BANQUET AT PETERSFIELD.
A Court Leet and view of Frankpledge for the Borough and Manor of Petersfield was held at the Town Hall, in this borough, on Monday last, pursuant to ancient custom, when the late Mayor, Mr. Parsons, was re-elected to fill the office for the ensuing year, an appointment which, from his high character and long standing in the borough, cannot fail to give universal satisfaction. The other presentments were as follows:—Constable, Mr. Richard Pullen; Tithingmen, Messrs. Bone and Etherington; Beadle and Hayward, W. Brewer; Bailiff and Town Crier, John Tree; Leather Sealers, Messrs. J. Small and J. Waller. At four o'clock a large number of the inhabitants of the borough assembled at the Red Lion Inn, by special invitation from the Lord of the Leet, Sir William Jolliffe, bart. M.P. where a sumptuous dinner was served up by Mr. and the Misses Crafts, in that very superior style for which this house has been for so many years distinguished. The viands comprised every delicacy of the season, and the wines and dessert were of the most recherchè character. The chair was most ably filled by the worthy Mayor, who, on the removal of the cloth, gave "the Queen," "Prince Albert, Albert Prince of Wales, and the Princess Royal," "the Queen Dowager and the rest of the Royal family," "the Army and Navy," and "the Duke of Wellington, as Lord Lieutenant of the County." These toasts having been each drunk with cordial and hearty cheers.
The Chairman next rose to propose a toast which he remarked always had been and always would be received in that room with enthusiastic cheers, which was, "the health of Sir William Jolliffe." The mention of the hon. Baronet's name called forth a simultaneous burst of applause from every part of the room and, with deafening cheers.
Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE said, that in acknowledging the gratitude which he could not but feel, for the kind manner in which his health had been proposed and received, he felt himself called upon to trouble them with a few observations. He would not detain them long, but he had never felt so strongly the imperative duty of saying a few words to them as he did at that moment, for never, in the whole course of his experience, had the representatives of agricultural constituencies such difficulties to contend with as at present; for there had lately sprung up, as they were all aware, a society whose measures were fraught with injury to the agricultural interests, and whose constant and untiring energies were put forth for the total ruin and subversion of that important branch of national industry. That society, unhappily, possessed large funds and numbered among its supporters some men of high repute and distinguished rank. He was happy to say there were no symptoms in the government, or in the highest person in the realm, of any approval of the measures adopted by this society, but quite the contrary. And what, said the hon. Baronet, is the object which these parties have in view in agitating the country and putting forth all manner of false assertions? Is it the improvement? Is it the enrichment of the country? Is it to extend the cultivation of the soil? Just the reverse of all this; their object is to throw immense tracts of land out of cultivation, and thus to convert the country into a wide wilderness, and the result must necessarily be the ruin of every class of the community. Having thus adverted to the difficulties which the representatives of agricultural constituencies have to contend with, he begged leave to remind them that a very serious responsibility and a most imperative duty rested upon those constituencies themselves. They were attacked in their own homes and on their own acres. What then were they to do? Let them petition the Legislature; all the meetings and all the talkings in the world would avail nothing unless they petitioned. He would rejoice to see petitions sent up from every town, parish, and hamlet in the kingdom. The hon. Baronet next adverted to his parliamentary conduct during the last session and stated that the course he had pursued was that which he conscientiously believed to be correct. He had felt himself not once or twice, but on several occasions, constrained by a sense of duty to vote against the party whom he highly respected. He gave the present government credit for having effected great good. They had wonderfully retrieved the financial condition of the country, for coming in upon a deficiency of 5,000,000l. they had actually coverted this deficiency into a surplus of the same amount. But from whence had this amount been drawn? Why he had heard the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the government admit that four million out of the five million had been drawn from the agricultural body. He had also heard him specify several taxes which he considered to press much more heavily on the agricultural interest than on any other, such, for instance, as the malt tax, the support of the poor, tithes, and some others. With respect to the malt tax, he (Sir William) would be very glad to see it totally repealed, as he had no doubt such a repeal would in a remarkable degree improve the moral condition of society, especially of those classes which were much below the gentlemen whom he had then the pleasure of addressing, and there could be no doubt that this as well as other taxes did press with very disproportionate weight on agriculture. The right hon. baronet stated in reference to his vote in favour of Sir Robert Peel's extensive alteration of the tariff, that he gave that vote in the hope that it would be considered as a permanent measure, and he thought the largeness of the measure and the extent to which it went, demanded that time should be afforded for giving it a fair trial before any further alterations were conceded. I had hoped, continued the hon. baronet, that after the passing of so large and comprehensive a measure as that we should have been allowed a period of repose, and that the panic which these extensive alterations at first created would have subsided and confidence have been restored, but I am sorry to say we do not find repose and quiet; and it was upon this point that I joined issue with Sir Robert Peel upon the Canadian Corn Bill, and I do think that until we can get something like a pledge from him that time should be given for making a fair trial of the measure already passed, his power must diminish. I never will give my unqualified support to any measure that I do not conceive to be conducive to the best interests of the country: and I again call upon you, gentlemen, to put your shoulders to the wheel. I call upon you to help and encourage your representatives by every possible exertion, for I feel assured that with the decline of agriculture every other interest in the country must languish. He again thanked them for the very kind manner in which they had drank his health, and before he sat down he begged to propose the health of his much respected friend on his left, who was in a fair way of becoming the Whittington of Petersfield, and he was sure that a more worthy and open-hearted man or a better citizen was not to be found. The toast was "The health of Mr. Parsons, the Mayor elect."
