The National Register.
London, England, 1822-08-25 00:00:00

276

SUFFOLK FOX DINNXII.—REFO
On Wednesday last the Gentlemen of the comity of Suffolk
attached to the principles which guided the public conduct of
Charles James Fox, Resembled and dined toiether at Ipswich,
for the pus pose of celebrating the birth-day of that distinguished
etatesman. No room in the town being large enough to accom-
modate the numerous company, the dinner took place in the
Corn Exchange, which was very tastefully prepared for the oc-
casion. A temporary roof was thrown over the square which
the Exchange forms ; this covering, together with the walls,
was decorated with branches of laurel and flowers. On the
left side of the market, a full-length cast of Britannia was p aced
uu the right stood a figure of Justice. At the bottom of the
tables, sad immediately opposite the chair, a bust of Fox was
raised upon a pedestal. liicuediately behind the Chairman was
a scrota of buff-coloured silk, on which were inscribed in white
letters, the following %oats :—" The King and Constitution ;"
" The glorious principles of latith" Thu es eat excited great
interest in the town, and at intervals during the day the bells of
the Tower Church rang a merry peal. At six o'clock Sir Henry
Buebury took the chair, at which time about 300 moat respec-
table gentlemen had stetted themselves round the tables. The
dinner was excellent, and an important addition It id been
made to the good cheer by Sir W. Rowley end Sir T. B. Leo-
nard, earls of whom sent two fat bucks. During the course of
the evening several songs were sung by different gentlemen,
amongst whom was a young inan said to be the Soo Ms the ce-
lebrated Ineltrian.
As soon as the cloth was removed, Sir Robert Harland rose
for the purpose, Inn said, of spoloeizing for the absence of Sir
William Rowley. Sir William was detained at Cowes by the
dangerous illness of one of his daughters. The sentiments of
the worthy Baronet were, however, well known to the company,
and his coestitueuts could not fail to be pleased with the votes
which be had given to Parliament, and the general desire which
be exhibited to promote the. Cause of reform. (Applause).—
New he was upon his legs, he would take the opportunity of
1.1, lag a word or two more with respect to a circumstance
which related to himself. Since their last meeting at Bury, be
bad often been accused, and even lately, in some public prints,
with having been actuated with a desire to insult the King by
the manner in which lie proposed his Majesty's health at that
meeting. Ile gave the health of his Majesty in the manner in
which it war usually given at the Fox dinuers. lie certainly
did •not propose that the drinking of the toast should be accom-
panied with three cheers, because that was nut the way in
which it had been di unk at these dinner,» Since, however, it
appeared that sonic persona considered cheers as the test of
loyalty, he would propose to their worthy chairman to give
the King"s health with three times three.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The King and Constitution,"
with three times three.-4une, " God 'eve the King."
The neat toast was " the Royal Fatuity."
The CHAIRMAN said, that before he proposed the toast which
stood next on the list, it might he expected that he should
offer a few remarks to the company, in doing which he claimed
their kind indulgence. The pleasure which he felt on this oc-
casion was the greater, becans'i lie was accustomed to view
tueetaigs of this kind in a more serious light than most other
men. He could not consider them as meetings of inert sotial
intercourse, nor could he admit that persons who attended
them must necessarily put on the badge of party. (Applause.')
He trusted and belies eel that no MU came there who aid not
desire to to umote the interest of his eonntry. They considered
that they were 'Perforating a duty by bill/Win their attachment
to those principles of civil and I tligioas liberty which Mr. Fox
bats° boldly and eloquently asserted. Clem such au occasion
as the pieseat, it was not unapt to inquire what were the lead-
ing principles which guided Mr. Fox's political conduct. Ni,
Fox's opinions resembled those of old trichard Reinhold. Ile
did not think that God bent the majority of mankind into the
world with brinks in their mouths, and saddles on their backs,
in order Stint a few of their species might mount and ride them.
Mr. Fox thott,,lit the source of legetimeie power was in the
people : that prerogatives were given to the King, not for his
own benefit, but fur that of the people ; that taxation without
representation was unconetitutioimal : that it was not sufficient
that that the hews were ostensibly equitahle, but Middle greatest
care was necessary to prevent their alien the
rople are oppressed and redress cannot be obtained by ire-
mein, resistance is righteous and uneunatitutiuniel, but only
when uudeitaken with that probability of success which dis-
tiognislied the wise schemes of the patriot from the rash enter-
prise of the political adventurer. Mr. Fox, too, had always
been the champion of religions freedom ; he deprecated the
mixing up or political loathers with epeculativ e opinions on the
sobjeet of religion. 11, might sum up the character of Fox
by saying that he was always ready to advocate the claims of
justice and humanity. Posterity would do justice to Mr. Fel,
and would set his character in its true light. The liiiiiorable
Baronet concluded e ith proposing the " Immortal Memory of
Chaeles James Fox." (Cheers.)
The toast was drank in silence.
" The Duke of Sueaex, and the principles which placed his
family on the Throne," was neat drank with three times three.
Tote—" Scots wha bee WI Wallace bled.
Sir %V. MIPDLETON stated that be had received a commoni-
cation which stated that his Royal "'inheres had been present-
ed by indisposition from attending the meeting.
", A constitutional, effeetnal, and 'weedy reform in the Come
SUMS' House of Parliament."—Tuile, " Kick the rogues out."
The next toast proposed by the Chairman au, " The cause
of eivil and religious liberty throughout the world," which was
drank with three times three.
The Mauna* efatods.thato-be felt great plesame in sub-
mitting the following toast to the emptily. Inseam, he felt the
highest regard for the nobleman: to whom it referred, both on
account of his many private virtues, and his istegrity as a
public. character. Ho gave the " Duke of Grafton" which was
drool with three times three, and much approbation.
Lord Ha, tie /11ZROY rose admidet cheering. In returning
thanks for the honour which the meeting bad jest conferred
tgson his brother, he felt it to be unirece.sary to repeat a elate-
went of the reasons which induced him (the Duke of thation)
to abstain from attending their dinners. Ile last year at Bury
made those canons known (applause), and at the saute titan he
stated what the political upluitiali cat Lis brother were. That
his Wedeln had acted up to his profesaimis by Ids public con-
duct, and particularly by Ins declinations iu favour of reform
at Stowsnark,t, west, he tliou„lit ba ad witted.—(Applauee.)—
Though his noble relative was peisonnally absent from the
meeting, his bean and smut were with their cause.—(Applause.)
" The wooden watts of Old Englarid."—Tune, " Rule RH-

lonnia."
Captain WAOTIL rose to acknowledge the compliment that
bad been paid to the proisssiou to which lie belonged. lie
knew it bad been the practice with the ultra-loyalists to stig-
matize as disloyal all person. wLo 'wooded 10.1,0 lutetium. as
that which be bat the bonour to address. He protested against
Ibis. No man could be more loyal thin himself, and spite of
stonour Its !scull eoatiout to act acctuding to the dictate.. of