The Sun.
London, England, 1825-11-29 00:00:00

MR. MONTGOMERY.

This Gentleman, who long conducted a Perio-
dical Journal at Sheffield with" such ability, recti-
tude and candour as procured him universal re-
spect and esteem lately resigned the office which
he so honourably discharged, to devote himself
to retirement and the Muses. On this occasion
a public dinner was, given at Sheffield in honor of
so meritorious a character which was attended by
a numerous body of the most distinguished per-
sons of the town and county. In consequence of
this well-earned tribute of general estimation,
and the complimentary speeches which were de-
livered during the meeting, Mr. MONTGOMERY
was induced to address the company in return, and
we doubt not that the following extract from his
speech will be highly acceptable to the admirers
of talents, which were always exerted in zealous
endeavours to promote the interests of VIRTUE.
Speaking of an earlier period of his life, and re-
ferring to a situation of no promising a descrip-
tion, he said—

" During this dreary interval I had but one friend and coun-
sellor at home, I will name him though he is present, Mr.
RHODES, and another at Manchester, Mr. AsTos with
whom I frequently corresponded; to these two I confided my
schemes and miscarriages ; and they often consoled with use the
anticipation of a favourable change in the taste of the times,
when such productions as mine might be acceptable. About
the year 1803, I wrote in my better vein, a Lyric Poem, which
appeared in The Iris, under a signature not likely to betray me.
Such were the unexpected plaudits bestowed upon this piece,
especially by the friends whom 1 have named, that hencefor-
ward I returned to the true Muses, abjured my former extra.
vagancics, and said to myself,
" ive me au honest fame, or give me none."—
Although I made not a literal vow to this purport, yet have I
ever since acted, as though such vows were upon me,
and I do think no person in this room or elsewhere can
rise up to contradict me. One occasional lay after another,
in the same reformed spirit, were issued in the course of the
two following years, each of which added something to my
reputation, but more to my hopes. I then began to collect the
series into a volume for publication. Whilst this was leisurely
proceeding through my own press, a gentleman of high talent
and skill both in poetry and printing, Mr. William Carey,
made several visits to Sheffield, and with him I soon became
so well acquainted, that I communicated to him my poems and
my projects. With zeal, intrepidity, and perseverance the most
exemplary, he took up my cause, not only recommending the
unknown poet in distant parts of the kingdom, wh lo!i he visited
professionally, but made sue better known as such even at
home. For a long period I had been principally celebrated as
the writer of a weekly article, intituled, Facts and Rumours,
in my own newspaper. I ought to remark here, that Mr.
CAREY, about the same time, found a far worthier
object of his fearless panegyric than myself in a sister
Art, and Mr. CIL% NTRY had not then fully come out
of the marble in which nature had inclosed him like one
of his own rival creations of her masterpiece. The stranger
saw—acknowltdged and proclaimed his genius—khich had
been, comparatively little recognized—except by Dr. Yo u NOE,
-and a few other gentlemen of liberal taste, whom I have in my
eye. Mr. Carta 's letters in The Iris, concerning the youth.
ful sculptor, are trophies of his acuteness in discerning—his
courage in extolling, and his prescience in foretelling, the merits
and fortunes of him, Who was born in this neighbourhood, and
is claimed as our townsman. Of this glory Mr. CAREY cannot
be deprived—he has only to apply to a file of newspapers, to
secure for himself, with respect to CHANTEY, the gratitude of
the public. His spirited exertions in my behalf, being less
palpably recorded in Sheffield, this
.ingenuous recognition of
them I rejoice to offer at a time so favourable, and in a place
from which they will probably be declared through the whole
kingdom."

ANOTHER COMET.—M. PoNs, Professor of
Astronomy at Florence has just informed M. Bouvard, that
he discovered, on the 7th of November, a Comet, in the Con-
stellation of Eridanus, being about 54 degrees of right ascen-
sion, and 14 degrees south declination. It cannot be seen with-
out the aid of a telescope, and according to M. Pons, it moves
about 20 minutes per day. in a south-west direction. On ac-
count of the bad weedier, it has not been observed at Paris.—
(Manitcuro
It appears by the Yorkshire papers that proceedings have
been actively commenced in support of Mr. Fountayne Wil-
son, who offers himself as a candidate, opposed to all further
concessions to the Roman -Catholics. On Monday meetings
were held at Leeds and Bradford, when resolutions were passed
in his favour. A second meeting was held on Thursday at
Leeds, where a requisition to Mr. Wilson is lying for signa-
tures. At Halifax a meeting was held on Saturday to further
the election of Mr. Wilson ; and on Thursday some resolutions
were passed at Vetherby, soliciting Mr. Wilson "to stand for-
ward in the Protestant cause."