The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-25 00:00:00

Nbttlion

SUN OFFICE Scv 'Chic .

TATTERSALL'S.—(This Evening.)

ST. LEG ER.
7 to 4 offtred on the field
]OO to 0 agst Brother to Bird-on-the-Wing (taken)
25 to 1 agst Lundyfoot (taken)
2to lon Fazzoletto and Ellington, coupled
(taken to mone3)
DERBY.
20 to 1 agst Schiedam (taken)
25 to 1 agst Tournament (taken)

RADCLIFFE RACES.---(This Day.)

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

STAND PLATE.

Hanover
Alfred
Excitement

Three ran.
HEATON PARK HANDICAP.
General Wyndham
Betsy B
Biron

2

Four ran.

WILTON CUP.

Yorkshire Grey
Pantomime
Vaa Dunck
Three ran

ARRIVALS AT EGHAM.

.... ,1

Wink&ld, Rialto, Queen Mall m, Swaleliffe, Atlamas,
Fright, Roebuck, Judy, Firelight, Siroco9, Maid of
Perth, Fashion, Roman, Amorous Boy, Miss Dickson,
Sister to Spindle, and some platers.

BANQUET TO THE GUARDS.
(This Day.)

The promised banquet to the medal men of the
Guards took place this day at the Royal Surrey
Gardens, and was everything that could be de-
sired.

The morning was cloudy, and anything but in-
viting, a misty rain falling about the middle of
the day, but nevertheless immense crowds of per-
sons lined the streets through which the Guards
passed from their respective barracks to the gar-
dens, and cheered them lustily.
The Music Hall, the capacious dimensions of
which, and its light and elegant construction and
decoration, which is now so well known to thou-
sands, presented one of the most enlivening, gay,
and brilliant spectacles imaginable. Over the
orchestra, high up above the upper gallery, and
springing from the base of the dome, was a crystal
transparency of the quarterings of England,
France, Sardinia, and Turkey, surrounded by the
Garter and England's motto ; whilst on each side
and above were intermixed the flags of the re-
spective nations, over which was placed a minia-
ture Standard of England in gold and crimson.
At the opposite end of the building was a similar
device, and above it one in which the tri-color of
France was most conspicuous.

Along the balcony of the principal gallery fes-
toons of artificial leaves were gracefully and artis-
tically intertwined with the light filagaree work of
the front, and in the interstices formed by
the festoons were placed the names of "J.
M'Donald," " Dundas, " " Evans," " Bruat,"
" Wyndham, " " St. Arnaud, " " Codring-
ton," " Massey, " " Raglan," " Lyons,"
" Simpson," " Williams," " Cardigan, " Lucan,"
" Bosquet," " Canrobert," &c., he., names which
for ever will live in the page of history ; and how-
ever much some of them might not have realised
all the anticipations of an ardent, enthusiastic,
brave, and courageous people, there are many
amongst them whom a generous public delighteth
to honour, and who have gallantly and nobly sus-
tained the reputation of the country. Against
each of the pillars was hung a flag of each of the
allied nations, whilst around the balcony and the
middle gallery festoons of flags were suspended
over them, and along the upper gallery flags were
hung around, which floated gaily in the cool
breeze which, by the extraordinary construction of
the ventilation of the building, passed through it
during the day, and kept the place delightfully
cool, a desideratum highly to be prized in crowded
assemblies—whether in the heat of the day, or
those which succeed them.

Immediately over and behind the chairman, and
iu front of the orchestra, the flags of the respective
nations were artistically intertwined, and in a
wreath on each side were the words " Redan,"
" Malakhoff," and in the centre the name of that
never-to-be-forgotten soldier's friend and minis-
tering angel, Miss "Nightingale."
At 12 o'clock the gates of the gardens were opened
for the admission of ladies and others by ticket at an
advanced price, the proceeds of which the proprietors
of the gardens have liberally placed at the disposal
of the committee, and the galleries were speedily
filled by a number of elegantly-dressed ladies, radi-
ant with smiles, highly delighted at witnessing
such an interesting scene, and eager to testify their
admiration for men whose daring and gallantry
have achieved deeds unsurpassed in the page of
history, and who suffered the hardships of war,
aggravated by official blundering, with a magna-
nimity savouring more of romance than reality.
The Grenadiers, mustering 739 men, marched
from their barracks in Birdcage-walk, over West-
minster-bridge, past the Elephant and Castle,
along the Walworth-road to Amelia-street, down
which it passed to the principal entrance of the
gardens. The Fusiliers, numbering 708 men,
marched from their barracks, at Charing-cross,
over Waterloo-bridge, following the Grenadiers
from the Elephant and Castle. The Coldstreams,
numbering 562 men, marched from the Tower over
London-bridge by the Elephant and Castle, and
the same route thence to the gardens.

