n that account of record in this
publication, which aims to be somewhat historical in character. In the
following account of the Banquet there has been withdrawn the seasoning
of the "hear, hear," "laughter," "applause," "loud cheers," etc. The
reader can add it to his or her liking.

The attendance at the Banquet was large, and the guests closely filled
the large central hall of the Royal Hotel, College Green. The High
Sheriff, Mr. Weston Stevens, presided, and amongst those present were
the Lord Bishop of Bristol, Colonel C.E.H. Hobhouse, M.P., Rev. A.N.
Blatchford, Messrs. J. McMurtrie, S. Humphries, R.C. Tombs, I.S.O.
(Postmaster and Surveyor of Bristol), E. Bennett, J.T. Francombe, J.
Asher, J.C. Gilmore, L.J. Botting (the Bristol Central Secretary), E.C.
Taylor (the Chairman of Conference), and many others.

The speeches were interesting as throwing a light on the Post Office
working, and on Post Office benevolence.

When he received the invitation to attend that dinner, Mr. Francombe
said, he was at a loss to know why he should be so honoured. He thought
that possibly some gentleman engaged in the dead-letter office knew he
was a member of the Education Committee of Bristol, and that he might
give a hint to the rising generation to write better, and so save him a
great deal of trouble. If that was the reason, he certainly would
attend to it. Afterwards he said he knew why it was; it was because Sir
Francis Freeling was born in Redcliff, where he (Mr. Francombe) happened
to be schoolmaster of the parish. Sir Francis worked his way up to high
rank in the Postal Service, which was something to be proud of. He hoped
members of the Conference would not go away from Bristol without
visiting Redcliff Church and seeing the slab to his memory. But his duty
was to propose the toast of the Bishop and ministers of religion of that
ancient city. They did not know as much about the Bishop as he should
like them to know. They in Bristol believed him to be physically,
mentally, and spiritually fit to be a leader in the great city. He
believed the work of a Bishop was something like that of a
policeman--not altogether a happy one. His Lordship attended many
functions, gave a fillip to every one of them, and all he said was
reported and saved up ready to be cast in his teeth sometimes. If he
were of a tender disposition he would say, "I could weep my spirit from
mine eyes." But he was not one of that sort. His toast was "Ministe