The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-21 00:00:00

rii_ E S U N, LON •;,..).)..NI, T ii .., SDA V„ MAY

DINNER TO HIS IMPERIAL HIGH-
NESS THE GRAND DUKE OF RUSSIA.

Yesterday evening a grand complimentary entertainment
was given to his Imperial Highness the Hereditary Grand
Duke of Russia by the Russia Company, at the London
Tavern, Bishopsgate.street. The whole of the arrange-
ments were made under the inspection of Mr. Cope, the
Secretary of the Company, and did equal honour to his
taste and the facile energies of Mr. Bleaden and his as-
sistants. This entertainment, prepared on scale of magni-
cence rarely surpassed, if ever equalled, was altogether
worthy the Imperial and noble visitors whom it was in-
tended to honour. The August Princes were received at
the entrance to the tavern by a deputation of the dis-
tinguished merchants who constitute the Russia Company,
and conducted through the vestibule, which was spread
with crimson carpet, to the grand drawing-room, and
introduced to the Governor, Mr. William Astell, who
presented the several illustrious and noble visitors invited
on the occasion. The coup d'ceil was truly imposing. In
the centre the Royal Standard of England, and on either
side that of Russia and the Netherlands, coated from the
ceiling. In front of the organ was a full-length portrait
of Catherine, late Empress of all the Russia!, and on the
side-board was a superb display of costly gold plate. At
the end facing the chair was a gallery filled with ladies,
among whom were the Countess of Pembroke, and others
of exalted rank. Under the gallery was placed a grand
instrumental band. The vocal arrangements were under
the direction of Messrs. Fitzwilliam, Hawkins, Hobbs,
Bellamy and Turle, the organist of Westminster Abbey,
who presided at the piano. Mr. Toole, of the East India
House, lent his very efficient services as toast-master on th.f.
occasion. Corers were laid for 110, and the dinner,
which was served on plate, consisted of turtle, venison,
and the choicest viands in or out of season, the most
recherche to be conceived. The dessert consisted of pines,
peaches, nectarines, grapes, cherries, strawberries, and all
the delicacies possible to be procured.
The Chair was occupied by Mr. Astell, the Governor of
the Russia Company, supported on his right by his Im-
perial Highness the Grand Duke of Russia, Count Pozzo
di Borgo, the Duke of Wellington, Count Orloff, the
Marquis of Bute, Count Woronzow, Prince Bariatinski,
Marqus of Londonderry, Lord Heytesbury, Count S. Wo-
ronzow, and Sir C. Bagot ; on the left by Prince Wil-
liam Henry of the Netherlands, the Earl of Durham, Ge-
neral Kaveline, Lord Melbourne, Colonel Jariensoch,
Viscount Torrington, Prince Dolgoroucki, Viscount Pal-
merston, Count Charles Pozzo di Bongo, M. D. Patkul,
Lord Stuart De Rothesay, &c. Amongst the other dis-
tinguished visitors we observed the following :—Mr.
Stephen Thornton, M. de Berg, Sir James Leighton,
Dr. Enokin, Sir Richard Jenkins, G. C 8., Mr. Jere-
miah Harman, Mr. Thomas Baring, the Hon. J. T. Mel-
ville, Mr. J. C. Powell, Mr. F. Thulcke, Mr. W. R. Robin-
son, Mr. J. Hibbard, Mr. W. Moberly, Mr. D. Morgan, his
Excellency Count Zavadowski, Mr. S. E. Thornton, Mr.
J. Harvey, Mr. W. Simpson, Mr. W. Loder, Mr. T. Cope,
Lieutenant Astell, Grenadier Guards, Captain Mitrieff,
Mr. H. M. Thornton, Mr. G. S. Thornton, Prince Mets-
cherski, Mr. F. M. Cayley, Mr. T. Anderson, Mr. B.
Hawes, Mr. Thomas Tooke, jun., M. A. M'Causland,
Mr. J. D. Lewis, Mr. E. Harman, Mr. C. G. Thornton,
Mr. W. B. Bayley, Sir A. Crichton, Mr. Adlerburg,
Colonel Jackson, Mr. B. Pcad, Mr. De Telstoy, Baron
Lieven, Sir H. Hardinge, G. C. 8., Lord Viscount Strang-
ford, Mr. Henry Cayley, the Baron Steiglita, his Excel-
lency. General Baron de Bode, Mr. M. Peterson, Sir John
R. Reid, Bart., Sir J. W. Lubbock, Bart., Mr. James
Holford, Mr. Thomas Tooke, Mr. Fletcher Wilson, Cap-
tain S. Thornton, R.N., Mr. Thomas Paris, Mr. D. C.
Guthrie, Mr. W. Carr, Mr. Charles Robinson, his Ex-
cellency Count Lubinski, Mr. David T. Morgan, Mr.
John Hubbard, Mr. George Reid, Mr. Auguste Blondel,
Rev. F. Newport, Company's Chaplain at Archangel, Mr.
Henry Raikes, Mr. J. Chattley, Mr. T. Stephenson, Mr.
S. W. Cattley, Dr. Hamel, Mr. C. S. Paris, Mr. J.
Booker, Mr. S. L. Holland, Mr. J. W. Lubbock, Mr.
A. Paris, Mr. T. B. Batard, Mr. J. Thornton, Mr. T.
Young, Mr. T. A. Curtis, Mr. J. H. Pelly, M. De
Steckel, Chevalier De Benkhausen, Dr. Prout, Mr. H.
Cattley, Count Alexis Strogonoff, M. De Kisseleff, Mons.
De Steherbininn, Captain Amiens, Aide-de-Camp to his
Royal Highness Prince William Henry.
The cloth having been removed, and Non nobis, Do-
mine, sung in excellent style by the vocalists in attendance.
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the first toast—" The
health of the Queen, who lived in the hearts of her people,
and to whom they all wished a long, happy, and a glorious
reign."
The toast was received with cheers, and followed by the
national anthem.

