The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-30 00:00:00

PUBLIC BREAKFAST TO MR. WAK
LEY, M.P. BY THE ELECTORS OF FINSBURY.

Yesterday, about 300 electors of this great metropolitan
borough entertained Mr. Wakley, M.P., who enjoys the
pro id distinction of having been elected by the largest ma-
jority in the empire, at a public breakfast at the Higlibury
Barn Tavern. There was a great number of ladies present.
The entertainment consisted of an abundant supply of luxu-
riant and substantial viands, relieved by rich fruits and
wines. There was a capital band in attendance.
About two o'clock the company saVdown. On the right
of Mr. Wakley, who was at once chief guest and Chairman,
sat Col. Thompson.
The cloth having been removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose to propose a toast. He had no
doubt that they would receive it with 'great cordiality and
kind feeling, because it related to themselves—it was, "The
people, the source of all legitimate power.—(Cheers.) He
was glad to perceive that the people were becoming daily
more sensible of the duties they owe to each other, and as
soon as they bad their studies in this respect completed,
their labours in the progress of Reform would be speedily
accomplished. Hitherto the people had been misled by
faction—at last they were resolved to rule themselves.—
(Cheers.) Now 'for the toast—" The people—the source
of all legitimate power."
As each man present knew that in drinking this toast
he was drinking his own health, it was swallowed with ex-
traordinary fervor, followed by a glass, and one cheer more.
The CHAIRMAN called upon them to drink the next
toast with equal fervor. He was old enough to recollect
the time when every man who presumed to seek for the
reformation of abuses was called an infidel, a republican,
and a jacobin—when every man who complained of Tory
domination was stigmatised as a bad father, a bad husband,
a treacherous friend, and in every respect a false and dan-
gerous member of society. And above all, when every
man, who desired to see the institutions of the country im-
-proved as time advanced, was stigmatised as an enemy to
the Monarchy, and one desirous for the dethronement of
his Sovereign—who sought for change solely from a
desire of seeing the State involved in disorder, anarchy,
confusion,. and bloodshed. Those times were changed.
They now saw, contrary to their expectations twenty years
since, Reform sanctioned by the possessor of the throne of
these realms.—(Loud cheers.) He therefore threw aside
every matter of form and ceremony upon the occasion, and
from the bottom of his heart, not more out of courtesy
than in real substantial regard and feeling, proposed to
them the health of the Queen of these realms.—(Loud
and repeated cheering.) The malignant, bold, and san-
guinary Tories were offended with them more on account of
their attachment to the Queen than any other cause. Those
creatures who, if they had the power, would again incarce-
rate them in dungeons, and once more consign them to the
tender mercies of Judges like Jeffries—those creatures
had now longer to taunt the people with want of loyalty,
but they would, if they could theniselves, dethrone their
Sovereign, for they knew that the people were her friends;
and that she was theirs, and that they will one and all com-
bine to keep the Tories where they now were—that was
down, and under their feet.—(Cheers.) Not lung since
the Tories dared to allege that the Sovereign would deserve
to lose his Throne who should dare to declare a wish to
live in the affoctioas of his people. The first declaration
of her opinions by the Queen had therefore excited the
malignant hate of the Tories against that young lady.
They hated her most cordially.—( Hear.) He really be-
lieved that if they had the power they would dethrone her
to-morrow.—(Hear.) In order to carry their ends the
Tories would not hesitate to deluge the country with blood.
But they could not succeed.—(Cheers.) In speaking of the
Tories, he included all others, whether Whig or Radical,
who voted for that party, or otherwise supported them—
indeed, the latter were the more dangerous enemies, be-
cause they were nominal friends. But the Tories never
disguised their objections to an extension of the power of
the people. Such deceitful friends, no matter whether
they called themselves Whigs or 'fork's, he denounced as
"traitors and knaves, and the enemies of his country and of
himself.—(Cheers.) The, Queen had dared to express
from the Throne her attachment to the cause of Reform.
He had beard her utter that speech in the House of
Lords. Of course, that speech had been composed for her
by the Ministers ; but when she came to speak of support-
ing the institutions of the country by such ameliorations as
times and circumstances might require, she turned a signi-
ficant glance at certain aged Peers who were near her—
(Cheers and laughter)—and she dwelt upon those words
with an emphasis that he (Mr. Wakley) was sure came
from the bottom of het' heart. He was, therefore, sure that
the Queen was in feeling with them, and that she would
support the people against that faction that would oppress
them and destroy her. They all remembered the Cum-
berland Orange plot—that conspiracy was an example of
the intentions of the Tory faction. The Queen had
chosen Ministers who had pledged themselves to some im-
