“Gentlemen,--I first knew Bill Beresford over thirty years ago in the playing fields of Eton, where they say battles are won, to the inspiration of which thought we may both trust to fight against the extreme nervousness our respective positions entail on us to-night. His nervousness needs no apology, as he has to respond to a whole evening in his honour, which nobody could face with perfect equanimity. Mine perhaps requires this explanation, that in assuming my duty, which is to now call a toast to his name, and bid him farewell on behalf of this large company, I find it difficult to do so in appropriate terms, lest I be charged with personal bias from my well-known feelings for him of affectionate friendship and regard--(cheers). I have been selected for this task which, for this reason, I would rather have deputed to some other, because amongst Calcutta residents proper (and this dinner is meant to bear a Calcutta complexion) I have known him longer than most, if not than all of you. This qualification I claim with pride. I beg you however to believe I mean to be impartial in the few remarks regarding his career which I now make--(cheers). “I must not date back too far, so I leave Eton days and get straight to India, where his main career has been spent, and with distinction--(cheers)--for it is with that portion of his life that this company is chiefly concerned. What fortunate accident brought him here I do not quite know, unless it was the natural termination of the short life and a merry one dear to youthful soldiers in the old country, but having arrived here eighteen years ago, here he has remained, and I would briefly recall to you the various phases in which he has appeared before us. I think I can best cut him into four--(laughter and cheers)--the soldier, the official, the sportsman, and the social companion--(cheers). “As soldier I cannot speak of him from personal knowledge. I have the satisfaction of being a member of society who, when war is abroad, is entitled to seclude himself from its ranks--(laughter)--but it is a consolation to feel that a good plucked one, like our friend Bill, is to the fore to protect me--(hear, hear, and laughter). I recollect I first saw him as a soldier, gay and dapper, in 9th Lancers uniform, brown hair, sufficient of it, and a straight nose--(laughter)--escorting the Prince of Wales from Prinseps Ghât to Government House, but this is only the show side of a soldier’s life. For its realistic side one must go further afield, and there are those amongst us from whom no doubt I could glean facts to set forth his worth, but there is no need. He bears on his breast the sign manual of merit in the proud insignia of the Victoria Cross, and I am justified in accepting that as sufficient evidence--(loud and prolonged cheers).