The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-05 00:00:00

FESTIVITIES AT SYON HOUSE.

Yesterday the Middlesex and Westminster ten-
antry of the Duke of Northumberland, to the num-
ber of 100, assembled at Syon-house, Isleworth, for
the purpose of presenting a congratulatory address
to Lord Warkworth on his coming of age, and of
sharing the festivities by which that event has been
marked. Lord Warkworth is the eldest son of Earl
Percy, who sat in the last Parliament as Lord Lo-
vaine, before the dukedom of Northumberland de-
scended to his father, then Earl of Beverley. The
late Duke dying without issue, a long interval has
necessarily elapsed since the coming of age of a
direct heir to the Northumberland property, and
hence more than ordinary importance attaches to
the majority of the present Duke's grandson. This
event occurred on the 29th of May last, since which
date family visits have been paid and rejoicings held
successively at Alnwick Castle, in Northumberland ;
at Albury, near Guildford, where the Percy estates
are situate ; and now at Syon-house, within easy
range of their property in the metropolis.
At half-past 2 o'clock the members of the party,
having previously visited the pleasure grounds and
conservatories of Syon-house, assembled in the li-
brary, a gallery extending along the whole of the
eastern or colonnade front of the building. The
ceremony of presenting the address to Lord Wark-
worth, surrounded by the members of his family, was
here gone through. In few but hearty phrases it
gave expression to the sentiment animating the
tenantry and dictating their visit; and Lord Wark-
worth's brief and appropriate reply produced a very
favourable impression. In the interval elapsing be-
fore the dinner hour the visitors found time to admire
the state apartments and their contents. The library
is remarkable chiefly for a series of medallion por-
traits of the Percy family and their connections, from
the Emperor Charlemagne, A.D. 800, to the late D uke,
then Baron Prudhoe, represented in a midshipman's
dress. The more striking features in the other rooms
are the colossal bronzes and columr,s of verd antique
in the vestibule, the mosaic tables and marble sta-
tues in the dining-room, and in the richly decorated
drawing-room the walls draped with satin, and the
coved ceiling, embellished with medallion copies of
paintings found in Herculaneum. The real attrac-
tions of Syon-house, however, consist in its associa-
tions—first, with conventual life, under the change-
ful sway in such matters of successive Tudor Kings
and Queens, and next with the vicissitudes of
Royalty itself, the imprisoned monarch at Hampton
Court having been permitted to exchange visits
with his children here. IVhat now form the suite
of private apartments at Syon-house are the rooms
used by Charles I. on the occasion of these visits.

The entrance-hall was yesterday laid out as a
banquet-chamber, where, when all had taken their
seats, Lord Percy presided, with his sons, Lord
Warkworth and the Hon. Algernon Percy, on either
hand. The general company, which was confined
to those territorially connected with the property,
included the Vicars of Isleworth and of St. James,
Mr. Williams, who has held his appointment of
steward under three dukes successively, Mr. Curtis,
&c. Immediately before the giving of the usual
loyal toasts the Countess Percy, accompanied by
Lady Louisa Percy, Lady Chas. Percy, Miss Percy,
Mrs. Richards, and Mrs. and Miss Day, entered the
hall and took her place upon a dais at the upper end.
In returning thanks for " the health of the Duke of
Northumberland," which Mr. S. Steward had pro-
posed, and accompanied with some appropriate allu-
sions to the event of the day,
Lord PERCY thanked his visitors for the kindness
they had shown towards his son, which was the
more spontaneous and gratifying that they were not,
as in the north, the representatives of an hereditary
claim to share is the _ family •0--,
on account of the
part borne by their ancestors in battles long passed
by, the memories of which were almost forgotten.
The VICAR of ST. MARTIN'S acknowledged the
compliment paid to the Duchess of Northumberland
in drinking her health, and made reference to the
increasing importance in the present day, when
grave political and social changes are at hand, of a
good example being set by these younger members
of the nobility who gave so much character and
colour to the rising generation.
Mr. 11. G. BOLIN proposed " The Health of the
Earl of Percy." The very name, lie said, was sug-
gestive of the battles of Cressy and Chevy Chase,
of Magna Charta, and a host of other events in the
national history, in all of which for centuries that
house had been on the side of the people and against
foreign or arbitrary power. In these festivities he
saw a revival of the best features of the feudal
spirit and of the old English gatherings.
Lord PERCY, adverting to the feudal times, said
that though much abused, they were days when
men depended on one another for life and limb.
The lord depended on his retainers for success in
battle and for the maintenance of his power; the
retainer depended on his lord for security and for

everything which made life valuable. The only
siirit, however, animating the Duke, his father, in
the present instance was the desire that all his
frionds should share the joy he felt at his grandson
ati aining his majority, and that his grandson should
ke acciaintance for himself with those of whom
Borne, at least, might hereafter be greatly depen-
dent upon him.

" The Health of the Countess Percy" was re-
ceived with every manifestation of respect and
esteem. Lady Percy bowed her acknowledgments.
Mr. ALFRED BELL, in introducing the toast of the
day, observed that the fact of a Percy having gained
the' 'Victoria Cross" in the Crimea showed that
the ancient valorous qualities of the family had not
diminished, and], in the course of Borne reminiscences
relating to the late Duke of Northumberland, men-
tioned that he could never be induced to receive his
pay as Admiral, which therefore went on accu-
mulating till his death. It then amounted to
nearly £B,OOO, to which the present Duke becom-
ing entitled declined to take it, but divided it
between three naval charities, believing that by so
doing he was best fulfilling the wishes of his
kinsman. Mr. Bell augured brightly as to the
future of Lord Warkworth, from the disposi-
tion he had already shown. If this promise were
fulfilled, the honour to himself would be greater
than that conferred by the 900 emblazonments in
the ancient shield of Percy, or by all the Royal and
noble blood flowing in his veins.

Lord Warkworth's spirited reply was heartily
cheered. Lord Percy then, in the name of his house,
drank to the good health of all present, and the com-
pany separated.