The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-29 00:00:00

The Queen's Birth-Day at Gravesend.

This town, long the favourite resort of the citizen and
eastern London holiday-makers, has just passed through a
week of unusual gaiety, the first portiou of which was de-
voted to the Whitsuntide pleasure-seekers, while the middle
part of it was engaged by the throng of fashionable lovers
of aquatic sports, the occasion being the exciting races of
the Royal Thames Yacht Squadron ; and, then, Saturday
closing it up with the festivities consequent on the celebra-
ticn of the Queen's birth-day. Steamboats and railways
brought their quota to dwell the number of visitors, some
to the famed Rosherville Gardens, others to the Windmill-
hill, and then away through the baautiful fields and lanes
that lead to well-known spots. Tilbury Fort, that calls
to mind Queen Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada, still
remains to salute the lieges on their Sovereign's natal day,
fired off the accustomed "twenty-one" guns on Saturday
with due punctuality, while the craft in the bay,'of all
s:zes, were profusely decorated with bunting of all colours
and all nationalities in honour of the day. The grounds
adjoining the Canal Tavern were specially retained for the
aumumodation of a large party of officers of the out-door
department of her Majesty's Customs, who arrived from
London with their wives and families, some by rail
and others by a steamer chartered for themselves. Land-
ing at the Town-pier, they proceeded to the rendezvous of
the baud of their rifle corps (26th Middlesex), where they
were received by the band, formed of those officers of the
department stationed at the depot there. Shortly after
which, the amusements of the day commenced, consisting
of every variety usual on such days, including a cricket
match, quoit playing, running races, &c., but, though last,
not the least in its claims to be noticed, the humorous
game of Aunt Sally. The flagstaff portion of the field,
however, was the most extensive throughout the day,
whore a covered platform was raised for the accommoda-
tion of the votaries of Terpischore. Here tho Gravesend
officers' band was stationed, and its excellent performances
were fully appreciated, and fully in demand in playing
polkas, quadrilles, &c. Tents with refreshments were not
wanting, and were duly visited for the comforts of the inner
man. The day was charming, and the utmost hilarity and
order prevailed among all preient, and when afternoon
warned the traveller from London that a journey of 25
miles with an ebb tide was before them, it wasUvith regret
that parting became inexorable, but before separating there
Was a unanimous feeling expressed of the satisfaction the
entertainment afforded—much of the credit of which they
awarded to the kindness of the controller of the depart-
ment for his arrangeMent in detaching every officer that
could be spared to enjoy what is to them a rarity, a real
holiday. After tIM peiformance of the Royal Anthem, the
revelry came to a finale, and, preparations being concluded
for returning to town, the hand played them back through
the town to the pier.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.—We understand.that
the Chilian Minister in this country has demanded
his passports. When will our Government understand
that they cannot run with the hare and hunt with the
hounis ? As mull, they halm blundered into a course
offensive to both the combatants. Spain is justly incensed
at Mr. Layard's language, and Chili is indignant at being
left in the lurch at the eleventh hour, and given over into
the hands of her foes. it is the story of Denmark over
again. Another six years of Liberal administration, and
there will not b 3 a Power in the world of which we shall
not have made an enemy.—A meeting of the supporters of
the Earl of Derby took place yesterday afternoon at the
residence of the Marquis of Salisbury. Upwards of 200
members of the Conservative party were in attendance
Mr. Disraeli addressed, the meeting at some length, and
his remarks ware received with enthusiasm. It was unani-
mously resolved that Captain Hayter's amendment should
be supported by the entire strength of the Opposition.—
Herald.

