New-York tribune., 1905-06-07
DINNER TO SPANISH KING
KING EDWARDS TOAST.
Many Notable Guests at Buckingham
Palace-A BUSH Dag.


London, June 6-King Alfonso of Spain saw
the sights of the metropolis to-day in typical
! London weather. Rain poured down all day
long, accompanied by a chill east wind The
limp decorations gave the entire city be-
draggled and forlorn appearance.
The young monarch. however. carried out a
long programme with evident enjoyment. After
receiving the diplomatic corps ut buckingham
Palace, his majesty attended mass at the Roman
| Catholic Cathedral at Westminster. Later he
visited Westminster Abbey. was the guest or
the Duke and Duchess of Connaught at lunch
con, and interested spectator OF the
military tournament at Agricultural Hall He
gave a reception to Spanish residents and to
the Anglo-Spanish and American Spanish COM
mercial bodies of London at the Spanish Tlr-
bassy, and paid surprise visit to the Houses Of
Parliament, which unfortun ataly lad adjourned
before his arrival.
The day ended with a state dinner At Buciling
ham Palace which was attended by members Of
the royal family, the nobility, the Diplomatic
corps and practically all the notable men in
political England
The dinner was served at a long table in the
picture gallery and there were covers for 120
the famous gold plate being used. The members
of the royal family assembled in the Throne
Room. from which King Alfonso conducted
of Connaught to the dining table. The general
guests were assembled in the Green Drawing
Room. After their majesties and the members
of the royal family passed the guests were
paired and followed them.
Count Wolff -Metternich the German Ambas
sador took in Mrs. Reid, and Whitelaw Reid,
the American Ambassador, took in the Duchess
of Portland. These seated to the immed-
ate right of King Alfonso. Among others pres
ent at the dinner Count Mensdorff, the
Austro Hungarian Ambassador; the Duchess of
Marlborough, the Spanish Ambassador, L. Polo
Bernabe, and the Duchess of Roxb.rghe.
King Edward toasted King Alfonso, express
ing on behalf Of the Queen and himself pleasure
at the loSg wished for visit, which is most
gratifying to the whole of the British nation,
whose wishes vie in friendly rivalry with the
great country you so recently visited in well
coming your majesty with the acclamation
which is your due" King Edward recalled the
time when King Alfonso's father stayed in
England a cadet at the Sandhurst Military
College, adding: "I proud to think your
majesty has accepted the rank of a British gen.
eral. Then, after fecitous reference to
Queen Christina, King Edward concluded:
Spain and England often have been allies.
May they always remain SO, and, above all,
march together for the benefit of peace, prog
ress and civilization drink the health of your
majesty and the prosperity of the Spanish
ton.
Speaking in French, King Alfonso, replied:
1 am profoundly moved. L thank you from
the bottom of my heart for myself and my
august mother Tor your amiable words of well
come in this noble country, united with mine by
strong ties of common interest and ineffaceable
pious memories. 1t here my lamented father
learned the duties of constitutional sovereign,
having always before him the august example
of the great queen your revered mother, who
filled with her goodness and glory almost
whole century. The cordiality of sentiment
which has united our two royal families ex-
tends also to the good relations happily exist
ing between Spain and Great Britain, which
ought to develop in the future to the mutual
advantage of the two friendly .,ations.
drink to the health of your majesty, the
Queen and the royal family and to the happiness
and prosperity of the great, fourishing British
Empire.
concert given in the Blue Drawing
Room. at which the singers included Nine.
Melba, Miss Murie Foster and Enrico Caruso.
At the morning reception at Buckingham Pal
ece all the Ambassadors and Ministers now in
London, with the staffs of the embassies and
legations, including Ambassador Reid and the
other members of the American Embassy, were
present. Mr.. Reid had rather long talk with
King Alfonso, who referred to some Of the Am
bassador's former services. AT the request of
the Spanish King Mr.. Reid presented Secretary
Carter and the other members of the Embassy
to his majesty.
King Alfonso escorted by detachment
of Life Guards on his way to attend mass at the
Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster. Sew
eral members OF the escort were thrown owing
to their horses slipping on the wet asphalt.