The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-17 00:00:00

gig Court.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert visited the exhi-
bition of the Horticultural Society, at Gore Howe, Ken-
sington Gore, yesterday morning. The Queen and the
Prises were accompanied by the Dube of Sara Cobourg,
the Princess of Hohenlohe Langanburg, and the Princess
Adelaide of Hohonlobir, and were attended by the Hon.
Beatrice Hug, Major• General Buckley, and Captain Du
Plat.

Prince Albert afterwards rods on horseback, with the
Prises of we.. and Prince Alfred, attended by his Equerry
is Waiting. His Royal Highness rode again in the after-
noon with the Duke of Sato Coburg. Captain Da Plat
and Baron de Trsskow were in attendance.

Her Majesty had a dinner party in the evening. The
company included the Dachets of Kent, the Duke of Cam-
bridge, the Duke of Saxe Cohourg, the Princes of
Hohenlohe Langenb.rg, the Princes Adelaide of Hohen.
lobe, and Prince Ernest of Leiningen, the Duchess of Suther-
land, the Duke of Bucelsuch, Lady Acne Maria Dawson,
the Countess of Daemon, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl
of Carnanon, Lord and Lady Wahinghans, Lord Portman,
the Gentletuan-in-Weitiog t, the Duke of Cambridge, Le
Conesiller Sumter, and Baron de Treskow.

The Band of the Grenadier Guards attended and played
in the Palace diving dinner. Ha Majesty's Prints Band
performed in the evening.
Priam Arthur and the Princess Helena took a earrisge
drive.

Sir Almada Spearman' had an interview with the
Cheatedler of the Ischequer yesterday, at his Oficial resi-
dence is Dowsing-street.
Despatehes Ise the °overawe of the West India Islands
were seat last sinning from the Colonial-office.

BANQUET AT THE MANSION-HOUSE TO
HER MAJESTY'S MINISTEE&

Yesterday evening the Right Hoe. the Lord Mayor
entertained in the Egyptian Hall nearly the whole of her
Majesty's ministers, sad an unusually largo list of the
nobility sad persons of distinction.
After the loyal toasts, and that of the' Church," re-
speeded to by_the Archbishop of CANTRADVEY, the Own-
awe gave a The Amoy and Navy."
Lewd HARDIKOI saM he rejoiced that it had fallen to his
lot to return thanks for the army before so brilliant and
distinguished a company, because It pm him the
oppertenity of announcing that the condition of oar
aresgt the Crimea had greatly improved dam the
esu in of the fine weather. (Hear, hear.) Not that the
Bri army was dependent on the weather for the silkiest
perkiness, of its duty, bet on the contrary had in the
wont of times shown the moot heroic constancy sod devo-
tion. (Lead cheers.) He need hardly my how grateful
was the armfor the sympathy and support it had received
from hew
,bat felt sere that that sympathy would form an
additional salutes, if any were wasted, to Indus our sol-
diers to psesete» Is their heroic settlements. (Cheers.)
It ppoi him realise pleasure also to allude to the cordial
f wish* was maintained between the two armies and
the tem eisseals, the latest proof of which was the hand-
some lake of Oxnard Canrobert, in which he spoke in nth
worm. Mak, sad manly terms of the improved condition of
ear army. (Lend cheers.) This good feeling between the
two snake had extended to the two nations, and no one had
dose more to cement it than the Lord Mayor in the magni-
ficent reception he had so recently given the Emperor and
Empress of the French within the walls of the ancient
(iuildhalL (Cheers.) With these observation be begged
to »tars thanks en behalf of the army for the Lord
Mayer's Most.
Bar C. Wow) said it was meet fitting to return thanks
for the naval service within the walls of the great conuner-
dal City of London. Menem between the navy of this
coaatey and its commercial interests there misted all the
friendly fouling whisk was eageadered by reciprocal bene-
fits. The merchant primes plied their trade to the most
distant corsets of the world is perfect safety under the
protection Mow navy; and, on the other hand. the navy
had frees time to time resolved the wet highly
pained resopttiesse of its Serviott from the oorporetioa
of the dty of Leaden. (fleas.) Our tests had not distin-
guished thessoelves by brilliant achievements during the
present war, limply bemuse they bad not been abs to meet
an essay with whom they could aware smooth hat
there was mamas that when the opportunity tunerredt
they would met in such a way u to add Avail glory to the
natioaal flog. (Cheers.) One word as to the good under.
standing that existed between the forces of oar pliant
allies and our own. His noble and gallant friend
mu him had Minded in term of great commendation
to the medial friendship existing between the two armies,
he (Sir C. Weed) meld speak with equal steddessee and
exultatica of the constant Lea ches's Idedasetes
between the two navies. As a Mimi iselemso of this he
might semi= that as a late amiss. mks a question
arms se to which admiral should hmemmiesikse in
hilts Walls the right oils adjudged to the Fruit

