The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-15 00:00:00

GRAND BANQUET AT GLASGOW

On Friday night the grand banquet in. celebration of
the Crimean victories came off in the City Hall, and was
attended with the utmost success. Previous to the day
of meeting the application for tickets were. so numerous
as at once to satisfy the committee that the large ball
would he fully occupied, and before the hour of meeting
(half past, 5 o'clock) every available space was filled by a
respectable and highly influential assemblage. The de-
corations of the ball were very similar to those at
the recent banquet of the British Association, with
the following additions :—Over the Chairman's seat,
at the east end, were suspended the national colours of
England, France, Turkey, and Sardinia, and on the
south and north walls the union jack and tricolour alter-
nated. The west gallery, which was tastefully fitted up
as a camp, draped with red and white, was occupied by
the band of the Queen's Own Yeomanry Cavalry, and on
each side were suspended the banners of England and
France. In front of this gallery were emblazoned the
ever to be remembered words, "Alma," "Balaklava,"
" Inkerman," " Sebastopol ;" and around the front of

the north and south galleries, wreathed in evergreens,
were the names of the illustrious heroes—Raglan, St.
Arnaud, Pelissier, Simpson, Sir Colin Campbell, Bog-
quet, Marmora, Omer Pasha, Lyons, Bruat, Cathcart,
Cambridge, M`Mahon. During the assembling of the
company Mr. Lambeth played several airs on the grand
organ. Precisely at 6 o'clock his Grace the Duke of
Hamilton and Brandon entered the hail and took the
chair amid loud and prolonged cheering. His Grace
was supported on the Oat form by the following noble-
men and gentlemen :
The Lord Provost ; the Duke de Coigny ; Sir James
Fergusson, M.P. ; M. Maubousein, Consul of France ;
Mr. Alexander Baillie Cochrane ; Rear-Admiral Mont-
gomerie ; Sir James Anderson, M.P. ; Mr. William
Lockhart, M.P. ; the Duke of Montrose ; Principal
Macfarlan ; Lord Belhaven ; Sir M. S. Stewart ; Lord
Muncaster ; Sir Robert Milliken Napier ; Professor M.
Nichol ; Mr. John M`Gregor, M.P. ; and Mr. Robert
Monteith, of Carstairs.

Sir Archibald Alison discharged the duties of crou-
pier. He was supported right and left by Sir William
Maxwell, of Calderwood ; Mr. James Baird, M.P. ;
Mr. William Stirling, M.P., of Heir ; Sir James
Campbell ; Rev. Norman M‘Leod ; Mr. Archibald
Hastie, M.P. ; Mr. E. H. Cranfurd, M.P. ; Mr. Peter
Blackburn, M.P. ; Sir William Wyndham Anstruther;
Captain the Hon. H. T. Fitzmaurice ; Captain W.
D. 0. Hay, 72d Highlanders ; and Captain Wilkin-
son, 42d Highlanders, Stirling. On the platform
we observed,—Major Coates, 55th, from the Crimea ;
Major Anderson, ditto ; Captain Wilkinson, ditto ;
Major M'Donald, ditto ; Lieutenant Upton,
72d Highlanders ; Ensign Murray, ditto ; Ensign
M•Kinnun, ditto ; Ensign Cockburn, 42d Highlanders ;
Ensign Haines, do. ; Ensign Ceeley, do. ; Ensign Under-
wood, 39th; Capt. Harrison, 79th Highlanders; Quarter-
master Bethune, do. ; Captain Gleig, 93d Highlanders ;
Captain M'Donald, do. Apologies were received from
the Duke of Richmond, Duke of Buccleucb, Duke of
Argyll, Marquis of Ailsa, Marquis of Breadalbane (why,
sent a haunch of venison), Earl of Glasgow, Earl 01
Eglinton and Winton, Lord Melville, Sir Graham Mont-
gomery, of Stanhope, M.P. ; Sir A. C. Maitland Gib-
son, of Clifton-hall ; Mr. Alex. Smollett, of Bonhill,
M.P. ; and Mr. Alex. Hastie, M.P.
A blessing having been asked by the Very Rev. Prin-
cipal M'FARLAN, the company partook of a splendid re-
past, which, whether as regarded taste, quality, or abun-
dance, reflected great credit upon the purveyors, Messrs.
Ferguson and Forester. It is worthy of notice that the
non-commissioned officers and privates at present in
Glasgow, who took a part in the glories of the Crimean
campaign, numbering about 50, were entertained at the
banquet.
After dinner thanks were returned by the Rev. Non-
MAN MI, ROD.

