Star.
London, England, 1830-08-19 00:00:00

PARIS, Airs. 15.

GRAND ENTERTAINMENT TO LAFAYETTE.
The city of Paris has offered to day a municipal ban-
quet to Gen. Lafayette. The company invited assem-
bled at six o'clock at the Hotel of the Prefect ; among
them were the King's Ministers, Members of the Cham-
bers of Peers and of the Deputies, the Members of
the Municipal Council of Paris, of the Court of
Cassation, the Court of Accounts, the Royal Tribuntd of
Paris, of the Tribunals of the First Instance, and of Com-
merce, of the Council General of the Departments,
and of the Council of Prefecture. The Mayors and
the Adjunts, the Staff, the Commander of the Legions,
and principal Officers of the National Guard, the Com-
manders of the Staff, and of the Division of Paris, the
Commander of the troops forming the garrison of Paris,
Pupils of the Polytechnic School, of the Schools of Law
and Medicine, Members of the four Academies of the In-
stitute of France, and of the learned, literary, and phi-
lanthropic societies of the capital, and a great number of
men eminent in science, literature, and the arts.
The banquet was for 350 persons. The bust of the King,
surrounded by piles of arms, surmounted by tri-coloured
flags, was placed opposite the banquet. On the other side
of the hall was placed on a pedestal an engraving of the
portrait of General Lafayette on foot, surrounded by
streamers of the national colours. A vast orchestra
tilled the extremity of the hall. The pieces played by
the band were mingled with chorusses performing two
cantatas, and with couplets in honour of the veteran of
liberty, and of the brave men who have so gloriously
fought for it. These couplets, sung by M. Adolphe
Nourrit, were vehemently applauded. At the dessert,
Count Alexander de Laborde, Prefect of the Seine, rose
and proposed the following toast :—" The French Nation,
and the King of the French." The company replied by
an unanimous cry and reiterated acclamations.
The second toast was given by General Lobau, Senior
of the Municipal Commission—" To General Lafayette."
After the acclamations with which this toast was
received, General Lafayette rose, and, in the midst of the
most profound silence, expressed himself in the following
terms :—" My dear fellow Colleagues, it is with a delici-
ous emotion that I thank you for the manner in which you
have received the toast proposed in your name by my
honourable and patriotic Colleague. When the popu
lation of Paris rose spontaneously to repel aggression,
and re-conquer its rights, the rights of us all, the
imprescriptible rights of the human race, it deigned to
remember an old servant of the rights of the
people in proclaiming me its Chief; in associating
my name with its triumphs it has recompensed the vicis-
situdes of a whole life. This people, so great during the
combat, has shewn itself still greater by its generosity.
To-day it is, with the deep-rooted sentiments of its sove-
reignty, its true interests that it must organize its victory.
Already all the patriotic opinions have frankly rallied
round a constitution and popular throne. The acclama-
tions of the capital—the accounts from all the depart-
ments, testify a general assent to their choice. There
will be a difference of sentiment on many other points—
all opinions are free—the press is at hand to enlighten,
to warn public men, and all the citizens ; but there is an
observation which my old experience ought to submit
to you.
" The nation had conquered in 89 ; national and social
rights had been proclaimed and organized, force could do
nothing against us; then arose that fatal system of divi-
sion and anarchy, the deplorable consequences of which
you all know, and have we not since seen agents of that
false system emissaries of Coblentz, and of foreign
powers, impudently claim their salary ? But the exqui-
site good sense of the actual population will preserve us
from that misfortune. You are no longer those genera-
tions of the ancient regime astonished at learning they
had rights and duties ; you are the children, the pupils
of the revolution, and your conduct in the great days of
glory and liberty has just shown the difference.
" Surrounded by so many persons, formerly and re-
cently distinguished, who awake in me so many recol-
lections of attachment, of gratitude, and of respect ; and
umong whom I am pleased to meet our heroes of the bar-
ricades, invited by the magistrates of the capital to this
patriotic banquet ; I feel that they have intended to give
to the National Guard of Paris a testimony of affection in
the person of a chief, whose constant sentiment has been
that of a respectful subordination to the civil authority;
but how can I express to all and to each the emotions of
my heart ? I shall confine myself to proposing to you
the following toast—" The glorious Parisian Population."
At these words, " the glorious Parisian Population,"
the acclamations of the company burst forth with in-
creased vivacity. The orchestra played patriotic airs.
General Lafayette rising, indicated that the banquet was
concluded, and the company again assembled in the sa-
loons. There only ono subject offered matter for conver-
sation; the splendour, the rapidity of the great events
which we have just witnessed; the heroic courage of the
brave men who insured the glorious success ; the gene-
rous devotedness of the citizens, who placed themselves
At the head of the national movement; the solemn acts
which have confided the destinies of the country to a
King who is the defender of the rights and liberties of
all. This was the subject on which every body con-
versed with a noble pride, an entire confidence, and that
unanimity of sentiments which the triumph of the most
holy of causes ought to inspire.