111
but he most gracefully proposed that lois @mild be
drawn for the dangerous honour. (Cheers.) The
French admire! woe, but he merely mentioned
the incident to show the delicacy of feeling that
guided the Intercourse Uterus the two services. (Loud
dens.) He begs to add his most sordid thanks to thaw
it Lord Hardinge for the honour which bad been done the
deed of the service with which he (Sir C. Wood) wee
dwiteeted.
The Loan MAYOII observed with great ratidsetion the
mogene* of so many of the diplomatic corps at his table,
and begged to give the " Health of the Foreign Ministers."
(Cheers.)
Baron Cerro returned thanks.
The Loan MAYOR said he next come to what milht
be properly called the toast of the erasing, " The
Edith of her Majesty's Miniaters," with which be would
Imeenate the name of their had and representative, Lord
Viscount Palmerston. (Cheers.) He was sure that his
distinguished guests would feel glad of the opportunity of
Ifiemettng Lord Pelmerston on the present oecasioe, for John
1•11, Litwin's he grumbled a great deal, Gould bear a great.
deal, and when a fair case was made out fur him, no one in
the world was so ready to admit that be had been too hard.
(Hear, and cheers.) He (the Lord Mayor) bad recently
bees reading the Lae of Haskell', and had been struck
with an observation of the great sculptor. On one
aed-
sion Nollekens mit, "My dear friends, things ere very bad;
abuse me if you like, bat whatever you do doe's pass me by
in silence." Now, be thought Lord Palmerston and his
kinds need not make that appeal ; they had had their turn
et abuse, and had been pat in the sale, and not found
wonting. (Loud cheers.) During the few months they had
been in office they had achieved wooden, and he behaved
that their predecessors had also exerted themselves most
seal.usly. Speaking some time since to a general officer re-
specting what the late ministry had done, that person had
ennead his surprise, not at what they had omitted, hat
at the amount they had achieved. Now, believe,. all
preliminary ailficulties had been overcame, and he heartily
congratulated her Majesty's present ministers on the im-
proved aspect of affairs. (Hear, hear.)
Viscount Petlaznerox—lty lords, ladies, and gentlemen
an assure you on my own behalf, and on that of my
colleagues, that we are most grateful for the kindness of the
Lord Mayor in noticing us—not in the way that Nollekens
wished to be noticed—(a laugh)—but in a kind and com-
plimentary manner,while you, my lord, received us with your
accustomed hospitality, that splendid hospitality which it
bee tie titer been my lot to receive in this magnificent ban-
quet ball. (Cheers.) It mast always be a source of great
pride and gratification when those who are charged with
tee conduct of public affairs, find that their exertions in
their country's service have met with the approbation and
support of the great body which is represented by the city
of London. (Hear, hear.) It is impossible that any man
worthy of being entrusted with so important a charge can
be without the cenvictioa that in this great city are repre-
sented the two great principles which form the foundation
of the power, prosperity, and greatness of England—l
mean the principle of commerce and the principle of civil
and political liberty. (Cheers.) Aud in proportion as
those who are, I may say, the organs of these two principles
are pleased to approve of the conduct of the goverment of
the day, in the same proportion must that government be
stimulated to increased exertion in the performance of their
duty, stimulated by the satisfaction of thinking that their ex-
anions have procured for them the approbation and support
of the country. (Hear, hear.) My lord, you have at your
hospitable board this evening men the most distinguished in
the land, and you rave also present the representatives of
foreign powers; amongst others, the representative of that
sovereign whom your lordship recently received with such
distinguished hospitality—l mean his Majesty the Emperor
of the French. (Loud cheers.) We have here the repre-
sentative of that great, and powerful, and faithful ally ;
sad also the representative of another ally, the
Line of Sardinia, whose flag I am happy to see.
deployed so conspicuously on your walls. that ally
who has so nobly stood forward in our cause, whose troops
now stand side by side with the brave bands of England,
and are ready to share with them the dangers of the
field and the honour and glory of victory. (Loud cheers.)
You have heard it, my lord, stated by my noble and gal-
lant friend the Commander-in-Chief, that the Britten
'army at present in the Crimea is in as perfect a state of
raciency, both as to physical power and atomic, as any
army that ever took the held. (Hear.) We are engaged
new in a great, an arduous straggle, and although it may
be said that we know little of this war, that the thunders of
the cannon are far away, that the flesh of the battle is not
seen by our eyes, and that, therefore, war's greatest pres-
sure is n...t felt within the lead, while we kaow how heavily
it presses upon our antagonist, yet you may be sure of this,
that as it has been, se it will be, our earnest desire
to terminate this war at any moment when
terms can be obtained consistent with the dignity
of this country and the future securities for peace ; but
under all circumstances our motto shall be—peace with ho-
nour, or war with victory. (" Hear, hear," and chests.)
Perhaps I may be permitted, in conclusion, to evince my
sense of the hospitality of this evening by proposing " The
Health of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." (Loud cheers.)
The Loan MAYOR returned thanks, and gave " The
House of Lords," naming the Duke of Argyll.
The Duke of ARGYLL regretted that it should have fallen
to his let to return thanks fur the House of Lords in the
presence of so many more distinguished ornaments of that
body. His sincere belief was, that, as a national in-
stitution, the House of Lords required no eulogium from
him, because its worth was duly animated by the people
from whom it had sprung, and to whom it must return.
Aftersome further observations in a eimilarly eulogistic
strain, his grace concluded by returning thanks.
The next toast war," The House of Commons and Lord
John Hassell."

