1856 Dinner

Above: An illustration from The Illustrated London News, of the dinner held at the Britannia Iron Works

Newcastle Journal, 15 March 1856:

Monster Dinner to The Marchioness of Londonderry’s Workmen.

Chilton Moor, a mining village in North Durham, near Fence Houses Station of the North Eastern Railway, presented a most unusual and animated appearance on Saturday week on the occasion of Frances-Anne, Marchioness of Londonderry, entertaining at dinner the whole of the workmen employed in connection with her extensive coal mines, railways and other works, amounting in number to upwards of three thousand persons. Similar meetings between coal-owners and the operatives in their employ used formerly to take place, although to no great extent, but they were usually confined to assemblies at the mouth of each separate pit. Even these, however, have fallen into desuetude. When, therefore, the Marchioness of Londonderry announced her intention of entertaining her workmen on a scale hitherto unprecedented, it caused no little excitement in the neighbourhood and this meeting of the employed and the employer was consequently looked forward to with no little degree of interest and pleasure, not only in the immediate locality, but throughout the length and breadth of the county. Nor were the proceedings of the day calculated abate that interest. Respecting the men themselves, it would have been impossible to have assembled in any agricultural or manufacturing district of the empire, a finer body of men that those 3,000 sturdy miners, who responded to the invitation of their noble mistress on Saturday week. Well clothed, well fed, stout and merry they seemed to possess both health and strength, muscle and endurance. A great number of the colliers wore rosettes made of red and white ribbons, the colours of the noble marchioness and many of them, after enjoying the beef and pudding held “cracks” with ancient “marrows” with whom perhaps they had not come in contact for many a year. Chilton Moor was selected for the place of assembly, not only because it is about the central point of the great colliery district of which Lady Londonderry is the owner, and easily accessible by railway, but on account of the fact of a building, intended for a large iron foundry having been recently erected there, the property of Mr George Hopper, iron founder, of Houghton-le-Spring who at one period of his life was in the employ of Lady Londonderry, as a journeyman sawyer, but is now a manufacturer of locomotive crank axles and railway pins, patented by himself, hundreds of tons of which are supplied from his manufactory, as well to all parts of Europe as to the Indies. The building is 184 feet in length, and 67 feet in breadth. Within its boundaries was afforded ample accommodation for the whole body of workmen. The walls of the building were hung with coloured drapery and the iron supports and the wooden rafters were tastefully decorated with evergreens. A dais was erected in the centre of the room, facing the entrance to the building. In front of the dais was a bust of the late George Stephenson Esq., the eminent civil engineer, and which was immediately in front of an inscription “Long life and success to Lady Londonderry.” Over the dais was placed a canopy, the pillars being enwreathed with a crown and surmounted with motto “Long Live Victoria” and higher up was the inscription “Success to the Alliance – Esto Perpetua.” Behind the seat was the coat of arms of the Londonderry family, having on either side a framed print of Her Majesty and Prince Albert. On the right side of the dais were the words Vive Emanuel, Napoleon and Abdul Medjid, with the flags of England, France, Turkey and Sardinia. On the left were the inscriptions “Magnus et Bonus” and “Was ist schoner allas schon die cross muthim kaliene der demuth.” Round the room were the flags of the different pits belonging to Lady Londonderry, viz. the Londonderry Pit, the Adelaide Pit, the Lady Seaham Pit, Lord Ernest Pit, D Pit, Nicholson Pit, Meadow’s Pit, Plain Pit and the Adventure Quarry. Immediately above the entrance a gallery was erected for the accommodation of such of the visitors as were invited to witness the entertainment, which was also very tastefully decorated with evergreens, &c. At the north end of the gallery was the inscription “Success to the coal trade,” beneath which was a drawing of a train of coal waggons and immediately underneath was the inscription “England’s wealth.” In the centre of the gallery was the inscription “England expects every man to do his duty.” Above was a banner bearing the word “Mechanics,” and below was a wreath, an excellent imitation of the Prince of Wales’ Feather, with the motto “Ich dien.” At the south end of the gallery was the inscription “Man proposes, God disposes.” The exterior of the front entrance to the building was profusely decorated and at the entrance to the yard was an inscription “Welcome, my noble mistress,” having the letters G.H. (the initials of Mr Hopper) underneath. At the north end