[Gutenberg 48390] • Social England under the Regency, Vol. 1 (of 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI. City banquet to the Duke of Wellington--Costly vegetables--The Princess Charlotte--Squabbles about her presentation at Court -- The Regent hooted--The Princess Charlotte and the Prince of Orange -- Her future husband, Prince Leopold--P1er flight from Warwick House, and return. 1 STILL must chronicle feasting and rejoicing. This time it is the City of London who honoured the national Hero, the Duke of Wellington, with a banquet. Some may grumble at this way of doing honour to merit, but, after all, it is but one mode of public recognition. The Government cannot spend the public money on such matters. Private acknowledgment would be worthless, so the City of London always throws itself, so to speak, into the breach, and bridges over a chasm most gracefully. Their hospitality hurts no one, as it comes from their own funds, and it supplies a national want, and as such, is recognized as an honour done by the nation. So a feast was made, on the gth of July, to welcome home the Conqueror of Napoleon. Nationally, the Duke was well rewarded, both with titles and money, but the graceful act of a public reception was wanting as a crown. The preparations were as magnificent as if for the Allied Sovereigns, but the feast had this difference--the Lord Mayor was the real Host. In the former he was subsidiary, the Regent, of course, being the central star. This was a National welcome, and, if there were not so many High Mightinesses present, it was none the less hearty. It is of no use wearying my readers with details of the festivity, but I wish to point out what was typical of the age in dining. It is not so long ago that "nous avons change tout cela." I, and very many of my readers, recollect the time when "the board" literally "groaned..".