Tower Hill, in honour of the occasion, and of the presence
of their captain. In the room where the guests were received was a
portrait of the Master, painted as a companion picture to those already
on the walls, by a Russian artist, G. Koberwein. Count Shouvaloff, the
Russian Ambassador, was among the guests. In responding to the customary
toast of "The Royal Family," the Prince of Wales expressed his
gratification at his brother Prince Leopold having become a member of
the Corporation. The Duke of Cambridge responded for the Army.

_1877._

The banquet of 1877 was again presided over by the Prince of Wales, in
the absence of the Master, the Duke of Edinburgh. There was the usual
select company, including Royal and other distinguished guests,
especially General Grant, who, in his travels throughout the old world,
was received with as great honour as any king could be.

In proposing the health of the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Derby
said:--"No one particularly likes to listen to his own panegyric, even
at a public dinner, and therefore I will say nothing with regard to the
illustrious subject of my toast beyond that which you all know to be the
simple and literal truth. His Royal Highness has not only now, but for
many years past, done all that is in the power of man to do, by genial
courtesies towards men of every class, and by his indefatigable
assiduity in the performance of every social duty, to secure at once
that public respect which is due to his exalted position and that social
sympathy and personal popularity which no position, however exalted, can
of itself be sufficient to secure. We regret the absence of the
illustrious Master of the Corporation, the Duke of Edinburgh, but we
regret it the less because he is doing what each of us in our humble
spheres desires and endeavours to do--he is serving his country. I give
you "The Health of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the rest
of the Royal Family."

The toast was drunk with all the accustomed honours, and the Prince in
reply said:--

"My Lords and Gentlemen,--I return you my sincere thanks for the
kind way in which the toast of my health has been proposed and
the manner in which it has been received. I can assure the whole
company that I feel it a great honour to be present on this
occasion, especially connected as I have the honour to be with
your Master. I regret that my brother is not here this evening.
It is no