The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-16 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1861

20YAL LITIJWIT POND.

The 72nd anniversary of this institution was
osheraisd last night by a dinner in the Freemasons Tavern.
The company was more numerous than that at asy recent
festival, there being *early 300 persons preesnt.
Hie Royal Highness the Duke D'Auwaig presided, and
was sepported on his right by the Marquis of Claerieerde,
Mr. Disineli, M.P., the Earl of Shrewsbury. Mr. Halibar-
tina. M.P., and on his left by the Belgian Misdate?, Lord
Stratford de Radcliffe, Lord Revenswoeth, Lord Harry
Vane,OLP., Sir J. Pakington„ 11 P., Lord J. Manners, M.P.
Anicog the other guests there were their Royal Higb-
ee-es the Comte do Paris, the Due de Chartres, the
Prime de Conde, and the Count &Ea ; Lord Hatherdeo.
Right Hon. Joseph Napier ; his Excellency Count Platen,
Swedish Minister ; Lieut.-General the Hon. Sir E. Oust ;
the Hon. E. Twisleton, Hon. George Denman, M.P., Wu
1 John Simeon, Bart., Sir John Boileau, Bart, Sir Roderick
Murchisee, Sir Henry Bawlinnon, Sir Erskine Perry, air
Junto Kay Shattleworth. Bart., Sir Henry Ellis, Sir John
Hires Maxwell, Bart., Sir Walter Stirling, Bart., Sir H.
Holkied; Bart, the Dias of Canterbury Mr. Y. Woes,
M.P., Mr. Harcoeurt, M.P., Mr. Chicheater Fartesees,
M.P.. Mr. Stirling. M.P., Mr. Botdeld, M.P., Mr. A.
2rM.P., Mr. Namelay, M.P., Hr. Grant Duff,
.-.llr. Hugh Childers, AL P., Mr. Stormy, M.P., Mr.
N.P., lb. Marsh, M.P., Mr. Booms M.P.. Yr.
BegraTict Hope., Yr. Gibbs, C. 8., Mr. Bass, Mr. Welk
of Redleafe, Count Aintree, H. Tchitcherini, Y. do
Mit, Y. de Massey, M. Defense, M. Contort
~ JA
Hr. Thacksiay, Yr. Higginsailrby, Mr.
Mr. W. R. Greg, Mr. E. Ss 11r, Richard Jennings,
Hr. Meephigemi, Hr. Laegmen; Hr. John Murray, Mr.
!no& Q.C., Oosarimeder For R.N., Mr. Anthony
Mr. Augustus Trollops, Mr. Fresitrititc Agit*
ilir... Kaye, Mr. Theodore Martin, Hr. Lowe, Mr.
Heiman; Mr. Dickinson, PALS., Sir James Prior, Mr.
George Godwin, Dr. Guest, Mr. C. W. Heskyea, Mr. G. A.
Bak, Mr. Thomas Brown, Dr. Copland. Rev. Dr. Vaughan,
Rev. Charles Midvale, Rey. Professor Thompeos, Rev. J.
H. Gurney, Rev. Erred Hawkins, Rev. T. T. Perowur,
Rev. H. B. Tristram, Rev. H. Randolph, Admiral Wall*
Mr. Bob., Kr. Woodfall, Mr. Chapman, Mr. G. Clowes,
Mr. K. Cloves, Mr. Robert Cooke, Hr. George Smith,
Misers. Hurst and Simko*, Mr. Edmund Pepys, Mr.
Harrison, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Cassinghain, Mr. Martin R.
Ethaar pale,
His Royal Highness the Duke D'AUWALE, who on rising'
was received with • enthusiastic cheers, said--Gentlemen, I
propose the health of her Majesty the Queen. (Cheers.)
Those are the first words which I have addressed to you,
and the first which I have uttered in public for many jean.
(Cheers.) Nothing can be more gratifying to me that to
break in this way a long silence, for I have not to fall •
mere formal duty of etiquette, but to express feelings 'Stich
are
to the lanpi y seated in my heart. (Cheers.) I have no right
language which is used on these occasious by
lo Whams, but I may venture to ley that no one
peofemes more respect than myself for her Majesty, or more
sincere devotioa to her royal person. (Cheers.) I see in
your (Mee the personification of your noble and free
metikitiona—the Sovereign of a country which is, and I
hope will remain, the ally and friend of my own native
land—(cheers)—of a country which gives shelter to all
exiles, without asking them to submit to any humiliating
condition., but ooly to respect those laws under whose pro-
tection they live. (Cheers.) I also admire in her Majesty
the most accomplished of ladies, for I have had more this
one permed occasion to observe—nay, to feel—that extreme
delicacy sad tenderer, at heart which is not comma among
pigeons bogs is so high a station, sad of which ohs has given
so boding a proof oe a resent and most melancholy eme-
tic*. lam sure that my words correspond to your feelings
when I oak you to drink with me the health of the model
of oonseitntional the most devoted of
the best of anal
the of wives, the safest d=141:1041'
affectionate of Meads. sad, Idly, the most await and
munift pallienem of We inelientiou—your good QueenQueenVictoria. eee t
(Loud aggro)
" God save the glossa " was then sung by a seenpany of
vocalists.