of the building, a small gallery was erected for the accommodation of the members of the Londonderry Band who were present and contributed by their harmony to the pleasure of the day. In short, the coup d’oeil of the whole building was tasteful and pleasing in the extreme, and in the matter of arrangement left nothing to be desired. The arrangements were under the immediate direction of Mr George Elliott, Mr G.H. Greene and Mr Craig, her Ladyship’s principal agents, and when we state that not a single accident or irregularity occurred throughout the entire proceedings, we accord no slight praise to the judgment of those gentlemen. The decorations, which were chaste and elegant, were principally carried out under the directions of Mrs M. Hopper and Miss Elliott. There were thirty large tables (covered with white cloth), in three divisions in the body of the building, at which the workmen were accommodated. As to the cuisine, the tables literally groaned under the weight of beef and mutton. Conspicuously and invitingly, on the centre of the platform, stood a splendid baron of beef, weighing 168 pounds, decked and garnished in the most elaborate style. To give some idea of the provision made for supplying the immense assemblage, it may not be out of place here to state that there were eight fat bullocks and fifteen sheep slaughtered expressly for the occasion. In addition to this was provided a ton of plum pudding; a ton and a half of bread, one hundred bushels of potatoes and fifty barrels of strong beer. The cattle and sheep were purchased of butchers in the neighbourhood and the whole of the dinner was cooked in the immediate vicinity. The time fixed for the dinner was one o’clock, but long before that hour, many thousands were wending their way to Chilton Moor by various means of transit – by railway, on foot and in vehicles. The majority of the workmen from the collieries, however, came by special trains to Fence Houses, the special train from Seaham bringing no fewer than seven hundred workmen and they marched, each pit together, and distinct from the rest, towards the rendezvous, preceded by banners and bands of music. Between twelve and one o’clock the men were admitted to the building. As soon as they arrived, they were marshalled by Mr Green, viewer, to the seats appropriated to them and in a short time the whole were seated with a regularity and order somewhat surprising under the circumstances. The visitors, of whom there were from six to eight hundred present, principally ladies, who had received invitations to witness the entertainment, were at the same time admitted to the galleries. At one o’clock, the Marchioness of Londonderry entered, accompanied by the Earl and Countess Vane, and this was the signal for a general burst of cheering which did not subside until a considerable time after her Ladyship had taken her seat on the platform. The chair was taken by Earl Vane and on his right and left were his mother, the noble Marchioness, and the Countess Vane. On the platform were J.R. Mowbray Esq. M.P., Hugh Taylor Esq., Earsdon; Mr Commissioner Ellison, Murton House; H. Baker Baker Esq., Elemore Hall; Mr Ald. Ord, Sunderland; Capt. T.W.U. Robinson; Matthias Dunn, Esq., the Government Inspector of Mines; J.H. Forster Esq., Mayor of Durham; the Mayor of Sunderland; the Rev G. Moultrie, Head Master of the Kepier Grammar School; Robt. Anderson Esq., Seaham; Geo. Elliott Esq., Houghton, &c. &c. Messrs Bates, Ashton, Kaye, Lambert and Hemingway, of Durham Cathedral Choir, and Mr Joseph Kaye, were in attendance and between the toasts sung several glees in a very excellent manner. Grace having been said by the Rev G. Moultrie, the company, amidst the firing of cannon, commenced dinner. After ample justice had been done to the good things provided, and Non Nobis Domine having been sung:- Earl Vane first proposed, in appropriate terms, the healths of Her Majesty “The Queen, Prince Albert, The Prince of Wales and the rest of the royal family,” which were drunk amidst loud cheering. Band:- “God save the Queen.” Earl Vane then requested the assembly to remain as quiet as possible while his mother, the Marchioness of Londonderry, addressed them, for unless they remained still it would be impossible to hear her in that immense building, Lady Londonderry was very anxious to express her great gratification at meeting them and he was sure they would listen to what she had to say. Lady Londonderry then rose and was greeted with a tremendous burst of cheering which was again and again renewed. After silence had been in some degree restored, she read the following address in a clear and distinct manner to the vast assembly:- My friends, I have invited you all to dinner today that we may become better acquainted – that you may hear from my own lips an assurance of the deep interest I feel in your welfare and that I may have an opportunity of expressing the pride and satisfaction I have in presiding over so large a body of intelligent and well-conducted people. I have asked all in my employ to