THE ARMY AND NAVY,

COUPLED WITH

THE VOLUNTEERS, MILITIA, AND NAVAL RESERVE.

TOASTS-NAVAL AND MILITARY.

Toast.-"THE ARMY."-By the Chairman.

GENTLEMEN,-My next toast in routine is "The Army"-that phalanx of braves to whom in a great measure we owe the liberties we now enjoy. No man can over-estimate the value of such an army as England is proud to possess. No man can read the past history of England without being astonished at the mighty deeds of her warriors. No Englishman can hear them mentioned without feeling his heart leap with gratitude to God who has so blessed his country. To mention names, when the roll of our heroes is almost endless, would be invidious; to mention acts of heroism and indomitable bravery would be equally so, for their name is legion. I must content myself, then, by asking you, Mr. Vice and Gentlemen, to join me in a bumper toast to that powerful branch of the service-"The Army."

The British Army: may its distinguishing characteristics always Le, fortitude in the hour of disaster, courage in the hour of danger, and mercy in the hour of victory.

"THE NAVY."

GENTLEMEN,-I shall now propose to you for your next toast, "The Navy." I have lost no time in this, because as it has long been a moot point as to which branch of the service preference should be given, I hold that at least but little time should elapse between these two very important toasts. Do you wish me to say anything to you on behalf of our navy,-shall I breathe forth to you the names of her mighty heroes to inspire your zeal,-can I elicit your applause by whispering to you of Rooke, Blake, Hood, Howe, St. Vincent, Duncan, Nelson, Collingwood, Exmouth, Codrington,

Cochrane, and Napier ? No, I see by the light flashing from each eye as the roll of our naval heroes is called, England wants no reminder of the deep debt she owes her valiant sons, and no spur to do honour to their memory as often as occasion shall serve. Many changes have taken place of late years in the construction of ships; instead of our wooden walls" we shall have to speak in future of "our iron-sides." But whether our ships are made of wood or iron, England's navy, when called upon to protect our native shores, will ever be found to consist of "hearts of oak." However you may alter the material for building ships, to meet the exigencies of the times, you cannot alter the material of our plucky English seamen ; that will ever remain the true "Britannia metal," yet be found very difficult to polish! So, gentlemen, rise, and join me in a bumper toast, "The Navy of England."

The tar that sticks like pitch to his duty.

The

"THE ARMY, NAVY, AND VOLUNTEERS." GENTLEMEN,-It is now my agreeable duty to propose "The healths of our brave defenders, the Army and the Navy," those two great services to which this country is so deeply indebted. courage and chivalry of the army and navy are matters of history, and I am sure that I speak the sentiments of the British people when I say they have earned our everlasting gratitude. I am happy to be able to associate with this toast a body of modern times, a very useful and deservedly respected body-I speak of the Volunteers. Gentlemen, we are very proud of the Volunteers. They consist of the flower of our youth-men who, regardless of time and expense, employ their leisure hours, not frivolously, but intellectually, in preparing themselves, in case of need, to defend the honour and glory of Old England. I am happy on this occasion to associate the toast with the name of a gentleman whom I have long known in another field-I mean Mr. If he is as good a soldier as he is a man of business, the service was never more efficiently represented.

GENTLEMEN,-An honour has been conferred on me, in allowing me to introduce the next toast; for that honour I intend to make the only return in my power, and that is to be brief. Brevity in afterdinner speeches is not only the soul of wit, but is the soul, in my mind, of all other social virtues. The toast which I am about to introduce is always placed prominently on the list, which proves how dearly the subject of it is held in the hearts of the people of this great country. As good wine needs no bush, a good cause needs little talking, and the army, navy, and volunteers of this country can stand their ground without being bespattered by after-dinner praise. It would be obtrusive on such an occasion, and be in exceedingly bad taste, especially when the olive-branch, and

not the sword, is the theme of the day, if I were to recapitulate or recount the gallant deeds of prowess and the brilliant feats of arms performed by our glorious army and navy. Those deeds and

exploits are written in the records of England's history, and their glories are not only known to all the world, but are embalmed in the hearts of our grateful countrymen. Therefore, gentlemen, join with me, without further preface or remarks, in "The Army, Navy, and the British Volunteers."

GENTLEMEN,-I have now to propose to you that you should drink to the Army, Navy, and Volunteers. Gentlemen, it seems hardly necessary to say anything in commendation of services which have distinguished themselves so highly as these services have done. As respects the Army, the first thing that naturally occurs to every one present is the marvellous success of the expedition which has just returned from Every element of merit seems to have been concentrated in the conception and in the carrying out of that expedition; for, in the first place, never were means adapted to an end with more complete wisdom, and crowned with more absolute success, than on that occasion: and probably we saw in it war directed to its legitimate object, which is the vindication of right, without the infliction of wrong upon any individuals; but what most struck other nations, perhaps, was the result-the perfect unselfishness of the expedition, the return without levying a single tribute on the country, or attempting to retain a single inch of soil within it. The army of have returned crowned with laurels which, I may say, were not reaped with blood. The feats of the Navy are known in every quarter of the globe, and they are not only actively, but passively known in every quarter of the empire. As to the Volunteers, I may say, that when we were threatened with an invasion from abroad the British lion was stirred up, that an Army of Volunteers sprang from the soil, who since have given every pledge of being able to defend it should occasion demand their services. I beg to propose "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers of Great Britain."

