The Press.
London, England, 1855-02-10 00:00:00

A HERO OF INKERMANN,

A Poamc DINNER, as we learn from the Ayr Observer,
was given to one of the heroes of lnkermann, Dr.
Wilson, of the 7th Hussars, by his fellow townsmen
of Stranraer. The chair was taken by the Provost
of the town, and 130 persons assembled to do Dr.
Wilson honour. The festival was held on the Ist
instant. The chairman brietly stated to the com-
pany the claims of their distinguished guest to their
admiration:—

It is enough to distinguish a man for life to be able to
say," I was iu the battle of Itilterinium." (Loud cheers.)
Among them was a young man, a uon•combatant and vo-
lunteer, who, seeing how hard his countrymen were
pressed, dashed into the fight, ra►lied a small body of men
( who must have lost their officers), and, when the hearts of
the bravest were beginning to fail, maintained an important
post in the crisis of the day. (Cheers.) How perilous
must have been the state of affairs when the safety of a
post, whose loss might possibly have endangered the whole
army, depended km ouch a contingency! How well-timed
and energetic must have been his interference, to have had
such a result ! The service was an important one ; it gave
him distinction where all were great. ,Clteets.) He was
thanked on the battlefield by a Prince of the Blood--
(cheers)—and the Commander-in• Chief acknowledged his
conduct prominently in the official despatches. ',Cheers )
If that young man were a stranger they would be proud of
him as a Briton—(cheers)—pronder yet when they learnt
he was a son of Scotlaud. (Cheers.) And shall we not
give expression to our feeling►, shall we nut greet him
publicly on his return when we recognise him as a
fellow-townsman—(cheers)—the son of one of our most
respected citisens—(cheers)—as a familiar friend whom
we have known from his infancy ? (Loud cheers.)
In reply, Dr. Wilson simply expressed his thanks.
He had nothing more to tell of the war, he said, than
the company already knew :
I can say very little about the Crimea that would in-
terest you. You in this country always knew better than
individuals engaged as I was could ascertain there. lu
fact, most of my information of general events came from
England. The bad weather had not set in when I left the
Crimea, and consequently I did not experience such hard-
ships i s ninny have since done. I trust, however, and I
have great hopes, that all shall terminate happily. It is a
source of far more than pleasure—it is a source of deep
and heartfelt gratitude—for the soldiers of England who
are there, to think that their noble countrymen at home
feel and sympathise so thoroughly with them. 'they are
at this moment as proud of their country on that account
as their country is of them for their devoted gallantry—
( cheers)—and when the time conies, I have no doubt
they shall het add fresh laurels to those they have already
reaped. (Cheers.) When Igo back to the Crimea, which
I expert will be very soon, I shall carry with me a warm
remembrance of this meeting.

The festival was not otherwise remarkable, except
for the fervent hope expressed that the war might be
carried on with the utmost 'rigour and determination.