The National Register.
London, England, 1820-04-17 00:00:00

TRIBUTE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICES OF
MR. WAITHMAN.

SY A FRIEND TO LISERTY AND THE MUSES.
Tune—" The Maracilluis Ilynin."
" Freedom ! before thine altar billing,
We hail thine awful, sacred name !
That name—to Britons dear ! recalling,
Foundation of our early fame.
Though Science' sun should light our dwelling,
Though seas of wealth should wash our shore,
Vain all our knowledge—all our store,
Vain all—but hearts to freedom swelling,
All but outfights as men!

" Corruption's sons may have their season,
'Mid unarmed crowds may scatter death ;
Bribes may prevail o'er right and reason,
Chains bind our limbs and laws our breath.
To these a bridcareer is given
To punish thought, make truth a crime—
Yes ! these may triumph for a time—
But bright—eternal ! as yon heaven
Our rights, our rights remain."
The Chairman, in giving the next toast, eulogized
the late triumph in Middlesex, observing, that if ever
men had British heart and British feeling, it was the
late Mr. Whitbread, the revered father of their
present Member. The toast was—" The Members
for NI iddlesex, and that County's Independent Electors."
Air. Byng retnrned his acknowledgments, statiti,
that he had availed himself of every opportunity to bear
testimony to the exertions of that great matt, Mr. NVairh-
man ; and adding, that the result of the late City
Election of octed him more than if he had lost his own
election. lie was pleased at the result in Aliddlesex,
because till now he had never had a colleague %snit whom
he could act. Ott the subject of Reform, he was for au
accession of the right of voting to the copyhdlders, &c.;
the tra osier; Mg of the right of returning members from
the rotten boroughs to the more populous places , and
infcomllloll honesty he thought triennial Parliaments
ought to he restored.—(Loud applause)—He had never
promised more than he intended to perform—and when-
ever opportunity resented itself, he would fulfil all he
had pt out ised.—iGreat applause).
Mr. Whitbread rose amidst immense applause. He
lamented that Al r. Waithman's cause had not been
more; triumphant; he lamented that he al Id not have
the opportunity of moperatina with Mr. W. in the '
house of Commons ; but at the same time he felt
assured that the cause of liberty had not a warmer
friend. As to himself, he was grateful fur the support
which had been extended towards him. It had been
said that he Caine forward on the strength of a name ;
hut sd lung as that name could Ile itkutitied with prin.
elides, it would be found that he was supported by
greater strength than even that of a good name.—
( A 'mime).
The health of the lion. G. Bennett has :rig beers given,
Air. Bennett returned thanks, Ma-crying, that he felt
the loss of Mr. Waithman in the Iltiose of Commons
to he a great evil ; and remarked that he lel( sonic indig-
nation at the r. stilt of the City election, seeing .15 he did
the gross tool of corruption once again as the Represen-
tative of those o hunt he had so triguently 111)111ted.
(ApplauNr.)
The Chairman then read a;mlogies from Air.
Brougham and land 05sidsion, ail concluded with
giving the bealtii of Mr. C. Cali t, the member for
Southwark.