The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-08 00:00:00

THE HOLBORN BATH SWIMMING

CLUB ANNUAL DINNER.

The annual dinner of this truly excellent and invalu-
able institution took place at the Freemason's Tavern,
yesterday, when they was an exceedingly numerous at-
tendance of the members. The object of the dinner was
not to obtain subscriptions to the funds of the society,
but for the purpose of distributing medals and prizes to
the successful competitors, and by a re-union, to promote
amongst the members a social and friendly feeling. It
is not our intention to enter into the merits of such an
institution, as we are sufficiently aware that most people
cordially coincide with the opinion of Locke, that swim-
ming forms R necessary part of the education of a man,
but it may not be uninteresting to state, that according
to the report of the Registrar-General in 1844, no fewer
than 1,976 persons were accidentally drowned in that
year, all of whom would be yet preserved to society and
their friends had they known the art of swimming.
Passing over the other advantages derived from the art,
such as health and recreation, we will merely advert to
the proceedings of the evening. Mr. Hedgman presided,
and after the honorary secretary, Mr. Horacelienworthy,
read the report, which stated the gratifying progress of
the society, several large silver medals, beauti-
fully engraved, were handed to Messrs. Poltoun
and Robinson of Oxford, who were the suc-
cessful competitors of the season. The usual loyal
and national toasts were given, and drunk with enthu-
siasm, and after spending a pleasant evening, the com-
pany broke up at an early hour.
During the entertainment, the CHAIRMAN adverted to
the performance of one of the successful candidates of
the last season, a Mr. Pewter s, who accomplishes with
ease one hundred yards.

Letters from Mr Sergeant Talfourd and Mr.Wahley
were read, expressing their regret at not being able to
attend the meeting of the soci‘-ty.

CREAM OF EGYPT A L'IBRAHIM

PACHA,
The novelty of the bill of fare which appeared in our
columns of Saturday last, relating to the banquet given to
his ilighnessibrahim Pacha, by the members of the Re-
form Club, the day previous, having since been the topic
of general conversation, our readers will perhaps feel in-
terested in the description of two of the most novel
and original dishes served on that ecca,ion.
The first, entitled, "Cream of Egypt a l'lbra-
him Pacha," and composed exp. essly for the
occasion by M. Sayer, the chef de cosine of the
club, was the admiration of the whole company, and
especially so of the Pacha, who as soon as it was placed
before him, quickly perceived the honour intended to
be conferred upon him. This dish consisted of a
pyramid about two feet and a half high, made of light
meringues cake, in imitation of solid stones, surrounded
with immense grapes and other fruit', but repre-
senting only the four angles of the pyramid through
sheets of waved sugar, to show to the greatest advantage
an elegant cream a l'Ananas, on the top of which was
resting a highly-finished portrait of the illustrious
stranger's father, Mehemet Ali, carefully drawn on a
round shape satin carton, the exact size of the top
of the cream. The portrait was immediately ob-
served by his llighness, who carefully took it
up, and after showing it to several of his suite,
placed it in his bosom. What was his Highness's
astonishment, however, on again looking at the spot, to
observe in the cream, as under a glass, a highly-finished
portrait of himself surrounded by a very carefully exe-
cuted frame. M. Soyer having been sent for by the party,
was highly complimented by his Highness, through his
interpreter. The l'acha desired to know where and how
he could procure such a likeness of his father, and how
his own was so correctly drawn in the cream ? Please
tell his Highness, says M. Soyer to the interpreter)
" that both were executed from the original sketches
drawn by our celebrated artist, Horace Vernet, whilst in
Alexandria. The portrait in the cream is drawn on wafer
paper, which being placed on the damp jelly, representing
the glass, dissolves, and nothing remains of the wafer
paper but the appearance of the portrait painted in
light water colours. The imitation of the gilt frame is
made with the eau-de-vie of Danteic and gold water
mixed with the jelly, the gold leaf of which forms the
frame." After having been thanked by the Pacha, the
pyramidal cream of Egypt was ordered to be shown to
each guest by sliding it from one to the other round the
table.

