The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-01 00:00:00

DINNER TO COLONEL LAKE.

A public dinner was given by the Mayor of Grimsby
(Mr. Charles Bartholomew Moody) in honour of Colonel
Lake, C. 8., Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, &a., at the Yar-
borough Hotel in Grimsby, on Wednesday evening, on
which occasion a highly respectable company honoured his
worship and the gallant colonel with their presence.
The usual loyal toasts were given by the CHAIRMAN,
and enthusiastically received.

" Army and Navy" was proposed by the Mayor, who
passed a high eulogium on the bravery and endurance of
the British soldiers.
Colonel LAKE returned, thanks on behalf of the army.
Captain PowEn, R.N., responded on behalf of the navy.
" The bishop and clergy of the diocese" was given by
the MkyOß, any responded to by the Rev. W. J. MONK.
The JYLIYP,,n then rose amid loud and continued applause
and have now the pleasure to propose to you
a tAjast which I am sure you are quite prepared to
reec to with all the honour it deserves, " The health
of the brave soldier who sits near me." We have
had much discussion as to many of the great events
which occurred during the campaign in the Crimea, and the
conduct of some of the officers engaged has been subjected
to much criticism, but I am not aware that one single doubt
or one disparaging reflection has ever been expressed as to
the distinguished part taken by onrofficers and men in AAia-
tic Turkey. As a military question, we all know that the de-
fence of Kars has been pronounced by veterans in the ser-
vice as one of the most daring and extraordinary exploits
in modern times, and many distinguished officers in the
service have generously accorded the honours due to Gen.
Williams and the heroes with whom the name of Kars will
ever be associated. Throughout the whole of that trying
time Colonel Lake, by his abilities, by his bravery, by the
example he set those under his command—contributed
meat materially to the defence, and proved himself, as a
British officer, to be eminently deserving of the confidence
and the gratitude his countrymen have so warmly expressed
towards him, and that gratitude is, I am sure, participated
in by every one here; and you will allow me to propose to
you " his health, and long life to him Colonel Lake, and
three times three."

Colonel LAKE rose to return thanks amid loud and long
continued applause, and said—Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
I scarcely know how I shall fina'words to express to you'
the gratification I feel at the very handsome manner in
which you have'drunk my health. The Mayor has alluded
in most flattering terms to my services during the late war
in connection with the campaign in Asia Minor. I can
truly say for myself, and I think I can answer for General
Williams and my companions in arms, that the only claim
which we feel to have on the good opinion of the public is
that of having used our utmost endeavours to prove our-
selves worthy of the name of British officers. I will not
tell ycu that we underwent no hardships during the
blockade of Kars, for perhaps it may be considered that
the constant watching by night and want of natural rest,
the almost ceaseless diity and anxiety by day, and the
hourly hope and expectation of succour, whisk never
arrived, were umewhat hard to bear ; but I ask you, gen-
tlemen, what were all these compared to what the helpless
women and children suffered, digging up and eagerly de-
valuing the commonest roots of the ground without even
waiting to wash off the mould which clung to them, and
begging piteously for a morsel of bread from those who were
unable to assist them? What, I repeat, were our hardships
compared to those of the half clothed, I might almost say,
nearly naked soldiers, with scarcely enough food to keep
body and soul together, mounting sentry in all weathers,
some of them standing in the snow without shoes to their
feet, and still never complaining, though their ranks were
daily being thinned by cholera as well as by starvation ?
In many of the houses of the inhabitants of the town, after
the surrender, six and eight dead bodies were found by the
Russians, the survivors having been unable, from weakness,
to carry them to their graves. For anything we may have
undergone we have been amply rewarded by the honours
conferred on us by her most gracious Majesty, and by
the cordial reception we have everywhere met with from
our countrymen, similar to that which I have this night
enjoyed. The sad scenes have long since passed away, but
they must live for ever in the memory of those who wit-
nessed them. I would ask you to bestow some amount of
pity on those brave soldiers who, under hardships and pri-
cations of no ordinary nature, held the place until forced
by famine unwillingly to surrender, when only one day's
provisions remained in store; and I would ask you to think
kindly of that enemy who received us so hospitably and
treated us with such courtesy, showing that they knew
how to appreciate a defence sustained under almost over-
whelming difficulties. Once more, gentlemen, allow me
to return you my most grateful thanks for the honour you
have done me. (The gallant colonel sat down amid cheer-
ing and applause.)
The last toast was "the ladies," with which the dinner
concluded.