The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-14 00:00:00

salute from the guns of the Royal Horse Artillery
announced his Royal Highness's departure, on his return
to Windsor Castle.

PUBLIC DINNER to the OFFICERS
of the FRENCH SQUADRON.
PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 13.—Last evening the grand en-
tertainment, prepared by the inhabitants of Portsmouth
and its vicinity, to the officers of the French squadron,
took place in the new extensive assembly-rooms known
as the Queen's-rooms, Portsea, when about 250 persons
of influence and respectability assembled to do honour
to the occasion. During the day the bells of the sever&
churches rung out merry peals at intervals, and the
arrival of two French men-of-war, the Inflexible line-of-
battle ship and the Belle Poule frigate at Spithead earl)
in the afternoon, eliciting the usual interchange of sa
lutes, gave to the port an unusual excitement and
vivacity. In the front of the building devoted to the
banquet a spacious and beautiful marquee was erected.
from which a number of flags and banners, containing
appropriate devices, floated during the day. The interior
was elegantly festooned, and the floor carpeted ; chair,
and sofas being placed round the sides for the accommo-
dation of the guests. The dining-room was tastefully
fitted up and festooned with flowers, evergreens, and
banners, in a similar style to that adopted in the
ball-room on the previous eyeing. Two extensive
side galleries, running the entire length of the spa-
cious apartment, were appropriated to the exclusive
accommodation of the ladies, who began to arrive at
five o'clock, and in a few minutes every available place
was completely filled. At the extreme end of the room.
behind the chairman, was a full-length portrait of her Ma-
jesty, painted for the Corporation, and removed from
the Exchange for the occasion. On the left was the tri-
colour of France, and on the right the banner of England.
The fronts of the galleries were ornamented with the
blended colours of the two nations, as also the pillars by
which they were supported. The :fine band of the 76th
Regiment occupied the vestibule, anti the string band
was placed in a temporary orchestra erected for the pur-
pose, opposite the chairman. At the dais or principal
table sat the most distinguished of the French and Eng-
lish guests, care being taken to place English gentlemen
who spoke the French language alternately with the
foreign officers. Another cross table, not quite so ele-
vated as the principal one, gave entertainment to office s
perhaps no less distinguished than those above, whit. t
the remaining portion of the company were placed at tl e
longitudinal tables. The candelabra on the dais was a 1
massive gold, and silver candelabra lighted and orna-
mented the other tables. The dinner was supplied by
the übiquitous Gunter, whose name is redolent of all
that is recherche in gastronomy, and quite sustained the
celebrity he has so justly acquired.
At six o'clock the Mayor, Edward Cagier, Esq., who
acted as chairman, accompanied by Sir Hercules Paken-
ham and the principal guests, entered the room, the band
of the 76th playing the Hanoverian March.
Admiral La Susse, having received an invitation from
her Majesty to dine at Windsor Castle, was necessarily
absent, as was also the English Admiral, Sir Charles
Rowley, whose protracted illness has prevented him
from taking any part in the festivities during the week.
The Gallant Admiral was not present at the ball, as
erroneously stated.
On the right of the chairman we observed Sir Her-
cules Pakeuham, Captain Hernoux, Colonel Brandreth,
Baron de la Ronciere, Colonel Trevor, Captain Gobin,
&c. ; and on the left, Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker, Cap-
tain Graeb, Lord Yarborough, Captain Bouet, Colonel
Carden, Mr. Weresquill, M. Vandenberg, Mr. Rawlin-
son (the Recorder), &c. The Rev. Mr. Livesay, do-
mestic chaplain to the Earl of Errol, said grace. The
scene during dinner was truly animating. After dinner
.Non notis was sung by Messrs. Leech and the choristers
of Winchester Cathedral. The Chairman proposed " The
health of the Queen," which was received with the
warmest demonstrations of loyalty.
" God save the Queen."
The CHAIRMAN proposed, after a suitable preface,
" The health of his Majesty Louis Philippe the First,
King of the French."—(Drank with great applause.)
Glee—" Vive le Roi."

The next toast was " her Majesty the Queen Dow-
ager, the Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, and the
rest of the Royal Family." (This toast was drank with
every demonstration of affection, as was also the next
toast.)

