40 
DINNER TO MR. EDWARD STANLEY. 
deemed me worthy of this great demonstration, for it is more 
than I have merited. (No, no.) I know, gentlemen, that 
your feelings are those of well-wishers towards me; and I 
certainly accept this testimonial with a great deal of pleasure, 
and I am proud of it. There are not many here but would 
feel proud of such a testimonial; and I consider that it is the 
highest honour and the greatest possible compliment that 
you could have paid to me. (Cheers). Perhaps some of my 
friends will be ready to ask, after receiving so much support, 
what could have induced you to leave ? I can only say, in 
reply, that I have not left you without great consideration, 
and after taking the advice of my best friends. (Hear.) I 
have nothing to complain of you, gentlemen. I have had 
much of your patronage in the town, and have gone exten- 
sively out of the town ; and I feel that the testimonial w hich 
you have now given of my conduct is of great value to me, 
and that it is something which I can hand down to my 
children. (Cheers.) I am led to believe, gentlemen, that in 
Birmingham I shall have a larger field, and meet with a more 
lucrative business. (Hear, hear.) I should be sorry to say 
one word that might be misconstrued ; but w^hen I say a 
more lucrative business, I mean that I have a large family to 
provide for, and I am hoping to be the better able to provide 
for them there than here. The step I have taken is a bold 
one, but whether it is w ise time alone can prove. There are 
schools in Birmingham that are highly advantageous for 
education, and that is another reason w hich has induced me 
to take this step. These considerations, and not personal 
ambition, have influenced me ; and let me say that your 
kindness to me this evening will increase the tie w hich I feel 
ought ever to exist between us ; and I hope that occasionally 
I shall have the pleasure of coming amongst you. I need 
not say to you that I shall always feel an interest in what is 
going on here, and shall look at the Banbury Guardian wdth 
pleasure to observe your movements. (Hear, hear.) Gentle- 
men, speech-making is a littlp out of my line, but before I 
conclude, allow’ me to say that I have one happiness to cheer 
me — that after living in Banbury twenty years, I believe I 
am in good fellowship w r ith every man. (Cheers.) For the 
great honour and the high compliment which you have paid 
me accept my best thanks. (Reiterated cheers.) 
Mr. Cother said — He was called upon to propose the next 
toast, and he wdshed them to do that honour to it which it 
deserved. If they looked upon a long railway train, full of 
passengers, they saw' that it would be of very little use either 
to the passengers or the company without a steam engine ; 
