The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

Russia and the Western Powers,

The Invalide Russe of December 23 contains a de-
scription of the banquet given at St. Petersburg by
what is called the " English Club," in honour of
Prince Gortschekoff. It says that o❑ the 19th of
December all the members of the club at the time
in the capital assembled to do honour to the Prince
—recently elected honorary member—who on that
day dined at the club for the first time. At the
termination of the dinner one of the directors, M.
N. Tolstoy addressed the assembly, and in a short
complimentary speech proposed the health of the
Prince. The toast having been drunk with great
enthusiasm,

Prince Gortschakoff rose to reply. He said :
"1 em profoundly moved by the welcome you
have accorded me, gentlemen, in such a flattering
manner. I shall not respond by chosen and pre-
pared utterances, but shall confine myself to a few
words as cordial as your reception. You have been
kind enough to express a sympathetic approbation
of my acts. I attach to the expression of these
sentiments a still higher signification. Everybody
knows, and I shall repeat, that my acts have been
only the faithful and conscientious execution of
the orders of our Emperor. I have only had
the enviable honour of being the organ of him
to whom the dignity and the glory of Russia
are more dear than to any other. (Vehement
cheering.) All Russia, enraptured, raised its voice
in support of our recent, replies, of which the
object was to confound and repel pretentious at-
tempts on our national dignity. It has lavished
encouragements so flattering to the writer of those
replies that the reflection is induced, 'lf this
feeble manifestation of the will of the Czar has pro
duced such as impression, what will Russia not do
if God sends her new trials, and the Emperor makes
a solemn appeal to the nation ?' (Prolonged cheer-
ing.) God grant that it may not be necessary to do
so—Gad grant that our people may not be turned
away from the pacific work of their development ;
but we all see this day the strength and tenacity of
the tie which connects the Sovereign and his
people—that sacred and permanent tie which con-
stitutes the happiness of the power of our native
land. (Cheers.) Yes, gentlemen, the Russians have
long and ardently loved their c inntry ; but it must
be admitted that hitherto that love has only been
instinctive. At the present day we are on the
threshold of a Russia regenerated by the will of its
Sovereign—of a Russia in which all our sentiments
are not only centered as in the past, but which re-
sponds to and satisfies a progressive and rational
development. Now, gentlemen, permit me to wish,
with all my heart, the prosperity of the reunion,
in which I shall have the honour to be henceforth
included, and to express the firm conviction that
within its limited circle the same sentiment
will be manifested which animate the entire
Russian nation—that is to say, an ardent love of
fatherland, and an entire and unlimited confidence
in our Emperor." (Great demonstrations of ap-
proval.)
M. M. Oustinoff having made a few remarks on
the subject of the election of Prince Glortschakoff as
honorary member of the club,
M. Le Comte Orloff Davidoff said

" Permit me, gentlemen, to add a few words to
what has already ueen so aptly said. I would re-
mind you of the tame and the circumstances under
which our illustrious guest was placed at the head
of our political affairs. Russia had just terminated
a severe war, glorious, but unfortunate, and the
general belief was spread throughout Europe that
our country was enfeebled, that she had lost her
prestige for a long period, and that it only remained
for her to look with powerless vexation, so to
speak, on the political scene. But the well-known
expression of the Prince, ' Russia does not sulk—
she collects her strength,' is as memorable as sig-
nificant. Wit bout losing time in useless regrets,
we put our shoulder to the wheel. .%V see already
how much has been done in a short time, and all

that is being accomplished for the future. But, as
M.Tniers says, labour and anxiety never cease in this
world. There has burst full on the western fron-
tiers of the empire a civil struggle, which has met
with sympathies in Europe—fletious, perhaps, and
little sincere, but which are not the less noisy—
a struggle sustained and envenomed by malevo-
lent instigations from without. The acts and the
intentions of Russia were falsely interpreted; pro
positions were made to her, and advice tendercd,
based on arbitrary estimations of our tendencies and
of our situation."

After some further remarks having special refe-
rence to Princa Gortschakoff and the manner in
which he had dealt with the pretensions of the
Powers who exhibited a desire to interfere between
Russia and Poland, M. Davidoff concluded amid
the liveliest marks of approbation, which did not
terminate until

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HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, JAN. 7.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Helene,
drove out yesterday.
Earl Granville arrived at Osborne.

His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, attended by
Major Elphinstone, has returned to Greenwich.
perk.
The Queen held a Council to-day, which was
attended by Earl Granville (Lord President), the
Right Hon. Sir George Grey, and the Right Hon.
C. P. Villiers. Mr. Helps, the Clerk of the Council,
attended.
At the Council Parliament was ordered to be
further prorogued from Wednesday, January 13,
to Thursday, February 4, when it is to assemble for
the despatch of business.
Earl Granville had an audience of her Majesty.