" God save the Queen."
" Her Majesty Amelia, Queen of the French, and the
rest of the Royal Family of France."
, Band "La Parisienne."

M. VANDERBERG (the French Consul) rose to return
thanks on behalf of herlllajesty the Queen of the French.
In doing so, lie said he could assure the company that
her Majesty had felt deeply gratified at the cordial and
enthusiastic reception given to her Royal Consort on his
landing on the shores of Great Britain, and he was
quite certain that, when the proceedings of that evening
were communicated to her Majesty, she would be much
pleased with the compliment paid to her by so respecta-
ble a body as that which he then had the honour to ad-
dress ; in fact, that day would be looked upon in France
as one of the greatest in the history of the two coun-
tries.—(Cheers.) In the name of her Majesty and of
the Royal Family of France, lie begged to return them
his thanks.

Admiral Sir HYDE PARKER briefly proposed the next
toast, " The Baron Mackau and the French Navy, par-
ticularly those officers who did them the honour of
dining with them that day."—(Great cheering.)
Commodore HEnsoux, of the Belle Poule (Aide-dc.
Camp to Prince Joinville, and a member of the Chamber
of Deputies), briefly returned thanks, and proposed,
" Lord Haddington and the British Navy."—(This toast
was drank with peculiar enthusiasm by the French
officers.)
Admiral Sir HYDE PARKER said it devolved on him to
return thanks for the honour done to the British Navy
by his friend, Capt. Hernoux, and the company, in drink.
ing to its success, and to the health of the Earl of Had-
dington. He only trusted that the English navy and the
French would long remain friends as they were at that
moment.—(Tremendous cheering.)
Major-General Sir IhacuLEs rAKENHAM next rose,
and gave " Marshal Soult and the French Army."—
(Cheers.) lie was not presumptuous enough to attempt
any eulogy of the French army—the proud records of
their achievements were emblazoned in the brightest
pa es of history, from the ancient to the most modern
times, and the reception given in this country to the
Duke of Dalmatia, when he carried the congratulations
of his Sovereign: to her august Majesty the Queen of
England, on her coronation, convinced him that they
would join heartily and sincerely in drinking to the
Gallant Marshal and the chivalrous followers of his arms.
" Marshal Soult and the French Army."—(Drank
with three times three, and one cheer more.)
Captain GRIEB briefly returned thanks, and after pay-
ing a high compliment to British valour, concluded by
proposing " The Duke of Wellington and the British
Army."—(Prolonged cheering.)
Sir HERCULES PAKENHAM said he rose, on behalf his
Grace the Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of the
British army, to return thanks for the honour they had
conferred on the service by the toast which they had
just drunk with so much cordiality and enthusiasm, and
although on these occasions it was generally esteemed a
matter of form, yet they were then assembled under
particular circumstances.—(Hear.) His Majesty Louis
Philippe, the chosen King of the French, was now on a
visit to their most Gracious Queen, and, for the first
time for a long period, there prevailed between the two
armies of both countries the most amicable understand
ing, which, for the sake of the world in general, and the
promotion of the arts and sciences, he hoped would long
continue.—(Cheers.) Let it not be supposed that, if
this happy peace remain unbroken, their arms were
therefore to remain unemployed, for the cause of civili-
sation must necessarily demand their interference against
the barbarians of the world.—(Hear, hear.) History
bore testimony to the fact that the most rapid and most
lasting improvements had been made by the armies of
civilised nations—witness the first introduction of the
elements of social improvement into this country, by
the legions of Julius Cxsar.—(Hear, hear.) At that
time, instead of the scene which the galleries above him
now presented to his view, their maidens and matrons
were painted in blue, and rubbed over with yellow ochre.
—(Shouts of laughter.) Egypt, too, which had for a
long period been run over and trampled on by her relent •
less taskmasters, had at length her dormant energies
awakened by the great Napoleon.—(Hear, hear.)
Everybody must acknowledge the extraordinary
genius of that mighty warrior.—(Cheers.) And
what had their own troops accomplished in
India ? There they saw the country overrun by
a set of savage hordes—laid waste and devastated, and
made wretched and miserable by their barbarous prac-
tices, until reduced to a state of civilization by the force
of British arms ; and at the present moment the arms
of France were efiecting the same desirable results in
the north of Africa.—(Hear, hear.) Improvements of
this kind, however, were beset with extreme difficulties,
but he had no doubt the Noble Prince who conducted the
French armies would lead them to ultimate success.
Come what might, he had no doubt that the armies of
England and France would preserve the honour and in-
dependence of their respective Sovereigns, and the in-
terest and welfare of the nations entrusted to their
charge.—(Cheers.)

