The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-03 00:00:00

BANQUET TO LIEUT.-GENERAL
bIR CHARLES J. NAPIER, G.C.B.
Yesterday the members of the Junior United Service
Club gave a grand entertainment to Lieut.-General Sir
Charles J. Napier, the late Governor of Sinde, on the
occasion of the gallant General's return to England.
The Earl of Ellenborough, Lieutenant-General Sir
John Macdonald, G.C.8., Major-General Sir William
Napier, and Major William Napier, 25th Regiment, were
invited to meet the Gallant Geueral ; and among the
members of the club present at the entertainment were
Major-General H. Daubeny, B.H. ; Colonel W. Mac-
adam, late Bth Regiment ; Colonel Dancay, R.A.,
Colonel C. M. Hay, Coldstream Guards ; Colonel E. H.
Robinson, Colonel L. S. Dickson, Colonel Pennefather,
C. 8., 22d Regiment ; Lieutenant-Colonel Macpherson,
Lieutenant-Colonel Harriott, Lieutenant-Colonel M.
Dunne, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Pettit, 50th Regiment;
Lieutenant-Colonel Alderson, R.E. ; Lieutenant-Colonel
Oldtield, Bengal Cavalry ; Lieutenant-Celonel J. Cox,
late Rifle Brigade ; Lieutenant.-Colonel Justin Shiel,
K. L. S. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, Lieutenant.-Col.
Taylor, M.P., Lieut.-Col. Brookes, 24th Regt. ; Lieut.-
Colonel Milnes; Majors P.P. Neville, F. H. Stephenson,
Napier (Cape Mounted Rifles), M'Mahon, Stack, Al-
drich, R. E. Conway, 22-1 Regiment; Harvey, 87th
Regiment; Macready, S. Cole, Q. Vivian, Tyler, 16tn
Lancers; Jeffreys, 88th Regiment. Captains IL G.
Boldero, M.P.; Sir T. J. Burke, M.P.; W. Edwards,
56th Regiment; G. G. Malet, Bombay Cavalry; Brown,
late 100th Regiment; Evan Macpherson. 14th Dragoons;
Clement Johnson, Linskill, late sth Dragoon Guards;
Robert Miller, late 2d Dragoons; J. Temple Bowdoin,
late 4th Dragoon Guards; George Jetieries, Knowles,
50th Regiment; Hart, late 94th Regiment; J. Batters •
bee, T. H. Preston, J. Campbell, 7th Dragoon Guards;
R. Shubrick, sth Madras Native Infantry; D'Arcy,
94th Regiment; W. F. 'Vernon, late 68th Regiment;
Graham Henry, J. Hillier. Lieutenants F. S. Deshon,
22d Regiment; E. Morris, late 54th Regiment; James
Campbell, late 13th Bengal Native Infantry; R. 11.
Webster, late 9th Regiment; Stoddart Douglas, M. P.,
R.N.; Mr. C. G. Dept& M.P., Mr. S. Petrie (Deputy
Assistant Commissary-General), Mr. 11. Angelo, &c.
Captain 11. G. Boldero, M.P., presided, supported on
the right hand by Sir Charles Napier and Sir John Mac-
donald, and on the left by the Earl of Ellenborough and
Sir W. Napier.
The banquet was served in the grand saloon, covers
being laid for sixty persons.
Ou the removal of the cloth, the Gallant Chairman
proposed the " Health of her Majesty the Queen," which
was responded to with the greatest enthusiasm.
The other loyal toasts having been duly responded to,
The CHAIRMAN said he regretted the absence of the
illustriuu, Duke at the head of the army, on an occasion
when they had met to do honour to a gallant officer, who
had so ably maintained the reputation uf English valour
when in a distant country. They had, however, the pre-
sence of a gallant member of the staff, who assisted
greatly, in conjunction with the illustrious Duke, in
promoting the interests and efficiency of the British
army. , He should, therefore, give them "The Duke of
Wellington and the Army, coupling therewith the name
of Sir John Macdonald."
The toast having been duly honoured.
Sir JOHN MACDONALD, said he rejoiced at being pre-
sent at an entertainment given in compliment to a
brother officer, one than whom no braver man ever led
an army. The Gallant General, at some length, expressed
his high admiration of the military career of Sir Charles
Napier, and paid a well-merited compliment to his great
services in India. After dwelling on the high state of
efficiency of the British army at present, and his confi-
dence in the loyalty of the troops, the Gallant General
concluded by stating, that when he commenced his
career in the army his prospects were very bumble, and
be wished that all young officers present would re-
member the motto of the Junior United Service, " Never
despair."
The CHAIRMAN, on again rising, remarked that he
did not see an officer of the sister service present, and he
only regretted that there was not a jolly old Commodore
to witness with what warmth the mere suggestion of
"The Navy" as the next toast, would be received.
The toast was cordially responded to.
The CHAIRMAN, on again rising, expressed the plea-
sure the company had experienced at the presence of one
of the most distinguished men in the British service. It
was not his intention to dwell in detail on his brilliant
services, for it would only be necessary for him to rewind
those around him that had it fallen to his (Sir Charles
Napier's) let to have retired from the service from his
wounds, and be had plenty of them—(Cheers)—he
would have retired crowned with honour, glory, and re-
nown. Thank God he had been spared, and might he
long live to lead some of those present that evening.—
(Cheers.) Ile would pass over his gallant career in the
Peninsula, and in various parts of the globe until he
planted his country's flag in Sinde. There he had
achieved two exploits almost unknown in the history of
the world; with a handful of men, for he commanded
1,5041 against 23,000 on one occasion—(Cheers)--and
against an enemy by no means deficient in scientific
knowledge or martial courage worthy a better cause,
the Gallant General had the head to plan and the heart
to execute. He had a brave body of men under him,
and the example he displayed gave them confidence, for
there was no danger they would not encounter, or fatigue
they would not endure.—(Cheers.) Having said that
much, he would propose to them the " Health of Lieute-
nant- General Sir Charles Napier, and long
,might he
live."—(Loud cheering.)
The toast was drunk with three times three.
Sir CIIARLES J. NAPIER, G.C.8., on rising, was cor-
dially greeted by the company. He said be could not
be otherwise than highly gratified with the flattering
testimony of their approbation. He received this mark
of their regard as he received all compliments, as due to
the bravest of troops. They had fought two battles,
Meeanee and i!yderabad, in . a manner which required
no eulogium. The young soldiers in their advance were
met with fire and sword—(Cheers)—and their steadiness
was admirable against the overwhelming foe. He could
not separate the Queen's from the Company's officers,
for their conduct on those occasions was meritorious be-
yond all praise, for they were always to be found in the
front cheering their men on.—(Cheers.) He could not
arrogate to himself that which was not due, and he was
sure they would all agree those battles were desperately
fought and desperately won.—(Cheers.) He saw before
him a brother officer (Colonel Pennefather) who had led
on the 22d Regiment in two successive engagements, and
he could bear testimony that that regiment had been se-
verely tried. The Gallant General then adverted to the
commerce of India, after 20 years' peace in Europe, and
claimed the attention of the company to point out what
had been done for commerce in India, while that country
was under the Governorship of the Earl of Ellenborough.
Sir Charles, at considerable length, said, that up to the
period of the Noble Earl going to India, the Indus and
its tributaries—forming an inland navigation of 2,000
miles—was closed by the Ameers, and all their towns
and harbours were strongly fortified against friend and
foe. Sinde, during the Earl's administration, was at-
tached to the British dominions, and, in doing so, he
opened those 2,000 miles, and all the nations on Abe left
bank of the Sutlej, to British commerce and enterprise.
—(Cheers.) The Gallant General then pointed out the
great facilities that Sinde afforded for the enterprise of
the merchants of this country and India ; and, after as-
serting that he had made these observations as the policy
in Sinde was not generally well known, he concluded by
drinking " Prosperity to the Junior United Service Club
and all their very good healths."
The CHAIRMAN next gave " The health of the Earl of
Ellenborough."
The Earl of ELLENSOROUGH acknowledged the com-
pliment, and expressed the high gratification he had ex-
perienced in being of their party to do honour to a gal-
lant and esteemed ornament of the British army.
The Earl of ELLENUOROUGIM rose, and said he had the
permission of their Gallant Chairman to propose a toast.
It was " The health of his Gallant Friend, Sir William
Napier."--(Cheers.) His Lordship expressed his admi-
ration of his literary us well as his military ability, and
brought to a conclusion a pleasing speech, by saying that
he perused the records of the British victories from the
pen of his Gallant Friend with far greater delight than
any-book he had before read.—(Lctughter and cheers.)
The toast was drunk with warm applause.
Sir W. NAPIER returned thanks.
Colonel L. S. Decieson said, with the kindness of the
Chairman, he was allowed to propose the next toast. He
would give " The health of a gallant brother of their dis
tinguished guest, Lieut.-General Sir George Napier, late
Governor of the Cape_ of Good Hope," whose absence
from England would account for his not being with them
on that occasion. He need not mention the services of
that Gallant General, as his claims to distinction were
too well known. The toast was cheerfully drunk.
Major Wm. NAPIER briefly replied, on behalf of his
father.
The Earl of ELLENEOROUGH rose, and, after some in-
troductory observations, gave the health of their gal-
lant chairman, Captain H. G. Boldero." The health
was cordially responded to, and when silence was ob-

