The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-11 00:00:00

THE PUBLIC BREAKFAST,

Which was laid out in the large Assernlily Kcom, upon
four tables extending the whole length of the room, at the
upper end of which was a cross table for the accommoda
tion of the illustrious Duke and his distinguished attend-
ants. Upwards of 340 ladies and gentlemen sat down, J.
Fife, Esq., Mayor, in the chair, supported on the right by
the Duke of Sussex, the Marchioness of Normanby, Lord
Lambton, Lady Mary Lambton, and Lady Emily
Lambton ; on the left by the Earl of Durham, Lady
Cecilia Underwood, the Countess of Durham, Lady
`Williamson, and Miss Annie Fife. Among the com-
pany we observed Sir H. Williamson, C. Buller, Esq.,
M.P., J. Easthope, Esq., M.P., B. Hawes, Esq., M.P.,
W. Ord, Esq., M.P., C. Blackett, Esq., m.p., W.
Hutt, Esq., M.P., A. White, Esq., M.P., Mrs. R. W.
and the Misses Brandling, Mrs. Headlam, John Brand-
ling, Esq., John Cookson, Esq., Miss Cookson, John
Barras, Esq., S. Ilderton, Esq., &c. The fine band of
the 98th was in attendance in the music gallery, and
played several beautiful airs in their accustomed style of
excellence. Breakfast being over,

The CHAIRMAN called for a bumper, and gave " Our
gracious Queen—God bless her !" Drunk with three
times three and great applause, the band playing the
national anthem.

The CHAIRMAN, after describing the Duke of Sussex
as the friend and advocate of the best interests of his
kind, and might he long live to enjoy the satisfaction
and the glory of doing good, proposed " The health
of the Duke of Sussex."

The Duke of SUSSEX rose amid renewed plaudits,
and said, in returning them his thanks, he could not
help looking back seventeen years ago, when he had
the pleasure of dining in that room, but when, from
circumstances which he did not need to explain to the
ladies, he was deprived of the society of the best orna-
meats of that room.—(Applause.) It afforded him
great satisfaction, and it was a proud feather in his cap,
that he should be complimented not only by the citizens
of this town, but by their fair ladies—their best orna-
ments.— (Great applause.) However he might
have been gratified on that occasion, he could ex-
pressly declare that he had no such feeling then as he
had now, and therefore, he was delighted in having an
opportunity of making his bow to the ladies, and ex-
iffessing to them the satisfaction he felt in seeing them
and in meeting so many friendly faces.—(Applause.)
The Mayor had been kind enough to advert to the ser-
vices which he had afforded to the country in various
ways, and which was, perhaps more the result of chance
than of anything else. From the unfortunate state of
his health he was precluded from taking a part in certain
lines which were marked out for the members of the
Royal Family, and in retirement he had the means of
getting more information than those who walked in
the more busy scenes of life. Under these circum-
stances, it was his good fortune to co-operate with
many who were friendly supporters of liberal institu-
tions, and those institutions owed more to the
energy of those friends than they did to his indivi-
dual exertions. There was no institution for the
promotion of science, or for the advancement of
useful and intellectual acquirements which it was
not his anxious wish to promote, satisfied that in en-
couraging harmony and good will among general society,
he was promoting the best interests of the country, and
founding a basis between man and man which was the
real source of all our energies.—(Applause.) He was well
aware that they were met for that purpose, and further
than that he would not go ; he had his own opinions on
other subjects, and he stood to those opinions ; he was
not ashamed of them ; and he had always expressed
them with courtesy and good will, giving perfect credit
to those who were opposed to him. They did not need
to be violent enemies because they differed in opinion,
and he was satisfied that if those differences were dis-
cussed with good humour and friendly feeling, it would
tend more to the benefit of society than the violent al-
tercations so often indulged in in public life.—(Ap-
plause.) With these observations he would conclude,
and—if the Mayor would allow him to propose a toast—
he would give " The Health of the Mayor, Alde►men,
Burgesses, and prosperity to the city and the trade
thereof." Drunk with three times three, and great
applause. Air—" Weel may the keel row."
The MAYOR said, on behalf of the Corporation, he
begged to return thanks for the honour done them by
his Royal Highness. He then gave " The health of the
Earl of Durham." Drunk with three times three and
loud applause.
The Earl of DURHAM rose amid renewed applause,
and said he confessed that, often as he had risen to ad-
dress his assembled countrymen in that room, although
he might have done so under circumstances of more
peculiar excitement, yet he never did so with more un-
mixed gratification pervading every feeling of his heart,
not only because it was an expression which could not
but be understood, but because it proceeded from some
to whom his Royal Highness bad alluded, and who he
could never meet but upon occasions like the pre-
sent.—(Applause.) He would refer to one topic, and
that was the presence of the fair ladies who had ho-
noured them with their presence that day, and he would
hope that, as the highest prerogatives of this country
were wielded by a lady, her faithful subjects would mix
as far as they could, and that there never would a public
meeting occur in which they did not appear.—(Great
applause.) The Mayor had alluded to his endeavours
to promote science and the arts, and in doing so, he had
only done him justice ; he felt early in life the merits
of the ancient masters, and a desire to possess some
of those splendid specimens which their genius had
handed down to us ; yet, at the same time, he felt that
he would more benefit his country by procuring a gal-
lery of the works of modern British artists, than by
making a collection of the most splendid specimens of
the old master.—(Great applause.) That collection
was no-v in the neighbourhood, and any of his friends
and neighbours here were welcome to a full view of it.—
(Great applause.) It would ill become him to detain
them any longer on this subject, after what he had
said to them in the other room, but they would allow
him to express to them once again the pleasure and
gratification which he felt in the presence of his Royal
Highness, and the infinite delight which he felt at the
manner in which they welcomed him after so long an
absence, and when they saw him restored to that health
which he hoped he would enjoy for many years to come.
—(Applause.) For himself he (the Noble Lord) re-
turned them his most sincere thanks, and he could as-
sure them that it was with the deepest pleasure that he
had the honour of meeting with them that, day.—
(Applause,)
The Duke of SUSSEX then rose and said, before he
left them, he was anxious to make one more expression
of his acknowledgments for the kind manner in which
they had received him ; he did not need to tell them
that there was no happiness without its counterpoise,
and now the moment of separation approached. It,
however, through life there was one feeling in the heart
of man, and of woman too, which kept them alive, it
was the blessed feeling of hope, and with that feeling he
would take his leave and say—happy have we met—
sorry are we to part, and happy will we be to meet

His Royal Highness then retired, accompanied by
his Noble and distinguished attendants, and the meet-
ing broke up, highly delighted with the proceedings of
the day.
The distinguished party afterwards returned to
Lambton Castle.