The Landing of the Loyalists Fittingly Honored

’Twas 109 YEARS AGO. THE LANDING OF THE LOYALISTS FITTINGLY HONORED. Speeches Breathing Patriotism at the Annual Banquet — Those Who Observed the Day in This Manner, and Some of the Sentiments Expressed. The members of the Loyalist Society held their annual dinner in the Hotel Dufferin Wednesday night. The event was made most enjoyable to everybody present either in social converse or in listening to patriotic speeches, or inspiriting songs which followed the dinner. THE GUESTS. The following is a list of those present: Sir Leonard Tilley, Chief Justice Allen, Judge Tuck, Judge R C Skinner, Solicitor General Pugsley, Charles N Skinner, M P, James Hannay, G Tapley, Jas Manning, L P D Tilley, Lt Col Armstrong, H L Sturdee, Dr. I Allan Jack, S D Scott, Dr. Wm Bayard, Dr. Alward, M.P.P, S Gardiner, H.W. DeForest, Ira Cornwall, Dr. Harding, Mayor Peters, James Anderson, J B Jones, Clarence DeForest, G.G. Ruel, Geo W Jones, John White, A O Skinner, J D Underhill, C A Everett, D.J. Seely, H J Anderson, S.S. DeForest, D Waterbury, C S Harding, G S Mayes, J A Belyea, Rev J de Soyres, Robt Milligan, Alex Lindsay. THE DINNER. It was about 8 30 o’clock before the company sat down to dinner. It is needless to say that it was a good one—every seasonable article being served in Mr. Jones’ best style. The bill of fare, which is reprinted, will speak for itself:— Oysters. Consomme. Prince Albert. Olives. Radishes. Salted Almonds. Boiled Harbor Salmon, sauce supreme. Boiled Turkey, oyster sauce. RICED POTATOES. Roast Ribs of Beef, dish gravy. ASPARAGUS. Roast Spring Lamb, mint sauce. POTATO CROQUETTES, PEASE, Sweet Breads, a la dauphine. Lobster, a la Newberg. Patties of Wild DUCK. Chartreuse Punch. Lettuce Salad. English Plum Pudding. Almond Custard. Trifle. Meringues. Jellies. Caramel Ice Cream, Assorted Cake. Fruit. Confections. Edam. Biscuit. Cafe Noir. The table formed the letter T. At the head of it sat Sir Leonard Tilley, who had on his right Mr. Robt. Milligan, (president of the St. Andrew’s society) and on his left were Col. Armstrong, Rev. J. deSoyres and Mr. James Hannay. Sir John C. Allen was in the vice chair and to his honor’s right sat Mayor Peters, and Solicitor General Pugsley, and on his left was Mr. C. N. Skinner, M.P. HONORING THE SENTIMENTS. About 9 30 o’clock the toasts began and they with their responses occupied the remainder of the evening up to 1 a. m. The first toast of the evening, proposed by the lieutenant governor, was The Queen. In introducing it Sir Leonard said he would be only repeating the old statement were he be remind the company that it was the custom on such an occasion as this to propose the health of her majesty the queen. He believed that the people of Canada were as lo/al subjects as any in the British Empire, and that was the opinion of her majesty. He was fully convinced that it would be difficult to find a more loyal assemblage than the present one— descendants of the loyalists and their guests —who were present to express their sympathy with the objects of the society, which were the perpetuation of the memory of the early settlers of this province—the loyalists. After the toast was drunk, three cheers were given. His honor, in referring to the visit of the governor general, said that his excellency had come to this province at an opportune time and yet not an opportune time. He came to this city during the exhibition when everybody was busy, and unhappily his excellency did not receive the welcome he would have received had he come at another time. However, the governor general expressed his pleasure in coming to St. John and seeing the manufacturing and products of this country. The speaker was satisfied, too, that everybody who had met the distinguished gentleman was charmed with him. Sir Leonard then called upon Mr. C. N. Skinner, M. P., to respond to the toast of The Governor General and Parliament of Canada. Mr. Skinner said that it would have been , much better had Sir Leonard responded to this toast because he could speak upon this subject with greater authority than he (Skinner) could. Mr. Skinner said that wherever his honor the lieutenant governor went, everybody spoke well of him. The governor general was also referred to as a most genial officer. He had heard his excellency speak in the highest terms of the loyalist feeling pervading the people of Canada and their relations with the mother country. The speaker hoped that the time would never come when a finger would be uplifted to sever those ties. As to the parliament of Canada, Mr. Skinner said he did not consider it was necessary for him to say anything. It was, he considered, the talking place of the