The following were among the Conservative members of
the House of Commons who met yesterday afternoon at the
Marquis of Salisbury's residence in Arlington-street, Picca-
dilly, at which the Earl of Derby was present :-.-The Right
lion. B. Disraeli, the Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, Captain
Mervyn Archdall, Mr. Richard Arkwright, Mr. C. Bagnall,
Sir Josepht 11. Bailey, Mr. J. H. Baillie, Col. Bartelot, Sir
T. Bateson Sir Michael H. Beach, the Earl of Bective, Mr
G. Cavendish Bentinek, Mr. R. Benyon, Capt. D. W. Pack-.
Beresford, Colonel the Hon. H. B. Bernard, Lord Bingham,
Sir Robert Gore Booth, Sir Brooke W. Bridges, Mr: Robert
Brooks, Sir H. Hervey Bruce, Mr. Henry Bruen, Lord
Burghley, Sir Percy Burrell, Colonel Cartwright, Lord
Eustace Cecil, Captain Hon. G. Windsor Clive, Mr. A. D.
Bailie Cochrane, Hon. Henry Cole, Hon. J. L. Cole, Mr.
Thomas Conolly, Mr. M. E. Corbally, the Right Hon. H. L.
Corry, Mr. E. H. Cooper, Mr. W. T. Cox, Mr. G. CUbitt,
Viscount Curzon, Mr. Capper, the Earl of Dalkeith, Mr.
Fitzwilliam Dick, Mr. Charles Ducane, Hon. W. E. bun-
combe, Mr. C. G. Du Pre, Mr. W. H. Dyke, Colonel R.
Dyott, Mr. W. G. Dowdeswell, Mr. Eccorsloy, Mr. R. A.
Earle, Col. Edwards, Hon. Algernon F. Egerton, Mr, E.
C. Egerton, Lieut.-Col. H. H. Fane, Col. J. W. Pane, Sir
Minto Farquhar, Mr. Joseph Feilden, Sir James Fergusson,
Mr. John Floyer, the Right Hon, General Forester, Mr. Gorst,
Viscount Galway, Mr. John George, Colonel Gilpin, Mr. G.
Goldney, Mr. J. Goodson, Mr. S. B.. Graves, Mr. G. Greenall,
Mr. Edward Greene, Lieut.-Col. Grey, Mr. C. D. Griffith,
Sir John Hay, Mr. Iron T. Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton,
Mr. Gathorne Hardy, Mr. John Hardy, Mr. E B. Hartopp,
Mr. R. B. Harvey, Lord Augustus H. C. Hervey, Sir Wm.
Heathcote, Right Hon. J. W. Henley, LOrd Henniker, Lieut.
Col. J. M. Hogg, Mr. Robt. S. Holford, Sir Alex. A. Hood,
Mr. T. B. Horsfall, Mr. J. G. Hubbard, Mr. J. Huddleston,
Mr. A. C. Lanes, Capt, Jervis, Mr. H. H. Jolliffe, Mr. S. T
Kekewicb, Mr. J. Kelk, Sir Fitzroy
,Kelly, Mr. R. W. Ken:
nard, Mr. F. WJKnight, Col. Knox, Hon. Major S. Knox,
Mr. J. Laird, Mr. A. Lefroy, Lard Geo. G. Lennox, Lord H..
G. Lennox, Mr. C. Powell Late, Hon. Col. Charles Lind-
say, Col. Robert Loyd Lindsay, Sir Massey Lopes, Mr. Jas.
Lowther, the Right Hon. Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Sir E. Lech-,
mere, Mr. J. W. Malcolm, the Right Hon. Lord J. Manners,
Lord George J. Manners, Mr. Walter Mellor, Mr. S. B. Mil-
ler, Mr. W. T. Milford, Lord Robert Montagu, Sir graham
Montgomery, Mr. Octavius Morgan; the Right Hon.
J. R. Mowbray, Lotd Naas, Mr. Neville Grenville, Hon. G. J,
Noel, Sir Stafford H. Northcote, Mr. R. H. Paget, the Right
Hon. Sir J. Pakington, Sir Lawrence Palk, Major Windsor
Parker, Colonel Wilson Patton, the Right Hon. Gen, Peel,
Hon. Col. Pennant, Mr. Geo. L. Phillips, Mr. F. S. Powell,
Mr. G. W. Repton; Mr. P. F. Robertson, Viscount Royston,
Sir Chas. Russell, Mr. Chas. Schreiber, Mr. Geo. Sclater-
Booth, Lord 11. Scott, Mr. J. E. Severne, Mr. G. H. •
• • • Sey-
mour,
Mr W B Simonds, Col. Somerset, Mr. J. B. Stan-
hope, Sir Wm. Stirling-Maxwell, Sir Jas. M. Stronge, Sir
Geo. S. Stucley, Mr. F. Surtees, Mr. H. G. Surtees, Mr.
Christopher Skyes, Col. Taylor, Lord H. F. Thynne, Mr.
Chas. Turner, Col. Vandeleur, Mr. E. W. Verner, Admiral
Walcott, Major Geo. G. Walker, the Right Hon. Spencer
H. Walpole, Mr. J.W. Walrond, Mr. Arthur Walsh, Mr.
S. Waterhouse, Mr. Wm: E. Welby, the Right Hon. Jas,
Whiteside, Mr. H. Christopher Wise, Hon. 11. 'Wyndham,
Mr. Chas. W. Williams Wynn, Mr. W. Whitmore, Mr..
J. R. Yorke, Mr. it. Torrens,
LORD BROUGITA3I has arrived in Paris from
Cannes, on his way to England. He is in excellent health,
and capable of bodily exertion quite extraordinary at his
advanced age. For instance, he left Cannes in the after-
noon after an early dinner, travelled all night and the next
day, arrived in Paris in the evening, then after a rapid
toilet went to a soiree to meet some of his Freneli scientific
friends, not retiring to rest until nearly midnight.
' • •