The National Register. — London, England, 1821-05-27 00:00:00

I t r `~ 1,, 161 ~~ n THE WESTMINSTER DINNER. Oil Wednesday last the fourteenth anniveisary din lit , in celebration of the triumph ut 11'estininster, was held at the Cf(Wen and Auditor sl'averit. The great MOM was tilled a cousidetable time before the chair has taken, by a a respectable assemblage of Independent ttellfle mem At a little after five n'eloA, S:r Fraiteis Barden emered the room, accompanied uv J C. Hohliouse, Esq. S. Whitbread, Esq. Alderman Wood, and a number of other distinguished characters, and was received in the Must enthusiastic manner. Sir F. Borden then took t:te Alter the cloth Was drawn, the first toast gi , en was —" people, the only source of leglliwae power." Three mu .s Lorre. Tune—" Britons, str:ke Toa•t—" Tile King. acid Ili:IV tie recollect his own (le d,' atom, inai the crown is held in trust for the benefit of his people."—Three told a flsitering tale," was given amulet much applause. Tne health or the Queen way next (baulk iii toe With eoiliniUrd Cher I'S. Swig— " Rule Britanina." Toast—" The only cure for all our grievances—a thorough reform iii our Cnnouuus House of Poliainent," was drank with three nines three.— Te ne—" k the rogues out." Alderman IVisod mien lose and said, that as he was an elector of Westudioter, lie had the privilege, of wbich he stout,: avail himself with peculiar delight, of propo sinA a toast to them—the health of au ; of whom lie might well say, that no man could be found in the whine kusgdoin who had advocated tile cause tit libery so much, liar suffered so notch for sit aileceating it, as S.r Francis Burdett. (Applause.) The wor my Aidermaii professed Isis inability to do adequate justice to him who was the subject of the toast he was about to propose, but said, tha 10114 as he had health and spirits, the elector, of Wes:moister would tie tier aux otos to maintaiii him in that situation which lie had so long filled to Ille atliniratiou of themselves I.iel then moo at large. He concluded by proposing the health of" The consisteut opposer of tyranny and oppression ; the steady advocate of our rights; the nicorruptible SlateSlll.lll, un daunted by persecution, unsullied by co:minion : our hottest representative, Sir F Burdett." Which was then dank atitelst reiterated cheers. Tune—" Whilst happy in noir native laud." Sir F. Hottestre, in rising to return thanks, said it could not but be nighty gratifying to hoot to meet attain so 1111 l tieruus au assemblage of los comintuents, and to inert with such tesiiniontes of iegard and affection as he had then met with, alter so long a colon:emu's, which was too lung to admit of the suspicion that any thing like deceit or duplicity existed either oil one side or the iner. To the electors of NVestitiiiister he shook' ever appeal as the only persons who were the must liberal in judging, he could admit none others. His services had been rather too handsomely spoken of by the worthy alderman, and lie could only say, with regard to them, that he would be always inure than repaid by the approbation of his constituents. As to what had been sat(' about the incousetdences he had endured, he MUSI iu answer say, that he could take no individual merit for enduriug such sufferings as he had, when he considered the number of bus tellOW countrymen who hail been impr soiled with such rigour, for offences %Inch the most hardy, since the explosion of the Stuarts, would not before have ventured to punish.—(Loud ap plause.)—The worthy Baronet expressed the high plea sure which he felt at seciiu that his constituents main tained the saute solid and unalieraole determination in favour of that ref Orin which they had so long contended for, and of which they still continued in steady pursuit, %odium any falling uhf, notwithstanding the great length of time they had been together in so unprofitable a chase. But when he saw so many men of rank, weight, mud abilities, continuing to join them in the poison, and so favourable a prospect as had been held oat of reformers of every description uniting in their object, he did feel greatly encouraged in proceeding with his constitti emits 111 tout course which they had to lung consistently and with so much ardour gone on. (Applause.) During his alltSeilee trout the House of Commons, their great question hail been taken up by a getitletuali, in vinuse stile hinds he hoped it had not 'Witted, although by an unfortuilate conjuaction of circistustatice, it had been got rid of in a manner that could not have totes' foreseen. But he thought they could look back with conlideoce to the