The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-06 00:00:00

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS'S REPLY.

" GENTLEMEN—I am to thank you for your congratu-
lations on my recent appointment, by his Gracious Ma-
jesty,, to the situation of the care and controul of the Naval
Power of the United Kingdom.
I most perfectly agree in hentitpent and conviction
with you, that the proud pre-eininenec 'which this country
has attained, is mainly to be attributed to the distinguished
superiOrity of the British Navy.- Ido consider it belongs
to the office I now hold to maintain the splendMir and the
exalted character Of our Navy; and I trust, from my early
and- ong acquaintance- With • the. King's Naval ocrvice, and

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my consequent sincere. attachment to that profession, in
which I have had the advantage of being educated, I.shalP
distribute honours and emolument tci those of illustriousi
merit, which must produce; in future xvarfate, the most
powerful incentive to gallant enterprise and heroic achieve-
ments.

" Our gracious Sovereign is most firmly attached to tl e
prineiples which have placed his Royal ancestors and him-
self on the Throne of these Realms; and I do, with pm',
most, fervently pray, that our beloved King may long 1 e
preserved to us all.
" I sincerely intend, by every exertion. in my power,
and by a close attendance to my public duty, to forward
the best interests of the Naval Power of this country.
_ _ . _ .

" I must ever remember with satisfaction, that I 'em a
freeman of this Borough,• and whenever my public duty
calls me to this place, I shall visit it with pleasure, being
well convinced of the importance and very great benefit
which Portsmouth must produce to the empire at large.
" WILLIAM H."

GRAND DINNER TO THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL.

..The entertainment given by the Mayor and Cor-
poration of Portsmouth, to his Royal Highness the
Lord High Admiral, on his official visit to this im-
portant naval station, was one of the most splendid,
sumptuous, and costly banquets that could be pre-
pared ; such a one as, probably, has been rarely stir-
passed. 'About 130 persons were present to meet
the Royal visitor,: -comprehending, 'besides the Cor-
porate Body, . that Nobleman so highly esteemed
throughout the Navy, the Right Hon. Earl Spencer,
K.G., the highest naval, military, and civil Raba-
.rities, and a select number of the respectable inha-
bitants of' these towns, whO were invited' on the
most enlarged spirit of. liberality. The Royal Duke
.and, his distinguished friends were .evidently im-
pressed'and gratified by 'the generous scale of sump-
tuous liberality which had been bestowed'on their
entertainment. - It was served, by previous suitable
arrangements, with all the good order, regularity,
and comfort of a private gentleman's table. The
dinner was prepared.by Mr. Nance, of the Fountain.
. The cloth being removed, the Mayor gave, as a
toast, " The King, God bless him." The band
(Rdyal Marines). played the national anthem, " God
save the King"—the whole company stood up and.
joined in the beart•inspiring sentiment, and a Royal
. salute fired from the' neighbouring bastion, marked
the event, and excited the applause and attention of
all around. The next toast (given' by the Mayor)
was, " The Royal Family," with three times three,
which Was greeted with . the warmest affection and
most enthusiastic applause. "Hail Star of Bruns-
wick," was struck up by,the baud. The Mayor
then rose to'propOse the health of his Royal High-
ness the -Duke of- Clarence, the- Lord High Mini-
ral; which he. introduced by thinking his Royal
Highness for his condescension in honouring the
Corporation with his'presence, and expressing his
hope that he would accept the spirit in which the
'present entertainment was. offered, if it did not
.equal what was justly . due : to his exalted situation.
The Mayor then remarked, that, in his Majesty's
reVival,of- the ancient office of Lord High Admiral,
and Conferring it on hiS Royal Highness, he was sa-
tisfied there was but One. opinion in the nation-L—and
that an approving one. It tended to enhanee the
dignity of that invincible arm of our national de•
fence and glory, the British• Navy, which had so
mainly contributed to overthrow that Colossal
power, 'which, but for .England, would have de-
stroyed the liberties of Europe; and if the appoint-
ment was hailed with gratification generally, it was
much more emphatically so, in the first Naval Ar-
senal, and the first maritime port, in the World—
Portsmotith Tune, '" Rule Britannia." His
Royal. Highness's health was • then drank with the
same fervour and joyous acclamation as had been
before expressed, on the King's health—the battery
repeating the distinguishing salute.