These gallant men, each preceded by its band,
playing various enlivening airs, reached the
gardens about the appointed time, 2 o'clock, when
an equal number of each regiment, according to
previous arrangement, took their places at the
tables in the capacious music hall, the remainder
being accommodated under an awning in front of
the building, the band stationed in the orchestra
playing at the time the " Roast beef of old
England."

The tables were laid out with cold meats of every
kind, plum puddings, salads, fruits, cheese, &c.,
with a bottle of stout to each man. At various
places along the tables were a number of ever-
greens, fuschias, balsams, geraniums, verbenas,
and other plants in flower ; and in the centre of
the room was an emblematic device, designed by
Messrs. Potel and Shabot, who provided the ban-
quet, and whose catering as purveyors to the com-
pany is well known and justly appreciated by the
thousands of persons who have patronised these
gardens since their opening under the present
management, only a few weeks ago.
The men, on entering the grounds, were loudly
and enthusiastically cheered, which was repeated
on their entering the building, accompanied with
waiving of handkerchiefs, bouquets, &c., by the
ladies.

The gallery opposite the orchestra was filled by
a, number of officers in plain clothes, and their
ladies.

The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Lady MaYoremf
and Miss Salomons occupied a private box at the
right of the orchestra.
The men, having taken their seats, were provided
with a bottle of champagne with which to drink
the toasts.
Sergeant-Major Edwards, the senior sergeant-
major of the Guards, then took the chair, sup-
ported on either side by those next in seniority to
him.

During the dinner the following programme of
music was admirably performed by the combined
bands of the Grena Bier, Coldstream, and Scots
Fusilier Guards, and er the direction of the band•

Inaators, Mr. Gotirrty, M. oico,o*
Godfrey :
March—" The Return of the Guards" D. Godfrey.
Quadrille—" Hibernian" (On Irish Melodies) Jullien.
Selection—" Traviata "
Quadrille —" Sweaborg" (On Nautical Me-
lodies) ....................................... .
" Hymn of the Allied Army "
Quadrille—" Bonnie Dundee " (On Scotch
Melodies)
Waltz —" Star of the West "

Selection—" Senniramide," .
Polka—" Rataplan " Koenig.
Selection—" Robert lo Diablo" ...... .
At the conclusion of the repast the members of
the chorus, who kindly volunteered their services
for the occasion, were stationed in the chorus gal-
lery, and, under the direction of Mr. Land, sank
the grace after dinner from the Laudi Spirituali,
1545.

The CUAIRMIN then gave the health of " The

Queen," which was euthustically received--the
bands of the Guards playing the Nation
Anthem, the solo parts being rendered by upward.
of 300 members of the Chorus in the gallery.
The CHAIRMAN said I have to give you anoth
toast, which I do not expect will please you as much
as the last, but very nearly so. I give you the toast
of "Prince Albert and the rest of theßoyal family,"
and in that of the Royal family I include the
Prince of Wales, who, I hope, may live after the
example of his Royal parents, and may the day be
long before he wears the Royal crown. (Cheers.)
The toast was drank with three times three.
Band—" Coburg March."

The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast,

"His Royal Highness the General Commanding.
in-Chief, our Soldiers and Sailors, our brave Allies
in the lato War, and the Chaplains of the Army,"
said he might say a few words to them on the
toast, as comrades. To the old men—the old
Guards of Alma and lukerman—he need not say
one word to them in favour of the General
Commanding-in-Chief, for they all knew as much
of him as ho did. (Cheers.) He must live in their
hearts as he did in his (the chairman's) eternally—.

