13 SEPTEMBER 1856, Page 2

After the storm the waves continue to rise, and. the

agitation of the hurricane becomes, under the returning sun, gayer than the smoothest calm. So, half the zest of the present dull season is derived from fighting the wars over again at the banquet- table. Towards the fall of the year, we always have some fashion in. the entertainment which fills up the interval left unoccupied by our Parliament, our touring, and our Christmas festivities— something to break the sameness of sporting ; and this year the fashion consists in public festivals for Crimean heroes. The prac- tice improves as it proceeds. At Sheffield, the men of the Fourth Dragoon Guards were mustered to receive a present from an en- terprising person—the present consisting of a Sheffield knife for each, man ; and the gift was enhanced by an oration from Mr. Roebuck, conceived in the classic vein. At Folkestone, the in- habitants entertained a body of soldiers drawn from various regiments—some 800 in number ; and here, bettering the inhospitable arrangements of the London Surrey Gardens, the hosts were represented at table as well as the guests. Other banquets are to follow, including one to all the soldiers in Ire- land,—simultaneously, we presume, at different places. We are indulging in elaborate dinner-table crowings over Crimean ( glories, when our "near ally" seems to be embroiling us with our "ancient ally" Spain, and our War Ministers are preparing a peace establishment more formidable than our Army in the East.