The LORD HIGH ADMIRAL rose, and began a very
neat and sensible speech, by observing, that as an
Englishman, he was most warmly a friend to the
Institutions of our country, and amongst the most
respectable and interesting of which, were Corpora-
tions like the present—the guardian of the People's
civil rights. He was indebted to the unbounded
goodness of his Majesty, for his' appointment to the
distinguished post which he now sustained; and,
without entering into the history of- the Ancient
Office. of Lord High Admiral, which, to hii Naval
Friends, would be `unnecessary, be believed it would
be allowed to be one Which, ,if .properly exercised,
Would be of
.great advantage to that Navy, which
had gained for this country so much renown; and
his Royal Highness pledged himself, that it was his
intention so to exercise that trust, as might be most
conducive to the interests of that important depart.
ment. His Royal Highness felt it but due to every
one concerned to say, that during his late visits and
inspections, .he had been highly gratified to find, that
the business of each department had been most
faithfully and exemplarily discharged. His Royal
Highness also said, that from what he had ,seen of
other countries, he found more abundant reason to
be proud that he was born an Englishman. His
Royal Highness was pleased to say, that it gave him
much gratification to recollect, that he had been now
many years a Burgess of this ancient Corporation,
seated at a. maritime station and naval arsenal,
which, with truth he might say, was the most im-
portant in this country—and the Isle of Wight
in-
terposing between the ocean .and town, rendered
it the most perfect roadsted for our ships which we
possess. His Royal Highness in his naval capa-
city, would, from duty and regard to the service,
ever respect Portsmouth; and as a Freeman, he
should consider that it had additional claims to his
notice, and he would, to the utmost of his power,
interest . himself for the inhabitants.—His Royal
Highness was also pleased to say, that it had of
course fallen to his lot to be present at many such
occasions as: the present, since April, but he had
never before .been -mOre courteously received ; and
it was but' common justige to say, that the atten-
tions of the Mayor had been elegant, hospitable, and
most agreeable; and in his Royal Highness's ex--
perience, the present had never been surpassed.—
The entire speech was often interrupted by the ap-
plauding auditors.

The MAYOR then, in proposing " The Army,"
said, that the mention of this word introduced to our
recollection the memory of his Royal Highness's
late illustrious brother, the eveko-be-lamented'Duke
of York—who had been instrumental in giving such
effectiveness to our brave and victorious troops; and
though, alas ! no more, :his spirit still survived in
the improved discipline, order, and multiplied com-
forts of, the soldier.

;
The next toast was, ". his Royal Highness the
Duke of Clarence, General of Marines, and the.
Royal Marines."
The LORD HIGH ADMIRAL again rose, and said,
it was also of his Majesty's great goodness that he
had formerly been appointed General of the Marines ;
and he was compelled to say, that; great as were our
Naval' conquests, it could never be
achievedeffaced from our
, recollection, that they were in conjunction
with the Marines. His Royal Highness considered
them a most important instrument of the State. His
Royal Highness then observed, that he was greatly
pleased to see near him a Nobleman whose name
had been rendered memorable by his connection with
that Navy Whose reputation he had upheld, and
Whose best interests he had always served, in a
period of great national anxiety—from 1794 to 1801
--a period in which were achieved the memorable
triumphs of my Lords Duncan, St. Vincent, and of
Nelson. He need not say, that he alluded to his
Friend. at his right hand—the Noble Earl Spencer—
s recollectiOn of whose abilities, kindness of heart,
uncompromising sense of honour,sand nobleness of
mind, increased the gratifying sensations he had ex-
perienced in that room. lie begged permission of
the Mayor to propose the Noble,Earl's health, which
was received with most marked applause.
• Earl SPENCER returned thanks to his Royal
Highness, for his gracious notice of his services, and
affirmed, that his sincerest and best recollections
were connected with that.period.of his life in. which
he had. contributed those services so highly spoken,
of, but he (the Noble Earl) feared, so much over-
rated, by the goodness of his Royal Highness. His
Lordship also exptessed him elf Very sensibly of the