(cheers)—and all others who were true British sol-
diers. (Cheers.) It must be their greatest pride to-day

they were with him at Alma and Inkerman.
(Cheers.) There was but one thing caused him
sorrow, if such a thing ought then to be felt by

him, and that was to find that these tables were
not largo enough for all their comrades in the late
war to bo present. (Cheers.) He doubted not
but that they would feel pleasure at learning the
manner in which the Guards had been received
that day. (Cheers.) With regard to " our sailors,"
he was happy to say the greatest good feeling ex-
isted between them and the line. They and the
blue jackets were indebted to one another for many
kindnesses all through the late war—a better feeling
it was impossible could have existed between thein
and the bluejackets. With respect to their allies
it was impossible for him to say enough, and to the
Inkerman men he could say they had seen the
day when they could have fallen dowiCand
wor-
shipped them like they did their God. (Cheers.)
They recollected them coining over the hill. (Tre-
mendous cheering.) The chaplains of the army
had done their duty. They had been taken so
little notice of in all former military assemblages
that he had included them in the toast.

The toast was received with cheers, the choir
singing the following song, the words written ex-
.
pressely for the occasion. by G. Linley, Es 4.
Oh ! brave were England's mailed knights,
That won at Agincourt,
And bright the v.Lge of Hist'ry shines
With deeds they did of yore.
But ne'er was valour more display'd,
In battles' mad career,
Than by the gallant British hearts
Whom, now, we welcome here.
Yet, while on glories past we dwa,
And ancient heroes praise,
A brighter lustre hangs around
The warriors of our days.
To them, we fill the wine cup, now,
To them, we raise the cheer ;
God bless the gallant British hearts •
Whom, now, wo welcome here.

The CLIA,IRMAN then gave the healths of the
Chairman of the Committee and the Subscribers
to the Dinner Fund: They had been invitedto a
dinner such as- perhaps the memory of, nlin Jiad
e never seen thequal of—(cheers)--.-andlthe'fdt of
them having been invited to such a dinner shelved
that their countrymen were satisfied_
,with the
manner in which they had done their duty.
(Loud cheers.) They all recollected the day when
they never dreamt or thought such a day as this
would have been in the history of their lives—.
(cheers) —and after what they had seen and
gone through, such a reception as that by
their fellow-countrymen was sufficient to make
him and them jump on one leg through another
such a campaign as that just finished. (Cheers.)
The LORD MA,Y011,:011 the part of the committee,
returned thanks, and in doing so paid a just tri.
buto to the bravery of the troops, and remarked
that ho hoped every soldier would be''proud
of the uniform ho wore, and that his conduct
would be such as to earn honors and respect in
peace as ho had done in war. (Loud cheers.).
He concluded by proposing the health of Ser.
joant-Major Edwards, the chairman of the day,
and who, whether they regarded his height
to his large beard (laughter) which, with
his hair, was tinged with grey, marked him,
as the old and honourable soldier. (Cheers.) Ho
hoped he would be many years spared to his coun-
try which ho had served so successfully. (Cheers.)
Band—" The British Grenadiers."

The CHAIIMAN returned thanks, which he could
only do in an humble manner in all sincerity.
(Cheers.) That was a proud day for them all, and
he firmly believed, in confiden3e between him and
them, that he was the first serjeant-major of the"
British army whose health bad been drunk by the
Lord Mayor of London. (Cheers and laughter.)
After again thanking his lordship for the honour,
the chairman sat down a midst the enthusiastic
cheers of his comrades.

The LORD MAYOR then gave " The healthy of
the Commanding Officers," which was drank wiith
enthusiasm.

Mr. Harker, City toastmaster, kindly
teered his services as toastmaster for the occasion.
About 1,200 dined in the Hall, the remainder.
being accommodated under the tent in front of the
Music Hall.

Inspector Lund, of the P division, with a body
of men, preserved excellent order at the approaches
to the Gardens.

The interesting ceremony was then concluded,
and the soldiers withdrew from the Hall, and
strolled about the gardens, where other;amusementit
awaited them.