The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-13 00:00:00

he approbal inn of that class of the community ?—(Hear,
their,) They must either shut up the selools altogether;
of adopt seine such plan that whiOt hbw
quit he trusted the Council tint vreparpa tt, 'to that
length ; he hoped they walla adh'e're 'to the e iii lltcned
course. which they had takeh., and he was convinced that
the advantage of it would be more and more apparent from
year to year to all classes of the community.—( Hear.)
The Council then dii ided, and the numbers were, for the
amendment, thirteen, against it forty-three, vi 7.„ :
For the Amendment—Messrs. D. Hodgson, W. Shand,
J. Barton, C. Birch, J. Lawrence, Cooper, C. Lawrence,
H. Lawrence, Sands, Wood, G. H. Lawrence, J. Smith,
J. Cropper.
A f:,r.ii,st the Amendment—Councillors J. Holmes, Thorn-
hill, Harvey, Houghton, Frankland, H. Holmes, Mellor,
Walmsl; y, Bolton, \\Tot-Aright, Priestley, Bright, H. Hornby,
Lassa, Brocidcbank, Earle, Morccroft, Blackburn,
Coglan, St'gar, Mason, Currie, Duncan, Ramsdell,
Platt, and Jordan ; Aldermen Shed, Booth, Brown,
L.:-
thorn, T. Smith, Jones, Bcnn, Evans, Holt, Moon, Bulky,
Frcme, Barclay, Robinson, 0. Heyworth, and the Mayor.

THE ROYAL CIVIC BAN QUET,

GUILDHALL.

