The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-24 00:00:00

Visit of the Channel Fleet to Dublin. a

Excited discussions have taken place in the Corporation
of Dublin with reference to the entertainment to be pro-
vided against the approaching visit of the Channel Fleet—
an extreme section of the " National party" taking the op-
portunity to intrude their own factiousness. On Monday
it was proposed by Aide, man Hudson that an address should
be presented to the Admiral and officers, and he expressed
his regret that the Corporation had no public funds to pro-
vide a banquet, though he had no doubt there would be
liberal contributions from private funds. In opposition,
Mr. Sullivan, editor of the Natim, who leads the National
party, spoke to the following effect :—The committee had
shirked the question of a subscription in a manner that
would disgust the A Imiral ; and, if he had anything of the
spirit that was attributed to him, he would not accept the
invitation. The address was rather a windy compliment
to an admiral, who got breez:.:s enough. Nothing could be
more nauseous or flatulent. There was no man in the com-
mittee of the whole house who stood up there to say,
" There is £lOO towards the entertainment of the officers of
the Channel fleet." He denounced the report as one of the
meanest instances of evasion ho clad ever met. He denied
that the visit of the fleet was calculated to awaken recollec-
tions of the glories of the pact. What glories ? When did
any British fleet come to Dublin Bay, except for invasion?
When the address spoke of the British fleet aiding every
tyrant•trampled country and the oppressed of every clime,
he could understand it if it referred to Britain, the people
of which country were justly proud of the traditions and
memories associated with the fleet. But Irishmen, as such,
could hold no such language to the British fleet. When,
in memorable hours of agony, Ireland lay panting and
prostrate in the gripe of famine, and this British Govern-
ment was asked for transports to bring food to these shores
to our starving countrymen, that Government, boastl/2g
the finest fleet in the world, would not deign to lord this
famine-stricken nation two ships out of its great navy to
do this work of mercy. No ; let it be told that this
British fleet lay with its guns shotted for duty, it may be,
but had not a deck en which to lay food for the dying. But
there was a Government who heard the cries of Ireland and
came to help. That was the Government of free America,
who stripped its war ships of their armament and sent to
these shores the produce of American soil, He could un-
derstand the Irish people welcoming to their shores such a
fleet, but the people of Dublin had no right to use this lan-
guage to the Channel Fleet. Mr. Sullivan then alluded to
the Italian war, and said that the British fleet hed been sent
out on a malignant mission of disturbance, " to encourage
disorder among ungrateful rebels, and set the south of
Europe in a flame, in order that British interests and Bri-
tish bigotry might be preserved." This burst of loyalty to
the 'Pope was received with loud applause in the gallery.
Alderman Bonsall called the speaker to order for using ,sedi-
tious language. Mr. Martin replied, and said the addresr,
was drawn up by loyal men—they did not want to meet the
views of disloyal men. Mr. Sullivan's speech, be said,
proved that this was the freest country in the world, for in
no ether country would a man be permitted to utter such
sentiments. On a division the address was carried by an
overwhelming majority, only four members having voted
against it. This terminated the proceedings.
The Lord Mayor had called a private meeting of influen-
tial citizens at the Mansion-house, at four o'clock p.m., to
consult about the reception to be given to the Channei
Fleet.

It was not numerously attended, nor at all unanimous as
to the course to be adopted. A banquet was proposed, but
those who proposed it seemed to reckon without their host.
On the motion of Mr. Alexander Parker, seconded by Alder-
man Atkinson, the gentlemen present were elected a com-
mittee to carry out the object of the meeting, with liberty
to add to their number. Alderman Hudson, Sir Timothy
O'Brien, Mr. A. Parker, Mr. H. J. M'Farlane, Mr. Juhn
Martin, and other gentlemen expressed their opinions that
the citizens of Dublin should do all in their power to render
the reception cf the fleet suitable to the occasion and befit-
ting the position which Dublin held as the second city in
the empire. After some discussion, it was agreed to give
up the idea of a banquet, and have a ball, to be given on
Monday, if the Admiral can remain long enough; if not,
on Friday next.

Sailors and Marines of the Channel Fleet.

1 Vhile the magnates have been giving and receiving
Prifigely hospitalities and enjoying an interchange of so-
cie.iity and good feeling with the gallant officers of the
Channel fleet, it forms en exceedingly gratifying feature of
these hospitalities that the seamen and marines who man
that noble fleet have not been overlooked. In accordance
with previous arrangements which had been entered into by
a number of the leading men connected with the commer-
cial enterprise of Liverpool, an invitation was given to as
many of the men as could be spared off duty to enjoy an
entertainment in St. George's Mill. This event took place
on Monday, when upwards of 1,000 men, including petty
officers and sailors, marines and marine artillery, belonging
to the different vessels, together with about 200 gentlemen
belonging to the Royal Mersey Yacht Club, sat down to a
substantial dinner, consisting of hot roast beef and mut-
ton, with a few other dishes, and vegetables ad libitum.
These substantial viands were washed down by a reason-
able allowance of grog and Allsopp's ale. The noble hall
was completely filled,
.the galleries being occupied by a
large assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, The feast was
presided over by Mr. S. R. Graves, Commodore of the
Royal Mersey Yacht Club, and the executive department
of the feast was admirably performed by the extensive staff
of stewards belonging to the Cunard Company's establish-
ment. After the cloth had been removed the chairman pro-
posed " The Queen," remarking that among all the great
and glorious titles by which she was known there was no
one of which she was so proud as that of being the friend
of the sailor and the soldier. This announcement was re-
ceived with great cheering. The choir then sang the Na-
tional Anthem, the chorus being joined in with an earnest-
ness and heartiness of enthusiasm such as has but seldom
been heard, and which itis difficult to conceive being equalled
by any vocalists but by a similar number of British sailors.
The next portion of the programme was a song by one
of the marines belonging to the chip Liverpool, which
was sung in good style and heartily applauded. A
song was then called for from one of the " blue jackets" of
the Liverpool, when one of them gave in true 66 Jack-tar"
style the song of " The Red, White, and Blue." The
chorus of this popular naval ditty was given by the who!e
of the Channel fleet men with so strong a degree of har-
mony as produced a most exciting effect. St. George's other-
wise magnificent hall is somewhat unfavourably noted for
its echoes—but all the echoes of the place were shaken out
of their senses, or, at all events, driven out of the hall, by
the sonorous and measured shouts of the thousand sten-
torian voices which joined in asserting and reasserting the
glories and the triumphs of the " red, white and blue."
The choir then sang in good style a four-part song, which
evidently had an exceedingly pleasing effect on the " sons
of ocean," who at its conclusion hurrahed and shouted their
approval in a most enthusiastic manner. The next musical
performance was a song with a rattling and highly-appre-
ciated chorus by the men of the Edgar, the flagship. The
chairman then in a few appropriate words proposed as a
toast, " The Health of the Non-Commissioned Officers,

Petty Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the Channel Fleet,"
paying them a high compliment for the excellent conduct
which they had displayed since their arrival and during
their stay in Liverpool. The toast was drunk with great
enthusiasm, which was loudly joined in by the ladies and
gentlemen who occupied the galleries. After the applause
had in acme measure subsided the toast was acknowledged