entirely agree with every word
that has fallen from the lips of our Master Treasurer, and I
sincerely hope that this gathering may tend to much good and to
bring forward those important results in legal education which
you, Sir, have advocated so admirably. I thank you for the kind
way in which you have received me, and I can only assure you
that it has afforded me the greatest pleasure and satisfaction
to meet you here this evening in this ancient Hall, where, I am
told, Queen Elizabeth once danced with Chancellor Hatton. I am
afraid that now-a-days the duties of the Chancellor are more
arduous than they were then, and that they do not allow him much
time to acquire the art of dancing. I cannot help thus reminding
you of one of the great historical events which this Hall has
witnessed, and I thank you once more for the great honour you
have done me in proposing my health and for the cordial
reception you have given me."

"The Queen" and "The Prince of Wales" were the only two toasts given at
the banquet.

The Treasurer and Benchers of the Inner Temple, on the 18th of May,
1870, had entertained with much splendour His Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales, His Royal Highness the Prince Christian, the Lord Chancellor,
the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice of England,
the Judges in Equity and at Common Law, the Queen's Counsel, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a very distinguished company, to
celebrate the inauguration of the new Hall, which had been formally
opened by Her Royal Highness the Princess Louise a few days before.

The two Royal visitors sat at the right and left hand of the Treasurer,
Mr. Percival Pickering. Grace was said by the Master of the Temple, Dr.
Vaughan. After due justice had been done to the dinner, the Treasurer
humorously described some of the strange scenes which had been enacted
in the old Hall, which had been removed to make room for the present
magnificent structure. He then proposed "The Health of the Queen," which
was received with loyal enthusiasm. That of "The Prince of Wales and the
other members of the Royal Family" was felicitously acknowledged by the
Prince of Wales. The Archbishop of York returned thanks for the Church,
Sir William Codrington for the Army, and the Colonel of the "Devil's
Own" for the Volunteers. Mr. Gladstone proposed "The Health of the
Treasurer," whose speeches throughout the eve