ARRANGEMENT AND DECORATIONS OF THE TABLES, THE
DESSERT-SERVICE, PLATE, DECORATIONS, &C.
The royal table was placed at the east end of the hall,
immediately in front of the throne and canopy. Beside her
Majesty's there were nine other seats at this table for the
royal party.
A broad passage was then left between the table and the
heads of the four tables that run from it towards the west.
The lower ends of these tables terminate near the centre of
the hall ; and here another and a much broader passage was
left, forming the way from the grand entrance to the prin-
cipal staircase leading to the Queen's council, audience, and
drawing rooms, in the interior of the building. At the west
side of this passage, and directly in a line,with the four above
mentioned, were four other tables, carried on to near the
lower or western end of the hall. The upper set of four
tables were occupied by the nobility and gentry invited to
the banquet, and the lower set were for the members of the
Corporation, their ladies, &c. The entire of the dinner
service at the royal table was, as we have before stated it
would be, of gold plate of a very superb character ; the
dessert and tea services were en suite as well as the decora-
tions ; the latter, throughout, were of a very superior descrip-
tion. As we have examined this part of the arrangements
very carefully, it may be amusing to our readers to have an
exact description of them.
DECORATIONS OF THE QUEEN'S TABLE.
The centre of this table consisted of splendid plateau
of looking glass, richly gilt in ormolu ; exactly opposite to
the royal scat set apart for her Majesty, was a circular or-
nament of 12 small golden lions in ormolu, surmounted by
four allegorical figures wearing the four collars of the orders
of Great Britain, and supporting a crimson velvet cushion,
whereon was placed a small diadem richly gilt and studded
with jewels, together with the whole of the coronation re-
galia of England ; directly under the latter, upon a square
tablet of cerulean blue, between the two figures in front of
the chair, was a circle of diamonds upon rays of gold,
composing the words " Victoria invicta." In the centre of
this circle were the new arms of England, enamelled in
white and gold ; at the four corners were the stars of the
order of the Garter, of St. Patrick, the Thistle, and the
Bath. On the opposite side, between two figures, was the
circular motto " DOMINE dirige 7105," and in the centre the
arms of the city, under which were the mace, swords of
state, of justice, cup of maintenance, &c. Upon each side
of the pedestal was a golden wreath, with the names of the
lord mayor and sheriffs, and the date, 9th Nov., 1837. Be-
sides the centre there were four other plateaux, the spaces be-
tween being occupied by splendid candelabra of ormolu ; the
two plateaux next the principal one are composed, each of a
centre piece or group of Cariatic figures, in ormolu, beautifully
modelled in the Louis Quatorze style, supporting superb
cut glass dishes, containing a grand bouquet of the richest
fruits all arranged with exquisite taste by Mr. Spooner,
assisted by his son. On each flank of the centre pieces
were two Grecian temples of very elegant workmanship.
From their bases, which were circular, sprang six Persian
and Cariatic figures, whose heads served for the springing
of so many arches, which support the dome of the edifice ;
these were dressed with delicious bonbons ; the two outside
plateaux were circular, of different fashion, but equally good
taste with the other parts, and dressed with fruits and
flowers in the same elegant style.
The Queen's dessert service comprised 23 gold dishes ;
the centre piece was a bouquet of fruits in a gold basket;
next to this, on each side, was a figure assielte, with
bondons cakes, &c ; next to these rich fruits, then assiettes,
with figures, flowers, bonbons, &c. ; the next dishes on
each side contained preserved green gages, apricots, &c.,
and so on to the extreme ends, where they were terminated
by large oval gold dishes of pines, grapes, &c. ; the whole
presenting, with the splendid glass, a superb and most bril-
hunt coup Four gold dishes of fruits, ices, wafers,
preserved ginger, and brandy cherries, were offered to the
Royal party ; rose-water was presented to her Majesty
after dinner, in a curious antique cup, which belonged tca
King James I. ; it was presented upon a gold salver or
dish, which had graced the board of George 1., whose arms
arc engraved thereon. On the frieze or fillet, which forms
the upper part of the cup, is the following pious but rather
quaint inscription, in the small Roman letter of that day :
To faithful souses Christ giveth drinks right goode."
The curious vessel holds a full quart of our measure.
The ice pails, coasters, cutlery, spoons, &c. for the din-
ner, as well as the gold knives, forks, spoons, &c., for the
dessert, were of the most splendid description, both in taste
and workmanship.
The tea and coffee services for her Majesty's use were, as
we stated, of gold plate, and comprised a large salver, or
tray, richly chased and embossed, ten cups anSsaucers, tea
and coffee pots, sugar basins, and cream ewers, and spoons,
all of a very tasteful patern ; the handles of the cups are
composed of lapis lazuli, chastely ;ornamented, presenting
a pleasing harmony of colour with the rich tone of the gold
cups, &c. The doyley for her Majesty was of white satin,
with a beautiful circular wreath of the three kingdoms in
the mitre, the corners were adorned by the British Crown,
all finely embroidered, and it was finished with a border of
deep and rich silver fringe ; those for the Royal guests
were of similar material, but had not the wreath and Crown
on them.
The napkins of the Royal party were ten in number,
and were of a beautiful fabric of damask, ornamented with
the Royal arms at the top, and the City arms at the oppo-
site side. The bill of fare was printed on vviiite satin, with
a handsome pink border and silk fringe—the Royal and City
arms were emblazoned on them in the same order as they
were upon the napkins.
Tile china plates of the dessert service for the Queen's
table were of the most exquisite workmanship, the ground
pure white, with gilt edges, and a very rich border, co,,_
posed of oak leaves, running all round. Tile cent;,l
was also similarly decorated, and exactly in part
. the centre,
within a wreath of flowers, was the royal e..pher, surmounted
by the British crown. The glass ces were the most
superb, in many respects, that have yet been used in this
Davenport'scottry, tlie
establishment greater
by T.
the supplying of some part
',Pt
vegAables were the service. The fruits and
furni3/...ed chiefly by Mr. Pullen, of Co-
vent-garden anti
great Fa,ritieS 7°.
ewgate markets. Amongst other very
and it se
the season there was a dish of green peas,
e
dessert was a plate of large ripe strawberries, the
. grown at Peckham, the former near Hertford.
The decorations of the four upper and four second tables
were arranged in the following manner by Mr. Spooner,
who had the management of this department.
Table No. 1, at the upper place of which sat the Lady
Mayoress and the Lord Mayor, the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, Marquis of Lansdowne, Dukes of Norfolk and Wel-
lington, &c., had first an oval plateau with pedestal of look-
ing-glass, a cut-'lass vase, with flowers and kneeling figures,
supporting baskets of grapes ; second, a triangular pedestal
with amours and baskets of fruit ; third, a gilt pedestal with
a beautiful screen of Corinthian pillars, with figures and tro-
phies, &c. ; fourth, a triangular group of bronze figures,
with glass dish and fruit ; fifth, an oval gilt pedestal, with a
par of kneeling figures and basket of choice flowers. Table
No. 2.—At this table sat the late Lord Mayor and Lady
Mayoress, the Lord Chancellor, Viscounts Duncannon and
Palmerston, Dukes of Argyle and Sutherland, Marquisses
of Chandos and Westminster, Earls of Durham, Mulgrave,
&c. ; the first ornament was a plateau with a pedestal and
looking-glass, a beautifully cut rose with flowers and with
figures kneeling supporting baskets of grapes ; second, a
triangular pedestal, with amours and baskets of fruit ; third,
a gilt pedestal with glass screen of Corinthian pillars, figures,
trophies, &c. ; fburth, all oval gilt pedestal with a group of
kneeling figures and baskets of flowers. On the 3d and 4th
tables were the splendid Napoleon vases, of the finest Sevres
porcelain, filled with choice flowers. On the third and
fourth tables of the second set were two triumphal arches ;
that on the third table was the triumphal arch of Britannia
with the Sheriff's banners—Victoria ; in the same line on
the fourth table was the triumphal arch of Neptune, also
with the banners of the Sheriffs, Victoria, &c. The other
tables were similarly decorated, but it is not necessary to
describe them in detail ; they, however, were greatly ad-
mired by the numerous persons of taste who were amongst
the company.
The Council Chamber in which her Majesty gave audi-
ence was richly and tastefully decorated with rich pink and
white silk draperies from the corridor, which was bordered
with the choicest exotic plants. This apartment was
ascended by a handsome flight of stairs. Near the centre of
the farther side was placed a raised platform, on which were
the chair of state, canopy, &c., all well arranged to allow
the pictures to be viewed with advantage. These works
of art are the portraits of several British So-