The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-21 00:00:00

CALEDONiAg SOCIETY,

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On Friday, the 18th of Jane (a day welt knoleTt and
cherished as the anniversary of the g, (Attu' Viciorsr won
by the troops under the command of :I"ellingtorqr this
society held their annual festival at the Lo:rldon Tairern;.
Robert Hepburn, Esq., the President, in the chair, gr,-
ported by B. Bond Cabbell, Esq., M.P., and,CaPtaix;
Charles Forbes, and John Boucher, Esq., the Vice-. Pr-
esident, acted as croupier, supported by Captain Allen azd
Captain Middleton, Mr. Rose, Mr. Hastie, Mr. Burnie,
Mr. Low, Mr. Ross, Mr. Marsden, Captain Kerett, Cap-
tain Brett, Dr. Bury. In addition to these we observed
among those present Mr. George Bain (the Hon. Secre-
tary of the Highhand Society), Mr. Hector Rose, Rev.
Mr. Fisher, Rev. Mr. Redpath, Professor Cull, Mr. J.
Murray, Mr. Mouatt, Mr. Wylie, Mr, Gray, Mr. Pater-
son, Mr. M'Lure, and other staunch friends and sup-
porters of the society.
At seven o'clock the President, accomponied by the
members and the officers of the society, dressed in their
costume, preceded by her Majesty's piper, and the juve-
nile band of the CUl.edonian Asylum, playing "Highland
Laddie," entered th 6 room, which was elegantly fitted
.up for the occasion, find tastefully decorated with shields
and spears, bearing various armorial bearings, the dra-
pery being of clan tartan. The side tables were orna-
mented with vases of beautiful flowers of every descrip-
tion, among which appeared more prominent above the
rest the emblems of the three countries. Tire galleries
were filled with elegantly dressed ladies. Akogether
the hall had a most splendid appearance. Aboui 150
gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner, which lots
placed on the table in Messrs. Bathe and Breach's best
style; the fare being of the best and choicest, especially
their " haggis," to which full justice was done. Mr.
Guiness conducted a band of excellent performers, who
played during the evening selections of Scottish music.
The cloth having been withdrawn, and grace said,
The PRESIDENT proposed the " Health of her Majesty
the Queen and her Royal Consort,"—drank with all the
honours.

Air—The National Anthem—band.
The next toast was, " The Prince of Wales, Lord of
the Isle,"—drank with Higland honours.
The next was the " Queen Dowager and the rest of
the Royal Family."
" The Army and Navy" followed, Captain Allen re-
turning thanks for the former, and Captain Smith for
the latter.

The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said—Having now,
like leal and true subjects, faithfully done our duty to
our Queen and country, I think we may draw nearer
home, and begin the evening in the " guid auld " Scot-
tish style, and previous to proposing the next toast,
allow me to say that I am delighted to have the pleasure
of meeting the members of the Caledonian Society once
more, I am delighted to have the honour of finding my-
self surrounded by so many gentlemen distinguished not
less for talents, position, and attainments, than for their
philanthropy and benevolence, and who are warm
supporters of Scottish charitable institutions, and amongst
them I am glad to see so many English and Irish
friends, who, I hope, will find an excuse for Scotch
nationality at a Scottish festival; and, gentlemen, I am
still more delighted to see so many of our fair friends
around us. I have great pleasure in congratulating you
on the present aspect of onr society, and I do so with
sincerity, because I have narrowly watched its steady
progress. I have seen that its objects and interests are
duly appreciated, and that all your laudable
endeavours to keep alive the national charac-
teristics of your country and your efforts to
promote charitable objects have been truly successful.
The strongest of our peculiarities is our love of coun-
try, and is it not a country worth loving? Is it not
famous for its mode of education, and its diffusion of re-
ligious instruction, famous for its promotion of all the
liberal arts and sciences, famous for its encouragement
to agriculture, and industry in its thousand different
forms, famous for its conservation of patriotic princi-
ples,-•-are these not the best criterion of its national
strength and security? Who is there that would not
love his country, under whatever circumstances it may
be placed. What can be more ennobling than a love of
the land of our birth—the land of our childhood—the
land of our fathers—yes, dear to us is the land of
mountain and of flood, with all her wild and romantic
scenery, dear to us is her heather clad hills and the
music of her:cataracts, dear to us her rocky peaks, where
many a time and oft the blue banner has waved, upheld
by the song of freedom, dear to us the recollection of
the patriotic deeds of our ancestors, when in trouble-
some times they were called upon to support the cause
of conscience and of liberty, and dearer still to us that
lovely little spot in the bright green valley, beneath
which slumbers in death the ashes of our fathers.
On that turf I have seen the fallen tears glistening
like dewdrops, while the fervent wish has been that our
dust might mingle with kindred dust. We have loved
our country from our birth—we will love it till our
death ; and I know of no better means by which this
feeling may be kept alive than through the instrumen-
tality of such a society as this. lam sure, gentlemen,
we can all join in the feeling expressed by the bard of
Caledonia—

