Glasgow Courier. — 1858-06-05 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

WILSON.  BANQUET TO GENERAL SIR ARCHDALE  On W ednesday night the members of the Oriental Club entertained Major General Sir Archdale Wilson, K.C.B. The banquet was presided over by Major General Sir Robert Vivian, R.C.8., in close proximity to whom sat the guest of the evening, end his three relatives, Captain G. B. Wilson, R.N , the Rev. Ronald Wilson, and the Rev. Herbert Wilson. Among the other gentlemen present, who numbered about 120 10 all, were Lieutenant General Briggs, Lieutenant General Monteith, General H. Thomson, Sir F. Currie, chairman of the East India C ompany, &c. &c. The usual loyal toasts having been proposed and cordially received. The CHAIRMAN rose and said—Gentlemen, I have now the pleasure of proposing to you the toast of the evening —'The health of our gallant and distinguished guest, Sir A. Wilson.' (Cheers.) The toast was drunk amid the greatest enthusiasm. Sir ARCHDALE WILSON, whose rising was the signal for a renewed outburst of vehement cheering, then said —Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, I have to return you my warmest thanks for the very kind and cordial welcome which you have given to me. I regret that lam wholly unable to acknowledge your kindness in suitable terms, but lean assure you that of all the compliments which I have had the happiness to receive, none has given me more pleasure than the one which the Oriental Club has just bestowed—a club composed of members of the Indian services, in which I have been for no many years engaged. Gentlemen, lam proud, as I well may be, of having successfully commanded that gallant band which first turned the tide of the mutiny; and I asn prouder still to find that my humble services have not only been approved of by my Sovereign and by the Don. Court of Directors of the East India Company, but I think I may also add by all ranks of my fellow. countrymen. (Cheers.) But fortunate as I have been In this respect, I must say that whatever credit may be due to myself must be equally shared by that small but gallant force which I had the honour to command. (Cheers.) That force for four months of the most trying and unhealthy season endured such fatigue and exposure as were probably never known by soldiers before; and although they were reduced daily in numbers by the continual attacks which they had to repel, and though one•third of their available strength was paralysed by sickness, yet they bore every hardship with the greatest patience, and the only difficulty was to restrain their ardour till the moment arrived when they could be let loose on the enemy with some chance of success. (Cheers.) Not the least noble part of their conduct, in my opinion was, that though flushed with victory, and their blood roused to the highest pitch, they still obeyed the call that was made upon them, and not a single woman or child was ill-used or ill•treated either by a European or a native soldier belonging to our force. (Cheers.) It has been stated in the public prints, and also, as I am told, in Parliament, that such was not the case, and that women had actually been recklessly murdered. That I most emphatically deny. (Cheers.) Not one single instance, I repeat, of any woman or child having been ill-treated ever came to my knowledge, and I took great pains to inquire into this matter. (Renewed cheers.) Gentlemen, I have also to acknowledge your kind recognition of my humble services before Lucknow and I can only say it is a pride and a gratification to me to have served under so gallant a commander as Sir Colin Campbell. (Cheers.) In the name of the army which served befote Delhi, I beg, gentlemen, again to return you my most sincere thanks. (Loud and prolonged cheering, amidst which the gallant General resumed his seat.) Several other toasts were proposed, after which the company separated.