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, said he
knew it would be received with the utmost enthusiasm. It
was the health of Queen Adelaide.—(Cheers.) He
hoped that the favourite breezes were at this moment waft-
ing her Majesty to the shores of her adopted land, and he
was quite sure she would bring from foreign parts the same
respect and affection with which she had always been
greeted when seated with his late revered Majesty King
William on the throne of these realms.—( Loud cheers.)
He knew she would be hailed on her arrival with the
warmest enthusiasm of all true-hearted Englishmen.—
( Loud cheers.) He begged to give " The health of
Queen Adelaide," and to couple with it " the rest of the
Royal Family."—( Loud cheers.)
Glee, " Health to Queen Adelaide."
The CHAIRMAN next proposed in a brief but complimen-
tary speech, " The health of the Emperor of all the Rue-
sias," remarking with particular gratitude the many obli-
gations under which the Russil Company lay to the patron-
age and support of the Russian Emperors during the three
centuries of its existence.
The toast was received with much enthuisasm, and was
responded to by
Count Pozzo vI Bottoo, who thanked the company for
the generous and kindly expressions which had fallen from
the Chair, bearing upon the relative good feeling and in-
terest which had so long subsisted between the two
countries. That friendly feeling had existed, as had been
observed, for centuries, and he hoped it might continue for
centuries still to come. He had no doubt they would be
enabled still to triumph over all the difficulties and obstacles
which beset them. The past afforded great encouragement
for the future. The greatest perils had been encountered
and overcome by wisdom, by frankness, and by strength,
and the same end, t..!,e general good of all, would again be
accomplished if they continued to act upon the same prin-
ciples.—( Cheers. )
The CHAIRMAN neat proposed the health of the Heredi-
tary Grand Duke, enlarging upon the princely virtues
which adorned his character, the condescending kindness
his Imperial family had always show towards the Russia
Company, and the special honoar he had conferred upon
them in dining with them on the present occasion.
The toast was responded to with three times three cheers.
The GRAND Dose, who spoke English with great flu-
ency and precision, said, in acknowledging the compliment,
that he felt highly flattered by the enthusiastic manner in
which that distinguished company had been pleased to re-
ceive his health. He gladly availed himself of that occa-
sion to declare publicly that the civility which he had re-
ceived from her Majesty the Queen, her Majesty's Ministers,
and with equal truth he might unaffectedly add, from
every Englishman, had been most gratifying to his feelings,
and would never be forgotten.—(Loud cheers.) lie
begged, in return, to drink health and prosperity to the
Company, and long continued amity between Great Britain
and Russia.—( Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the health of a scion of
another Royal house, who bad honoured the company with
his presence on this occasion—Prince. William Henry of
the Netherlands, son of one if England's oldest and most
faithful allies—( Loud cheers)—who, along with his illus-
trious relative, the Grand Duke of Russia, had visited our
shores to gain a personal knowledge of the institutions of
this great country, and the facilities they afforded for the
improvement and benefit of mankind. He proposed " Long
life, health, and happiness to Prince William Henry of the
Netherlands."—( Loud cheers.)
Prince WILLIAM HENRY, in returning thanks, said that
language failed him in endeavouring to express the high
sense of gratitude he entertained for the kindness he had
now experienced.—( Cheers.) He had always, in every
part of the world he had ever visited, felt the greatest re-
gard and respect for Englishmen.—( Loud cheers.) And
if in the future it should fall to his lot to be able to do any
service to both countries, he should most willingly and
strenuously exert himself with that view.—( Cheers.) He
thanked them for the kindly sentiments which had been
expressed towards his family ; he assured them they would
never be forgotten by him, and he now begged to propose
as a toast, " The cordial union of Great Britain wish Hul-
land."—( Loud cheers. )
The Hereditary Grand Duke Alexander then proposed
—" The health of the mach-respected Governor of the
Russia Company, Mr. William Astell, Chairman on the
present occasion."—( Loud cheers.)
The CIIAIRMAW briefly returned thanks in a neat speech,
in which he descanted on the advantages which the Russia
Company had derived from the friendly notice of the Em-
perors, and the important link which it formed of amicable
intercourse and connexion between the two empires. The
Hon. Chairman then, in a single sentence, proposed " the
health of her Majesty's Ministers."—(Cheers.)
Viscount MULBOURNI thanked the company for the ho-
nour which they had done him and his colleagues by the
manner in which they had received the health of her Ma-
jesty's servants on the present occasion. He would not, how-
ever, speak of themselves, or even dwell on the merits of that
ancient and long-established Company who had invited them
to be present on this interesting solemnity, for every conside-
ration of that kind must be lost in the superior interest of
the occasion on which they had met, and of those illustrious
Princes whom they were bound in every manner to congra-
tulate and respect. It was impossible, as the Governor had
observed on the present occasion, not to revert to the long
connexion which had existed between Great Britain and
Russia, and to those times in which the sovereign and
princes of that empire paid visits to this country, and were
received with an interest and respect not short even of that
which had been manifested upon the present occasion. It
was impossible for him not to remember that but 150 years
since the illustrious progenitor of his Imperial Highness,
Peter the Great, paid a visit in 1607 to King William 111.
who at that moment so worthily filled the throne of these
realms—(Cheers)—a visit which excited the greatest
interest and the strongest feeling; which was compared by
the poets of the day in their fancy and imagination, to the
visit which Alcides paid of old to Evander
" Sic ohm Alcides, immania membra Leonis
Instratus spoliis, vasta se mole ferebat
Evandri amplexus dextramque adjungere dextrte
Cum peterit, tectisque ingens succederet hospes."
In later times also he could not but remember with grati-
tude the presence in this country of other princes of that
illustrious house. They had among them the uncle of
their present illustrious guest, the Emperor Alexander—
a man to whose firmness, to whose energy, to whose en-
lightened politics and character this country, all Europe,
and the world, still lay under a debt of immeasurable
magnitude.—( Cheers.) They had also been favoured by
a visit from the illustrious father of the Imperial Prince
—a man with respect to whom, filling as he did at the
present moment the throne of Russia, he did not feel him-
self at liberty to express all he felt, but of whom lie would
say thus much, and he trusted he should not in so expres-
sing himself be supposed to speak too familiarly, or in a
manner inc,ensistent with the high station which that dis-

