The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-26 00:00:00

DINNER TO LORD ASIIBUhTQN.

This gnat and important festival came off at the
Astor-house last night. It was one of the most im-
portant and interestingfitez ever given in this country.
The assembling of so many merchants and leading
men in this city to welcome here the -British nego-
tiator of a treaty, and through him thus to express
their gratification with the course of their own Go-
vernment, is calculated to have the happiest effect
upon our relations. with Great Britain here and here-
after. Lord Ashburton, Lord J. Hay, Mr. J. H.
Palmer, Mr. Grattan, and others, thus witnessing
with their own eyes the general' intelligence of the
country, and its devotion to commerce and the arts of
peace, cannot but carry, home a high regard and a
warm friendship, which such men in the end will
diffuse through all society. The dinner was elegantly
served. The appearance of the grand hall of the
Astor-house was magnificent. The music, too. was
superb. Everything was set forth most attractively
for the eye. ,

At the upper end 'of the room, behind the Chair-
man, there were three most beautiful and gorgeous
canopies of pink, blue, and white satin drapery.
Over, or rather on the top of the centre canopy, im-
mediately behind the Chairman, were these words,
inscribed on broad white bands, in gold letters :
THE TREATY
GREAT BRITAIN, of UNITED STATES,
WASIIINGTON,

ASHBURTON, 1842. WEBSTER,
Immediately after dinner, Mr. JAY, who presided,
gave the first toast, " The President of the United
States." He then gave " The Queen of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland." Drunk with
cheers, the band playing " God save the Queen."
Mr. JAY then gave -Our guest, Lord Ashburton,
happiness and honour to him who has contributed to
preserve peace between two great nations."
The music then struck up " The Fine Old Eng-
lish
Gentleman." -After which,
Lord ASHBURTON rose and said :—Gentlemen, in
returning thanks for the honour you have just done
me, I apprehend that I shall not be regarded as de-
parting from the rules of ordinary custom of persons
in my situation, in expressing my utter inability to
express the feelings with which I am overpowered.
I feei that the enthusiastic reception which you have
been pleased to give to the toast just drunk has
been elicited rather by the sentiments. which ac-
companied it, than the name of the individual who
has the .good fortune to be associated with it
on this, occasion. I can assure you, Gentlemen,
that never did I . experience more difficulty to
express in a few words my deep, feeling than
on this occasion. Never have I been so forcibly
impressed with the importance of the great subject
with which my name has for some time past been so
fortunately connected. Having, as many of you must
be well aware, from the intimate connexion subsisting
between British and American commerce, passed the
early period of my life in active commercial pursuits,
I had hoped to be enabled to pass my declining days
in that peaceful quiet to which a life of industry is so
well entitled.—(Loud cheers.) But, nevertheless,
when there was presented to me the opportunity of
aiding in the achievement of that which had long been
the sincerest desire of my heart—the cementing to-
gether of these two great countries—and I can hardly
call them two, for their. denizens are one people,
though they inhabit different continents—(Cheers)—
when that opportunity offered I could not for a mo-
ment hesitate. In these circumstances I visited your
shores, in order to conduct the negotiations which
have so happily terminated, and which have on this
evening received your enthusiastic approval.—(Loud
cheers.) Gentlemen, I cannot but regard it as some-
what singular and auspicious that the respectable
gentleman who presides at this hospitable board should
happen to be the immediate descendant of a man
whose name will live in your memories so long as
honour, patriotism, and virtue are venerated—l mean
the late Mr. Jay.—(Applause.) That illustrious
man stepped forward on an occasion somewhat
similar to that which you now celebrate, and, hav-
ing visited England, happily succeeded in his er-
rand of peace, although made under circumstances of a
far more difficult nature than those which surrounded
me on a mission which hasic—lacliiiio:a.aigsd‘e. a like fortunate ter-
mination. The task imposed on Mr. Jay was indeed
an arduous one. At that period wild passions were at
work, and the voice of the messenger of peace could
only with difficulty be heard. But amid all those
trying circumstances that great man, and those who
supported him, did maintain the independence of this
country, and saved both nations from a most serious
war at that time, whilst war was raging amongst the
nations of the earth; and, undoubtedly, he laid the
foundations of the great commercial prosperity of
America.—(Great applause.) .Fortunately, Gentle-
men, I have had much less difficulty to encounter ;
for when I add to the reception I met with at Wash-
ington from the President—from his Cabinet—from
the Senate and House of Representatives—that cordial
welcome which I received at Boston—that cradle of
American liberty and independence—and also the re-
aibeLtio,pnyuctdoiniso:cieinNrill,c‘viNct•iiiio:tt:her,u,h-mp‘hllN'tinllasileLreldils:su,oirhe:fuelarl:3ne'ae: Lcen greeted here, as well
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persons,me
tnbh sorcl dofoelfsl thatecioNt,
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thereshook
respectable citizens, I naturally ask, where is
the danger of war between England and Ame-
rica:—(Great applause.) Whatever may be hidden
I do not pretend to scan; but, of a verity, I can say
that I have seen nothing but the greatest and most
unaffected cordiality and good will and friendship.
Still, although my mission has' Lcen made in pecu-
liarly happy circumstances, yet I trust that I shall
not be chargeable with vanity in saying that " I, too,
have done the State some service."—(Loud and long-
continued cheering, in which the voice of Major Jack
Downing was heard vociferating " Bravo, bravo l")
Looking on this country, and observing everywhere
the same vigour of intellect, and fie same generosity
of feeling, with which I had the honour to be ac-
quainted many years ago, I cannot bring myself to
believe that such a people and my countrymen can
ever be brought to make war upon each other. Yet it
has, I must confess, afforded ma the greatest possible
gratification to reflect that I have been the humble
instrument of aiding in the settlemOnt of those ques-