THE EASTER BANQUET AT THE MANSIONHOUSE. From the "Times.")

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 671, 18 September 1852, Page 4

THE EASTER BANQUET AT THE MANSIONHOUSE. From the " Times.")

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mnycrtss, according to the cu*tom of the seascn, bad a very large party at tho Mansion-house last night; and the presence oi the new Premier among the company gave more than usual interest to this year's Easter banquet. Covers were laic! m the Egyptian hall for 350— a number which, great as it is, can be well accommodated in that noble apartment. The walls were decorated with banners, and the tableglittered with massive and elegant plate. The arrangements (under the superintendence, we believe, of Mr. Catty, the Lord Mayor's Secretary,) appeared to be id all respects exceedingly good; those which related especially to ourselves were particulaily convenient. About 7 o'clock the company proceeded from the drawing-rooms into the hall, and took their places. The dinner, which included every delicacy that could be supplied, was extremely well served. It was proTided by Messrs. Staples, of the Albion. Laurent's band played at intervals. When the cloth had been cleared, the loving cup was sent round, Mr. Harker, the toastmaster, proclaiming the welcome with a roice bocoming his function. The Lord Mayor then gave the first toast.-—" Tfee Qjeen." It was drunk amid great applause followed by the National Anthem. The " Henlth of Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," followed, and also elicited much cheering. The next, "The Church," was coupled with the name of the Bishop of Manchester and thanks to him for his eloquent sermon at Christ-church yesteiday afternoon. Ibe Bishop of Manchester, who said he was educated among the citizens of London, in acknowledging the toast, took occasion to express his deep obligations to one of the gieat public foundations of the city. The next toast was, " The Navy, and the Army." The Duke of Northumberland, First Lord of the Admiralty, returned thanks in the name of the Navy. During a long and glorious peace the duty of the Navy had been to piotect the commerce of this vast empire in all quarters of the globe. How well that duty had beed performed none could judge better than the great commercial houses of this wealthy metropolis. Loud cries of " Hear, hear." The navy deemed no reward for their exertions greater, no recompense higher for their loyalty and seal, than the approbation of their Sovereign and the good opinion of their fellow-countr} - men. (Cheers.) General Sir A. Maclnine briefly acknowledged the toast on behalf of the Aimy. Tbp Lord Mayor thea proposed " the health of the Earl of Derby and Her Majesy's Ministers," and warmly thanked the noble Earl for the honourof his presence on that occasion. ( The toast was drunk amid loud cheers.) The Earl of Derby, who was received with much cheering, said, My Loid Mayor, my Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, the pleasing task devolves upon me of returning, in my own name and in that of my colleagues, our giateful thanks to your Lordship and to this distinguished company, first, for allowing us to be partakers of that splendid hospitality fo>- which this city has been so long famed, and which lam suie will suffer no disparagement under Us present auspices (cheers), and, next, for the kindness with which you have received the toast, that has been proposed to you, of our collectivehealths as Her Majesty's Ministers. (Renewed cheers.) I can assure you that in that capacity it gives me peculiar pleasuie that the first time 1 have to return thanks to any public assembly should be in (lie heart of the city of London, in the midst of so distinguished an assemblage as that which I now see around me, and among those whom thus to meet is to a public man a most agreeable and gratifying relaxation from the toils of public life. (Loud cries of" Hear, hear") Ladies and gentlemen, at this season above all others, this season of mutual good will (hear, bear), in this company, . on this occasion, 1 should be inexcusable if I were to attempt to give to the toast which your kindness, has induced you thus to receive anything in the slightest degiee of a political character (hear, bear) ; I should be inexcusable if I were to introduce a single topic which could raise an angry feeling 1 , or even a feeling of conscientious difference of opinion (hear, hear) ; 1 should be inexcusable if I could attach to the kindness, with which you have received our names anything more of a political meaning than this — that you receive with kindness and greet with cordiality those whom you believe to have undertaken, from a sense of public duty (Cheeis), an arduous and responsible task to which their Sovereign has called them. (Renewed cheeringj 1 am not insensible to the difficulties under which we have assumed our present position, at the commencement of a Parliamentary session, and with littlo leisure to mature or to prepare measures to be submitted to that Parliament (loud cues of " hear, hear") ; but I believe that friends and opponents alike give U 3 credit for this — for having performed our duty in not sin inking from the responsibility which we encountered, nor incurring the greater responsibility of a proiracted Ministerial interregnum at the commencement of a session of Parliament. (Hear here." Ido not presume to speak of any political com se of action ; but this 1 say, that I hope I see indications, and indications not to be mistaken, in this metropolis that we are not looked upon as a set of reckless or careless men, likely to endanger the credit of the country and its great commercial and mercantile interests, or to neglect the great religious, moral, and social obligations which must rest upon us. (Cheers.) A change of Government so total as has taken place could in some countries have been considered only next to a revolution ; here we happily see that such changes can take place, not only without disturbance to the ordinary course of public affairs — rwithout ruffling in the slightest degree the serene aspect of society, add without disturbing (I say it with still greater happiness) for a single moment the personal friendship of political opponents. (Cheeis.) And to what is this to be attributed? ]s it to any merit in the men who are called upon to administer the affairs of this great country 1 No, but it is to the institutions of the country itself — it is to the confidence that every man in this country feels that, be the Minister who he may, in the light of the constitution he must walk, by the light of the constitution, he must be guided, within the limits of the constitution Ins course must be diiected. (Cheers.) Well is it known that no Minister can direct the affairs of this country peimanenlly, or for any lengthened period, unless he enjoy the confidence and support of his fellow countrymen. (Hear, hear.) Whether we do enjoy that confidence, as a Government no distant time will clearly and undeniably prove. (Hear, hear.) If we do not possesb that confidence I for one can say with perfect sincerity that I shall resign office, and with it the labours and anxieties of public life, with far more of leadiness and far more of comfort to myself than I have undertaken the arduous and painlul responsibilities which a sense of duty imposed upon me. (Hear, hear.) But if we should be honouied, as 1 confidently trust we may, with the supj> irt of the intelligence of the country, (aburslofcheeiing drowned some words which the noble earl added), then I know I may say confidently for every one of my colleagues, as 1 say without hesitation lor myself, that no sacrifice of time, of comfort, of health, of life itself, will be deemed too much to piove ourselves even in the slightest degree worthy of the favour of our Sovereign, and of the support of the people of this great empire, whose mighty inteiosts are committed to our charge. (Gieat cheering fiom all parts of the ball.) 'i he next toast, the " Health of the Foreign Minis ters present," was received with much applause. His Excellency the Ameiican Minister, after a moment's conference with tbo other representatives of foreign Powers, said, — 1 am requested by my brethern of the corps diplomatique to offer our thanks to your LorJship nnd to this company for the kindness "with which this toast has been received. My only apology jbr presenting myself is that my colleagues fear they cannot spenk the English language, (Hear, hear.) We thank \ou most heartily for the honour you have done us in affording us the opportunity of coming into this old city of London, and meeting here, not only the distinguished of " the city," but of the tosvn and of England itself. (Hear, hear.) We take a deep interest in the prosperity which exists here; thecountiies we represent are deeply interested in the piosperity of London. (Hear, hear.) The glorious links of commerce have united us — I speak now of all foreign countries — in bonds stionger than those that can be made by treaties (cheers) ; and we desire, and we hope, and we believe, that if we agreed upon nothing else, w e agree that it is one tor our moral and our material interest thut peace should be pieserved, not only with all tlTe world, but particularly with Gieat Bntain, nnd especially with the heart ol Great ot Biitain— the city of London. (Cheers!.) My Lord Ma} or, 1 beg on behalf of my colleaguos and myself to oiler )ou our thanks for this renewed opportunity of visiting the city on this festive day, which has Wn so long celebrated here. Many of us have partaken of the hospitality of your Lordship's predecessors; und we have an earnest tonight that the

