After the "Happy Moment," and "You Remember," sung by Mr. Norville and Mr. Ewing, the programme announced "God Save the Queen;" but some Americans begged Paul V———, as he was a Frenchman, to play the national French Anthem. Immediately my agreeable countryman began the inevitable "Partant pour la Syrie." Energetic demands from a party of north-men, who wished to hear the "Marseillaise," and without being pressed further, the obedient pianist, with a compliance which betokened rather a musical facility than political convictions, vigorously attacked the song of Rouget de l'Ile.
This was the grand success of the evening, and the assembly, standing, slowly sang the "National Anthem," which prays God to bless the Queen.
Upon the whole this soirée was as good as amateur soirées generally are; that is to say, it was chiefly a success for the performers and their friends. Fabian did not show himself there at all.
