The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-26 00:00:00

Banquet at Fishmongers' Hall.

A banquet took place last evening at Fishmongers'
Hall, when the chair was taken by Mr. Yenning,
prime warden of the company.

Among the numerous guests present were—Mr.

Crawford, M.P., Mr. Locke, M.P., Mr. Forsyth,
M.P., Sir J. Musgrove, Bart., Sir S. Morton Peto,
Bart., M.P., Mr. B. Moran (Secretary to the United
States Legation), Mr. J. M'Henry, Col. Du Plat,
Alderman Salomons, M.P., the Deputy Recorder,
Alderman Lusk, M.P., Mr. R. C. Hanbury, M.P.,
Aldermen Allen and Besley, Under-Sheriffs Duffett
and Rawlins, the City Comptroller, the City Re-
membrancer, Major Kitson, &c.
The interior of this magnificent building has re-
cently been entirely redecorated and embellished
from the designs and under the personal superin-
tendence of Mr. Owen Jones, whose careful and
laborious studies have led him to the conclusion that
colour formed an essential part of Grecian orna-
mental architecture. The hall of the Fishmongers'
Company, built in the purest Grecian style, although
grand in its proportion and elaborate in its detail,
was formerly rather sombre in effect from the dead
uniformity of its colour. A wonderful transforma-
tion has, however, now been effected, and in splen-
dour and beauty it surpasses the halls of all the
other City companies. The semicircular roof of the
hall is divided into sunk panels of a delicate blue
tint, the relieved flowers in the centre of which are
of blue picked out with gold, with alternate gold
and red centres. The raised portions of the roof
separating the panels are ornamented by a sort
of loose plat, blue and gold on a deep red
ground, and the delicate tracery of the cornice
and the capitals of the pillars are picked out in
contrasting colours, enlivened with gold. The com-
pany have much reason to congratulate themselves
on the change that has been effected in the appear-
ance of the interior of the hall, and commercial
London may well be proud of a guild possessing a
noble building decorated in such exquisite taste.

Dinner having been served, " The health of her
Majesty" was drunk with the usual honours.
" The health of his
RoTyhael HCilighunßemssANtheinPprrinocpeesoinfgWales," referred to
the loss the company had sustained in the person of
the late King of the Belgians—a loss which would
be equally felt by the various courts of Europe, all
of whom had benefited by his large experience and
matured wisdom.

The toast was drunk with loud applause.
The CHAIRMAN proposed "The Army, the Navy,
and the Volunteers."

Colonel D u PLAT responded for the army, and
Captain MACGREGOR for the volunteers.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing << The House of
Commons," deplored the loss the company, in com-
mon with the House of Commons and Europe, had
sustained by the death of Lord Palmerston, whose
genial countenance would never more be seen in
their hall. The members of the House of Com-
mons had so long looked to him for guidance in
cases of difficulty and danger that they would
scarcely feel in their proper position when placed
under the leadership of any other man. llowever,
when the new House did reassemble, great things
would be expected from them ; and although the
session would doubtless prove a stormy one, and
many changes would be effected, he trusted that
the party which had hitherto steered the country
through so many perils would still keep at the
helm, and would ultimately bring the ship of State
into a port of safety. (Hear.) Untried as the House
of Commons was at present, he was sure it would be
a faithful exponent of the wishes of the country.
Ile regretted the absence, through indisposition, of
one of the members of the City of London—a gen-
tleman whose abilities had induced her Majesty to
call him to her assistance at so early a period of
his political career. It was a great triumph to the
City of London that they had first discovered those
qualities in Mr. Goschen which had since rendered
him so useful to the country, and so acceptable to
her Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) He had no
doubt but that Mr. Goschen's future political career
would fulfil the promise with which it had opened.

Mr. CRAWFORD, M.P., in responding to the toast,
said, although it was easy enough to answer for him-
self, it was rather a difficult matter to answer for the
new Parliament. The Parliament about to assemble
would, however, he had no doubt, represent truly
and faithfully the feelings and wishes of the country
upon all public questions. It was easy enough, in
general, to indulge in prophecy, but in all ordinary
cases it was still easier to indulge in hope, but in the
present case he was afraid of expressing his hopes
lest they should not coincide with the hopes of some
other gentlemen present. (Hear, hear, and laugh-
ter.) He trusted, however, with the chairman, that
those who occupied the post of honour at present
might remain there. In the words of the song they
had just listened to, he might say

" War returning,
Danger spurning,
Still in the cause he'd ardent prove."

(Cheers and laughter.) And in the new House of
Commons he should always be at his post ready to
stand by the principles he had always professed.
(Cheers.)

"The healths of the Magistrates of the City,"
" The Officers of the City," and several other toasts
were drunk and duly responded to.
During the evening a selection of music was per-
formed by Miss Banks, Miss Eyles, Mr. E. Ball,
and Mr. T. Harper (trumpet), under the direction
of Mr. H. Buckland.
The company separated at a late hour.