The Sun.
London, England, 1837-06-01 00:00:00

ptjBLIC DINNER TO MR. LESLIE.

A public dinner took pl;:tee yesterday evening, at the
'thato-ted-house Tavern, St. James's, for the purpose of
presenting a dititn-it s•orvice of plate to Mr. John Leslie,
in testimony of the sefiSd entertained by the rate-
payers of the parish of St. George, Hamner-square, of the
services rendered by that gentleman to the parish, The
chair was taked the Right Hon. Earl Amherst, sup-
ported on his right by Mr, I_,,_•Ae, the Hon. Robert Smith,
74..:13;, Hon. Mr. Clive, M.P., rill' William Fremantle,
George Caprou and Richard Doane, tsqrg., rte. ; and on
his left, by Mr. Gaily linisht,
.M.P. ; the Dean of Carlitele,
G. R. Marten, Esq., the Right Hon. W. Sturges Bourne,
Flontle Stanley, Esq., Sir G. Warrendcr, G. R. Phillips,
Esq., M.P., :Rot, Mr, Gill, and about 100 other gentlemen.
Messrs. Hodgkinson and Ingle officiated as Vice Presidents.
After the cloth had been rcstoctvell, and the usual toasts of
" The King"--.‘ The Queen"—" 'rho Pricess Victoria and
the rest of the Royal Family"—" The Army and Navy,"—
had been drunk with the usual honours,

The CHAIRMAN rose, and said they wsre now come to
that toast which vt as more immediately conneetrcl with the
object of their meeting that evening—he meant the health
of his friend and coadjutor, Mr. Johlo Leslie.—(Cheers.)
He had no doubt that every one of them had lamented as
lie had clone that the proceedings of that evening had been
so long delayed, and he had often thought of the maxim he
had been taught in his younger days, " that he gives twice
who gives quickly."—(Hear, hear.) That favour so long
delayed almost cease to be favour—but he had for some
time past ceased to entertain that idea, because he felt
convinced that the longer the testimonial to their friend
Mr. Leslie had been delayed the better it had been de-
served.—(Much cheering.) The wisdom and intelli-
gence with which those measures that had tended so
much to the benefit of the parish had been framed, could
only be equalled by the steadiness and perseverance with
which they had been brought to maturity by Mr. Leslie ;
and he believed he might safely add, that there never was a
period when his faculties were more devoted to the pro-
motion of the best interests of the parish than at the pre-
sent moment. The very splendid display of plate which
was arranged at the head of the room professed to be the gift
of the rate-payers of the parish of St. George, Hanover-
square, but he would not have Mr. Leslie suppose that it
was only among the more opulent inhabitants of the parish
that a true sense of gratitude and thankfulness prevailed.
On the contrary, he felt satisfied that if the voices of those
persons who from age and infirmity were compelled to take
refuge in their workhouse could be heard, they would be
foremost in tendering him their thanks for having been the
means of alleviating their miseries, and increasing their '
comforts.—(Applause.) He would go farther, and say that
by this time the able-bodied paupers who used to spend
two days every week in endeavouring to force their way to
to the bar of their poor hoard, were beginning to feel their
obligations to Mr. Leslie for enabling them to live upon the
fruits of their own industry, and he might add, for eating
the bread of independence.—(Great cheering.) There was
not, perhaps, an individual among them better able to ap-
preciate Mr. Leslie's feelings at that moment than himself.
He (Earl Amherst) had six and thirty years ago received
from a loyal body of men a valuable gift, and he never
girded on that sword, after so long a lapse of time,
without adverting to the inscription on it, and which
told him that it had been given him by his com-
rades, as a proof of their confidence and esteem.—
(Vehement cheering.) So it would be with Mr. Leslie—as
often as his friends assembled with him round his hos-
pitable board. Whatever notice might be bestowed upon
the intrinsic value of the testimonial—whatever admiration
the beauty of the workmanship might excite, it would be
to the device and inscription that Mr. Leslie, with an honest
pride, would point their attention.—(Cheers.) To that is
scription which told him, that after an unanimous vote of
thanks from the Vestry, that plate was presented in testi-
monv of the important services he had rendered to the parish,
which he (Earl Amherst) trustel he might long continue to
render. The Noble Chairman then (turning to Mr. Leslie)
said, in a very impressive manner, " And now, Mr. Leslie,
the time is come when I am about to execute the honourable
and grateful task imposed upon me. Mr. Leslie, in the
name and on behalf of your fellow-parishioners, I present to
you this testimonial of the high opinion they entertain of
your services, and, at the same time, of their esteem and
regard for you, accompanied with all our best wishes that
you may live to enjoy it during many long years of happi-
ness and prosperity ; and when your days shall come to be
numbered, it may descend, and continue to descend, as a
perpetual inheritance to your children's children."—(Tre-
mendous cheering.)
The service of plate, which was of the most costly des-
cription and exquisite workmanship, consisting of candelabra,
candlesticks, soup turd!), stand and cover, sauce boats,
salts, dishes and covers, &c., &c., was here uncovered, and
excited universal admiration.
The health of Mr. Leslie was then drunk with three times
three, and loud and protracted cheering from all parts of the
room.

