The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-30 00:00:00

FREE TRADE FREEHOLD LAND
SOCIETY.

On Friday evening a public dinner of the directors,
agents, shareholders, and friends of this flourishing in-
stitution took place at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-
street. The chair was taken by Sir Henry Winston Bar-
ron, M.P. for Waterford. Among the gentlemen pre-
sent we noticed Lieut.-Col. Dickson ; Lieut.-Col. Starr ;
Captain J. Bishop-Culpeper ; John Lloyd Clayton,
Esq., R.N. ; Azimullah Khan ; G. H. Money, Esq. ;
Captain Pilgrim ; S. M. Martindale, Esq. ; T. Colley
Grattan, Esq. ; L. Brocklebank, Esq. ; Jenkin Jones,
Esq. ; Rev. W. Cazlitt ; F. A. Daviss, Esq. ; T. A.
Pott, Esq. ; T. C. Unwin, Esq. ; W. Dickinson, Esq. ;
J. Gate, Esq. ; E. Tindall, Esq. ; Sowerby, Esq. ;
R. L. Evans, Esq. ; H. E. Canney, Esq. ; H. England,
Esq. ; W. Fowle, Esq. ; E. Whistler, Esq. ; J. B.
M'Cann, Esq. ; J. Wreford, Esq. ; E. Mackeson, Esq. ;
J. Gimson, Esq. ; S. P. Hook, Esq. ; F. West, Esq. ;
F. Vigers, Esq. ; J. B. Chatterton, Esq. ; W. Dorrell,
Esq. ; T. Goodwin, Esq., and many other highly influ-
ential gentlemen.
Grace having been sung, and the cloth withdrawn,

The CLIAIRIIAN rose and said in an assemblage of Eng-
lishmen like the present, ho need not preface the first
toast it was their duty to drink. He therefore gave
them "the Queen." (Cheers.)
The toast was enthusiastically drunk, and the Na-
tional Anthem followed.
The other loyal toasts having been disposed of,

The CHAIRMAN said the next toast on the list was the
"Armyotw a and
that Navy," All he need say in proposing this
aathe army was the illustrious name
tswviyth."
of Wellington associated, and with the sister service that
of the immortal Nelson. Should, unfortunately, that
peace which had for so long a time blessed this great
country be broken, we need not fear the result of the
roceedings under the direction of a Dundas or a Lyon
—an admirable name for an English admiral. (Cheers.)
Lieut.-Col. DICKSON, as the senior officer present,
begged to return thanks for the army. The gallant gen-
tleman eulogised the conduct of the old British militia,
and said the army of this great nation, in union with
that of the French empire, need not fear the threatenings
of the whole world. (Cheers.)
JOHN LLOYD CLAYTON, Esq., R.N., returned thanks
for the navy. The various eforts that had been, and
were being made, for the amelioration of the condition
of poor Jack were, he assured every gentlemen present,
highly appreciated.
The CHAIRMAN said he was now about to propose a
toast that might well be called the toast of the night.
Gentlemen, the object of the toast was of the deepest
anxiety to every one present, for he had not the
slightest doubt that each of them felt highly interested in
the birth, parentage, and education of the illustrious in-
dividual whose health he had the honour to propose.
(Cheers and laughter). He was one of the five nurses
present at its birth, and at the christening, a
fact always of the greatest importance; the name
to be given created considerable discussion, as it
was felt that that name would *become illustrious
in England. Fifteen other tutors assisted at this
important event, and such was the growth of the marvel-
lous bantling, that he nearly attempted to overthrow
both nurses and tutors. However, they decided
the knotty point, and christened him the Free Trade
Freehold Land Society. (Cheers.) The name had been
objected to as one which was connected with party poli-
tics. His reply to that objection was, that free trade
as a party question, was dead and buried, and that the
sole object of the society was to establish a free trade in
land as complete as that which existed in land, cotton,
iron, the three per cents., or bank annuities, and when
he said that the political opinions of the 15 gentlemen
with whom he had the honour to act, were entirely un-
known to him, he thought that would be some guarantee
that the institution was a non-political one. Their ob-
ject was a higher, nobler, prouder one -it was to raise
the condition of the people of England, to give them
the power of saying and feeling they had an interest in
the soil of Britain--(cheers)--and saying the land on
which my house is built is my own, and no landlord can
ask me for rent. It was to give the man of small means
the power of becoming a freeholder. He, as chairman
of the society, courted inquiry as the best means of
proving that their objects were just, legitimate, and
worthy—(cheers)— and he trusted the great body of the
people of this country would come forward in support
of these objects. It was highly gratifying for him to be
able to say that they had a satisfactory and constant in-
crease daily in their share list, and although the society
had been in existence only a few months, they had
a subscribed capital of nearly 100,0001. (Loud
cheers.) Another society had thought proper to
sneer at this institution, and to say it would like to
see the amount paid into the bank, and not the amount
subscribed for. It was contrary to the nature and
objects of this society to require that all the capital should
be subscribed at once, for if we did so we should exclude
the whole of the industrious classes. (Hear, hear.) Yet
lie was happy to announce that a great many members
bad paid up the whole amount of their shares. In carry-
ing out their objects they had had to contend with many
institutions, such as saving banks—he thought he eight
to say losing banks—(laughter)—and friendly societies.
. .

