The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-14 00:00:00

THE MILITIA.

The depot of the King's Own Staffordshire Regiment
of Militis remains at Lichfield. Out of the small niunber
at Lichfield 19 men have just volunteered into the Line,
17 have gone into the 80th Regiment, and two into the
Grenadier Guards. This regiment of militia is stationed
at Argostoli, in the lonian Islands.
On Tuesday Col. Rainier, of the 98th Regiment, ar-
rived in. Derby to receive volunteers from the let Derby
Militia, commanded by Lieu:.-Col. Coke. Upwards of
200 men stepped out as volunteers, and 145 passed to.tbe
regular forevs ; 42 passed to the Royal Martnes ; nearly
50 volunteered to the 98th Regiment, 29 to the 17th, and
the remainder to the 47th and some cavalry regiments.
Toe 1.4 Derby has given 200 volunteer.; to the Line
within, the latest five monthe, unit vv.) 0.4 Jr iequirn.l to
furnish 100 moon as its present quota. The regiment is
now reaured to about 520 of all ranks.

DINNER • TO SIR EDMUND LYONS AT
THE MAN Sip N- LTOUSE.

Last night the Lord Mayor assembled a large party,
consisting principally of eminent bankers and merchants
in the city, to do honour to Admiral Sir E. Lyons, who
vas his guest on the occasion. Dinner was served in
the liqyotian.hall, and the c nnpany present, besides Sir
E. anil Misi Lyons, comprised the Marquis of Towns-
bend, the Earl of Wicklow, the Right Hon. Sir C. and
Lady Mary Wood, Lord and Lady Overstone, the Dean
of St. Paul's and Mrs Milman, the Solicitor-General,
S'r Fitzroy Kelly, Admiral and Mrs. Lyons, Lord C.
Paget, General Buckley, M.P.. Sir II Dukenfield, the
Hon. Captain Keppel, Sir C. arid Lady Treveiyan,
Major Pearson, Captain Mends, R.N., Captain C. Cates,
It N., Captain Eden, R.N., the Governor of the Bank
of England and Mrs. Weguelin. the Deputy•Governer
of the Bank of England and Mrs. Nerve, Mr. A. Ro-
baro, Mr. R. Currie, M.P., and the Hon. Mrs. Raikes
Currie, Mr. B. Wilcox, M.P., Mr. T. Hawkey and Mrs.
T. Hankey, Mr. B. Moore, M.P., Mrs. and Miss Heath,
Mr. G. Peabody, Mr. and Mrs. P. Salomons, Mr. H. J.
Prescott, Mr. W. J. Prescott, Mr. A. Donat, Lieut. A.
Lyons, R.N., Mr. B. Lyons, Mr. Baring, M.P., Mr.
Ricardo, M.P., and Mrs. Ricardo, Mr. R. Mangles,
M.P., and Mrs. R. Mangles, Mr. S. Gregson, M.P.,
and Mrs. Gregson, Mr. B. Dobree, Mr. and Mrs. A.
Latham, Mr. and Mrs. W. Blake, Mr. and Mrs. Geo.
Lyall, Mr. Berens, Mr. ani Mrs. P. Currie, Mr. and
Mrs. E. 11. Chspman, Mr. Pre7ost, Mr. C. Bailey, Mr.
J. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. F. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. J.
Wilson, Mr. K. Hodgson, Mr. and Mrs. N. Hunt, Mr.
W. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Goldsmid, Mr. and
Mr,. H. Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. G. R. Smith, Mr. and
Mrs: J. A. Hankey, Mr. and Mrs. Goldsmid, Mrs. Salo.
mons, M r. and Mrs. T. Hawkey, Mr. A. A. Goldsmbl, Mrs.
J. Hutchinson, Mr. and Mrs. Norbury, M. Ald. Cope.
land and Mrs. Capper, Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Hum-
phery, Alderman Sir James Duke, M.P., and Mrs.
Hill, Mr. Alderman Farncomb and Miss Stone, Mr.
Alderman and Mrs. Sidney, Alderman Sir Francis
