The Sun.
London, England, 1838-07-24 00:00:00

ture of this article by machinery. The transiticn freee the
delicate and ornamental to the ponderous and extensive steam
machinery, which keeps at work some hundreds cf hands,
making above 1,000 nails a minute, appeared to strike the
visito s with surprise and admiration. The din of the immense
number of machines working together rendering conversation
almost impossible, induced the Marshal to observe that he
could almost fancy himself amidst the war of British cannon,
Instead of amidst the powerful and gigantic emblems of Eng-
land's power in peace. From hence the Mar,hal proceeded to
Messrs. Turner and Co.'s button manufactory, where they saw
another instance of Birmingham's wealth and industry. It being
now half-past five o'clock, the Marshal expressed his wish to
defer any further visits to the manufactures, and the party drove
round the town, in order to give his Excellency some idea of
its extent, and reached the Townhall about six o'clock. This
immense building, which, we understand, is capable of con-
taining 7or 8,000 persons, was crowded to suffocation, and
vast numbers who could not obtain admittance, were collected
outside. Upon entering the organ gallery, the whole assem-
blage rose and greeted the Marshal and his friends with loud
and repeated bursts of cheering. The Marshal took his seat
in front of the gallery, and for some time formed an object of
great interest to the vast multitude who were there assem-
bled. Mr. Joshua Seholefield, M. P., father of the High
Bailiff, was introduced to the Marshal, and greeted him most
cordially on his arrival in town. After one or two
beautiful airs had been performed on the organ by
Mr. Hollins, who presided, his Excellency, who appeared
much fatigued, left the Hall amidst similar demonstrations of
respect and attachment.
THE DINNER.
At half-past six o'clock, about 130 gentlemen, including
the Marshal and his suite, and the officers of the 14th Dra.
goons, sat down to a splendid dinner, provided by Dee of the
Hotel. A military band, and a number of professional singers
attended, and added much to the harmony and enjoyment of
the evening. The gallery was filled with the ladies of the
principal inhabitants of the town. After dinner—
The HIGH BAILIFF, who presided, rose and said, that they
had met there that evening, for the purpose of doing honcur
to the Ambassador- Extraordinary of the King of the French,
the gallant Marshal Soult.—(Cheers.) He felt confident that,
on such an occasion, all patty politics would be studiously
avoided.—( Hear, hear.) With these feelings, he begged td:
propose the health of her M ejestv the Queen.—(Cheers. )
The toast was drunk with three times three, and all the
honours. Air—" God save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN again rose and said the next toast he bad
the honour to propose, had reference to the illustrious Sovereign
whose representative had that day honoured them with his
presence.—( Cheers.) If they might judge of the merits of
the Monarch by the choice of his ambassador—and he knew
of no criterion more decisive of the characters of sovereigns than
the selection of their representatives. Louis Philippe was
every way entitled to their respect and honour.—( Renewed
cheers.) • He, therefore, called upon them to join with him in
drinking most heartily the health of " Louis Philippe, the King
of the French." Three times three.—( Enthusiastic cheering,
accompanied with " One cheer more.")
Marshal Sotaer rose amidst renewed cheers, which con-
tinue-ea for some minutes. When the applause had subsided, his
Excellency addressed the company, in French, to nearly the
followin
a effect :—" Gentlemen, I shall relate to my Sove-
reign, the King of the French, the kind manner in which you
have drunk his health. Be assured that he is not insensible
to it, because I know the marked and particular affection
which he entertains for England, and more especially for the
distinguished town which to-day gives to his representative so
extremely flattering a reception.—(Cheers.) Who would
not be sensible to the expressions of respect and esteem which
you have shewn me ? lam not insensible to it ; and I wish I
could sufficiently express the gratitude I feel fur it. The
King of the French has especially directed my attention to
your great town.—(Hear, hear.) He has spoken to me of
your great industry—your high intelligence, and the extension
you have given to all the arts and sciences. I know not whether
the intercourse between your town and France is susceptible of
extension, but if it is it shall be my most earnest wish to promote
that object, for such communication must be mutually advan-
tageous to other countries.—( Great cheering.) Receive,
gentlemen, on behalf of my Sovereign, the expression of my
gratitude for the manifestations of which I have been par-
ticularly the object, and I beg you to be assured that the re-
membrance will never be effaced from my heart.—( Loud and
vehement cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN —Hiving done honour to the Governors of
their respective countries, he called on them to join in
driuking the health of the remaining branches of the Royal
Family of England, including the illustrious lady who with
so much dignity shared the throne of their late Sovereign.—
(Cheers.) Without enumerating the many claims which these
illustrious individuals had on their respect, he would give them
the healths of " The Queen Dowager, and the rest of the
Royal Family."--( Cheers. )
Air—" Hail star of Brunswick."