At this stage of the proceedings the galleries were
thrown open for the admission of ladies, who presented
a brilliant assemblage.
The noble CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the first
toast, and was received with great applause. His Grace
said—Gentlemen, under ordinary circumstances, in pro-
posing the health of the illustrious lady whose name-is
first honoured on all our festive occasions, it would be
proper that I should say a few words ; but, considering
that I am in the society of Scotchmen, and considering
the deep interest her Majesty takes in this portion of
her dominions, and considering her affection for the sol•
diers of her army, her solicitation for those in the Cri-
mea, many of whom having returned I see now here—
(cheers)—it is unnecessary for me to say a single word to
recommend the toast to you.

The toast was drunk with great applause, and the
band played the National Anthem.
The noble CHAIRMAN then gave " Prince Albert an,
the Royal family." He said it would be wrong, on tilt
present occasion, to omit the name of one distinguishe,
member of the Royal family—be alluded to the Duke of
Cambridge. In the hour of danger he led on his gallant
division, and at the moment of sickness be did his ut-
most to ameliorate the condition of the sick and the
wounded. (Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm.

The CHAIRMAN—The toast I am now to propose iF
" the Army and Navy." As I shall shortly be called
upon to address a few words on this subject, in connec
tion with those of our army who have been in Crimean
fields, I feel that the other officers who have distin-
guished themselves in other places will excuse me if I
say nothing at present about the army in general. AP
for the navy, I believe that, though they have had little
opportunity of distinguishing themselves, they will eves
be, as they have hitherto been—
" The mariners of England
Who guard our native seas,
Whose flag has braved, a thousand years,
The battle and the breeze."
Admiral MONTGOMERIR, in reply for the navy, said—
It is the misfortune, perhaps, but not the fault of the
arm of the service to which I have the honour to belong,
that they did not contribute more to the successes %Ida
we have met this evening to. celebrate. At the same
time I may be allowed to claim for them that their ser-
vices have not been al!,ogether unimportant. Their ser-
vices in the Sea of Azoff possibly contributed to gaining
possession of the stronghold of the enemy. (Cheers.)
Jack had not much to do, but I claim for him that wha'
he did do he did it well, and I trust that not many
hours Will elapse till we hear that the navy have
brought up their lee way before Odessa. (Cheers.)
I am sure that the British fleet will feel much gratified
at the notice of it which has been here taken this night,
and, as the oldest British officer present, I beg to return
thanks for the honour you have done us. (Cheers.)

Capt. WILKINSON, of the 42d Highlanders, returned

thanks for the army.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, " Iler
Majesty's 11Iinisters," said—As there may be a variety
of opinions in connection with this toast, I shall do no
more than refer to the noble lord at present at the head
of her Majesty's Administration. I really think Lord
Palmerston has conducted this war with a degree of
vigour, which at his period of life is almost unequalled
I believe in history. I think all Englishmen, of what-
ever party or shade of politics, should be grateful to him
for it.

The noble CHAIRMAN then gave "the Houses of Par.

liament," and expressed a hope that as the honour of
England was deeply involved in the contest in which we
were now engaged no peace would receive their sanc-
tion which could not be brought about with honour.
Mr. HAsTrE, M.P. for Paisley, being called upon by
the noble Chairman to reply, mid—l have to return
thanks for the honour conferred on me in being called
upon to respond to the toast. I can only state with re-
gard to the Houses of Parliament that they have, from
the commencement of the war, gone heart and hand
with the unanimous voice of the people. (Cheers.) 1
am confident that, whatever parties there may be in the
Houses of Parliament, the great majority will be in
'favour of the wise policy of continuing the war till we
obtain proper securities for peace. (Cheers.) I, for one,
hare the feeling which I am certain imbues the breast
of every British subject, that there is no help for it now
but to prosecute the war till we bring it to an honourable
and lasting conclusion. I may further just express the
deepest regret, the greatest mortification on account of
the speeches made by three ex-Ministers of the Crown,
which I consider as most unpatriotic, and as likely to

render it more difficult fur the Administration they have
left to carry on that war to a happy conclusion. I felt
mortified exceedingly to think that any British subject,
especially any one who had been parties to declaring
war, should give utterance to such expressions. (Cheers.)
I have to thank you in the name of the House of Com-
mons. As for the other House of Parliament, we well
know that the Peers of the realm are imbued with every
patriotic sentiment. (Cheers.)

Mr, MVEIG9B., M.P.) then rose, amidst NOll2O COW