has done before], and carry the name of the County unstained, in battle if need be. My poor services have been referred to, but I need hardly tell you that with- out energetic assistance and esprit de corps no regiment can be kept together by any commanding officer. It is in a very great measure to the excellent company officers and non- HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 31 commissioned officers under my command, and, I will add, to the good conduct and zeal of the men, that the real efficiency of the Regiment is due. I am glad to hear such independent testimony to the character of the Corps, and I trust it will always deserve the title and prove worthy of the County with which it is associated. Gentlemen, on behalf of the Royal Militia, I thank you. XXIII. THE NAVY AND THE NAVAL RESERVE. [Pro- posed at a Public Dinner by the Chairman^ [Sir W. — and] Gentlemen, — The next toast on my list is one which [at a great Naval Station like this] is sure to command your attention, not because of the manner of its proposition, but because of the importance of the toast itself. The toast is the Royal Navy of England and the Naval Reserve. Gentlemen, in every sea, in every country in the world, you will find English ships and English sailors. In commerce, in ex- ploring expeditions, in pleasant days and, it may be, some- times in warlike attitude, you will find our sailors doing their duty, and, like the Marines, ready to do it again. We have had lately to lament several accidents, and the loss of many valuable lives in the Pacific and elsewhere. It is a new phase of the service in time of peace that explosions such as we have had should endanger our valued comrades' lives. But some of these accidents are, doubtless, due to the altered conditions of things. Modern Naval warfare is more scientific than of old. Bull-dog courage may be overcome by science, and electricity usurp the place of many brave hands ; but we know that in the Navy, and in the Reserve of officers and men, now employed in peaceful commerce, the same tenacity is to be found, and the Heart of Oak is only covered with armour. The oak is as hearty as ever, hide it as you may. The Navy and its Reserve, we know, will do their duty side by side when called upon. So, gentlemen, will you fill your glasses, and drink to the Royal Navy and the Naval Reserve. [Reply to the Foregoing Toast.} XXIV. THE NAVY AND NAVAL RESERVE. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,— Although an unworthy member of the noble profession which has been so generously toasted by you, I yield to none in my attachment for the Navy, and in the estimation 32 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: in which I hold it, and the splendid Reserve which so manfully assists the parent profession — if I may so designate it. It is not for me on this occasion to go into the question of the organization and efficiency of the Navy. As a member of the Service such criticism would be in bad taste, but I can speak for the officers and men who compose the crews of the ships. Fortunately our squadrons have been of late years confined to police duties, and we have had no engage- ment or loss of life. But I cannot help feeling that a day will come when all our energy and maritime strength will be needed. Then I trust and believe that we shall find our sailors as ready for action as ever they were, and I believe the Administration will see that our ships are in as good condition and as well equipped as the honour of our country demands. Ships and guns have all undergone changes ; the biggest gun or the thickest armour are now looked upon as the thing needful for the Navy. But we want cool heads and strong arms to man the guns, and those we possess in the Navy and the Naval Reserve. Come what may, you will, I assert, find the sailors ready for action, and prepared to defend their homes, their wives and sweethearts, whenever they may be called upon. Gentlemen, in the name of the Service and the Naval Reserve, I tender you our thanks for your reception of the toast. XXV. THE NAVAL VOLUNTEERS. [Proposed al a Count) Gathering^ Gentlemen, — As Chairman of this meeting, it has fallen to my lot to propose several toasts to you this evening. Under the varied circumstances, and looking to my capabilities, I may almost concur in the " Song of the Policeman," and adapt it to myself and say : " Taking one consideration with another, The CkairmaK's lot is not a happy one.'' But the toast I have now to ask you to honour fortunately requires little explanation. It is the Naval Volunteers of England. You can all appreciate the work done by Volun- teers. Many of you are, I believe, enrolled in various Corps, or in the Naval Volunteers. But let me tell those who are apt to decry Volunteers, that it is no light responsibility which our Citizen Soldiers and Sailors have undertaken. The Naval Volunteers have to undergo =» considerable ffOlV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 33 amount of hardship, and much application is absolutely necessary. Most of us like to sit down when our work is done and read, or amuse ourselves in various ways. But the Naval Volunteer has no such respite. He is off to drill on board his ship, or to his instructor, to prepare himself for the service he may be called upon to perform. Gentle- men, we owe much to our Navy and Reserve, and we owe much to our Naval Volunteers, who will always be ready to close up their brave ranks in support of old England and the Queen. Gentlemen, I ask you to unite and drink to the Naval Volunteers, coupling the toast, if you please, with the name of Captain [or Lieutenant ]. XXVI. THE NAVAL VOLUNTEERS. \Reply to the for e- going Toast.'] Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I believe brevity is generally regarded as the soul of wit, and I may premise that I am about to make, in that sense, a witty speech, for it shall be short. The Naval Volunteers, with whom I have the pleasure to be connected, will be very pleased to-morrow when they read of the kind way in which [our Chairman] has proposed the last toast. I can answer for them fearlessly from my experience of them, and I may add of some other Volunteers, that they are fully sensible of the prominent position they occupy, and are anxious to perform their duties in a manner second to none in smartness and devotion to the country. Some people affect to sneer at Volunteers. What is the whole Army and the whole Navy but an enrolment of Volunteers ? There is no press-gang, no conscription ; every soldier and sailor enlists voluntarily. The only difference is that one is paid for his services as in a profession — and not too well paid ; the citizen soldier gives his time to learn drill and habits of discipline when his daily work is done. We look up to the sister Services to set us an example we will endeavour to follow ; and when duty and the country calls us, I trust — indeed I have no doubt — tha we shall be found worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers and sailors as Englishmen should do. XXVII. THE VOLUNTEERS. [Proposed at a» Official Dinner by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman^ My Lords and Gentlemen, — It is my pleasing duty now to propose to you a patriotii toast which will find response from all present, and find at. 34 SPEECHES AND TOAS'tB- echo outside of these walls — I mean the Volunteer Force. It has been my privilege to command many battalions of the Volunteers of late years, and speaking as a soldier I must candidly tell you that many corps are quite able to take their places alongside of our Regulars. Of course they have faults, but when we look back upon the number of years which the Volunteers have now been in existence, despite a good deal of unofficial and ofBcial criticism and some un- deserved ridicule, I think we may fairly be proud of the Force. It is no " feather-bed " soldiering, I can tell you. When Volunteei Regiments go into camp they have to perform their duties equally with the regular troops. When Volunteer Batteries have gone to Shoeburyness they have always proved themselves artillerists of high calibre, and [my friend Col. ] the Commandant of the School of Gunnery can testify to the uniform good behaviour and soldierlike bearing of the Volunteers. All this work we must remember is done from patriotic motives, at a con- siderable loss of holiday time, and at great expense. Some officers, I am sorry to say — chiefly young officers, it is true — have in my hearing used contemptuous terms respect- ing the Volunteers. I must confess, without instituting any comparison, that I think many volunteers occupy their spare time quite as wisely as many military officers ; they are not deficient in intellect, and are capable of good work. The fact that they may never be wanted to fight is no argument against their existence ; and it is all the more to their credit to keep up, and even to increase, their efficiency as they are doing. We have lately seen the Volunteers paraded before Her Majesty at Windsor. I am sure no one who had opportunities of judging of the Force there could have enter- tained a doubt that in those battalions of trained marksmen we had a most valuable reserve. We have, unfortunately in one sense, but in my opinion fortunately for the country, had a severe lesson in Africa in this question of shooting. The Boers were only Volunteers, and yet by steadiness and shooting they overthrew our seasoned troops. What Dutch Volunteers can do, English Volunteers can do, if properly led. And that leads me to another point — but which perhaps I need not insist upon now — viz., the necessity of the soldiers having confidence in their officers. The officers should learn to handle their men and to make the best use of them, not forgetting they are dealing with intelligent material ; while the rank and file must in all cases be obedient and strict in discipline. Obedience is the first duty of the BOfV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 35 soldier. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have the welfare oi the Force at heart. I recognize its efficiency and usefulness, and I ask you to drink to the Volunteer Force of Great Britain, coupled with the name of a very distinguished officer, viz., Col. [the Hon.] . XXVIII. THE VOLrrNTBBBS. [Reply to foregoiiig by Senior Volunteer OfficerI\ Sir W B — ^(Chairman), my Lords, and Gentlemen, — The kind, considerate, and very handsome way in which Col. has just proposed the health of the Volunteer Force, and the hearty manner in which all present have responded to his invitation to the toast, has touched me deeply. I have been associated with the Volunteer move- ment from its infancy, and am glad to hear such kindly sentiments respecting the organization from so qualified a judge and such an experienced commander as Col. . The words he has used will be eagerly read and carefully treasured by thousands of our Citizen Army. The kind recognition of their merit, and the no less kindly advice bestowed, will be fully appreciated. Gentlemen, the Volun- teers are a fine body of men, numbering many tens of thou- sands. We can put 100,000 men in the field for service if necessary, and such a number of drilled troops, with arms which they are accustomed to use, would tell for something in a campaign. We are glad that the Volunteers are being recognized. Such recognition will increase their patriotism and devotion, and stimulate them to further exertion. I thank you heartily in the name of the Volunteers for the compliment that has been paid them this evening. XXIX. THE SERVICES. \Speech,in proposing the Services delivered by Sir F. Leighton at the Royal Academy^ Your Royal Highness, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — Next in order to the toasts in which we express our loving loyalty to the Queen and our loyal affection to Her Majesty's family, is that in which we drink to those Services which exist for the safeguarding of the Queen's dominions — " The Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces," A little realm controlling a vast empire, along the wide skirts of which war,' ever smouldering, leaps fitfully and too often into flame, a people which tolerates none but voluntary service, and places, not without effort, into the battle front a force which only the highest quality can make adequate to its needs, 36 SPEECHES AND TOASTS. must ever look with a deep and unfaltering interest on the small but famous army on which a burden of such responsi- bility is thrown. And Englishmen, turning back to the not unchequered records of the year which divides this gather- ing from our last, will recall with proud satisfaction a feat of arms not readily to be surpassed, I believe, in our military annals, whether for the prudent audacity of its conception or the brilliant thoroughness of its achievement — I mean the now famous march from Cabul to Candahar ; but they will also recall with gratification incidents of devoted bravery shining out in and redeeming a less bright page in that record — gallant resistance unto the death, where death only could be reaped, and more than one heroic struggle round a threatened flag, as if to prove to us once more what incentive to high deed lives ever in the folds of that hallowed symbol of a nation's honour. Unlike the Army, the Navy recorda an uneventful year ; but the country preserves an unshaken faith that in this period of its rest our fleet is gathering up accumulated strength, and that the day of action, when it comes, will find it, as ever, equal to its task and worthy of its fame. With these Services our toast couples as usual the Reserve Forces, the Militia and the Volunteers, in the ranks of which force Art is, I venture to hope, not discreditably represented. For the land forces I have once again the honour to turn to his Royal Highness the Field- Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, and for the Navy I am permitted to call on the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Earl of North- brook. I give you " The Army, the Navy, and the Reserve Forces." XXX. SPEECH BY THE DUKE OF OAMBBIDGE IN REPLY. Sir Frederick Leighton, your Royal Highness, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — I have so often been called upon to respond to this toast that I feel rather embarrassed by the position I annually occupy, fearing I should say very much what I said before. It is always a great satisfaction to those connected with the Army to feel that they are remembered on these occasions by so distinguished an assembly, composed of men of various shades of opinion and occupying a high position in the dif- ferent walks of life which they adorn. It shows the senti- ment which for so many years has pervaded the general public of this country, and which I trust will ever continue HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 35 for it has much to do with the good feeling and efficiency of the Service with which I have the honour to be connected. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has alluded to the gaps occasioned by the removal of some whom we were wont to meet at this anniversary. No one more deeply deplores than I do the death of that great statesman who has recently been taken from among us, but it is very satisfactory to find that such an admirable portrait of him has been secured by Mr. Millais, which will, I have no doubt, be a source of great and permanent interest. With respect to the Army, I may be allowed to say that in a country such as this — which is in no respect a military nation, but following commerce and trade, and seeking prosperity and the various advantages of life which our free constitution gives us — we have no con- scription. We have, therefore, a very small army, and it has great and onerous duties to perform in various parts of the world. The expenditure upon such an army is infinitely greater than is necessary for an army of conscription. In time of peace, therefore, the expenditure is kept at the lowest figure, and when any difficulty or emergency arises it be- comes necessary to bring up the efficiency of the Service to the highest point. Therein hes a great difficulty of the Ser- vice, and I, therefore, think it wrong when severe criticism is indulged not quite in accord with the general views and principles which pervade this great nation. The Volunteei forces exhibit in a remarkable manner the spirit of the country. These forces are entirely civil, and are brought together by the determination of Englishmen to meet any emergency that may arise. Of these the Artists' Corps is one of the smartest and most efficient. I am glad of the opportunity of paying this tribute to them. The MiUtia is also a most valuable force. In conclusion, I will only beg again to thank you for the kind reception you have given to the toast. XXXI. REPLY FOB THE NAVY BY LORD NORTH BROOK. Sir Frederick Leighton, your Royal Highnesses, my Lords, and Gentlemen, — In behalf of Her Majesty's Navy, I thank you for the Aonour you have done them. As you, Sir Frederick, have rightly said, there are no particular circumstances which seem to call for any special remarks connected with the Navy to-night, and I turn, therefore, gladly to the associa- 38 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: tions of the Navy with this distinguished society. The same causes that have produced the maritime power of our country, and which secure to the toast of the Navy an affec- tionate welcome in every assembly of Englishmen, have constantly and naturally directed the attention of our artists to naval subjects. Mr. Ruskin has eloquently described the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of adequately representing, to use his own words, "the wild, furious, fantastic, tame unity of the sea ; " but we may, I think, accept the praise that he bestowed on the efforts, in that direction, of British artists. Turner and Stanfield have left behind them works of genius which will ever associate their names with the ex- ploits of the British Navy. The works of Edward Cook, too, are justly appreciated for many reasons, but, perhaps, par- ticularly for the faithfulness and delicacy with which he has drawn and painted every manner of craft, from a line-of- battle ship to a Thames wherry. I am afraid that the forms of our modern men-of-war are not so picturesque as those which roused the eloquence of Canning and inspired the brush of Turner ; but as we expect that the officers and men of the Navy will show the same qualities in the new as in the old ships, and meet the new conditions of naval war- fare with their wonted success, so we may hope that the members of the Academy will have little difficulty in the artistic treatment of our modern ships, and main-taining suc- cessfully the position which that branch of art holds in the school of British painting. SECTION 11. TOASTS ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL. The Church and her Dignitaries. A CONSECRATION. XXXII. JHB CHURCH AND OUB BISHOP. [Proposedby the Chairman at a Consecration Banguet.l Gentlemen, — The toast I have first to propose to you is one in which, as Christians and as Englishmen, you will have anticipated. We have to-day been assisting at a ceremony which is at once solemn and interesting. We have been engaged in the work of Consecration — an act in which our most worthy Bishop has performed, with the appreciation and with the prayers of you all. We have consecrated another edifice to the glory of God and of His Church — a Church against which all the waves of discontent will never prevail — the Church of England. But it is with the building we have been con- cerned : it is with the building I will more directly confine my remarks. Our earliest recollections and experiences have been associated with the Church. We have been ad- mitted as children of Christ at the font. We have played beneath the shadow of the tower or spire. We have fre- quented the church, let us hope, with profit. We have knelt at the altar in our youth and on a very important occasion in our maturer years. The associations of the Church, even those of the churchyard, are pleasing to us, if tinged with a natural regret for those who have only gone before us, re- ceived into the true and blissful Church Triumphant. And in connection with the Church our worthy and beloved Bishop occupies a foremost position, not only for his attain- ments, but for the usefulness of his revered office, and the eloquent example and the never-ending sermon of that holy life he leads, as an example for us all. It needs no words of mine to echo his praise. We must all cherish an instinc- 40 . 'SPEECHES AND TOASTS: live reverence for our Church ; we must all revere her bishops. Gentlemen, will you please unite with me in the toast of the Church of England and the Bishop of this Diocese. XXXIII. THE CLERGY. {Proposed by the Chairman at a County Dinner^ Gentlemen, — There is, I am sure, no more welcome toast to those I see before me this evening than that I am about to propose, viz., the health of our respected Bishop and of the Clergy of this Diocese. Of the latter I see a goodly sprinkling, and it is with satisfaction that we note the presence of so many of our clergy at the innocent social gatherings and meetings in our county. As a body of gentlemen they commend themselves highly to our friendship, as ministers of religion that have proved themselves able exponents of its truths. I am sure therefore that, acknowledging them as we do, you will honour the toast of the Bishop and Mre Clergy of the Diocese with enthusiasm and heartfelt regard. Gentlemen, the Bishop and his Clergy. XXXIV. THE VICAR OP THE PARISH. \At an Agri- cultural Dinner^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Before I propose any of the miscellaneous toasts of the evening, I call upon you all to fill your glasses and drink the health of our worthy Vicar and his coadjutors in the good work of this large parish. We have all at one time or the other, I hope, felt the consolations of religion in our places in church ; but our acquaintance with the Vicar and his as- sistants does not end here. In our homes we are glad to welcome our Clergy quite apart, but not disconnected, from their holy office. They sympathize with us in our misfor- tunes and console us in our bereavements. Our Clergy re- joice with us in our mirth as well as weep with us in our sadness. We are glad to see them here to-night, and the Vicar, as you all know, is a man who has the agricultural prosperity of the county at heart, who interests himself greatly in the progress of agricultdre within our borders, I may say, and finds fresh fields for his energy continually. Gentlemen, I give you the toast of the Vicar and the Curates — men v.'ho have faithfully put their hands to the plough, and who are not looking back, but forward to the great prize they hope to win. ITOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE TREM. 41 XXXV. RESPONSE OF THE VICAR TO THE FORE- GOING. [0« behalf of himself and his Curates^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I cannot plead that I am unaccustomed to public speaking, as you are all by this time awar§. But while thanking our worthy chairman for his kind speech in proposing, and thanking you for your reception of the toast (on behalf of myself and my fellow-workers), I will be as brief as possible. Long speeches as well as long sermons are wearisome. Your chairman has eloquently alluded to our efforts in the parish, ajid I may say that a great deal of the success and social reception we meet with is due to our parishioners themselves. We may be all that is desirable — I don't say we are not, mind ! — but I think a great deal is due to the kindness and the sympathy we meet with. We are thereby encouraged to do our very best, with God's assistance, to promote the welfare and happiness of our friends and parishioners gene- rally. We are, I am glad to say, an united parish. It is extremely gratifying to me to add a religious and well-con- ducted parish. Your liberality has enabled us to do a good deal, and we hope some day to do more for the com- munity around us, with your help. I am very much in- terested in the material welfare of the parish, as well as in its moral condition. I am of opinion that cleanliness should walk hand in hand with godliness, that minds and hearts as well as houses and drainage works should all be attended to. Providence will help those who help them- selves in endeavouring to turn the means and blessings He has bestowed upon us to the best uses. Prayer and work should be associated. The farmer who begged Hercules to assist him to move his cart without himself attempting to drag the wheels from the mud was acting in a spirit contrary to a great moral law. He was told to "put his shoulder to the wheel" — and that is what we must all do. I have already detained you too long, so I will only add my thanks to you all for your kind reception of the toast oi^ behalf of myself and my co-workers in the Church. XXXVI. THE OLEBQY OF THE DISTRICT. \_At a Hospitat Dinneri\ Gentlemen, — I must ask your indulgence for a few moments while I propose to you a toast to the health of no one individual, but several hard-working gentlemen who risk their lives daily i2 SPEECffES AND TOASTS. and hourly in the service of the suffering and the poor. I refer to the Clergy of this district, without distinction oi creed, who in our town, and in our Hospital particularly, minister to the spiritual wants of those who need consolation. AH present are supporters of the charity, and as such I see 1 am addressing individuals of many shades of opir.ion. We are all I hope Christians, and it is as Christians, not as sec- tarians, that I call upon you to unite with me in the toast We call ours a Samaritan Hospital : we accommodate the wayfarer, and him who has no friend. Let us emulate the charity of the Good Samaritan, and join heartily in thanking the Clergy and Ministers and Priests of all denominations for their attention during the year. Gentlemen, in the true spirit of tolerance and charity I propose to you the Clergy of the District. SECTION III. THE LEGISLATURE. HODSES OF Parliament — Lords and Commons — Locai Members. XXXVII. THE HOUSE OF LORDS. [Proposed by i^i Chairman at a Public Dinner^ My Lords and Gentlemen, — The toast I have now the honour to propose to you is the House of Lords ; and though there are around me some who may object to the Hereditary chamber on principle, I venture to say that it will be a very sad day for England when the House of Lords no longer exists. We have in the Upper House men who have served their country long and faith- fully, who as Commoners have done good work for England, it may be in the State or in other ways, and who have been rewarded by a peerage. But on this occasion we have par- ticularly to honour a Member of their Lordships' House — one of the old aristocracy who has come amongst us this evening. In him we have a bright and excellent example of the land- lord and the magistrate, a peer and, above all, an English gentleman. With this toast of the House of Lords 1 call upon you all, gentlemen, to drink the health of the Right Honourable the Lord H . XXXVIII. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT — THE LORDS. {Reply by the Lord Chancellor^ My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — The first feeling which the association of the names ol Lords and Commons in one toast may suggest to our minds at the present time is, perhaps, one of contrast. Many here present, I dare say, can call to mind the lines of the Roman poet in which he speaks of a man standing on the sea-shore during a tremendous storm and seeing ships labouring in a 44 SPEECHES AND TOASTS. troubled sea, not, indeed, taking part in the struggle, but feeling some degree of gratification at being safe from it himself. I am afraid the feeling is not one altogether of gratification. We in the House of Lords may have little of these labours, and we may feel that the House of Commons, at the present time too at all events, has, perhaps, too much. But we feel still more that we are, after all, two Houses of one Parliament, which is the great Legislature of this great country ; that we have common duties and common interests, and that the work of the one is the work of the other ; and the troubles of one the other cannot but sympathize with. I was glad to hear the Lord Mayor speak of the House of Lords as a popular assembly. It is so in a very true sense. It is the representative of the great historical names by which the glories of this country have been illustrated. In this assembly and on this occasion one naturally thinks, in the first place, of the law and of justice, and of tracing the great names from the Foitescues of the times of the Plantagenets to the time of the Chelmsfords of our own day. The House of Lords has received from the ranks of the law many of its most illustrious members, and has retained them to do good service in all other ranks of society. And not only have such recruits been received from the law, but from commerce, from diplomacy, from among the army and navy, and from other branches of the public service ; and the result has been that though the House of Lords is free from the passing gusts of popular opinion, although the principle of stability — I prefer that word to one which has party associations, yet has a good sense, the word Conservatism — is somewhat largely and preponderatingly represented in that assembly, yet you may depend on it that the sympathies of the House of Lords are on the whole for the people. They understand the wants and will defer to the well-considered judgment of the people. I rejoice that we have in the House of Lords an institution by means of which the present can be at once reverential to the past and mindful of the interests of the future. It is certainly a remarkable thing that the very great power possessed in the House of Lords by the representatives of what is called Conservative opinion in the country has seldom, if ever, been unreasonably or unwisely used. At the present critical period and at this anxious time it is impos- sible not to feel intensely desirous that the House of Lords shall be still more distinguished by that characteristic, and J confidently believe that so it will be. ffOU' TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 45 XXXIX. HER MAJESTY'S MINISTERS. [Proposed by the Lord Mayor. ] My Lords and Gentlemen, — From men who pursue their peaceful ways aloof from the storm and gusty turmoil of political strife, a deep debt is due to those who, casting their lot on that troubled sea, guide, in the Queen's name, the steaming vessel of the State. A warm sense of that debt is expressed in the toast I now offer to you— "The Health of Her Majesty's Ministers." That it requires no comment I rejoice the more that 1 may therefore the sooner make way for the illustrious statesman on whom I am privileged to call for response, and whom it is our great pride to claim as an honorary officer of this body — an orator in whose transforming mind the most arid topics acquire a grace, and whom an occasion and surroundings such as the present cannot fail to stir to eloquent words. And here I should, amid ordinary circumstances, resume my seat. To- night I should not be satisfied, nor would my colleagues pardon me, if I left unexpressed a feeling which this toast evokes in our minds, as in those, probably, of all who are here present. The wonted toast of " Her Majesty's Min- isters " reminds us, in sadness, of a great Prime Minister whose voice, often heard in response to it, is now hushed in the grave. It will be long before the imaginations of men, whatever their political creed, cease to be fascinated by the memory of a career so unique and so striking, or to dwell with admiration on gifts so rare and manifold, on a will so calm in its strength, on a purpose so steadfast and so rich in resources. But my toast is to the living, and not to the dead, and I now turn once again to the great living statesman to whom the answer to this toast belongs. I give you the health of Her Majesty's Ministers, coupled with the name of the Right Honourable . XL. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. My Lords and Gentlemen, — The next toast is one of great importance, and one that should be welcomed by every Englishman. I propose to you " The House of Commons," an institution of which per se we are as a nation proud. I am far from saying that the present or late behaviour of some members of that Assembly might not be more mindfial of the dignity of the House. We have all — no matter what our political creed — we have all been shocked at certain scenes which have taken place 46 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: within tnose classic walls, and regretted that the repose and dignity of our National Chamber should have been so dis- turbed. But as one swallow does not make a summer, so a few discontented obstructionists cannot destroy the character of the House of Commons as a National Representative Assembly. The responsibility of each Member of the House is great. He is the mouthpiece of his constituents, and the exponent of their views and grievances, it they be legitimate. To-night we welcome here amongst us a very distinguished member, whose name I am permitted to couple with this toast. I mean the Hon. Member for , whose efforts have been so usefully directed to the improvement and main- tenance of , and we may add so successfully employed for the benefit of . Gentlemen, I wish to propose to you " The House of Commons," coupled with the name of the Hon. Member for , Mr. . XLI. SPEECH OP THE HOME SECRETARY. I feel that the honour of replying in this place for the House of Commons would have more properly fallen upon your distinguished townsman, the senior member for Derby, whose munificence to this town we are met to celebrate to-day. But you are aware how, in his advanced and honoured years, it is impossible he should be present to- night. You know he is present with you in spirit, and I am certain that your hearts are with him. But, whenever the day of battle arrives — whenever there is a pinch in the House of Commons and Mr. is wanted, he is always to be found in his place. Well, gentlemen, Mr. , with all the grace and the wit of an accomplished orator, has managed delicately to propose the House of Commons, coupled with the name of one who belongs to a different political party from himself. I have long watched with admiration and expectation the coming future of Mr. , and you may depend upon it we old stagers, as we go about the country, have an eye to the two-year-olds, and we can form a good judgment as to their future running. We are glad that both parties in the State have such men of character and ability upon whom they may depend. But if I may give him a word of advice it would be to make a little more use of his present opportunities before he gets into that place in which his friiends assure him in the future he will not be allowed to speak. There is no knowing what may happen when he reaches that place, and therefore I wish he had addressed us more at length to-night. Among the proposals that have }fOtV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 47 been made is one for which I have not any official opinion, but for which I have a great personal sympathy, and that is that no man should be allowed to speak for more than ten minutes. There are very tew subjects upon which most men cannot say all that is necessary in ten minutes. If people would only take pains when they have a good case to leave out adjectives, and when they have a bad case to leave out the substantives, it is really wonderful how they could com- press their oratory. We have been endeavouring in the House of Commons in a November Session to do something to improve its habits. Some people have blamed the Government very much for calling Parliament together in November. Well, the last thing, you may depend upon it, the Government would do, would be to desire to meet in November after six months of unwearied and wearisome labour, with a prospect of an early repetition of the same life, with the duty of preparing their measures in the interval. You may depend upon it that nothing would have induced men in that position to impose upon themselves such an additional burden, except from a deep conviction that there was a paramount and overwhelming necessity for it. Do not be afraid ; I do not wish to alarm any one ; and I am perfectly aware that notbing could be in worse taste than the introduction of controversial topics. It would be an abuse, Mr. Mayor, of your munificent hospitality. At the same time, the health of the House of Commons has been proposed, and I may be, perhaps, allowed within the limits of ten minutes to say a word or two as to the objects on which they are occupied without offending the susceptibilities of any man, whatever his political opinions. Well, the strong conviction which induced the Government to call upon the House of Commons for an extraordinary effort was the result or belief well founded, as I believe, that the House of Commons was becoming incapable of transacting effect- ually the work of the country, and, therefore, if any measure could tend to retrieve its reputation and to sustain its credit, it was worthy of any effort which men intrusted with public duties could make to fulfil that task. I ask you to believe this, because it was true that no man could approach the consideration of the question less in a party spirit than my- self. We have nevsr desired it to be considered as a party question, but it was extremely difficult in the country with its political habits to prevent any great public question of interest from ranging itself on the lines of the contending parties. There is an especial reason why those who com- 48 SPEECHES AND TOASTS ■ mand a majority in the House of Commons should take an interest in the matter, because the majority in the House of Commons are responsible to the country for the conduct of its business, and if things go wrong it is they who are blamed. I have no particular affection for majorities as a rule, though I should always like a majority in the borough of Derby. I have spent a great part of my life in minorities, and, I might say, perhaps the pleasantest part of my life, for 1 have always found a seat on the left of the Speaker's chair far more comfortable than one on the right. Then, let it not be supposed that, because they happen now to be in a majority, the Government have no interest in, and no care for, the rights and for the interests of the minorities. They have been in Opposition, and they will be in Opposition again. Perhaps one of these fine days we may meet Mr. and his friends and fight with the gloves off. The Government has been charged with an attempt to stifle Parliamentary discussion, and I have heard people say that even Mr. Gladstone wished to put down debate. I should certainly be surprised to find people desirous of putting an end to a game of which they are the master, and fcr Mr. Gladstone to enter into a conspiracy to put an end to free discussion is just as reasonable as to suppose that Mr. Bass had entered a conspiracy to put down bitter beer. The late Lord Beaconsfield once said to me — and that remarkable man, I remember, had the force of genius in his private con- versations — that he had often observed that the greatest suffering that people endured is in the anticipation of evils that never occur. That is a lesson not to be too doleful ; not to be always imagining things are going to the bad ; but, as far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, they believe that things are decidedly going to be better, and, therefore, I certainly trust that all the apprehensions with which we are sometimes entertained will prove vain and unfounded, and that the House of Commons will be, as it always has been, one of the mainstays of the greatness of England, and that its reputation will not be diminished, but enhanced, when it becomes more capable of attending to die affairs of this unequalled empire. XLII. THE MEMBERS FOR THE BOROUGH. {Proposed by the Chairman.'] Gentlemen, — 1 must ask your attention once again, and all the less diffidently as I know you are all ready to respond to tlie HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 49 toast of the Borough Members. These gentlemen have now represented us in Parliament for years, and during that time I think we may fairly say that they have attended with diligence and ability to our interests, whether as Conserva- tives or Liberals. We need not make any party observations upon this occasion. Let us agree to differ in politics. Each party has a good representative, and although I am a Con- servative [Liberal] in my views I can sympathize and respect other people's opinions,'to which they are as much entitled as I am entitled to mine. So, gentlemen, I think we can all meet upon the neutral groand of our Borough Members. We are all members one of another, and let us unite as members of the same body in doing honour to our represen- tatives, Messrs. and . Gentlemen, the " Borough Members," who have always assisted us in every local charity, and in our sports and pastimes. XLIIL THE COUNTY MBMBEBS. [Proposed by the Chairman at a Dinner to them!\ Gentlemen, — I now come to the toast of the evening, and I must ask you all to fill your glasses so as to do full honour to the toast — " Our County Members." We have had a stormy session, and after the turmoil and worry of Parliament oui Members have kindly come among us to give us — one of them put it to me just now — an account of their stewardship. I think we are all agreed that the stewardship they hold should not be exchanged for that of the " Chiltein Hundreds." We have noticed, and we shall always, I may add, shall fearlessly continue to notice, all that goes on in Parliament ; but when we entrusted our interests to Messrs. and , we did so in full and entire confidence — a confidence which has never been misplaced. Not only that, but we believe that our representatives have the welfare of the com- munity at heart. That they have the welfare of us, their fellow-townsmen and fellow-countrymen, at heart we are satisfied. They have watched over us ; they have come amongst us on several occasions lately, and shown the interest they take in our schools and in our sports, in our various manufactures and in our holidays. They have gained our votes, and we trust they will long live to re- present the old County in Parliament. I might say a great deal more respecting our representatives, socially and 50 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: politically, but their acts are patent to us all, and you will, 1 am sure, endorse the proposal I have to make, and drink their health with all the honours. Gentlemen, the Members for the County of . XLIV. PROPOSING A CANDIDATE FOB ELECTION, \By the Chairman of the Meeting^ Gentlemen, — I have the pleasure to introduce to you this evening our respected friend and townsman, Mr. , a Candidate to represent the Liberal \or Conservative] interests of this town in Parliament. You have all probably taken an opportunity to study the address which he put forth, and therefore I need not read it now. I may say, however, that it seems to me straightforward and fair. He knows what we want, and, gentlemen, I think from what we know of Mr. 's opinions, of his integrity and determination, that he 'is the man we want. We wish to see abolished, and a Bill for intioduced. Mr. has pledged himself to look after our interests in both these matters. Mr. is a true Conservative \pr Liberal], and has the v.'elfare of the party at heart. Gentlemen, I call upon you, as Chairman, for a show of hands, and the expression of your wishes towards ^Ir. , whom J will now introduce to you, that you may have an opportunity to hear from his own mouth his senti- ments and views upon the great topics of the day ; and any questions you may put, I am quite sure Mr. will answer fully to your satisfaction. Gentlemen, I have the honour to introduce to your notice Mr. , as a fitting and proper person to represent you in Parliament. XLV. ANOTHER ON A SIMILAR OCCASION. Gentlemen, — Having been moved to the chair, although somewhat un expectedly, I will now proceed to the business of the evening, and will not detain you long in stating my case. I have great pleasure in introducing to you Mr. , as one of our Candidates for the Borough of , and I feel assured that those amongst you who have perused his address will feel very little doubt that he is the person we require to look after our interests. The Borcugh is increasing in prosperity and in extent. We require some representative who will move with the times, and secure to us the advantages and jrOfV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 51 privileges of which, in an ever-increasing community, we may stand in need. Mr. is pledged to support the — — interest, which is largely represented by us, and the questions of , and now occupying public attention, will be more particularly looked after by him. He is moreover a true Liberal \or Conservative] in his views, a party-man 'tis true, and a strict adherent to his principles ; but he will not permit any bigoted adherence to party politics to blind him to the general interests of the trade of the town, or to the wel- fare of the inhabitants. He approves of the policy of the Ministry, and will give you his views upon the Irish and the Eastern questions, which appear to me to be strongly leavened with good practical common sense, and display an ac- quaintance with both subjects which is necessary, but some- what unusual to the hand and glove politician. It would be impertinent in me to detain you longer. Mr. will now take the opportunity to explain his views, and commending him cordially to your attention I will now retire, thanking you for the patience with which you have listened to me. SECTION IV. LEGAL. Her Majesty's Judges — The Lord Lieutenant of thi County — The Magistrates. XLVI. HER MAJESTY'S JUDGES. My Lords and Gentlemen, — The task that has been assigned me this evening is a very important one, and I am greatly troubled in my mind how to execute it. Executions are not much in my line, as you are aware, and therefore I am scarcely prepared to execute " Her Majesty's Judges," which is the toast I have to propose. This diffidence and hesitation on my part does not in any way arise from a want of material for eulogy. If talents could be conveyed by the subjects of a toast to the person proposing it, I know I should display an eloquence which would astonish by its brilliancy those unacquainted with my ordinary hesitancy of speech. But this cannot be. Gentlemen, — I have to propose to you in all seriousness, and with every sentiment of respect and admiration, the health of Her Majesty's Judges. We regret that has been prevented attending this evening on account of ; but when we see such illustrious men before us as , and , and , we feel that Justice is indeed well represented in this company, and, what is more important, upon the Judicial Bench. Perhaps some of you here present envy the distinguished and thrice honourable position attained by Her Majesty's Judges. But even the Woolsack may be stuffed with thorns, and the head that wears a wig may lie as uneasily as " the head that wears a crown." Need I recall to your minds, or appeal to your imagination, to picture the tremendous responsibility which devolves upon a Judge. He is the arbiter of life and death. He must be clear, cool, and decided. The weaknesses of other men are not for him. He must sit out the most wearying trial, balance evidence, rule and determine knotty points of Gordian complexity. He must be attentive to all, courteous and ready to reply to any doubtful questions, and this from day to day. To note, SPEECHES AND TOASTS: 53 sum up, and lead a jury to a decision in a long case, is no light work for the best of men, such as we cannot doubt are represented upon the Bench of the United Kingdom. My Lords and Gentlemen, I am so conscious of the want oi ability in me to do justice to the Judges, that I must pray your indulgence for my temerity in accepting such an honour when suggested to me, and which I have so weakly borne. But I am sure you will credit me with all sincerity when 1 call upon you to honour most heartily the toast which needed no words from me to commend to you — "The Health of Her Majesty's Judges." XLVII. THE LORD LIEUTENANT OF THE COUNTY. {Proposed by the Chairman^ Gentlemen, — Next to the Loyal toasts which you have honoured, I have to propose the health of the Lord Lieutenant of this County, . It scarcely needs my voice to assure him ol the estimation in which he is held. We who live in the neighbourhood hear so much of his kindness and benevo- lence, of the manner in which he performs the duties ol landlord and neighbour, duties not merely social nor easy of accomplishment, so as to please, as he does, all with whom he comes in contact. We have had many opportunities of enjoying his kindness and condescension, and I am sure we wish him many more years in the exalted position he now holds. Gentlemen, let us drink Long Life and Happiness to the Lord Lieutenant, who by his influence and energy has done so much for the County and those living in it. We will not intrude any politics on such an occasion as this, but we know that ■ has always been staunch to his party, and even if we differ from him we must admire his con- sistency. " The Health of the Lord Lieutenant of the County of ." XLVin. THE MAGISTRATES. Gentlemen, — It is my privilege to-day to propose the health of the Magistrates of the County and Borough of ; and while I gladly comply with the request made of me, I cannot help expressing a wish that the task had fallen to other hands, and a more practised tongue. Fortunately, however, what I have to say has been no doubt anticipated by you all. We are all here aware of the estimation in which the Magistrates 54 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: are held, the general satisfaction with which their decisions are acknowledged, and the manner in which they devote themselves to a thankless office. The principles of justice are defended by everj' right-thinking member of society, and here we have the exponents of these principles, and by them we trust peace and happiness as well as truth will be established among us for generations. Those gentlemen who have undertaken the administration of our laws are well known to you all ; they have served the state before, they have done much good in their generation. They come before us representing the majesty of the law which we all respect, and so let us respect them as we respect their office. They are most disinterested in their efforts for our happiness. Socially and officially we regard them with goodwill and respect. Let us drink their healths in a bumper. " The Magistrates of the County of and the Borough of ." XL IX. THE LORD LIEUTENANT AND MAGISTRATES OF THE COUNTY OF . \Proposed by the Chair- man^ Gentlemen, — Once more I must claim your indulgence and a hearing, but I will not detain you longer than is necessary to bring to your notice a very important toast, and one that I am sure you will all unite with me in drinking with very great pleasure. I mean the health of the Lord Lieutenant and the Magistrates of the County. We are most of us aware of the varied duties these gentlemen who hold responsible positions have to perform. Their positions are no hidden positions. They stand out against the sky-line of public duty, as it were, and all their actions, by observation and report in the papers, are brought clearly before us at the bar of popular opinion. Under such circumstances as these it would indeed be astonishing if they contrived to please everybody, and I would be claiming for these gentlemen an immortality they would be the last to claim were I to say that they always pleased everybody. Such a course is manifestly impossible. Human opinions differ— many men, many minds ; but if you will consider a moment I think you will agree with me that the actions of our Magistrates have always met with the approval of the large majority of those who have heard the way in which their duties are performed, and that justice and mercy are well balanced in their judicial minds. The ffOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 55 eminently successful manner in which the Lord Lieutenant has always carried out his duties, and the way in which his social qualities have made themselves felt, must be a cause of as great satisfaction to him as it is to us. His kindness and charity, the interest he takes in our county amusements and meetings, is very gratifying to all his neighbours, and those who know him only by name. Publicly and privately he is an ornament to the county, and I will ask you to drink the healths of — — , the Lord Lieutenant, and the Magis- trates present this evening, coupling the latter with the name of Mr. . L. THE COUNTY MAGISTRATES. {Reply for the Magis- trates.'] Gentlemen, — Your chairman has proposed in such very flattering terms the healths of myself and brother magistrates, that I feel somewhat at a loss to respond to his kind eulogium and the warm manner in which the toast has been received by all present. Your chairman has mentioned the almost universal satisfaction which my colleagues and myself have given in our interpretation of the law ; but when you come to look a little into the matter, I think you will see that it is not so much due to us as to the plain directions which we have received, and the assistance that has been rendered to us on so many occasions by those who have put the facts so clearly before us. There are certain punishments to be awarded, and we have to consider whether in our opinion the facts stated or elicited are to be interpreted in such and such a way. It tends materially to our assistance when we have a clear statement put before us, and then we have but to administer the law upon the principles of justice and mercy. It has been our privilege to act thus, and we are all, I ain sure, pleased to think that in so acting we have had the con currence of such men as our friends here, whose sound common sense and integrity render them very valuable critics. We have, at any rate, endeavoured to do our duty, regardless of pubHc opinion ; but when that opinion, valuable as it unquestionably is, supports us we feel very happy in having succeeded in gaining your applause. Gentlemen, in the names of my colleagues and myself I thank you heartily for the reception you have given the toast of the Magistrates of this county. 56 SFFKCBES AND rOASTS LI. REPLY BY ONE OF THE MAGISTRATES Gentlemen, — As the hour is waxing late I will not detain you. It is oui duty to see that people are not supplied with liquor after twelve o'clock, and therefore I must be brief in my remarks. I have to thank you, sir, and all the other gentlemen present, for the very kind way in which the toast of the Magistrates has been proposed and received. We have always endea- voured to bear in mind that justice must be blind and the quality of mercy not " strained." We have occasionally to sentence some very severely, and I am sure if any here were to listen to the moving tales we have to hear, and to put aside sympathy for the ill-used and often cruelly treated wife, the oft-tried and aggravated husband, the poor injured girl, and sometimes hardly used man or boy — if some here had to decide the widely differing stories told and sworn to, they would find it difficult to hold the balance fairly. You may depend upon it through the length and breadth of the land, though " hard cases " may occasionally crop up, the general tendency is not on the side of severity but of leniency. We do not forget that mercy is the true interpreter of justice, but there are cases in which experience teaches us that mercy would be misplaced and counted as fear. A suitable severity may frequently prevent crime. The law is only a terror for evil-doers. No honest citizen need fear the law, and therefore when it is found necessary to put the law severely in force it is pre-supposed that the offender is not an honest citizen — that he is an " old hand " and leniency will not serve. But there are cases when leniency is true mercy, when a caution will meet the case and prevent a repetition of the offence. This we can see by the temperament and condition, the bringing up and surroundings of the accused. So when you hear of "Justices' justice" put yourselves in their places, hear the evidence in the mass, and then decide for yourselves whether you would not, knowing all they know, have done likewise. Gentlemen, I will not longer detain you, I again thank you very heartily for the manner in which the toast has been received. SECTION V. TOASTS SOCIAL. Weddings — Christenings — Birthdays — Fri en dly. LII. THE BBIDB AND BRIDEGROOM. Ladies and Gentlemen, — I must beg your kind attention for a few moments while 1 propose to you a toast which I know you will all honour with great and heartfelt pleasure — with as much pleasure as it gives me to propose it, and I assure you that is saying a good deal. I mean, as you have already guessed — Health and happiness to the Bride and Bridegroom. We have this day assisted at a ceremony, perhaps the most interesting, as it certainly is one of the most solemn, ceremonies of our social life. Two young people have just now in our presence united themselves for better and for worse, for richer for poorer, till death do part them. May their lives be so guided and their path so laid for them that no evil thing nor poverty come near them, and that their loving hands united for many years may keep death at bay. Ladies and gentle- men, young men and maidens, if this is a solemn occasion it is also a joyful one. We have around us many smiling and merry faces — some happy in the recollection of their experience, others, I may perhaps say, happy in the antici- pation. Gentlemen, when I look upon your fair partners, the bridesmaids, I envy you. Never had young men such a chance ; and if the ladies are half as good as they look you should have no hesitation — or rather, perhaps you will have great hesitation — in making a selection, when all are so charming. But now I ask you all to fill your glasses, and standing up drink to the health, long life, and happiness of Mr. and Mrs. . May their years be happy and their closing days far distant. May all matrimonial joys be theirs, and may we reckon them among our friends for many years to come. The health and happiness of the Bride and Bridegroom, if you please. ,8 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: LI 1 1. THE NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE. Ladies and Gentlemen, — I must call upon your attention for a moment, and though I am loth to interrupt any little confidences between the young gentlemen and their fair partners by proclaiming silence so suddenly, still I think they will excuse me, for I may not have another opportunity to say what I have to say, and I am sure they will. I have now to propose the health of the Newly Married Couple, and long life and happiness to them. This toast is not the mere formality it may in some cases appear. All of us present are acquainted with the Bride who is leaving us to-day, for what we are sure will prove a very happy home, with the husband of her choice. We all do not know him, but even those who have not the pleasure of his acquaintance — I say ' the pleasure ' advisedly — are certain that he must be a good fellow and an English gentleman, or our dear young friend, Miss , would not have selected him for her Ufe's partner. We all lose in her gain, but we are nevertheless happy in seeing her so happy, and we will rejoice with her to-day, hoping at no distant date to welcome her and her manly husband amongst us once again. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the toast — Health, long life, and happiness to Mr. and Mrs. ; and I say, from the bottom of my heart, God bless them ! LIV. ANOTHER ON A SIMILAR OCCASION. Ladies and Gentlemen, — I may say friends and neighbours, — It is my privilege to ask you to honour the toast of the day — the Bride and Bride- groom. If a long acquaintance with the young people who have this morning cast in their lot together can constitute a right to propose their health and prosperity, I think I cer- tainly have a claim. I have known them pretty well aU their young lives, and no one rejoices more truly than I do to see their happiness thus assured. They love each other wisely and well. Tliey, I am glad to say, have every prospect of true happiness — the love and esteem of a very large circle of friends, and enough of worldly goods to bestow. The Bride- groom has the satisfaction of feeling th.Tt he is envied by all the young men in the parish ; and the Bride is perhaps con- scious that many young ladies regard her with as envious eyes as such an unselfish nature as hers could allow to exist, and as much jealousy as the regard all have for her will permit any lady to feel. But this indeed is a very small HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 59 mattar ; we may envy, but do not grudge her and her husband the happiness we are certain they will find together. We wish them a long and happy life, with silver and golden wedding-days in store for them surrounded by those they love. Ladies and gentlemen, I need not insist upon your responding heartily to the toast as you all feel as I do. May every blessing and happiness attend the Bride and Bridegroom, and long life to them ! LV. RESPONSE OF THE BRIDEGROOM. Mr. , and Ladies and Gentlemeu, — My dear wife and I are extremely obliged to you for the very kind and friendly manner in which our health has been just proposed and received. I am sure I do not deserve all the good things that have been said of me, but I will try to deserve them, and to be worthy of the great treasure which Mr. and Mrs. have committed to my care. I trust you will pardon the imperfection of my speech — the novelty of my position as a Bridegroom will perhaps plead for my embarrassment ; but I am deeply sensible of your kindness, and my dear wife wishes me to thank you most heartily and affectionately for your kind expressions and good wishes towards her. I can say no more than that I sincerely thank you all for your kindness in drinking our health. LVI. REPLY BY THE BRIDEGROOM, INCLTJDINQ A PROPOSED TOAST OF "THE BRIDESMAIDS." Ladies and Gentlemen, — I rise with great diffidence after the very high terms in which the health of my dear wife and myself have been proposed, for I am sure I cannot properly thank my friend Mr. , nor you, ladies and gentlemen, for the very kind way in which you have responded to the toast, and for your generous good wishes for our happiness. I am sure / shall be happy, and I will do my utmost to make my wife so ; so that she may look back upon this day without regret at having left her home, and in a measure, also, so many loving relatives and kind friends. We both thank you greatly, and highly appreciate all the tokens of regard you have showered upon us. But before I sit down I have to propose to you a toast. There are some young ladies here to whom my wife is greatly indebted, and to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for preparing her for the hymeneal altar this morning. I mean, 6o SPEECHES AND TOASTS: of course, the Bridesmaids. These young ladies have added a grace to the ceremony and a beauty to this assembly which is acknowledged by all, and in my wife's name and my own I thank them for their invaluable attention, trusting that ere long they may each and all be in the happy position to choose their own bridesmaids, and be as well supported as Mrs. has been this morning. Gentlemen, I am sure you will join me in drinking health and " speedy promotion" to the Bridesmaids to-day. LVII. RESPONSE TO THE TOAST OF THE BRIDES- MAIDS. \_By the Best Man.] Ladies and Gentlemen, — You see before you a fortunate and an unfortunate man — a sort of two single gentlemen rolled into one ! Fortunate in being the mouthpiece of so many charming young ladies ; unfortunate in being so unfitted to give their views and opinions due expression. I am sure they are all delighted to have been of use to-day. I can only guess at their feelings, never having served in a similar capacity ; but I am certain they are all pleased to see their old friend so happily married, and determined to follow such a good example when gentlemen turn up — after their own hearts ! Where the eyes of mankind have been I cannot tell ; but I confess it is not saying much for bachelor taste if they permit my fair friends to be bridesmaids again. For my own part I won't confess too much. You shall see — and now with this mysterious hint I will sit down again, thanking you for the very cordial manner in which the health of the Bridesmaids has been received, and I hope the bachelors will not permit such sweet blossoms to " waste their sweetness on the desert air." So, gentlemen, choose partners, and lead out the Bridesmaids, on whose behalf I thank you. LVIII. RESPONSE TO THE BRIDESMAIDS. [By the Groomsman.] Ladies and Gentlemen, — How aih I to thank you for your very kind expressions towards us ' I speak as a Bridesmaid, and I am sure we would gladly- -well I mean we hope we shall not again be Bridesmaids. Not that we are not happy — oh dear no ! We are very happy— very happy to have been of use, and to have such nice men to talk to. Indeed I am particularly HOW IV MAKE AND PROPOSE ItiEM. 6i requested by my sister Bridesmaids to offer our thanks to the Bridegroom for bringing such presentable male creatures to amuse us. If they are good enough we may take compassion upon them some day, and promote them to husbandry ; but at present we prefer our liberty. However, we are very grateful to you all for your good wishes, and we thank you very heartily for your nicely " buttered" toast. LIX. THE GROOMSMEN. \Proposed by an intimate friend of the family \ Ladies and Gentlemen, — I will not detain you more than a moment or two ; but I wish to sum up the toasts we have heard to-day by testify- ing to the energy and usefulness of the gentlemen who have conduced not a little to the hilarity of the breakfast. I mean the Groomsmen; and perhaps the ladies will honour the toast also — if they have been pleased with their partners, as judging by their merry faces I think they have. I trust ere the year is out we may hear of these young gentle- men playing a principal part in a ceremony similar to that we have seen performed to-day, and I am sure we wish the bachelors all success in their wooing. Gentlemen and ladies, the Groomsmen, if you please. LX. RESPONSE TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. Ladies and Gentlemen — particularly Ladies, — Speaking for myself and my fortunate companions, 1 thank you all very heartily for proposing and for honouring our healths. We have had such a pleasant easy task, for all arrangements have been so excellently planned, and the ladies who have honoured us with their society have been so uniformly kind — and being all dressed alike their conduct would be uniform no doubt — that we have had a good time, and really deserve no thanks. But we are one and all glad to see our old friend so happy, and wedded under such bright auspices. May the present happiness be but a faint gleam of the pure and perfect joys that true married happi- ness can attain to. We are all very glad that we have been permitted to make our appearance on this joyful occasion, and we thank you sincerely for your toast — for the kind way it was proposed, and the flattering manner in which you have honoured it, which has been a greater recompense thaH we deserve. 62 SPEECHES AND 7VASTS : CHRISTENING PARTY. LXI. THE LITTLE STEA.NGEB. [Proposed by the Goa- father.'] Ladies and Gentlemen, — I must trouble you to fill your glasses once more, and join with me in wishing health, long life, and prosperity to the Little Stranger whom we have this day introduced into the Christian brotherhood. There can be no doubt that the boy [or girl] — who will be formally introduced to us presently, I dare say— is the finest and handsomest child that ever lived on earth. That we may all rest assured of. It may well serve as a model, and we shall perhaps find, as years go on, that it may even be improved upon by the young couple — the happy and proud parents of the little Christian whose health I wish you all to drink most heartily. It is with no little satisfaction and pleasure that I find myself here to-day in this capacity of sponsor. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. for many years, and if his charming wife and I are not actually such old friends, she has made my visits to this house so pleasant that I feel quite hke an old friend of hers also. Many of you here have had the happiness of knowing Mr. and Mrs. more intimately, perhaps, than I have ; but I will yield to none in the sincerity of my wishes for their happiness, and in my good wishes for the long life and happiness of (here insert names of the child), who will, if [he] follow in the footsteps of [his] parents, be an ornament to society and a comfort to the family. Ladies and gentlemen, I call upon you to drink the health of , and long life to him [or her] ! LXII. THE HEALTH OF THE BABY. Ladies and Gentlemen, — It is with diffidence that I rise in my capacity of Godfather to express in the " vulgar tongue," according to my sponsor- ship, my feelings on behalf of the fine little fellow we have this day ushered into the Church with all reverence. Although my acquaintance with the young [gentleman] is of the slightest, I am sure he will permit me to speak of him by his Christian name, and to wish all prosperity and happiness to . Such an auspicious commencement as this has been, surrounded as he is with luxury and comfort, under the care of parents of whose friendship we are, as any one might well be, proud — with such advantages as these any- thing I may say will not hurt him, however badly I may HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 63 express myself. May the rosy promises of his young life be more than realized. May he long live to be a source of comfort and happiness to his parents, the companion and friend of their middle age, and the prop and stay of their declining years. It may be that successors will come to these honours of the first-bom, and I am sure we all most cordially wish everything for our kind host and hostess that may tend to complete their happiness. Fill your glasses, bumpers please, ladies and gentlemen, and drink with all the honours to the health and long life of (here men- tion names). God bless him ! LXIII. REPLY TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. \Spoken by the Father^ Ladies and Gentlemen, — The touching and hearty manner in which my old friend has so kindly proposed the health of my little child demands my warmest acknowledgments, and your kindness in coming here to-day to welcome the Little Stranger, and to cheer him upon the first stage of his existence, my wife and I accept as a great compliment and highly appreciate it. I scarcely know how to thank you for all your good wishes. Many very handsome and flattering things have been said of my wife and myself which we do not deserve. But there is at any rate one point upon which I can speak, and that is the pleasure it has given us to be able to welcome you here to-day. It is always a pleasure to us to see our friends, but when acquaintance and friendship have been matured by regard and esteem it is doubly a pleasure to see one's friends, as on the present occasion ; and we hope that we shall see you — if not under similar circumstances, at any rate often enough to cheer us up and enliven our quiet home. We are greatly obliged to the friends who have so kindly consented to stand as Sponsors for the little one, and tender our sincere thanks to them and to you all, for your presence and presents, your company and your good wishes. Before I sit down I would ask you to drink to the Sponsors, the Godmother and the Godfathers, here to-day. " Their healths and their families- may they all live long and prosper ! " LXIV. RESPONSE OF THE GODFATHER TO THE TOAST OF HIS HEALTH. Ladies and Gentlemen, — Speaking for myself and the ladies [or lady and gentleman] who have shared Avith me the duties of Sponsors, I may say 54 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: briefly how much pleasure it has given us to officiate upon such, a delightful occasion. With such example and precept before him in the persons of his dear parents, we shall find no excuse for our interference in training him [her], and though we hope we shall never lose sight of the lad C'oung lady], and if opportunity arise we hope to forward his views in life, we shall only look back upon our self-imposed duty with pleasure and a lively recollection of enjoymerit. It has afforded us a very pleasant opportunity to testify to our regard for Mr. and Mrs. , and we thank Mr. for so kindly proposing our health, and you for so warmly drinking the toast. Thank you all most heartily. BIRTHDAY PARTY. LXV. THS HEALTH OF THE HEBO OF THE DAY. [^Proposed by an old Friend.'] Ladies and Gentlemen, — A very pleasant duty has devolved upon me to-day, and I only regret that I cannot do the subject more justice. I have to propose to you the health of Mr. , and to request you to drink the toast wishing him many happy returns of the day. As one of his oldest friends I may be permitted to say a few words concerning him, and to express to those around me the great gratification that association with him has given me and all with whom he came in contact. It is enough for me to say how respected he is, and how kind-hearted. Many of us have had examples of his goodness, and all have experienced his kind hospitality and generous entertainment. We recognize many present here who have grown up with our friendship, and it is a great and sure test of truth in friends when we see year after yeai the same smiling faces round the board. Such a father, husband, and friend as Mr. — — • is as a beacon set upon a hill, as a lighthouse to the mariner, a guide, philosopher, and friend to youth, a public benefactor, both by the example he sets, and by the good he does in public and private life. Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure you want no word of mine to convince you of our friend's noble and amiable qualities, nor will I longer detain you from the graceful homage we are all willing to pay in wishing Mr. many happy returns of his Birthday, BOW TO MAKE AND FKOPOSE THEM. 65 LXVI. REPLY TO THE FOEEGOING TOAST. [Z?j/ the Heir addressed^ Ladies and Gentlemen, — My old friend, my very esteemed friend, Mr. , has almost taken away my breath by the eulogy he has pro- nounced upon my unworthy self, for I am but too painfully conscious how far short I fall from the ideal he has conjured up for your inspection. But in one sense he is right. I am thankful to have so many kind friends, and very glad to welcome you all. I am not so young as I was, and as we begin to descend the ladder of life we are brought face to face with many rough steps and many " hard lines," which we had not noticed before. But even under these circum- stances the support of our friends is enough to cheer us up ; and the friendship I can fortunately lay claim to, and which we have enjoyed for so many years, is a cheering light upon my downward road. My friend Mr. was kind, too kind, to give me credit for the power of retaining friends. But we must remember, that as it takes two to make a quarrel, so it takes two to make a friendship. It is not a one-sided arrangement. To you, my friends, much of my happiness must be ascribed, and by your coming here to-day you have given me much pleasure. Thank you very much for your good wishes, and I trust we may all be spared to meet here for many a year to come. LXVI I. ON COMING OP AGE— "THE HEIR." [Proposed by an old friend — Trustee or Clergyman^ Ladies and Gentlemen, — The toast of the day has fallen into my hands, and it has made me so hot I scarce can hold it ! The honour I feel in being selected to propose the health of the young Squire who attains his majority to-day is quite appreciated, and I wish the task, pleasant though it is, had found a more worthy exponent. But if my tongue falters my heart speaks loudly, for my young friend, who to-day assumes the privileges and responsibilities of manhood, has made himself beloved by all with whom he has been brought in contact. Nearly twenty years ago I was first introduced to him, and since then, with short intervals, it has been my privilege to instruct him in, I hope, some things, and to inculcate in his mind the great truths of Christianity, which I hope and believe he will never lose sight of. It is a great responsibility which he to-day assumes, and --may the time be far distant — when he sue- 66 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: ceeds to the family honours, we all, I am sure, will find in him a worthy successor to the fine old English gentleman his father. " Like father, like son " is a good proverb, and all of us here assembled recognize in the Heir the imprint of the goodness of heart and gentle disposition, the manly tenderness and pluck, which distinguishes his parents. Ladies and gentlemen, I beg you will fill bumpers on this important occasion, and drink with me long life and happi- ness to the young Heir, believing that he will all his life continue to hear without reproach " the grand old name of gentleman," as his father and grandfather before him have done. Gentlemen — " The Heir 1 " LXVIII. REPLY TO THE TOAST OF THE HBIB. Ladies and Gentlemen, — You have all heard the very flattering and touching speech with which my kind old friend has so generously proposed my health, and I am sure I cannot thank him enough for his words and the manner of them, nor can I thank you sufficiently for the way in which you have received the toast. Mr. has been so kind as to say much good of me. I only hope I deserve it all ; but what good I possess I owe, under Providence, to my parents primarily, and then to my kind and patient instructor himself, who have taught me to look upon the bright side, and to live as an English gentle- man. I am fully aware of the great responsibility I have now entered upon, and I hope all here — all the tenantry— will look upon me as their friend, as one who has been placed in a position by Providence to do good ; not to oppress and find fault, but to make good use of the riches committed to my charge, and to give an account to my Master when the great day of reckoning shall have arri\'ed. My friends, this is my view of my position. My fathers and your fathers have lived in harmony and peace, in giving and taking fov each other's good, for centuries. Can we not continue in the same lines ? and when in time we are called away let us leave to our descendants, as our fathers have left to us, a legacy ol freedom and self-respect, with mutual goodwill and regard, appreciating the responsibilities of owner and occupier, ol landlord and tenant, endeavouring to bear each other's burdens, and to live in charity with all men. My friends, I need say no more. I heartily thank you all for your good wishes, and trust that you will give me your kind assistance as I proceed on my way. Once again I thank you all most HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 5? sincerely for the manner in which you have received the toast. LXIX. THE TENANTS. [Proposed by the Landlord ot Agent.'\ Ladies and Gentlemen, — Before we separate I must ask your indulgence for a few minutes while I give you a toast, which I am sure you will heartily join me in drinlcing. Many of you when driving here this morning were, I have no doubt, struck witli the appearance of the land ; and many of you were pleased, I hear, with the kind reception accorded you as you drove along, and the pleasant recognition you received. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the pretty scenes and the kind reception we have met with, the decorations and the welcome, are the work of the tenantry on these estates, and I would call upon you to drink the health of the Tenants and long life to them. I have been here for many years, living, I am glad to say, in peace and harmony, ever trying to do my duty [as a landlord], and receiving much kindness and assistance from my friends here. We have had many improvements since I came here, and I think I may without vanity point to our land and our parish as a model one. We have our troubles occasionally — we should not be mortal were it not so — but I must candidly admit that the tenants of this estate have always been most worthy and excellent men and women, with whom I have had the greatest pleasure to co-operate. I am thankful to remember that amid all the trying times we have got on so well together, and I trust our connection may last for many years. Ladies and gentlemen who have come over here to-day, I trust you will unite with me in drinking to the health of my very good friends the Tenantry, and wish them every happiness and prosperity, a state of things which I on my part will leave nothing undone to secure. I give you " The Tenantry." LXX. REPLY TO THE TOAST OF THE TENANTS. [By the Senior Tenant present^ Mr. , Ladies and Gentlemen, — As the oldest tenant present — and as the oldest person here, I believe — I understand I am best suited to return our very heartfelt thanks to Mr. and you for proposing and drinking our health so warmly. Mr. has been so kind as to say something about us Tenants, and I should like to say something about him as a landlord and Squira 68 SPEECHES AND TOASTS : I won't say much — not that I couldn't say a great deal of him, and all of it good too ; but perhaps I ought not to detain you by speaking. Still I can say for myself and my friends here, for all the tenants on the estate, that he's a "jolly good fellow " — and nobody can deny it. If we are pros- perous — and we needn't go into the question — he has our interest- at heart, and has always assisted us. If we are not prosperous, we know he will be considerate, and not visit upon us the results of bad seasons. He knows we try to do our best and pay our rent and be comfortable. We try all we can, and if we succeed he is glad and can rejoice as well as we. I am speaking for all of us when I say that we are a happy and contented parish, respecting our landlord and each other, and glad to have such a Squire about us. Let us drink his health, and wish long life and happiness to him and Mrs. and the children, with all the honours. Hip, hip, hurrah ! For he's a jolly good fellow, And so say all of us ! LXXI. SPEECH OP THANKS FOR THE TOAST OP HIS HEALTH, SPOKEN BY THE SQUIRE. My Friends, — For I look upon all present as such— I thank you all most heartily for the enthusiastic manner in which the toast of our health has been received, and Mrs. and myself also wish to express our appreciation of the good feeling that prompted my old friend and good tenant, Mr. , to propose it. We are very much obhged to him and to you all. It is very seldom that a man hears so much good of himself as I have heard to-day. I am quite sure that it was all lyell meant, but I am afraid my good friend yonder was carried away by his feelings to paint me in brighter colours than I deserve. At any rate I will not complain of his generosity, but if I have fallen short of all I wished to do— and I feel I have— I must endeavour to live up to the standard you have in your minds set up, and try to make the re- mainder of my life— which has been passed amonc^st you and will continue to be passed here till I am carried into God's Acre yonder— as profitable and as pleasant to all my neighbours as I can. I can with gratitude and thankfulness look back and recall much kindness which I and my family have received at your hands, my friends ; and I hope in the future as well as m the past our mutual relations will ffOfV TO MjilCE AND PROPOSE THEM. 6e remain as pleasant. For richer for poorer, for better — not for worse, I hope — I am here, and at your disposal, till death do us part, and I believe and feel we shall continue our pleasant relations. Thank you again very sincerely, my friends, for your warm welcome to myself and my family, in their names and my own. SECTION VI. SPORTING TOASTS. For Club and House Dinners, and Convivial Occasions LXXII. AT ACRICKET»DINNER—"OUE OPPONENTS." [Proposed by the Captain of the Victorious Eleven^ Gentlemen, — As chairman of this very pleasant meeting, I have a toast to propose to you which, after what has already passed to-day, and judging by the good feeling which animates us all, I am sure the team of which I have the honour to be captain will drink with much pleasure. The toast is the health of the ■ Eleven, our courteous and able oppo- nents in the field. We have had a capital game, and if by the glorious uncertainties of Cricket it has so happened that our team has won the match, we know what a trouble we had to make the runs, and to avoid the ready hands in the field, and keep up our stumps, before such bowling as our friends can command. At one time of the play I really began to tremble for our laurels ; it looked as if our hard attempts to snatch victory must surely be defeated. But I am glad for the honour of the club that we won, though I am sure — if my friend the captain of your team will permit me to say so — if close fielding and steady work deserve success (as they do) we will not win again in a hurry. Now, gentlemen, I need not detain you much longer. We have had a good battle, and won it, I am glad to say, and I trust all of us here may long be spared to play the noble English game — a game which brings forth all the manly qualities of the Englishman. Our pluck, endurance, patience, steadiness, and obedience are all required when we enter an eleven. If obedience is the first duty of the soldier, it is not less a very important duty in the members of a cricket eleven. Selfishness must be entirely put aside in cricket. The captain is responsible, and until he be declared unfitted he should be obeyed by all playing members in the field or pavilion, as far as the conduct of the game is concerned. This harmonious working is the secret of success, and by a ' With the necessary aUeralioii of technical terms these cricket ..oasts iviU do equally well lor football dinners SPEECHES AND TOASTS. 71 steady continuance in such a course, with plenty of practice and goodwill, no eleven, however crude at first, need despaii of winning its way. Gentlemen, I give you the — ^ — Eleven, coupled with the name of Mr. , that most able captain and cricketer, and my very good and kind friend. LXXIII. RESPONSE TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. [Spoken by the Captain of the oj>posing Teaml\ Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — Your Captain has proposed our health in such very com- plimentary terms, and expressed himself so kindly towards his beaten but not humiliated adversaries, that I cannot quite decide in my own mind which to admire most — his prowess with the bat and in the field, or his courtesy and eloquence in the cabinet. At any rate I need not try to decide now. I have to thank him and you, for the manner in which the toast was proposed, and the way in which it has been honoured by you, gentlemen. You won a well- contested match, and without wishing to disparage my excellent team, I think the best men won. But we are not going to sit down and accept this issue as final. We do not intend — and I think my friends will agree with me that we are right — we do not mean to give in. We hope you will meet us again, and on our own ground, and if we cannot en- tertain you as hospifably and as generously as we have been entertained here — though we will try that too — we will certainly meet you in friendly rivalry in the cricket ground, and fight our battle over again. As we grow older these harmonious contests are sure to influence us for good, and cement the school or university friendships we have mada. They give us much real pleasure, and when we are stiff- jointed and unable to take our places in the field, we can tell of many a pleasant game, and shoulder our bats to show how matches were won. Gentlemen of the — — Cricket Club, I will only add my thanks and those of my colleagues foi the very kind reception you have given us. A CRICKET CLUB ANNUAL DINNER. LXXIV. SUCCESS TO THE CLUB. [Proposed by the Chairman^ Gentlemen,— You are doubtless anticipating the usual speech from the char, and I will not keep you in suspense very long nor tire 72 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: your patience. The report of the club, showing its financial position and the result of the last season's working, has already been placed before you. You will have noticed that the matches in which the club [and ground] engaged were more numerous last season than in the previous years. The receipts from members, and subscriptions, have increased, and there are two very satisfactory- points connected with the past season, viz., the funds are in good condition, we having a very respectable balance in hand, and the club has won [nine], lost [four], and drawn [three] of the contests it has engaged in with other elevens. I am glad to welcome so many new members to our ranks ; but the number must necessarily be limited. We have not accommodation for more than a certain number, and on one or two occasions there was some dissatisfaction expressed at the want of accommodation. Well, gentleman, the committee have done all they can, and have succeeded in keeping the club solvent. But- if more accommodation for match days is to be provided, and the committee were glad to see that ladies mustered in larger numbers to encourage them, he would suggest a slightly increased entrance fee upon big match days, or the issue of season tickets to friends of the members duly introduced. This would give them a fund to draw upon, and entitle the holders to seats. There have been no accidents of any consequence, and some excellent cricket has been shown. We have now s very excellent eleven, and I am happy to be able to announce that there are some promising " colts " in the district, who will have an opportunity of trying their mettle on an early day in the ensuing season. I am glad to see that our noble and manly national game is still taking hold of the country. I do not think ciicket was ever more popular. We have seen in various parts of England a Colonial eleven carrying nearly everything before them — by patience when an up-hill game had to be played, and by brilliant dash and rapid scoring eventually pull a game "out of the fire." What man has done man may do, and I hope the day is not far distant when not only one English eleven, but many, will be able, by putting aside jealousies and working in full harmony, to come out victors against any Colonial team. On the other hand, we ought to rejoice that our kindred beyond sea have such a relish for the old English sport, and prove so readily that they are real chips of the old block who possess all the good qualities of the race of Englishmen. There is a good deal to be said about HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM, 73 the game, but as so many of you here are much more familiar with the practice than I am, I will spare you my theories as to the mode of playing it ; and my moral reflec- tions I am sure you will, like the report, be content to take as read. Gentlemen, I have now only to give you the toast I rose so long ago to propose, and for which you have so kindly waited. I will try your patience no longer. Success to the ■ Cricket Club, and I will couple the toast with the name of the Hon. Secretary, Mr. , to whose exertions the club owes so much of its success and high position. LXXV. RESPONSE TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. [By the Hon. Secretary of the Club!\ Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — It is very gratifying to me to hear my name coupled with the success of the Cricket Club, and the feeling ought to be — but, alas ! for poor:"human nature, is not — diminished when I reflect that the honour is in great part undeserved. The energetic Committee, of which I am only a member and the mouthpiece, are really the working body, but what I have done I can assure you I have done con atnore. I am very fond of the game, and at one time took some little part in it. Should circumstances and occupations permit, I may again be able to put aside the pen for the ball, and sing, " Oh, willow, willow," when I grasp my old bat once more 1 I am very glad that the club is in such a flourishing condition, in the ledgers as weU as in the scoring books. The matches have been won by sheer hard work and drilling, and to this increasing success the club is mainly indebted to Mr. our energetic captain. The success is his, and his merry men have " backed him up " well. He has been bold as a bowler, and his manner of "driving" shows how well he is fitted to handle a "team." We all have recognized his "powers of defence," and have never known him "stumped" in argument or repartee. With such qualities he appears cut out for the position of captain, and I hope that the time is long off when he will retire. That he will make a foint of long stopping vi'iiii us, and "running out" the eleven to victory for many more seasons, is, I am sure, our heartfelt wish. Gentlemen, in thanking you for the honour you have done me, I would crave permission to propose xhe health of Mr. , the Captain of the Eleven, and long life to him. 74 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: LXXVI. RESPONSE OF THE CAPTAIN TO THE FORE- GOING TOAST. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — My friend the Honorary and honourable Secretary has made a speech so bristling with cricket terms as to be almost wicked! and I feel in danger of following his example in that sense — but I forbear. I am quite unable to meet him on that ground ; he may claim to score off me there. But I am none the less grateful to him and to you, gentlemen, for the very clever and pleasant manner in which the last toast was proposed and received. " The labour we delight in physics pain," and so I cannot lay claim to all the goodness my friend has attributed to me, for I am so fond of cricket, so attached to its traditions, and I may add so attached to the club, that any inconvenience or trouble falls from me when the necessities or the demands of the game or the club make themselves known to me, or are made known by my friend your unwearied secretary. The eleven last season was a very good one, and I must in mere fairness remark that if our men had not displayed pluck and deter- mination, if they had not worked so well together, the duties of the captain would have been immensely increased. It is always a grateful theme with me, and when we have such men in the eleven as , and , and , there need be no question of a captain for the team ; and no fear of defeat with, ordinary luck, while we possess such bowlers as , and such sure fieldsmen as and . It is an honour to captain such a team, and I feel it so, I assure you. Gentlemen, I thank you heartily for your good wishes, and for the kindness with which you have listened to my imperfect speech and attempt at oratory. AT A LOCAL CRICKET DINNER. LXXVI I. THE HEALTH OF THE HOST. {Proposed by the Eldest Visitor^ Gentlemen, — I must ask you to fill me a bumper fair, and drink to the toast I am about to propose. I feel I need not call upon you to drink it heartily, for that I know you will do when I tell you that it is the health of our kind and worthy Host which is to be honoured. We all know how considerate he has ever been to us, how he permits us to use his park and to pitch our wickets in his grounds, and how he has always entertained us. We do not need reminding ffOtV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 75 of these things. We all treasure them from year to year, and look forward with the greatest pleasure to our match in the park. There is no necessity for me to dwell upon the manly virtues of our Host. He is so well known and so uni versaily respected that nothing that I might say could by any possibility add to his popularity, or to the high position he occupies in the minds of all in the county and beyond it. Gentlemen, I will only ask you to give three hearty cheers for Mr. , our kind entertainer ; and while thanking him for his hospitality, let us show ourselves worthy of it by keep- ing within the bounds of cheerfulness and decorum. The health of Mr. , our Host, with our hearty and respectful good wishes for Mrs. and the family. LXXVlil. REPLY TO THE POBEGOING TOAST. \Spoker, by the Host."] Gentlemen, — My friend Mr. has been very kind in proposing my health, and I am greatly flattered and gratified by the manner in which he acquitted himself and the way in which you responded. I can only say I am very glad that you think it worth while to come here for your contest at cricket. I am always glad to encourage, so far as is in my power, healthy exercise and honest enjoyment. My park is open so long as you wish to use it, and I am glad to learn from my men and from my own observation that you and other young gentle- men and neighbours come here and enjoy yourselves without doing harm to the trees and grass. It is very disheartening for an owner of property to find his trees injured and his sward cut about by thoughtless persons, and I appeal to your good sense and good feelings to use and not abuse the chances you have. It looks churlish to close a large park, but some of my neighbours have done so because the visitors did not respect the privilege they enjoyed. I am glad to think that you and your friends have now for so long enjoyed any little hospitality I am so happy to dispense. It is as great a pleasure to me to see you here enjoying yourselves as it is for you to come here. I shall be always glad to welcome you and your wives and children and your sweet- hearts, and when you come over next time bring them with you to watch your game and to enjoy themselves as much as they can. I now have only to thank you in my family's name and my own for drinking our healths, and to wish you all " Many happy returns of the day " — if it has been, as I believe it has, a pleasant one to you all as well as to myself 76 SPEECHES AND TOASTH . AT A REGATTA DINNER. LXXIX. SUCCESS TO THE REGATTA. {Proposed by the Chairman.'] Gentlemen, — We have conne to the toast of the day, and, as you will readily admit, it is an interesting one to all present. The occasion of the Regatta is no light one to be dismissed with a few words. It is now an annual institution, and its success or failure means a good deal, not only to those im- mediately interested, but to all who are connected with the Club. I am glad to be able to chronicle a marked success to-day. The prizes we have been enabled to dis- tribute have met with approval and acceptance ; and if our crew did not carry off many laurels, they were, if defeated, certainly not disgraced, and we would rather see them win upon other water than their own. We prefer our visitors to carry off the prizes if they can. We are as pleased to see them win as to win ourselves, and the best men must win — of that we feel assured. We have done fairly well, but might have done better, and while condoling with the unsuccessful we can warmly congratulate the victors upon their success. Let us now say a few words respecting the club and the business side of the question. The finances are in a pretty good condition. The treasurer can inform you that we have £ in hand after all expenses are provided for. But I regret to see that many members are in arrear. The com- mittee do not wish to enforce the rules with unnecessary strictness, but it is not fair upon the other members that some should be permitted to ignore one rule when they would not neglect, nor overlook, an omission in others of another rule. We will at once call upon those members who have not paid their subscriptions to do so, and in any defaulting cases we will proceed as by our bye-laws, per- mitted, and framed for such a contingency. The general arrangements of the club have been much improved, and the success of the arrangements are in a great measure, if not altogether, due to the untiring efforts of Mr. , our most efficient honorary secretary. To him we all owe a deep debt of gratitude, and with his name I will con- clude my remarks. I will call upon you all to drink to the health of Mr. , to whose tact and patience the prosperity and popularity of the club is in a great measure due. Gentlemen, a bumper if you please for the Honorary Secretary. ffOiV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 77 LXXX. A REGATTA DINNER. [Reply of the Hon Secretary^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I trust you will excuse me if, in my endeavours to thank you for your kind expressioins of goodwill, I fail to make my- self as intelligible as I wish. The honour you have done me is unexpected, and all the more embarrassing to me on that account. It is very generous of our chairman to speak of me in such terms. Though I have endeavoured to do my duty I have never done more ; and therefore, conscientiously speaking, I have no claim to your thanks. But it is very gratifying, nevertheless, to feel and to hear that in the esti- mation of one's friends, and in the opinion of the chairman, one has succeeded in one's endeavours, which have at any rate the merit of disinterestedness. The Club House has been a very pleasant rendezvous, but all the efiforts of the committee and secretary would not have accomplished everything with- out the hearty and pleasant combination of the members. The committee have been indefatigable and untiring in their efiforts to make the club and its arrangements successful ; and we think we have in a measure succeeded. Personally I feel much gratified at the very kind manner in which the toast of my health has been received, and I thank you all heartily and sincerely for the way you have honoured me by proposing it. LXXXI. THE HEALTH OP THE COMPETING CREWS. \Proposed by the Chairman.^ Gentlemen, — I have it in my mind to propose to you a double toast, and one which you will all accept with pleasure. I mean the health of two competing crews here present. We were much interested to-day in the races for the Grand Challenge Cup, the final issue of which, as you are aware, was limited to the two boats whose crews are here present. We were beaten, and — well, not badly beaten. We accept with resig- nation our defeat, but we intend as soon as possible to re- verse the verdict and claim the cup. There will be oppor- tunities for us to retrieve our laurels soon, and we intend to try to regain some of them at any rate. Meanwhile I call upon you to drink first to our guests, the Crew, who have so well and honourably defeated us ; and secondly I will ask you to keep a little cheer for our own Eight, who struggled so gamely to pick up the race. Gentlemen, though they be opponents in th»se contests, I couple with all amicable 78 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: feelings and good wishes the toasts of the Crew and the Eight of the Club. LXXXII. REPLY TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. \By the Stroke of the Successful Boat-I Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — It is with much diffidence that I rise to reply to the toast which you, sir, have so handsomely proposed, and which all your members here present have so kindly responded to. I can assure you we are very lucky in having carried off the prize ; and if anything can add to our satisfaction in having wrested it from such a fine crew, it is the generous and noble manner in which that may be temporary defeat has been received and our success welcomed. Such hearty kindness as we have met at your hands increases the value of the prize four- fold. We appreciate it all, I assure you, and although I cannot — and you will not expect me to — say I hope you will regain it, I am certain of one thing : that never was a losing race more pluckily rowed, and never was a defeat more admirably sustained nor more courteously acknowledged. We have had many pleasant meetings during the period in which I have been stroking the Eight of the Club, and it has fallen to my lot, I am glad to say, to have been partly the means of winning some prizes ; but we value our prize to-day most highly. We trust your crew will pay us a visit at our Regatta, and in the name of our club, the , I bid you all welcome. Gentlemen, once more in the name of the Eight of I thank you for the honour you have done us in drinking our healths. AN ARCHERY MEETING. LXXXIII. THE ARCHERY CLUB. [Proposed by the President or Chairman at the Prize Distribution^ Ladies and Gentlemen, — We are here assembled on a very interesting occasion, and it is my pleasing and agreeable duty to have to present to several amongst you the prizes you have so well won to- day. There is the old and time-worn joke of the young ladies and beaux, the repetition of which would only betray a ^arraoz-mindedness on my part ; so I will spare you all jokes and puns on the subject of archery, and come at once to business. You do not need to be told that archery is of very ancient rigin, and that many of England's victories are owing to BOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 79 her bow-men. We were famous for drawing the long-bow in those days as well as the cross-bow. But in these modern times archery is a mere pastime, though I am glad to see so many good shots in this club. I should be very sorry to be in front of the target, I assure you, when you young ladies and gentlemen are practising. I congratulate the prize- winners heartily ; and to those who have not now succeeded in carrying off a prize, I say persevere, practise : steady hands and hopeful hearts will carry you through much greater difficulties than these. I will now call upon the winners to come up and take their prizes, which they have so well won. LXXXIV. SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT (OE CHAIKa MAN). \After the Prize Distribution^ Ladies and Gentlemen, — Before we separate to-day I have to say a few words ; and I will not detain you long, as the ceremony in which we have been engaged has kept us some time already. We have had a most interesting meeting. I look upon archery and tennis, and those field sports in which ladies and gentlemen can unite, as greatly beneficial to both sexes. There are many shy men who are enabled to overcome their timidity in ladies' society when their hands are occupied with a bow or a racket. The secret of ladies' conversation, I believe lies in the occupation of their hands. They work and talk ; the man fidgets and cannot talk. If there were no other reason than the mingling of the sexes on these occasions, I still think archery would be a beneficial pastime. But it does more : it trains the eye and brain, it steadies the nerves ; and ladies will appreciate this next reason — it improves the figure and carriage ! These are perhaps merely physical advantages, but it has its moral attributes. It is recreation pure and simple ; it stimulates to healthy exertion and pleasant rivalry ; it promotes good-fellowship and friendship, removes stiffness ; and unkindness disappears, let us hope, in the archery ground. No ill-feeling ought to arise. No jealousy ought to find place in such a sport at once innocent and interesting. Let us in our aims and amusements, as well as in our higher occupations, put away all envy and malice, and our pleasures will turn into blessings, and we shall all be nearer the attainment of the good and the true. Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for the patience with which you have listened to me, and I wish all success to the Archery Club. 8o SPEECHES AND TOASTS : AN ANGLING CLUB. LXXXV. PROSPERITY TO THE ANGLING CLUB. {Proposed by the President at the Annual Dinner^ Gentlemen, — There is only one more toast which I will inflict upon you this evening, but I am sure you will heartily respond to it. The toast is — Prosperity to the Anglers' Club. We have all been fishing to-day, but I am sure you do not fish for com- pliments from me respecting your successes. We have had a good haul provided for our meeting, and though it is not much in my line to make jokes, I will say that every man Jack of you seemed to be enjoying himself on his own hook — which I venture to doubt if the fish did ! Now this remark leads me to say something about the sport itself. Old Isaac Walton declared that " God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling." But there are many worthy people who declare that fishing is very cruel ; they say we torture the fish. I maintain we do not ; no true fisherman will do so. If, as we can judge from our own experience, the terror of pain and death lies in the anticipation, then the fishes, having no anticipation of death, do not suffer mentally at all. Bodily suffering, I think, is not great in fishes. That they give us play enough at times we know ; but the tough leathery mouth is not sensitive to the hook as we estimate feeling, and if we kill our fish at once there is little or no pain. With the bait it is a different thing, and I am afraid we must plead guilty ; but fly-fishing and artificial baits will serve as well on most occasions. Gentlemen, I have not much more to say. Our club has been long existent, and this is not the first time I have had the pleasure of addressing you from the chair. We have had a satisfactory increase of members of late, and I am glad to inform you that the funds are in good condition. I will now conclude by calling upon you to drink prosperity to the Angling Club. AN ANNUAL "HOUSE-DINNER." LXXXVI. THE FIRM. [Proposed by the Senior Employ/.] Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — I perceive by the programme that it devolves upon me this year to propose to you a very important toast, and one that requires some rom-age and firmness to undertake. 1 HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. gi mean the health of the Firm with which we all — or nearly all — have the pleasure of being associated. For many years I have been in the employment of Messrs. and , in a very responsible position, and have had many opportunities of observing them in their business and personal relations. In their presence on this occasion, gentlemen, I will not dilate upon the many acts of considerate kindness and liber- ality of which we are all conscious, and of which they may well be proud — and they would, I am sure, object to my telling you. But I am sure we all can recall some kindness, some act of encouragement, which has lightened our way in business. The Firm, any large firm, has a great responsibility com- mitted to it, and the happiness and contentment of the employes are two very prominent factors in the sum of their enjoyment. We all know how pleased a young person is, if when he has done his work correctly he is praised for it ; and how wretched he feels when he is blamed. Carrying this observation farther, we can imagine the pleasure the partners of a firm feel — and now I am not speaking personally of any firm ; be they lawyers, publishers, merchants or brewers, the partners of any firm feel pleased — when their business succeeds. When the lawyer gains his case, and the publisher makes a hit — when the merchant makes a coup, and the brewer a " cooper " of more than usual ex- cellence ; a firm rejoices in such an event ; and some I believe — and I am sorry to think so — take all the credit to themselves, and ignore the share which the employes have had in, it may be, the initiation of the business, and certainly in carrying it out. This is not our case. We, I think, fee! that our efforts are appreciated. We like a little praise now and then to encourage us ; and let me say — speaking as a man of experience, and as one who has had many men under him — that a few words of praise may make all the difference between a willing hand and head, and per- functory service. I am certain that mutual esteem and consideration are the corner-stones of the building, of the firm building up, of a business. No master will be so well served as he who is loved and respected, whose censure is just, whose criticism is strict, and whose praise is not parsimonious. Neither master nor man should demand the always unvarying letter of the bond, or exact cruelly the pound of flesh. There are ways of winning voluntary service which is worth far more than paid service, and the firm that can attach to itself, not J2 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: only by justice, strict and impartial, but by kindness and well-timed liberality, will have assistance which money cannot purchase and which years will not wear out. Gentle- men, such a firm I believe we belong to, and in that belief I call upon you all respectfully, gratefully, and dutifully, to drink health and prosperity to the Firm of Messrs. & Co., and thank them for giving us such a pleasant " outing " to-day. LXXXVII. REPLY TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. \By the Senior Partner present^ Mr. Vice and Gentlemen, — Being the chairman on this occasion I cannot address myself ; but I have a pleasant Vice ready to listen to me, and perhaps to prompt me. I am — and I speak also for my partners — we all are very sensible of the kind manner in which our health has been proposed and received. We are not, however, conscious of having done quite all my friend Mr. has attributed to us. We will, however, accept his assurances that we have made ourselves fairly agreeable to him and the other gentlemen in our employment, and we trust that in future the harmony that has existed in our establishment may be prolonged and increased. There is one point in the speech just delivered which I must touch upon, and that is the responsibility of the Firm in the matter of the employes. They are not children, and they would in my opinion resent any interference. They would say to us, Mind your own business ; we are yours from nine til! five or six o'clock, but after we leave your house we are our own masters. So as far as the outside life of our men are concerned, so far as their pursuits and amuse- ments are concerned, we do not accept any responsibility. But, if we found that those pursuits or amusements were dero- gating, or in direct opposition to our business, it would be our duty to warn the individual that he must conform to our prac- tice and wishes, and give up one or the other of the opposing pursuits. \ye entirely accept the responsibility for our employes during office hours. We wish you to understand that we have your interests at heart as well as our own. We welcome any development of energy gladly ; and though we do not in every instance think it our duty to pat the employ^ openly on the back for doing his dut), yet we mentally note and when opportunity offers we will openly proclaim our sense of that gentleman's worth in some v.ay or other. Be asS ffOfV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 8? that you are all noted. Very little escapes us, and many times we have, with pleasure, intimated our appreciation of your efforts for the benefit of the house and for each other. We are pleased that we can annually enjoy our holiday together as we have to-day ; and now I will not detain you longer. There are many other toasts to come, I perceive, so I will at once resume my duties, thanking you for the toast which has been proposed and received in a manner highly gratifying to the Firm. LXXXVIII. THE EMPLOYES. {Proposed by the Head of Department, or Junior Partner.] Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — The toast I have now to propose is a very important one, next in importance indeed to that of the Firm, whose health we have just now responded to. In all large houses there must be a head and hands — ^just as in the human body we have a directing brain, and limbs to perform what the superior brain directs. But unless the hands are en rapport with the head, unless the limbs at once answer to the direction of the intellect and do as they are directed, they are no use. The man then is like a machine out of gear : he must retire from business — he is no good in business. On the other hand, if the brain directs wrongfully, the man is said to be vicious and criminal ; and in that case he is a nuisance to society and must be shut up. So to have a, humanly speaking, perfect man, or a perfect machine, the head must be clear, and the limbs or hands must be in good working order. This is the secret of success — honesty in direction, obedience in action ; and this in a great measure has been the reason of our Firm's success : the manner in which those employed have carried out the instructions issued by the head. It has been a matter of great satisfaction to the Firm during the past twelvemonth to mark the steady increase in the business, which they attribute partly to better times, but chiefly to the attention and diligence of those gentlemen in the business who have carried out the suggestions and directions issued by the responsible partners in the house. To the Employes the Firm are much indebted, and in pro- posing their healths J wish to couple the toast with the name gf Mr. , and to tnank all the gentlemen for the zealous manner in which their various duties have been performed. 84 SPEECHES AND TOASTS : LXXXIX. REPLY TO THE TOAST OF THE EMPLOYES. \By the Senior CUrk.] Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — I am sure all those employed by the Firm of Messrs. and have reason to thank Mr. for the very kind way in which he has spoken of them. We are all grateful for much kindness, and our annual dinners are always looked forward to with much pleasure, and always looked back upon with a feeling of contentment. As regards the efforts of the gentlemen in the house, I can answer for it that they have all endeavoured to do their duties, to the best of their abilities, willingly and conscientiously for the benefit of the house. A great deal has been done, and we are glad to think that the balance-sheet shows a good round sum on the right side. So far as our efforts have contributed to this result we are heartily glad, and we are pleased in any case to find that the old house for which many of us have worked for so long is prospering. We trust that our efforts in the future, if we are permitted to meet another year to hear the result, will be at least as satisfactory to all parties, and that the mutual esteem and regard which influences all in the house will remain even more firmly cemented. Gentlemen, in the name of the Employes I thank you for your good wishes and kind expressions concerning us. XC. THE VISITORS. [Proposed 6y Vue-Chairtnan.] Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Before we separate this afternoon there is a toast which I have been requested to propose, and it gives me great pleasure to do so. I refer to the Visitors who have been so good as to come here to-day and join in our sports, eat our dinner, drink our wine, and who will, we hope, come again and do likewise, for we shall all be delighted to see them. The Visitors who have so kindly come amongst us to-day are not all strangers to us. If I mistake not one gentleman is well known to all here as . Another we have often met, and appreciated his company. Mr. has been with us here before ; and all by their geniality and good feeling have materially enhanced the success of the day. We are much indebted to these gentlemen, for leaving London and travelling down here when they must have many more im- portant engagements. We thank them for their presence, which has made the day a brilliant success, and given pleasure to all here. Gentlemen, 1 am sure you will join with me cordiallv in drinking the health of our Visitors. HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 85 XCI. REPLY TO THE TOAST OP THE VISITORS. {^By One o/tkem.'] Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice-Chairman, and Gentlemen, — I rise first to return thanks for the generous toast just proposed, and which has been so warmly welcomed, not because I am the fittest to return thanks or have any claim to priority, but because none of my fellow-visitors have risen ; and as time presses I think it will be as well to begin. Gentlemen, I am, I am glad to say, not a stranger at these pleasant meetings, and the excellent speaker who did us the honour to propose our healths was quite correct in saying I had been here before. I have. I remember on one occa- sion I ran a race with your chairman, and I believe beai him by an inch or so ; and you see he bears me no malice, but asks me here again to-day, and actually challenged me to another race, which I was obliged to decline as I am lame ! I notice your chairman laughs ; but I am not afraid to meet him, I can tell him, and some day we will run off the match again — unless I grow too fat meantime. I assure you I have passed a very pleasant afternoon, and received a great deal of courteous attention and kindness from all here whenever an opportunity for courtesy presented itself. I can only thank you very heartily, and congratulate you all upon the happy tone of the assembly I feel honoured to be asked to meet. XCII. THE LADIES. [Proposed hy a Gitesi.l Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Will you permit me to rise and say a few words upon a subject upon which I am confessedly ignorant, but in which — ■ or shall I say whom — I take a great interest. The Ladies ! Perhaps I may not be accounted a fair judge, as 1 am still youthful and entirely inexperienced in the ways of woman- kind. But I hear a good deal of them. We are indebted for the greatest charm of many of our social pleasures to the society of ladies. I need not quote Sir Walter Scott's verses to assure you of the benevolence and kindness of women. nor need I refer to the proverbial fickleness of the sex — which I believe to be a quite unfounded aspersion. I am sure there is nothing that I can say in favour of the ladies which your hearts will not endorse. We are indebted to them for much happiness, and we look upon them, in some respect at any rate, as superior beings. More than all else in them, in their virtue and strength, depends the future welfare of the kingdom. The mothers are the wealth and ?6 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: prosperity of a rotion. They bring up the children, and upon them the fate of future generations must depend. Gentlemen, there is nothing that I can say in praise of the ladies which each of you have not already anticipated. I am sure you all equally with myself respect them, and love them too, perhaps — or rather one of them. So I call upon you all to drink heartily to the Ladies. Bless them ! Know- ing what blessings we possess in our sweethearts and wives, I call upon the youngest bachelor present to return thanks for the sex. XCIII. REPLY TO THE TOAST OF "THE LADIES." [By the Yowigest Bachelor!] Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — The position in which Mr. has placed me is rathei an awkward one. He confessed just now that (though I believe he is some years my senior) he knew nothing about the sex to entitle him to propose their health ! Now what can /, at my time of life, have to say, except to thank you in the names of the whole of the fair sex throughout the world, for the very nice way, the very charming manner, in which the toast has been responded to. If only the Ladies— not all the ladies in the world, of course, and certainly not the giantess from the Alhambra — could have been present, they must have been struck with the graceful terms in which their health was proposed, and I am afraid they would be equally disgusted at the tame manner in which I am returning thanks. I assure you, I may assure them, that this diffidence is only observable in their absence. Were any ladies present 1 could from the inspiration breathe forth new songs of praise of them ; in their absence the founts of oratory are frozen — I am chilled. But if the party were lighted by their presence, the rills of rhetoric and the flow of fancy would supervene, and I could, thus warmed by their presence, return suitable thanks for them. As it is, however, gentlemen, my tongue refuses to say all I think. I thank you sincerely on behalf of the charming Ladies, collectively and individually, whom we have the happiness to call wives or sweethearts ; and for the vast array of female beauty outside of our lives I thank vou too, for they are the true consolers of mankind, and " little, if at all, lower than the angels" 1 HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 87 PENNY READINGS. XCIV. ADDRESS BY THE CHAIBMAN, OB PROMOTER, Ladies and Gentlemen, — Before we commence the programme, which I perceive is a very attractive one, I will introduce to you the ladies and gentlemen who have so kindly come forward to amuse us. Their names are on the programmes, and I am sure when you have heard the various pieces and readings you will agree with me that the selection has been wisely made. " Good wine needs no bush," so I will not detain you by enlarging upon the performers' merits, but come at once to my chief object in addressing you. We are here this evening to assist an excellent work, for the profits of these readings during the winter will go towarc^,*, defraying the debt upon the schools, or to some equally necessary fund. We have set aside therefore a certain number of seats at sixpence each — not from any desire for exclusiveness, but because we wish to pay our debts. The majority of places cost only one penny. To the occupiers of those seats programmes will be sold at one halfpenny ; to the sixpenny places at one penny each. We think this will meet the wishes of all. But we are quite open to new suggestions and the committee will gladly entertain any such. In con- clusion, I may express a hope that you will use all your efforts to make these meetings a success. Many people in the district have few, if any, means of amusement open to them, and except at the public-houses have little opportunity for meeting or recreation. I think I can count upon all who hear me to assist us in our good work. And now I will make way for the programme, and request Miss to favour us with the solo she has so kindly con- sented to play as an overture for us this evening. XCV. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE EVENING. Ladies and Gentlemen, — Before we separate I have to request your attention and suffrages, which I am sure will be given very willingly when I tell you I wish to pass a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who have so ably and successfully given their services this evening. You will, I think, now be able to judge of the correctness of my anticipations. We have had a most delightful evening ; onr interest and our laughter have, 88 SPEECHES AND TOASTS. I hope, proved to the performers who have so generously and kindly come here to-night that their efforts are highly appreciated, and that we are only desirous to see them again. On their behalf I may say that they thank you for your kind and discriminating applause, which they value highly ; and for my own part I cannot thank my friends too much, whether on the platform or in the audience, for their eilorts to make the evening, both financially and on the stage, such a success. Ladies and gentlemen, next week we hope to be able to provide you with another excellent programme, and trust it will be as pleasing and creditable to all concerned as this has been. All has gone smoothly and well. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. I am sure you will all sleep well ofter such a " lullaby " as we neard just now. II you please we will now conclude by singing " God save the Queen," and we request your assistance in the chorus. SECTION VII. MISCELLANEOUS TOASTS. The Press — Laying a Foundation-Stone — A School Feas'! —A New Railway Line. XCVI. THE PRESS. {^Proposed by the Chairman at a Dinner^ Gentlemen, — The toast which I have now the honour to propose is one which appeals to us all, in whatever station of life we may be. I refer to the public Press. The press is a mighty organ, and when we look back into history we may put down the discovery of printing as the great reformer of social life. To printing we owe the dissemination of the Gospel truths, and true civilization quickly follows a free press. In some con- tinental countries the press is " muzzled," and in Uiose countries we find a discontented spirit — a spirit of anarchy and rebellion. A " Free Press " is a national institution in England, and such a one will never be upset. But we must be careful not to let it degenerate. There have lately been examples of such falling off, and seditious prints have in the sister isle done less than nothing to assist the cause of law and order. This is not wielding power aright. The press is a great weapon, and may be compared to the lash of the scourger or the balm of the physician. We can apply the whip, and we can heal the wounded ; we can assist the poor to his own, and open up the feelings of compassion for the friendless, equally through the press. We can expose the wickedness of some and the shortcomings of others. But we may mis- use it also at times. Still, while the press wields this power we, who have the press in our hands, should be careful. A mighty engine can be set in motion equally to hammer a bar of iron flat, or to crush a nut upon a plate without harming the latter ; and so this press of ours in England has become a mighty machine, doing its duty in all circumstances fearlessly and well. Look at the great achievements of the press, which carries words spoken in parliament lorp- after midnight to the breakfast- go SPEECHES AND TOASTS table in the north of England. Look at the correctness generally of the newspaper press ; the vast array of writers and the number of hands the press employs — the compositors, the readers, the machinists, the editors ; and can we wonder at our wish that the press should be free, and that it shall continue to exist. What we should do without the press no one can for a moment conceive. The touchy travelling Briton could not write and complain of incivility, or oppression, or extortion. The ladies would no longer see the Births, Marriages, and Deaths which constitute so large a portion of their newspaper reading. The young would miss the theatrical report ; the scientist his article, and the philosophical discussion to which it gave rise. The politician and the general reader would miss their parliamentary intelligence and their appetites for breakfast in the absence of the customary paper. Then the books ! What would become of the circulating libraries, and the people at the seaside of a wet day ? What would become of our writers or favourite authors, and their generous publis ,:;rs ? Can we fancy such a state of things as would ensue were the press suddenly to become non-existent? A railway strike, a cab strike, and a general revolution all to- gether, would be nothing in comparison to the universal absence of the press. The press is as life to the country, and civilization to the world. So, then, as this institution carries such a tremendous power and responsibility, it behoves all connected with it, and particularly the newspaper portion of it, to exercise a strict supervision. The making and marring of a man, the ultimate fate of an immortal soul, may depend upon a few words in a paper or a book. Editors have thus a great responsibility thrust upun them. Their critics are numerous, and jealousies not a few ; but it is grateful to testify to the purity and ability of the Press of England, and the able manner in which it is conducted. I am not now alluding to scurrilous or indecent publications, which are a disgrace to writer and editor and printer alike. I am speaking of the Newspaper Press of the United Kingdom — of the world, and call upon you all to drink heartily to its prosperity and success, to the great advantages it possesses, and to the health of its representa- tives, with whom I will couple the name of Mr. . BOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 91 XCVII. REPLY FOR THE PRESS. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I was unaware until I heard my name pronounced just now that I should be called upon to figure in the capacity of a speech-maker this evening. In one sense that is perhaps an advantage to you, for my speech will be the shorter. But I need no preparation or consideration to thank you all most heartily on behalf of the Press — though I am undeserving of the honour of responding to the toast — for your kind pro- posal and reception of it and me. Gentlemen, the Press of the United Kingdom is the freest in the world, and the purest. Across the water there are free institutions too; but the per sonality of the American Press is notorious, and to us unplea ■ sant to contemplate. Such licence would not be permitted in this country, and editors exercise a wise discretion in this matter. Reference has been made to the power and success of the Press ; but, as an additional reason, look at the difficulties a correspondent has to encounter now-a-days, and say whether his success is not deserved. Years Cigo a writer, a corres- pondent, had no need to worry himself particularly. He did not accompany the Army in the field ; he took what he could get at a distance, and was thankful for the amount of intelh- gence that fell from the general's table, or from his staff. Now-a-days we have " specials " undergoing hardships which combatants might scarce endure. These men are no longer the Grub-street hacks they used to be considered. Intelli- gence, moral and physical courage, daring, tact, pronftpt decision, and no less rapid writing, are attributes which the Press now demands from its correspondents. Nothing is more remarkable in these later days than the development of the Press. Literature has rpore votaries now than ever. Amateur and professional authors jostle each other upon the steps of the Temple of Fame ; and we have "All Sorts and Conditions of Men" waiting for the "Wheel of Fortune " to turn in their direction. Gentlemen, I should only detain you too long were I to give you any anecdotal reminiscences of my own career, or any recollections of others. Literature is a hard mistress, and demands much from her votaries. But it is gratifying to know that they all worship her— that the true pressman is as proud of his calling as the soldier is of his. There is a great struggle sometimes, and things look black ; but what- ever the fate of the working pressman, the Press will live as long as the world lasts, a monument of energy and worthy 92 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: of all admiration and respect. Gentlemen, in the name of the Press and its professional members I thank you again for the kind manner in which the toast has been received. XCVIIl. LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF A MUSEUM. {Speech by Lord Coleridge.'] Ladies and Gentlemen, — The toast I have to propose is " Prosperity to the Museum." Prosperity to the Museum means, I suppose, prosperity to those things with which the Museum is con- nected. Science, which is the knowledge of the universe of God ; Art, which is, 1 suppose, the imaginative representation of the whole of the creation which can be seen, and is capable of being represented ; and Literature, which, in its very narrowest significance, contains all that the best and ablest men of all times and all ages have ever thought and said. Now that is a light and easy short subject to be dealt with in an after-luncheon speech, especially by one who is for the most part wholly unfit to deal with any part of it. But I advocate most heartily such an institution as I understand this Museum to be, because it would be narrow pedantry and absurd to suppose that all the multitudinous forms of art, although they have been nobly handled by the great masters who have gone before, have been exhibited by them. The slightest reflection reminds us that the literature of Cartyle, Browning, Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, and Cardinal Newman show that the riches of the English language are not exhausted, and that its resources are still unfathomed. Therefore, gentlemen, it is with very great pleasure that I propose this toast tc you. I beUeve that in the institution of a Museum of this kind is to be found the greatest possible advantage to the whole countrj' with which it is connected. I suppose that no one can doubt that the surest way towards the cultivation of charitable judgment and moderate views is the real cultivation of true knowledge. I suppose that nobody can doubt that the " inevitable stream of tendency," as it is called, whether we like it or not, whether we desire it or not, is throwing day by day more and more power into the hands of the people. I suppose, therefore, it cannot be doubted that the ^^'iser, the more charitable, the larger, and more moderate, popular opinion can be made, the better for all of us. Now, 1 am sure that in an institution such as this there is, at all events, a means, perhaps not the complete means, but a means to such an end- Every piece HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 93 of really scientific information which has been added to the treasure house of mankind is, or may be, an inestimable blessing. It is not, of course, by the institution of the Museum alone, by its lecture-rooms, by its teaching, by its library, by its classes, and so forth, that the end I am pointing out can be achieved. Possibly it is not by any combination of ends in the power of man alone to bring about such a result ; but I am certain that institutions such as we have joined in increasing to-day ought, and I believe will have an important function in this respect. It will teach men, or it should teach them, from a scientific point of view how little we all are, how little the earth we stand upon and tread upon is compared with the universe, of which it forms an insignificant portion. That surely is a lesson which should humble every man. History should teach us what great men there have been before us, and what pigmies many of the persons who think themselves great men in tha present day are, compared with those who have gone before There is another lesson that the history of humanity, if it is rightly read, will teach us, viz., not only the wickedness, but the folly of harsh and severe judgments, and of ex- travagant language. If there is anything which can be gathered from the perusal of the history of literature, it is to teach a man to think humbly of himself, so as to become more and more capable of self-control, and therefore more and more fit to govern others. XCIX. A SCHOOL FESTIVAL. \Spoken by the Leader of the Excursion?!^ Ladies and Gentlemen, Young Friends and Old Friends, Before we leave this place where we have all spent such a delightful day, 1 want you to give three cheers for Mr. , by whose courtesy and kindness we have been enabled to enjoy ourselves so much. He is not present with us now, but I hope he will understand how fully we appreciate his kindness in permitting us to come here and picnic and run races, as we have all done to-day. We are glad to think there has been no damage done, and that you have all, boys and girls, behaved well and had plenty of rational enjoyment. Such good conduct will, no doubt, influence Mr. , if we again are desirous to have an afternoon in his beautiful park. His kindness deserves more acknowledgment than my poor words can give it, but I hope you, by a hearty cheer, will tell him how much vou all value his goodness. I won't 94 SPEECHES AND TOASTS: ask you to wish him many returns of this day ; still we may wish him heartily long life and every happiness. Now, boys and girls, three cheers for Mr. , and long life to him ! Now there is another thing — and I hope you are not all hoarse after those cheers, because I may want some more before I have done. There are some ladies and gentlemen present who have, at some inconvenience, but very willingly, come down with us to-day to assist us in our sports, and to make things go smoothly. They have also subscribed very liberally for the prizes you have won, and helped us all very materially to enjoy ourselves. We owe them a vote of thanks, and I am sure you will all unite with me in thanking our visitors very heartily for what they have done, and for the kind way they have assisted us all day in making this little treat pass off so well. Now then, all together — three cheers for the Visitors. C. SCHOOL FEAST. ^Distribution of Prizes for Athletic Sports.'] Ladies and Gentlemen, — I have been requested to give away the Prizes this after- noon, and I have very great pleasure in doing so, particularly as I have watched the sports with much interest, and feel that the winners deserve them. Some of the candidates have run their competitors very closely in one or two events, but the judge's decisions have settled the questions to the satisfaction of all parties, I believe, and nothing is now wanted but the distribution of the Prizes. I am greatly in favour of Athletics. Such exercises as we have witnessed this afternoon are calculated to bring out all the hardy qualilies of boyhood. The lungs are exercised, the muscles are strengthened, and we have, besides, several moral qualities developed. We learn to accept defeat without ill-feeling, and to obtain victory without any ungenerous triumph over failure. Those who have won tliis time must persevere if they wish to keep ahead ; just as in your lessons application is necessary to those who desire to keep well up m the school. Our v/hole life is a race — a struggle in which the weakest will fall behind. There is such competition now-a-days in everything, that intense application is needed to ensure success. So 1 trust all you young people who hear me will remember how you have gained your prizes, viz., by doing vour best. Now, if you carry this idea out in your lives s;enerally, and do your best — not the very best, of course, for HOW TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 95 others may beat you, but your best according tc your abilities and opportunities, you will be astonished how quickly you will come to the front. St. Paul bids us so to run that we may obtain a Heavenly crown. So let us run, striving for the mastery over all evil that besets us, and running away from it, not in fear, but in the strength of our hearts and bodies. No man can be strong in combat or running unless his heart be right, and in the right order for ■.vork. So in moral, as well as in physical exercises, the heart must be right. We must train ourselves with tem- perance and sobriety for the great race of life, and endeavour as far as possible to keep well in front of the evil that pursues us, so that we may gain the crown of life — the Eternal Prize. I will not longer detain you. Remember, if you can, my advice. Do your best, and leave the result and the verdict to the Judge. If you fail, you will not be disgraced at any rate, and you have dll a chance of winning, for the Prizes are many in the world to come. Now, if you please, I will hand the prizes to the successful competitors.' A NEW RAILWAY LINE. CI. TURNING THE FIRST SOD. [By the Chairman:] Ladies and Gentlemen, — We have to-day been assisting in a very great work, one that will make its mark in the future. We have to-day inaugurated the Railway Line which is to bring us within measurable distance of prosperity, a feeder to our population and a carrier of their produce. The benefits conferred by a railroad can scarcely be estimated. The line once so dreaded is now sought by landholders. When the railways were first brought before the public it was deemed impossible that they could pay or serve the country. Now we know to the con- trary. Landowners who drove the surveyor off their property lived to regret their action, and the people use them till millions of money are earned annually. We hope the short line which we have this day commenced I'ill prove of great benefit. Let us see what it will do. In ';he first place it will convey you all at cheap fares to the sea- side daily in summer ; so within an hour you will be on the sands and sporting with the waves of which your children ■ In giving the prizes a few words of congratuJa'ion should b' addressed to each w'nner. y6 SPEECHES AND TOASTS : and maybe many of your poorer neighbours have never had a glimpse. That is one benefit. Then to commerce and trade it will be an immense boon. You will have your letters more rapidly delivered, and your supplies from town more quickly forwarded. Speed, convenience, and a thriving population will all be results of the railroad. Before con- cluding I will propose to you a toast which I imagine all present will join with me in drinking. That toast is pros- perity to the and Line. We have had some little opposition to deal with, but I think I may say that all that is overcome. The Bill has passed, to-day the first sod has been turned. A great work has been initiated, and we may hope within a very short time to see the locomotive rushing between this place and the great county centres, carrying in its train hundreds who will gladly date their prosperity and increased comfort from the opening of the line. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you will unite with me in drinking the toast of Prosperity to the and Railway, coupled with the name of Mr. , who has all along taken such a usefid and leading part in the promotion of the line. CII. REPLY TO THE FOREGOING TOAST. [Bj/ the Pro- moter, or EiigineerJ] Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — Until my name was mentioned I was foUowing out a train of thought very different from the railway. 1 was thinking of the old coaching days, and the difficulties we had, when I was a young man, in getting up to A in the winter ; and as to B , we never visited it at all except in summer. The railroad will change all that now, and we shall have the satisfaction of finding a demand for our produce. Not only that, but the shareholders will, we believe, have a \ery satisfactory dividend after a while. The Railway has promised to send all its traffic over it, and we shall have to ask the shareholders whether they will come to a suggested agreement with the company and accept a ceitain percentage of the traffic, or let the old company work the line. But these are all details of a business nature, and need not be discussed here. We are here to drink the toast of Prosperity to the Railway, and the manner in which the proposal has been responded to convinces me that all take a great interest in the completion of the line. I have person- HOIV TO MAKE AND PROPOSE THEM. 9? ally taken a part in the promotion of the long-desired con- necting link between us and the outer world. Every year I have that seen other places are developing traffic, and that my native town, which I can remember such a very small place, is now likely to become more important. I can only express my conviction that the new line will do all I hope, and more. Now, gentlemen, I will merely add my sincere thanks for your kind "toasting," and assure you that I feel your kindness and appreciate the feelings that led to its proposal and warm reception, for which I thank you al! heartily. CIlA. TOAST OF THE TOWH AND TEADE OU' Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — It is my pleasurable duty to propose to you the toast of prosperity to the Town and Trade of . Every one present, at this "feast of reason and flow of soul " must, I am sure, be impressed with the importance not only of main- taining, but, as far as possible, increasing, the prosperity of this famous (or ancient) and enlightened borough (town or city). Some of those who have honoured us witli their presence on this interesting occasion may not have had the good fortune to be natives of this borough, or to be otherwise connected with it ; but they too, I doubt not, will heartily join us in our good wishes for its welfare. But those of us who were born here, or who hjive lived here for any length of time, have every reason to drink this toast with the utmost enthusiasm. We are proud of our town — proud of its history and of the men who have made it. Like other places we have our seasons of trade depression as well as our seasons of trade revival ; but I venture to say that in no other community will you find men more willing to take the rough with the smooth, or more determined to face adversity with courage or prosperity with moderation. We hear much of foreign competition, and no doubt the difficul- ties of holding our own in industry and commerce are more serious now-a-days than they used to be. Still, we manage to get on, and I believe that in the future, whatever dis- appointments or reverses may be in store for us, we shall be able to break the record of the past. Gentlemen, you may possibly think me too much prejudiced in favour of my native town, but I can assure you that, taking all things into consideration, I would sooner be hanged in than die a natural death anywhere else. Gentlemen, 1 ask you to drink to the prosperity of the Town and Trade of : O SECTION VIII. TEMPERANCE AND BLUE RIBBON MEETINGS. Temperance Speeches — The Blue Ribbon — Total Absti- nence — Various Addresses. cm. ADDRESS BY A MEMBER OP THE BLUB RIBBON ARMY. My Friends, — I have come up here this evening, and venture to address you, though I am conscious of my inabihty to do justice to the cause we all have at heart — I mean Gospel Temperance. Remember that. We put the Gospel first, and we wish you all to understand that we mean total abstinence from in- toxicating liquors. Some may say — hundreds do openly proclaim the advis- ability of permitting " moderate drinking." Now let us look at this moderate drinking. What is it ? Can we lay down any line and say, I will not pass that ; I will not drink more than two or three glasses of wine or beer all day ? No ; we know we cannot do so. Would we parley with a declared enemy, with one who we knew was ready to take advantage of us .'' We should estimate ourselves at a very low figure if we did so. But I think I can prove to you all, by figures and facts, that even what is called very moderate drinking is delusive and harmful, on the authority of Dr. Richardson, who is an eminent total abstainer. I need not quote such authorities as Sir Henry Thompson and Canon Farrar, but will pass at once to the physical aspect of the question, putting aside for the moment the moral bearings of the case. Now suppose a man be very regular in his drinking as well as " moderate," and that he consumes a pint of beer, half a pint of wine, and perhaps a glass or two of whisky and water. These beverages contain, says Dr. Richardson, six ounces of alcohol. The effect of this is to make the heart beat 1 8,000 times a day more than it ought to do, and it has to raise what would be equivalent to nineteen extra tons weight one THE BLUE RIBBON. 