participate in this feast and I bid you all a friendly welcome. But I address myself principally to the pitmen, many of whose fathers worked under my ancestors. It is pleasing to trace back this bond of union which I fondly hope may be extended to the next generation and that their children may continue to serve under mine. I regret that since the management of these great concerns has devolved on me, I have not had health of strength to visit you underground as I could have wished. Indeed I have never been able to persuade Mr Elliott to promise to take me down and I am afraid I should hardly succeed in finding my way alone. But I hope, nevertheless, I may be permitted to say, without vanity or presumption, that no collieries are more carefully looked after. Your comforts, your homes, and your schools have been anxiously watched over. The latter have long enjoyed a proud pre-eminence; and although I have refused to place them under government inspection and supervision, I know that they are well managed and it is your own fault if you take your children away too soon and thus deprive them of the benefit of the good education that is provided for them. You well know how necessary that is for success in after life. We need not travel beyond the precincts of this building for instances of persons who have been the architects of their own fortune. It is the pride and boast of your head viewer that he was reared and nursed a boy in these pits and it must be encouraging to look around this great mining county and see many instances of men who have won their way to wealth and fame by labour and perseverance. On the other hand, I am proud to say you have set an example to the whole trade. You were the first to return to the old-fashioned system of “binding” and you have worked on steadily when the men in adjoining collieries were on strike. You have seen them turned out of their homes, their furniture lying in the road, and they and their belongings seeking shelter, while you have been comfortable by your blazing hearths, in your peaceful homes, enjoying the reward of honest industry. Long may this happy state continue and may you ever feel how much your interests are entwined with those of your employer. It is a subject to great thankfulness that these collieries have been for some time spared and exempt from any serious accident. Casualties will sometimes occur, notwithstanding all the precautions and vigilance of your overmen and your viewers; and here let me endeavour to impress strongly upon your minds how much depends on your own prudence and care. I would I could find words, or had eloquence, to make this warning emphatic, for I regret to say the reports I receive of recklessness fill me with pain and alarm and I know that Mr Elliott has lately had occasion to visit most severely some fearful instances of negligence with the safety lamps that might have caused the most terrific results. You see that, although I have not been down, I am well informed of what passes below. You are all aware of the circumstances I allude to and that these careless people have been punished – some by law, some by dismissal. Let me implore and beseech you to be careful and watchful. Remember, each of you, that not only your own life, but those of hundreds, hang on a thread – the gauze of your lamps, the shutting or opening a door – and while you ask for God’s blessing on your undertakings, fail not to do all in your humble power to deserve it. I advise you to frequent and support your Reading Rooms, your Mechanics’ Institutes, your Temperance Societies, to avoid the public house, to be orderly, industrious and religious. “I speak not of men’s creeds – they rest between Man and his Maker.” Nor do I presume to dictate on this momentous subject, beyond expressing my anxious hope that you will hallow the Sabbath and each attend your own place of worship. That duty paid, you will better enjoy the rest and recreation which a Sunday afternoon should bring for yourselves and your families. As a friend of religious liberty, I have not refused sites for chapels of different persuasions where the numbers have justified my doing so and I hope in a few months the church at New Seaham will be finished and available for the mining population settling there. I wish you were nearer to Wynyard, which was lately visited by 600 members of the Stockton Mechanics’ Institute who applied to me for permission to see the house. They expressed themselves as much gratified and were most orderly, quiet, respectable and well-conducted. And now, my friends, I will not detain you longer than to tell you how much pleasure it has given me to see you all here and to express my hope that you will remember and heed my words. I feel deeply the responsibility of my position and have thought it right to advise and counsel you to the best of my humble power and I hope that while I am permitted to preside over you, we may each, individually and collectively, continue to do our duty in that state of life to which it has pleased God to call us.

