The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-22 00:00:00

HONOURABLE A I:TILLERY COMPANY.

On INTednesday evening the members of No. 1
Company, 11. A. C., entertained Captain Defries
at a dinner at the New City Club ; Lieut. Alfred
occupied the chair; arid after grace the usual loyal
toast was received in that loyal manner that cha-
racterises it at all convivial meetings of the gallant
members of this tune-honoured requirement.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the
evening, " The health of Captain Defries," spoke
in glowing terms of the great tact and persevering
energy and increasing activity by which this inde-
fatigable cfficer hal succeeded in bringing No. 1
Company to its present eminently satisfactory con-
dition. It was rapidly increasing in numbers, and
he had no doubt would shortly become the strongest
company in the whole regiment. He also refer-
red, in a touching manner, to the dreadful acci-
dent that had befallen Captain Defries at Staple-
hurst, and how glad every member of his company
was, after so much anxiety, to see him safely re-
stored to health, and able to resume the command
of his devoted comrades.
Capt. DEFRIES, who appeared much moved at his
enthusiastic reception, rose amid prolonged cheering,
and in an earnest and elegant address thanked the
chairman for the very flattering manner in which
he had been pleased to refer to his efforts to further
the interests of No. 1 Company and secure its effi-
ciency, but in this he maintained he was but doing
his duty, which as an officer and a gentleman he
was compelled to carry out ; and be was happy to
state he had ever experienced a real pleasure in so
doing, upheld as he had been by the active co-ope-
ration of Lieut. Alfred and non-commissioned offi-
cers, and the willing support of his men. He
thanked them one and all sincerely for this sponta
neous outburst of good feeling on their part
toward him, and bogged to assure them that this
high public honour they were pleased to accord
him would ever be gratefully remembered by him
as a token of the high esteem and regard in which
he was held by the members of the No. 1 Com-
pany. lle added, in conclusion, that he felt so
completely overcome with this unexpected demon-
stration of their approval of his efforts as their com-
manding officer that he trusted they would pardon
his inability to express himself as adequately as
the occasion demanded. (The latter part of this
distinguished officer's speech was totally inaudible,
owing to the tremendous cheering which followed,
and was prolonged for several minutes after he sat
down).
The " Ifealths of Major Robinson and Lieut.
Alfred " were proposed and received in the most
hearty manner.

Several other toasts followed, incluling the
Non-commissioned Officers and Privates," " Mr.
Henry Defries (brother of Capt. Defries)," which
were duly responded to.
The tout ensemble was one of unprecedented suc-
cess, and passed off with great eclat.

TILE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.—Letters have been
received from his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
which fully confirm the information already published in
the papors, and announce his singularly rapid and happy
recovery, and his probable arrival home early in June.—
British Medical Journal.