The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-21 00:00:00

vernor-General of India," which was drunk with enthusiasm
by all present, as was also " The health of his Excellency
Sir Hugh Gunn, the Cammander-in• Chief of the Forces in
India."
Dr. Wood then proposed "The health of Lieut.-Colonel
M'Dowell."
The Gallant Colonel, after returning thanks in his usual
impressive and energetic manner, proposed " The Bengal
Army," or rather " The British Army," for t'nev were as
one body—intimately associated in the battle-field, and in
the familiar intercourse of private life.
Major Watt next rose, and called on the gentlemen present
to fill a bumper. He (the Gallant Major) was about to pro-
p-se a toast, which he was assured every one present would
drink with "a pleasure gushing from the heart and beaming
with sincerity." The poet who had sung the glories of
Alexander, the greatest of commanders, had bees forced to
place by his side " the lovely Thais," and, in so doing, he had
also been forced to pay that compliment to "blooming Eastern
brides," which he (Major Watt) would now have the com-
pany assembled to pay to the whole sex. If none but the
brave deserve the fair, certainly none but the fair deserved
the brave; and he (Major 'Watt) for his own part would
never be happy unless they went hand in hand together.
The laurel on the soldier's brow, and the riband on his
breast, were pleasing to the bright and brilliant eyes of
beauty, by whom they were first designed t=s emblems of
victory, and for that reason alone, independent of others,
these emblems would ever be coveted, and regarded as true
and lasting honours—
" Vixi puellis nuper idoneus,
Et militavi non sine gloria."
This was sufficient to show that war and women—beauty
and victory—were so closely combined as to preclude the
possibility of doing honour to the one without the other.
The Gallant Major then proposed the "Heath of the Ladies."
The toast was received with enthusiastic cheering.
Lieutenant Foster (her Majesty's 16th Lancers) rose, and
proposed the " Health of Major Watt and the Commissariat."
Lieutenant F. paid a handsome compliment to the kindness
and urbanity of the Gallant Major, and truly said that no
man would leave Meerut more generally beloved and more
sincerely regretted.
Major Watt in an eloquent speech returned thanks, and
concluded by proposing the " Health of Mr. Ravenshaw (Mr.
Begbie had left) and the Members of the,Civil Service."
Mr. Ravenshaw, in a short but clever speech, in which he
did honour to his service, returned thanks.
"Major Mayne and the Irregular Cavalry," proposed by
Lieutenant Pattison (her Majesty's 16th Lancers) was loudly
responded to.
We should mention that her Majesty's 16th were so gene-
rally respected that there was scarcely a civil or military
officer in Meerut that did not come forward and join in
the honour of entertaining for the last time the officers of
this distinguished corps. The party broke up at a late hour.
We learn that the Dacca Bank would very soon be in
operation, probably, if not sooner, by the Ist of May. It
was said that a branch thereof would also be established at
MYmcnsing. In both of the above districts the prospects of
i
• ndigo were very good, and it was anticipated that they
'would be able to cut in May, early enough, we hope, to save
them from any inundation, a misfortune to which the culti-
vation in those lands is so frequently exposed.—Agra Chro-
nick, April 6.