DINNER TO MR. EDWARD STANLE1 . 
41 
and so it was with a company at a dinner table like that 
around which they sat : they required a good chairman to 
conduct it. Such a chairman they had, and it was his health 
which he had to propose. (Cheers.) In presenting this toast, 
he begged to be allowed to make a few remarks on this — to 
each of them — joyous occasion. (Hear.) Their friend Stanley 
would no doubt feel it was an occasion that was exceedingly 
gratifying, and exceedingly well had he acquitted himself in 
responding to the chairman’s address — he had responded in 
those manly terms for which he was proverbial since he (Mr. 
Cother) had known him. He must say it was a happy occasion, 
inasmuch as it enabled them to bear their testimony to Mr. 
Stanley’s exceedingly good conduct and professional skill. 
(Cheers.) Referring again to the subject of the toast he said it 
was important to the reading public that the newspaper editor 
should not go to sleep for a week, because if he did there 
would be a great want which could not be otherwise supplied; 
and so with the brewer producing beer, and the miller in 
furnishing bread: there must be a head; and in selecting a 
head for this assembly, he trusted they would be of opinion 
that the committee had made a good and not a bad choice. 
(Cheers.) To the well-known excellence of the gentleman 
who filled the chair, and the honour with which he discharged 
the various duties of Mayor of Banbury, they would add the 
fact of his having so well acquitted himself on this occasion ; 
and on these considerations they would agree with him that 
the committee had made a good selection in the choice of a 
chairman. (Cheers.) One more word he should like to say. 
He thought this occasion afforded them an example of the 
consequences of good conduct ; and he trusted that Mr. 
Stanley’s successor would view this as an example never to be 
forgotten by him, so that if ever he should be called upon to 
remove from amid his neighbours, he might do so with the 
same good will as was now accorded to Mr. Stanley. (Cheers.) 
He now gave them “ The Chairman.” — (Three times three.) 
The Chairman thanked them for the compliment they had 
paid him, and for the manner in which they had paid it. It 
was most gratifying to his feelings, and far beyond his merits, 
for it was only his duty to come forward in behalf of a neigh- 
bour like Mr. Stanley. (Cheers.) Although it was his province 
to preside at meetings of a different nature to that, yet he 
could assure them that he felt much pleasure in seeing 
assembled gentlemen living in the neighbourhood as well as 
those of the town ; and he should heartily rejoice if they had 
more frequent opportunities of promoting harmony and good 
neighbourhood amongst each other. (Cheers,) 
XXVII. 
6 
