CHRONICLE. 



61 



the stewards went to receive his 

 royal highness at the gate. He 

 entered in a few minutes after, at- 

 tended by the dukes of Kent, 

 Sussex, and Gloucester ; and din- 

 ner commenced. It was entirely 

 cold, with the exception of turtle 

 soup, and consisted of a profusion 

 of fowls, hams, pastry, and the 

 usual composition of a public din- 

 ner. Madeira, claret, and punch, 

 were on the tables in abundance. 

 When the whole company, of 

 probably more than twelve hun- 

 dred, had taken their seats, the 

 genernl view was admirable. The 

 orchestra of the rotunda had 

 been hung like a tent with flags 

 and festoons ; within, by a strong 

 light, was seen a row of crimson 

 steps, covered with massive pieces 

 of ornamental gold and silver plate, 

 with the bust of lord Wellington 

 on the summit. At the foot, and 

 leaning against a silver vase of ex- 

 quisite workmanship, was the mar- 

 shal's staft" taken in the battle. Two 

 trumpeters in their state liveries, 

 and with silver trumpets, stood 

 forward from the pile, and be- 

 tween them a grenadier of the 

 guards held the standard of the 

 100th French reginjent of the line. 

 Tlie duke of York sat in the cen- 

 tre of the first table, with the 

 Jlussian ambassador on his left. 

 The duke of Clarence was on his 

 right, and in succession on thp 

 same side the duke of Gloucester, 

 the Spanish ambassador, the duke 

 of Kent, the duke of Sussex, the 

 Turkish envoy, lord Castlereagh, 

 and the Speaker of the House of 

 Commons. The ministers, who 

 were chiefly in imiforms, and the 

 -principal part of the foreigners of 

 distinction in London, sat at the 

 president's table. Military and 

 Jiaval uniforms were chiefly worn, 



and even this contributed to the 

 picturesque effect of the assembly. 

 Marquis Wellesley came in after 

 dinner had commenced, and when 

 the seat due to his peculiar share 

 in the feelings of the day had 

 been occupied. The dinner was 

 plain, but plentiful and well served. 

 The conclusion was announced 

 by a flourish of trumpets, and the 

 singing of " NoJi nobis Doniine,''^ 

 by Taylor and other performers, 

 who were placed midway between 

 the extremities of the tables. Next 

 followed, «' The King ;" drank 

 standing, and with three times 

 thj-ee. " God save the King" wa9 

 then chaunted, and accompanied 

 by the band. The president next 

 gave " The Prince Regent ;" drank 

 as the former, and with great ap- 

 plause. The usual toasts succeed- 

 ed. " The Queen and Royal Fami- 

 ly." " The Duke of York and 

 the Army." " The Duke of Cla- 

 rence, and the Navy." «' Field- 

 Marshal the INTarquis of W^elling- 

 ton." Tiiis produced the loudest 

 and most repeated acclamatians, 

 the assemblage rising at once, and 

 renewing their plaudits for a long 

 time. " General Sir Thomas Gra- 

 Jiam, and the other Generals in 

 the Peninsula." " The Officers, 

 Non-commissioned Officers, and 

 Privates of the Army." " Ferdi- 

 nand the Seventh, and the Cause 

 of Spain ;" drank with universal 

 applause. " The Emperor of Rus- 

 sia;" loud huzzas. "The King 

 of Prussia." " The King of Swe- 

 den." " The Prince Regent of 

 Portugal." '< Marshal Bcresford, 

 and the Portuguese Armies." "The 

 Spanish Armies, and the brave 

 Guerillas." These toasts were all 

 drank with three times three, and 

 standing. The duke of York gave 

 the toast ; it was announced from 

 E2 



