The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-03 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM CATHOLIC MEETING

On Thursday last, a very numerous meeting
of the Midland Catholic Association was held at .the Royal
Hotel, Birmingham. Ili the evening a complimentary dinner
was given in the same place, to Edward Blount, Esq. the Secre- •
tary to the British Catholics. Mr. O'Connell was to have at-
tended both by invitation, but did not arrive at the place until
late hour. In the mean time several resolutions were agreed
to, and the usual business of the Society gone through. Seve-
ral speeches were also addressed to the meeting.
It was at length announced that Mr. O'Connell had been in
town for some time, but owing to accident, he was in ignorance
of the existence of the Meeting. He was instantly sent tor.—
The Learned Gentleman, accompanied by Mr. Bric; now en-
tered the room, when the Meeting rose and received them with
the loudest applause. Both these Gentlemen were voted Mem-
bers of the Association by acclamation.
Mr. O'CoNNELL then rose, and after returning thanks for
the compliment, made a long speech.
Mr. Britc next rose and spoke at some length.
The whole business being gone through, the meeting broke
up, after which upwards of 200 gentlemen sat, down to a splen-
did dinner, given by the Association to Mr. Blount, Mr.
Canning being in the Chair. Nearly a third of the company
consisted of Protestants and Dissenters.
The usual patriotic and appropriate toasts were drank.
Mr. Finch, a venerable old gentleman, the son-in-law of the
celebrated Dr. Priestley, sat next Mr. O'Connell; and when
the latter rose to return thanks, Mr. Finch rose at the same
moment, scarcely able to sustain himself under the weight of
years, and, opening his snuff-box, invited the Learned Gentle-
man to accept a pinch of snuff, which he good-humouredly did.
Mr. O'CoxNELL, in the course of several short speeches
honest
during the evening, observed that his recent intercourse with
right
the English people had removed a great many errors from his
ab
idin false impressions,
and honourable
mind. He proposed the health of Mr. Brownlow, which was
Bredn i I it, , he
ev said,
opinions. The o
drankth
testimonyat
gentleman
to
with enthusiasm.‘v haduring
o chisevl conceived
mo-
ment his clear mind was convinced, with a readiness that spoke
the pure and lofty homage for truth, he made that most diffi
cult, perhaps, of sacrifices, that of long-cherished prejudices.
The Reverend Mr. M`DoNNELL proposed the health of the
Dissenters, who honoured the dinner with their presence.
Mr. Come, a Dissenter, Mr. Gregory, of the Established
Church, and Mr. Williams, a Protestant Barrister, severally
returned thanks.
On the health of the Bar being drank—
Mr. Wrwasts,a Barrister of the Midland Circuit, returned
thanks.
The Catholic Deputation, Messrs. O'Connell and Brie, were
then drank.
Bnic returned thanks.
The festivity was kept up to a late hour ; Priests Unitarian
Ministers,Catholics, Protestants, and vying with each other
to see who would do most to promote.the happiness of the oc-
casion.

Mr. Fitch (the Gentleman above alluded to) was heard in
the course of the night to exclaim, on looking around the room,
" Thank God, the spirit of Priestley is appeased !

It is reported that Mr. HAiNE, who has ac-
quired some celebrity by a late affair with a lovely Actress, is
now in Cot k.—( Cork Mercantile Chronicle, A prii 27 -) •
Mr. ItoutNsoN, who is to superintend the em-
barkation of the Irish Ernigrants to Canada,
is expected to ar-
rive in this City to-tnorrow.—(Mt) *

The valuable table clock which was some time
ago stolen from Mr. HARMER, the Solicitor, of
Hatton-Garden, was, at the end of a few weeks'
safely returned to the owner, with a verbal ap9-
logy, that the theft had been committed by a
novice, who was not aware on whom he was corn'
miffing the depredation.--Ounday Paper.)