The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-03-18 00:00:00

ST. PATIUCrS DINNER.

Tile Anniversary of St. Patrick was yesterday celebrated at the
Frantasons"favern, Great I)unit-street. The presidency of the
Duke of York attracted a wore than usually numerous and splendid
asenblage. At a few minutes past six o'clock. the large hall of
the VfOtlßSl43,,."frivern was thronged with the English and Irish
'aprons of this admirable Institution.
Ihe Duke of Von IL took the chair at the appointed hour. His
Or ice was supported on the ri, ht by the Marquis of Downshire,
and on the li ft by the Duke of 'Wellington. Lord Palmerston,
I OLI fi. Reminci, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right j
Pon. Mr.V. Ffegerald, Sir John Doyle. Mr. Wellesley, M.P. fn.
hortou.id the tesuval with their presence. Mr. Owen, of Lanark, j
leas a o present.
Mr. t a ring arrved a little before seven o'clock, after the
ceinpaoy had rat down to dinner. The Right lion. Gende.
man was li/chatted with the wannest demonstration of respect.
lie wi s loudly cheered as he walked up the hall. He was then
led by the stewards to a seat on the left of the Duke of Wellington.
Dania thane a band attended, which played several Irish airs in
tit course of the evening.
On the reineval of the cloth, the musical gentlemen, Messrs.
'Webb, Taylor, Smith, Rt., who mustered in a strong body on
the occasion, gave " Non nobis Doinine" in a finely.impriasive
style.
The Duke of YOaa then mgt.—The first toast, Gentlemen,
which I shall propose is, "The King;" and lam happy to arrow.
parry it with the announcement, that his Majesty gives his usual
annual dancian of lII' guineas to the support of this Institution.— i
(I. isid applause.)
The Klee," three times three.
"The Royal Family."
" The Fiat I of IN master and the Navy of England."
The D,.ke of WELLINOTON next proposed " The Earl of
lister and the Army of England," three times three. This toast
rev ived with land and long.continued applause.
the Duke of Vows rose, and spoke to the following effect :
Gentlemen, I feel highly gratified by the manner in which my
health has been received by the present company, and I am the
more gratified on account of the association of my name with the
army of England. Allow me to maim you also that I take a very i
lively interest in the success of this Institution ; and that towards
the country of wirli its members are composed I cherish a warm
diction and regard._ (Cheers.) Although I have never had the
pleasure of fishily/ Gat country myself, yet, as head of the army
for many years, I have ha I frequent opportunities of personal ob..
serration of their conduct, and have heard of it from others in com.
man ; and I as happy te bear testimony that, in discipline and in..
velour, they yield so none, and that they have greatly contributed
tip horour and soolfate of the empire. (Loud cheers.) With
ion of these sentiments, which are those I sincerely
snintiVilllowards Inland, I beg leave again to return my best
dans, foe the gratifying manner in which my health has been
Telnived. (Loud applause.)
4* The Benevolent Society of St. Patrick."—Tune, " Patrick's
Day."
Mr:Wenn sung a favourite Irish comic song, which was warmly
applauded by the company.
fix chltdrempemported by the Institution were then introduced.
The Stewing Tea the way, followed by the girls of the establish-
ment ; der them came the boys—and the whole passed in review
before his Royal Highness and the distinguished guests around
him. The appearadee of the children was extremely pleasing:
they were Cleanly attireel, and their orderly and decorous demeanor
produced a very strong and tarourable seaution on the minds of
the M eeting.
"The Mother of St. Patrick."
The Duke of VOUS next proposed the health of the Duke of
Wellington, as an illustrious individual belonging to Ireland, and
d person in whom he recognised an old friend. (Applause.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON rose.—Gentlemen, this is not the
that time in which an opportunity has been afforded me of express-
ing the grateful sense I entertained for the cordial reception I have
met amongst you. On ninny occasions have I before expressed to
you the thankfulness I felt for the honour you had done me in ap-
pointing not a l'in-Prestdeet of this Institution, and in placing my
Ana among.. the standing toasts of this Society. On no occasion,
Worm have 1 felt such satisfaction and F ide as on the present,
wham th.l illustrious individual who presides over your festival
this day. me. Inuit* whole auspices those exertions of mine were
tints directed, excited, and encouraged, which attracted your no-
tice. and which induced you to theta ate worthy of being iw
pointedyour Vice•Ptesident, and of my name being placed ea the
list of flw otandiwg room of your boeicq. (Applause.)
" Mr. J. Ninth mod rho Landon Cosninierne"
Ms. pin two. Miff. rossissui thinks on the poste tba Lodes Com.
antes. One pod allot bad Mon created by the CIARWMIS of that
Etwoadttte, iuderstabat .of di. relirf which it anninatered to
the,; Row.olintatt fadiansa. (Hear, haw.) ha exertions had
sunfunty of cultivating sod increasing thempathy
et a people who had already waived so much. (sy('heers.)
Ho that incessant sympathy was an omen tl at the day
onus dadtlidridiatant when the people of Ireland should enjoy ail the
WPM. and and advantages which the people of this country pos..
armed (applause). The Irish people had deserved well of this
country—they were always found foremost in the career of glory ;
and in illus:ration of this assertion he nenl only allude to an dila-
tant, baboon present, who had so elevated the character of that
earwig • to use • rid tar expression, he had made every English-
/Ma and every Irishman " two inches talc: than he was before."
Beim, he concluded, he begged leave to propose, as a debt of gra-
titude to Mr. Wellesley, who had distinguished himself by very
otalous exertions is the Committee, and who now advsweageously
presided over a wry beneficial bethinks for the promotion of in-
t uatt7 %mimes( the bumbler clairsituf the Irish people.
es The health of rte. Wellesley "
• Mr. We 1. tesirr returned thanks. He felt that it was a duty
that he owed us the tinnily to which he had the honour to belong,
to spare no ex.rrlon or labour that he could devote to the service
nil interests of Ireland.

