THE BANQUET. 51 
They cannot help doing so. They, on their part, have taught us many 
lessons. I refer more to the American, because the Continental methods 
are so much more allied to our own that it is difficult to differentiate 
between ours and theirs. Perhaps we, of Europe, are too speculative 
and less practical than we ought to be. I admire scientific speculation 
tending towards the elucidation of first causes; but I was deeply im- 
pressed by the fierce, practical, utilitarian methods of the Americans, 
as Mr. Webber laid them before us this afternoon in a very 
strong and practical manner. Our American cousins know what they 
want, and they go straight at it. They get a “freeze’’ among the 
Oranges, and they say at once, “‘ We must get Oranges that will withstand 
a frost,” and they go straight at it. They try other Oranges and make a 
multitude of experiments towards the desired goal. Another point that 
has struck me very much, a point accentuated by Mr. Webber's lecture, 
was this—the large support which is given to the important matters of 
horticulture and agriculture by the Government of the United States. 
In our own country, if we went to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ask 
for an extra hundred or so for Kew, we should be met by the usual 
official and departmental frown. Mr. Webber has told us that horti- 
culture brings us all together, arouses in us those sympathies, those 
friendly feelings, which have been exhibited so largely the last few days. 
At the Hague there has been a conference with the object of making 
nations settle their disputes without going to war. It seems not to have 
suggested itself to the representatives of the Great Powers that there 
is one way which would render ironclads and Maxim guns drugs on the 
market—that all these nations should become Fellows of the Royal 
Horticultural Society. 
His Excentency THE Bexta@ian Minister :—Mr. Chairman, my 
Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—To. be called upon to respond to the 
toast which you have just honoured is always regarded by every member 
of the body to which I belong not only as a matter of international 
courtesy, but as a very great personal pleasure. The exceedingly kind 
manner in which it was proposed and acknowledged encourages me to 
ask a yet further favour at your hands—that you will not take any poor 
words of mine as expressing my full sense of your kindness, and of the 
honour you have done to the visitors. This is no ordinary occasion. It 
is one which every one of us here will long remember for reasons 
which are common to us all. But each of us, no doubt, will have some 
special reason for its recollection. Speaking for myself, it will hold a 
leading place among my memories of all the kindness, all the hospitality, 
all the friendship that I have enjoyed since I first found myself at home 
among Englishmen. I say “at home”’ advisedly, for I know how much 
that word means here, and all that it meansin England. It is, further- 
more, our common diplomatic experience that British hospitality, not only 
in the special sense in which we enjoy it here this evening, but in the 
friendly offices of every day, is unsurpassed throughout-the world. But, 
if this be true of the official representatives of all countries, how much 
more true must it be for the countries which are so specially and 
honourably represented here this evening. Speaking specially for the 
country and the Sovereign I have the honour to serve, | need not remind 
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