Virginia Argus

SPLENDID NAVAL DINNER.

On Tuesday, agreeable to a vote of the Common Council, a Dinner was given to Capt. Lawrence of the Hornet and his gallant crew. The dinner was given at that splendid edifice Washington Hall. It is the first entertainment that has been given in that establishment; and it was remarked as a pleasing and appropriate circumstance, that the first opening of the Hall should be devoted to a festival in honor of the victories of our navy.

The Seamen came in barges from their ship, and landed at White-Hall at half past 2 o'clock. They marched, attended by the elegant Band of the 11th Regiment of the 1st Brigade of Artillery, through Pearl street, Wall street, and Broadway to Washington-Hall, cheered in every street they passed by the huzzaas of their admiring and grateful countrymen. At half past 3 o'clock the petty officers, seamen and marines set down to a most plentiful dinner, prepared for them in the Ball Room, the most splendid room on the continent.

Paintings representing the victories of Hull, Decatur, Jones and Bainbridge decorated the walls, and over the chair of the presiding officer, was an elegant view, by Holland, of the late brilliant action of Captain Lawrence, in the Hornet, with the British ship Peacock.-

The table was decorated with a great variety of flags, with emblems appropriate to the occasion, painted by a young gentleman of this city.

After the meats were removed a visit was paid them by the Members of the Common Council, accompanied by Capt. Lawrence—At the sight of their gallant commander they rose. cheered him with three times three, in a stile that evinced it came from the heart. The Boatswain of the Hornet presided at the entertainment, and tho' the bottle, the song and the toast passed in jocund glee, yet the most perfect order and decorum were observed.

In one of the dining rooms on the first floor. a dinner was prepared for the corporation. Among the guests were Capt. Lawrence and all his officers—the commanders of the ships of war on this station, the judges of the courts, and Col. Swift commander of the corps of Engineers.

The room was decorated with various emblematic paintings, by Mr. Holland. descriptive of our Naval Victories, and complimentary to the gallant commanders who have achieved them.

The viands of the table and its ornaments were in a stile of comfort and of elegance that did great credit to Mr. Crocker. Tho' it is but a few days since he opened this house, every thing that could gratify the lovers of good cheer and the man of taste and fashion were there to be found.

In the evening the Theatre was brilliantly illuminated, and the proprietors having politely set apart the pit for the gallant tars of the Hornet, they went from their dinner table to the Theatre at 6 o'clock. The pieces selected for the evening, being of a naval character, the men were highly amused and entertained with them.

Capt Lawrence and the Corporation Committee of Arrangement, visited the Theatre also—and on Capt. Lawrence's entering. his jolly tars again gave him three welcome huzzaas, in which the audience most heartily joined them.

In fine the whole of this exhibition was conducted in a way that must be highly gratifying to every American. To reward, by every possible demonstration of respect and gratitude, those gallant men who have so nobly supported their country's honor, is both our duty and our interest :-And our common council who have thus studiously sought out each occasion for evincing the grateful feelings of our citizens to our gallant countrymen, have done honor to themselves and to the city which they represent.