portant Reforms—who had promised to appease the wrath-
ful feelings of. the people of Ireland. Was it not the
duty of the people to support that Ministry ? Was it not
their duty to support the Ministry and the Queen against
that faction which had kept George the Third in their power
during the entire of his reign, and made him their instru-
ment, which had desolated Europe in the most expensive
war in modern history, and which had been the entire cause
of the bloody strife with the provinces of America ? The
present Queen of England did not fear to be their Queen.
She desired to be the Queen .of the people. Ought they
not to love that woman ?—(Cheers.) Ought they not to
support her on every occasion against her enemies, and the
enemies of her fellow-creatures ?—(Cheers.) The Learned
Gentleman then recommended the policy of supporting the
present Ministry ; for although the Radicals could not yet
obtain an extension of the suffrage and shorter Parliaments,
still, with the aid of the present Cabinet, they might go a
great way towards them. If they supported the Tories, the
youngest man present might go to his grave, and see no
chance of these or any other measures they desired. He
wished to make a progress to day to acquire strength for
to-morrow ; and those who would not agree to do so, he be-
lieved really had no intention to go on at all. Ho cared not
for the name of the present men in office—they might call
them Whigs, or devils, or angels—(Laughter)—it mattered
eot to him. The great consideration was, that their measures
were batter than the Tories. He cared not whether the Mi-
nisters were honest or not, so long as their measures were
calculated to assist the progress of him and his party—to
improve the condition of the people, and enable them to
fight their enemies. The Hon. Gentleman then alluded to
the result of the late general election. Throughout Eng-
lend and Scotland, where Tories had not been returned, the
Tory candidate's had nearly as many votes as the Whig or
Radical. But Finsbury stood pre-eminent. It had re-
turned him by the largest majority in the kingdom.—(Loud
cheers.) The Ministerial majority would be between 30
and 40, and there would be other Members who would
fluctuate between the Ministers and Sir 8.. Peel, as they
saw the probabilities alternate of the Whigs going out and
the Tories coming into office. This great minority had
been returned by the Aristocracy, the Clergy, the Magis-
trates, and that portion of the public who called themselves
" respectable." This body would endeavour to persuade
her Majesty that it was love. of her that had induced the
constituencies to vote for so large a number. Now the
people must undeceive the Queen. She was in a dangerous
position, in which they must support her. Having once
inure alluded to the Queen's Speech from the Throne, and
the hopes of a speedy accomplishment of their wishes,
which the people might derive from supporting her and her
Government, the Hon. Gentleman once more proposed
" The Queen, and may her life be prosperous, and her reign
happy." The toast was drank with, great enthusiasm.
Mr. SMITH pronounced a high eulogium upon Mr.
Wakley, and proposed his health.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and addressed the
company in a long speech, which necessarily repeated the
foregoing sentiments. The substance of the additional re-
marks was, that he was decidedly opposed to the new
Poor Law, although he would admit that it might have
ehecked idleness and discouraged profligacy. Still it was
too severe, and he was sure that not ten Tories would vote
for its repeal. His hatred of Tories was so great that it
was an essential part of his blood. He then. took the sense
of the company upon several questions, the result of which
was that he should vote for an extension of the suffrage,
shortening Parliaments, and a repeal of the corn lnws. In
49 out of 50 houses there was a woman, whose household
suffrage would give the women elective influence, and he
was sure they would use it well. They were all under
petticoat Government, and they had no reason to complain.
—(Loud cheers.) In alluding to the disinterestedness of
the Finsbury electors, he said that the late election did not
cost him and Mr. Duncombe more than 3001., though the
population of the borough was 230,00% and the number of
electors 13,000. Still, so defective was the constitution of
the House of Commons, that Mr. Herries, the Member
for Harwich, who was a pensioner at 2,0001., and had but a
majority of seventy-five votes, could neutralize him in the
House, though supported by 4,500. If no other metro-
politan Member would do it, he would assemble his col-
leagues before the meeting of Parliament, and come to
some resolution to move for the extension of the suffrage, on
the very first day of the Session, and to divide the House
on this and other questions.
The " Majority of 4,500 ;" the health of Col. Thomp-
son, and other toasts, followed. In the evening th 3re. Iva!
a ball and a display of fire-works.

Sir Frederick Johnstone, Bart., and party, have
arrived at their quarters in the isla•.id of Lewis, to follow
the sport of deer-stalking.
The Duke and Duchess of Somerset, who have been'
some time staying at Leamington, are gone to Blackball,
Itenfrewshire, on a visit to the Dowager Lady Shaw Stew-
art, sister-in-law of the Duchess.