JAMES iIOSILINi, Esq. (ex-Mayor) rose to propose the
next toast. He said he was compelled to give a toast
which he had no doubt would be received with the
warmest approval by all who heard him ; but before he
proceeded to the subject he would avail himself of the
opportunity of congratulating the company on the aus-
picious occasion which had called them together. It
was impossible to regard that assembly without feeling
emotions of the most gratifying kind, tbr whether they
considered the individuals of whom it was composed, the
occasion on which it was convened, or the circumstances
by which it was attended, all conspired to make it a
spectacle of surpassing interest.—(Cheers.) It was an
occasion for the exhibition of personal courtesy and
national cordiality, for they were wet together to do
Frenchhon ou r tona
tthose w brevehohonoured
addistthinegm withuished otffihceeirrsproefseit
that evening, and through them
portant and intelligent nation 0
citi-
zens.—(Lund f tlictethSeryeatwaenred
the inha-
bitantsofrorctshmeeorost.)h_lion
the
ee
name,namew then,
hoer!'the collective
could add, his fair countrywomen
population of the empire—in the. name of his felkw-
countrymen, and he
too—he tendered them a cordial, a sincere, and a hearty
welcome to the shores of Great Britain.—(Great cheer.
ing.) It was most gratifying to the inhabitants of
Portsmouth to see around their civic board that day so
many of their own noble and distinguished officers of
both services joining in their festival to their highly
honoured Continental neighbours. It was delightful on
that occasion to look around the room, and see the
national banners of France and England' blended toge-
ther—to behold the respective uniforms of naval and
military officers blended in harmonious unionwith the sober
costume of the citizens—emblems of the feeling which
I should always exist between the officers and citizens of
both countries.— (Cheers.) It was impossible for them
to recollect the kind and c‘irdial and magnificent re-
.

eeption given to their beloved Queen Victoria by th
icing of the French last year, without at once deter-
mining that his Majesty Louis Philippe, on reaching the
shores of Great Britain, should be received with demons
strations of respect no less ardent, and a welcome re-
ception no less enthusiastic.—(Cheers.) And if British
voices sending forth their acclamations to the skies
spoke the sentiments of British hearts when his
'i,lajt sty placed his foot upon their soil, then he and his
officers must have been convinced of the sincerity of
their cordial reception. The inhabitants of Ports-
mouth must ever feel it as a high honour that they
were allowed to present an address to the King of the
French from the corporate body, and it was impossible
that they could ever forget the dignity and cordiality
and kindness with which his Most Gracious Majesty
was pleased to receive them.—(Cheers.) The reply
which the august Monarch gave to their address, the
arnestness, the kindness, and the energy with which he
spoke, convinced all who heard him that he was sincere
in what lie said. The sentiments of that reply were
worthy of a King—they were the offsprings of a sound
understanding—the emanations of a highly cultivated
mind, and the enthusiastic outpourings of a warm and a
generous
heart.—(Cheers.) It was impossible that they
bould ever forget the day on which that address and
reply were delivered, for his Majesty told them that his
visit was not a mere matter of state or of royal cere-
mony—that it was not confined merely to our beloved
Monarch, whom lie held in the most distinguished
esteem, but that it bad a more exalted object still—to
unite in cordiality and friendship the two great nations
over which these Monarchs reigned.—(Cheers.) Her
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen of England fully
participated in the peaceful maxims thus so strongly in-
culcated by the King of the French, and he was quite
sure that they would meet from the inhabitants of
France, as in this country, a willing and a generous re-
sponse.—(Loud cheering.) It was a source of great
happiness, and a matter for sincere congratulation, that.
the respective Governments of France and England were
of a pacific tendency, and were under the guidance of
such men as Monsieur Guizot and Sir Robert Peel •, and
when he mentioned the names of these distinguished in-
dividuals, he was sure the company would agree with
him that they were men ofhigh eminence and undoubted
honour, who were determined and prepared to carry out
the patriotic wishes of their respective Sovereigns, and
to secure to the inhabitants of both nations a solid, an
honest, and an honourable peace.—(Loud covers.) He
had therefore great pleasure in proposing " Monsieur
Guizot and Sir Robert Peel, the respective Prime Minis-
ters of France and England.—(Drank with applause.)
Glee.
DANIEL HowanD, Esq., after a suitable preface, pro-
posed " Vice-Admiral Baron de la Susee, Commander-
in-Chief, and the officers of the French squadron."
Baron de la RoNciene, A.D.C. to the Admiral, re-
turned thanks, arid proposed " Admiral Sir Charles
Rowley, Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth."
Song—" The Sea."
Captain RoWLEY said he thanked the company for the
kind and flattering manner in which his father s health
had been drank, but, even had they refrained from testi-
fying their kindness in this manner, be had been desired
by his father to assure the Corporation and the assembled
company how deeply he regretted that the state of his
health prevented him from testifying, in person, to the
officers of the French navy, how sincerely he partici-
pated in the joy and satisfaction expressed by the citizens
at their sojourn in England. Before he sat down he
begged to express his gratification at the honour paid
him (Captain Rowley) personally by the visit of his
Majesty King Louis Philippe, he having been the officer
selected to steer his Majesty to the shores of Great
Britain.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. VANDERDERG proposed " The Count de St.
Aulaire, Ambassador of France to the Court of Great
Britain."—(Cheers.)
Captain BOUET returned thanks in the French lan-
guage, and gave the health of" Sir Hercules Pakenham "
whom lie described as an officer of great skill and
courage, who had treated the officers of the French
squadron with distinguished hospitality. This toast was
received with marked distinction.