At many points of this speech, addressing itself so peculiarly to the homely sympathies of her hearers, the Marchioness was interrupted with loud applause, which, at the termination of her address, swelled into a perfect enthusiasm, such as is seldom witnessed at a public meeting. Amidst such expressions of sympathy, the noble Marchioness resumed her seat. Upon silence being restored.

Mr James Cuthbertson, a deputy overman, residing at Pittington, rose from the body of the assembly, to respond to her ladyship’s address and addressed the Marchioness as follows:

My Lady – I rise with feelings of the greatest diffidence to propose your ladyship’s good health. Being one of your ladyship’s coal hewers, and having been born and passed all the days of my life under you, I have been honoured with the choice of this vast assemblage of my fellow-workmen, to present their cordial and sincere thanks to your ladyship, for the unrivalled kindness with which your ladyship has so strikingly manifested time after time to us who are employed by you and for this present extraordinary display of your ladyship’s good feeling and generosity; and especially for the eloquent and most interesting address to which we have all listened with feelings of extreme delight. In that address, your ladyship has made particular mention of the schools existing throughout your ladyship’s collieries for the instruction and benefit of the rising generation and which have been established and are supported by your ladyship. We trust the great privileges of these schools will long be continued amongst us and will be handed down from year to year as imperishable monuments of the untiring zeal and interest which your ladyship has manifested for the religious and secular improvement, and for the general comfort, of all who are employed by you. For ourselves, as working men, we are thankful indeed that we live in so bright an age – an age of light and of intellectual improvement, characterised as it is by facility for acquiring information. The most useful and important learning is not now confined to the higher walks of life – to those in affluent circumstances – those days have passed away and a brighter and more luminous age has burst upon our pathway; and we well know and feel that your ladyship has taken an active part in bringing this about. Your ladyship has also referred to the “bindings.” For my own part, I can say, and I think it is the general opinion of my fellow-workmen, that we prefer yearly engagements - for these engagements are a direct preventive of many evils to which we have been over long exposed. For instance, the dividing of families – the non-cultivation of that portion of land which is allotted, free of charge, to every workman employed by your ladyship – the temptation to accumulate debt, and going away without settling or agreement with the creditors. These, and many other evils to which I might refer, if not entirely prevented by yearly binding, are in a great degree, curtailed. And, I believe, your ladyship was the first who endeavoured to bring us back to this great boon – our lost inheritance. These are a few – a very few – of the indubitable proofs we have had of your ladyship’s extraordinary benevolence and most abundant kindness manifested to all of us who have had the good fortune to be employed by you. It would be well for the north of England if so bright and worthy an example were more extensively imitated. It would be well indeed if those acts of charity and benevolence I have alluded to, were imitated by every lady and gentleman connected with the mining interest. Your ladyship will require no monumental building to preserve the honoured name you have acquired among us. That is written in indelible characters on the tablets of many a grateful heart. It is embalmed in the memory of living thousands, and will be handed down to our posterity with undying love. Ladies and gentlemen on the platform, and ladies and gentlemen in the gallery, I call upon you to join my fellow-workmen in this vast assemblage with three times three, and thrice again, to Lady Londonderry’s good health and long life and happiness to her.

The speaker delivered this address in a plain, straightforward manner; and the manner in which he was cheered by his mates showed that he gave utterance also to their sentiments. The toast was received with tumultuous applause.

Glee – “The women of England.”

Lady Londonderry again rose and said:

My friends, on an occasion like the present, I cannot allow even my son to respond on my behalf. Overpowered as I am by the feelings to which such a scene as this must naturally give rise, I can only respond to your kindness by considering myself as the head of a great family and saying to you all “My children, I thank you from my heart.” (loud and protracted cheering).

Glee – “The noble and free.”

The noble chairman, on again rising, said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the present is a strictly commercial and mining meeting and as we are honoured with the company of many kind friends intimately connected with the mining interest, I am sure you will join me in drinking “The health of our visitors and success to the mining interest in the County of Durham.” With that toast I will couple, if you please, the name of Mr Hugh Taylor, the chairman of the Coal Trade, who has kindly honoured this meeting with his presence. We are also honoured today with the company of gentlemen holding high office in the two of the largest boroughs in this county; and Mr Mowbray, the member for the City of Durham is on my right hand. For this toast, I should like you to put to the test one of those true British cheers which I know you will answer with me. The toast was responded to with three times three cheers.