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" The Marquis of Hastings, and the Anent contributors to this
In aim: ion."
" The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland." (Loud cheers.)
The Duke of WieLLI NUTON iaturne4 thanks on she part of the
Marquis Wellesley, and assured tho company that no person
felt a deeper anxiety to promote the welfare of the institution, or
spirants the intarress of Ireland, than the Noble Lord, whose health
they had so warmly received.
" The Marquis of Downshire.
The Marquis of Dow nation returned thanks. He was
happy at seeing so illustrious a member of the Royal Family pre-
vent as he now had the honour to address. lle wan glad to see his
protection extended to the present Institution; and telt happy at
thesemiments of regard which his Royal Highness was pleased to
express towards Ireland that evening. Hitherto Ireland had been
as it were under a cloud. A new era, he hoped, had arisen, and
ere bug it raipht be expected to see her inn different state and
rendition from that to which she had been hitherto doomed. (Hear,
bear.) The Noble Lord dwelt upon the advantages of education to
the humbler chigoes, and wished to see in every pariah of Ireland
the moral instruction of the people promoted. It only wanted the
cord" I cautions of the higher classes, nir their benefit, to make
them fapp►, for the people of Ireland were naturally grateful and
airecissiate.

The Doke of Vona next begged to propose the health of a
Minister, which he was sure would be cordially received, as be was
one of their countrymen, and was distinguished by his attach-
ment to Ire'snd, and a.. 1 to promote its inseams.
" Mr. Canning."
This toast was received with loud and continued cheering by the
comyany As soon as the applause hard somewhat subsided.
Mr. CAI:111SW roar—•• Dentieuten, 1 ass afraid I want words—l
am sure I want voice—to express, in adequate terms, the sense of
Finitude I feel for the very flimetiog manner in which you have
bea pleased to melee try health. This hi not my first appearance
at •h. annual celebration of this festival; but I may truly say,
th tvf tile niativ occasions on ahi h 1 have been present, this is
toe one which &fords me most delight. From the collected scene
around me, and from the sentiment. which in the course of this
evening I hove beard, in nty mind the present mewing presents
the most eh eedug auspices for the future prosperity of Ireland.
(Amigos, ) Wm surely tto light omen of that prosperity to see
Fete the illustrious individual who presides over your festival this
day, and to have baud the ecnt•inents of all.ction and r•eard
which he has expreetal towards Ireland. There is no person— lam
sure there is no Iriehenan.....who Aimed those sentiments, and the
tone and manner in which they were delivered, who could have
doubted their sincerity, or who mar not have ben convinced, in
his own mild, that they came front the heart. (Cheers.) We have
beard two authoritle. tSis evening (each melt respectable), ex.
pressing_ ale confidence. they entertatiel in the prospect of the
incrats prosperity of Ireland. The one, en Honourable Gentle-
man (Mr. Smith) who had asidressed the,u, and whose benevolent
ay.rtions were well known and appreciated. The other, a
Nolgs Peer (the Marquis of Downshire), who illustrated the
nubility tit his birth by the anxiety he evinced to remit!. benefits
/ad services to the lowly and humble ot his countrymen. (Cheers.)
That Noble bard stated his imprmaion-1 believe a well-founded
o`i —.l a a brighter day was dawning upon Iceland. (A pplauite.)
1, a no. $ OD e'eemosyntuy benevolence- " which hleasat hint that
gimes wallas hint that tato S, ' that, relanl ought in futureto look;
but there appears to me to have been laid of late, and particularly
w thin the last year, the tottnelstino of a secure and permanent
prosperity for that country. (CI eery.) The stream of British
capital has set towards Ireland, and although the stream of bene-
volence may be more gratifying, the other is more permanent and
aytaln; besides, It not only invigorates the country into which it
has flowed, hut returns to invigorate that country also from which
it has ems must, Ike the b'co I that circulates at the extremities,
ani returns to reanimate and fo vo the heart. (bond cheers.)
The Duke of Fon a begged to oWer to the attention of the com-
pany the health of another Minister, who, although he was not an
■ Intonaq, was warmly rttaclud to that country, and watchful cf its
• rantatereets.

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"The Chancellor of the Exchequer."
The Citaucsmi.oa of the EXCHEUUER, after the warm de.
rronsiettiots of respect with which his health was received had
subsimii, rose and sail—Permit me, tientlensen, to express the
Frattileves.n I feel at Ending my name thus honourably mentioned,
in a o-oupany where I am surrounded by men distinguished for
great whoa, for public service, and re.pected for p.ivate virtue. I
should be glad to kn ur of hat stuff thct man's breast must be
composed, who could witness without being elated such a scene as the
protein. Here every angry passion is stifled, the jarring contention
of party and politics set as rest, and-the only emulation is, who shall
'via contribute to promote the benevolent efforts of the Institution.
lor my own part, I shall feel proud and happy, if in the situation
which l tare the honour to hold it has been thought that I have
born duly attentive to the interests of Ireland. Although lam
'oat an Irishmon, yet I lila:, I am not so degenerate an Eng-
lishman as not so feel a deep anxiety for the voclfAre of Ireland,
Ind a strong conviction that the prosperity of England is inscper-
eblr aith the prosperity of my brethren in Ireland.
(Loud die, re.) The Rg t Ito Gentleman concluded by as-
ll+ log the company, in a strain of animated eloquence, of the at.