99 foot ; and so on as we diminish the quantity we will diminish the extra action of the heart. Therefore the less we drink the better for us physically. Too much exercise is detri- mental to weak hearts. Drinking is equally detrimental to heart and body and soul. But look at the moral side of the question. Is not every one here who indulges in drinking aware that, when under the influence of wine or other liquor, he will do things which he would never have done if perfectly sober ? Have we not often heard the expression, " I'm sure I never would have said so (or done so) unless I had had a glass too much"? Is not intoxication pleaded daily in our courts as excuse for all kinds of offences, from murder downwards ? Are not we aware that wine heats our blood, and incites us to excesses which we need not particularize? If a fall from purity in a woman is the cause of the poor creature taking to drinking, in despair, as is sometimes the case, is not drinking on the other hand the cause of man's sinning, and perhaps inducing the woman to sin too ? Can we, as men, ask ourselves these questions, and not reply in the affirmative ? Some will meet me, no doubt, with the argument that if wine be permitted by the Bible, and even offered in the Sacrament as a holy pledge, it cannot be wrong. But will any one in his senses maintain that the sip of good wine partaken of in Holy Communion is a drinking of wine? No one can assert that. Well, then, as to the wine of Scripture. We read that water was turned into wine, pure, good wine — there was no alcohol or adulteration in it. It was even purer than the ordinary expressed grape juJp**, and it is the present loaded and mixed wines and beers which do so much harm. Men — and alas ! women — are poisoned, intoxicated, by drugs. Pure beverages will hurt no one in moderation, I believe. But we must take things as they unfortunately are, and until we can obtain pure drinks let us aostain. Another point we find in Scripture is that all mixed wines are condemned. There the Bible helps us, and we find that drunkenness is condemned as a deadly sin. That cases of drunkenness are on record in the Bible, is a fact ; but they are recorded with other sins, and it is no argument in favour of drinking to say it was permitted under circumstances entirely different to those now obtaining. Many sins are recorded in the Bible for our warning, so that we may avoid them. The priests were specially forbidden to use strong drink. There is no time when Satan is more likely to assail 100 SPEECHES ON TEMPERANCE. as than when we are under the influence of drink. Oui passions are then excited, and we fall ! There is yet another point. We must, or at any rate I may say we should, abstain for others' sakes. I heard an opinion expressed the other day to the effect that a man is more worthy of regard who can jay " No," and stop when he has had enough. It is better to use and not abuse. Yet even to such an one I would say, " Granted that you are able always to restrain yourself — and that is granting a great deal — if you can by example and abstention make a convert and one drunkard's home happy, will you not abstain entirely ? " Those who abstain for example's sake are even better and more self-denying Christians than those who are moderate. " For the sake of the weak they become as weak, that they may gain the weak ! " I want you to do this of your own free will, and come forward to take the pledge honestly, and with a full conviction of good. No children should be forced to take the ribbon in my opinion. They should first be convinced of the necessity for abstinence, and then made wearers of the Blue, and members of the Gospel Temperance Union. Pray for help, cut off the drinking, and you will find rest unto your souls ! CIV. ANOTHER SPEECH ON TEMPERANCE. My Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, — I am glad to see such an assembly here to-night, because I have some very important things to say, and I hope to receive many of you into our Band of Total Abstainers this evening. I want you — we want you — to look at this move- ment for Gospel Temperance fairly, and ask yourselves whether you think drinking does you any good, morally or physically. I do not want to force you to come here, or to remain or to take any pledge, unless you can conscientiously do so. But, nevertheless, I will put a few facts before you. Firstly, do you require to drink .? Can any of you present tell me honestly that you find any wine, or spirit, or intoxi- cating liquor necessary for your well-being ? Does it make you better, warmer, or less liable to feel hungry ? If so, there may be something to say in its favour. But it does not ! There is no human function performed by strong drink. A debilitated frame may derive a certain satisfaction from a glass of wine or brandy. But does the benefit remain? I think not. You may receive a temporary " fillip " from the use of stimulants, but the reaction will be THE BLUE RIBBON. loi cpnrespondingly great, and depression will ensue. Good food will do much more for you than alcoholic liquors. That is a fact. It is a curious but easily ascertained fact that in all organ- isms water — not any stimulant — is the necessary fluid for the support of the body. There is no doubt about that. More- over, when any such stimulant is introduced there is a certain change in the organization. Now alcohol has a gi'eat affinity for water, which makes up two-thirds of the human body. When we use alcohol we are actually putting into our bodies an agent which will in time dry us up, and absorb the fluid of our tissues. This will account for the great dryness of the drunkard's mouth and stomach, and his craving for cool- ing liquid, water, &c., which will restore the balance of fluid to the exhausted body. It is a great mistake to suppose that alcoholic drinks are beneficial. Rheumatism, gout, and many other diseases are attributable directly and indirectly to indulgence in wine, The ideas we have concerning the strengthening powers of alcohol are in the main, if not entirely, fallacies. It may be at times necessary to administer brandy as a medicine, as doctors administer strychnine or other poisons under certain circumstances ; but no one will tell me who has studied the subject that alcohol in any form is beneficial to the ordinary human being. It causes temporary excitement and destroys the appetite for food, and by food the body is warmed and kept alive. Let any of you take a couple of glasses of whisky and water in the middle of the day, even after food, and tell me the result. Are you more fit for work, or not ? Can you go back to work after that luncheon hour, or dinner hour, and settle down as well as if you had had no alcoholic liquor? You know you cannot. The senses are dulled, the hand is not so ready, the brain is chilled if the body is warmed. You wish for some excitement or other, not quiet work at your desk. And then comes the reaction. The appetite is gone : tea, supper, or perhaps dinner, supervene, and you have no wish to eat. You are sleepy or dull, and this is the result of alcohol. In an exaggerated form such indulgences make a man tipsy, and I need not inform you how helpless and disgusting is a soddened and tipsy man — what a fearful object is a tipsy woman ! The conclusions which have been come to concerning alcohol are summed up by an experienced analyst, (i) It gives no strength (2) It gives no warmth. ro2 SPEECHES ON TEMPERANCE. (3) It builds up no tissue. (4) It reduces the " tone " of the body. In the face of such facts will any wavering one persist " Oh, House of Israel, why will ye die I " Come, then, and take the pledge and wear your badge, not as some do, only to remove it in the hour of temptation, but to let it remain in your coats a token of sobriety and self- denial, an example to others of the benefits to be derived from Gospel Temperance and Total Abstinence. CV. THE BLUB RIBBON— WEAT IS IT? My Friends, — I am here to-night to explain to you what the Blue Ribbon means, and how and why it ought to be worn. Many of you I see are already members of the band, but I hope before we part this evening many who have perhaps come here from mere curiosity will accept the pledge and wear the ribbon when they have heard something concerning it. Now let me speak of the pledge itself The most familiar form of the Blue Ribbon pledge is, " With malice towards none, with charity for all, I, the un- dersigned, do pledge my Vford and honour, God helping vie, to abstain from all intoxicating liquors as a beverage — nine, beer, and cider included — and that I will, by all honourable means, encourage others to abstain." Tens of thousands are taking the Blue Ribbon and the pledge, hence it seems to me that one of the most important things temperance workers have to do is " to explain the Blue Ribbon pledge." What it means is this, and my earnest desire is that it may remind every one who has donned the Blue Ribbon of the serious responsibility they have now undertaken. My friends, temperance, instead of being put in place of the gospel is now made a part of it. Temperance now comes forward and bids you, " Friend, go up higher." God is still helping on the work, and now he has put it into the hearts of some of His servants to teach us how it is to be done. We are now to work " with malice to none.''' We temperance reformers have always had a high and holy mission ; we have always been called upon to e.xercise courage and determination, and now we must work " With malice to none." Our caUing now entails the laying aside of "all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, and to come out boldly ; but, ' with charity for a/t,' suffering long and being kind, envying not, not behaving ourselves unseemly. THE BLUE RIBBON. 103 not seeking our own, not being easily provoked," and even as far as lies in us, thinking no evil, but having " charity for all." We may well exclaipi, " What a high standard ! the taking of such a pledge is a serious matter.! It is : but it is also true that according to what ^e have br haVe not done we shall at the final day of, account rejcei^ our reward or punishment ; hen^e it may b? ^ur dutyf tpf take the Blue Ribbon, and remenlber we- take 'this plWge saying, God helping us, we will do this ; -wfeinay feel that of ourselves we can do.nothing, but Godfci'Hi'Tielp. If it- had not been that His ha\d wap^a Sjgj-v^i^' the greattesults which are now known moulA ri'M'er ha\e been brou^t about. Many very earnest fct^cuis have, qaen sent to His throne, and these have beem ^nsft'ered, Wd we have an aim, a pUin, an en- deavour, a^riiet^d of work, which is being carried out with malice t This famous badge of blye is so simple that even a child may wear it, and the most/fastidious cannot object to it, but still enough to show that all who do take it have adopted the Gospel Temperance pledge, and do not intend to be ashamed of their colours, but do their part, willingly and readily giving friendly assistance to others to " go up higher ; " it may be higher than they have gone before, higher in helping to make smooth paths, higher in helping to remove stumbling blocks, higher in joining in the heartfelt song — Hail my comrades with the signal, the emblem of the true, The nation is awaking to the wearing of the blue. The nation truly is awaking, but how ? It is no longer, " Friend, go up higher," but now it is, " Friend, come tip higher." I recommend you to do this, and I have done il myself ; I call upon you to assist others to come up, for Across the land from sea to sea We're falling into line, Forsaking all the gilded haunts Of sin, and shame, and wine ; Awaking to a better life. To proudly dare and do. There are still some few who remain outside our appeal, and we need to know how to deal with them. To these we have a message, among these we must work, and if we would know how, let us remember, and endeavour in all our deal- ings with them to fully carry out, our motto, " No malice, true charity, asking the help of God." Appeal to them : Friend, I04 SPEECHES ON TEMPERANCE, come up higher ; I will do my best to show you the way, and God will help me. Friend, join the ranks of those who are nobly standing side by side. Friend, give us your help towards bringing some one to a turning point, which may be the means of leading them to seek after that peace of God which passeth all understanding. Friend, think what your example is doing, think that you have an influence with some one that we have not. Think is it not your duty to assist us in telling those who need to be told? Here is an act for you to undertake, and Heaven's smile will rest upon you When the grand deed is done. * CVI. CARDINAL MANNING ON TOTAL ABSTINENCE His Eminence said he was quite sure that if they were not all red-hot in their determination to do everything they could for the League of the Cross, that they would not have come there on such a night, but it might be well to remind them of the reasons why they were working so hard. It was because the drink traffic at this moment was a national shame, a national folly, and a national danger. We were a Christian people, and a civiHzed people, but nevertheless it was not the poor Chinese, nor the poor Hindoos, nor the poor Mahommedans who drank to drunkenness, for by their laws or religion they were all bound to drink no intoxicating drink, and as a rule they did not. Drunkenness was to be found in the Christian and civilized world, and he maintained that it was a great shame that that which was a brutal vice, which embrutes and bestializes men and women, should be found, not among poor heathen, but among the Christian and civilized people of the world. That which was a great shame in the Christian world was a special and burning shame upon Englishmen, Irishmen, and Scotchmen — those who made up the British Empire — and for this reason, there was not a country in the world into which Britons went where they did not carry with them intoxicating drink, and, what was almost worse, a trade in opium was promoted which destroyed races of poor uncivilized people. A Chris- tian people ought to carry the benedictions and graces of Christianity and all that civilisation could do to refine and ' A portion of the above is taken from the Temperance Chronicli. TOTAL ABSTINENCE. 105 elevate uncivilized nations, but they carried a plague and pestilence instead of Christian civilization. They knew the condition of people at home. There were 120,000 deaths in every year arising from intoxicating drink, and if there were that number of deaths, how many hundreds of thousands were there of those that were diseased unto death and did not die. What a wide-spread plague of disease of every kind, like a pall, hung over the population of this country throughintoxicatingdrink. It was not one in ten of the number of sick persons who died. They might multiply this number of 120,000 tenfold, and those practised in medicine told them that at least seven in every ten of the worst diseases were directly or indirectly caused or aggravated by the use of intoxicating drink ; and as some of the most eminent of them had said, not only by intoxicating drink in excess, but intoxicating drink in what people call moderation. After alluding to the progress of the Total Abstinence movement, his Eminence said he hoped they would do their best to work with the United Kingdom Alliance. They were met to cele- brate Father Mathew's birthday, which was a moveable feast, for he believed it was on the 12th of this month Father Mathew founded a number of temperance societies in London, but with the exception of one or two they became extinct, because there was no organization to back them up. What the United Kingdom Alliance was, as far as the political part of the work was concerned, the League of the Cross was morally and spiritually, and he exhorted them to enrol their names among the members of the League. CVn. SPEECH BY PROFESSOR BLAIKIE. Professor Blaikie, who received a cordial welcome from the meeting, remarked that this was not the first Gospel Temperance Meeting he had addressed by any means ; but it was the first he had addressed in Edinburgh, and it was the first meeting of this magnitude that he addressed on that particular aspect of temperance. He liked the combination of the terms " Gospel " and " Temperance." The word " Gospel," as the hymn which had been so sweetly sung indicated, meant " good tidings," and " Gospel temperance " he understood to mean that temperance was part of the good tidings given to them. It was the glory of Christ's gospel that what it offered to men it offered fully, freely, and at once, " without money and without price." If tha* /o6 SPEECHES ON TEMPERANCE. ■rere true of all the blessings of the gospel, it must be true of temperance if it were one of these blessings ; so that he understood the gospel of Jesus Christ made offer of full and free emancipation from the evil and guilt of intemperance, and a full and free offer of the blessings of temperance to all who would come to Christ and receive these blessings at His hand. In fact it was just the fulfilment of the words of the prophet, which our blessed Lord applied to Himself— " The spirit of the Lord hath anointed me to preach de- liverance to the captive." It was a proclamation of de- liverance to the captive, and embraced the prisoner in the captivity of strong drink. It was a very wretched captivity — a very hop'^iess captivity in many cases. It was a cap- tivity out of which the unhappy captive had often sought to deliver himself, and had often appealed to his fellow-men to deliver him, and made the appeal often in the most plaintive and touching terms and tones, but in vain. The jailer had been too strong — a stronger man who had had him in bonds had not been wiUing to let him go, and a stronger than he had not yet come by him to his deliverance. He believed this proclamation of temperance was part of the blessings of the gospel, and was offered, in consequence, even to the person who had most hopelessly sunk under the power of a love of drink. The Lord, who was high in might and power, to whom all power had been given in heaven and in earth, was able to accomplish the deliverance of the captive just as much as He was able by a word and touch to cleanse the poor leper who, in all the loathsomeness of his disease and hopelessness of his outcast position, came to Him and said, " Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean." That was what he believed they might understand by gospel temperance. It did not merely offer him deliverance from this one form of sin, but from all sins through Christ and the power of His Spirit. It was a means whereby they would be kept from temptation, and supported and delivered if temptation did come. They all knew how pressing and vehement were the efforts made to get persons who wished to be temperate to indulge themselves in places and in ways which were very apt to make them intemperate. They knew for instance that some young men could not resist the temptations of their comrades to drink. In pledging themselves they gave an answer once and for all, and it ought to be respected. A pledge was not to be taken in an easy and off-hand waj', but should be taken with a due sense of the solemn promise made, as, according to the LORD C. HAMILTON'S SPEECH. 107 words of Scripture, " Better was it not to vow than to vow and not perform." He urged upon all who took the pledge to respect it. Many people told them that drinking was going out, and in certain forms, no doubt, it was ; but in other forms it was coming in. He was sure that during the last generation there was a great deal more drinking in ceitain circles than there was forty years ago, and a great deal more drinking among women than there was when he began his ministry about forty years ago. They had not the least reason to draw bridle — work had yet to be done, and with increasing activity and vigour. Professor Blaikie went on to tell about the drunken condition of a seaside resort not twenty miles from Edinburgh, where he had been stay- ing. The air was full of health, but the curse of drink was in the place, and during tlae short period he had been there four deaths had occurred which must be ascribed entirely to intemperance. He trusted this movement begun in the city would not evaporate on the removal of a temporary influence. Let them try to make it permanent — make it extensive and intensive. He hoped that God might abundantly bless the labours of his servant among them, who had been instru- mental in doing so much in other places, and that they should have cause to thank God for his visit. CVIII. LOBD CLAUD HAMILTON, M.P., ON THE TBM- PERANCE QUESTION. The Chairman said this was rather a remarkable year — the year of the Temperance Jubilee. They no doubt were aware of the history of its beginning with the seven men of Preston. It was a very small and humble commencement, but with the blessing of God it had spread throughout the land. He thought this was a glorious achievement to have been brought about within the period of a human life, and he believed two of the seven men were still alive to witness the result of their efforts. During his political life he had seen many changes in the public mind, and especially in the opinion of what might be called the enlightened classes. He was in Parliament at the time the temperance question was introduced in the form of the first Permissive Bill, and did his best to promote it, but the opposition was so great that the members who supported it were looked upon aj fanatics, and were received with derisive laughter. This io8 SPEECHES ON TEMPERANCE. state of things went on for some time, but by putting forth sound arguments they made a great impression, and began to be listened to with attention, and gradually the annua! motion was treated in a more sensible way, and in fact so important had it grown that the question had great power at the time of Parliamentary elections. He might even say that temperance had become one of the powers in the State. The progress it had made was truly wonderful. Take for example the various religious bodies, and they would find that the Cardinal Archbishop, Wesleyan and Baptist min- isters, and the representatives of almost every religious sect invited each other to co-operate and act as brothers in the war against drink. One of the most eminent physicians of the day. Dr. Andrew Clarke, had come over to their side and given a direct denial to the theory that alcohol was a nutritious food. Dr. Richardson and Dr. Norman Kerr were both early converts, but let them look how one after another the profession had come over to their side. It was therefore proved that alcohol was not a good thing, except perhaps occasionally as a medicine, just as poisons were. Hanlan had publicly stated that he was positive he should not have been nearly so successful had he not been a total abstainer. He was pleased to say that marvellous progress had been made in the Army and Navy, to whom we owed so much of our national greatness ; and it gratified him exceed- ingly to be able to say that this change was mainly due to two ladies — Miss Weston and Miss Robinson. In the Army they were not at first received very graciously by the officers, but they soon saw the enormous advantage of having tem- perate men under their control ; and now both these ladies were well received both by the officers and the men, and the immediate result of their labours was the establishment of a temperance canteen in every barrack, and at all the sea- ports in Europe there had lately been opened places where sailors who wished to be away from the drink could stay without fear of temptation. All this was the outcome of the labour of these two ladies, and it induced him to remind the fair sex of their great influence, and to beseech them to use it in the cause of temperance. It had no doubt been grati- fying to every Englishman to hear of the brilliant success of our Army and Navy in Egypt. They must have read with pleasure of the vigour with which our troops attacked the enemy ; but he would say there was an enemy at work within our very midst doing tenfold more harm than the Egyptians could do. It was a domestic foe in every way, LORD C. HAMILTON'S SPEECH. tog and they ought to be stimulated with a determination to crush that foe. Of course that remained with them, and he had every confidence, seeing that so much had already been done, they would go on in the same way until the enemy was completely destroyed. CVlIlA. THE LADIES. {Generally proposed by the Youngest Bachelor present?^ Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — I rise to ask you to charge your glasses that you may do honour to the most important toast that it is possible to propose at any feast of reason and flow of soul, namely, the toast of " The Ladies." 1 don't know why this toast should be put so near to the bottom of the list, unless it be that the gentleman responsible for preparing the list is under the sad delusion that woman is inferior to man. I hold such an assumption to be a gross libel upon our mothers, and sweet- hearts, and wives, and sisters, and cousins, and aunts. Gentlemen, I believe in the equality of the sexes. If women are inferior to men in certain respects, they are superior to them in others. I once heard a platform lady make out a strong case in favour of this view. At the conclusion of her address there was a discussion, during which one poor man who ventured to take an opposite view was completely sat upon by the fair orator. " If," said this unfortunate man, " women are intellectually equal to men, how is it they have never produced a Shakespeare ?" " Haven't they, though ? " asked the lady. The roar of laughter that followed compelled lier opponent to sit down in much discomfort. 1 really think, gentlemen, that if we had a few young women in the House of Commons, instead of the many old women who at present make such a mess of things there, it would be all the better for the government of the country. But I am dropping into politics, so before the chairman pulls me up I will just say that whatevei opinion gentlemen present may hold on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland, we must all be of one mind in thinking that all women should be home rulers ah the world over. I must confess that I have not yet mustered up courage to subject myself to home rule, in the matrimonial sense, but I strongly recommend my bachelor friends to try the experiment. It is true that a Greek poet has told u< that " Two happy days a married man may prize ; The day he weds his wife, the day she dies ! " but then 1 don't believe that poets are the best judges of domestic matters. Gentlemen, "The Ladies!" God bless them. SECTION IX. RULES FOR THE FORMATION OP LOCAL PARLIAMENTS. There are in the United Kingdom at the present time a number of Debating Societies calling themselves " Parlia- ments," which have been organized to give members the opportunity of ventilating political and social questions on the basis of Parliamentary procedure. These Parliaments have in many instances been very successful in developing debating talent, and in discovering the party preponderance in certain districts, and therefore in indicating the feeling of the country upon important ques- tions of the day. It has appeared to the publishers that a brief resumi of the chief points to be attended to in the formation and con- duct of such Parliamentary Debating Societies may be use- fully included in the present volume ; and they have accord- ingly caused the following rules to be compiled, principally from actual " Parliamentary Procedure " as set forth by Sir Erskine May, the Clerk of the House of Commons. The Rules and Regulations have been i-evised and, when necessary, adapted to local parliamentary necessities by an experienced hand. The assistance here given will, the pub- lishers believe, be found useful to any one engaged in mimic legislative debates. The following Rules or " Standing Orders " are based upon experience : — It will be necessary to have a book in which every member must enter his name and address when he pays his subscrip- tion for the year, or for the session, as may be decided by the Council. The Officers of a Parliamentary Debating Society should be as follows, and must be members of the society. (i) The Speaker. (2) Chairman of Conmiittees (or Deputy-Speaker). (3) .Clerk of the House. FORMA TION OF A MINIS TR Y. in (4) Deputy-Clerk and Secretary. (5) Treasurer. The Treasurer, and Deputy-Clerk and Secretary, may be paid officials in the discretion of the Council ; but in that case they can have no vote in a division. The Clerk of the House and Chairman of Committees may be permitted to vote ; but, as a rule, it is better if no officials be allowed to go into the lobbies. The Council should consist of seven or nine members, the officers of the House being ex officio members of it. The Council may advisedly be selected from different political parties, as evenly balanced as possible. The Council should be elected on the first night of the session, and con- tinue in office until the first night of the ensuing session. A fresh election of Council and Officers will then take place. The President of the Council is elected by the Council, which in a body have the control of the funds through the treasurer, and the inspection of the accounts, &c., rendered by him. A vacancy in the Council may be filled up by that body at the first meeting after the announcement of such vacancy to the House in session. Five out of nine members form a quorum, and so on in proportion. Notices of a Council meeting should be sent out by the Secretary at least one week before the date named for the meeting. (For this and other reasons it is advisable that the Secretary be a paid official and responsible to the Council.) FORMATION OF A MINISTRY. The " Ministry " should be formed by the elected Leader of either political party whose means and opportunities are sufficient to do so. The Government should at first, if possible, be of the same politics as the actual Government of the country. But they may be compelled to resign by the rejection of a Bill, or a Vote of Censure, &c., being carried against them. The Leader of the Ministerial Party will choose his col- leagues, and will nominate them to various posts corre- sponding, when practicable, to those actually in the Cabinet. He must find subjects for debate, compose the " Queen's Speech," and introduce Bills and other matter for discussion — in correspondence with the Leader of the Opposition. When the Ministry resigns (or is defeated) the Leader of the Opposition will take office if prepared to do so ; or he 112 LOCAL PARLIAMENTS. may permit the hitherto existing Ministry to resume the business and carry on the government until the end of the session, if his party be not sufficiently strong to conduct it. The Meetings of a Local Parliament may be called weekly, at an hour most convenient to the majority of the members. This time should be fixed upon at a preliminary general meeting of the members, who can at the same time elect the officers &c. of the Parliament. The Regula- tions proposed should be submitted to this preliminary meeting and formulated after full discussion. The subscriptions being paid, and the members elected being present at the specified time, the first proceeding will consist in reading the Minutes of the previous meeting. This must always be done first after the Speaker has taken the chair ; or, if considered desirable, the Speaker may put the question to the House that " the Minutes be taken as read." This will save time. After the reading of the Minutes of the previous meeting, the introduction to the Speaker of newly elected Members, and the names of newly proposed members, will be recorded. The newly elected members should be accompanied by their respective proposers and seconders, and should advance up the floor of the House to the Speaker's chair, and be formally introduced to him by name, and as the Members for the Constituencies they have severally elected to represent. When all the new members have been introduced, then those whose names have been submitted, with their addresses, and the names of their proposers and seconders, are read to the House, and they will be elected by the Council at the following Council meeting if no objection be lodged, and may be introduced as new members at the following meeting of the Parliament. When any member presents himself at the table to pay his subscription, the Clerk or Secretary shall request him to enter his name and address and Constituency in the Members' Book, and the Secretary or Clerk shall enter his name in the " Constituency " Book ; and if the place have a member already allotted to it, the member must choose to represent another place. Members take their places to the right or left of the Speaker, according as their party is in or out of office. The front seats on the right are occupied by the Ministry, those on the left by the Leaders of the Opposition. After the introduction of, and the proposals for, new mem- RULES AND REGULATIONS. 