Mr. LESLIE rose, and was again greeted with the warmest
marks of approbation from the company. When the cheer-
ing had subsided, Mr. Leslie spoke as follows :—My Lord
and Gentlemen—There are moments in the experience of
every individual of the most embarrassing description—
periods when it is absolutely impossible so to collect the
thoughts as to give utterance to the sentiments which the
heart most deeply feels. By your extraordinary kindness
and condescension, such is my present position ; and with
feelings quite overpowered by a sense of the distinguished
honour conferred on me, I entreat your utmost indulgence
while I endeavour, in a very brief, in a very feeble, and in
a totally inadequate manner, to attempt the expression of
my most grateful acknowledgment of the kindness evinced
towards me by so many illustrious and distinguished indi-
viduals—by so many very kind friends, neighbours, and fel-
low-parishiOners of mine. It is not, my Lord and Gentle-
men, because in this magnificent testimonial of the appro-
bation of my conduct, I recognize the names of the high
and mighty in this empire—it is not because I perceive
among them many on whom, through the dispensations of a
kind Providence, wealth and worldly honours have been
most bountifully bestowed, that its value is thereby en-
hanced ; but it is because I know, from actual obser-
vation of the fact, that among the donors, in every
rank among them, there are to be found that amount of
moral worth, and that true nobility of soul, which, while
deeply lamenting the distress and misery to which our com-
mon nature is exposed, actively engages in alleviating and
removing the wretchedness of those upon whom the
blessings of Providence have been less bountifully be-
stowed ; it is these considerations which add an in-
trinsic value to this magnificent present which no other
circumstances, in my estimation, could give to it. My Lord
and Gentlemen,—l do not for one moment consider this
assembly as having met, or that invaluable present given
to me, as intended either to minister to personal
gratification, or to foster individual vanity. I accept both
the distinguished compliments with which you have this
day been pleased to honour me, upon no such evanescent or
trifling considerations. You have made them public pro-
perty, and as public examples they must both be made sub-
servient to important purposes in the promotion of objects
of public utility, or they entirely fail of their design. The
effect of them upon myself is, that they present imperative
obligations to encreased exertion ; and the effect of them
upon others I have no doubt will be, that they will operate
with a powerful influence, as a stimulus to them, honestly,
faithfully, and zealouly to discharge those public duties
which public confidence imposes.—(Hear, hear.) If such
unworthy motives as personal gratification had actuated
my public conduct, it would long since have been ac-
complished by the many acts of kindness received, and
in the often recorded votes of thanks for services which
have been kindly appreciated far beyond their merits—
(No, no)—but I trust higher and more worthy motives
have hitherto directed, and will continue to guide me in
future life.—(Loud cheers.) But were it not so, my Lord
and Gentlemen, would your applause, flattering though it
be—would that invaluable present, inestimable though it
is—would they compensate for the upbraidings of the
silent monitor within ?—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear.")
No, my Lord and Gentlemen, if I can trust to the evi-
dence of my own feelings, I can truly say that my public
conduct has been guided by no personal motives or consi-
derations.—(Hear, and cheers.) The actuating principle
which has been and still is my polar star, is the desire to
promote, as far as in me lies, the welfare and happiness of
my fellow-creatures ; and I do confess it is a high source
of gratification to be identified even as an humble link in
that great chain I see around me united for the purpose of
carrying out principles scarcely yet developed, which we
fondly trust will carry with them blessings to generatioi s
yet unborn ; and my earnest hope is that each one of us

