The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-24 00:00:00

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- -
DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE OPIUMM. EATING.—
Au inquest was held on Saturday at the Rising Sun, public-
house, Shoemaker-row, Blackfriars, before Mr. Payne,
Coroner, upon the body of Thomas Gourlay, a bookbinder,
aged 55 years. Mr. Charles Holding, surgeon, on Tues-
day night was called in to attend the deceased, whom he
found labouring under .the effects of some: narcotic drug.
Witness administered quantities of warm water to continue
the vomiting, which had already :commenced. Other re-
medies were afterwards supplied, but the deceased expired
at eleven o'clock on Weduesdayrnorning. Upon a post
modem examination several pills of solid opium, a little
softened, were found in the_ folds of the intestines. - Two
phials that had contained laudanum were found in the
apartment, and alSo a number of pills-of solid opium (about
half a drachm) in his snuff box. Witness had no doubt
that death was occasioned by an excessive dose of opium.
—Verdict—Accidental death, through inadvertently taking
an excessive dose of opium.
The following is copied from the Obituary of the
Society of Friends, for the year ending 1836 ;—" In our
as a remarkable feature of the obi-
last number we noticed,
tuary, that of those whose deaths were recorded in it, an
unusual proportion had attained• au advanced age ; but in
the present obituary that proportion of this class is still
greater. Out of rather wore than 200 adults, there arc
90 persons from the age of 70 to 98, presenting an average
of full 80 .years ; of these one-fourth are from 78 to 98,
presenting an arerage of full :85 years, and 10 arc from 90
to 98, presenting an average of full 94 years."
The year 1836 gave birth to 177 new novels in
France, and only 11 of these were translations. The num-
ber otantliors in this line amounted to 144 i of the‘e 40
were debutants ; 27 were females, heing ahout I.sth of the
whole., The most celehrate4 names in the list were Alfred
de Vigny, and George Sand. The same year
brought forth 299 poetical works, among which Victor
Hugo's deserved
.particular distinction. The drama was not
less fertile, as 151 new pieces were represented. Eugene
Scribe continued to b,, the most prolific writer in this de-
partment,—Fo. eijn Quarteriy Review.

The Grand Reform Dinner to the Members for the
. county (Messrs. Byng and Hume) took place yesterday at
Drury-Lane Theatre. The arrangements made for the oc-
casion were upon the most extensive and most liberal scale.
The Chairman was seated at a cross table immediately upon
the proscenium on the 0. P. side, extending to the verge of
the orchestra on the one band and to the point of the first
wing on the other. Three other tables, devoted to the
accommodation of the more distinguished guests, ran across
the front of the stage in immediate opposition to that occu-
pied by the Chairman and the county and city Members.
On the. right, the raised and boarded pit presented an array
of five tables. On the left twelve tables of. ample dimen-
sious carried the visitors hack to the extremity of the stage,
and beyond these a number of other tables, .placed in the
passages and ante-rooms connecting the wings with the
green-room and dressing-rooms, furnished the means of
accommodation La .many who were not fortunate enough
to obtain a seat in- closer proximity to the chair. The
tables were spread for 1,100 persons, avast number when the
limited extent of the house is considered, but utterly con-
temptible when compared with the multitude who would
have been present if stxThcient space could have been pro-
cured for them. The body of the house needed of course
no new or temporary embellishment to add to the splendour
of its appearance ; but the arrangements upon the stage
called for a display of taste, and we are bound to state that
the call was well responded to. From the proscenium
backwards the tables appeared to be spread beneath a rich
and costly tent, illuminated with many lamps, and blazing
at the extremity with jets of gas representing the initials of
the King and the floral emblems of the three united coun-
tries. Above the beads. of the guests floated a number of
banners inscribed with various mottos, such as " Byrig and
Independence," " Hume and Independence," " Hume, the
Friend and Advocate of our Rights," " The People and
their Rights," " The Triumph of the People," " The
Triumph of Principle," and many others of a like descrip-
tion. The band of the Coldstream Guards was placed in
the slips on the 0. P. side, and a set of glee singers oc-
cupied the slips opposite. The company began to as-
semble at about half-past four o'clock, and at the same time
the boxes began 'to fill with ladies. In less than an hour
the house was completely crowded, and it would be difficult
to imagine a more magnificent spectacle than was then
presented. Seldom, perhaps, within the same building
,have there been assembled so many loyal and manly hearts
surrounded by so much of feMinine elegance and beauty.
It was true that the tables' presented :host of potent al-
lurements, but many a sidelong glance showed that the
four dazzling tiers of boxes, in which no male intruder was
allowed, possessed attractions stronger than the best vintage
or most skilful cook could simply.
Some delay arose in consequence of the non-arrival of
the Chairman (Lord Russell, eldest son of the Marquis of
Tavistock) and for a time his place was occupied by his
uncle, Lord Wm. Russell ; but before the dinner was con-
cluded, Lord Russell arrived, and was received with a
shout of welcome.

