The New York herald., 1872-11-16
CONWAY ON STANLEY.
The Victoria Medal and the Banquet OF
tho Geographical Society.

The Victoria Medal and the Banquet OF
the Geographical Society.
The following is an extract from letter from NJ.
ID. Conway, the LONDON correspondent OF the Gin
cnnati commercial. dated 22d utimo:-
All the recriminatons quarrels,. suspicious,
discovery OF Livingstone by the correspondent Of
THE NEW YORK HERALD have ended. Yesterday
Stanley the Victoria medal-that being the highest
OF the two 1t gives out annually the other being the
socety's medal), awarded to the man who has done
the next highest service to geography during the
year-and in the evening 1t entertained him at a
grand banquet. Mr.. Francis Galton was not, In
deed, present the incident at the Mayors Banquet
In Brighton rendering 1t impossible, but all the
other magnates who are In London were present.
Sir Henry Rawlinson was in the chair and made the
dDlede honorable for all previous nfccities OF his
own, and the whole thing ended in sort OF grand
tableau, with apolheoss of Livingstone in the
background, Stanley embracing Rawnson in the
centre supported by the Lord Mayor on one hand
and the American Charge tMr. Moran on the other,
with cascades Of real champagne fowing and plen
titul red light Of eloquent enthusiasm lrradiatng
the scene.
TO tell the truth, the occasion was really an in
pressive one, and an important one. 1t was i'm
portant because the divisions which have oc-
Cured have been serious enough to threaten the
unity and usefulness OF a society which, whatever
may be said OF 1t, contains the best oriental learn
ing and the most experienced travellers IN exist
ence, and is continually adding to human know
ledge. And it was impressive, because there was
something undenably romantic in the sight OF the
most eminent explorers and the gray-hared
scholars, who have built up their reputation stone
by stone in q lifetime, gathered in homage around
q young man who, by one courageous stroke, had
achieved feat unequalled in the annals OF explo-
ration.
There was from the first no doubt whatever that
the Geographical Society would vote Stanley their
highest medal and offer him the banquet. For the
latter, however, they would hayc liked to have
waited until the beginning OF winter when the
shooting season would be about over, and the
various dukes and lords who regarded it as fatal to
the British constitution to enter London at this
time, could be present. But Mr.. Stanley, when
spoken to on the subject was found to be under
tine necessity OF leaving before the return ther Of
any OF those 1000 nOblemen, who the other day.
with the Prince of Wales at their head
chased q Scottish fox all day and finally
slew him, ana so the banquet was set for
last evening. Still, have rarely seen o more In
nuential gathering than that at Willis rooms
These rooms, be IL said, are In the arst0cratic
region OF st. James, and there, with cupids sus-
tanning nowcry festOOns or seated on clouds res
coed over walls and ceiling, the swells generally
get up their banquets There were, indeed, two
dinners In the same building last night, Tor IL was
the anniversary or the battle OF Trafalgar, and
there is o Trafalgar Club which dimes there always
on the anniversary In question, attracting all the
naval grandees OF the nation. The Abysslnian
Comrades" also OF whom Stanley Is one, had pre-
pared to give him a grand dinner last evening" but
they resolved to unite with the Geographical So
ciety. They attended in large numbers, and, being
jolly fellows, added certain elements OF nun and
freedom to the dinner such the staid veterans OF
the Royal Geographical would hardly have been
equal 10 without their aid.