tinguished person now filled—this he repeated, he would
affirm, that he believed the present Emperor was as much
as any other man in this world, a man of honour, of truth,
and of justice.—(Cheers.) It was unnecessary, and
he felt it would be improper for him to enter into
any larger or more general discussion on this occasion,
hut this much he , trusted he might be permitted
to say, with the concurrence of every gentleman pre-
sent, whatever might be the particular shade of his
opinions, that he trusted the feelings they had
just manifested, looking to the general amity that now hap-
pily prevailed, might be taken as an additional pledge and
security for the maintenance of peace and concord between
two nations formed to love, esteem, and admire each other
—( Cheers)—two nations which might be of the utmost
encouragement. benefit, and advantage to each other—two
nations whose discord and dissension must convulse the ci-
vilized world to its centre, but whose friendship, unity, and
concord must preserve peace, maintain order, and promote
with the utmost rapidity
and to the greatest extent the ge-
neral civilization and general happiness of mankind.—

( Loud cheers.)
The CH*IRMAN next proposed the health of Count
rozzo di Borgo.
His EXC!tLIAINCT, in returning thanks, said it had been
fortune for nearly half a century to represent his gracious
Sovereign at the Court of this mighty country. He had
been called during that period to transact business is the
most dangerous and serious crisis which the world perhaps
ever saw. The course he had pursued had happily been
successful, and no doubt credit had been awarded to him
superior to his merits, though not to his zeal.--( Cheers. )
His conscience, at all events, told him that he had done
what was possible for his master.—(Cheers.) During
the whole period he had represented his Sovereign,
he was happy to think no collision had ever taken place
between this country and Russia ; that great object
had always guided his course, and he bad constantly
obtained with that view the approbation of his
Imperial Mbjesty.—( Cheers.) If he were asked
why, under so many trying circumstances, the mu-
tual efforts of both countries had been attended with suc-
cess, he should answer, because there was a principle of
cohesion between the two nations.—( Cheers.) They had
the same objects, the same great interests in view.—
( Citers. ) He therefore despised and disregarded all the
prophecies of those preachers of disorder, who in these
days would diffuse calumny and engender suspicion between
the two countries, which the sound sense, the equity, the
direct politics and strength of both empires would tend to
put down and destroy.--(Cheers.) He was now, he felt,
nearly at the end of his course, for everything had its
limit ; but he should die happy and contented if he could
leave th,.4 world with the conviction that the harmony he
had seen would continue to prevail between two such
ni;eity empires.—( Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, among the other dig-
_

tineuished guests there was an officer of our own service
of eh= England might well be proud, who was also senior
Field-Marshal of the Army of Russia.—(Loud cheers.)
Well, indeed, might they be proud of the Duke of Wel-
lington as a British subject.—( Great cheering.) The
Duke of Wellington, by common consent unrivalled in the
field, was not to be surpassed in the Cabinet.—(Tumultu-
ous cheering, which continued for some minutes.) With-
out further preface therefore, he begged to give " The
health of his Grace the Duke of Wellington, Field-Marshal
of the Russian Army, with three times three."—(The
toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON, in rising to acknowledge the
compliment, was received with renewed shouts of applause.
When the cheering had subsided, he said he begged leave
to return his thank; for the ho lour tie.), had done him in
drinking his health. He thanked them for having been
so kind as to invite him to meet the company upon the
present occasion, and he was happy to have had it in
his power to attend their meeting, in consequence of the
adjournment of the House of Parliament of which he was
a member. He was not astonished that the Governor
