Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
DINNER TO HENRY GRINNELL. Esa.

About one hundred and fifty English residents OF
the city of New York gave complimentary dinner
at the Astor House, on Tuesday evening, TO HENRY
GRINNELL, Esq, as an acknowledgment OF his mu-
nifcent beraity in aiding the search Tor Sir JOHN
FRANKLIN The Commercial Advertiser says that
| the occasion was one of much interest," and gives
the subjoined account of the proceedings:
Mr. GR1ssrII, who was confined at home by sickness,
was represented by his son, Mr. CORNELIUS GRIsSELL;
and there were present Surgeon KANE Passed Midshipman
GaIFFrS commonder of the Rescue; Acting master MuR-
DAUsH, and Midshipman LoRELI, all OF the expedition
COL GARDNER u S. Army Capt. SrosE OF the Niagara
Recorder TALLm Mr.. MATHEw, Consul at Chareston
and other invited guests AsTHoSr BARcLAr, Esq, her
Britannia Msiesys Consul General at this port, presided
The dinner was elegant and sumpuous. 1t Astor
House dinner and worthy of Messr Coleman and Setsons
reputation An object of much interest exhb ed at the
lower end of the room. II was the American flag which
Capt. WILKrs carried in his antarctic expedition and Lieut.
De HAVEN in his arctic bore inscription to the effect
that the service Of any who would carry 1t
further.
After briefly referring to the unanmiy felt the OCCASION
the President gave the usual preferred toast "The Queen
God bless her," The English national anthem play ed
by excellent bsnd and afterwards sung by Of the
guests the band joining in the chorus "The President
the United States the second toast and was received
with nine cheers, the band playing g Hail Columba." )"
These disposed of the President reverted TO the special
object Of the evening He remarked that modesy usually
the companion of merit and it especially in the
of HENRY GRISsELL He regretted the absence Of the
tleman whose msgnanmiy and more than pncey munlh-
they desired to honor. The British expeditions
sustained by the Government by those interested in the
safety of relatives aud personal friends But Mr. Grinne
had been prompted only by the feelings Of pure neyolence
and philanthropy. He sought aid from the public ex
chequer. He bore the whole expense of it himself Such
heart Mr. Grinnes the Koh noor of humanity. And,
though the search unsuccessful the gratitude felt toward
Mr. frrInr tho iooo aY1an ndriurpr He
would need marble bust sculpured perpetuae
bis memory Already had he raised for himself monument
durable than brass. Two nations-Anerica and Old
Engndwould amicaby contend for the honor Of recording
his nobleness and generosity. He gave toast
HESRr GRInNELL, Esq Whose humanity suggested,
and whose pncey bealy dispatched the Arctic expedition
of the Adrance and Rescue in search Of Sir John Franklin
and his companions, our countrymen.
Mr. G. GRISsELL acknowledged the toast in very neat
and appropriate terms and announced that his father felt that
his work in this respect yet completed and that he
had therefore offered his two vessels for second expedition
burst of cheering greeted this announcement Mr. G.
then, at his fathers request gave the following sentiment
''The of Sir John Franklin May never be aban-
doned until his fate be positively ascertained"
The President, in introducing the toast remarked
thai the greatest and most worthy enterprises depended for
success upon the courage energy, and rude Of those
whom their execution entrusted. These virtues had
been emneny displayed by the officers Of the expedition
who by their gallant conduct had the worlds admiration
and respect He proposed the health of the gallant aud
scientific men of the American Arctic expedition.
Commander griffin responded. He and his associates
had cheeruly joined in the search for Sir John franklin
They glad to pay tribute to science by such under
taking. Sir John Franklin and his counuymen
strangers They spoke common language, and when the
American expedition met that of England they met hre-
thren He deeply regretted that their progress had been
rested, and that they had been compelled abandon the
search He spoke IN terms of cordial euogy of the British
officers and seamen whom The American expedition had
in the Arctic The expedition had been successful
Of ha Inhv, ha1 .1Ian
they sad memotals-the graves of of Sir Johns
The field of search, however, was not alto
gether abandoned The flag Of England still oated the
vessel sent out by Lady Franklin. gallant ship or
gallant officers and men, could not be found Perhaps
reentng fortune had reserved Ter the Prince Albert the hap
which had been denied the Advance and the Rescue
God grant that it might be He concluded by wishing
health happiness and Mr. Kennedy Of the Prince
Albert, his officers, and men.
Mr. BARcLAr here suggested that perhaps the of the
toast he bad offered not fully understood. When he
erred to Dr. KANE and DIR. VREELASD, the medical officers
TO whose honor should not be forgotten that amid the f
gues pva'ons and exposures of that long Arctic voyage
not man lost by sickness. All who out returned
in health to their families
Dr. KANE, who warmly greeted responded Thoughts
ne said, cowdng upon his mind to which he would
gladly give expression if he could He thought Of the cir
cumsances OF the expedition year ago. They had then
parted from the gallant countymen of those who
before him. Anxousy did the Americans count the hours
of the great ice-dri in Wellington Channel which daily Sc
paraed them further from their English brehren for they
sure that whatever might be the Advance and the Rescue
the officers and would find refuge aud home if they
could but reach the English vessels. That evening
the first time that be and his associates had enjoyed English
hospitality They drank the health of Englands Lady Queen
amid Polar seas and Engshmen had there cordially shared
IN the remembrance of the President of the United States
The identity of brought them together in heart He
recalled with pleasure the memory Of Austin and Penny and
their nobeheared and gallant compeers He made special
alluson to Sir John glorious old Sir John Ross
whom they met in his beautiful yacht the Felix, poughng
through fields OF ice with much hope and Joy were
at the head OF regatta He had promised Sir John Frank
lin that disaster bee him he would himself undertake the
search for him. and though than hreescoe years and
ten had passed bis head he had kept his word There
was the speaker said, but British officer whom he would
more gladly meet than these and that Sir John Franklin
himself he spoke Of him still alive, for he had seen no.
thing yet which assured him the contrary The drift of
the American expedition in Wellington Sound he thought
proved concusivey that continuance of might have
ried them into the sea in which Sir John is mmured He
roced that the search was to be renewed For the sake
that nobespted woman who has been the animane soul
Of all the expeditions hitherto, another effort should be made
to carry to his relief that proud flag which has ever braved the
battle and the breeze. Humanity makes all men kim He
would make apology for offering the following sediment
"The Country of Sir John franklin Honored in all the
records of bis adventurous @ still honored in the re-
cord Of her attempts to rescue him."
At this point the Chair announced that medals had been
prepared for all those who had participated in the expedition
Those for the men, with small of money for EACH will
be presented to them board the North Carolina, the
navy yard tomorrow at o'clock. Those for tho officers
presented last evening The President also explained
the Of Lieut. De Havens abserce which owing
sickness contracted by coming in with poison
plants. Mr.. Carter also unavoidaby detained