The CHAIRMAN said he had now come to the toast for which
be claimed all the honour, all the respect, and all the admira-
tion which they could award to the eminent character and
talents of one of the most eminent and distinguished citizens
of France.—( Great cheering ) In asking this he felt seta:-
fled that he was not asking one jot more than they would
readily and cheerfully grant.—( Hear, and cheers ) Ott the
present occasion they were honoured with the company of an
illustrious individual, once one of their most formidable oppo-
nents, but now he trusted and believed, in his heart, one of their
truest and firmest friends.—( Immense cheering.) In the
former capacity, the annals of Europe bear ample testimony
that he was not more brave and determined than he was humane
and
magnanimous.--(Great applause.) In his latter capacity
they hailed him as the messenger of peace and perpetual al-
Malice between the two greatest nations of Europe.—(Bursts
of applause.) In both capacities they honoured him as the
,faithful friend of his country, and of mankind. The presence
of Ole Gallant Marshal forbade his saying all he could wish—
perhape in the few words he had already used, he had ex-
ceeded the bounds of good taste.—(No, no.) Be that as it
Might, the resence of those he saw around him that night
afforded a prom' that lie was entitled to their warmest respect
and regard—(Heer, hear, and cheers.) He was sure they
would pay that honour to him not the less warmly and not the
less sincerely that he had been converted from one of their
most strenuous opponents to one of their most fervent and
enlightened friends.—(Much cheering.) He would give
them, with every sentiment of personal respect for the gallant
Marshal, " the health of his Excellency Marshal Soult, Duke
of Dalmatia."
The toast was received with loud and general cheering,
which lasted a considerable time.
Marshal SOULT then rose, and the cheering was again re-
newea. He said—Gentlemen, I thank your President for al-
lowing me another occasion to express to this honourable as-
sembly the sentiments with which I am really oppressed.—
( Hear, hear.) I felt elated a ith pride arid glory on the day
cm which I learned that the King of the French had deter-
mined to send me to this country to represent him at the
coronation of her Majesty Queen Victoria. These senti-
ments I have felt still more strongly when I landed oil
the shores of England. The manifestations of waieh I have
been the object have attached me most deeply to your
Country, and I shall cherish their recollection all the days of
my life. The honours I receive at this moment touch me the
more deeply and sensibly, because they only confirm the opi-
nion I had always entertained of the greatness, the hospitality,
Sand the magnaimity of the English people.—(Great cheer-
inj.) For many years past I have highly esteemed the Bri-
tish nation. I have learned to respect them and appreciate
them the field of battle.—(Tremendous cheering.) I
found yesw great commander,_the Duke of Wellington, a
generous euemy, although we fought against each other for
many years._( Hear.) I recal the remembrance of that period
with pride, and 1 now speak those sentiments in the midst of
You as friends, because' I feel that there was nothing of personal
anitno
timesity I
between us in that war.—( Cheers.) At the pre-
sent present myself to you under a different character.
I Come as the bearer of wade of peace ; and that peace, if my
wishes can accomplish it, will Lest eternally. From hencefer-
Ward there is no possibility of a was between France and Eng-
land. A perpetual alliance has been established between them, so
that in future there shall be no rivalry between the two nations
but in the arts of peace. They are too closely connected as
neighbours, and have too many interests in common to disturb
that peace, and fur my part I wish that they may become more
intimate every day, and that the most sincere friendship may
be established between them.—(Cheers.) It is with these
feelings that I accept the manifestation of which France has
been the object, and of which the greater portion has been
directed more particularly to me. Permit me in conclusion
to drink the health of the army of England, and also the
ie,ealth of the navy. I therefore, drink the health of the army
and' navy united.—( Great cheering.)
The: toast was drunk with all the honours.
Colon,el NAPIER being called upon returned thinks. He
felt mueh pleasure in acknowledging the compliment paid
• ,to the British army, although he knew not whether he
,nad a right to address them. He knew not whether
-ne was the oldest officer of the British army present,
and he knew he was by no means the ablest. Great
as were the merits of the British army, and victorious as they
always had been all over the world, he had never yet met with
asreater compliment than had been paid to it to-night.—
(tledr.) It had been complimented by one of the best judges,
because he was one of the greatest Commanders the world
a sever produced.__ Much cheering ) For his own part, he
feat it impossible to express the feelings he entertained in
ten is adequate to the occasion.—( Hear, hear.) In the name
°llll tine officers of the British army then present, he begged to
,
anke he illustrious Marshal for the honour he had done them,
andL for the generous manner in which he bad spoken of
them, h'e trusted these acknowledgments would not be con-
sidered the' less sincere because they were brief. He could
not
let slip the present opportunity of declaring that no com-
pliment paid to the British army, much as he loved it and dear
as its honour was to him, could give him half the satisfaction
and delight he had experienced at the generous and enthu-
siastic manner in which they had been received in every part
of the country they had vieited, and the cordial greeting which
had everywhere greeted the gallant and distinguished corn-
, mender then sitting at their tahle.—( Vehement cheers.) It
was a most English greeting. It proved that they were still
the same men as of old—that they were the same men who
would strain a friend to their breast, with as much force as they
would repulse a foe.—( Hear and cheers.) But be viewed it
in a still higher light, and he would say, that the enthusiasm
which had greeted the gratification expressed by his Excel-
!tveY, in such noble, free, and dignified language, was to be
has led as a sign and a testimony, that all their evil thoughts...,
all their ill-blood—and all their ancient feuds were buried in
oblio inn.—( Vociferous cheering.) England and France,
these L,wo great nations—he knew not whet was is the womb
°f time, and hereafter other nations might eval or surpass
them—were in learning, genius, courage, power, and
reputation, unrivalled in the world.—(Cheers.) It we-'
Clear that quarrels between two such nations must pro-
4111e0 great calamities, while peace between them must be pro-