considerable tontine,' of iniportaut pvrsuus who were prepared to have stipixirted the aneasuie on which their hopes were founded. lie saw nothing in their general affairs upon which he could congratulate them. flity saw Oil every side the Little violent encroacluntres made upon their taws and liberties. But 110litilig that had been done tor a letigth of mite should give them more alarm fur the liberty of the press--without which sit inner libeity could long comiiitic to exisi—than the formation of a body of persons, who had united, tinder the name of the constitut . I society, for the purpose •:an setting and destroying all those publications which advocated political setitimesits that did not square with those held ey this association. He thought that those wilts vv etc hostile to the liberty of the press ;night have ',etas Well ulilatiell Willi the UliCOlistioniiiiirl measures that had been adopted agaisist it, •,Otl the exercise of thOSe Inleinilitititatilidl powers Wit Cil hail &men vested iii, and sO eliiurutly rased by the Attorney and tile Sup erior General, with those doors tilts society seemed to hare set themselves at variance, fin the purpose of de• stroyieg what little of the liberty of the press yet remalied.—(Great tiwy eOliSolrfed Ie ii,litirtt Of those woo belonged to inis, whirls he b. II lake the lite gay to call unconstitutional and tots-IL igusit association, they would temold with paid lite Aldine of a prison to lime (root who was indebted to the public for Ills wealth, lame, rank, and charac ter, and even lire the purse which he turned against their licirCat blrinfl4l3l, the ithellV o f tile press.—(Great Tne Mom speakar then adverted to the 14- invislattle dlttir at Nlauctiesirr. and voil6tatulated tile mottling that they had inn to tilt the upprillnlUM Of shat deed upon WOK brave tuca who had fought with such THE NATIONAL REGISTER bravery in the service of the country. He commented I at great length upon the transaction in a powerful man ' tier, that occasioned continued bursts of feeling. He animadverted with much severi:y upon the statements that had been made to jastity the proceeding, and after wards gi. - eti up as totally des; si nie of foundatimi, and said the ponlic should never forgo, from these instances, how little credit Was due to the statements made from men in the hi g hest situations. Yet, upon these statements, the six acts which had struck so deeply had been founded, mid he had no doalu that the saute ear would be given to similar statements from the Sallie quarter, when vet it was necessary to make similar encroachments. Had the people in the country continued to go on with the abaard system of Ludilitisto, mid continued to commit depreilatsons on private properly, their excesses would have beets beheld with an eye inure forbearance, but it was because they hail put he finger upon the real sore, and had called for reform, that they were attacked holt recily.—After some foram oinervations, the host. lain. adverted to the subject of the attacks which were making upon the press, which had been working with excel lent effect in quarters vs here, until very lately, they had no very great reason to entertain any sanguine expectations, and had done more for tile cause 01 truth and liberty than any thing else bestile. I mleel in speaking of the benefits iliai were to be derived In its free and proper exercise, he knew not how sufficiently to express himself. When they SAW the priiereatt it was h ly making; the extensum of its powerful itilitience met 1161111 i that had before never enjoyed its light ; wilco the saw the .111iiiiiCS With WlliC3 it WaS b) some of the first patriots, not withasidoig the difficulties it had in its way, though lite). might hook at their labours with touch satisfactiott, they could not but tremble hir thesis when they saw the 1111w:deli and the iinaiiiient peril to which tory so honourable exprosed themselves. applause.) He much wished this Ile could suggest sonic measures, or devise some lite:111S, 111.11 W0111(1 give to those who fearlessly strata fortiard plat Support which they so well deserved. The buss liirtitiet concluded by calling Upon reformers each to mine in Ills sitVil circle, and to bring the whole body n hear oat the House with such a sentiment as would oblige tlieni to turn a reluctaiit ear to the demands of the peoale. The matt Willa proposed was—" The memory of our unfortunate fellow-sOjects, men, women, and who suffered at Manshester iii August, 1819," which was drank in sole silence; after which " The Dead March in Saul " was played Ly the baud with much solemnity. The