The Sun.
London, England, 1856-02-04 00:00:00

TILE PEACE CONGRESS.

The following are the Plenipotentiaries who have
been invited by their respective Governments to
take part in the Cohgress :
France—MM. de Wale wski and de Bourqueney.
England—Lords Clarendon and Cowley.
Austria—MM. de Buol and Hubner.
Turkey—Aali-Pacha and ARlemed-Djemil-Bey.
Piedmont--MM. d'Azeglio and Cavour.
Russia—AlM. d'Orloff and. iirunow.

BANQUET TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL

SIR P. GRANT.

A grand banquet was given at the London Tavern on
Saturday evening to Lieutenant-General Sir P. Grant,
by the directors of the East India Company, on his ap-
pointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Madras army.
The chair was filled by Mr. M'Naughten.
After the usual loyal toasts had been disposed of,
The CHAIRMAN rase to propose the health of Lieu-
tenant-General Slr P. Grant. Mr. M‘Naughten passed
a glowing eulogium upon the gallant gentleman, and
said that in the several duties he bad already been called
upon to perform he had manifested all those qualities of
firmness, impartiality, evennea of temper, and zeal for
the public service which were so essentially necessary
for the distinguished position which he had been called
upon to fulfil.

Lieutenant-General Sir P. GRANT, in returning thanks
for the high honour that had been conferred upon him,
assured the company that his whole energies would be
devoted to fulfil the high command to which he had been
appointed. He went to India, he said, unfettered by
pledge or promise of any kind, and his only thought
would be the public service, its efficiency a d well-Leing.
The toasts of her Majesty's Ministers was acknow-
ledged by the Duke of Argyll ; the Houses of Lords
and Commons, by Lord Campbell and the Hon. E. Ellice.
The brilliant assemblage broke up shortly before eleven.

PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL
TO THE LESSEE OF D.RURY-LANE
THEATRE.

The artisans of Drury-lane Theatre, grateful for the
spirit with which Mr. E. T. Smith has conducted the
business arrangements of his establishment, resolved
upon presenting him with a testimonial of their esteem.
This was accordingly done on Saturday, when a hand.
some silver tankard, bearing the subjoined inscription,
6•43..r4. _a 6cia :--" Pre-
sented to E. T. Smith, Esq., of the Theatre Royal Drury-
lane, as a slight testimonial of the sincere respect and
esteem entertained for him by the artisans of the
theatre."

Mr. B. Fairbrother also received a pair of gold spec-
tacles, of first-rate manufacture, as an acknowledgment
of his general services to the employes. These evidences
of good feeling from the humbler branches of a great
establishment speak loudly in favour sf its internal man
agement, and its satisfa3tory conduct ai regards the
working members.

A Cabinet Council was hold on Saturday afternoon at
the Foreign-office. The Ministers present were Viscount
Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of
Lansdowne, Earl Granville, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir
George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Panmure,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Charles Wood, the
Right Hon. R. Vernon Smith, Lord Stanley of Alder-
ley, the Right Hon. M. T. Baines, and the Duke of
Argyll. The Council sat three hours and a quarter.
It is understood that the appearance of her Royal
Highness the Princess Royal in the great world will, for
this season, be limited to the palace, it not being thought
expedient to apply to Parliament for the sum necessary
to maintain a household while she is co young, and it
being essential to the dignity of a princess of her rank,
if she visited a subject, that her royal highness should
be attended by a lady-in-waiting and an equerry of her
own.—Court
It is uncle, stood that the Earl of Clarendon will be
accompanied as plenipotentiary at Paris by Mr. Edmund
Hammond, permanent Under-Secretary of State (who,
it will be recollected, assisted Lord J. Ru•sell on his
mission to Vienna last year), by the Hon. Spencer Pon-
sonby, and Mr. Thomas Villiers Lester, private and
assistant secretaries to the noble earl, and by Mr.
Francis W. H. Cavendish, precis writer. Lord Wode-
house will discharge the duties of the Foreign-office
during the temporary absence of the Earl of Clarendon
in Paris.
TIN AMERICAN MANISTRE.-.-.We regret to state that
Mr. Buchanan, the American Minister, felt it his duty
to decline the invitation to Lady Palmerston's soirée on
Saturday evening, owing to what he conceives personal
discourtesy on the part of one of the members cf the
Cabinet—not Lord Palmerston—when recently, in the
discharge of his duties as American Minister, his Excel-
lency was engaged in vindicating what he believes to be
the honour and rights of his country at this critical
juncture.—bloating Adverti.ser.
DEATH OF COMMA.NDER Cara.—COtnalatider Wash-
ington Carr 0440 died on the 30th ult., in Maddox-
street, Hanover-square, in the 59th year of his age.
At a soirée given iby Count Buol at Vienna, on the
27th ult., the company included Sir Hamilton Seymour,
Baron de Bourqueney, Col. Manteuffel, and Prince
Gorstchakoff.

In the Belgian Chamber of ReprasentativeF, on Fri.
day, the Minister of Finance presented a bill granting
an annual allowance of 150,000 fr. to the Count de
Flandre, second son of King Leopold.
Letters from St. Petersburg, of the 25th ult., state
that the Grand Duke Cmstantine and the War Party
are convinced of the necessity of making peace.
EAST INDIA-HOUSE.--On Saturday a Court of Direct
tors was held at the East India-house, when Lieuten-
ant-General Patrick Grant, C. 8., was sworn in Coin•
manger-in• Chief of the Company's Forces, and Second
Member of Council on the Madras establishment.

CASIBRIDGE UNIVERSITY ELECTlON.—Thursday the
7th inst. is the day appointed for the purpose of electing
a representative to the vacancy in the representation.
The poll will be taken in the Senate-house, on Feb. the
7th, Bth, 9th, and 11th, from ten o'clock in the forenoon
till four p. in. each day ; and en Tuesday the 12th, from
ten o'clock till two p.m. ; and in the evenings of the 7th,
' Stb, 9th, and 11th, from half-past seven to half-past
eight, each evening, in the public schools.
ROCHESTER ELECTION.—ROCHESTER, Feb. 2.--The
writ for the election of a new member in the room of
Mr. Villiers was received by the returning oNcer en
Friday evening, and he has appointed Thursday next at
12 o'clock for the nomination. This is the longest pe-
riod allowed by law after the receipt of the writ, but in
consequence of next Tuesday and Wednesday being
Shrove-Tuesday and Ash-Wednesday, it was thought
better, in deference to the cathedral authorities, that
the election should not take place on those days. Both
the candidates, Mr. Bodkin and Mr. W. Martin, have
been busily engaged all day in canvassing the electors.
The former gentleman has received a good deal of addi-
tional support among the people of Rochester on account
Of his having declined the office of Assistant-Judge at
the Middlesex Sessions, which would have disqualified
him from sitting in Parliament, and continued his pre-
tensions to represent the city of Rochester after the offer
was made • and if any credit is given to the statements
of his friends with regard to the number of promises of
support he has receive 4 his election would be certain.
The supporters of Mr. Martin are, however, equally
sanguine, and there appears to be no doubt that the
contest will he a very close one.
TAUNTON ELECTION.—The election of a member for
this borough, rendered necessary by the Right Hon. H.
Labouchere's acceptance of the office of Secretary of
State for the Colonies, will take place to-morrow
(Tuesday). 'The high bailiff, who is returning officer,
has received the writ, and it is understood that the
right hon. gentleman will be returned without opposi-
tion.

REPRESENTATION OF LEEDS.--The election will tak•
place on Thursday next. Mr. Baines, it is expected,
will be elected without opposition.