Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-28
.lxauoria 6azette
PUBLISHED LY&TRI.WEEKLY BY
EDGAR SNOWDEN.
GAZETTE BUILDING, 70 PRINCE 81.
Whitebait and Ministerial Dinners


Ga the Greenwich side there are many ta.
nous tayerns-The Ship, The Crown and S'ep'
tre, and The Trafalgar-a famous tor white
bait. Iuto the long controversy concerning ~
true nature Of whltebat it would hardly becon'
me to enter. have listened at The Trafalgar,
and exc at Skindle's by Maidenhead Bridge.
to long and desperate arguments conserving Toe
right of the Cupea Alba to rank as a species.
have heard skeptics declare that 1t ls merely
the fry of various fish, notably the herring.
while those Jealous of its individuality retorted
that no herrings come within miles OF the white
bait fisheries of the Thames. 1t was not, L
thought my province to settle this stern ques'
ton. was content to eat my WhiteDalt, SIP
my wine, aud reflect that the great Harry-the
eighth cf that name-oVed GreenWicn as
residence, mainly on account OF the %nitepaN
caught hard by, and that the Worshlptul Com.
psny Of Stationers had found out the virtues OF
whitebait as early 1912. At the great funeral
feast given in that year IN honor OF the
founder Of the Charterhousc, the bill OF fare
included ''six dishes OF whltebalt:' IL would
seem, however, that at later date the TOY
fishes came down 10 the world, for Pennant
writing in the eighteenth century, RECORDS tnat
during tho season there was vast resort to
Greenwich and Blackwell taverns OF the low,
or order of epicuree." From this Temporary
abasement white bait was raised by the Minis
terial dinner which, suspended under Mr..
Gladstone government, was restored by Lord
BeaconsGeld and was only omitted this month
on ec,oupt of tho death of Mr.. Ward Hunt.
The origin Of the annual Cabinet testlVlty ls
said to have been in the hospitality OF mer'
chant named Preston, Nova Scotia Baronet
and sometimes member Of Parliament tor
Dover. This gentleman had a fishing Get
tapo" on the banks of Dagcnham reach, and 10
the Spring time often went thlther With
friend or two, to ctjoy rest from Parliament.
cry and other business. His most frequent
guest was George Rose, the Secretary OF the
Treasury and an elder brother Of Trinity
House. Onc day, as Mr.. Rose and Sir Rotat
Preston wers slipping their wlne or rath'r
drinking it, for they did not sip 10 those Day.
the Secretary of the Treasury intlmated to 80
host that Mr.. Pitt might perhaps be prcVal!:
upon TO come to Dageuham, and would DO ce:'
tain to eDjoy himself immensely: A day Was
named, the Premier was invited, and 80 do
lighted was he with the place and the c1in
pauy (tbey were all three bottle men) tha+
on taking leave he accepted al lnVitation loF
the iOllOWOg year, tOr soVeraI yealsIu iA|"'
en- sent Miuister' aud MIR. Rose continued {"
visit Dagenham, but in those days the
world had not yet been shrunk by steam, ana
the distance was inconvenient. Sir Ko0e;t
Preston proposed that they should dine at Green
wich, az boing nearer London, and the party
was increased to four-Mr. Pitt being permitted
to bring Lord Camden. Then came Mr. Chss.
Long-aiterw Lord Farnborough-and ono
by one other notable Tories were invited, tIll ~
last, Lord Camden considerably remarked that
as they were all dining at tavern. it was Dut
fair that Sir Robert Preston should be relieved
of the expense. After warm protest, IL was
arranged that tho dinner should be given. as US
uel, by Sir Robert Preston-thst is 10 say, at his
invitalion-and he insisted on still contributing
q buck and the champagne The rest OF tho
charges we're betrayed by tho guests. and on
this plan the meeting coutilued 10 take place
till tho death of Mr.. Pitt The next
year Sir Robert WAS requested 10 summon ihe
quests 10 Green wieh banquet-the list included
By this time most of the Cabinet hinlsters; Inc
feast, which generally took place on Trinity
Monday, assumed political or scln:polllIcal
character beioro the death of Sir Robert Preston:
When that hospitsble Baronet, full Of years AMI
port wine, departed this life Lord Fsrnboroulgli
summoned the guests Up 10 that time the invita-
tions had bcon sent privately, but they wero
thenct forward dispatched in Oa5inet boxes, and
tho dinner became strictly Ministerial celsbr.
tion ALL the Yeay Round.