The Sun.
London, England, 1833-11-11 00:00:00

THE CIVIC BANQUET.

Saturday being the inauguration day of the Lord
Mayor for the ensuing year was celebrated by the customary
banquet in Guildhall. The Hall presented an unusually
brilliant appearance, being illuminated in every part by
gas lights, arranged in a variety of tasteful and novel
devices, and decorated by an unusual complement of suits
of armour, standards, and other national trophies. The
tables, which were placed, as usual, lengthways, five filling
the width of the Hall, were abundantly provided with
every po,sible variety of luxury; and so admirable were
the arrangements of the committee that not the least
confusion as to places or precedence occurred. At about
seven o'clock the work of devastation commenced, grace
having previously been given by the City Chaplain.
Among the distinguished guests present we remarked—
Lord Brougham, the M irquis of Lansdowne, the Duke
of Richmond, Lord J. Russell; Viscounts Melbourne,
Palmerston, and Althorp ; Lord Auckland, the Vice
Chancellor, the Right Hon. E. G. Stanley, the Earl
of Surrey, Sir C. Wetherell, Sir E. B. Sugden, Sir
James Scarlett, Mr. Spring Rice ; Messrs. Grote, Lyall,
and Crawford ; Captain and Commander Ross, several
Foreign Ministers, the principal City Magistrates, and
many Members of Parliament.
The total number of guests assembled amounted, we
should think, to between nine hundred and one thousand.
The first toast announced from the chair was that
of " The King."—Drank with three times three and
applause.
The LORD MAYOR next rose to propose, " The health
of the Queen," with three times three.—(The announce-
ment of this toast was the signal for a gederal burst of
applause, which lasted for many minutes.)
The Loan MAYOR next proposed " The health of the
late Lord Mayor."—(Marked and general applause fol-
lowed the announcement of this toast.)
Sir PETER LAURIE returned thanks.
The LORD MAYOR then proposed " The health of the
Lord Chancellor." .

The LOAD CIIANCELLOR returned thanks. He felt
exceedingly grateful for the kind manner i❑ which his
Lordship had proposed, and in which the company had
received, his health. He confessed that be was somewhat
surprised that he should be singled out by his Lordship,
and th it his health should be proposed independently of
that of his Noble Colleagues. Ile, however, attributed
the honour to the fact of his possessing one advantage
over moat of his Noble and Hon. Colleagues—that of
having been a citizen of London longer than they
bad. He had now the honour of filling a situa-
tion very different to that which he held when he
had first the happiness of being enrolled amongst
them. He should only say that, as he now held a
situation in which it was the interest of his fellow-
eiiiz ns to watch his conduct, he should endeavour so to
execute the law as to make it respected, and so to amend
the laws as that they might deserve to be loved as well as
respected. He begged to take the liberty of proposing to
them their excellent Chief Magistrate, with whom his
acquaintance was not of yesterday, aid whose talents,
industry, and worth commanded the esteem and respect of
all who had the opportunity of knowing hitn.—(Cl.eers.)
He begged to propose " The health of the present Lord
Mayor," with three times three.—(Great cheering.)
This toast having been drunk with marked applause,
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks. He had arrived
at the rank he now enjoyed, not through high birth or
distinguished talents, but through an inviolable regard to
truth and honesty of conduct.—(Hear, hear.) His
revered parents had taught him that if he followed this
path he might consider no honour as beyond his attain-
ment ; but they still taught him to regard a clear con-
science as the greatest reward lie could possibly obtain.—
(Cheers.) In conclusion he begged to propose " The
health of the s.larquis of La.usdowne and the rest of his
Majesty's Ministers."

