The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-09 00:00:00

BANQUET TO THR EARL OF ELGIN
AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.

Last evening the Mansion-house was the scene of
another of those really sumptuous entertainments
which have been dispensed with such lavish gene-
rosity and luxurious magnificence since the Chief
Magistrate of the present year entered upon the
duties of his civic office. The Lord Mayor and Lady
Mayoress entertained in the Egyptian-hall the
Right Hon. the Earl of Elgin, as a mark of appre-
ciation of the wislom, firmness, and decision dis-
played by the noble earl in successfully securing
the termination of the war with China.
The distinguished company present on this bril-
liant occasion comprised several military and naval
officers of high rank, who took part in the Chinese
expedition, a large number of the elite of fashion-
able society, and many eminent members of the
commercial world.

The Earl of Elgin conducted the Lady Mayoress
to her seat on the left of the Lord Mayor. His
Lordship was supported on the right by the Earl
and Countess of Elgin, Duke of Somerset, Marquis
of Tweeddale, Lady Mary Fielding, 'Earl of Den-
bigh, Earl and Countess of Courtown, Earl and
Countess of Kintore, Lord and Lady Churchill,
Lord and Lady H. Vane, Lord Wodehouse, Coun-
tess of Rothes, Hon. G. Waldegrave, Hon. Dudley
and Lady Camilla Fortescue, Lady Eleanor Bruce,
Major Cumming and Lady Bruce, Major-Gen. Sir
J. Yorke Scarlett, and Sir C. and Lady Trevelyan.
On the left of the Lord Mayor sat the Duke of
Argyll,•Earl and Countess of Minto, Lady Caroline
Charteris, Earl and Countess of Durham, Lord H.
Lennox, Lady Charles Wellesley, Sir Cusack Roney,
Lord Ernest Bruce, M.P., Lady Charlotte Locker,
Lord Thurlow, and Lieut.-General Sir Hope and
Lady Grant.
The Six-Feet Volunteer Guards, of which the
Hon. H. Bruce, the Earl of Elgin's next brother, is
colonel, furnished a guard of honour, consisting of
70 men, under the command of Lieut. Thomson.
Grace was said by the Rev. Mr. Davis, and after
the banquet, Miss Poole and Mr. J. L. Hatton
chaunted in an effective manner " For Thee and all
Thy Mercies."
The LORD MAYOR having drunk, aceording to
usual custom, in the loving cup, to " The Knights,
Esquires, Ladies, Nobles, and Gentlemen pro-
posed in brief but appropriate terms the health of
" The Queen."

The toast was drunk with all the honours, fol-
towed by the National Anthem.

The LORD MAYOR gave " The health of the Navy,
he Army, and the Volunteers." With the navy he
felt it an honour to associate the name of the Duke
of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty ; with
the army he joined the name of a gallant general,
Sir Hope Grant, whose achievements had mainly
constituted to their being assembled together on
that occasion—(cheers)--and with the volun-
teers he coupled the name of Colonel Hicks, a
gentleman who was deservedly popular in the City,
and who had greatly exerted himself in the forma-
tion of the City of London Volunteer Corps.
The Duke of SOMERSET said he had much plea-
sure in responding on behalf of the navy, and on
that occasion it was only right that the navy should
be remembered, for in the operations which had
taken place in Cnina they contributed in no small
degree to the success which happily attended Lord
Elgin's negotiations. It was therefore only an act
of justice that the navy should enjoy a share of the
thanks of that distinguished company. (Hear.)
Though the navy had not had an opportunity on
the occasion of the last Chinese expedition of win-
ning those great honours which undoubtedly they
would have won had an opportunity been afforded
them, yet they did exert themselves on every pos-
sible occasion ; and their efforts were most toilsome,
tedious, constant, and unceasing in bringing troops
to China, and forming the basis of those operations
which were so successfully carried on. (Hear, hear.)
The ambassador selected by the Government was
most fitted for carrying out the negotiations en-
trusted to his care. The general who commanded
was most capable of executing the operations on
land, and they had an admiral—he regretted that
the gallant officer was not present to offer thanks
for the navy instead of himself—who well deserved
to be noticed for the labour, assiduity, and energy
with which he prepared the operations within his
department, and so successfully carried them out.
(Cheers.) With such means it would have been
strange indeed if the Chinese expedition had not
succeeded. Apart from the toast of " The Navy."
which he felt such pride and satisfaction in acknow-
ledging, he desired to state, speaking as a Minister
of the Crown, that when, in the winter of 1859,
and at the commencement of 1860, her Majesty's
Government experienced doubts and difficulties as
to the negotiations which were necessary for con-
cluding peace with China, Lord Elgin at once came
forward and of his own accord gave up the official
position he then held in connection with the Go-
vernment in order that be might devote himself to
the service of his country in a distant part of the
world, regardless of fatigue, and indifferent to the
great public and private sacrifices which he made.
(Cheers.) Under such auspices, with such an ambas.
seder to conduct their diplomatic negoti itions—
with such a general for their operations on land,
and such an admiral for their operations at sea—
it would be, as he before remarked, strange if they
did not succeed—(hear)—and succeed they did.
(Hear.) Let them now only hope that the result
of that success might lead to the extension of their
trade and commerce with China, to the establish-
ment of good feeling between the East and the
West, and to the progress of civilisation and charity
throughout all that portion of the land. (Cheers.)
Gen. Sir H. GRANT, responding for the army,
took occasion to refer to the services which Lord

