The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-08 00:00:00

BANQUET TO SIR C. NAPIER
AT THE REFORM CLUB.

Vice-Admiral Sir C. Napier, K.C.8., who is appointed
to the command of the Baltic fleet now assembling at
Spithead, was last night entertained at a splendid ban-
quet by the members of the Reform Club. The dinner
took place in the coffee-room of the club-house, in Pall-
mall, but, owing to its limited dimensions, accommoda-
tion could not be provided for more than 200 gentlemen.
Many members of the club, however, who were unable
to obtain seats at the dinner-table, crowded the ante-
chambers and the approaches to the coffee-room, in order
to hear the addresses of the noble chairman and the in-
'cited guests. The only decorations of the dining room
consisted of the French, English, and Turkish ensigns,
which were arranged alternately around the apartment.
A considerable crowd had assembled in Pall-mall in front
of the club, by whom Sir C. Napier, Lord Palmerston,
and others of the guests were loudly cheered upon their
arrival. The dinner was served in admirable style, and
did full credit to the chef (le cuisine of the establishment,
Mr. Fidler, the successor of M. Soyer. The duties of
toastmaster were efficiently performed by Mr. Higgs.
• Lord Palmerston took the chair ; and among the gen-
tlemen present we observed—Sir J. Graham, M.P., Sir
W. Molesworth, M.P., Mr. Peto, M.P., Mr. Ferguson,
M.P., Admiral Berkeley, M.P., M. Musurus, the Turkish
Minister, Narvik Pasha, Mr. Keogh, M. P., Solicitor-G ene-
ral for Ireland, Mr. Sadleir, M.P., Mr. Oliveira, M.P.,
the Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., Sir J. Lillie, &c. Lord
Dudley Stuart, M.P., and Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P.,
acted as vice-chairmen on the occasion.

