Star.
London, England, 1814-06-18 00:00:00

DiNNIR AT MERCRINTT4' !LOBS' FULL.

The first dinner in the City of London was given
yesterday to the Illustrious Strangers, who may with,
propriety be stiled ENGLAND'S Guam, as the affec-
tion of the British people, no less than the cout.":"I
tesy of the Prince, aaends them wherever they
Curiosity is still unimpaired, and unsatisfied with the
sight of their Imperial and Royal Majesties, and the
Heroes who are generally in their train ; and the
crowds that acre yesterday assembled to see the pro.'
cession pass to Merchant Taylors' Hall were as nu-
merous as on the 'first moment of their arrival..
At three o'clock every avenue to the place was
thronged, so that the regiment of militia under the
command of Sir John Earner could with dculty
,keep the ground. Even before this hour nearly an
hundred Ladies of rank and distinction had repaired
to the house of Mr. Teasdale, the Clerk of the Hall,
who had fitted up a most elegant accommodation in
the court-yard to enable them to see the great Visitors
as they passed. Soon after four o'clock those who
had been invited began to arrive in great numbers,
and by half past five there was scarcely a distinguished
foreigner or Englishman of the selected party but
was ready to receive the Monarchs. The appointed,
hour was six : but either some accident, or it is pro-
bable the multiplicity of their engagements, delayed
their artiyV,, It was after eight o'clock when three
Royal carriages drove to the door, containing, along
with others, the Princes of Prussia : they were re-
ceived with loud acclamations, and the regiment of
militia presented arms, while the band played " God
save the King." In about a quarter of an hour a
buns-, was heard in the distance, and then a shout that
tore Heaven'a concave. Thii was a sufficient an.'
nouncement of the long expected guests : and in less
than a minute, four carriages, filled with -them and
their party, preceded by a troop of horse, dashed up
' the street with the utmost rapidity. The first car-
riage stopped, and the Duchess of Oldenburgh, and
her brother the Emperor of Russia, alighted. The
people wore enthusiastic in their huzzas. The next
carriage contained die King of Prussia, who was re-
ceived with similar demonstrations of regard. The
two last carriages conveyed some Ladies and Gentle-
men, whose names we could not learn. The party
soon after .sat down to dinner ; and perhaps a more
magnificent spectacle was never ;resented to the
eye in so small a space. At the top of the table sat
the Duke of Yotk in the Chair, (the Prince Regent
being prevented from attending by some cause), the
Emperor of Russia on his left hand, and the King of
Prussia on his right, distinguished by their various
Orders, but exciting a still stronger interest by reflec-
tion on their station, their conduct, and the stupen-
dous train of events which has ultimately brought
them to the British capital. Next to the Emperor
sat the Duchess of Oldenburgh ; the rest of the table
was filled with Princes, Ministers, and Ambassadors,
all in the most splendid dresses, and chiefly military.
If you cast your eye down the Hall, you saw al-
most every foreigner who has signalised himself in the
late glut ions transactions, together with the most emi-
nent of our Judges. Generals, and public men. Be-
sides the dignity of the moral association, the eye was
almost entranced by the picturesque beauty of the
various colours presented to it. Green, blue, scarlet,
white, went dispersed throughout the room, and
strove with each other for the mastery in effect, The
dinner, though ithad suffered from waiting, was sump.
tuous, and principally served on plate.
The dinner beingended, the Duke of York gave as
the first toast, " The King :" this was followed by
great applause, and the visitors seemed much amused
at the hearty mode with which the English receive
their toasts. The Emperor of Russia Was the next
toast : the applause was prodigious : he rose and
boweder-and hie sister, the Ducliess, rose and bowed
at the same time: It was difficult to say which was
, most delighted. The King of Prussia was nest given
as a toast, and the company hailed it with equal con-
gratulations. He bowed in return. The Prince Re-
gent, and the Emperor of Austria, then followed suc.
cessively, and the same marks of approbation were be-
stowed on each, Among the remaining toasts were
these which follow t—" The brave Generals of the
Allies, who had distinguished themselves during th'e
late glorious war."—" The Duke of Wellington and
the Army."" Prospetity to the City of London."—
" The Duke of York."—" Lord Castlereagh, and
thanks to him for his exertions in concluding a safe
and honourable pcace."—Lord Castlereagh rose and
returned thanks for 0:e honour done him in coupling
his name with such a transaction. His Lordship as.
cubed the chief merit of the pease as resulting ft on)
! the valour of the Allies; He in consequence begged
leave to propose as a .toast, "The Allied Sovereigns
and their brave Generals." This was drank with
great applause. The health of the IJochess of 01-
denburgh followed ; and it being now about eleven
o'clock the illustrious Visitants withdrew ; leaving
their hosts highly delighted with their affability and
tioudescension.

• ----.-- .
COVENT-GARDEN THEATItEe:-..-Orl the departure of
the tAIPLROR and King of Pitussist, with their respec-
tive suites, fiom Merchant Tailors' Hall, last night,
they repaired to this Theatre, which was crowded al.
most to suffocation, in expectation of their visit. It
was past twelve when they arrived, and the perform-
ance had been protracted with considerable art. The
moment they entered, they were greeted with raptu-
rous and enthusiastic applause, which they returned
in the most affable and heart-winning mariner, bowing
to the audience most gracefully. When the tumult
had in some degree subsided, the, curtain ascended,
r
and the whole body of Performers ared on the
stage, and ~ GOD save the Kilts" vr ir,sung in grand
.style, the whole audience joining in the chorus, in
which they were aided by the Illustrious Strangers, in
a manner which evinced that' the words came from
their hearts. At the close of the entertainment the
applause was renewed,tand the Monarchs again bow.
ed Pull- thanks, and took their leave about one o'clock,
when the house was quickly cleared, every one highly
gratified with the entertainment of the night. Dur-
ing the' Performance Lord I.4yenrom, stood behind
the chair intended for the PRINCE ItkokAT, and ap- ,
peared to explain to the Esrvsnon the nature of the 1
performance- Lora Coigrisateauit attended the King
of Pitussia. The gmteititok and KIN:: were dressed
in a Briti3ll StatfunitOttr;withopt any insignia except
"I sash. At the opening of the doors of the 'cheap('
the pressure was extreme i the Box-keepers were turn-
ed out-of their-situations and the places taken rf)4sc.
4on of by wail) force.