The CiAllif Al mid—lf thin he any awake es which
the health al the Priam Consort ought nut to be milked it
is certainly this ; far lift% know any man that is more
worthy of universal respect mud sympathy, or who is wee
Stied ley his owa mewl whiewassate to appreciate intel-
leetasl works delay kind, or who is more inowant is kis
sQcete to pante art, Wow, and literature, or to help,
by all wireas, the diffsio• of charitable isaffiraffew
(Own.) With his name I couple the heir of thidCrown,
who, by his travels, and by mixing in the studies of the
of this country at the univereities, prepares binomial
rtrr "Zoe* peat duties which I hope in all my heart, sad
certainly not more sincerely than himself, he may be called
upon to fulfil se late as ponsible. (Cheers.) I also couple
with this toad oar pod wishes to all the other members of
the royal family, whether they be at the head of the army,
or whether they be lemming, by active practies, the hard
duties of the asilar—(chaers)—whother they adore foreign
courts by their graces and virtue, or receive at home the
good examples sad lessons of their parents, or add by kind
intercourse to the ebana of social life in this country.
Hheers-) I pupas to you "The Health of his Royal
ighness the Priam Onion, Albert Prince of Wales, and
all the other Newham ci the Royal Family." (Load
cheers.)
Lord Ehriarroin ms Rnocurrs, in eulogistic terms,
pro, " The Army, Navy. and Volunteers."
The Han. NOWAILD Cow replied for the army ; Sir AVM
PAIINOTON, for the navy ; and the Earl of Sanwa-
nOST respriaded w behalf at the volunteers.
Hie Roy"! Highs"; Duke IFAuire.xr, in proposing
lee toast, Prosperity to the Royal literary Fund, sad itspresidia*, the Marquis al Idas&was," said--Gentleenen.
from the ltd lassaint when your committee did ins the
Means of milks on as to pride at this meeting, I felt
bow utterly timpuiliffsd I was for such a distinction-
-12.) •i—flad whoa I remember the names of thews who
ve presided las la this °hair— when I look around as
end me so musty parsons who would have been perfectly
compateat to offer the twat lam now proposing, perhaps with
some awkwerdasen—l feel really astonished to Sod myself
where I sea. But if I had so literary claim to the dist:makes
you haw centarrsd as as, I may at Wet say that nobody eau
wish more wow I do to this institution, nor admire it
mere iinosraly in Its doable character-literary and demi.
table. (Cheers.) I word prettied to be even thoroughly
acquainted with your literature, but if I know something al
it I owe it to two circurnstanese. The Snit is, that I was
denoted by a father who had bees as exile, as lam now,
and who bad found os your shores the same hospitable shel-
ter--(cheap)—and who knew your coisatiy, your Wive"
the great works doury literature, as well, I
ally forcipes, ever did or may do. (Hear bear.) Aid.;
remember that in the earliest days of my lifiriawissa he was
of himself free all political reepeasibility, the happy
and quiet windage at Neuilly, be used, after having shown
to his children the engraved portraits of ceislanted
and told their desk or referred to the plates whisk eaw
I
insamated the military asideivemsets of oar eow
—ka, my, mad often to take off the shelves of the Itri=
some huge Nis volumes at " Boyden's Illustrated Shalt-
spare," • sopy al which be had himself hought at the wa-
lks room at OWsuiries. (Closers.) He then pre as as
Wane of the twit mews in the works of your great drama-
tist, reciting oncesinally some of the beautiful Widen
which bed remained engraved in his wonderful memory.
This was my fiest impreerioa of English literature, and one
which will never go oat el lay mind, for it is sonweled
with some el ay wheel resellsetions of the best and ars{
beloved et Where. (Cheers.) Then I did pew up with
the purest Irma gneratioe, who. breaking with ea oil
tndflien,hops to study foreign literature. I mesa that
literature whish does not belong to the peat Loth, family
• Wititign• Weil, when I we a young moss, the great
anthers al this country were under tood and admired in
Frames, sad sumerens translations of their works were pat
in circulation for the benefit of those who weld sot read
those in your idiom. Slekspeare was read, commented me,
and people went even as far as to WWI' him.
( tar.) The walls of ma:exhibition were covered with
, woks of act, signed by the first wan, the whistle of
which were borrowed from your stage, your pests, or year
weals. Your novels were is all bands, sad V I may be
allowed ow wry ye/awl rscolleatioa. I may my that I
remember mom them ewe one of the Wavestey Novels was
wended at sisal ender my desk, sad that whoa I was
el=to be beat epos ow of the celebrated grawasta-
due to the pen of our great royal ',cholera of
the past, I yrs l_Yfreading " IvaaWs" " Old
Mortality." (Cheap) Suek is our natural taste for what
We OIL Le frivolo decade —(cheersl—thet I could not
answer sow to my ping °errantly through all the c
of • Creek yeet—but—but I might folloraill:
" Fortunes of Nigel" in the streets of London, and could
show also the spA where owe stood the house of Jeannie
Dews. (Chew) Niece the death of Sir Walter Scott,
novels of this 'emir, have act ceased to command w-
aged &Wads. abroad. " Vanity Fair," " David Copper-
Geld," "Oseinseby," "My Hovel,* ere as much read ea
the OsaWait r die worira of Osage Sand or Dumas, aad
at this very day the readers of ems of the most important
Freash wwwpess, alter • rl glamor at the tele-
=hurry to look at the eviikere, where they will
he coationatioa et the Wawa MS White" Mew
Mid We VW own language. flimsghtor.) If I were
M make • seespiste review of your wedeln literature, I
Wild to speak 'f year peels, your historian., your theolo-
philsy :p=sa.yoar
tbemNs writers, sw
rada. D.: would be ridimancyuloas I. me to premed
was, hen as • Obigusise or • Tisksisir, or to try
to pre you eves • rough sketch of that great de-
sideratum, whit was sipsalled at this vary place by
• Wm better alliwthir than mine, that of my illus-
trious Mead vaar me, K. Vas de Weyer—l meta • his-
tory of Inglish literature which has yet to be written.
I wish only to say • few words of those branches
of your literature, which I know perhaps • little better