113 bers have been completed, Notices of Questions and of Motions should be handed in, and either read by the members who wish to bring them forward, or handed in in duplicate to the Clerk of the House at the table. He will then read them, and the Secretaiy will see that the Ministry have the ques- tions to answer by next meeting. The Motions will then be proceeded with in the same way, and when those of which previous notice had been given have been answered or debated, the adjourned debate (if any) will be resumed. The above is the mode of proceeding which will be found perfectly suitable to Local Parliaments and in accordance with usage. The following Rules will be found useful in these Debating Societies, and also in consonance with the practice of the Imperial Parliament. Rules and Regulations for Local Parliamentary Debating Societies. The Speaker is the controller of the House : all debate ceases when he rises, and his dictum must be accepted as final. He has a casting vote when parties are equal, and may give it either way, but experience teaches that he gives it to the " Noes." His duty is to keep the debate in the proper channel and to enforce the rules of the House. It is proper and customary to bow to the Speaker when entering or leaving the House, and no member or stranger wearing his hat must sit in the House in presence of the Speaker. Members must not pass and repass between the Speaker and the member addressing the House. No stranger must seat himself or be permitted to remain in any portion of the House set apart for members only. Wlien a member is in possession of the House all the rest should be silent, or at any rate no audible interruption should be made ; and no periodical should be read unless for infor- mation to be used in connection with the debate. Speaking. — In speaking in the House a member must look to the Speaker and address him, and keep strictly to the point of discussion. He must not allude to previous debates that session unless he wish to move that a question be re-opened, or a decision be rescinded. He must then con- clude with a motion to that effect. When a Motion has been made and then seconded, after due notice having been given of the member's intention to propose any question for consideration, it is then put to the House by the Speaker ; but if the Motion be not seconded it is dropped. H 114 LOCAL PARLIAMENTS. A Motion, if unopposed, may be made without previous notice ; but if subsequently any one objects to it the proposer must withdraw it. In the absence of the Speaker the chair will be taken by his Deputy ; but if it should happen that the Deputy-Speaker is also absent, then the House must choose one of its members to the position. The nomination may be challenged, and a show of hands will decide the point, and so on till a selection be approved. The Rules for Divisions are those generally in force in the House of Commons, the Tellers being appointed by th« Speaker ; and these gentlemen in pairs receive the votes as the memlDers file into the right or left lobby, according as they are " Ayes " or " Noes." The Tellers then respectfully hand the papers to the Speaker, who reads the numbers, and declares which party has the advantage, in the usual way. We can only thus indicate a few of the leading points to be observed in the formation and arrangement of a Parlia- mentary Debating Society. Every such society must be influenced more or less by local conditions, which will change ; but the chief points to be observed are touched upon above — the details can easily be tilled in from any work upon Parlia- mentary Procedure. SPECIMEN SPEECHES IN DEBATE. We annex extracts from speeches actually delivered in a well-known Local Parliament in London, the Kensington Parliament, one of the best managed of these local societies. Speaking on the Irish question in the resumption of debate a member said " that he had not had the time he should have wished to study the proposal that had been brought forward by the Hon. Member for A , but at the same time he had perused his speech with great attention, and he had endeavoured to ascertain as far as he could what was really the object and meaning of the hon. gentlemen opposite when they asked them to agree to a proposal to establish Local Self-Government in Ireland. He must con- fess he was not able to gather what was really their object in caUing on them to pass such a Resolution —if the aim and object of the Hon. Member was to decentralize certain powers from the Imperial Parliament and to introduce into Ireland a sort of Local Boards for purely local matters if they were going to deal with the question of roads merely, A SPEECH ON IRELAND. 115 railways, rating, and other matters of that kind, he quite admitted it was within debateahle and practical politics. He thought they might have had a very interesting debate, and one, perhaps, which would have met with approval on both sides of the House, if the Hon. Member opposite had brought forward arguments to show that it was a better method of dealing with such a question than that of the Imperial Par- liament at Westminster ; but the Hon. Member for A had brought forward the Motion, he thought, in a very vague way, and simply called on them to establish Local S elf- Government in Ireland. He did not say to what extent that Local Self- Government was to be established, except that perhaps matters of gas, water, roads, bridges, and the like, were to be relegated to the authority he proposed to establish. He did not know how it was to be dealt with exactly, except that they were going to deal with the subjects of education and religion, and that was the total amount of information which the Hon. Member had given in respect of those powers that he was going to give to the Local Authority. If such a measure as that was going to be brought forward, he must confess he did not see why it should be brought forward with regard to Ireland only. A question like the present not only concerned Ireland, but Great Britian as well — both Scotland, England, and Wales. If they were going to de- centralize any of the powers possessed by the Imperial Par- liament, there would be no difficulty, perhaps, if they could show reasonable argument for the proposal ; but it must be done, he thought, by a Bill, dealing not only with Ireland, but with the whole of the United Kingdom. The Hon. Member said that his reason for proposing to establish this measure in Ireland was on account of the urgent state of aiiairs in that country. He confessed the state of Ireland at the present time would, to his mind, show that instead of a measure of that kind being given to it now, it ought to be reserved for a time when calm and peace existed in the country, and when order had been restored, which it was not at the present time. If any moment could be more in- opportune it was the present time, when agitators had raised a commotion throughout the land ; and if any measure of this kind were given to them now, it would be simply regarded as a recognition of their disorder. But he doubted whether that was the object of the Member for A . It was evident that if a Parliament were to meet in Dublin it would be because it was considered that a Local Parliament could deal better with such matters than the Imperial Parliament Ii6 LOCAL PARLIAMENTS. Had the Hon. Member given them any reason in the first place why they were going to relegate the power to a Local Authority more than to a Central Authority in London ? He supposed it was because he considered that men who were elected by the Local Districts would, perhaps, be better able to deal with local matters than those who knew nothing about the districts to which the matter referred. ^ He ven- tured to think that the argument as to a Parliament in London applied equally to a Parliament in Dublin. " If you wished to establish the principle that in purely local matters local representatives were to have the power of governing, he thought that probably there would be a great deal more party prejudice brought into the matter than would be the case with the Parliament at Westminster. They aU knew that Bills relating to such matters as he presumed the Hon. Member would give over to Parliament were not dealt with by the Houses of Parliament at all, but were relegated to Committees of the House, and the Committee heard evidence on both sides, and decided between the parties who appeared for and against any Bill relegated to that Com- mittee, and probably they were a body much better able tc judge with respect to these matters than a body of men representing purely local interests and local politics. He thought the result of giving Home Rule to Ireland would be a separation of the two countries, and the granting of the whole power in Ireland to the Parliament sitting in Dublin." A Radical Member replied, and " regretted that the Government had changed the plan on which they first pro- posed to bring forward the question, and that they did not introduce a Bill for establishing Home Rule in Ireland. The Hon. Member for P had said there was no suf- ficient reason shown for giving Home Rule to Ireland. The strongest reason, he thought, was the wish of the people, vox poptcli suprema lex. It was all very well to talk of pro- fessional agitators. They were the people who did not desire Home Rule, for their occupation would be gone. It was no new thing they were asking for, but merely the restoration of their rights, which, by bribery and corruption, and by corrupt appointments, were filched from them. The bes Irish blood had always been in favour of the estEblishment of Home Rule. Very strong reasons must be brought for- ward on the other side of the House to induce it to vote against the Motion. What were the reasons which had been advanced ? The disintegration of the Empire was one ! To see whether Home Rule would produce the disintegration of LOCAL GOVERNMENT. Wj the Empire ; we had similar instances in other countries. Did it do so in Hungary ? Did it produce the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire ? On the contrary, it saved the Hungarian nation from being a discontented people. In Switzerland again, it afforded a good example, and surely that might be regarded as a prosperous country — in Germany also — the most divided country in the world. In America, each State possessed one legislature for local affairs. It was said, also, that it would produce anarchy in the country, and that the effect of it would be that there would be two parties in Ireland, and that one would crush the other. That was usually the fate of minorities, even in our own House of Commons. The minority must go to the wall, and it would not be peculiar if, in the Irish House of Commons, the minority submitted to the majority. It was most important that something should be done to make the Irish people happy members of the British Empire, and to give them the benefit of a right which was stolen from them, and what they had a right to demand, and what they asked for in a right and moderate way. Ever since the union between the countries, there had not been an attempt to give them what they asked for, but to give them something else which they did not want, and then it was wondered at why they did not accept it with gratitude. As soon as we agreed to their demands, contentment would prevail in Ireland ; but until then, there would not be contentment and prosperity." A Conservative Member said: "In regard to reasonable demands, every Member of the House knew that we did endeavour to grant the Irish just and reasonable demands, but, like all the other members on the other side of the House, the last speaker had avoided the question of what were their reasonable demands, and charged us with doing them scandalous injustice. He differed from the Hon. Gentleman, and he thought there were many on his side of the House who would do the same. The whole Motion brought forward on the other side of the House was impos- sible to adopt. Having had on the paper a Motion for Home Rule, the Hon. Member withdrew it, and put forward a Motion in favour of Local Self-Government. That raised the whole question of how it was to be managed. When they thought they had arrived at what it meant they would possibly be met by the Secretary for Ireland getting up and saying that he never intended anything of the sort ! How were they to know? Did he mean that every town was to manage its own sewage ? In that case he would grant it Ii8 LOCAL PART LAMENTS. ileaven forbid that England should ever touch the Irish sewage ! but it might mean a total separation between the two countries. The Hon. Member who spolte last had given them an eloquent speech, and he thought he must have a touch of the Celtic blood in him ; but he thought that his- torical rhumis were the curse of that House. The point of the speech was that Ireland had for many hundred years been asking for Home Rule. The argument against Home Rule for Ireland was that it v/ould be no good either to Ireland or England, and no amount of political agitation would justify us in doing that which would injure both countries. Was Home Rule good for Ireland .' The Mem- bers on the other side said it was, but an experience of twenty years showed that it was not good for Ireland, for during that period two otthe most feartul outbreaks had occurred which ever disgraced civilization. The Union was brought about by a great English Minister, who saw but two alternatives for Ireland — one was re-conquest, and the other union with Ireland and England. Fearing the conse- quences of re-conquest, he advocated union. Look at the Irish Members oi Parliament now. The reason why Home Rule had succeeded in Australia and America was this — they were familiar with it ; but when it was tried in the dark, and they were pitched headlong into it, it would be shown that they were totally unfit for it. While he wished not to vote against Local Sell-Government, for he believed it was the best possible educator of the people, the Motion on the other side of the House was not really lor Local Self-Government, and they were bound to vote against it. It could not be said that the Irish had shown tact, generosity, and temper, and supposing a Parliament were given them to-morrow was it to be said that those men who now advocated their cause would be those who would carry on legislation in harmony ? It was, he thought, impossible. Then the question would come whether there was to be one House or two. The experience of centuries had shown that one House was not a proper mode of government. The House of Lords in England Was a great protection against hurried legislation. What powers were to be given the Local Parliament we were not told, but it was said to have all powers except for a few things, and taken on that basis he believed it would be a great failure. It seemed to be a matter of no importance to the millions, who did not want Home Rule. He believed that no property would be safe in Ireland. There were hap- hazard arguments on the other side of the House, including HOME RULE. 1 19 the Idea that there were ten millions m America who would be against us on the matter. Surely this was one of the most melancholy statements that had ever come fiom a reasonable man. He must allude to one argument raised by the Hon. Member for Gloucester. It was the habit of those on the other side of the House to try to throw the difficulties of Ireland on the Conservative Government." SECTION X. THE CHAIRMAN AND HIS DUTIES. A CHAIRMAN is invariably appointed at public meetings, and in all social gatherings of a more or less formal character where speaking is expected. His duties, in the first instance, at public meetings will be briefly considered. The Choice of a Chairman. There may be some difficulty in the appointment of a chairman, and upon the choice much will depend. The individual chosen must have intelligence and readiness, and one capable of enforcing order and making the chair re- spected by all. A weak man in the chair is worse than nobody, because his authority, and the authority of his office, can be set aside by a strong mind in the audience, and the object of the meeting may be defeated. Therefore it is very necessary to choose a really strong, firm, and well-read man, whose opinion will carry weight and whose appearance inspires respect. When the meeting has assembled, the first business is the appointment of a chairman, and several may be nominated. One gentleman present may propose a friend, so may several others, and then the only way to decide the question is by a show of hands or voting. Some of the candidates may not be seconded, and then their chance is disposed of Of course these remarks only apply to cases wherein no chairman is present ex officio. The FIRST DUTY of the chairman when seated is either to have the Minutes of the proceedings of the previous meeting read (if there has been a previous meeting), or to state the objects for which the meeting has been called, clearly and distinctly. He will probably read the notice convening the meeting, and proceed to state his views upon the subject in his open- ing speech. The company present will then be in possession of the whole matter, and b<; able to SD^ak upon the various DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 121 cjuesuons. A motion will then be made and seconded, or if it be not seconded it i'; the duty of the chairman to inquire whether any one will do so, and then the question can be put and discussed. During the discussion the chairman must keep his atten- tion directed to the point at issue, and if the speaker on either side wander from the point or introduce personal or irrelevant matter, he must call him to order and to the subject before the meeting, which must not be lost sight of in a cloud of verbiage. The chairman will have to keep order, and, if there be much party feeling present, to repress any tendency to uproar or " unparliamentary " proceedings. The subject having been discussed and the original mover having replied on the question, the votes or a show of hands will be taken in the usual manner. The chairman, unless a division is demanded, will decide whether the motion is lost or carried, and announce the same to the meeting. He may give his casting vote if he please ; but unless the question be very important he will do well to abstain from voting, for one vote, unless the parties be equal, can do no good. Supposing an amendment has been moved to the original motion, the feeling of the meeting must be taken by the chairman, on the amendment before the motion is put to the vote. The amendment, if carried, of course puts the motion aside ; but it may itself be lost after aU, for some may object to the motion and to the form of the amendment. When the business lias terminated, and all discussion ceases, the chairman formally declares the meeting at an end, and he leaves the chair. It is then customary for some one present to propose a vote of thanks to him for his con- duct of the business, which is seconded and carried as a rule without question. The meeting may then be made " special," and various resolutions can be passed according to the terms upon which the Company or Society has been embodied. Another chair- man may be elected, or the same gentleman can officiate if requested to do so. The chairman of a social gathering has a different office to perform. He takes his place before dinner and holds it to the end of the evening ; though it happens occasionally that as President of a Company he may preside at the dinner and move another gentleman into the chair when the toasts coma to be proposed, after grace has been sung or said. A 122 PVBLTC MEETINGS. vice-chairman is also appointed, and keeps the other or more distant end of the board under his sway. It is the chairman's duty to propose the usual loyal toasts of the Queen and Royal Family, the Army, Navy, &c., and to name the responders ; and also the " Toast of the evening," whatever it may be. If the company be convivially inclined he calls upon those present for a song, or for instru- mental music, as may be determined upon ; and generally it is his business to keep order amongst the company, and by tact, temper, and good management, to preserve the harmony of the evening, and to see that no one exceeds the bounds o( good taste. He generally takes wine with the guests, and his intention to do so is intimated by the toast master — if one be present— or by a waiter under ordinary circumstances. There are many little courtesies to be observed by a chair- man which will readily present themselves to any one who occupies the position ; and he generally proposes the health of the vice-chairman before the meeting separates. The disposal of the guests with reference to the chairman or president will be made according to precedence, the Royal Family having the lead, unless a certain personage be bidden specially to be honoured, when he will occupy the place on the right hand of the chairman, and the eldest representative of Royalty present on the left hand. The guest of the evening is always seated at the right hand o( the chair, the next in honour on the left, and so on according to rank and standing, honoured guests being also seated near the high table, with notable members of the society or corporation in whose hall the dinner is given. The chairman at a public dinner will remain standing until all the guests are seated, and when he assumes the chair, after grace is said, dinner is served. He will be waited upon last, or at any rate he will see that the guests have all they require ; and to him all the guests must defer. When it comes to speaking after dinner, the chairman has the loyal toasts and the toast of the evening to propose. But in cases where there is no established form of speech he will say something appropriate, and if he can season his remarks with anecdotes so much the better. We remember once hearing the guest of the evening, when proposing pros- perity to the club or institution he was attending, make a loudly applauded and very amusing speech simply by re- DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN. 123 counting anecdotes of his University days. The speaker merely went from story to story, and sat down after propos- ing the toast of " Prosperity to the Society," having said scarcely anything concerning it. Anecdotes, therefore, are very useful to speakers, and we would suggest to all chair- men a stock of such as will be suited to the company. SECTION XI, TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. LOYAL TOASTS. May the Queen live ever in her subjects' hearts. AH our Nobles and all noble hearts. Firmness in Parliament, valour in the field, and fortitude on the sea. May all our Commanders have the eye of a Hawke and the heart of a Wolfe. ? lay the sword of Justice be swayed by the hand of Mercy. Church and Queen. May no true son of Neptune shrink from his gun. May the hearts of our sons be honest and brave, and our daughters modest and pure. May the enemies of England never meet a friend in Great Britain. Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle. MILITARY. The British Army : firm in disaster, courageous in danger, and merciful in victory. Every soldier a pleasant halt, and every rogue a long halter. May British laurels never fade. May the British soldier never turn his back to a foe. Honour and the sword : may they never be parted. May the soldier never fall a sacrifice but to glory. British arms, and British hands to use them. May the brow of the brave never want a laurel wreath. The memory of the brave who fell at . May good leaders always have good followers. NAVAL. The British Navy : may it ever sail on a sea of glory, wafted to victory by the gales of prosperity. LOVE TOASTS. 125 The Sea : may it bring a spring tide of prosperity to England. May the tar who loses one eye in war never see distress with the other. May our seamen wear hearts of oak even if iron-clad. May Content be our pilot in the voyage of life. Here's to the tar that sticks like pitch to his duty. The memory of Nelson and the brave. May rudders govern and ships obey. Britain's sheet anchor — her ships. Lots of beef and oceans of grog. Sweethearts and wives. Foes well tarred, and tars well feathered. LOVE. The spring of love and the harvest of enjoyment Love in a cottage and envy to none. May lovers' vows never end in lovers' quarrels. The rose of love without any thorns. A health to all those whom we love, A health to all those who love us, A health to all those who love them that love those Who love those that love them who love us. Love, liberty, and true friendship. Laughing lovers and merry maids. May we kiss those we please, and please those we kiss. May the bud of affection be ripened by the sunshine of sincerity. May the wings of love never lose a feather. The single married and the married happy. The face that nature paints, and the heart that knows no deception. Love to one, friendship to a few, goodwill to all. Constancy and kindness : may they never be parted. The lady we love, and the friend we trust. May we have sense to win a heart, and merit to keep it. Here's a health to all good lasses I Pledge it merrily, fill your glasses, Let the bumper toast go round. Constancy in love, sincerity in friendship. t26 TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. The fountain of love in all its purity. The roses of love with the sweetbriar of chaste afTection May the sparks of love brighten into flame. MASONIC. Our Queen and ancient craft. All the Fraternity round the globe. The Grand Lodge of England. The Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Grand Lodge of Ireland. All well-disposed Masons. To Masons and to Mason's bairns, And women with both wit and charms. To all that live within the compass and the square* To all Masons who walk in the line. To all ancient Freemasons wherever dispersed. May the Lodges in this place be distinguished for love, peace, and harmony. The absent Brethren of the Lodge. May the prospect of riches never induce a Mason to da that which is repugnant to virtue. May Masonry flourish till nature expire, And its glories ne'er fade till the world is on fire. May our actions as Masons be properly squared. The memory of the distinguished three. May every brother have a heart to feel and a hand to give May covetous cares be unknown to Freemasons. The heart which conceals And the tongue which ne'er reveals. May no Freemason taste the bitter apples of affliction. To the innocent and faithful craft. May the gentle spirit of Love animate the heart of every Mason. To our next happy meeting. May every brother learn to live within the compass and watch upon the square. May the square, plumb-line, and level regulate the conduct of every brother. As we meet upon the level may we part upon the square CONVIVIAL lOAsrs. 