The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-15 00:00:00

GRAND MILITARY DINNER.

On Monday last Lieut-Col. Sir ruomAs Butt-
don gave a Grand Military dinner at his villa, West Jesmond,
near New Castle-upon-Tyne, to the Officers of his Carps (the Tyne
Hussars) and some other military . gentlemen and friends ;
amongst whom were the Hon. Captain Liddell, of the Ravens-
worth Cavalry—Capt. James G. Clarke, of the same Corps—Mr.
Shaw, of Usworth House, &c..[Lieut.-Col."Sir Thomas nan-
kin, of the Scots Grcy. was expected, bat apologised for his
inability to attend--as did also General Laye, and another dis-
tinguished individual.' With regard to the Dinner, though it
has often fallen to the lot of the writer of this article to witness
the high degree of perfection to which the culinary art of the-
age has attained, he must be permitted to declare (and in so
doing he is hut the organ of the company) that he never beheld
a more inviting array of viands—nor a more splendid table of
delicacies, than what was consecutively presented on this occa-
sion by the Maitre d'Hotel of the worthy and hospitable Colonel.
Amongst other rarities, a noble haunch of Venison (Red Deer)
attracted—and very deservedly—particular attention. It was,
in fact, a very great perfection ; where the knife entered a
spring of gravy gushed forth, besides being surmsunted with a
margin of fat nearly two inches in thickness. Then.the list of
wines including not only the rich mantling Cliampaigne, and
the finer sorts of Hermitage, but also the generous, racy, full-
flavoured Johannesberg (from the Rhine) some twenty years
old, and genuine East India Madeira—the whole of which cir-
culated with briskness during the repast, and were enjoyed with
a freedom and gusto, in fact, that reminded one of the words of
the song :
" This ix indeed a holiday,-
Theretbre we will be merry."
When the cloth was removed, the Dessert introduced further
stimulants to the palate, in the shape of Pine-Apples, Grapes,
West India Conserves, &c. After the asual routine of toasts
had been disposed of, the lion. Captain Liddell rose, and, in
handsome terms, proposed the health of their worthy host, Sir
Thomas Burdon, and he would beg to add, the Officers of his
Regiment, a Corps of Yeomanry which he (Captain L.) WAS
very well aware were entitled to the most honourable men-
tion, not only for their discipline, but for .their readiness on
all occasions to step forward in aid of the Civil Power, when
any thing like commotion menaced the public tranquility.,
(Applause.)
(Here Mr. Shaw, (one of the Magistrates for the County of
Durham) rose, and observed he was sensible he was somewhat
out of order, but he could not help stating, that so great was
the confidence. reposed by his brother Magistrates and himself
in the discipline and steadiness of the Tyne Hussars-from a
thorough knowledge of their discretion and efficiency—that
however much the public peace seemed to be threatened, they
suffered no fears to disquiet them ; and what was of greater
consequence, their families retired to Test, under the pleasing
consciousness of safety and protection, as soon as it was known
the Tyne Hussars were on cluty."—(Applause.)
The Honourable President (Sir Thomas Bunion) rose to
return thanks for the honour done .to himself and the Corps,
by the very handsome strain of eulogy both on. the right and
on the left.—With respect to any merit the Corps might pos-
sess which he had the honour to command, it was but justice
to ascribe it to the unremitting exertions of his brother Officers,
anti to the great attention and zeal of the men, generally. He
must admit it was not ungrateful to his feelings to receive so
flattering a mark of approbation from one of the local Autho-
' rides of that county (Durham) to which they more especially
belonged. He trusted, that as long as Government deemed it
proper that they should exist as a military body, the conduct
of both his Officers and Men would continue to be such as to
entitle them to that favourable notice, which, on so many occa-
sions, had been extended to them.—(Great applause.)
The health of the Duke of Northumberland being given,
and followed by that of the Earl of Darlington, the Lord Lieu-
tenant of the County of Durham, both of which toasts were
drank with three times three, the Hon. Captain Liddell rose to
propose " His Majesty's Ministers," which the Hon. Gentle-
man observed, he felt persuaded could not be otherwise -than
acceptable to the company he bad the honour to address—
because that Ministry, which had so ably conducted the na-
tion through a series of unparalleled perils and difficulties to a
state of unexampled ease and prosperity, included within
itself en individual most deservedly high in the regards of
his Sovereign and the Country—he meant the Noble Earl
of Eldon, .whose transcendent merits as a Statesman were far
beyond the reach of his (Mr. L.'s) panegyric, however well
he intendod.—(Applause.)—The toast was drank with great
enthusiasm, and with three times three.—The Hon. Chairman
rose, observing that he had again the pleasure to be on his legs to
return thanks for the honour which the toast had, in so '
obliging:
a manner, sideways, been made to confer upon his distinguished
relative, the Earl of Eldon. Nothing, he firmly believed, was
dearer to his Lordship than the good wishes of all his old friends
in the North ; and lie regretted that his Lordship was not pe'r-
sonally present to make those acknowledgments which he (Sir
Thos.. B.) knew well would have been a source of peculiar de-
light to him. The worthy Chairman before he sat down, ob-
served he was about to give a bumper toast, which he felt
persuaded would be drank with the most heartfelt satisfac-
tion by all presente-he meant the Honourable Captain Liddell
and the Ravensworth Cavalry. Drank with great applause and
three times three. The Hon. Capt. L. rose, (Captain Clarke
standing up at the same time) and in very handsome terms re-
turned thanks for the honour. Canferred upon himself and the
corps which he had the honour to command. lie regretted ex-
ceedingly that they had somehow (by the mistake of an official
letter) missed the opportunity of simultaneous duty, on this
occasion, with the Tyne Hukiars' in Gateshead ; but he (Capt.-
1..) could assure Licut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Burdon and the
Officers of his regiment, that it would always be a source of
great gratification to himself, to meet the gentlemen he now saw
seated round the table—(Applause.)
The worthy Chairman rose to intimate that lie was about to
propose a toast, which he felt persuaded would be drunk in. a
particular bumper when he named it. It was the health of a
Nobleman well known to them all, by his extensive concerns
in that great staple which so essentially contributed to the wel-
fare of the North ; but besides being known to them as a great
Landed Proprietor and Coal-owner, his Lordship was.also well
known for that affable and courteous demeanour, which ren-
dercd, at all times, personal intercourse so truly pleasant with
-that distinguished individual—he meant, the Right Hon. Lord
Ravensworth—(Applause.)—The toast was drank accordingly
withgreat applause, anti with three.times three. The Hon.
Capt. Liddell rose, and suitably made his acknowledgments for
the great honour that had been done his father, which he could
take upon Nina to say, would prove highly gratifying to him
when lie learnt it.

