The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-10 00:00:00

ABERDEEN.

The festivities tit Aberdeen commenced on Sa-
turday in a style of splendour never surpassed, and probably
sehlom equalled in any part of the United Kingdom. In the
evening, after :the amusement on the course, a, most superb
banquet was given by the gentlemen of Aberdeen, Kincardine,
Banff, and Forfar Racing Society, to the members of the Royal
Caledonian Hunt. One hundred and fifty Noblemen and
Gentlemen sat down to table, Lord Saltoun in the chair, and
Colonel the Honourable John Ramsey, croupier. Although the
company was so numerous, yet the dinner was served with as
much precision, and the viands were in as a high a style of
perfection, as they could have been at a snug private party of
Lon 4vants. The room was most brilliantly lighted, and the
exhilarating effect produced by the North and South, thus
mingled in conviviality at the social and festive board, was
delightful.

The public rooms are of' chaste Grecian architecture, both as
to the exterior building and the interior decorations. The
saloon, in which the banquet was held, is 70 feet long by 3.5
feet broad, and 35 feet high. This apartment is intended also
to serve as a aupper-room during the race week. A room of
still larger dimensions is fitted up and beautifully decorated
for dancing. In these elegant apartments the profusion of
crystal and bronze, for the purpose of lighting them up, would
do credit to princely preparation, and proves that no expense
has been spared in rendering them as magnificent as possible.
On Tuesday about 400 noblemen and gentlemen dined at the
ordinary, Lord Arbuthnot in the chair. After a sumptuous
dinner, his Lordship presented to Colonel the Honourable John
Ramsay, a piece of plate of 300 guineas value, voted to him
by the noblemen of the meeting, and another piece of plate of
the same value, given by the ladies of the meeting. In pre-
senting these splendid marks of esteem and respect to the gallant
Colonel, his Lordship said,
" In proposing the toast which I am about to give, I am
conscious how necessary it is that I should claim the indulgence
of those whom I have the honour of addressing ; but more par-
ticularly of the members of the United Meeting, being assured
that I am perfectly unable to convey in adequate terms their
sentiments towards the object of it. Indeed any encomium
which I am able to bestow on our excellent friend, the Secretary
of this meeting, would be unnecessary, and I may say, might
on my part approach to something like presumption. His con-
duct towards us on every occasion is beyond all praise.. His
urbanity of manners, his polite attention, and kindness of heart,
have been extended in an eminent degree to all of us ; his zeal
and exertions in promoting our pleasure and happiness at these
meetings have been unbounded. It is with sincere pleasure
that I have endeavoured to express, however inadiquately to
his merits, feelings which are so deeply impressed in our
minds. We have anxiously sought a favourableopportunity of
offering for his acceptance sonic tribute of our respect and re-
gard. The ladies of the meeting have ordered a tea service of
plate ; and the gentlemen an ornament for the centre of a table,
which, by their request, I beg leave to present to Colonel
Ramsay, in testimony of our esteem and friendship. I am
most sensible how imperfectly I have expressed the sentiments
of any individual connected with the United Meeting on this
occasion, but it is some satisfaction to me to think, that what
has been said is spoken in sincerity, and that nothing can be
ascribed to the partiality of a friend.
Colonel RastsaY, who seemed much affected by the high
and distinguished honour conferred on him in being thus pre-
sented with such flattering testimonials of the esteem in which
he is held by those whose good opinion is a proud distinction,
mado the following reply:—
" My Lord, it falls to the lot of many to receive marks of ap-
probation for dilTered causes, but seldom indeed does it occur to
any to receive two such, however unmerited on my part, as
those which your Lordship has now conferred upon me.
" 4 is impossible for me to express the obligations I now
and rilitst ever feel myself under to those Gentlemen who have
Arnie me the 'nions of presenting me with so magnificent a
piece of plate. which can be attributed solely and entirely to
their personal friendship. To those fair Ladies who have done
thelionour; in a similar manner, of expressing their good
wishes towards me, I must ever feel myself mast grateful ;
and. I teust.l heed not assure.them that I accept their most
bountiful niitrk of friendship* not only with feelings of the
utmost- respect and gratitude, but with feelings of the
most heartfelt pleasure... it 'IT 'lmpassible that any one
I,vh9 hears me can suppose for, one moment that two
such unpreeedented markri of friendship are at all me-
rited
bar any exertions,' on my part, by having in 'the
smallest degree forwarded the .objects, of this Society ; on
the contrary, while this united meeting receives the patronage
and attendance of so many of the most distinguished of the fair
of the four counties, supported by the liberality and kind at-
tention of those Noblemen and Gentlemen, who, on all occa-
sions, five it their best wishes, it cannot fail not only to
meet the most sanguine expectations of all in this part of the
country, but give us a claim with the other great meetings
in Scotland, and have the pleasure of an occasional visit from
our friends in the Caledonian Hunt ; also, the satisfaction of
seeing at a future period many of the distinguished visitors
from both sides of the Tweed, who have honoured us with their
company this week, and it' ever it is at any time in my power
to contribute to its welfare, the proceedings of this day shall be
an additional reason for calling forth every exertion on my part.
To you, my Lord, I beg to return my most sincere thanks for
the very kind manner in which you communicated the wishes
of the donors of these pieces of plate. Believe me, I shall not
easily forget the most flattering manner this numerous and
most respectable company did inc the honour of receiving the
toast which the noble Chairman did me the honour of propos-
ing. I beg to wish you, from the bottom of my heart, all health
anti happiness to enjoy not only the pleasures of this week,
hut of many others of the same kind, bath under this roof
and elsewhere, and have the honour of drinking all your good
healths."

This speech was received with great applause.—The evening
was spent in the greatest harmony and conviviality, and the
company did not break up till a late hour.
The assemblage of nobility and gentry attending the meeting
far exceeds what was ever witnessed on a like occasion. On
Thursday morning, the gentlemen of the meeting gave,a
public breakfast in the public rooms to 330 ladies and gentle-
men. After breakfast, which consisted of every delicacy of
the season, the company proceeded to the hall, when the child-
ren belonging to that excellent Institution the Deaf and Dumb
Society, walked in procession through the ball, and a subscrip-
tion was made for them, to which all the company contribut-,
ed.-=( Edinburgh Courant, Sept. 6.)