The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-26 00:00:00

THE RECEPTION OF THE GUESTS.

The following interesting description of the scene is
taken from the Herald :—" At five minutes to eleven
o'clock the Coldstream band, which had for some half-hour
been discoursing the sweetest music, commenced the
national anthem, and Mr. and Mrs. Disraeli went to
meet his Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief and
Prince Teck, who, resting on the staircase, remained in con-
versation for some time with their friends. A few minutes
later the national anthem announced the presence of the
Princeand Princess Ch ristia,n. The Prime Ministerconducted
the Princess to the reception-room, while the Prince offered
his arm to Mrs. Disraeli, who has as yet hardly recovered
from the strain of her severe illness. Almost at the same
moment came Mr. Gladstone, who wore his Windsor
uniform, and Lord Halifax ; but it was with some diffi-
culty that they reached the upper corridor, and they
engaged in conversation for some minutes on the staircase,
M the top of which Mr. Gladstone was received by the
Premier and Mrs. Disraeli. At half-past eleven Mr. Dis-
raeli went to the entrance from the quadrangle to receive
the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Mrs. Disraeli
was conducted to the first landing of the grand staircase by
the Earl of Shrewsbury ana Talbot. The national anthem
was played as the Prince and Princess approached, the
former wearing his Garter ribbon, and the latter looking
as she used to look before her sad illness. The Princess
wore white silk, looped up with bunches of violets, and
trimmed with black velvet and black lace. A dozen
rows of large pearls hung on her neck, tied
with cerise ribbon, and a tiara of large diamonds
was her simple headdress. Shaking hands cordially
with Mrs. Disraeli, the Princess paused for a moment
to enter into conversation, and then, taking the arm
of the Premier, she moved towards the large reception-
room, returning, with that charming smile that is so well
known, the warm greetings of those grouped on the sides
of the staircase and the corridors. Mrs. Disraeli took the
arm of the Prince of Wales, and then came a suite not
undistinguished, inasmuch as it included five past or
and many of the belles of the
present Cabinet Ministers,
present season. When the Prince and Princess
of Wales had rested for a time in the large recep-
tion-room, and had engaged in conversation with many
of the noble guests who naturally formed the inner circle,
the host's party began to make a tour of the rooms and the
corridors ; but the throng was so great that at each step
the crowd increased in density, and within five minutes
the Royal guests were compelled to retrace their steps.
At midnight supper was announced, and the proces-
sion was formed as follows :—The First Lord of the
Treasury conducted the Princess of Wales, and Mrs.
Disraeli leaned on the arm of the Prince. The Duke of
Cambridge and the Princess Christian led the remainder of
the Royal party, which consisted of the Prince Christian,
Prince Teck, the Duke of Buckingham, and several other
gentlemen, each leading a lady. The supper table boasted
no gorgeous array of plate, but it was laid out with the
most perfect taste ; and beautiful flowers shed their per-
fume over the table, which fairly blazed with the light of
wax candles, and with the sheen of diamonds.

POLITICAL DUTIES OF WORKING MEN.

At the invitation of the London Trades' Council, which
ras made arrangements for the delivery of a series of lec-
tures by eminent men for the benefit of the working classes
of the metropolis, a lecture on the above subject has been
given by Mr. Frederic Harrison, at the Cleveland Hall,
Cleveland-street, Fitzroy-square, before a numerous
audience, composed of artisans and their friends. Pro-
fessor Beesly, Mr. Howell, secretary of the Reform
League), and others, occupied seats on the platform. The
chair was occupied by Mr. Allen, secretary of the
Amalgamated Engineers, and a leading member of the
trades council. The lecturer indulged in severe strictures
on what he termed the " parliamentaryism " which
had characterised the public conduct of members of
the Legislature, and designated the House of Commons as
"a happy hunting-ground for lawyers, professional politi-
cians, and tacticians." In the hands of the working men
Slow rested the task of purging the Government and
Constitution of such abuses. The mystifying and dreary
revision of detail by a talking crowd must end, and
obstruction must give way to speedy and prompt action.
In one word, the element which it was the duty of
working men to introduce into English politics was the
revolutionary element. Of course, in saying that he did not
want it to be understood that the process involved
violence, anarchy, or disorder of any kind, but
merely the vigorous and rapid adaptation of old
social elements to new conditions. The materials of our
whole social fabric had long been getting more and more
disorganised, and let it be their task not to ignore or de-
stroy, but to recast them. However, he wished to be
candid, and to say that if the people were directly to manage
their own concerns themselves they never could be worse
managed. Their first duty was to select their leaders, and
having done so they should exact from them unqualified
responsibility. If they found their leaders worthy of trust
they should strengthen their hands ; if they could not
trust them they should sweep them away. The function
of the people was not so much to rule as to supply
the material to others to do so—not so much to enforce
methods as to insist upon results. In conclusion,
he referred to the necessity of their closely watching the
home and foreign policy of the Government, and making
the weight of their opinion act as a deterrent against
aggressive wars, lavish expenditure, and abuses of all
kinds. He dwelt with much warmth; unon the Irish
question, and asked them to get Parliament to devote
an entire session to the interests of Ireland. If the result
did not satisfy Irishmen, then let the task of remedying
Irish grievances be left to Irishmen themselves. (This
observation evoked loud cheering.) On the motion of
Mr. Howell, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr.
Harrison, not only for his lecture, but for the interest he
has taken in all that relates to the working classes. The
proceedings then terminated.