Mr. Byng sat on the right of the Chair, Mr. Hume on
the left.. Amongst the persons of distinction present were
—Lord William Russell, Sir Ronald Ferg-usson, M.P., Col
Thompson, M.P., Mr. Pattison, M.P., Mr. Crawford,
Mr. Grow, M.P., Mr. Williams, M.P., Mr. Ward,
M.P., Mr. Charles Buller, M.P., Mr. Warburton, M.P.
Mr. T. Duncombe, M.P., Mr. WTakley, M.P., Mr. Clay,
M.P., Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Tulk, M.P., Mr.Bish, M.P.,
Sir S. Whalley, M.P., Mr. Lynch, M.P., Mr. Wilks,
M.P., Mr. B. Hall, M.P., Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, M.P.,
Mr. Alderman Harmer, Mr. Ovenden, and a multitude
of other gentlemen of Liberal opinions.
When the dinner had been concluded, " Non Nobis Do-
mine" was sung by the professional gentlemen present.
Lord RUSSELL then said—l have accepted the office of
your Chairman at the irresistible request.of many zealous
Reformers, although fully sensible of my own inefficiency.
—(" No, no.") However, I venture to hope for your in-
dulgence on this occasion, as it is my first appearance on
the stage before a London audience.—(Laughter and
cheers.) Gentlemen and friends of Reform ! in both these
capacities you will be happy, I am sure, to drink the first
toast I have to propose-to you—" The King."—(Cheers.)
The toast was drank w►th all the honours and great
applause.

-4‘ God save the King" followed. The lines
" Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,"
alluding to the King's enemies, were responded to with en-
thusiastic cheers.

" The Queen," with three times three. Air, " The
light of other days."
The CHAIRMAN—I have now to propose the health of
the Princess Victoria.—(Cheers.) As heir apparent to
the throne I hope she will justify the expectations of the
people.--(Great cheering.)
The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm ; the
company rising and renewing their rounds of applause.
Glee—" Hail ,smiling morn !"
The CHAIRMAN had next to call upon the company to
drink to the health of another member of the Royal Fa-
mily—one to whom they owed very much of loyal at-
tachment and regard, not only on account of his own
personal character, but also because be had ever proved
himself the firm, uncompromising friend of the rights and
liberties of the people.—(Cheers.) He proposed to them
to drink the health of the Duke of Sussex.—(Cheers.)
The toast was drunk with three times three, and many
additional rounds of applause.
Glee—" Glorious Apollo."
The CHAIRMAN next proposed the Army and Navy, the
brave defenders of the country, might they ever prove the
best defenders of her liberty.—(Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with three times three, and followed
by " Rule Britannia."

Sir RONALD FERGUSON returned thanks for the army.
Captain DUNDAS, on the part of the navy, assured the
company that of that brave body, who were ever ready to
defend their country against foreign enemies (and never
more ready than at present), at least ono-third was coin-
prised of those who had been designated as aliens to this
country.—(Great cheering.)
Lord WlEErim RussEr.r. rose amidst much applause
to propose the next toast. He said, I propose to you with
cordiality, and I am sure you will receive it with the same,
" The Sovereignty of the People."—(Great cheering.) The
toast was drunk with the most rapturous applause.
After a short pause,