Though everything was eatable in it, this magnificent
dish was respected, and remained untouched until the
end of the banquet, though everybody tried to partake
of the fruit which surrounded it.

The next dish which much amused the company was
the one entitled the " Gateau Britanique a I'amirtll,"
being the representation of an old man-of-war, bearing
the English and Egyptian flags, drawn on rice paper,
the ship being filled with ice mousseuse aux re the, and
loaded with large strawberries, cherries, grapes, and
bunches of currants, It was so placed on the table that
Commodore Napier had to help from this cargo the
Illustrious Stranger, who appeared much amused at the
incident. The moisture and liquor of the ice gradually
melted and imbibed the carcase of the vessel, which was
made of a kind of delicate sponge cake. While the
Gallant Commodore was in the act of helping the re-
inainder of the ice, the ship gave way, and formed a
complete wreck, which caused great hilarity among the
company who were close enough to witness the scene.

HERTFORD Fem.—This fair was opened on Monday
for the sale of stock, free of all tolls: Cattle brought in was
limited, and the prices rather on the decline. The business
was chiefly confined to lean cattle and horses. Beasts for
grazing ranged from 101. to 13/. a head, and some Scotch
runts sold at 71. and 91. each. Cows to calve down went as
low as 91. and 11/. a head, and heifers U. and 91. Good milch
cows, large framed, fetched from 12 to 15 guineas, the small
calf inclusive. In the horse-field. good sound cart horses
sold at prices varying from 16 to IS and 20 guineas each, and
nags of the best description fetched from 16 to 18 guineas.
The pig pens were scantily filled.
RAILWAY SIGNALS.--Mr. Gregory, the engineer of
the Croydon Railway, has erected a set of signals at the
junction of the Bricklayers' Arms Branch, which are simple
and intelligible. They consist of two semaphores, which
are worked by the feet of the attendant, whose hands are
left free to work the switches, the handles of which are con-
veniently placed for that purpose. In the absence of the
attendant no trains will pass, as the signals are so contrived
that they will then indicate "danger" and "stop.' It would
be imprudent, we think, to lay too much stress upon this
last peculiarity, since there would be nothing to prevent a
man, when he had reason to expect. the approach of a par-
ticular train from fixing the handles in the particular posi-
tion suitable for that train, and then absenting himself for a
time. The main security must lie in a vigilant supervision,
a w.ll-arranged system of management, and the employment
of steady and trustworthy men. If automatic signals and
similar contrivances be used as auxiliaries, they will prove
very useful • if intended to dispense with the more important
requisites, they will only lead to a fallacious dependance and
to inevitable disaster.—Patent Journal.

FESTIVITIES AT THE MANSION-HOUSE —We are in-
formed that his Royal Highness Prince Albert has accepted
the Lord Mayor's invitation to the forthcoming banquet to
the Presidents of the Royal Society and other distinguished
literary and scientific institutions in England. The enter-
tainment is appointed to take place in the Egyptian-hall, at
the Mansion-house, on Friday next, and will doubtless prove
one of the most magnificent character. On the preceding
day (Thursday) the Lord Mayor entertains the members of
the Court of Common Council, and on Saturday his Lord-
ship gives a grand entertainment to his Highness Ibrahim
Pacha and a large circle of the nobility.
THE COBDEN TRIBUTE FUND.—The subscriptions up
to yesterday evening am•un .ed to 22,000/.
Does.—We believe it to be true that not one-half of
the (logs which are kept by working classes are paid for.
And it is a notorious fact, that nearly, if not entirely, one-
half of those persons (though their dog-mania must be in-
dulged) have enough to do, not to live, but exist. This
" surpulus" quantity of dogs produces, in a great measure,
hydrophobia. Taxes-officers ought to look strictly after all
who keep dogs.