A Supper (as already stated) was given to Mr. Mundy's men for their good conduct during the drainage operations.
A Dinner was given by Mr. North, M.P. to the Recorder, the Mayor and Magistrates on the 17th of April.
A Dinner to the Recorder and other legal functionaries after the business of the July Quarter Sessions, was given by the Mayor (T. Ross, Esq.).
A Supper, was given by Mr. John Howell to the men in his employ after the laying of the memorial stone of the Holy Trinity Church on the 22nd of July.
St. Clement, the Patron Saint of the Forge was duly honoured by Messrs. Alderton and Shrewsbury giving a supper to twenty-four of their workmen.
The Mayor's Banquet
On the 9th of November, the Mayor's dinner was prepared, as usual, at the Swan Hotel, where many scores of similar entertainments had taken place. The following are a few of the sentences culled from the after-dinner speeches.
Mr. Ross, the ex-Mayor, in toasting the Mayor-elect, said he had known Mr. Rock many years, and had always admired his upright conduct, and had heard many speak of him as a trustworthy young man, who was indefatigable in business and zealous in advancing the well-being of the rising generation.
The Mayor, in returning thanks, said he was glad the chairman had stopped in the catalogue of good qualities he was heaping upon him. He remembered their worthy friend, the ex-Mayor, last year, addressing them at some length upon retrospective matters, and giving the history, ancient claims and privileges of Hastings. Not possessing such a love for antiquity, he, himself, would speak more of progressive ideas and principles, and should attend to the present rather than the past. Within the memory of man Hastings had increased ten-fold. There were men living who had known it when its population was only 2,000, and now it was 20,000. There was not a town in England where the increase had been so large. Although they could hardly expect a ten-fold increase in their own time, he believed the borough would greatly increase both in size and importance; and nothing should be wanting on his part to help on such increase and progression.
F. North Esq. M.P. said however much pleasure it afforded him to be present on such occasions, his absence of late was caused by his fulfilling duties at other places - duties which as a country gentleman, he could not and would not neg-