Graham Moon and Lady Moon, the Right Hun. the
Recorder and the Hon. Mrs. Stuart Wortley, Mr.
Alderman and Mrs. Flails, Alderman Sir Robert and
Lady Carden, Mr. Alderman and Mrs. Wiie, Mr.
Ald,,rrnan and Mrs. Carter, Mr. Alderman and Sheriff
Hartley Kennedy and Miss Willoughby, Mr. Alderman
and Sheriff Rose, Mr. Alderman and Miss Eagleton,
Mr. Alderman Lawrence, the Rev. Dr. Mortimer, D.D.,
Mr. Deputy and Mrs. Lott, Mr. Deputy and Mrs.
Whiteside, Mr. Deputy and Mrs.' Godson, Mr. Deputy
Hull, Mr. Deputy Lorkin and Miss Lorkin, Mr. and
Mrs. Tunday, Mr. and Mrs. J. .T. Norris, Mr. and
Mrs. Chaplin, Mr. and Mrs. H. Hill, Mr. and Mrs.
Stephenson, Mr. and Mr's. Joyce.
After the dinner the circulation of the loving cup was
followed by the usual loyal toasts.
The LORD Mason. gave " the Army and Navy." He
was, ho said, honoured with the presence of the First
Lord of the Admiralty, and of many distinguished
officers who had served in the war. He could assure
them of the gratitude felt by their countrymen of all
classes for those noble exertions by which they had in
conjunction with our brave allies obtained the prospect
of an advantageous peace, not only for ourselves but
for the whole civilised world. His lordship coupled the
toast with the names of Sir Charles Wood and General
Buckley.
Sir C. WOOD begged to retarn thanks for that noble
profession the navy, in which he had always taken a
warm interest. It was not the first occasion 011 which
such a duty has been imposed upon him, or on which
the Lord Mayor and his predecessors bad expressed their
thanks to- the navy for the benefits conferred by it on
commerce and on the country. Tue naay was ready now,
as ever, to perform all that could be reasonably expected
of it, and he was proud to see assembled around that
board so many gallant officers who were ornaments of
that service. (Cheers.) He saw, not far from the Lord
Mayor, a most distinguished friend of his, and it would
be inconsistent with every feeling of his bosom if Le did
not say in what estimation the gallant officer was held
by all who were called upon to preside over the navy.
(Cheers.) They saw in his gallant friend one of the
proudest ornaments of a noble profession, and who was
only prevented from winning a great victory because
the enemy dare not encounter him. (Cheers.) His
example had stimulated every officer under his co:a-
maind to deeds of gallantry, and this had been shown
not only afloat but ashore, for up to the last moment of
the siege of Sebastopol the Naval Brigade bad taken a
most conspicuous part in the land operations. (Cheers.)
In the Baltic, as well as in the Black Sea, nothing could
exceed the skill and valour of the navy, and never did
it better deserve the approbation of the country.
General BUCKLEY having responded on behalf of the
army,
The LORD bairn rose and proposed "The Health of
Sir Edmund ,Lyons," to whose eminent services his
Lordship drew special attention. He alluded to the
gallant admiral's early carreer in‘the navy, to his visit
to the Black Sea, and Sebastopol in 1820, his diplomatic
services in Greece, Switzerland, and Sweden, and his
appointment as second in command under Admiral
DM DlUilie whoa the Lwar Iv* out. The Lord