should have expressed the anxiety which was felt by this
Corporation for the arrival of the illustrious Prince who
was their guest that day. Owing to their abilities, capi-
tal, and enterprise, they were the medium of communica-
tion between the two mighty empires of Great Britain and
Russia, for their mutual benefit; and they must feel the
greatest anxiety for permanent peace end concord between
those two mighty empires, not only for their own sakes
and for the sake of the people of both empires immedi-
ately connected by their enterprise and exertions, but for
the sake of the peace and happiness of the world, as de-
scribed by the Noble Lord who spoke a short time ago.
It was natural they should have felt an anxiety for the ar-
rival in this country of the illustrious Prince, and likewise
that his reception should be worthy of his imperial rank—
worthy of the reputation of this country for hospitality, and
consistent with the friendly relations existing between the
two empires.—(Cheers.) He was happy to congratu-
late them that the reception of their illustrious guest
had been everything they could have wished.—( Cheers. )
He spoke as an eye-witness, having frequently had the
honour of being present on occasions of the reception of
his Imperial Highness. They had heard what his Imperial
Highness himself had said upon this subject. He was
happy to bear his testimony to the same effect, for he must
say, however anxious he felt that he should be received as
became this country, and as suited his illustrious rank
and station, be had been entirely satisfied.—( Loud cheers. )
Notwithstanding the presence of nis Royal Highness, who
understood the English language as well as any of them,
he would venture to say that he owed his reception in
this country not less to his own merits than to the de-
sire of this country at large to pay every respect to his
station, to his family, and to I..is country.—(Loud
cheers.) His charity, his well. understood generosity,
his gracious affability and kindness to all those who had
approached his parson, had made an impression in
this country which would not soon be forgotten.—
( Cheers.) Their worthy Chairman had been pleased to re-
mind them that he (the Duke of Wellington) held the
rank of Field-Marshal in the Russian army. It was true
he had that honour. It was conferred upon him by the
late Emperor Alexander. He owed it to the service in
which he was employed in the great war for the pi eserva •
lion of Europe, and therefore he must say he owed it to
the brave officers and soldiers who were employed under
his command, to the gracious favour of his Sovereign and
his Government of that day, the encouragement lie se-
cs iced from them, and the desire of the illustrious Em-
peror to mark his sense of the services rendered by this
country to the cense in which all Europe was engaged,
and to mark the unanimity with which all the affairs of
that period were carried on, principally under his own
snperintendence, by those employed by his late Majesty
and by himself (the Duke of Wellington). The
exam tae of the Emperor of Russia was followed by
other Sovereigns, and as this subject had been men-
tioned, he must add, that he had received from the
present Emperor of Russia every mark of favour and dis-
tinction which it was proper for his Imperial Highness to
bestow, or for him (the Duke) to receive.—( Loud cheers.)
He begged again to thank the company for the distin-
guished honour they had conferred upon him, trusting
they would excuse him for saying so much about himself,
in consequence of the allusion which had been made by the
worthy Governor and Chairman. Ile should sit down
drinking all their good healths.—( Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRmee next proposed the " Healths of the late
Ambassadors to the Court of Russia."
Sir C. BAGOT, being senior, acknowledged the compli-
ment on behalf of Lord Durham, Viscount Strangford,
and Lord Heytesbury.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The Health of Count Wo-
ronaow," who briefly returned thanks.
Lord LONDONDERRY proposed " The Health of the
Empress of Russia," which was drunk with all the honours,
and the company immediately after separated.