,t,

toqy, both in o!ject and its rcw.ard, to the fullest.exten'
'eel Ind rcal:ze the buy sentiments of my Lord liac°'
That rood wolks is the end of roan's motion,
science of the same is the accomplishment of man's rest,
—(Cheers.) Aly Lora end Gentlemen, it would be impro-
er in me vs your guest on this occasion to detain you 0:
any details of results of that system with which you are all
so familiar, and it would be equally improper were 1 do
make even the slightest allusion to any pecuniary at
be-
vantages which the new system has produced,
cause I am sure that these considerations, however
and eon;
important, are of very infer.o• moment to all those
whom I have now the honour to address. But I hope
I 61,-.111 neither be considered as trespassing on ru.r,
patience, ncr overstepping the bounds of propriety, 7
I make a short allusion to other ant: far more importan
and delightful consequences of the present Par"bigibumtai
nagement, the triumph of which is not a pee,:ni ary
moral one. It is not by how many thousands of, Win_.d d
per annum of the money of the ratepayers have been saYe
that we are desirous of estimating the important once'
querrcs of that change ; but by how much the poor theta'
selves have ./bereby been henefitted, and by the ratio in
which the sum total of human wretchedness has thereby
been diminished.—(Vehement cheering.) These are c°ll.
siderations which come home to the bosom of every Wen'
thropist ; and when based upon the evidence of facts, they
strike a chord which makes the heart vibrate with delight;
My Lord and Gentlemen—the representative vestry,
their introduction to office, found the parish overwhelnlo
by a rapidly increasing amount of pauperism, with its Cee-
comitani: horrors of idleness and vice. These three 0P:
palling evils to a people arc now so diminished and dian;
nishing, that they way be considered as fast approaching te,
annihilation. And how Lao this important object been a. _
complished ? By gradually diverting the wealth of !Dc,
parish from promoting and supporting idleness and vie
and allowing it to take its natural course iri the enor.armv
ment of industry and virtue.—(Hear, hear.) This'
;but-ft
Lord and Gentlemen, is a very simple proposition o,
is a fact supported by the testimony of hund;eds, 06,d 4",:01
dreds. of those who have thereby been emanc;pate" "t
-of
the depths of pauperism, and raised to the enjoy*Peel"
those comforts which independent labour alone can sups Est
Ist
I could tell you, my Lord and Gentlemen, that in the P,*aa
year 1,637 fewer persons had gone into the workhouse
was the case four years ago.—(Hear.) I could tell you "a
instead of the annual average of 47 illegitimate childreu
aliv
born in your workhouse, there were only seven in the P
year. I could tell you that out-door relief bad 11
stopped from upwards of 5,000 persons, who had live)
moved, and had their being" in eleemosynary aid.—(CheeT,
I could tell you that the number of persons in your 10,r
houses had decreased nearly 300 since the new system eci
gan, but I feel I ought not longer to detain you. 1"0
now,' my Lord and Gentlemen, permit me once more Map
gratefully to acknowledge your kindness and condesceesidat
in the honour you have this day conferred upon me, an 0.
do assure you that, as my conduct has received your aPPir4o,
bation, my utmost ambition will be by every future o'4
your to deserve it.—(Mr. Leslie sat down amidst loud and
enthusiastic cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " the health of the Pal,
of Carlisle," and pronounced a very handsome and e
ey.
merited eulogium upon the virtues of that Very ."*.ly,
Gentleman, for the manner in which he had so lib al
contributed to every charity within the parish, his Vl' k,
promoting the moral and religious instruction of his aance.
and his uniform attention to his duties during the Pe'
rind he had acted as pastor of the parish of St. °cc"'
Hanover-squre.
The toastawas drunk with the greatest cordiality' 14
the Very Rev. Gentlman returned thanks.
Mr. SMITH then gave the health of the Chairtio,°'
Earl Amherst," alluding to the many claims which that I'd
C
bleman possessed upon the kind feelings and good vvisbe6cy
the parishioners, from his zeal and promptitude on all C
sions in promoting the best interests of the community'
The toast was drunk with three times
,three,
three amidst gre-

