Regular Toasts.
1. Benjamin Franklin—A Star whose brilliancy is not dimmed by the effacing hand or Time; his life presents a perfect copy for members of the Craft in every land. May each one be as free from errors when revised by the Great Proof Reader of the universe.
2. The Typographical Fraternity—Having Franklin for our guide, although made up of all sorts of matter, we challenge the world to produce one whose impressions will be as indelible, or who is as mighty.
3. The Union—A capital font of superior figures, set up by Yankees, and worked with balls. The thirtieth edition shows the work was well justified and the register good.
4. Washington—The brightest name in our country's history. No spot has ever appeared to mar its brilliancy.
5. The President of the United States—The head of the National column. May he always be able to justify his public matter by the line of integrity.
6. The State of New-York—There are many stars of magnitude, but for large fonts, full cases, and abundance of sorts, politically, commercially, and typographically, thou excellest them all.
7. The Governor of the State of New-York—A. YOUNG compositor. May his works justify the confidence reposed in him by the people.
8. The Heroes of '76—Publishers of the History of the American Revolution: They set up their title at Bunker's Hill, and the last page at Yorktown, embellishing it with a spirited representation, of the surrender of an English army.
9. The Press—Freedom's chase which locks together in one em-brace those who would defend the principles for the maintenance of which the leaders of the Revolution used their shooting-sticks so effectually.
10. The Telegraph—Franklin caused the lightning to be obedient to his will, and Morse has made it the medium of thought.
11. Common Schools—Through them the non-pareils of to-day become the paragons of to-morrow.
12. The Army and Navy of the United States.
13. The Ladies—Truly unique and beautiful specimens of Nature's typography—the paragon type of Heaven's love to man.
Volunteer Toasts.
The President having been called upon for a sentiment, said:
Gentlemen:—In responding to the call made upon me, I will detain you only for a moment.—It is not my purpose to make a speech. It is not necessary that I should do so, for the sentiment I intend to offer requires no explanation to be understood and appreciated by you all. It will find an echo in every bosom in which there is a heart that can feel and sympathise with that of its fellow-man. I have already spoken of the general and rapid progression of the human race; but much remains to be accomplished to complete its higher and more glorious destiny. It is an often repeated truism, that "intelligence is the life of liberty." The degraded and ignorant mind is in bondage; it is fettered and stultified; and neither knows its own nor the rights of others; of every member of the community, and of the whole community; but the regenerating light of knowledge is spreading over the world, and commensurate with its progress is the advancement of the human race, in comfort and happiness, and in its moral, social and political condition. I give you then, gentlemen:
The Spirit of the Age: A spirit that seeks the melioration of the condition of the toiling millions, and ensures to them a better, happier and brighter destiny.
The volunteers then flowed in thick and fast, in the following order:
By Erastus Shepard—Our venerated guest, James D. Bemis, the father of the Press in Western New York: May his noble form long withstand the pelts which are beating it, and his last edition be well bound in the book of life.
This sentiment was received standing, as a, mark of respect to the venerable gentleman to whom it referred.
Mr. Bemis responded in the following manner:
Mr. President and Gentlemen:—I am unable suitably to acknowledge the kind regard you have manifested for one so unworthy of it. I can only thank you, and as your time will be better used by others, I will abridge what I intended to say by remarking, that he must deem it a happy event in his life, who is invited to participate in this "Feast of Reason," prepared by our munificent friends of this beautiful city.
Who and what do we here behold! would be the involuntary exclamation of one who saw this "mill yard" thirty-five years ago, when one small store, a saw and grist mill, and a few rude dwellings only were to be seen. If the visitor had been absent during that period, he would be as greatly amazed at the magic changes which have been wrought, as was Rip Van Winkle on returning to his altered native village after his twenty years' asleep. He would find, instead of the few rough buildings scattered about the old fording place, of the Genesee, a splendid and bustling town, of 25,000 people—a commercial mart—a manufacturing bee-hive. And, in one of the spacious halls erected by their enterprise and taste, a large and festive company, composed of a fair type of the intelligence, the talent, and the spirit of the age, whose vocation it is to enlighten the minds and mend the hearts of others—to spread knowledge, modify public sentiment, encourage industry, and to keep our Republican form from being thrown [?]. We have seen or read of dis-