. -
The CHAIRMAN said—lt now becomes my duty to pro-
pose to you a toast, to which I feel strongly my own. inabi-
lity to do justice—l mean the healths of the members for
the county, Mr. 13yng and Mr. Hume.—(Rapturous ap-
plause.) Of Mr. Byng, whose whole life has been de-
voted to the public service of his country, to the cause of
Reform, and to the promotion of civil and religious li-
berty—(Cheers)—whose highest ambition has been to
serve the people honestly, faithfully, and diligently—(Cheers)
—and who has succeeded in that wish to the full satisfac-
tion of his constituents and the whole of the county for
lf a century.—(Cheers.) Mr. Byng is now the father
of the House of Commons—(Cheers)—with the proud
consciousness of having steered the even course of patriot-
ism from the earliest period of his public life to the pre-
sent moment—(Cheers)—and of having in the worst times
dared to assert the freedom of mankind.—(Enthusiastic
cheering.) Of your other member for the county, his
useful and active popular life—(Great .applause)—his unceas-
ing efforts in the public cause, his indefatigable industry are
so well known-to all, that it would be presumption in me
to attempt to estimate them.—(Cheers.) I will, therefore,
without further preface, propose to you to drink " The
healths of your Representatives, George Byng and Joseph
Hume, Esqrs."

The toast was received with the most enthusiastic ap-
plause, the company rising from their soots and continuing
to cheer for many minutes.
Glee—" A generous friendship no cold medium knows."
Mr. BYNcI rose amidst the warmest plaudits. Lord Rus-
sell (said be:, I thank you most sincerely for having pro-
posed my health, and to you, Gentlemen, I cannot suffici-
ently express my gratitude for the manner in which you
have received the toast.—(Cheers.) I have had the ho-
nour of representing you and your fathers—(Great ap-
plause)—for nearly half a century—l have lived in event-
ful times, and my sentiments 50 years ago were more con-
sonant to the feelings of the present day than they were to
the feelings of those whose suffrages at the ceromencement
of my career I came forth to solicit,-`..(Near.) When I
first came forth, I was about to represent the borough of
Newport, but by thQ unexpected death of my father 1 be-
came a candidate for the county of Middlesex. The great
question that was to come forward early in the ensuing ses-
sion was to 'be introdueed by Mr. Fox ; that question was
the repeal of the Test and Corporation. Acts.---(Cheers.)
At that time I found (you no doubt will be surprised at it)
that the Dissenters were not sufficiently earnest for the re-
peal of those obnoxious Acts, whilst their 'opponents were
most strenuous to prevent it. I was advised, therefore, not
to attempt to come into that Parliament, because it would
be imprudent to obtain myself the partial support of one
party, whilst should be certain cif' incurring the great