Sir ITEncuLEs I'AKENHAM, in returning thanks, said
he could assure the company that, in the discharge of
his duties, he had only endeavoured to follow those in-

structions given him -by her Majesty, and which con-
sulted alike the interests of the citizens and of the faith-

.
tnl army devoted to her person and crown. The Gal-
lant General concluded by proposing, " The health of
the President, Edward, Casher, Esq., Mayor of Ports-
mouth," to whom he paid an eloquent compliment on the
order and regularity maintained in the borough.
The CHAIRMAN said when he reflected on the scene
before him, it appeared to him as if he Were labouring
under some illusion which he could hardly understand.
When he accompanied the deputation to address his
Majesty the King of the French he expected to be re-
ceived with great formality, and to find his Majesty
surrounded with great state, but instead of that his Ma-
jesty came running to the door to meet them, and :he
could hardly tell at first which was the King.—(A laugh.)
He did not appear like a foreign King at all, but like an
English gentleman returning to a long-remembered home
to revisit his friends.—(Cheers.) Mr. Hoskins, in his
speech, had called the French and English neighbours.
They were so, and, looking at the map and their rela-
tive position upon it, it was impossible that they could
ever be anything else. Their happiness, then, depended
entirely on themselves, and if they only acted towards
each other as they did with neighbours living in the
same street with them, or in their own families, there
could be no doubt that the most amicable relations would
continue to exist, producing daily reciprocal advantages.
—(Hear, hear.) But if, instead of acting in this man-
ner, they took every opportunity of insulting and an-
noying each other, the disastrous consequences would be
sufficiently apparent.—(Hear, hear.) Let them follow
the admirable example set them by their beloved Queen,
when sbe went to visit the King of the French at Eu,
and let their French neighbourS be guided in their feel-
ings by the example of their King, who came amongst
his English friends like a father.—(Cheers.) After such
kindness, and the exhibition of such feelings on the part
of the French Monarch, the people of Portsmouth could
have no hearts if they did not do all in their power to
amuse and entertain their guests, and cement the friend-
ship between them.—(Cheers.)
Song—" The fine Old English Gentleman."
Dr. CHARLES SCOTT proposed The health of the
Ladies."