.yde, though at a distance from the seat of hostili-
ies, had rendered the authorities by despatching
,roops from India to aid in enforcing the terms of
the treaty of Pekin. The army which he had the
honour to have under his command in China was
most admirably disciplined, and their exertions
were ably and vigorously seconded both by Lord
Herbert and Lord Canning. To Lord Elgin, how-
ever, was mainly due the successful termination of
the campaign in China. (Cheers.)
Lieut.-Col. HICKS returned thanks in suitable
terms for the Volunteers.

The LORD MAYOR—I have the greatest possible
pleasure and satisfaction in proposing what may be
properly denominated as the toast of the evening.
The noble earl, in whose honour this banquet has
been given, and whom this distinguished company
has assembled to greet with plaudits of approbation,
is indeed worthy of every demonstration of gratitude
from the English people, and not only from the
English people, but from the whole world, for the
services which he has achieved will shed a benefi-
cial influence throughout the entire universe, and in
no small degree among the hundreds of millions of
that vast empire whose chief city has been the scene
of his splendid diplomacy. (Cheers.) Never was so
much accomplished in so short a time. It hardly
seems possible to recognise the reality of the fact
that within the brief period of 12 months Lord Elgin
left these shores, traversed one-third of the globe,
penetrated to the heart of the empire, and wrung
from the Chinese Government a treaty which, while
it establishes the vindication of the honour and the
prowess of this country and of our ally,. confers a
boon on countless myriads throughout China, where
after-generations may bless the negotiations of our
noble guest. (Cheers.) His lordship's appearance
this evening indicates that the mission to China has
not affected his health nor impaired the efficiency of
his services ; and while I wish for him a continuance
of that health and physical energy and activity which
he now enjoys, and while we thank him for what he
has done, let me entertain the hope that his splendid
talents may long be available for the good of our
country ; and whether he shall be called upon to
take part in the councils of the GOvernment at
home, or to represent and administer the functions
of the Sovereign elsewhere, we may rest assured
that his vast abilities will be so applied as to ad-
minister largely to the benefit of mankind, and to
enhance the character of our country in the eyes
of all nations. (Cheers.) I give you, my lords,
ladies, and gentlemen, " The Health of the Right
Hon. the Earl of Elgin."
The toast was received with every demonstration
of enthusiastic applause.
The Earl of ELGIN, un presenting himself to re-
spond, was loudly cheered. He said that at any time,
and under any circumstances, such a reception as that
with which the distinguished company had honoured
him that evening, could not fail to awaken feelings
of the liveliest satisfaction and gratitude in his
heart; but at the present moment, and under exist-
ing circumstances, such a reception as they had
accorded him in that place had a significance which
imparted to it a double value in his eyes. Little
more than a year had elapsed since he received an
invitation to be present at the Council Chamber of
Guildhall, in order that he might accept at the hands
of the civic authorities the high and honourable dis-
tinction of the freedom of the City.
con-
fess that when the invitation reached him, H e ChUilsd
firstimpression was that of painful embarrassment, for
at that time he was under a cloud- The Chinese
Government had manifested a determination to resist
by force the execution of the rights and privileges