robes of office have been transmitted to one in whose hands that hospitality will not suffer. (Cheers.) The toast of " the House of Lords" was then drunk, and acknow lede;ed by the Maiquis of S.ilisbiny. The Karl of Dei by proposed " the Health of the Lord Major." (Cheers.) H.iving hut the honour of a very slight peismml acquaintance with the chief magistrate, it would be impeilinent in him (the E.irl of Deiby) lo eulogise the Lord Major in the heart of a city wlit-re lie had been known and respected for more years than ppihnps it would be discreet to mention (laughter and cheer*) ; it would be quite unnecessary to enlaige in the city upon the mtegnty and honour which guided him throughout his commercial transactions while engaged in businp-s, or the Beal and ability | and judgment with which he had perfoimed the civic duties that devolved upon him. (Cheeis.) His high character was appreciated by his iellow-citizeus, who had placed him in the chair of the fiist magistrate of the first city in the univpise. (Cheeis.) The toast was drunk with much applause, and was duly acknowledged by the Lord Mayor. The next toast was ** the House of Common-!." Air. Wai pole M.P., w»s awaie of the difficulty of speaking on bfeßalf of a body of men eniertairnng suuh different opinions, but here, at least, differences might be left behind, and the members present could afford to think moieoftbeir agreements. (Hear, hear.) In some things they all agreed. They agreed m desiring to promoter the common good and the general well being of the community. (Hear, hear.) On another point, too they would be unanimous— in thanking the Lord fllayor for his hospitality (hear, hear), which perhaps one might be permitted lo prefer to the disputes and differences of the House .of Commons. (Laughter and cheers.) The toast of " The City Members," which followed, was acknowledged by Mr. Masierman, ALP.; and the next « 'lheGovernor'of the Hank." by that functionary. The Ameiican Minister, then said,— We are deprived of the honour and pleasuie of the presence of the real Lady Mayoress (ciies of " hear, hear"), who is detained by severe indisposition (hear, heai ), and nothing can mitigate our regiet but the grace and dignity with which the place is filled by her daughter. (Cheers.) It has been said, and with great truth, that women govern the world (laughter); I am, without perhaps qualification, a convert to that opinion. (Laughter and cheers.) I can only say, to-night, without the ladies.it would he like a world withoutasun. (Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen, I beg to offer to you, as a toast " The better health of the Lady Mayoress, and the continued health and prosperity of the Lady Mayoress who occupies her chair." (Cheers.) The toast was received with much applause ; Mise Hunter bowed to the company. The Lord Mayor acknowledged the compliment, and said he hoped the day was not far off when he should have the opportunity "of introducing the Lady Mayoress in that h 11. The toasts of " the Solicitor. General and the Bar," "the Mapristiates of the City," "the Sheijffs," and "Pro«peiity to the City of London," followed; the Loid Mayor and his guests then leliied to the di awingrooms, and the party began to biealc up.