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handsome and flattering maim* th whieh-s health
had been received by the company.
The ROYAL DUKE proposed the health of Mr.
Baling, M.P. for the Boioughland 'was prepared to
say, that the name of Baring vim,, familiar to. every
British ear, and evidenced the high ground to which
commercial industry and success so often led. Th
health of Mr. Carter, M.P. for the Borough, he
would leave. to the Mayor to propose, as he was
enabled to. state the - reason of his unavoidable
absence.

The MAYOR gave the health of Mr. John Bonham
Carter, M. P., and stated, that he was busily engaged
on his Circuit, and that he could not have been
spared to attend this Meeting, which he so much
desired, without a desertion of those interests
entrusted to his professional care.
Mr. BARING returned thanks, in a short speech,
for himself and Colleague.
The other toasts were—" The Council of the
Lord High Admiral." Mr. Keith Douglas returned
suitable thanks.—" The Port Admiral, the Hon. Sir
Robert Stopford." The gallant Admiral returned
thanks for the honour.—" The Lieut. Governor Sir
James Lyon."
The MAYOR said, he was happy in the opportunity
of bearing testimony to the Lieut.-Governor's con-
duct, during the peritid that lie had held the com-
mand of the garrison. His urbanity and g,entleman'y
manners, as a citizen, were scarcely le: .1 merito-
rious than his gallant conduct in the field :
he was easy of access at all times, obliging to every
class of the community ; and he knew he was en-
titled to their warmest thanks and their best, wiAhes."
Sir James expressed his thanks in a neat speech-
-" Admiral Sir Byam Martin and the Navy Boars':"
Sir Byam suitably expressed his acknowledgements.
—" Dr. Burnett, and the Victualling Board:"—
The Doctor acknowledged the honour of his health
having been drank in the presence of the Lord High
Admiral.

His Royal Highness the Lord High Ad•nitei
finally pr6posed as a toast," The health of the Wor-
ihipful the Mayor, and success to the Cor2oration
of Portsmouth," which was drank with unusual fel-
vour by all present.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Portsmouth
(D. 'TOWARD, Esq.) very handsomely expressed
his acknowledgments for the honour.
The Royal Duke and suite left the room before
. twelve o'clock, well pleased with their festive banquet,
which did credit to the liberality and taste of that
respectable Civic Body the Mayor and Corporatiep
of Portsmbuth, and reflected an honour on the town..
The Tower of St. ThoMas's Church, the Old
Town Hall, and the principal tradesmen's houses in
ithe High-street, were splendidly-illuminated, in ho-
nour of the Royal Duke's visit.
The Mayor had the honour of breakfasting with
his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, yester-
day, at the Royal Marine Mess-Room ; dined after-
wards with him OIL board the Sovereign yacht ; to-
day he breakfasted with the Royal Marine Artillery ;
on Monday he is to dine with 'the Naval Officers ;
and on TueSday, with Sir James Lyon, at the Lieu-
tenant-Governor's house.

His Royal Higness the Lord High Admiral, on
visiting his Majesty's ship Pril!ce and mustering the
Ordinary, expressed himself much pleased with the
'state of the ships in that department, at present un-
der the command of Captain Chetham, C.B. After
Which, his Royal Highness, with that flattering
kindness for which he is so eminently distinguished,
was graciously pleased to honour Captain and Mrs.
Chetham by partaking of a handsome cujettne pre-
pared for-the occasion. His Royal Highness was
Attended by Commissioner the Hon. Sir George
Grey, Sir William Hoste, Sir Robert Seppings, Sir
Byam Martin, Sir EdWard Owen, Mr. Barrow, Mi.
Sydney (his Royal Highness'S son-in-law), Mr.
Keith Douglas '(One of the Counsel of the Lord
High Admiral,) the Hon. Lieut. De Rocs, &c.