Captain Count DE VALMONT, of the Elan, rose and
said in French, that he had a most agreeable duty to
perform in proposing the next toast. Nothing could
equal the attention and hospitality with which the French
squadron had been received by the mayor and the in-
habitants of Portsmouth upon the present occasion, and
during their visit, and he hoped that the friendly feeling
now existing between the two countries would continue
for el er undisturbed.—(Cheers.) lie concluded by pro-
posing, "The Vice-president, Stewards, and other Offi-
cers and Members of the Acting Committee."
Dr. E. G. SCOTT returned thanks,
Captain DIEUDONNE (of the Caiman), who also ad•
dressed the company in French, said he was exceedingly
happy to have the honour of proposing the next toast, as
it gave him an opportunity of expressing his acknow-
ledgments for the kindness and hospitality shown to
himself and his compatriots since their sojourn in Eng-
land, and in his own and their name he tendered them

his thanks. lie had great pleasure in proposing " The
Mayor and the Inhabitants of the borough of Ports-
mouth, and its vicinity."
The MAYOR briefly returned thanks.
The RECORDER of Portsmouth rose to propose the
next toast. He said he was called on at the eleventh.
hour to address them without any notice or preparation
whatever, and perhaps if he consulted his own interest
he should have declined to respond to the invitation.
The toast which he had to propose embodied the entire
object of the meeting, and a part of it embodied, as he
believed, one of the chief objects of one of the first men
in Europe in visiting this country—he meant his Ma-
jesty Louis Philippe, the King of the French—which
was the continuance of concord and amity between the
two greatest nations of Europe.—(hear, hear.) It was
this consideration which induced him to address the

company at that advanced stage of the proceedings, and
while he did so he might be allowed to say that, although
he had not had the honour, like the Gallant Captain
(Rowley), of conveying the Kin,* of the French to the
shores of Great Britain, he had Se honour of doing that
which was unparalleled in the history of this country—
namely, of addressing, in friendly language, a King of
France, coming within these territories.—(Cheers.)
Never was he more pleased in his life than at the re-

ception which the Corporation met with from his Ma-
jesty on that occasion. They were received as thinking
men, citizens of a friendly country, by a man who him•
self owed his throne to the citizens of the most en•

lightened nation of the earth.—(Loud cheers.)
And here he might be allowed to refer to
an important omission in the report of his Majesty's
reply, which appeared in the public journals. The
press of this country was generally eicceedingly correct
in their details of all public occurrences, but he confessed •
that in reference to this memorable event he had seen no
report which adequately conveyed the sentiments ex-
pressed by his Majesty. The animation and the action
of the man must be necessarily lost except to those who
were witnesses of it—but there was one sentence he
was •
delivered which had not been reported, and which
deservingor every
French
beingnch a
ntreasured h and e
citizen.
recordedzen H
idisa
epoo
of the
•
England,e " I look upon the
ful nations like France and
touched when the King said, in speaking in the warmth
of his zeal of the necessity of
cordial union of these two nationsa keystone Caesbthetewkeeeny
arch which supports the peace of the world."—(Loud
cheering.) Was there ever a truer or a
finer sentence spoken by
man? The language was beau- -
and continued
tiful, the metaphor was perfect, and he believed, with the
King, of the French, that the union of these two nations,
the first in civilisation as in attachment to liberty, was
necessary for the advancement of science and the welfare
of the entire habitable globe. It was true that in all
nations where an ardent love of liberty existed there
must constantly be numerous warm spirits, and he must
acknowledge that on both sides of the water there were
some who allowed their feelings to carry them too far.
At one time they heard, perhaps, that something hadhap- •
pencd at Otalesite or Gibraltar, and war was immediatel
declared to be inevitable ; even " Pertide Albion'
sernetimea came out ; and on the other hand were
heard, perhaps, expressions equally objectionable ; but
these exuberant feelings must be checked, and with
whom did it lie to do so ? In hands such as those of
the King of the French ; and it was right to check them.
He did not argue that because he heard violent language
used they must necessarily therefore have a war with
France ; for was it to be said because some slight diffe-
rence occurred between two' officers that two such re-
flecting nations as England and France should set upon
each other, thus retarding the progress of civilisation,
and destroying the peace and tranquillity of the world ?
—(Cheers.) It was impossible, for, he repeated, with
the King of the French, that the cordial union of these -
two nations was the keystone of the arch that supported
the peace of the world • and he was sure they would re-
flect seriously before they hurried them into all the mil