The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-06 00:00:00

SOUTHWARK CONSTITUTIONAL

SOCIETr.

On Saturday a Meeting of this Society was held
at the Three Tuns Tavern, St. Margaret's Hill, in
the Borough, for the purpose of celebrating his Ma- -
jesty's birth-day. About one hundred and fifty per-
sons sat down to a splendid dinner. Benjamin Shaw,
Esq. presided on this festive occasion. After the
cloth was removed, the first toast was,

The King, and many happy returns of the day to him.
This was drank with every possible demonstra

of loyalty. -
The popular air of " God save the King," har-
monized, was sung by some very excellent voices,
the company joining in the chorus.
The health of her Majesty was drank, with three,
as were the healths of the Prince of Wales, and the
rest of the Royal
Toast—" Our glorious Constitution. and may it
continue for ever. ' (Load and repealed acclamation:4
Song—" The health of Johnny Bull:'
Toast—" The Navy and Army of the United
Kingdom." ( This 'TV= followed by loud applasue.)
Song—" The English Tree of Liberty." This
song was heard with rapture. Among other excel-
lent points it contained the following:

l'hrr English tree or liberty's the guardian (if the crown,
Which never shall the sons of Gaul succeed in cutting down.

Toast—" Success to his Majesty's arms by sea and
land."

Son cr—o‘ Britons strike Home, revenge your Coun-
try's Wrongs."
Toast —" The rights of our country, and may we
always have spirit to assert and power to protect
them.'
Song—" Rule Btitannia."
Toast -" A speedy release to our countrymen in
France."

Song-44 The Father of Nancv a Forrester was."
Toast—" Prosperity to the Borough of South-
wark, and the good women thereof," with three.
Song—" England forever, and the Land Boys we
live in."

Toast--0 The land we live in, and may those who
do not like it leave it." _ _

The health of the Lord Lieutenant of the county
was then drank, with three.
The Noble Lord was nit present to return thanks.
The Chairman proposed the health of Sir John
Frederick, the worthy representative of the county
of Surrv, which was drank with three.
Sir JOHN FeEnzitici; rose, and in a neat speech
desired to return thanks for the honour the company
had done him in drinking his health Nothing could
be more gratifying to him than to have such an ho-
nour done him by so loyal and patriotic a meeting
as this was ; he trusted that the loyalty, unanimity,
and true Briti4 spirit, which the Company had this
day manifested, would pervade every bosom through. '
out the country, and enable his Majesty to defy the
threats, and despise the power, of the Corsican ty-
rant, and devote to destruction him and his folk'''.
iers, if they should ewer have the temerity to sally any
part of his kingdoms with their presence. (Lend
and rewrided plaudits. )
Song—" The Streamlet that flows round myCot."
The Chairman called upon the Company to join
him in a bumper, to the health of Henry Thornton,
Esq. their worthy representative.
Mr. THORNTON rose and begged to return his
armest thanks for the henour he had received

from them—a proof of their approbation he should
ever consider the highest honour that could be con-
ferred on him. Although assembled for the pur-
pose of celebrating the birth-day of their Sovereign,
he could not avoid,- at such a crisis as the present, ad-
verting to the particular posture of the public affairs,
and to allude to the circumstances under which this
society was first formed. It had been flamed soon
after his Majesty's recovery from a dangerous illness,
at a time when, in the opinion of some men of ap-
proved loyalty and patriotism, attempts were mak-
ing, by a party in Parliament, to encroach upen the
privileges and prerogatives of the Crown, and there-
by to endanger the independence and security of
one branch of the constitution. Happily this society
hail seen that party pass away since that periodaind,we
had had to defend ourselves against other and more
dangerous attempts ; be meant the traiterous at-
tempts of those domestic enemies urged to nets of
treason and conspiracy by the spirit and principles of
the French revolution; fortunately these too had pas-
sed away, and the Society were met now under new
circumstances; they had now to defend their King
and Constitution ; they had to defend him, not
against internal enemies, but foreign foes ; the dan-
ger, he admitted, was great, but unanimity alone
was neeessary to enable us to cope with that dan-
ger. It had been his let, since he had the honour of'
a seat in Parliament, to differ from many adminis-
trations. With regard to the present one, he had only
to observe, tkat however anxious he might have
been that the mediation of other Powers of the Con-
tinent should have been resorted to, yet as the war
had been (creed upon them, that they ought to re-
ceive every support. It was a war of defence on our
part, and of aggression on the part of France. With
regard to France, it was a war entered into to satis-
fy the inordinate ambition .af one man ; on our part
we had taken up arms to resist that ambition which
threatened the repose of the world ; he trusted AVe
were all united to avail ourselves of those mean!:
which Heaven had placed in our hands ; that there
was hut one. party in the Country ; and that we
*horrid be all equally zealous and disposed to bear
those burthens which were necessary to enable Lis
Miletty's Government to condud the war with vi-
gour, and bring it to a prosperous and honourable
issue. He had thought it proper to say thus much ;
his own views were favourable to the present admi-
nistration ; hut however wise he thought it mioa
have been to have qualified the approbation of some
part of the conduef of Ministers upon the subjed of
the Negociations v.ith France, yet as the war was
commenced, and as it was a war of justice and self-
defence, it was the duty of a good Parliament to
support the King by the liberal grant of those sup-
plies placed at their disposal; and it was the duty of
a good people to support the Parliament, by chear-
fully submitting to those burthens which the nature
of the contest we were engaged on rendered indis-
pensible. He concluded by repeating his satisfac-
tion at having had to address so loyal a company.
. (Bolas applause frequent4y interrupted this
apeeele) -
A 'Patriotic song was cling, atter which the health
of the worthy Chairman was drank.
Mr. SH aw rose and observed, That in returning
,thaaks fat the honour conferred on hint by the Come

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