The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-19 00:00:00

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d meet-eta atiMpluti -MA, with the mottoes, " Frames
and England," and " Union is strength," and they
turned out en mane to render a hearty wehiome. Soon
after the residence of Sir Ed ward Baker Beier, Bart,
wee reached, and the gavels were rece:ved with the
hearth st manifestations of pleasure by his lordship, and
were speedily "at home" in an English mansion. It Isom"
of the groat facts of Dorset that no one ean be anything
bait happy in the presence of Sir Edward Baker Baker,
and it was exemplified to the full on this occasion. His
genuine cordiality and high courtesy delighted his French
gum's, and deepened the great esteem in which he in
held by his Domet neighbours. It wee, indeed, • happy )4
party enjoying unalloyed English hospitality. The eirli I
treasures of the mansion were inspected, and the
park with its noble trees and the tastefully laid out
pleasure grounds were rapturously enjoyed by all. A
photograph was taken of the party grouped in front of
the mansion, together with Byers' band. A selection
of music was played at intervals throaghout the day, by
the clever corps of musiciana, under Mr. Byers. An
elegant luncheon was provided for the guests, which
was partaken of amid the heartiest demonstrations of
amity and gratifieation. At the conclusion, Sir Edward
proposed the health of the Emperor of the French, the
Empress, and the Prince Imperial, in terms which
elisited the liveliest demonstrations of pleasure. The
national compliment was returned by a French gentle-
man, NI. D'lngremard, proposing "The Queen and every
English lady. He remarked that not many miles away
the fleets of England and France had just met in •
friendly intercourse and oordielity, which he would wish
might be fostered by an eternal friendship, The wel-
come they had met with at Portsmouth had deeply
impressed their French countrymen, so grand was their
reception there. But, by its magnificence, it excluded
all feelings of peaceful homelike entertainment ; and that
they had received here. He spoke in very flattering
terms of the English ladies, who gave, he said, a charm
and an animation to such a ft.e which nothing else
could give. The remembrances which they would carry
back to France of the hospitality they had received
would last as long as they lived. They should ever be
penetrated with the heartfelt gratitude they then felt
Their noble host had afforded them an hospitality they
should ever appreciate; and although it differed from
Portsmouth, it possessed the preferable calm and pesos
of an English home. He then referred to the preeimia
evening, when at Poole; be said *vend toads were
drank, very gratifying to their hearts and intermits.
He did not intend to renew them, but he wished to pro-
pose a toast of a different nature; for, inspired by the
beauty of the domain, and the gram and hospitality of
their host, he wished to propose "The Queen and every
English lady." The Mayor of Cherbourg propoeed
"The health of Sir E, B. Baker, and all of distinguished
family." Sir Edward Baker Baker felicitously
responded on behalf of the Empress of the French, Queen
Victoria, and every British lady. He then said that be
had never had greater pleasure in his life than
in receiving them there that day, and when he recol-
lected that they lived within a few hours journey of each
other he could not but hope that their visit, would be
very frequent. He did not Ile flying visits; he pre-
ferred them for weeks and months. He said it with an
sincerity, and he hoped they would prove that what he
said he meant, and thtui comply with his desire. Their" !,
kind acceptance of his hospitality he never should
forget, and he desired to drink all their very good
healths. The Sheriff of Poole and Mr. Kemp-Welch
also thanked Sir Edward for hhi great kindness. To
this his lordship answered, that if any of his visitors on
that occasion wished to prove their regard for him let
them come there again, • response that elicited hearty
good humour and profound admiration. A better ex-
ponent of English hospitality could not certainly have
been found than Sir Edward Baker, and we are
not surprised to hear that our French Mends On
leaving Dorset was about to honour this noble
hearted gentleman by presenting him with a
testimonial, entreated to be allowed to share in the
graceful compliment, which, we understand, the com-
mittee acceded to. Miss Baker was also toasted, pre-
faced by a brilliant and gallant speech by one of the
French guests, and Sir Edward responded on her behalf
and that of the !ached generally in a few happily-worded
-sentences. Soon. after the party separated to ramble
"at their own sweet will" about the mansion, the
pleasfire grounds and the park. The hour for departure
arrived all too soon, and the guests who had been so
nobly entertained by Sir Edward Baker Baker took
their leave of him with the liveliest mom of English
hospitality, and deep peraonal regard for his lordship.
The return journey was marked by the same demonstra-
tions of welcome that
.ffinthyruished the " progren" in
the morning.