hatred of the other. But I then felt, as I
ways continued to feel through life,
.that I would never
sneak into the service of the country by concealing any
'cL;;:l.sitE.linrethe
cared upon to give my opinion upon ant most important
onevery ofpeinn,isoenartslie,:itelrli%. ieaasrtsi ca
fte cheering.)rl%as II
%ivy
aas
question, as to whether this country should enter into the
war against France. I then found that nine-tenths of the
country were in favour of that obnoxious measure. I was
against it on principle --(Cheers)--and what is of groat
though perhaps of less iinpoitance, of policy also—(Cheers)
—because I felt at that time that nothing but foreign inva-
sion could ever have allowed France to tolerate the atro-
cious Government that then ruled her destinies.—(Cheers.)
A few years afterwards the grand question, as I have always
felt it to be—the grand queStion of Parliamentary Reform
—was brought forward by Mr. Grey.—(Cheers,) • 1 have
always looked upon that as the grand question ; but sorry
was I to find that the country at that period did not look
upon it as a grand or important qirstion.—(Applause.)
The next great subject upon which I had to give an opinion
was that of Catholic emancipation—(Cheers)—which took
near five and twenty years to settle, and which, when
granted at last, was not given in the way in which it ought
to have been to such a noble and generous people as the
Irish.—(Cheers.) Before that question I had to .fight,
in 1807, against acry that was raised of " No Poriery"----
(Latighter and Cheers)—and sorry wasi to find that that
cry was so strong that Alderman Combo, in the city of
London—the Dissenters not having sufficiently made up
their minds upon the subject—would certainly have lost his
election, if it had not been that his oppoaent, Aide:lrian
Hankey,,caught cold and died. But in the county I had
the advantage over my opponent of ten days—and in those
ten days, by great activity, I had the satisfaction to prose-
cute my canvsss of the Dissenters, and to point out to then;
that if the Roman Catholics were to be crushed, they (the
Dissenters) could never expect to be saved.—(Cheers.) By
this means I the most triumphant election that ever
occurred.to me in any part of my life.—(Cheers.) Prom
that moment, the spirit of independence increased in Mid-
dlesex ; the Liberal party began to see that they had suffi-
cient strength to name both the Members—they advanced
their cause by degrees, until at length in 1820, they were
enabled to realize their hopes, and to return two- Liberal
Members to Parliament.---.( Great cheers, and erieeof "-We
will Nandi-Me to do so.") Thus we went on until in 1830,
a Whig Government came into office, and I had the satis-
faction—a great satisfaction I assure you it was to me—to that Earl Grey, to whom I had looked up above all
other public men after the days of Mr. Fox, entertained,
as a Minister of the Crown, the same sentiments with re-
overn Government has
anxiety
moretha thantl I m
re-
gard to Reform as Mr.- Grey had done upwards of forty
years ago. The Reform of Parliament achieved under bins
Gcompensated m
c representingforall
th
y o toil,u.
trouble,ciaos•e had in
It has been the means of introducing other useful and need-
ful Reforms—a Reform of the corrupt "Corporations of
England and an abolition of negro slaver-•.—(Cheers;)
Thus, as far as England is' concerned, with the indepcsndence
she now possesses, I am perfectly satisfied'; but Pot 'so With
regard to Ireland.—(Great cheering.). Irela.rad must and
will have justice.—( Reiterated cheering.). I have been
taunted and asked, " What do you mean
.by justice ?" The
question is easily answered. I say, Ireland must be put
upon an equal footing with Englo•nd in every respect.—
(Great cheering.) Till that be d'ane, we cannot expect her
attachment, nor are we worthy of receiving it.—(Continued
cheering.) Gentlemen (salt). the venerable Member, with
strong emphasis), so cert:ain am I that Ireland must and
will receive justice, that, were I ten years younger, I might
hope to live to see it. I might hope to see the time when
no questions shnuld be asked whether a man were an Irish-
man or an Englishman, a Roman Catholic or a Protestant.
--(Loud and lone-continued cheering.) Having stated the
number of years ehave served you,. cannot .expect to •serve
you many years longer.—(Cries 'of " We hope you, will.")
If . I were to study my own feelings, I certainly should wish
to retire.—(Cries of " No, dn."). But I will only add, that
if you cannot find a candidate professing the same principles
as myself, and attached as strongly to them, I wili then sub-
mit to your wishes, and consent to die in harness.—(Euthu-
siastic cheering.)