Hugh Taylor Esq., in responding, said:

My Lord Vane, Lady Londonderry and gentlemen, on behalf of the friends right and left of myself, I beg to express our grateful thanks for the honour you have conferred upon us in drinking to the last toast. We appear here today only as strangers and yet the effect of this meeting upon our minds is most pleasing and exhilarating. How warmly you must appreciate the generous hospitality of this day and the touching, and eloquent address which has been made to you by Lady Londonderry, we know full well (applause). We have heard what her ladyship has done for you; and for myself I know that your condition is very different from that of your ancestors. I have known the coal trade intimately for fifty years – that is, from the commencement of the present century – and I am well aware that you live in a very different manner from your predecessors, that you are clothed better, and that schools are provided for the education of your children – a privilege which your parents never enjoyed. Every man who wishes well to his country must rejoice at this improved state of things for it is quite certain that the greater amount of comforts you yourselves enjoy, the greater will be your desire to further the advancement of your families (cheers). The coal trade itself is a rather general toast, to which it might be presumptuous in me to respond, but for the office with it which I have the honour to hold. It has been said to form one of the great sources of the wealth of this country and that is not an over-estimate of its importance. It is a great trade and has progressed with marvellous rapidity during the last twenty years. In 1829, the whole production of the county of Durham did not exceed four millions of tons per annum, while at the present time it amounts to fifteen millions of tons. At the same period, the production of the whole kingdom was not more that fifteen or sixteen million tons yearly, whereas it is now sixty-four millions. In fact, it is one of the great points of motion of our country and to annihilate the coal trade would, in my opinion, be to annihilate the whole commercial system of Great Britain. Of this, however, there need be no apprehension. The trade is increasing yearly; and I hope it will go on increasing and that you will derive corresponding advantages in increased wages and comforts. Luckily this does not depend on individual will. The demand for labour alone governs wages and no combination either of the employed or the employers can resist this legitimate criterion. The working classes generally suffer most from strikes and in parting I will just ask that fine phalanx of men I see before me, to bear in mind what my long experience in the trade has shown me, that strikes are mainly injurious to the parties who embark on them. Mr Taylor concluded, amidst loud cheers, by thanking them for the way in which they had drank the toast.

Loud calls having been made for Mr Mowbray M.P., that gentleman rose and was received with great cheering. He said he did not come there that day with the intention of making a speech and if he said anything at all, it was simply in obedience to the hearty reception they had given him and the kind allusion made to him by Earl Vane. He was sure it was impossible to look upon a more gratifying sight than that which it had been his happiness and pleasure to witness that day. To see the kindly feeling subsisting between the employer and the employed evinced in the remarkable way it had been shown at the present meeting – to see the care and interest that were taken in everything which concerned their social, moral or intellectual condition; and to see the extent to which the arrangements for their comfort had been carried out, could not fail to be most gratifying to all who had the pleasure of being spectators (cheers). As he had before stated, he had not come there to make a speech and he felt quite sure anything he might say would interest them but little after hearing the touching address made by Lady Londonderry, and the interesting speech they had heard from the deputy who had proposed her ladyship’s health. He could, therefore, only thank them for the kindness they had shown to him personally and begged to express his great gratification at being amongst them that day (loud cheers).

Song – “The boatie row.”

Mr John Potter, of Pensher, pitman (who had been fifty years in the service of the Londonderry family) proposed the health of Earl Vane, which was drank with three times three.