The Marquis of LANSDOWNE returned thanks. He
felt a deep interest in the welfare of the city of London,
with which he had for some time been individually con-
nected. He bad long been a member of one of in most
honourable companies; but, even if he had not been thus
connected with it, be could not, as an Englishman, but
feel that the welfare and prosperity of the city of London
was of the highest consequence, not only to this country,
but to the world. He begged to propose what he was
sure would meet with a warm reception—
" The health of the Lady Mayoress." Drunk with
three times three, and loud applause.
The Loan Maros having returned thanks for the
honour paid to his lady, begged to propose, with three
times three, " The health of Lis Grace the Duke
of Wellington."—(This toast, on its announcement, was
received with the most marked applause from every part
of the hall.)
The next toast was that of " The Lord Chief Justice
and bis Majesty's Judges."
The Lo CHIEF JU:iTICE returned thanks on behalf
of himself and his Majesty's Judges."
The Loan MAYOR then proposed " f.nt'd Viscount Al-
thorp sad the Members of the House of Commons."
Lord ALTHORP returned thanks in a very low tone of
voice. He thanked them for the unexpected honour
which hasl been done him in singling him out by name,
more especially when his name was coupled with the
Reformed House of Commons, He hoped that House
would obtain the confidence of the country, and he felt
that the best means of deserving such confidence was by
faithfully representing its wants and wishes.
The Loan IlAyom, again rose, to propose " The health
of Captain Ross." It must be highly gratifying to the
whole nation, to find that they had among them that
intrepid, energetic, and noble-minded seaman, Captain
Ross. His wonderful return, he felt sure, would be
hailed by them in the heartiest manner. He had heard
with great satisfaction that the gallant Captain intended
shortly to lay before the public the details of his important
discoveries, acid the result of his unheard-of labours and
onesufferings in the cause of humanity and science. Every
must be aware niche immense privations this gallant
and devotedly generous Captain and his crew suffered in
their eliorta to do gogd to the hurnal race, and to raise

the glory of British naval enterprise. It was, therefore,
with the warmest pleasure that he proposed to them to
pledge " Health, success, and long life to their gallant
countryman, Captain Ross."
The toast was drunk with three times three, and an,
companied with loud and long continued cheering, in
which the ladies warmly joined.
Captain Ross rose to return thanks, which he did very
briefly. The Gallant Captain was very indistinctly
heard. He said, in substance, as far as we could collect, that
nothing tended more to excite his feelings and respect
than to hear his name pledged by his Lordship, and so
kindly received by the citizens of London. He begged to
assure them that he was truly and sincerely sensible of
the honour that was just conferred upon him ; and it
was highly gratifying to him to feel fully persuaded that
such an honour would not have been conferred upon
him if he had not done something to merit it. He bad
done his best; and when a British seaman said that it
meant something ; be had done as much as he could,
and a generous people could not expect more. He
assured the distinguished and numerous assembly present,
that his future life should be dedicated to promote the
welfare and glory of his native country ; and he felt
determined to prove to them hew willing he was to show
that in some way be merited the honour and applause his
countrymen were so ready to bestow on the efforts he
had already made to advance the science and national
glory of the country to which he was so proud to belong.
—(Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR, in proposing the next toast, said they
bad present three of the Members who had the great honor
or representing them in Parliament. He begged, there-
fore. to propose their healths in conjunction with that of
Mr. Alderman Wood.—(Drunk with three times three.)
Mr. GROTE, M.P., briefly returned thanks.
The next toast proposed by the LORD MAYOR was—
" The Solicitor-General and the Bar."--(Drank most
cordially.)
Sir J. CAMPBELL returned thanks.
The next toast was that of " The Magistracy of the
City of London."—(Drank cordially.)

Sir C. HUNTER returned thanks.
Other toasts succeeded, and at about half•past nine, the
LORD MAYOR, accompanied by the msjority of his guests,
retired from the Hall, and proceeded to the reception room,
where, contrary to the general expectation, and evidently
much to the delight of the fairer portion of the company,
every requisite preparation had been made for dancing.
Weippert's band was in attendance, and, under its auspices,
quadrilles were kept up until a late hour, the Worthy Chief
Magistrate and his Lady frequently setting example to
their more junior visiters by mingling i❑ the dance. We
observed many of the Foreign Ministers evidently gratified
observers of the festive scene which took place. At half-
past eleven the Lard Mayor and his family retired, and
the Hall was shortly after cleared. The arrangements
throughout the entertainment were excellent, and seemed
to give very general satisfaction.