" 0 Scotia, my dear, my native soil,
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent," &c.
I will, therefore, with your permission, propose a bumper
to the toast, which is " The Caledonian Society."
The CHAIRMAN begged of the company to accept the
next toast he was about to propose, and when he said
that it was "Prosperity to the Scottish institutions in
London," he was sure that their claims were such as
demanded a hearty reception ; and he would beg to
attach the name of Charles Forbes to the same.

Received with immense cheering and Highland
honours, the juvenile pipers marching round the room,
playing piobaireachd " Dhonnuil Du."
Captain CHARLES FORBES returned :thanks for the
cordial feeling of good-will which those present had
expressed towards the Caledonian Asylum. It was
among the most valuable of their institutions, its object
being to provide for the offspring of those who devoted
their best days in the service of their country.—
(Cheers.) It was the especial aim of the managers of
the asylum to provide for the education and maintenance
of the children of soldiers and sailors, at the same time
taking care that they were trained in such a manner as
that they should inherit the national virtue of their
country. Therefore it was that he said that it was one
of their most valuable institutions, and he would
repeat that he knew of none possessing so many and so
peculiarly interesting claims to the notice of Scotchmen
as the Royal Caledonian Asylum.—(Cheers.) He re-
gretted that the duty of thanking them for the sympathy
they evinced in the institution had not fallen into abler
hands, but he would say that he felt more than ordinary
pleasure in expressing his humble but fervent thanks to
this society for their valuable support to the parent
institution, and to the company for the flattering recep-
tion they gave the toast.
Mr. MACEIE briefly returned thanks for the Royal
Highland School Society.
Song—" Charlie is my darling"—Miss Birch.
The Vice-President, Mr. BoUCHICR, rose to propose
the toast placed in his hands, which required very little
introduction, as it was sure to meet with a warm recep-
tion. On former occasions it was their habit to make
three distinct toasts, " The Land we life in," " The
Land of the Shamrock," and the " Land o' Cakes," but
on this occasion he was requested to join these in one,
and propose as a toast, " The Rose, the Thistle, and the
Shamrock." The feeling which directed this change he
considered a good one, for, on occasions such as these,
we experience a thrilling feeling of joy on recalling to our
memory the endearing image of our native land, and the
scenes in which our infancy was passed; for it matters
not where the Caledonian wanders, neither time nor dis-
tance, prosperity or adversity, can efface the love for
his country. But, though the amor patrierr is a charac-
tertistic feature in him, it has its effect more or less on
the natives of other countries, for cold indeed must the
heart of the Englishman or Irishman be who could look
down from his native hills upon the splendid and varied
pictures presented to his view, without being ready to
exclaim with the immortal Scott—
', Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself bath said—
This is my own—my native land."
He was proud to see among them so many gentlemen
of both countries; and with the emblems of their couu-
tries on the tables, he would call upon their repre-
sentatives to join him in pledging a bumper to the" Rose,
Thistle, and Shamrock."
Mr. WYLIE, in a very clever speech, proposed the
" Health of Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., M.P.," allud-
ing to this gentleman's well-known benevolence and un-
bounded liberality, and, in the name of the members of
the society, thanked him for his politeness and courtesy
in honouring them with his compauy on that occasion.
Mr. CABBELL, iu returning thanks, remarked that,
although unexpectedly called upon to address the com-
pany, yet he felt no difficulty in doing so, inasmuch that
his knowledge of the Scottish character, for a period ex-
tending over forty years, gave him confidence that they
would lend him their indulgence. He also was asso-
ciated with Scottish institutions, and it gave him infinite
pleasure to be able to say that the esteem and respect in
which he first held them continued to this day. He
was happy in being allowed the pleasure of being pre-
sent among them that evening, and begged them to
accept of hiscordial thanks for their kindness.
The VICE-PRESIDENT proposed the next toast, "The
Pipe and the Banner," which reminded him of the days
when Highlanders stood shoulder to shoulder in many a
deadly breach, and gathered on the field the prize of
unquestioned gallantry.. But it was not to those san-
guinary times that he wished to call their attention ; it
was to the band committee of the Caledonian Asylum, of
which their gallant and highly-respected friend Captain
Lamont was chairman. They had much to admire in
the character of that man, who had spent the summer of
his life in the service of his king and country, and now
devotes his autumn to the protection of the orphans of
those who have fallen in defence of their country's
rights. The youthful pipers who afforded them so
much satisfaction that evening were part of a band lately
established at the Caledonian Asylum by Captain La-
mont, Captain Forbes, Mr. Rose, Mr. Bain, and other
warm friends of the present institution. He much re-
gretted
the absence of the chairman of the committee,
but he would take the liberty of introducing the name
of Hector Rose, Esq., in connexion with the pipes, so
warmly patronised by those gentlemen, and the banners,
under which some of them had served.
MY. ROSE thanked the members of the society and
their friends for their kindness and the expression of
approval of their band they were pleased to make. He
also regretted the absence of his Gallant Friend, who was
more able to thank them than himself, and it was
always a source of satisfaction to his friends and himself
when they found that their efforts in this cause gave
such approbation.