Lord J. Rosestu—My Lord Mayor, in returning
thanks on behalf 01 the House of Commas, I think I may
claim for that body the merit of being industrious, for the
number of speeches =tale, (tibias passed, and of blue books
issued afford ample proof of the close attentioa we pay to bald-
ness. (" Hear," and a laugh.) trust,my lord,tbat those bills
and there blue books will be taken as evidence that, although
ono :tactually we may talk a little too much, we do not at the
same time neglect the baeiness of the country. Believe me,
there is in the House of Commons • spirit that comes
from the people and sympathises with the people—
s spirit which in time of peace devotes itself
to the development of trade and other pacific duties,
but which when the time of war comes equally
sympathises with the people is the noble exertions the
latter are always ready to make in support of the honour
and dignity of the country. I believe that that house is
worthy to represent the people of this country, and I be-
lieve it is not true, although it was asserted the other day,
that there has been a change in public affair—that
whereas formerly when parliament met its opinions
had great weight with the country, and the speeches of
statesmen —of various parties perhaps, but ell men
of experience and practical ability—tended to form,
perhaps to direct public opinion. Now, on the con-
trary, everything is totally changed, and parliament,
instead of leading public opinion, dose little else than
follow the opinions that are expressed out of doors.
(Hear, hear.) Such I do not believe to be the case,
for when the country at a general Cation chooses men in
whom it has confidence, it is right and fitting that these
men to whom the people have entrusted their destinies
should discus their affairs with energy and seal, bat **the
arse time with that weight and inflows that properly ha-
loes to the representatives of the people. I believe that
the House of "Commons hes that weight, and I trust it may
long continue to have it, and thus be 'Gabled to show to all
the world how much better a country may be governed by
the representatives of a free people than by the meet per-
fect organisation that could possibly be contrived under the
iron rule of a despot. (Chute.)
The Earl of Quinones, in proposing " The Health of
the Lady Mayoress," took occasion to compliment her lady-
ship on the reception which had been given in the City to
the Emperor and Empress of the Preach. He easgratulated
the company on the cordial alliance so happily existing be-
tween England and France, on the vitality of Turkey, end
the spirited conduct of Sardinia. and assured the Lord
Meyer that the Emperor of the French had expressed his
personal sense of the compliment paid by her Majesty the
Queen to the Lord Mayor as • recognition of his lordship's
hespitable reception of our illustrious allies. (Cheers.)
Tee remaining touts were then disposed of, and the
company broke up shortly after 11 o'clock.