nation—there the feelings, the hopes and the aspirations of the country were talked of, and through the medium of the press the public were enlightened as to what was going on from time to time. Parliament, in the truest sense of the word, represented the people of Canada. While there was opposition at times to the government, yet he did not believe that any representative in the house was disloyal. Commenting on the trade treaty, Mr. Skinner predicted that if the United States adheres to her present policy of exclusion, we would find that a mighty trade could be developed with England. We must have liberty and freedom, without which England could not be what she is today—a free, independent and prosperous nation. Mr. G. S. Mayes then sang Where Are the Boys of the Old Brigade. His rendition of the song charmed the audience and he was loudly applauded at the close. Chief Justice Allen said that he had been solicitor general of the province but a very short time when he was ousted from power, and he believed that the president of the gathering was one of those who had assisted in turning him out. (Laughter.) He, however, did not feel sorry for losing his post. The legislature was a good schooling for those who went there. The chief justice then proposed the toast of The Lieut.-Governor and the Local Legislature. Sir Leonard Tilley, on rising to reply, thanked the last speaker for his many compliments, and to the gentlemen present for the cordial manner in which they had responded to the sentiment. He had always endeavored to discharge the constitutional duties devolving upon him, with fairness to all, and to the best of his ability. For the 27 years he had been a representative of the people, Sir Leonard said, he had never sat on the opposition benches. (Laughter.) He always sat upon the government benches. In his judgment there was more debating talent in the house of assembly now than there ever was, and it ought to be a great satisfaction for the community to know that the ablest and best men were willing to represent them. Solicitor General Pugsley, in speaking of the pleasure he had in being present and expressed the hope that he might be admitted a member of the society, whose objects, it must be gratifying to everybody to know, were for the purpose of strengthening the lies that bound us to the mother country, and for spreading a love for British institutions.. The legislature of this province had to deal with many important measures and he instanced what the government bad done for the province in agriculture, education and the improvements of the great highways. Dr. Alward, M. P. P., followed Mr. Pugsley. He said that although the legislature was shorn of many of its powers by the British North America act, yet it still possessed the power of doing good. The legislature had done much for the educational as well as the agricultural interest; the latter interest, he said, lies at the base of the nation’s prosperity. The speaker then briefly referred to the progress of the country since the landing of the early settlers and of its vast resources, The Memory of the Loyalists was then proposed by Sir Leonard Tilley. Chief Justice Allen, in replying to the toast, referred to the trials and tribulations which the loyalists suffered when they pitched their tents here in the month of November. He considered that the society should put their hands in their pockets and show that they really had a veneration and respect for those who settled this fine country. He agreed with the suggestion made some time ago by Dr. Harding: to have an excursion to Gagetown and there a reunion might be had of other descendants of the loyalists. The toast, Our Sister Societies, was fittingly responded to by Mr. Robert Milligan. The Bench and Bar was then given and responded to by Mr. Justice Tuck, Sir John C. Allen and Mr. R. C. Skinner, in witty and effective speeches. Dr. Bayard then gave the Mayor and Aldermen, to which Mayor Peters and Recorder Jack responded. Judge Tuck proposed the Clergy, coupled with the name of Rev. Mr. de Soyres, whom he eulogized. The latter responded in an admirable speech. The toast of The Medical Profession was then given by Mr. R. C. Skinner and responded to by Dr. Bayard and Dr. Harding. Sir Leonard Tilley proposed The Press and speeches in response were made by Mr. James Hannay, of THE TELEGRAPH, and Mr. S. D. Scott, of the Sun. Our Guests was then proposed and responded to by Lieut.-Col. Joan R. Armstrong and Mr. G. H. Ruel. The Ladies, proposed by Mr. Jas. A. Belyea, was responded to by Mr. Manning, Mr. Geo. W. Jones and Mr. Leonard P. D. Tilley. This brought the proceedings of the Loyalist Society to a dose, after a most delightful evening.