127 Golden eggs to every brother, and goldfinches to our Lodges. May every Freemason find constancy in love and sincerity in friendship. FRIENDSHIP. May the bark of friendship never founder in the well ol ieception. May we be richer in friends than in money. May we never want a friend to cheer us, nor a bottle to cheer him. May old friends never be forgot for new ones. May the lamp oi friendship be lighted by the oil of sincerity. Ability to serve a friend, and honour to conceal it. May difference of opinion never alter friendship. More friends and less need of them. May the friend of distress never know sorrow. Gratitude to our iriends and grace to our foes. May the hinges oi friendship never rust. May the friendly bosom never lack a friend. May friendship smile in our cups and content in our loves. A friend who is true — the sunshine of life. To the secret and silent. All absent friends on land and sea. May our friends have no present burden, and futurity no terrors. May we always have a friend and know his value. CONVIVIAL. May we always have a friend and a bottle to give him. May our love of wine never make us forget our manners. May we act with reason when the bottle circulates. Cheerfulness in our cups, content in our minds, and com- petency in our pockets. May the moments of mirth be regulated by the dial ol reason. Champagne to our real friends and real pain to our sham friends. May the juice of the grape enliven each soul, And good humour preside at the head of each bowL Old wine and young women. 128 TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. We met lo be merry, now let us part wise, Nor suffer the bottle to blind reason's eyes. The feast of reason and the flow of soul. All absent friends — God bless them ! A bottle to-night and business in the morning. Oh, wine, the juice of the grape divine, In thy good spirit may I ne'er forget mine. Here's a health to all good lasses ! Pledge it merrily, fill your glasses, Let the bumper toast go round. The Ladies, and may they always share our joys and sorrows. Drink, boys, drink, and drive away sorrow — For perhaps we may not drink again to-morrow. COMIC. May your shadow never be less. May every hair of your head be a mould candle to light you to glory ! May the chiclcen never be hatched that will scratch on your grave ! The early bird and the worm he picked up ! The nimble ninepence : may it soon grow into a florin. V May we live all the days of our lives. A good Sovereign, and his image in our pockets. The land we live in : may we never be sent out of it. All true joys— but may we never be transported. Here's to the maiden of blushing fifteen, Here's to the housewife that's thrifty, Here's to the flaunting extravagant queen, And here's to the widow of fifty 1 The three great commanders — General Peace, General i'lenty, and General Prosperity. The best doctors— Dr. Quiet, Dr. Diet, and Dr. Merryman, The merry thought, and no ." black legs " at table. Here's to the poor heart that never rejoices. Here's to the good man who kept a dog and barked him- self. Here's to the old bird that was not caught with chaflL Our noble selves. MISCELLANEOUS TOASTS. J2s SPORTING. May the end of the chase be the beginning of happiness 1 The pack that a sheet will cover. May our horses, hounds, and hearts never fail us. May those who love the crack of the whip never want a brush to follow. The gallant huntsman of the country. The brave sportsman ! The huntsman's dear ! The sportsman that never beats about the bush. The tender heart, and the brave rider. The man that catches fair game and doesn't poach on another's preserves. Rod and line : may they never part company . The gallant hound that never goes on a false scent. Bat and ball. Long may they be honestly opposed in the field. The steady fisherman — who never " reels home " ! The Eleven : may they always be steady in adversity, and upright beside the wicked. May Britons never neglect sport for double-dealing. Our " Masters : " may they always show us good game, and deal well with their packs. Reynard the fox ! — Heaven preserve his family and friends ! A strong arm and a steady eye ! May the sweet savour of our good deeds lie well when we have " gone over the last fence." MISCELLANEOUS. May opinions never float in the sea of ignorance. May we never crack a joke and break a reputation. May the pleasures of youth bring us consolation in old age May the sunshine of comfort dispel the clouds of despa:r, All fortune's daughters except the eldest — Miss-fortune. All tails but tell-tales. Great men honest and honest men great. Good trade and well paid. May the devil cut the toes of all our foes, That we may know them by their limping. May we live to learn and learn to live well. ' jo TOASTS AND SENTIMENTS. May we never murmur without cause, and never have :ause to murmur. May we never want a bait when we fish for conduct. Love, life, liberty, and friendship. Success to our army, success to our fleet, May our foes be compelled to bow down at our feet. May the mirror of conscience show us the face of truth. May modesty rule our desires and moderation our wishes. May avarice lose his purse and benevolence find it. May care be a stranger to every honest heart. May fortune recover her eyesight and distribute her gifts May bad example never corrupt youthful morals. May poverty never come to us without hope. THE PRECEDENCE OF GUESTS. There are few topics of more interest to the dinner-givet than the order in which guests shall be sent down to dinner, or the manner in which they should be placed. In ordinary middle-class society there is no difficulty. The gentleman who holds the highest social rank should take the hostess into dinner, and his wife should be escorted under ordinary circumstances by the master of the house. But if a younger, or even an unmarried, lady of higher rank be present, the host will escort her to the dining-room, for the precedence of ladies is of great social consequence. It may happen that a hostess wishes to do honour to a new guest, and she may then ask him to take her into dinner to the exclusion of a person of higher rank who is an older friend ; but even if this be so, and it should not in strictness occur, the hostess should be careful to place the gentleman of highest rank upon her right hand at table. When it is only a question of precedence amongst gentlemen there need not be very much anxiety in the matter, particularly if they be unmarried to whom the question may apply ; but where there are married people wives are frequently great " sticklers " for correctness, and may be exceeding jealous of husband- rank. So it behoves all concerned to be careful to award the correct position. There is no precedence rule amongst the middle classes, and in such, the vast majority of cases, precedence must be ruled by social standing and intimacy — with reference to marriage and local position. Married ladies and widows are entitled to the same rank amongst each other as their husbands would respectively have borne amongst themselves, provided such rank arises from a dignity and not from an office or profession. " By rank through dignity alone is precedence conferred upon a lady." This is Sir Bernard Burke's rule upon the subject, and no better can be quoted. So even an Archbishop, his Grace of Canterbury included, can bestow no precedence upon his 132 PRECEDENCE OF GUESTS. wife by his office, although he takes precedence of all peers except such as may be Royal Dukes. The Lord Chancellor, the second English peer, can only confer precedence on his wife according to the date of his dignity. The wives of Bishops, Esquires, or even of Privy Councillors, would have to yield the pas to a Baronet's or even a Knight's daughter, because she derives her rank from a " dignity," which the other ladies do not do. A Judge's wife similarly would only take precedence if her husband were knighted ; and then she would rank after the ladies of Military Knights, of which wearers of " The Bath " come first, then the " Star of India," and " Michael and George," the " Grand Crosses " ranking before the " Knights Com- manders." The wives of Serjeants-at-Law rank, by old statute, immediately after wives of Knights ; for Serjeants- at-Law are dignitaries. RULES OF PRECEDENCE. Precedence amongst Peers depends upon the date of the creation of their titles. This rule is invariable, and governs all ranks of the peerage, and also baronets and knights. The inexperienced must be careful not to confound courtesy titles with real peerages. The eldest sons of dukes, marquises, and earls are always called by one of their father's other titles. Thus the eldest son of the Duke of Athole is Marquis of Tullibardine ; of the Marquis of Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles ; of the Earl of Courtown, Viscount Stopford. These are what are termed " courtesy titles," and their bearers take rank not as marquises, earls, viscounts, or lords, but as the eldest sons of dukes, marquises, and earls. The eldest son of a duke takes rank after marquises and before earls ; the eldest son of a marquis after the younger sons of dukes of the Blood Royal, and before the younger sons of dukes and before viscounts ; the eldest son of an earl after viscounts and before the younger sons of marquises and bishops ; the eldest son of a viscount, who has no courtesy title, but is styled Honourable, after barons', and before earls', younger sons ; the eldest son of a baron, also styled Honourable, after earls' younger sons and before privy councillors and judges. The precedence of the wives is, of course, the same as that of their husbands. The younger sons of dukes and marquises are lords : Lord Claud Hamilton, son of the Duke of Abercom ; Lord Albert SOCIAL PRECEDENCE. 133 Seymour, son of the Marquis of Hertford. It is a common error among those not au fait in the matter to omit the Christian name, and say Lord Hamilton, but nothing can show greater ignorance. The younger sons of dukes take rank after the eldest sons of marquises and before viscounts . the eldest sons of marquises after those of earls and before bishops ; the eldest sons of earls after those of viscounts and barons ; the eldest sons of viscounts after privy councillors and judges, and before the younger sons of barons ; while the eldest sons of barons take rank after those of viscounts and before baronets. Baronets take rank in order of their creation, and after them follow knights according to their orders ; serjeants-at-law, masters in chancery or lunacy, companions of the several orders of knighthood ; eldest sons of the younger sons of peers, baronets' eldest sons, eldest sons of knights according to their orders, baronets' younger sons (their wives following strictly the same precedence), esquires. The daughters of a house almost always enjoy the same rank as their eldest brother, and follow immediately after his wife. Daughters of dukes, marquises, and earls are styled ladies ; Lady Georgiana Hamilton, Lady Elizabeth Campbell. It is a terrible solecism to omit the Christian name, and say Lady Hamilton or Lady Campbell, but it is one frequently committed, though " Lady Campbell " would naturally imply the wife of either a peer or a baronet. It is a very common saying that a lady can never lose rank, but this is not strictly the case. Thus, the daughter of a duke takes precedence of a countess ; but if she marry a viscount or a baron she takes her husband's rank, and the countess takes precedence of her. She only keeps her precedence by marrying ■positive rank ; thus, the daughter of a duke marrying the eldest son of a marquis or of an earl retains her own rank, and instead of being Viscount and Viscountess A., they are styled Viscount and Lady Mary A. When, however, her husband succeeds to his father's title and becomes a peer, she takes his rank and loses her precedence of birth. If, however, the lady is of the same rank, she takes the courtesy title, as in the case of a duke's daughter marrying a duke's eldest son, or a marquis's daughter marrying a marquis's eldest son. Of course, a peer's daughter marrying either a baronet or an esquire always retains her own rank ; an earl's dajjghter married to an esquire takes precedence of a baroness, but her children derive no precedence from it, unless in the rare instance of her being a peeress in her own right; for, as a 34 PRECEDENCE OF GUESTS. rule, dignities descend only in the male line. The method of addressing a letter to a " lady in her own right," as the daughters of the three highest ranks of the peerage are termed, is " The Lady Mary Jones," " The " being placed on a line above the name. The daughters of viscounts and barons are Honourables ; if married, letters are addressed to them, " Honble. Mrs. White," " Honble." being on a line above ; and if unmarried, " Honble. Mary Green," " Honble. Georgiana Brown." In commencing a letter they are styled, " Dear Lady Mary," not " Lady Mary Jones." The wife of a baronet or of a knight is styled " Lady," like the wife of a baron ; but in addressing a letter to the latter it is necessary to put " The Lady A.," while the prefix " The " is not used for the wife of a baronet or knight. A peer's daughter married to a baronet or knight is " Lady Jane Black," or the " Honble. Mrs. Black." When a gentleman is created a peer, his children become Honourables, but it in no way affects the denomination or the precedence of his brothers and sisters, the patent making no mention of them, but only of his own heirs male. When, however, a peer's (let us say a marquis's) eldest son, who is married and has children, dies before his father — when the marquis dies, and his grandson succeeds to the title, the young peer's sisters and younger brothers are accorded the rank of the sons and daughters of a marquis, which would have naturally been theirs had their father lived to succeed in due course, but his mother retains simply her husband's courtesy title. This case applies to all peers ; the rule is not extended to baronets. A peeress is styled Dowager when her son is the actual peer and is married. It is only the mother of the actual peer who is simply Duchess or Mar- chioness Dowager ; if she be his grandmother — that is, if there are three peeresses of the title — she would be styled " Emily, Duchess Dowager," " Jane, Viscountess Dowager," " Louisa, Dowager Lady A." If, however, the peer who succeeds her husband is not her son, but some other relative of the late peer, she is styled " Mary, Marchioness of B.," " Katherine, Countess of O." In addressing gentlemen who are sons of peers, it should be remembered that if in the Army or Navy the official title precedes the dignity ; thus, " Captain Lord G.," " Colonel the Honble. John T. ;" but if they are in the Church the case is reversed : " The Honble. and Rev. Oscar H." There is a strange belief entertained by some persons that in his own parish a clergyman is entitled to take precedence THE SOCIAL SCALE. 135 of any one, no matter how much above him in the social scale. We need hardly say that this is a misapprehension. A clergyman can claim no precedence whatever as such. In cases where all the company are on a level, any distinction, no matter how slight and unimportant, is gladly seized upon, but the smallest shadow of social rank is sufficient to ex- tinguish any such pretensions. In a cathedral town, where society is almost exclusively clerical, of course all the dis- tinctions of clerical rank are minutely observed ; and so in military, naval, and legal circles, the various professions have a distinct precedence amongst each other, which it sometimes pleases them to extend to their wives, though these ladies have no claim to it. However, in general society, should there be absolutely no precedence due to any of the ladies, it would, as some one must go first, be natural to give the precedence to the wife of a general, admiral, or O.C. who might be present. It should be understood that age has nothing to do with precedence, and that a young unmarried lady would take precedence of a married one of inferior rank. The arrangement of precedence between officers of the army and navy is very intricate. A naval post-captain ranks with a colonel in the army, but when he has served as post-captain for three years he ranks with a major-general Naval precedence recognizes admirals, vice and rear admirals, post-captains, commanders, lieutenants. Military precedence has generals, lieutenant-generals, major-generals, colonels, lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains, lieutenants. When an ambassador is present he takes precedence of all peers, being regarded as the representative of his sovereign. His wife enjoys the same precedence ; but should he be a widower, with a daughter doing the honours of his house, she is not entitled to the rank of an ambassadress, but would rank with an English countess. It is impossible to give any precise set of rules that will obviate doubt in every case, as special circumstances have to be taken into account — the greatest difficulty occurring where there is positively no rank ; for where there is, the rules are clear and definite, and have only to be implicitly followed. The only guide in the former case is that afforded by good sense and good taste. Where these are conspicuous in a hostess, her guests will not be on the look-out for causes ol offence, knowing, as the old phrase has it, that " none is meant," and a little care and forethought on the matter will generally obviate any difficulty that may arise irom the 136 PRECEDENCE OF GUESTS. question of precedence in the middle classes, respecting which we have already made some observations. The foregoing hints will give eveiy one a correct notion of the precedence in society, and enable dinner-givers tc arrange the tables so as to offend none. APPENDIX. SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING. Ladies and Gentlemen, — On such an occasion as the present it is not necessary for me to inflict a long speech upon you, for I am sure you are all in accord with my sentiments, and will agree with me in the expressions and remarks which I am about to offer. We are here to-day as guests of our most highly esteemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. , the 25th anniversary of whose wedding- day we are so delighted to celebrate. Such congratulations — and I am sure none . will be more hearty than yours — it would be a pleasure to us all to offer under any circumstances, and any where ; but we feel the enjoyment more particularly under our friend's own roof-tree, seated, or rather upstanding, to drink their health, at their own hospitable table, amongst their children, and other relatives, and friends. Ladies and gentlemen, I have had the honour of the friendship of our kindly host, Mr, , for more years than I would care to hint at if that long friendship had not been a source of congratulation to myself. I am conceited perhaps, some may think, in claiming the honour ; but I am proud of my friendship, and think, in my selfish view — you must ex- cuse me for saying publicly what I have often thought — that I am not altogether an unworthy citizen when so greatly honoured as I feel I am. You are all of you aware, as well as I, bow excellent a man our host is. I venture to say to his face, that no kinder husband and father, no more steadfast friend, no more cheerful companion exists amongst us, although we have many kind friends and worthy neighboiirs in our midst. I remarked just now on my, I think, proper pride in possessing the confidence and friendship of Mr. ; but, have we not more to congratulate ourselves upon in the charming intimacy and friendship of our hostess, whose many acts of kindness and courtesy are in all our minds. Let us, then, while heartily offering them our congratulaticns, hope that they may be spared for many years to fill the position which they at present adorn. 138 SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING. Twenty-five years, ladies and gentlemen, is a long spelL It exceeds one-third of the generally alloted span of our mundane existence. For that space of time, however, our dear friends have been united in hymeneal bonds, the most sacred ties by which we mortals can be bound. All these years they have stood as an example of domestic felicity and of Christian virtues — patterns for us all. We have seen — we elders — we have seen the " olive branches " growing up round their table ; we have watched with interest and affection the sons springing up like the young plants, and the girls, the graceful " polished corners " of the psalmist — thfc prop and stay of the domestic temple, the ornaments of this truly domestic hearth. We have seen, alas 1 sorrow and trouble shadow the house, but we have rejoiced and wondered at the fortitude and the pluck and the Christian resignation with which such trials have been endured. Let us make this our example ; let us profit by it too. . . . I will not detain you longer, ladies and gentlemen ; it only remains for me, on this most auspicious anniversary, to call upon you to fill your glasses, full bumpers, and with all your hearts drink the toast I propose, viz : — Health, Happiness, and Prosperity to Mr. and Mrs. , with many Happy Returns of their Wedding-Day. May every blessing attend them in future and for evermore. Now then, three times three ! Hip, hip, hurrah 1 ANOTHER PROPOSAL. Ladies and Gentlemen, — My friends, I have been requested this evening to under- take a duty, the duty sense of which is entirely lost in the pleasure it affords me to perform it. It is an act of friend- ship, and I feel honoured in having been requested to propose the toast which you are all anticipating. My object, as you have divined, is to call upon you to drink the Health and future continued Happiness of our kind Host and Hostess, whose Silver Wedding we are celebrating to-day. We are sure that the cup of our host's enjoyment is full as is his quiver of offshoots, worthy branches of the parent trees. Gentle- men and ladies, we must unite most heartily in this toast. On such a day mo melancholy retrospects, no feeling of unpleasantness, must be permitted to intrude from any source. Troubles come in time to us all. But instead of thinking of the crosses and worries, the cares and difficulties SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING. 139 which may during twenty-five years have come upon us, let us rather thank Heaven that we have had the strength to surmount them, and to enjoy the blessings we possess ! Five and twenty years appears a lifetime to the young, but Time has dealt leniently with Mr. and Mrs. , whose health I am about to propose. Old Time, the age-ing one, has not dared to lay an unkind finger on such kindly heads, On the contrary, he spares them ; he respects them, and though he delights in plaguing less deserving mortals, he passes smiling by our host and hostess year after year. Youthfulness, merriment, good-humour, cheerfulness, sil at their board and defy Time. Age cannot wither, and it never will wither, those kindly hearts, those generous spirits, which preside over this household. They ward off his attacks and reach the Silver Wedding-Day with hearts young, and faces as bright as polished silver itself, reflecting happiness all around them ! We know the Christian virtues th€y possess, the bonhotnie and kindness they practise, the silent charity which desires no reward, the unostentatious practice of good works. So, ladies and gentlemen, " uprouse ye" merrily. It is not our "opening day" — it is the 25th anniversary of a happy day, often to be overtaken, let us hope, in future years. The sparkling silver will change gloriously into the Golden Wedding-Day ; the long, happy vista of earthly bliss for our dear friends, whose health we drink, will extend adown the path of life. The spring is gone, it may be ; the summer is passing, perhaps ; but there is yet the golden-lined autumn of their lives to come, when the harvest of good seeds shall be reaped in troops of friends and loving memories. There will be no winter for them ; the Golden Wedding-Day will mingle imperceptibly, in happiness, peacefully, with the still more radiant Eternity where, hand in hand, as in life, our beloved friends shall walk through bliss unspeakable for evermore ! It needs not my imperfect words and halting speech to indicate to you the way in which the toast should be honoured. I will, therefcre, merely give it you, and beg you in heartfelt manner — as I am sure you all will — to drink to Mr. and Mrs. with hearty congratulations on the anniversary — Health and Happiness in future, and Many Happy Returns of the Day. God bless them ! I40 SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING. REPLY TO TOAST OF " SILVER WEDDING." \By the Husband.'] I. Mr. , Ladies, and Gentlemen, — You will, I am sure, compassionate me in the position in which I find myself. I am not, of course, referring to the matrimonial state, but to the position in which I have been placed by the — as far as I am personally concerned — un- deserved eulogies of my old friend who has so eloquently proposed my wife's health and my own, and who has spoken so highly of all our surroundings. Ladies and gentlemen, what can I say to thank you save that my dear wife and myself do thank you from the bottom of our hearts ? In her name and my own I must tell you that we do not deserve the praise you have lavished on us : but I may also tell you that for more than twenty-five years my dear wife has exercised an influence for good upon me ; so unselfish has she been, so kind and affectionate, that she has moulded my coarser clay into something better and finer than it would have been without that gentle, loving influence, that touch of sympathy, that firmness of character, the tact, the power of understanding, which has made my dear wife our guiding star and our chief object of admiration. I said for "more than twenty-five years" this influence has been over me. Yes : twenty-seven years ago I first met iTiy wife that was to be, and is ! Those were happy days — foreshadowing the happier ones yet to arrive for us ; and now it is with pardonable pride that I can look around me to-day, here in my own house, after so many years of hard work, of struggle at times, of sorrow and sickness at times, but always cheered by my better half : truly my better half — and in later times by the companionship of my children also. Ladies and gentlemen, one and all, I thank you in the name of all my family. We are delighted to see you here, and if we are spared we hope you will again at some future time honour us with your presence. Talking of "presence" reminds me that we owe you another vote of thanks for your charming gifts, a kindly remembrance of our wedding-day. For these, much thanks ! I am sure you will excuse my saying more now. Your kindness has touched us very deeply, and I am unable to proceed further ; but you will quite understand how highly, how sincerely, my wife, my children, and myself appreciate and feel your kind expres- SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING. 141 sions, and reciprocate your good wishes. Ladies and gentle- men, once again we thank you from the very bottom of oui hearts ! II. Ladies and Gentlemen, — My valued friend, Mr. , whose more than kind speech you have just heard, and so very graciously responded to, made some very personal remarks about my wife's age and mine ! But he forgot that he is younger than I am, and has no business to chaff his elders after dinner ! We can- not help our looks, ladies and gentlemen ; you must take us as you find us ; and we are glad to be found at home by you, I assure you. "Time," my friend said, "touches us not," or very lightly. Let me tell him the reason — this is in strict confidence, and it must go no farther. Time, old Father Time, you have heard, dare not assail us roughly ! Well, I'd like to see the gentleman who would roughly touch my wife ! You may laugh ! But he wouldn't do it a second time, even if I were not present. Mrs. would soon send him about his business. / know what she can do ! Oh, yes ! And it is entirely to her influence that my youthful appearance is due. Bless her ! She keeps Time, Care, Trouble, Worry, and all those wretched imps at bay ! She is equal to them all I Ah ! you don't know what a splendid defence Mrs. has ! She is so strongminded — I mean so brave ; so brave : so affectionate that she keeps these troubles off, generally, but if by chance they do get " within her guard," she conquers them by sheer affection and makes them her Friends ! Turns them round her fingers, as she turns me ! Just the same ! I am a Worry sometimes — often, perhaps — but that makes no difference. I am just taken " within the guard," and, in common parlance — excuse the detail — "hugged "till I am conquered! Yes, my friends, this is why I am so youthful-looking, a.s you say. Because I am taken care of; in a gentle manner put in "chancery," you know ! But let me put levity aside now, and speak to you from my heart in my wife's name and in my own, seriously. You have very, very kindly — most generously — responded to the toast which our friend — our valued friend Mr. has pro- posed. Not only for this kindliness, but for your presence here to-day, we most heartily thank you. You have honoured us in deed and in word ; have accepted in far too generous a 142 SPEECHES FOR A SILVER WEDDING, sense my own small merits : but though I say it, you cannot overestimate my dear wife. In this sense of goodness she has her " separate estate," unalienable, on which she can draw heavy drafts, always fully honoured at the hands of her friends and acquaintances. Gentlemen and ladies, I endorse your praises in this respect entirely. So let me tell you again, we thank you. Heaven knows how truly and sincerely, for your kindness and good wishes ! May they be fulfilled. If it please God, we shall all meet again in the near future here ; and I trust again in the more distant haven of rest hereafter. Ladies and gentlemen, I echo your sentiments. May you all be happy, as I am — as we are ; and I say to you, as you to me, with ail my heart, in the name of all near and dear to me, God bless you every «Mt \MU STANDARD COOKERY AND HOUSEKEEPING BOOKS. THE BEST COOKERY BOOK IN THE WORLD. 620th Thousand. Enlarged, Re-composed, Revised, Improved. With New Menus, New Modes, New Recipes, New Tables, New Illustrations. Strongly bound, half-roan, price 7s. 6d. ; cloth gilt, bevelled boards, gilt edges, 8s 6d.; half-calf or half-morocco, 128. 6d-; elegant full tree calf, 18s. MRS. BEETON'S BOOK OF HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT. 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