The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-28 00:00:00

THE BANQUET.

The company, amounting to upwards of 350 gentle-
men, assembled in the large coffee-room of the
George Ilotel at five o'clock; the ladies were at
once conducted to their seats in the north galleries,
and during the evening partook of refreshments in
the adjacent rooms. Shortly before six, dinner was
announced, when the Hon. Colonel Pennant, M.P.,
chairman, accompanied by Robert Stephenson, Esq.,
M.P., the guest of the day, proceeded to the dais,
accompanied by the vice-presidents, viz , Lord
George Paget, M.P. ; the lion. E. Lloyd Mostyn,
M.P.; Sir R. B. IV. Bulkeley, Bart., M.P.; Sir
Watkin William Wynne, Bart., M.P. ; Sir John
Hamner, Bart., M.P.; W. Bulkeley Hughes, Esq,
M.P. ; H. \V. Wynne, Esq, M.P.; I'. R. West,
Esq., MT.; J. Williams, Esq., M.P., high Sheriff
of the county of Carnarvon ; and T. Owens, Esq.,
High Sheriff of the county of Anglesea. Mr.
Paxton and Mr. Brassey were also among the guests.
On the removal of the cloth, the Hon. Chairman
proposed the first toast, " Her Most Gracious Ma-
jesty the Queen," which was received with the
greatest enthusiasm, followed by the National An-
them. A very pretty effect was produced at this
juncture by a royal salute fired from the Fairy yacht,
moored in the Straits below the Pavilion.

The lion. CHAIRMAN next proposed the healths of
" Prince Albert, the Prince of \Vales (Tywysog
Cymru), and the rest of the Royal Family," which
was enthusiastically received, and followed by a
national air on the harp by Mr. Richard Roberts.
The "Army and Navy," followed by the air "Rule
Britannia," was acknowledged.
" The Bishops and Clergy of the Diocese" was
next proposed from the chair.
Glee—" Lightly tread, 'tis hallowed ground."
The Very Rev. the Dean of BANGOR replied in a
felicitous speech, which elicited much applause.
The CLIAIRMADi, calling upon the company to fill
their glasses, said he had now to propose to them the
toast of the day, " Their distinguished guest, Robert
Stephenson, Esq." In an eloquent address the chair-
man set forth the claims of Mr. Stephenson to their
respect and admiration, and concluded by proposing
that gentleman's health with nine times nine British
oheers. These were given by the company with
a hearty demonstration of respect, and another salute
was fired from the Fairy.
After a song by Mr. Ryall, written for the occa-
sion, the lion. Gentleman rose to reply, and was re-
ceived with most enthusiastic cheers. He said that
he sincerely thanked those present for the unequivocal
expression of their feelings towards him. It was
true that enormous difficulties had been overcome in
the construction of the Britannia-bridge, in the sur-
mounting of which he owed much to his friend and
valued assistant, Mr. Edwin Clarke,, whose excellent
work was well known in all quarters where engineer-
ing 'kill could be appreciated. The Chester and
Holyhead Railway would form one of the most im-
portant links in the empire, all of which were due to
that invaluable mineral, iron ; of which a Copenhagen
professor had lately, in his presence, ingeniously il-
lustrated the inestimable value. After some addi-
tional observations, the Hon. Gentleman concluded by
proposing the health of the chairman, which was re-
ceived with great cheering.
The following toasts remained to be proposed when
our message was dispatched :—" The memory of the
illustrious Telford" (in solemn silence), Sir John
Hay Williams to propose " The House of Commons ;"
reply by W. Hushes, Esq., M.P. " The Lord Lieu-
tenant of the Principality ;" reply by Sir R. W.
Bulkeley, Bart., M.P. The Hon. Lloyd Mostyn,
M P., to propose "The High Sheriff of the Princi-
pality ;" reply by Sir W. W. Wynn. " The Direc-
tors of the Chester and Holyhead Railway ;" reply by
Mr. S. M. Peto, M.P. " The Vice-Presidents ;"
reply by Hon. E. L. Mostyn, M.P. "The contractors
of the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company ;"
reply by E. L. Betts, Esq. " The Electric Telegraph
Company;' reply by J. L. Ricardo, ENT, M.P.
" The Ladies." " The Committee ;" reply by Mr.
Pritchard. " Success to the Bangor and Caernarvon
Railway ;" reply by G. W. Mont, Esq.
The Britannia and Conway Tubular-bridges, the
successful completion of which has led to the cele-
bration shortly detailed above, were no doubt as they
now Mend the fruits of certain restrictions imposed by
the Admiralty board on the engineer. The Britannia-
- 41a:en., fee
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