TIIE THEATRES.

COVENT GARDEN.
Mr. Serjeant Talfourd's classical drama, lon, was last
slight presented for the last time under the present manage-
ment. The play was cast as heretofore ; Vandenhotf well
sustaining the part of the Argive King, Macready that of
lon, and Miss H. Faucit that of the hapless Clemanthe.
At the fall of the curtain a loud outcry was made for Mr.
Macresdy by the holiday folks ; in obedience to their so-
vereign will the lessee appeared and bowed his acknowledg-
ments to them. The new dramatic romance, Agnes Ber-
/muff, the Maid of Augsburg, or the Secret Tribunal,
with its splendid scenery al,id stirring incidents, followed
the tragedy, and the laughable new farce, Sayings and
Doings, completed the evening's entertainments. The
house was well attended, and the whole performances went
off with eclat.

HA YMARKE T.
After Mrs. C. Gore's excellent comedy, King O'Neill, a
new faree or comic extravaganza, called The Happy Man,
was produced last night. We understand that it is the
authorship of Mr. Lover. The thought is not original,
but the treatment of it is perfectly so. The scene is laid
somewhere on the borders of our East Indian possessions,
where reigns a Rajah (O. Smith), who perhaps from too
great an abundance of bile is very melancholy and miser-
able. His Moonshee and Vizier consult the stars, and re-
port to him that he cannot get rid of his gloom until he is
clothed in the shirt of a happy man. They send over the
whole territory in vain, until at last toe searchers light
upon a poor Irish private in the 18th Regiment of Foot,
Pat Murphy ( Power), who is wandering over the de-
sert, having deserted from the army, and enjoying a de
lightful state of independence, and living as his fortu-
nate stars may allow. A Princess, the daughter of the
Vizier, is one of those in quest of the happy man's shirt,
is the hope of saving her father's head by discovering it.
With her Pat fell desperately in love, and she with him ;
and he declares that nothing will be wanting to his com-
plete felicity, if he can but marry her. She promises her
hand, takes him to the Rajah's court, obtains her father's
consent to the match, and Pat is perfectly happy. Then
comes the question as to tho shirt ; the Rajah insists upon
having it, and Pat obstinately refuses, on the ground that
it is one bis mother had given him. So it turns out, for, as
the reader may have guessed, Pat has no shirt but his
skin, and what is called "a Dicky," to make a show of as
far as regards collar and frill. Thus the only happy man
to be found was a man who was without a shirt—a moral
with more truth in it than those who have dozens of those

linen luxuries might be ready to acknowledge. As to the
acting, Power was not very perfect in his part, which was
necessarily some restraint upon him, and interrupted the
smartness of some of the repartees. For a happy man, it
struck us that he was now and then a little dreary. He
must display greater animal spirits. The Happy Men
is sure of a run.