In this society a man Could safely deposit his hard-earned

savings with the consolation of knowing it was perfectly
secure, and that, on giving ten days' notice, he could
receive his money back, and with it a good interest.
This institution was essentially a poor man's institution,
and he firmly believed that it was one of the best and
noblest societies ever brought under the notice of the

British public. He would therefore call upon all pre-
sent to fill a bumper and drink " The Free Trade Free-
hold Land Society, and prosperity to it."
The toast was drunk with three times three and loud
applause.
Lieutenant-Colonel DICKSON, as the founder of the
society, responded to the toast. Great as had been his
expectations, the success that had attended its move-
ments had exceeded all he had been able to forsee. He
felt assured that in a very short time it would stand
second to none. (Cheers.)
T. COLLEY GRATTAN, Esq., in a highly eulogistic
manner, proposed the health of Sir Henry Winston
Barron, the president of the society.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said he felt ex-
tremely gratified at the manner in which his health had
been drank. He scarcely thought that in the highly
finished portrait which his friend had painted with such
a master hand, the company would recognise the indi-
vidual who had now the honour of addressing them.
Mr. MONEY then gave " The Directors."
Mr. MARTINDALE, the vice-chairman of the society,
in returning thanks, said, with such a board of directors
as they possessed, and a flowing sheet, nothing could
prevent them gaining the harbour of prosperity. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the health of the secre-
tary, Mr. Thomas Sherwood Smith, said that the suc-
cess of all such societies•depended chiefly on the ability
and exertions of one individual, the secretary. The
gentleman who filled that important office ably discharged
its duties, possessed considerable tact, and was, more-
over, "an honest man the noblest work of God."
Mr. SMITH said he felt deeply sensible of the honour
they had conferred upon him, and begged to thank them
for the high compliment, and the chairman especially,
for the kind manner in which he had spoken of his hum-
ble services. Six months ago, when living in a quiet
country town remote from the metropolis, unknown
to fame, but it may be a little notorious, from the
active part he took in the formation and management
of Freehold Land Societies and other institutions de-
signed to elevate the working classes, he little thought
of the honour which awaited him that evening of re-
sponding to a toast as of one of the largest and
most flourishing Freehold Land Societies in the world.
(Cheers.) When honoured with that appointment he
was a total stranger to the directors, and the fact of
being selected from a very large number of candidates
filled him with surprise, and excited a little suspicion.
There was nothing in his appearance or his name,
which was common enough—(a laugh)—to recom-
mend him. He had heard of bubble schemes, of which
London was the nursery, and though he could not
see any possible advantage such could derive from the
appointment, he felt it his duty not only to inquire into
the character of the Free Trade Freehold Land Society,
but of its directors also. (Laughter.) The result had
so far satisfied him that he had committed his character
and fortune to its service, and devoted his whole ener-
gies to the promotion of the great objects it contem-
plated, while the directors had given proof to the world,
in relinquishing their early rights of seniority, that their
motives were wholly disinterested. He had to thank
the directors for the kind assistance they had rendered
him, and the agents and shareholders generally for their
indulgence upon which he had trespassed so considerably,
while his time had been necessarily occupied in
setting the machinery of their society in motion.
Notwithstanding their lack of service, they had
registered since the 15th August last, 2,353 shares, 68
completed shares, had purchased two eligible estates,
and had a large balance at their bankers. They had
now an efficient staff in the office who loved their labour
for its own sake an essential qualification, and he fully
expected by Monday evening, when the ballot took place,
the number of shares would reach 3,000. (Cheers.)
Again thanking them, he had only too add that, his
motto through life had been, and still would be, "per-
severe and never despair." (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN nest gave The Counsel and Solici-
tors;" responded to by Mr. MACKESON and Mr. HOOK ;
"The Auditors and Surveyors," as acknowledged by
Mr VIGERS ; "The Agents," to which Mr. GORDON re-
plied in a neat speech, expressing the gratification he felt
at becoming a shareholder, and partaking of the fruits
produced on his own allotments, and recommending the
society to all who wished to extend the franchise and
elevate the industrious classes.
The other toasts, viz., " The Press," by Col. Starr,
and " The Ladies," by Capt. Culpeper, having been
given, the chairman retired.
The SECRETARY announced that 170 shares had been
taken up during the evening.
The dinner, which consisted of every delicacy in season,
and wines, reflected the highest credit upon the pro-
prietors of the London Tavern. The evening's enjoy-
ment was heightened by a musical entertainment, in
which Mr. Leffler, Mr. Benson, Mr. Young, Mr.
Whitbouse, Mr. M. Smith, and Mr. Watson took part.