The Sun.
London, England, 1838-09-27 00:00:00

PUBLIC DINNER To CAPTAIN
BENNETT, R. N., AT BOULOGNE.

sin olonday last Captainßenrett, the i,)tteSq. Ade-
laide steamer, was entertained at a publio stints-sr in Bou-
logne, foo the purpose of presenting stnt Gallant Officer with
a piece of Plate, purchased by the Ladies and Gentlemen
who had been passengers on hoard the Qgee)-2. Adelaide on
the night of the 21st August last, On that occasion it
came on to blow a tremendous hurricane, which compelled
all the other steam-boats to put back into 111arg-ate Roads,
or the Downs, while Captain Bennett succeeded in bringing
hhithe Queen Adelaide into the port of Boulogne, and landing
s passengers in safety,
skill To mark their approbation of
and exertions, a large suet was subscribed, with
'which a magnificent Silver Cup and Cover was purchased.
The dinner took place in the large room of the Pavilion Hotel,
and was attended by many of the influential inhabitants of
Boulogne, and a number of commercial and other gentlemen
from London who had come over for that purpose. The
o chair was taken by HENRY WOOD, Esq., and at seven
'clock the company sat down to a very sumptuous dinner,
cemPlising every delicacy of the season, and an abundance 1
of Claret, Charranmpagne, Burg undy, and other wines•
The
a
_ gements were excellent, and reflected much. credit
upon the proprietor of the establishment.
!lite': dinner, which it had been previously arranged
sueules he followed by a ball a-la-mode de Francaise,
The CHAIRMAN rose and said that he was now about
to give them a toast which he was satisfied would he drank
j'with enthusiasm by every gentleman present—" Her Ma-
isty the Queen of England, and may she reign long in the
affections of her people." Three times three, and all the
honours. Air, " God save the Queen."
RThe CHAIRMAN said his next toast would be, " The
oyal Families of England and France, and everlasting
anion between the two countries."—(Cheers.) The amity
of two such powerful dates could not fail to be productive
of the most beneficial results. It would tend to promote
the prosperity of both courstries—to the blings
of commerce and civilization, and diffuseextend peace andess Isar-
ctony tidroughout all the world.
Tae toast was drank with great enthusiasm.
A The CHAIRMAN then proposed " Prosperity to the
"".rnty and Navy." It was a toast which was dear to most
of the gentlemen present, and nothing he could say wools',
add to the merits and efficient services of these hrancl
of the public service.
---(Cheers.) He was graiified to ies
see around their festive board many gentlemen who had distin-
guished themselves afloat and ashore, coming forward to
testify by their presence their estimation of the services of
(He
Gallant Friend on his right—Captain Bennett.—
‘slear, and c
givethe beers.) Without further preface, he should
Air; " The Army and Navy."—Three times three.
s:ss" Rule Britannia."
CHAIRMAN—Gentlemen, I am now about to call
Your
attention specially to the subject of our meeting this
day.lost. 'You are all perhaps aware that on the 21st August
;solt blew a tremendous hurricane, and many of you are
well aware that on that day the Queen Adelaide was
onlY boat that entered the harbour of Boulogne.—
e
hacar, hear.) All the others were compelled to put
taka
e nd were driven into whatever other ports they could
sssPshelter in. My Gallant Friend on my right, Captain
,3,?tt, commanded the Queen Adelaide on that occasion
sis,Ocets)—and acted as he has always done, in a man-
&oat4%4lly satisfactory to her owners and to the grati-
and delight of every passenger on board,
A, "ding them in safety.--(Hear, and much cheering.)
iialitoinsgaeve:tl•lllan he is beloved and respected by all who
the
ee honour of knowing Lim—and, as the Corn-
Adelaide, he happily combines the suaviler in
he moot
with the fortiter in re, and, while in smooth water
ger 8 all gaiety and attention to the comforts of his passen-
ex 8. When danger threatens, his coolness, judgment, and
o3el7rienee, in which no man is superior to him, are most
on 1,41 Y and efficiently exerted, as all who were on board
For hi the 21st A ugust will readily testify.—(Great cheering.)
ability and discretion on that occasion I have now
hipse w.lnour, in the name of the subscribers, to present to
this magnificent silver Cup and Cover, which is not the
that has been presented to him, but one out of many,
Zild all will acknowledge that they havebeen justly conferred
t",1)°1 him. Other Captains may have had cups presented
them by the Chamber of Commerce, or the contributions
af°f their private friends, but this has been the spontaneous
t of strangers' who were passengers on board his vessel,
));''''.llo have- done it with the greatest satisfaction. I trust
)4.i will keep
this Cup, and transmit it as an heir-boon to
3 children, when he has them—(A laugh)—and that he
su a-y
long live to enjoy such
eelll of his friends, is, I am satisfied, the fervent wish
tj:- present.—(Vehetnent cheering.) It may not be
~neown to some of the gentlemen present, that Captain
)1134:nett has been in the service of the East India Corn-
srsty, and that to him was entrusted the command of the
Lear .)earn-vessel that was ever sent out to India.—(Hear,
respect Ile has returned home after receiving tributes of
passed
frorn every State and country through which he
is loved and respected by all who know him,
burnne eel great pleasure in proposing to you, in a tull
atlnsspriirtlircht, ehe health of Captain Bennett. (Three times
, and great cheering.).