applause. br
The CHAIRMAN regretted that he had not amongsr,
many qualifications ascribed to him by his friend .0
Smith, the gift of eloquence, or he would thank them, ;§
suitable terms for the cordial expression of their feellii'of
he had just received. He believed the flourishing statev
the parochial affairs was mainly to be attributed too
excellent system that prevailed at their Board, and be
total absence of all selfish and interested views from
persons comprising the vestry. the
The Dean of CARLISLE proposed " Prosperity to 0t
Parish of St. George, Hanover-square." One of the gretp
causes of the prosperous condition of the parish was, be
manner in which its civil affairs were conducted, 0"„f00
trusted they would always carry them on in the °Pot
spirit of cordiality and unanimity, avoiding all those ca 60
of strife and dissension which had been productive 0"

much evil in other places.—(Cheers.) bolo
The CHAIRMAN thought that the gentleman upon W
had
the duty of providing the handsome service of plate felt
devolved should not be altogether overlooked. .„1-tendof
that he was really usurping the place of an Hon.ric fie
his in presiding on the present occasion.—(No, no.)
feared there was something invidious in naming olle °dlci
of so many who deserved well of the parish ; but be Vov
give them " Mr. Redmayne and the Plate Cornmittgof
—(Cheers.) TT
Mr. RED/vIAYNE regretted that the name of the noll'aet
Smyth had not been introduced instead of his own. .160.
bearing a very ample testimony to the exertion of Mrlna,
lie in promoting the best interests of the parish, Mr. goat
mayne concluded by thanking the company for the hod
co upon himself and the Committee. hen
The CHAIRMAN said, as allusion had naturally bee
made during the evening to the harmony that prevadencli
the parochial Boards, and the excellent manner in WP"'
fer
they had been conducted, it might be expected that're
ence should be made to those who presided over than .pad
meant the Churchwardens.—(Cheers.) He had recce
a letter from Lord Cowley, the senior churchwarden/ nrsi
logizing for his absence, which arose, he was sorry 0"o:
from severe indisposition. Mr. Wilson was also, unO.s,rbe
nately, absent, but they had a gentleman among thein,,::d
had only quitted office a few days, and to whose e
elit'iro
attention to his official duties, during a period of two Yll;
he (Earl Amherst) could bear the ,cost ample testi°„°,..e
—(Cheers.) He need hardly say that he alluded to Geleil,
Robert Marten, Esq.—(Cheers.) He would, hens 111.0
be pardoned for going a little beyond the law; a g-00
them the healths of three Churchwardens.—alear' °
cheers.)
Mr. MARTEN briefly returned thanks.
The CHAIRMAN said the next toast naturally valni,
" The Overseers of the parish."—
plause.) (Drunk with gres-
_ell
Mr. HODGKINSON returned thanks on behalf of hincore
and his colleague, Mr. Ingle. He (Mr. H.) hoped beeto'
the Noble• Chairman left them he would allow him t°
pose a toast, which they ought not to omit.
" The Ladies of St. George's, Hanover-square." %tea
Earl Amherst and several other gentlemen then eluAl the
the room. The chair was taken by Mr. Stanley', an
festivities were protracted to a late hour. frot°
During the evening there was some excellent amp-. •
the professional gentlemen present.