Many other suitable toats followed of less interest. g
Miss Birch and her sister delightedfly Scottish, indeed
the company
during the evening with ballads, chie
the society aro under deep obligations to this talented
lady for her exertions to entertain, and the willing
re-
sponse She she gave to the encores of the company.
sang the song of " Auld Robin Gray " superior to an y-
thing we ever beard, and Dlies E. Birch also executed

her songs very tastefully. Highland reels were danced
by some of the gentlemen present. The entertain:touts
throughout the evening were most agreeable and plea—
sant, and the arrangements reflect great credit on the.
committee of management.
Mr. Higgs acted as toastmaster, and discharged his
duties very efficiently.

OYAL ITALIAN OPERA.
COVENT GARDEN.
V&rdi's opera, I Due Foscari, was produced here on
Saturday evening, with the following;
The -D oge Foscari
Jacopo Yoscari
Loredano
Lucretia
Lucretia
The great feature ........... .p.
e.
r. .1 ........ MadamewatshGrisiu
of Grisi. It was superb. Verdi haansnei
unmercifully taxed the human voice by pnittin is pit againstlxins
drums, trumpets, ophecleides, and trombonegs Grisi,
however,. was more than equal to the occasion.. In her
opening acena, however, she gave a new reading to the
part, of which, although very effective in itself, we
rather doubt the correctness. The scene is that'
which she enters, hurriedly followed by her maidens,
who endeavour to prevent her seeking the Doge.'
This scena ends with an address to the Deity,
"Tu al cui aguardo onnipotensi." This is given by
Grisi rather as a remonstrance against the injustice of
Heaven than as a prayer. Her energy and power were
terrific, and deservedly elicited rapturous applause ; but
we doubt whether the submissive rendering of this pas-
sage as a preghiera is not the more correct one, and also
the more artistic, as being almost the only passage in
the Character in which the artiste can exhibit repose,
it brings oti.!; in strong relief, by contrast, the impas-
sioned passage.:' by which it is preceded and followed.
Her acting throi:cr, bout was magnificent, and her de-
scription of the des,i
h of Jacopo, n the last act, "Piu
non vive l'innocente," vs-as s superb piece of vocalization.
Mario's Jacopo was graceful and elegant exceedingly.
His singing was exquisitely beautiful, and his acting
better than we have ever seen it. In the first act he
introduced the beautiful air, " Ah lo sento," which was
written expressly for him by Verdi, and which was
heard on Saturday for the first time in this country. It
is .so peculiarly suited to Mario's beautifully flexible
voice, and so adapted for exhibiting its peculiar beau-
ties, that it is par excellence his. He will be a bold man
who shall attempt to sing it while Mario is on the stage.
Ronconi's Doge was exceedingly fine, both as a piece of
acting and a piece of vocalization. The chorusses were
superbly given. The principal artists were called for
repeatedly during the course of the performance, and
also at the conclusion. The theatre was crowded.