lion. D. Kuria tau next addressed the meeting lie said, he had great salisfaction in proposing a toast that required no recommendation. He should, there fore, without further delay, propose the health of our worthy representative," John Cam llobliouse, the able , and intrepid suplairter of the borougnmosiger oligarchy —the Mall WllO dares to attack apostacy when sheltered by power." (Great anytime.) Mr. HOSHOUSE Sdiii, tit Ira, colleague considered him self higoly honoured by the compliment •hat had been just paid hilli,il..stieigtoisited as lie was by the approbation of all the people of England, how much more should himself feel Hat timed by the reception of his 'lathe? The most that a man can do by his conduct in public life is to realize the wishes of private friendship, and that, it was truly grateful to his breast, he hail done. He was now little more than a year the colleague of their lima tr.ed representative, and if he hail fall.d its fulfilling any of their expectations, it WAS Ir ttttt wain of ability - , and trot from want M . *mho,' tttttt . Several geotlenteti regretted that they could not be present at the meeting. Nit. H. then read - letters from Lord Nugent and Mr. Leonard, in which they severally expressed their regret at not being able to attend the meeting. The cause (said air. IL) is good, and never can want fr:ends; even if your own virtues did not support it, the vices of your opp ,cents would. (Applause.) The country can never lie well governed unless the people shall be fairly trine. seined. Time electors of Westminster had taken a proud part, aid they should ever find hint their a ;Mots assist aut. Our rulers say we are doing well. It reminded nits of a doctor, who, when his patient told him he had slot slept last night, said it was a good symptom ; the patient said he felt quite feverish—the doctor said it was a very good symutoni—in this way we are dyi sig o. 10,000 good symptoms. (A laugh.) Nlr Huth e Isere ridi culed the association for restraining the liberty of the press, and said, they would hod tha whale they thought th• y were gaining laurels, they were gaining a cap and bells. In 1693 there was also an association for putting down the liberty of the press, but it failed in its object, and the free press, which was long the glory ol the coun try, would overcome every effort to extingotah it. The Ghanaian next proposed the health of " Mr. Whitbread, and our brother rebirtners its Middlesex." Mr. Whil ['BREAD, in retooling thanks, said, he came to the meeting with a heart full of gratitude for the ho. flour that many of the electors of Westminster, who were also electors of Nlidillesex, had done I . He had faithfully endeavoured to discharge his duty, and would end as he had begun--a steady reformer. lie stated, that it was Mr. Ilyng's wish to have attended the meet ina, but it was not in his power. The Chairman next proposed " the Constitution of Old England," which was drank with great al l Luse. Mr. 1 HELWALL, in an animated speech, called on the meeting to support the constitution, which was at tacked by an association for putting down the liberty of the press. He pledged himself that lie would not be found timidly seeking his own safety when he should contend for the salvation of the country. The Chairman twit psonosed " the health of Alder man Wood,' whose public acts, he said, .required no praise Alderman WOOO said. he was always a true reformer; sometimts he was called a radical, but he supposed those ' who gave him the appellation judged by his acts, for he was always ready to root out corruption. (Applause.) lie was sorry an association had been formed in London a:o6lst the freedom of the press, he hoped they would remove to head-quarters. a . Mr. House's taeaith was 11C11 proposed by the Chair man. Mr. Hums reunited thanks, and said, though at all times happy to meet his countrymen, ne W3b recultarly so to meet those who had set an exmtvle to all England, by sending men of virtue and talent to Rlrliatil 'rite Hon. I)ottglas Kilmaird's health was IleXl drank. Mr. KINNAIRD returned thanks, and said all Scut land were relOrtners. At half past ten o'clock Sir F. Burdett, and many other members of the House of Coinmoos, kit the ;own; soon alter which the company (which was one of the most numerous and respectable we have witnessed on any similar occasion fur many years) separated. Nearly 400 per ((((( s sat down to dustier, and 111.111 y were oblie,ed, Mr want of room, to dine bk low stairs. TILE QUEEN S VISIT TO THE ITAILIAN OPER.I. ......i.... On Thursday night het Majesty honoured the Italian Opera with her presence. She