Earl Vane returned them his most sincere thanks for the manner in which his health had been proposed and received by the company. He could assure them it had been a source of the greatest gratification to himself in being present on such an occasion. He felt additional satisfaction because in looking around that large assembly he fancied he was able to recognise many old and familiar faces, who consistently gave him their support and assistance when he had the honour of being one of the representatives of the Northern Division of the county in the House of Commons (cheers). But he had still a deeper source of gratification than all these, and that was, when he witnessed the kind feeling which existed, and which they had displayed, between themselves and his beloved mother, the employer and the employed (renewed cheers). Such a feeling could only exist by mutual and reciprocal confidence. They had evinced that feeling towards her by their orderly conduct and behaviour and by their enthusiastic cheers; and, on the other hand, he thought they would allow that she had shown her confidence in them by the kindness with which she had received them, and the unceasing anxiety which she displayed for their happiness, welfare and prosperity (cheers). They might well understand that few, if any, of the gentler sex had been placed in a position of such weight and responsibility as she occupied; but he could bear witness, and he thought they would allow him to state so, that from time to time, that it had pleased Providence to remove from them one, whose loss they all deplored, and he was sure one whose name would ever be held in veneration by them all (although he, as a son, said it), he could safely say that the anxiety and care which his mother had displayed for those under her, had never at any time been equalled (loud cheers). Her whole thoughts were on the welfare of those over whom she had been called on to watch and he great aim and object was to promote the happiness, welfare and prosperity of them all. For himself, he had but few words to say to them. The present was only one of the many instances of kindness he had received from the county since he had become acquainted with it, and it only added one to the numberless marks of friendship which he had ever received from the county of Durham. He could say he felt it deeply and he thanked them most cordially for drinking his health. He had but one word more to say, and he could not have said it had he not been requested to do so. They knew they had passed an eventful year. What the next year might prove, God alone knew. But although the war which they were engaged in had brought mourning to many hearths, still there seemed to be an appearance in the horizon of a chance of peace. But, as he had not had an opportunity, from being absent from London, of stating his views in Parliament on the war question, he would say he only trusted and hoped that no peace would be signed, except on those terms alone which should efficiently establish the honour of England and secure Europe from future aggression. He had at present two beloved brothers at the seat of war. One was well known to them by his having the honour of holding a position which he once filled as one of the representatives for the Northern Division of the county. He saw him in December, previous to his departure to the seat of war and he made him a promise if ever he met any of his constituents, he would take that opportunity of saying to them in his name that, although he was absent in support of his Queen and the honour and fame of his country, he did not forget the interests of those who had elevated him to the position which he held as their representative in Parliament (loud cheers). He would only express a hope that long might the good feeling which existed between them and his beloved mother continue, and they should remember it would always continue so long as they had mutual and reciprocal confidence in one another (loud and reiterated cheering). In concluding, he begged to propose a toast, which was “Sweethearts and wives – the Single Married and the Married Happy.”

Glee – “Weel may the keel row.”

Mr Mowbray, M.P. said he had obtained permission to propose a toast, which must have suggested itself to the minds of all, from the concluding words of Lord Vane. In asking them to drink the health of the member of the family of Lady Londonderry alluded to in Earl Vane’s speech, he was well known to them as the present representative of the northern division of this county. The chairman’s speech would show to them the spirit which animated his noble brother, at present with his regiment in the army in the east. He had seen him the evening before his departure and he knew then, when the signs of peace were not apparent, that he went out with gallant spirit and to act up to the motto which he saw opposite “England expects every man to do his duty.” He who had known the noble lord, knew the deep interest he took in every question of social and moral improvement. For the last two years, the noble lord had been called upon to make great sacrifices; they all knew from the newspapers how terrible had been the labours during the winter campaign of 1854; and that though we were now at war, the noble lord had, thank Providence, for a short time recently returned to us, when all were glad to see him; and he would now hope that he would be restored to us in a short time, to the discharge of other duties not less important, though not subject to such risks. He would now give them the health of Lord Adolphus Vane Tempest M.P. and he hoped and trusted that ere many weeks were passed they shall have the pleasure of seeing him amongst them safe and in health. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.

Earl Vane briefly returned thanks and concluded by proposing the healths of the Mayors of Durham and Sunderland, who briefly responded to the toast.

Mr Hugh Taylor next proposed the health of the agents, a class of gentlemen upon whom, in an eminent degree, depended the success of every employer’s efforts to ameliorate and improve the condition of those engaged under them.

Mr George Elliott responded on behalf of the agents of Lady Londonderry. He expressed his high gratification at the manner in which the entertainment had passed off. He had assured Lady Londonderry that she might place herself among 4,000 of her pitmen without the smallest alarm and the result had not disappointed him. He had felt the deepest interest in the proceedings of the day and especially in that portion of Lady Londonderry’s address in which she so emphatically cautioned each man to avoid accident by every means which prudence could suggest. He sincerely trusted that all present would lay this well to heart. If they did so, his own anxieties would be very much lessened, while at the same time the safety of the community would be largely increased.

Mr Mowbray M.P., in complimentary terms, next proposed “The ladies,” coupling with it the name of the Countess Vane, to which Earl Vane responded. The Countess here stood forward and received an enthusiastic greeting from the assembly. This concluded the list of toasts. The noble Marchioness then left the building and was cheered as on her entrance. So ended this remarkable social festive gathering, which was carried out on a scale never before attempted in the north and in a manner befitting the high position and public spirit of the noble giver of the entertainment