Mr. HumE then rose, and was received with the most
enthusiastic applause. When the cheering had subsided,
the Hon. Gentleman addressed the assembly in the follow-
ing terms :—My Lord and Gentlemen, I cannot hope to
make so great a claim on your consideration as my Hon.
Colleague, who can number a half century of years in your
service.—(Hear, hear.) I can number only a quarter of a
century in the public service ; but I have endeavoured to
make up for the deficiency by working double tides.—
(Loud cheers and laughter.) I hope in that way our ser-
vices will be fairly weighed by our constituents:—(Cheers.)
The applause with which you received the toast given by
Lord William Russell, " The Sovereignty of the People,"
was most cheering, and the proposition of such a toast does
honour to the family of that Noble Lord.—(Cheers.) The
Russells have suffered in the cause of freedom. Gentlemen,
the present meeting I look upon not as intended to .flatter
the feelings of any particular individual, but as one intended
to promote a great public principle.—(Loud cheering.)
The people of England, from one end of it to the other,
arc looking with the greatest anxiety to the course which
is to be followed by their representatives in the next Ses-
sion of Parliament,—whether they arc to reap the full bene-
fit of, and have all those fruits which they flattered them-
selves were to be obtained by a Reform of Parliament or not ?
I have stated the triumph of principle on the part of my
Hon. Colleague, but although he can number many years
of public service beyond what I have seen, yet in my short
time events have occurred, which neither he nor I ever ex-
pected to witness. There is only this difference between
him anti me—he says he is satisfied with the Reform Bill,
I ant n0:,..--(Enthusiastic cheers.) lam pleased with what
we have obtained since 1830, but, I ask you, is that any
reason why we should not look for more ?—(Long conti-
nued cheers.) The present occasion is one of immense
importance ; it is a crisis for good or for evil ; and it is on
that point that I ant most anxious to address you.—(Hear,
hear.) We have now a Government fortunately put to a
certain extent into the hands of the people, and into whose
hands it cannot be more safely or more properly entrusted,
provided they will only do their duty honestly and fairly.—
(Cheers.) Let us, then, henceforth have no complaints
against the people or their representatives for not doing
their duty ; complaints which have hitherto been too often
well founded.—(Cheers.) I have reason to believe we shall
progress. Every hour tells me of the triumphant progress
of the good intelligence and sound knowledge of the coun-
try.—( Cheers.) We have arrayed against us a great, a
combined, and a most influential party—a party who, for
a century past, have fattened on the spoils of the Govern-
ment—(Tremendous cheers)—who have grown rich on
the public taxes, and have acquired such notions of
their own importance by long possession, as to look down
on you and me as so many licentious innovators, whom they
have denominated by all sorts of names. But it is because
they have unjustly held what they never ought to have
had, it is because they have held what their title deeds will
not support—(Cheers)—it is on that ground that I ain
anxious, Radical Reformer as I am.—(Tremendous cheers,
and much laughter, amidst which the close of the sentence
was inaudible.) I wish with all my heart we bad only two
terms of designation—that of Reformers and anti-Refor-
mers ; and I have no doubt w shall before long come to
that. We shall then be Reformers of various shades, pro-
ceeding some to one extent and some to another ; but there
is no reason upon earth why we should not all agree upon
general principles—(Here the company expressed their as-
sent, by prolonged cheering)—in opposition to the Tories.
—(Renewed cheers.) I cannot conceive how any honest
man in the country can hesitate as to the course he shall
take between the question of supporting the Reformers or
the Tories.—(llear.) As to the Tories, what have we to
expect from them ? We are told by the Right Hon. Ba-
ronet, the late Tory Premier—( Loud laughter)—nay, gen-
tlemen, do not interrupt me—(Renewed laughter)—for it
is important to regard what has fallen from the lips of the
champion of Conservatism as to the course the Tories will
pursue, the views they entertain, and the anticipations which
they indulge in with respect to their own future fortunes.
—(lleat, and laughter.) He tells us, in a tone of confi-
dence, that he expects very soon to regain that station front
which he was so signally rejected.—(Laughter.) He pro-
phecies that that will be the result of the ensuing session.—
(Laughter.) He prophesies—l beg the attention of gentle-
men to this—a second time success to his party front the
disunion of the Reformers.—(At this announcement the
cries of " Hear, hear" were most earnest and long conti-
nued throughout the assembly.) You know that the Go-
vernment of my Lord Melbourne was aismissed in no
very courteous manner in November., 1831, and you
know that the Right Hon. Baronet the Member fur
Tamworth presided over the ephemeral Government that
succeeded. You know also tl-,tt the Might Hon. Baronet,
with all the acquirement 7, and talents he possessed, en-
deavoured to sustaie, single-handed, his station. Yes,
he most unquesi:onably was left to act single-handed in the
Hausa or commons to maintain his situation ; but you
all likewise know that we, the Reformers, held together
and expelled the Right Hon. Baronet front office.—
(Immense cheering.) On what ground, then, I ask,
can he expect a second time to attain office on account
of the differences arising between the advocates of re-
form ? I have only this to say, that I believe a gross
Misunderstanding has gone abroad as to the differences be-
tween Reformers.—(Loud cries of "Hear.") I believe
that it will turn out that the Right Hon. Baronet has pro-
phesied a second time in vain, and that he will not benefit
much from whatever differences may be among Reformers.
I know no Reformer, however ultra he may be, whO is not.
determined to keep out the Tories if he can.—(Loud,
and universal cheering.) We have nothing to expect from
them but evil—(Cheers)—while we can harenothing from
With/ a Liberal Government but good.—(Loud cheers.)