The cloth having been drawn,
The CHAIRMAN gave "the health of the Queen,"
observing, that, in doing so, he had to propose the health
of a lady not less distinguished for her personal virtues
----those virtues which would adorn a private station—
than she was for those higher qualities which fitted her
for the exalted position in which it had pleased Provi-
dence to place her. He had to propose the health of a
Sovereign whose throne rested upon the firmest founda-
tions, because it was rooted in the hearts and affections
of a grateful and admiring nation.
The toast was drunk with the usual honours.
The noble CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast,
"His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Prince of
Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family," said—lt is
needless, gentlemen, for me to remind you of the claims
his Royal Highness Prince Albert has upon the esteem
of this nation. He is invariably the patron of the
arts, the encourager of industry, and the promoter of
science--(hear, hear)—and he takes the liveliest interest
in everything that can contribute to the welfare, the
improvement, and the prosperity of the country.
(Cheers.) With regard to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, early though his years are, it is yet
gratifying to see that he is treading in the footsteps of his
parents, and that he displays even already those qualities
the fuller development of which in after life will, at a
period, we all hope, the most remote—(" hear," and
cheers)--qualify him, when that time comes, to conduct,
as we trust he is destined to do, the fate and fortunes of
this country. (Loud cheers.)
The noble CHAIRMAN again rose and said,—Gentle-
men, this country is engaged in .n alliance of no small
magnitude and importance with our neighbours in France.
(Loud cheers.) It has not often happened in the his-
tory of the world that thesse two countries have been so
united for purposes of such energetic action. We have
had to do, during now more than 12 months of most
difficult and complicated negotiations, with the Sove-
reign of France. We have met on his part with the
greatest straightforwardness— (great cheering)—with the
most perfect good faith—(hear, hear)—with the most
single-minded sincerity—(loud cheers)—and with an
energy of purpose and a community of determination,
which inspire in our minds that full confidence in him.
which, I am proud to say, he has always expressed in
us. (Prolonged cheering.) I therefore trust, gentle-
men, that you will receive with satisfaction the toast
which I wish to propose to you—" The health of the
Emperor and Empress of the French." (Loud cheers.)
If, gentlemen, any words spoken by the subject of a
toast could render that toast more peculiarly acceptable
to Englishmen at one moment than another, I may refer
you to those memorable words in the speech lately de-
livered by the Emperor of the French—words which, I
trust, will create an epoch in the history of Europe—
(cheers)—words which, corning from the lips of the
Sovereign of a country which has not always practised
the maxim they inculcate, may carry with them double
weight,—l mean the memorable expression that "the
age of conquest is past, never to return again." (Hear,
hear, and cheers.) That, gentlemen, is a sentiment no
less honourable to the mind of the man who uttered
it than re-assuring to the destinies of Europe,--a senti-
ment which, I trust, will not fail to produce an effect in
another country more remote than that in which it was
littered. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I trust that the age of
conquest having passed, we who must take an interest
in the welfare and prosperity of our neighbours, whom,
I hope, we shall long continue to call our friends as well
as our neighbours—the age of conquest having passed,
I trust we may hope, for the welfare of France, that its
A.ugustan age is about to commence. (Cheers.) I now
beg to propos% to you " the health of the Emperor and
Empress of the French." (The toast was received with
loud and continued cheering.)
The noble CHAIRMAN again rose, and said—Gentle-
men, I have brought to your notice one Sovereign with
-whom this country is acting in energetic alliance ; and
I now wish to propose to you the health of another So-
vereign who, I am sure, must be an object of great in-
terest to this company, as he is not only to every other
man in this country, but I may say to every honest man
in Europe. (Loud cheers.) I wish to propose to you
" The health of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan Abdul
3Sledjid." (Great cheering.) There are two circum-
stances which are calculate, perhaps, beyond all others,
to inspire interest in a man. The one is the good deeds
of the man himself—the other is the evil doings of other
persons towards him. (Cheering.) Now, I must say,
gentlemen, that in both these respects the Sultan is pe-
culiarly entitled to inspire interest in the minds of the
men of this country. (Hear.) That he is the object of
evil doings on the part of others is a fact too notorious
to require any explanation—(cheers)—for there never was
a sovereign who was, more than the Sultan now is,
the object of the most abominable injustice on the
Part of others—(loud and long-continued cheering)—
an injustice which is only equalled by that described in
the old fable of the wolf and the lamb. (Cheers.) This
time, however, the wolf has been mistaken, for it is no
lamb that he has had to deal with. (Renewed cheers.)
Well, gentlemen, as to the deeds of the Sultan himself
surely, in the opinion of the members of the Reform
Club, the fact that the Sultan has been a great reformer
will give him some title to their esteem. (Cheers.) He
has not, indeed, wounded the consciences and the pre-
judices and the habits of his subjects ; he has been too
wise to go at that speed of reform which would have de-
feated his own purposes ; but, making allowances for
those ancient prejudices and those rooted habits with
which he had to deal, I venture to say that the Sultan
has made greater improvements of all sorts and kinds in
his wide dominions than it has fallen to the lot of any
other Sovereign to make in a corresponding period of
time. (Loud cheers.) The Sultan is now reaping the
fruits of the wise course which he has pursued, for, while
his powerful neighbour flattered himself that at the sound
of his voice and at the beck of his finger half the subjects
of the Sultan would rise in rebellion, we have seen all
the subjects of the Sultan, Christian and Mahome-
dan, rallying round him with a common energy and
a united patriotism, and exhibiting a spectacle worthy
of admiration to the people of every country in the
world. (Cheers.) There is one act of the Sultan which,
I think, never can be forgotten by the generous
people of England. In 1849, when the Hungarians
were overpowered by the united armies of Austria and
Russia, when the bravest of them were compelled to seek
refuge in the territories of the Sultan, and when the
Stiltan, the Sovereign of a weaker State, was threatened
`with war by his two powerful neighbours unless he gave
up these unfortunate fugitives to the vengeance of those
whom they had offended, the Sultan firmly, bravely,
and generously refused. (Loud cheers.) Ay, gentle-
men, and he refused even before he was assured of that
Support from England and France which, when once
demanded, could not for one instant of hesitation be
withheld. (Renewed cheers.) Merit be to the Sultan
that he did not wait for that assurance, but bravely and
generously placed himself as a shield before these un-
fortunate men, and said that he would encounter any
extremity rather than be guilty of a breach of hospi-
tality. (Cheers.) I give you, then, " The Health of
the Sultan, Abdul Medjid," and I trust that, by the
manly support of England and of France, fighting hand
in hand in his cause, that injustice with which he is
threatened will be defeated, and that he will be placed
in permanent possession of those sovereign rights which
Le exercises for the benefit and the welfare of his people.
(The toast was drunk amid great cheering.)
M. MUSURUS said—Je suis heureux que l'honneur
d'assister a cette assembl6e distingue6 m'appelle l celui
d'exprimer ma reconnaissance pour le toast port 6 par le
noble Vicomte 4 la, sa,ate de Sa Majestc,l Imp6riale mon
Auguste Souverain—toast quo vous avez accueilli avec
enthousiasme et des marques unanimes de vivo sympathie.
Cette sympathie est le reflet de cello que la nation Bri-
tannique a manifest 6 en favour de l'empire Ottoman is
toute 6poque, et notamment is l'occasion d'une noble
et juste cause qui n'a cess6 d'CAre des le commence-
ment l'objet de la sollicitude 6clairee du Cabinet
I3ritannique, et pour le triomphe de laquelle l'Angle-
terre et la France, sous les heureux auspices de Sa
Majeste la, Reine de la Grande Bretagne et de Sa
blajest6 l'Empereur des Francais, les augustes alli6s de
mon gracieux Souverain, vont maintenant d6ployer leur
puissance invincible; temoin les prdparatifs imposants
faits dans lee deux pays, et la mission conf6r6e au brave
Amiral en l'honneur de qui nous nous trouvons r6unis
ce banquet. (Cheers.) Ce que je regrette dans sine
conjoncture aussi solennelle, c'est de ne point tronver en
mei le talent suffisant pour exprimer is la nation Eritan-
nique et is son Gouvernement lee sentiments de gratitude
de ha Majest6 mon auguste Souverain, de son Gouverne
ment, et de la nation Ottomane—(cheers)— et j'avoue
que ma thche e it 6t6 acquitt6 avec plein susses si cette
gratitude eitt eu pour interprete l'illustre et eminent
orateur le noble Vicomte, qui, d'ailleurs, conune it vient
de le prouver, connldt is fond les sentiments g6n6reux et
les intentions paternelles demon auguste Souverain, et
qui, is ce titre, comme bien d'antres, nest pis moms
Populaire en Orient, qu'en Angleterre. (Cheers.) Je
me borne done is joindre rises vceux les plus ardents 4
coux que vous formes pour les susses victorieux du brave
Amiral appel6 is concourir au prompt raablissement
dune paix durable et destinde is assurer au monde une
longue prosperity et lee bienfaits de la civilisation.
(Loud cheers.)
The following is a translation of the Turkish Ambas-
sador's address, given above:—
"I am happy that the honour of being present at this
distinguished assembly calls upon sae to express my
gratitude for the toast given by the noble Viscount to
the health of his Imperial Majesty, Ply august Sovereign