enli V. 1492,11
spiritaiid of enterprise emanating from which was
reflected over the whole world. (Cheers.) He wished
that he had established a better olaim to the fairourable
opinion which the company had
,extended, to him. The
war had not admitted of large ships and fleets b&ng got
into position, and finally they had been deprived of all.
opportunity of winning a victory in the Black Sea by
the enemy sinking their own vessels of war. In the
Baltic, also, hie gallant friend Admiral Dundas had
in vain invited the Russians to quit the shelter
of . their granite forts. Nothing but oppOrtunity
was wanting, ai was proved by what vessels of light
draught had accomplished in the Baltic. Notwithstand-
ing its sinuosities, its groups of islands, and difficulties
of navigation, not an •enemy's ship dared to come out in
that sea. (Cheers.) The Black Sea and the Sea of Azoff
had also been completely swept, and everywhere a strict.
bleckatlii had been maintained. (Cheers.) It was very
sad indeed that her Majesty's fleet had not had an op-
portunity of meeting, face to face, that of the enemy,
for never badit been in a greater state of efficiency. The
Iships of all classes were as near perfectior. as could well
be imagined—very superior to what they ever were on
any formeroccasion. (Hear, hear.) There had lately been
brought into existence a Lilliputian class which, if the
War continued, would make itself felt, because cyab'e
of striking a blow within arm's length. (Cheers.) So
much for the ships, and now for the officers. He was
afraid that some of their admirals were too old. They
were sorry for it—(laughter)—though lie hoped the
country would forgive them what they could not help.
But as to their captains and younger cfficers, they were
equal to any the Service ever boasted of. (Cheers.) The
ships were also well manned, and in the most satisfac-
tory manner, by volunteers. It was a proud thing that
the Queeh's forces, both by sea and land, served her
Majesty with an enthusiastic heroism never surpassed,
yet the service was voluntary. _ (Cheers.) The Lord
Mayor had kindly alluded to the part taken by the
Agamemnon in the attack on the sea defences of Sebas-
topol on the 18th of October. In WI general actions by
sea as well as by land it was the good fortune of some
ships or some regiments to take a more prominent part
than others. Tnat was peculiarly the case on the occa-
sion referred to, for only two or three ships are able,
to get in close to Fort Constantine. He claimed no
more credit for himself and the Againeuiron than was
due to every officer and every other ship engaged. The
gallant officer here referred io complimentary terms to
the presence of two captains in the fleet engaged in•that
attack. He then proceeded to eulogise the conduct of the
Naval Brigade, which took part in the operations of the
siege from its commencement to its close, emulating the
heroic spirit of the army, and exciting its emulation in
return. He doubted, indeed, if the annals of chivalry re-
corded anything inure strikino• tban was to be found in
the conduct of Capt. Peel andt his aides-decamp, when
wounded, in carrying forward the ladders. to scale the
Redan. The conduct and efficiency of the mercantile
navy during the war also reflected the highest honourion
the country. Those beautiful transports proved to be
under the command of men of the highest ability and
zeal, and he quoted as conspicuous examples of what
service they rendered the conveyance of an entire regi-
ment of dragoons to the Crimea by the Himalaya at one
trip, and the tranminyrb of Omer l'Acha's army from But-
guatta to Eupatoria in the depth of winter. flaying nn-
bounded confidence in the mercantile navy, he accepted
tha responsibility of accomplishing that movement. Nor
was lie disappointed: for in the month of Decetnber,
1855, 57,000 men, 11.000 horses, and 170 guns were
landed at Eupa,toria with the lo•it of only one horse. As
a further proof cf the spirit evinced by the mercAntile
navy, the gallant admiral gavo a humorous desctiption
of the appearance presented one morning by the Colombo
arriving, her yards slung with turkey, gese, and fowls
tolurnish Cristmas dinners for the army. Admiral Lyons
concluded by referring in graceful termi to the sympathy
evinced by the country in tile suffei inge which war inflicted
on its soldiers and niilms. Nothing, he said, exec cised so
powerful and benefleiai an ieflueece upon the men in
both services as those manifeStations of the deep interest
taken at home for their welfare. Having again thanked
:he company and the Lord Mayor for the flattering, man-
ner in which his health had been received he resumed his
seat amid lend cheers.

The LORD MAYOR then proposed as a toast, "The
health of S.r C. Wood and her Mtjes,ty's Ministers."
Sir C. WOOD briefly acknowledged the tyast, and
gave that of the Lord Mayor.
"The members of the two Tionses of Parliament,"
and other formal toasts, were given and duly responded
to before tile festivities of the evening ,losed.
The dinner was excellently provided and served by
Mersrs. StapieS, and Mr. Harker officiated as toast•
master.

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