Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The official opening of the docks . . .

"The Consuls for Foreign Nations," was next on the list of toasts. It was proposed by Mr. W. D. Bushell, who mounted on the table to make himself more audible, and was probably the only speaker of the whole number whom no one in the tent could have failed to hear. He said, when he came into the tent he was asked to propose the Consuls. He joyfully proposed that toast. The merchants of Cardiff did not seek the Tyrian dye, nor go to Ophir for gold ; but they did export black diamonds, and that trade brought with it corresponding social duties. In their enlarged sphere of mercantile transactions, they must necessarily have reciprocal dealings with foreign nations. He knew, by experience in a public capacity, when he had nice questions brought before him, much of the Consuls in this port, and he had always found them acting honourably. Foremost was the French Consul ; and when he remembered that the Emperor of the French had always manifested a great desire to preserve a strict alliance with England, and the bonds of that alliance were strengthened by the export of Welsh steam coal to France and the highways of the world, he could not help feeling that their intercourse with foreign nations was intended to be a blessing to the whole earth. He had much pleasure in giving them the health of the Consuls. (Cheers.)

M. Thenon, Consul for France, replied saying that he was thankful for the kind and gracious manner in which the toast had been received. But as a foreign consul, he could not very well speak English, and therefore could not express his feelings so nicely as he should like. - (Cheers.) But he could assure them that he and the other consuls would always do their best to carry on the good business and the trade between their nation and the port of Cardiff. - (renewed cheers.) He would not go on with his speech more, because he could not ; if they would allow him to speak French ("Yes, yes,") he would be better able to address them. He would do his best, as he had done until now, and would - what must he say now? - offer? - something for the port and the new dock ; and the business of the place - (laughter and loud cheers).

Lord Powis proposed "The Railway Interest." He remarked that in these days none of us, either for business or pleasure, were able to dispense with the services of the railways. In this part of the country the transport of the mineral wealth of the district to the sea coast would be impossible but for the railways, which effected a communication between the mineral hills and the customers who came to our ports from foreign lands. There were none of us but had pleasant reflections of traveling for pleasure, as well as estimates of profit by rapid transit, associated with the railway system ; there were few for whom, at one time or another, the railway had not added wings to love.