The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-14 00:00:00

BANQUET AT THE MANSION-ROUSE.

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, with their
accustomed hospitality, gave a splendid entertain-
ment last evening at the Mansion-house. Covers
wera laid in the Egyptian-hall, for 300, and the
dinner was served by Messrs. Ring and Brymer.
Among thwe honoured with invitations were
His Highness Mirza Wallee Abed Bahadoor, his
Highness Mirza Secundar Heeshmul Itabadoor, the
Prince of Scinde • Meer Ali Moorad. Jalseood Dow-
lah Bahadoor, ilusee Odeen Bahadoor, Mirza
iMahomet Alee Khan, Rajah of Coorg ; Viscount
and Viscountess Bury, Admiral Collier, Baron Chan-
nell, Hon. Mr. Spencer and Lady Louisa Spencer,
Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Craven, Col. Ridley, Sir F.
Currie, Bart., Deputy Chairman of the East India
Company ; . Col. Robertson and the Hon. Mrs.
Trotter, Hon. Capt. Wellesley, R.N., &c., &c.
After the usual loyal toasts were drunk with en-
thusiagn, • _ _

The Loan MAYOR gave the toast of the Army and
the Navy, Col. Ridley responding on behalf of the
former.

The next toast was the health of the Prince of
Oude and the other Princes of India who had hon-
oured the civic entertainment with their presence.
(Applause.)
Major BIRD, in returning thanks for the Prince
of Oude, said—Their Royal Highnesses the Princes
of Oude have directed me to thank you, on behalf
of themselves and of the other princes of India,
in earnest terms for the high honour you have
done them, my Lord Mayor, by the invitation you
have given them, and the reception which has
been 'accorded to them by this company. Their
Royal Highnesses labour under great disadvantages
from having to make use of me as the medium of
communication in speaking their sentiments. Most
warmly do the Princes of Oude wish that they were
able to respond in suitable terms to the kindly feel-
ings which you have all evinced towards them.
(Hear, hear.) We must. all feel that a new era is
dawning upon India, heralded by the appearance
among us of men of Royal descent. (Cheers.)
What they have heard afar of the wealth, the power,
and the onward progress of this magnificent country
they have come themselves personally to reali'e.
(Cheers.) The cloud which has been so long over
India has at last passed away. British efforts have
been hitherto especially directed towards the civi-
lisation of the poorer classes, but the princes and
nobles of the land have remained stationary.
(Hear, hear.) Having now arrived-on these shores,
these Indian Princes can see with their own eyes
the might and power of the British army ; the Mag-
nitude of our navy ; the restless energy of our
merchants ; but, above all, they must perceive that
these is in existence in this country a great moral
law which guiles the launching of the thunder-
bolts of war, supports the integrity and proud
name of our merchants, and holds with firm hand
the scales of equity and justice, and which gives to
the poor man the same status in right and wrong as
that which is held by the highest in the land. These
are not small things to learn, and will not fail to be
of advantage to the illustrious Princes who have
visited us. Awan instance of the observant character
of the Princes of Oude, I may state that a few days
since some of the suite of the Prince of Oude were
discussing the great wealth and the great power of
the British nation, and one of them remarked,
" What is the wonder? Nothing is thrown, away.
Their dry bones live again, as the fertilising me-
dium, in the fields : the rags of the nation pro-
duce paper, upon which they impress and record
their highest sentiments." If such circumstances
can be brought into their minds, what may not be
learned in the future? We have all heard of the
visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. In
that case there was a virtual recognition of benefits
conferred, and we all know that when the time of
parting came, it is expressly recorded that the
queen went back to her country, having obtained
the full desire of her heart. (Laughter.) I trust
that you will all concur with me in hoping that
their Royal Highnesses of Oude, who are now
amongiruysisimtay
(bole
eeeqrually successful in the object
Mr. Justice CHANNEL returned thanks en behalf
of " The Judges of England ;" and Lord Bury
spoke to the toast of " The HousEi of Commons,"
with which his name was associated.
Mr. M.P., gave "The health of the
Lord o
CltwMayor,"A F°
R whichD having been appropriately
The " City Members" was next proposed, and
drunk with great cordiality.
r e spn ded to,
Sir JAMES DUKE, M.P., replied, and in the
course of his acknowledgment of the honour stated
that the Government of Lord Palmerston should
have his support only while be deserved by his
measures the confidence of the people of England.
(Cheers.)
‘
East India Company's
was
respondedtiobyto the
Sir
r Frederick Currie ; and Mr.
Alderman Moon spoke to the, toast of " the Magis-
trates of the City of London.
Lord BURY then proposed the "Health of the
Lady Mayoress," which was very enthusiastically
received ; and the toast of "The Corporation and
Sheriffs of the City of London," was appropriately
acknowledged by Mr. Sheriff Medd and Mr.
Sheriff Keats.

After some other toasts the company retired to
the reception and drawing, rooms, where a musical
ent-rtaintnent, under the direction of Mr. Boles,
assisted by Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wilby
Cooper, Mr. Seymour, arid Mr. Lawler gave
satisfaction. The performance on the concertina
of Mr. Perceval Watts, pupil of Signor Regondi,
was also very much admired. general

At the banquet Mr. Harker officiated as toast-
master with his usual zeal and effect.