entered the house soon :diet the coinmencentent of the performance, acc.itmiit tiled by Lird and Lady Hood. Her Majesty occupied one of the center link ate boxes in the second tier, Lot as she remained is the hack part of the box, she was not recognized until towards the end of the second act, when she etas observed by several gentlemen w the pit and the boxes. At the end of the act the presence of her Majesty became generally known, alio site was re ceived by the majority of the audience in the pit and gallery with cheers and clapping of hands. There was however some hissing in the pit, winch only excited strut i/er wiuifestatious of feeling amongst the majorit). The applause had lasted for mime mitimes bcfore Ler Majesty had rearmed herself in the front of the box.— Oii domg which the whole of the audience r..se, and " God save the Queen" was loudly called for. The ca I was attempted to be opposed, nut the opposition was drowned amidst the clamour which was occ..stotted lay the band going on wino the sic of me l itter to a:- company the ballet. The perk bbbb tees welt driven ba. k with the cries oi . " off, oft," and the call for " G id sate the•Qtteett" being persisted in, the 11111114111 y at Irultth came forward, and sung the hymn " God save the King," substituting the name of the " QatTat" for that of the King iii each stanza. Some part of the au dience who dial not hear the name prommiaced dis tinctly, gave it themselves with great empliasis. Op position was wit en up after Signor Ambrogent had led forward the company. The nobility and gently w toe boxes did not matures( any sot erse feeling, trio shard in the most respectful lUMlllicr whilst the hymn was sun.; and we must say, that the vocal pert rs fat e it wart a great deal of timidity, but the band played it with much spirit. Her laj..sty was dressed in a yellow sat,ii dress, turned up with black velvet and gold. Site wore a black hat with a pl of ostrich feathers, and ap peared iu good health and spirits. The Opera was Don Giovanni, and in the ballet Madame Fanny Bilis, the principal dancer at the Parisian Opera, delighted the audience by a display of elegant agility that fully jusitti-41 her celebrity. The House was extre.a ely crowued, and during the remainder of the night her AN:sty was tile principal object of attention; and on her departure she received the same manifestatiens of zeal and of respect that she was greeted with on her Iselin; recognised. 1 '. SPAA LW PAPERS. ALOCSIRAS, APRIL 30.—The Journal of this town, called the Bee, contains a certificate of the Secretary of the Municipality, relating that on the 25th, at the invitation of the Political Chief, and the first Alcalde, the Commandant, the Clergyman of the parish, and the Members of the Municipa:ity, met in the Town-house, where they wete informed that a great body of the national militia, and of the people, were invited to solicit the above authorities to listen to what would be explained to them by a deputation, speaking the sentiments of the people. This deputation, composed of respectable persons, represented, that the people, with the national mi litia, guided by love to the country and to the con stitutional system, had conceived a distrust of some persons living in the town, and in St. Roque, b. cause their opinions were extremely unfavourable to the Constitution. These persons were, Licut.-Gen. 1). Jose O'Donnell, Brigade-General lion Nlanuil Albergote, the Ex-Inquisitor D. Francisco Cid, and three other persons, whom they desired to be ba nished to Ceuta, They also desired that a Judge of the First Instance, an Auditor, and a Lieutenant of Artillery, should be deprived of their offices. The Political Chief; and the other authorities, attempted to gain time, that the clamours of the people might abate, and the sanctity of the leas re main inviolate; but the deputation insisted, and, after various altercations, the petition of the people was declared to be just ; and it was agned that G. neral O'Donnell, and some of the others, should be placed in the convent of this town, under the cus tody of the national militia ; that Albergote should be deprived of his command ; and thst Lieutenant, the Judge, and the Auditor, suspended. Letters from Semlin state, that the Paella of Bosnia arrived on the 22d of April with a corps of 5,000 Turks upon the frontiers of Servia, and that he had demanded a gen.:ral disarming of the inha bitants. It is believed that the Servians will nut submit to those conditions. Letters from Naples state, that all the English vessels have quitted the ports of Sicily to cruise on the coast of Greece. ■