MY LORDS, LADIES, AND GENTLEMEN,-I have now the pleasing duty of asking you to drink the toast of "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers." My Lords, in common with my countrymen, I sincerely and earnestly hope that the time is fast approaching when the peace of Europe will be established on a solid and lasting basis. We, my Lords, are not, strictly speaking, a military nation; but, addressing this assembly in the presence of

and

I hope I may be permitted to express what I believe to be the sentiment and feeling of the people of England-that these two glorious branches of the service may ever be maintained in an entire state of efficiency. My Lords, we present this singular anomaly, that whereas the science of peace is struggling to devise means to promote life, the science of war is endeavouring to invent the most deadly machines by which life can be destroyed. I have the greatest

pleasure in proposing "The Health of the Army, the Navy, and the Volunteers.' With the Army I associate the name of with the Navy that of and with the Volunteers that of

Toast.-By the Chairman.

"THE ARMY AND NAVY, COUPLED WITH THE VOLUNTEERS."

GENTLEMEN,-I have the pleasure to propose to you "The Army and Navy." This is a toast always well received by Englishmen, and I have now an addition to make to that timehonoured toast, viz. "The Volunteers." I pride myself in having taken an active part when the Volunteers were first established; and I believe they possess the hands and hearts that would always make England respected. As there is no member of either the Army or Navy present, I will couple with the toast a gentleman who is a great supporter of the Volunteers, and one who has taken every necessary step to make himself acquainted with the duties of a Volunteer and an officer, viz. Mr.

"Be Britain still to Britain true,

Among oursels united;

For never but by British hands
Maun British wrangs be righted."

"THE NAVY, COUPLED WITH ITS VOLUNTEER Reserve."

GENTLEMEN,-As a matter of routine, it is customary, after the Army has been toasted, to toast the Navy, but, with your leave, I will supplement it with the Naval Reserve.

Firstly, because it will enable us to gain time, and secondly, because the reserve force being drawn chiefly from our mercantile marine, is so closely a twin sister, that I do not think the most fastidious salt of the Line would find fault with this arrange

ment.

Our toast, then, shall be "The Navy and its Volunteer Reserve." We all know the value our Navy is to us, and how our sea-girt isle, under the aegis of such a force, laughs at invasion. Now though, perhaps, the days of our Wooden Walls are numbered, and the poetry that stirred our seamen of old is vanishing from view, still the lion hearts remain to tread the decks, and "guard from foes our native land." Long may it be ere our Naval Reserve is called out for active service; still, should it come, England will find every man "will do his duty," whether he be of the Royal Navy or the Reserve, and the flag that has braved a thousand years shall still remain unfurled, defiant alike of the battle and the breeze. Gentlemen, "The Royal Navy and its Volunteer Reserve."

The British Navy-the world's check-string.

"THE ARMY, COUPLED WITH THE VOLUNTEERS."

GENTLEMEN,-I rise now with great pleasure to propose The Army, coupled with the Volunteers." First, to that brave and glorious Army of England, from whose heroic deeds have sprung the high and distinguished position this country holds amongst the nations of the earth,-to that Army which, at all times and seasons in the hour of England's peril, has poured out its blood like water for the honour and safety of the country,-to that Army, I say, our thanks are firstly due, not only for past, but for present and future services, seeing that their duty is a constant one, and wherever danger is, there will they be to confront it.

Secondly, our thanks are due to our Volunteers as an auxiliary to that Army we owe so much to, and who, I am sure, in case of need, will prove worthy the name they bear, and able comrades of their brethren of the line. When, gentlemen, we see so noble, so devoted a band straining their greatest energies to acquire mastery of their weapons; when we witness the result of these efforts, as shown by the returns from the competitive meetings of the Volunteers, whether the piece be the rifle or the "loud-mouthed cannon,' we can but rejoice and say, Happy is the country that can boast such sons!

Gentlemen, "The Army, coupled with the Volunteers."

"It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country."

"

RESPONSES.

Response.-"THE ARMY."

GENTLEMEN, I have again the good fortune to respond for the Army, which I have had on several previous occasions in this room. I have often spoken on military exploits; but far more peaceful and in many respects more agreeable, times have come about, and whatever conduces to the happiness and prosperity of this country must always be most acceptable to the service to which I belong. It is not our wish to be engaged in wars; on the contrary, it is our business to try and avert the calamities of war; and if we can succeed in that respect, I flatter myself we perform our duty successfully, and are as much entitled to the good opinion of our countrymen as if we performed our duty gallantly in the field of battle. But, besides this, I trust I am not mistaken in supposing the inhabitants of the town of have a real affection for peace, I am

which can only be equalled by the horror they have for war. happy to find that the Army is in no respect reduced, either in number or efficiency; and I feel persuaded that, while they have on this and many other occasions rested with their peaceful arms so