See the conquering hero comes."
On Cup, which had been a short time prevfously placed
ej';?o table in front of the Chairman, was then presented
'inn to Captain Bennett. The pattern is extremely
'gam and unique—the stern and border being decorated
ssith
1,• wreath of laurel and vine leaves and nautical de-
pe.es, in chased silver—the handles are each formed of a
8441•111. el. dolphins entwined. On the top of the cover is a
feel,"
guide leaning on an anchor, with the cable coiled at his
On one side is a representation of the Queen Ade-
. steamboat in relief, and on the other an appropriate
81ertP..ti_on,
of ° uuls was manufactured by Robertson and Brown,
koetseadenhall-street, London, and its appearance does
l'ality credit to the skill of the manufacturers and the libe-
Aft(eef the parties by whom it was presented.
crier ' the Cup, filled with Burgundy, had made the cir-
co' the table,
loma,Pta,in
.BENNETT, R N., rose, and was received with
was
et'lln reiterated cheering. The Gallant Captain, who
°Ter tviltdentlY much affected, observed that all he could
torami 08e who had joined in paying him so flattering
.a
Atessoteent, either by honouring the meeting with their
/vas bie'°r by contributing to that splendid piece of plate,__e
tetret,s sincere and heartfelt thanks.—(Hear, hear.) H _
many Lecl that the shortness of the notice had prevented
gentlemen from being present, and he could t
DO-
rtet to
14'11011, ha Make his acknowledgments to the ladies, many of
L. 41 contributed largely to the purchase of thecup.
profo-e"lndness he should ever remember with the most
gtaseoed gratitude and respect, for it had been deeply ens
)1144Y thatuPtbon the tablets of his memory.. He could with truth
bee ad e honour conferred upon him was the greatest
.o his received, and such as the small service it had
'S Rood fortune to perform could never have merited.
Celt isas(ll•(l°,ne no more than any British sailor would have
do tills atY to do, if placed in similar circumstances-
-114.01_ ,tdefoilst he could' for the benefit of his fellow-cal-
ls Fos t eta:ow-subjects, and when once he had conquered
Ivith ti; "° make him his friend.—(Cheers.) As connected
aYssem Present suWeets, he would beg to refer to the
titinossd so °Jovv,, promotion.in the Navy.—( Hear, hear.) It was
t ge,ter that it required occasions like the present,
° 'Ass; ecs and honourable hearts like those around him,
:d jri‘a that promotion. Meetings like the
.present,
iveeiasi °Ltirs such as lead been conferred on him that
n-° 441%, "wever unworthy of them, would tend much
es%) I..sve the
sio ono, character and conduct of British sailors, by
In coaclu-
thec.he WO:lisp:tit of emulation among them.
aka for beg to tender them his sincere and he_artf,elt.
st°' and stile very flittering compliment they had paid
rli and the cordial manner in which his health had been
C Cheers.)
tod
,}l,AsialasiN begged to call their attention to another
as'V"ttlecht.the town of Boulogne was somewhat inte-
ahl4ll that 'lnc ago the merchantsof London expressed
si Boulogne boat carrying merchsndize between London
vial w,s should be put upon the station, and applica-
lisl eon) made its the first instance to the Commer-
N'atsoPriatlY• One of the Directors of the General Steam
t,'l'eetian. Comp :my came to Boulogne, and calledd
kto which he partly promised,. and. paritly,ledeocxlpiteseri.
:qesit -4
a boat f
Itnit 11.4 f or that Purpose, stating that if
.1
that°Und to Pay, the boat would he continued, and
skl'een 4 d &h.e would he taken off. The proprietors of the
got tit elaide, who placed her upon the station on the
thee.wever, made no such stipulation ;they had
r
they titer it r, (1 upon the result of the experiment,,
ebY Mat 0!-11(1 turn out a gain or a loss, and tney. had
he se
11046. erially benefited the public and the inhabitants
tZulouen renteieu.—rin(ga:er and cheers.) Evidence of that might
gnerilhe. increased number of persons who had visitedre i.
present summer, in consequence f
gi'Red 15" of the fares—those boats which ordinarily
eh S' and 10s. running at ss. and S3s. whenever the
I,st off sstkuelaide started, for the avowed. purpose of driving
tsseersiogneu.o str,ation, to the serious injury of the town
.of
4,, est of On these orounds he thought it was the in-
tillAnest
the inhabitants and of the public generally to
haleeagle ne Queen Adelaide and to induce others to do
thorn' jllsonel cries of "We will.") He could as-
at before the first of April next, fresh boats,
tile t,,,°°. the most improved principles, would be put upon
, Lation
Reek
or so as to enable them to run three times a
",erY day if necessary. The fares by these boats
jl,ceea be I°Tiv, because the enormous expenditure oeca-
barged by a body of directors, chairmen, secretaries, trea-
A4ette f`'`lco Sce., would be saved.—(Loud cheering.) With
il"ddeirtioece,'lngs he would give tem success to the Queen
dew it, and her enterprising proprietors, and he would
la Slot
tc. eedom of the seas, freedom of commerce, and
-11811Ser ltil all monopoly e.nd combination.—(Great
and cheering.)