Mr. Parsons shortly returned thanks.
Song by Mr. G. MAXWELL.
The CHAIRMAN next gave "the health of Lady Jolliffe and family."
Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE returned thanks, and proposed "the health of the Foreman and Jury of the Leet," and spoke In terms of high and well-deserved encomium of Mr. Lipscombe, the foreman, who, observed the hon. baronet, has passed a long life of un-impeachable probity and honor, and whom I esteem as one of the most respectable gentlemen within the circle of my acquaintance.
Song by Mr. BUTTERFIELD.
Rev. C. TWYFORD begged to propose the health of a gentleman to whom the Borough had, for many years, been much indebted, he meant the Recorder, Mr. Currie."
Mr. CURRIE said he had had the honor of filling the office of recorder of the borough for twenty-two years, and he trusted that during that time he had performed the duties of that office with zeal, to the best of his ability he certainly had. He congratulated the borough on its present position in having for its representative a man who would advocate and support those interests upon which its prosperity depended.
Song by Mr. C. PARR.
Mr. Seward proposed "the health of the Rev. C. Twyford, as an old and tried friend of the Jolliffe family."
The Rev. C. TWYFORD returned thanks, and stated that the electors of Petersfield had shown their good sense in choosing a member of that family as their representative, a man whom any borough in the kingdom would be glad to have. I am sure (said the Rev. Gentleman) you and your families will have cause to bless those legislative measures which he will always be found to support. I have long entertained a high regard for the inhabitants of Petersfield, and so did my father before me, and I believe I have been present on similar occasions to the present almost without a single exception for twenty-five years.
Song by Mr. G. NASH.
Mr. CURRIE proposed "prosperity to the town of Petersfield " which having been drunk with three-times-three—
The Learned Gentleman, after returning thanks, said there was a gentleman present whose health he could not allow to be any longer deferred; the success of their cause was mainly attributable to his judicious exertions. He begged to propose "the health of Mr. Butterfield."
Mr. BUTTERFIELD said—Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,—It has on former occasions fallen to my lot to say a few words to you on the political condition of the Borough, and I now beg to congratulate you on the position in which we stand, especially on the tranquil and peaceful state in which the borough has continued for a long time past. I also most heartily congratulate you on the state of the register, which I have no hesitation in saying has decidedly improved since the return of the hon. baronet; but still I entreat you not for one moment to relax in your efforts, and above all I advise you to retain Sir William Jolliffe as your representative, for you may rest assured that he is too useful a man to remain long without a seat in the legislature, and if you do not retain him somebody else will secure him.
Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE proposed "the health of Mr. Cooke "
Mr. Cooke, in returning thanks, said he certainly did think that this was a time for them to band together and to act in concert. He did not quite agree with Sir William Jolliffe as to the probable working of the new tariff, but he was much pleased with the hon. Baronet's candour in explaining his parliamentary conduct and he begged to express his entire confidence in him, and his conviction that they were much indebted to him. He would urge them to be united and firm, like the bundle of sticks in the ancient fable and they would then form a band not to be conquered but always conquering.
Mr. CURRIE proposed "the health of Mr. Seward, a man whom every one respected, and who some time ago when we were in difficulty nobly gave us his adhesion to our cause."
Mr. SEWARD in returning thanks said he had never regretted the support he had given to Sir William Jolliffe. It was the proudest day of his life when he identified himself with the cause of the Jolliffe family in the Borough of Petersfield.
"The health of Mr. CUTLAR," was then drunk and responded to.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "the health of Mr. Hylton Jolliffe," whom he designated as the "rising Star.''
Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE acknowledged the toast.
The Rev. Mr. Twyford proposed the health of Mrs. Jolliffe which was also responded to by the worthy Baronet, who assured the company that his honoured mother still felt and would ever feel a deep interest in the welfare of the people of Petersfield; and that whatever benefit she might at any time have conferred on the town, had been amply repaid to her in the kindness they had bestowed on him, her son. He begged to propose a parting toast—"TheLadies of the Borough of Petersfield."
The hon. Baronet and several of the company then withdrew but a considerable number remained, and toast, song, and sentiment continued to circulate till a late hour of the evening.
(See also
20-Jan-1844)