tained,
Captain 11. G. BOLDERO, M.P., rose to acknowledge
the particularly gratifying manner his name had been
received.
Lieut.. General Sir C. NAPIER said he had, by the
favour of the chair, the great pleasure of proposing
The health of Colonel Pennefather, the Vice-Chair-
man, who commanded the 22d."—(Loud cheers.)
Colonel J. L. PKNNEFATHER, C. 8., in reply, said he
could not have had a greater compliment conferred on
him than had been done him by the Gallant General.
He only did his duty.—(Cheers.) He only attempted to
fellow in the General's footsteps, and if he pleased him
he only accomplished all he wished .—(Cheers )
This was the last toast, and the company shortly after-
wards broke up.

THE RESULT of TR& MIXED GAUOIL—The mixed
gauge, applied as is proposed on the Oxford, Birming-
ham, and Wolverhampton lines, will not really diminish
the evils of diversity of gauge. It is true that in theory
the mixed gauge may seem to save the break of gauge
to the district and towns to which a mixed line is ex-
tended; but, on the other hand, it establishes a break at
each end of the mixed gauge line: for example, by lay-
ing the mixed gauge between Oxford and Rugby, the
district between Oxford and Rugby is theoretically saved
a break of gauge; but Oxford and Rugby themselves in
turn become the sites of breaks of gauge, at one or other
of which all traffic from the narrow gauge to a broad
gauge district, or vice versa, must be transferred. Again,
every new line, and every new branch intersecting a
mixed-gauge line, must either cause a break of gauge in
one direction or the other, or otherwise be on the mixed
gauge itself, so that " the break of gauge cannot be re-
medied by the mixture of gauges until such mixture be-
comes co-extensive with railways themselves."—From
Messrs. Robert Stephenson and Locke's Report.
• THE NEWMARKET AND CHESTERFIELD RAILWAY.
—A very superior description of carriages is being used
upon this railway. The third class are fitted with plate
glass windows and handsomely painted, and the second
class are lined-with stuffed cushions, and are extremely
comfortable,