The Portland daily press., 1864-08-24

The Congressional Defence Committee with
their suite, in all precisely so persons, arrived
here on Friday evening in the New England,
and they were Immediately taken charge of
by the following Committee. acting for the
American residents of St. John, viz: James z.
Howard, American Consul, E. d. Jewett, G.
b. Cushing DIR. Z. r. Fiske, James Mcmillan,
John Mcmillan, DIR. j. c. Preston, III. b. Cros-
by, and w. K. Reynolds. Their luggage was
looked after by the Committee, and the whole
party were escorted to the Stubs Hotel,
where the major portion took up their quar-
tiers.
At o'clock in the evening the visitors, the
American residents here, and a number of the
citizens of ST. John, including clergymen, mer-
chants, members of the bar, members of the
press, and medical gentlemen-in all about 100
persons-sat down to dinner at "Stubbs."-
This was regular British dinner. served up
in truly magnificent style. The viands were
choice and abundant; the dessert represented
every quarter of the globe and embraced the
products Of every cline; champagne, hook
and sparkling moselle flowed freely as water,
and nothing was left undone by the entertain
ers to minister to the wants of their guests.
The American Consul occupied the post Of
Chairman; on his right was the Mayor of St.
John, and on his left the Hon. Mr.. Rice, OF
Maine, Chairman Of the Defence Committee.
All of the citizens present. mean the Blue
nose" citizens, were, Of course, guests, as the
entertainment was provided solely through the
lberality OF Americans here,-tsome OF whom
are naturalized British subjectsl, but all, with
out exception were men entertaining the
kindliest sentiments towards the Union, and
all wishing for its speedy restoration. After all
that had been said concerning St. John. it sur
prized-I might say it as .onished-the Defence
Committee and their friends, to find here SO
many prominent and intelligent citizens hold
ing Union sentiments.
After the dinner had been fairly discussed,
the toasts were proposed as follow: BY the
Chairman, "the Queen" This was drank most
heartily, with 'three times three" There was
no speech in response, it not being etiquette
for any British subject to respond .or his Sow
ereign. The Hon. Charles Waters, Solicitor
General of the Province, and member OF the
Provincial Government, then proposed "The
President OF the United States, and the senti-
ment having been drunk with all the honors,
the Hon. John b. Alley, OF Massachusetts,, re-
Piled, concluding his remarks with proposing
"The Lieutenant Governor Of New Bruins
wick" Hon. Mr.. Walters, as a member of the
Government responded. Charles n. Skinner,
Esq, member of the Provincial Parliament for
the county of St. John, gave the health of the
Congressional Defence Committee" and the
Hon. J. II. Rice, Chairman Of the Committee
returned thanks. Isaac Woodward, Esq, May
or of the city, proposed "Our distinguished
Visitors, which was drank with great enthu-
siasm, the ST. John people singing ''for they
are jolly good fellows" Hon. Z. Fl. Rollins
OF New Hampshire, very neatly responded. Z.
ID. Jewett, Esq, of ST. John, Chairman of the
Reception Committee, gave "our Countrymen
and our Guests and Hon. N. b. Smithers, of
Delaware, closed most imprisoned speech in
reply by proposing as volunteer sentiment
"The health OF His Royal Hghness the Prince
of Wales" Mr.. Perhsm, of Maine, also spoke
to Mr.. Jewett's toast. w. p. Dole, Esq. gave
the "Army and Navy OF the United States, and
the Hon. A. Ii. Rice, of Mass, Chairman of
the National Committee ON Naval affairs re-
piled. The Rev. William Elder, editor Of the
Colonial Presbyterian, proposed "The Colleg-
es of the United States" and Prof. Patterson,
of Dartmouth College. made the speech Of the
evening in reply. J. w. Anglin, Esq, NJ. p.
p, and editor of the st. John Freeman, gave
"The Press of the United States" and Charles
F.Dunbar, Esq, of the Boston Daily Advertiser
responded, closing his remarks with "The
Press of New Brunswick" to which Mr.. j. V.
Ellis, OF the Daily Globe replied. John Boyd,
Esq. proposed, SPEEDY connection with the
Railways of the United States" and Hon. Mr..
Poor, of Maine, responded. "The Ladies of
America" by w. II. Luck, Esq, brought out
'Pet Halstead" in most comic speech. This
concluded the list OF regular toasts, and after
the health OF the american Consul" given by
the Solicitor General, had been honored, the
company dispersed-it being then precisely
two o'clock A. NJ.
l have the authority of the most indefatiga-
BILE dinner goers in ST. John for saying that
this was one of the most successful entertain
ments ever given here. During the five hours
the company sat around the festive board, not
the least word was said to mar the happiness
of the company or to jar in any way upon the
feelings of any person present. The speeches
were all really good, and it would have sur
prised those who believe that ST. John is the
hot bed of secession" TO have heard the warm
plaudits that greeted the patriotic utterances
of the visitors, and the generous sentiments of
Kindness for the American people that fell
from the lips OF the St John speakers.
On Saturday morning at o'clock, the Rail-
way authorities of the Provinces tthe railway
here belongs to the province) having kindly
placed special train at the disposal of the
party-about $50 persons including about 100
belonging to st. John, one half of the number
ladies-left the ST. John station en- route for
Shediac. Shediac, as you know, is on the
Gulf of st. Lawrence, st. John is on the Bay
OF Fundy, and this railway connects the Gulf
and the Bay, and is the favorite route of tray
ell 70. those who visit Prince Edward Island,
which is a few hours steam from Shediac. 1t
will form part of the great railway between
Bangor and Halifax. The gentlemen from ST.
John embraced men of all shades of opinions
on all the questions of the day. Provincial,
American and European. There were very
warm Union men, and very warm Southern
men-as the object of the st. John Committee
In thus bringing together these extremes must
have been to show the visitors that whatever
differences of opinion may exist here respect.
ing the great questions of the day. these diff
ierences In no way affect the hospitality oil the
people. The ride was very pleasant. The
ROAD is capital one. Competent judges say
that there is only another in America equal to