The qui vim was kept up by toast and song till Capt. Clarke,
rose to propose a toast, which he -said he felt convinced would
not be unappreciated by the Gentlemen he had the pleasure to
see around him.,—[Capt. C. here' drew an elaborate picture of
that great civilian and statesman, Lord Stowell, which was de-
servedly admired for the faithfulness of the colouring, as was
the speaker also for the very appropriate and classical language
he used while descanting on the great merits and vast attain-
ments of the distinguished Judge of th© Admiralty Court.—
We regret exceedingly (says the Reporter) that we are unable
to give a more detailed account.] Drank with very great ap-
plause. The Hon. Chairman rose to observe he was indeed
powerfully incited to be again loquacious, in order to tender
his very sincere acknowledgments to the last speaker, foi the
truly kind aid flattering manner in which he had been instru-
mental in drinking the health of his noble friend? Lord
Stowell—nor could he (Sir Thos. B.) omit complimenting the
Hon. Gentleman (Capt. Clarke) on that fine flow of classical
language which carried him over the ground—so to speak—so
much to the satisfaction and delight of all who heard him—
(Applause.)—The health of the Vice-Chair, (Major Camp-
bell,) was prefaced by a neat and appropriate speech by Capt.
Clarice. Major Campbell-rose and made his acknowledgrnenti
in suitable terms. On the health of the Magistrates for the
County of Durham being drank, Mr. Shaw rose and returned
thanks.

In the course of the evening the following additional toasts
were given :—"Mr. Richard Sanderson," kwn of Lieut.-Col.
Burdon, (to whom, by the bye, the proposer of the toast, Capt.
Clarke, paid a handsome compliment, by stating, that while
fellow students together at Oxford, Mr. S. different times bore
off the academic honours from a mass of no less than 700 rival
student !). The worthy Chairman again returned thanks for
the honour done to his son.—" The Members for the County
of Durham"—" Lord Norinanby"—" The Hon. Mrs. Lid-
dell"—" The Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle"--" The
Secretary to' the Corps, Mr. Grieve Son." Mr. 0. rose and re-
turned thanks.—" Prosperitylo Agriculture"—" Ships, Co-
lonies, and Commerce," &c.
Amongst the pleasures of this pleasurable afternoon we must
not forget to notice the high treat afforded by the music of the
military band, attached,to the Tyne Hussars—and led by that
scientific professor, Mr. Richardson. Never, perhaps, was
" the concord of sweet sounds" experienced with more thril-
ling and delightful effect than on the present occasion. The
overture to Lodoiska, and some other fine pieces of music were
ployed in a style that might have challenged approbation even
on the Royal terrace at Windsor ! 'ln conclusion, we may
aptly quote the words of VIRGIL :•-
" Olim meminisse juvabit."
For there can be no question, that the future recollection
will he pleasing, of a day, devoted, as this was, to social mirth
and the developement of some of the best affections of the
heart, by the truly hospitable and worthy proprietor of West
Jcsrnond. Long may he live to do good to his neighbour, and
to dispense, as is his custom, the offices of kindness and
friendship to his numerous friends and acquaintances !