The annual banquet was given in the evening at the Exhibition Palace. It was a brilliant and successful affair. About 450 guests were present, and the galleries were thronged with ladies. When the Prince entered and took his place at the head of the table there was tumultuous applause. After dinner the Prince rose and said:—
"My Lords and Gentlemen,—The first toast which I have the honour of proposing to you this evening is one which I am sure will be heartily received by you. It is 'The Health of Her Majesty the Queen.' In proposing this toast I am convinced that the Queen has a part in the best wishes of the Irish people. Although, unfortunately, some time has elapsed since she has been over in Ireland, still I hope the day will yet come when she may again come over. I am also convinced that the reception she has met on former occasions she will meet with again. I will not add more, but ask you to drink the health of Her Majesty the Queen."
The toast was drunk with loyal fervour. After a short interval the Prince of Wales again rose and said:—
"My Lords and Gentlemen,—I have some slight difficulty in proposing the next toast, because it relates to members of my own family; still, as it is on the list before me, I propose 'The Health of the rest of the Royal Family.' I am sure that it has been the wish of my brothers not to be useless appendages of the State, but to do all they can to serve their country. My brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, as you are aware, has for some time past been in the Royal Navy, and has had the advantage of seeing many countries, and I may say of twice sailing round the world. On my left is my brother who is serving in the Army, and who responds to this toast. I trust that he has also a bright career before him. He has some slight claim upon you, gentlemen, as he bears the name of Patrick. Without saying more, I beg you to drink the health of the rest of the Royal Family, coupled with the name of Prince Arthur."
His Royal highness Prince Arthur, on rising to respond to the toast, was received with loud cheers, renewed during the short but effective and well delivered speech, in which he referred to a former visit to Ireland, when he was received with much kindness and cordiality. "That visit was certainly but a short one, but it was long enough to enable me to see a good deal of the country, and to inspire in me a lasting interest in all that concerns the welfare of Ireland."
The Prince of Wales, in proposing the next toast, said:—
"Ladies and Gentlemen,—It is now my pleasing duty to propose 'The Health of His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant, and Prosperity to Ireland.' Nothing could give me greater pleasure than having the honour of proposing this toast. I am convinced that all the Lords-Lieutenant that come over to Ireland do their utmost to fulfil their duties, and sometimes they are very arduous ones, and I feel convinced that his Excellency on my right has the goodwill of the country. The theme before me—Prosperity to Ireland—is one that might be enlarged upon greatly. Nobody wishes more sincerely than I do prosperity to this country. No one in the large assemblage which crowds this hall, and no one outside this hall, could more largely wish for the prosperity of Ireland which was so dear to them. I think I may say without fear of contradiction, that at the present moment Ireland is rich and prosperous. There has been a great decrease of pauperism and of crime, and I may say that what will do more than anything else towards making a country prosperous is the extension of its agriculture. It was with great pleasure that I accepted the position of President of the Royal Agricultural Society, and it afforded me great pleasure to be present for a short time at the Show to-day. My brother has already alluded in his speech to the fine animals we saw, and I may add that I feel sure that in no other part of the United Kingdom could a more creditable Show be held than that which was opened near Dublin this morning. During the last four years there has been a great improvement in every respect in the shows of the Royal Agricultural Societies. I believe I am not wrong in stating that in 1867 the entries in the department of horses numbered 257, and now, on this occasion, they are but one short of 600. That alone shows the interest which all classes of the community take in these Shows, and how anxious each one is to do all in his power to promote the object it has in view."
Alluding to the interest which the Earl of Pembroke had shown in the welfare of the country, and his liberality in granting a site for the Showyard, His Royal Highness said:—
"I am assured that if the many gentlemen and landlords who very often find some difficulty in leaving England, but who have large interests and large estates in this country, could contrive to come over here more frequently, it would do more good than anything else I could imagine. I am certain that they are anxious to come over, and that their relations with their tenantry and those around them should be in every respect good. I may also here refer to the great improvement made in the erection of farm buildings and cottages. Beyond doubt there has been progress in the direction of improvement there; but still I believe much yet remains to be done. Everything depends upon the well-being of the people, and if they are properly lodged it tends to cleanliness, and very possibly to moral advantage. Perhaps I may be allowed to speak of a slight personal experience in that matter. I have a small estate in Norfolk, and observed myself the greatest importance of providing suitable small cottages for those resident there, and, having done so, now reap immense advantage. I am sure that this is a question which belongs in itself to the well-being of Irish agriculture, and which will accordingly receive the best consideration of this society. There are many other topics upon which I might enlarge, but as there are still many toasts to be proposed and responded to, time will not permit. Besides, as you are aware, the excellent society under whose auspices we are assembled, while endeavouring to do as much good as possible, has no political connection whatever. You will, therefore, I am sure, forgive me if I do not enlarge more fully on other topics which might have some political bearing. I give you 'The Health of his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant, and Prosperity to Ireland.'"
The Lord-Lieutenant, Earl Spencer, in responding, said that since they last met there had been much prosperity in the country. It was a happy thing that they were able to mark this. The calling out of the Irish Militia had tended to encourage the confidence and loyalty of the people. His Excellency hoped that the improved relations established by recent legislation between landlord and tenant would have beneficial effects.