A very pleasant dinner was given at the Shanghai Club on Monday evening to the three globe-girdling cyclists, Messrs. Fraser, Lunn, and Lowe. There were between fifty and sixty subscribers to the dinner, of various nationalities, mostly bicyclists, present, Sir Nicholas Hannen being in the chair, with Mr. John Foster Fraser on right, the vice-chairmen being Mr. Ce: Holliday with Mr. Francis H. Lowe on his right, and Mr. R. W. Little with Mr. S. Edward Lunn on his right. The dinner was a good one, and there was a general air of liveliness and enjoyment. As soon as the dessert period was reached, toast of the evening ssid—Gentlomso—L Sir Nicholas Hannen, in proposing the sh -uld like almost to be able to say ladies and gentlemen, for Tam sure there are as many ladies in' Shanghai who take an inter rest in the gentlemen whose healths I ant about to propose as there are ropresentatives of bicycling, and bicycling is a thing man in this room takes a deep to say nothing of about 400 or 500 outside. So far as I am concerned Tam quite sure that bicycling has been of the utmost benefit tomy health. I remember 'a riding man saying to me when I was praising walking; that walking was fatigue without exercise, whereas riding a horse was exercise without fatigue. Now, I can safely say that riding a bicycle is exercise without fatigue, at least when it is not indulged la to excess. But perhaps these who have now ridden on bicycles over a sidered to have indulged in it to excess, and large portion of 14,000 miles, may be con-probably they will really have done so before they finish their expedition. Starting from London across the Continent and passing through Brussels, Vienna, Roumania, and over the Caucasus on their way they must have had their healths drunk very often. And so by this time they must be accustomed to it. As scun as they crossed the Caucasus, Thave no doubt they were more likely to have their blood drunk. B in spite of all difficulties, they made their way down to the head of the Persian Gulf, and then came the most enjoyable part of the journey asa bicycling trip—across the magnificent roads of India. After that, I suppose, and so far as bicycling was concerned, it was a case of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. China certainly, 80 far as bicycling is concerned, is a fraud. I fancy that the longest bit of uninterrupted bicycling which these gentlemen were able to perform was the bit -between Unkaza and Shanghai, and can flatter ourselves, probably' that Shanghai gave them, inside China, their first taste of a bicycle ride. We are met here to-night to do honour to their pluck, perseverance, and courage. But, gentlemen, want you especially to remember this, that to pass through countries of such various nationalities, and such various creeds, most of them opposed to foreigners, and courage. I think it requires, in the juires something more than perseverance highest degree, judgment and tact, and, therefore, these gentlemen are entitled not only to our admiration for their courage, but, in the highest degree for their ability and tact, I am sure you will all join with me in wishing them a successful end of their trip and that every undertaking they may take in hand in the future: may be less arduous, but, if possible, more successful than their present one. ask you to drink the health of Messrs.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.