The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-24 00:00:00

tDINBURGII.

DINNER TO EDWARD EARL, ESQ.
On Saturday se'nnight, a number of Gentlemen,
Members of the New Club, gave an elegant entertainment, in
the Club Room, St. Andrew's Square, to .11r. EARL, the Chair..
man of the Board of Customs, previous to his leaving this
country.

Lord GIL LIES was in the Chiar. The Vice-Presidents' chairs
were filled by Sir William Arbuthnot, General Maxwell, Ad,
miral Fraser, Mr. Dundas of Dundas, Mr. Hope Vere, and Mr,
Hunter of Thurton.
Among, the Members present, and friends of Mr. Earl who
were invited by the Members, there were the Lord Justice
Clerk, the Lord Chief Commissioner, Lord Alloway, Lord
Meadowbank, Baron Clerk, the lion. Captain Duncan, the
Hon. Colonel Hamilton, Sir D. Moncreiffe, Sir P. Durham,
Sir John Mortlock, Mr. Fergus.on of Raith, and many of the
most distinguished inhabitants of this city. About eighty gen-
tlemen sat down to dinner.
After drinking to his. Majesty, with all the honours, and also
to the Duke of York and the Royal Family, Lord Gillies
proposed the health of Mr. Earl. He mentioned that he was
well aware that he had been called to the chair froth the
habits of friendship and intimacy in which he was known to
live with Mr. Earl, and that it could not have arisen front
any cause more honourable to. him, nor more gratifying to
his feelings. This was not a place to dwell on Mr. Earl's
public merits, but he might lie permitted to observe, that Mra
Earl had been selected by his Majesty's Government to fill a
situation, of which, from the reforms that were expected in
that department, the' duties were not only of a most arduous
but-of a most delicate nature. The officers under him in all
the different ports of Scotland, and the commercial part of
the public, were-to he affected by these reforms. Their interests
were apparently different, and even opposite, but it so happened
that Mr. Earl hed performed the arduous duties imposed upon
him, so as not merely to give satisfaction to all the parties con.,
cerned, but to receive from one and all of them the highest ap-`
probation. His Majesty's Government have, on various occa-,
sions, testified its entire approbation, and even the conflicting
interests of the merchants and officers had been so reconciled as
to call from all of them for expressions and marks not only of
approbation, but of respect and gratitude. The object of this
meeting, however, was not to commemorate Mr. Earl's public
merits, but to show their friendship for him as a private indivi-•
dual, and as one who had largely contributed to the social en-
joyments of the friends by whom he was now surrounded. He
came to this country as to a land of strangers, but he left it
surrounded by numerous friends by whom he was respected
and beloved. Mr. Earl's health was drank with every denion-
stration of respect.
Mr. EARL, under emotions of the strongest feeling, said,
Your kindness and friendship have placed me in a most en-
viable situation, but in one so trying, that if every person had
reason to regret his want of power to express the feelings of
a grateful mind, it is the man you have this day so much ho-
noured. It is now eighteen years since I arrived in this
city, a stranger to every person in Scotland—but as a stran-
ger I have not been treated, having, from all with whom- I
had the honour of an acquaintance, received kindness and
attention I shall remember to the latest moments of my
life. Of my public conduct it would ill become me to say
a word. Of my private life in Scotland, the act of this day,-
and the approbation you have just so flatteringly expressed,
stamp a description of character on it sufficient to gratify
the most unbounded ambition. I am consequently anxious.
most anxious, to give utterance to the sentiments which
press on my breast, and to return the thanks so much due
to every one present, and particularly to your most able and
excellent Chairman, for the kind, the more than kind and
gratifying manner he has thought proper to notice my
humble merits. But, Gentlemen, the ' attempt would con-
vince you of my inability ; -and therefore I most earnestly
intreat that you will accept of my assurance, that this day will
be considered by me as the proudest of my life—that I shall
leave Edinburgh with every sentiment of affection, with thd
most sincere wishes for the happiness of all—and the continued
prosperity of this country—a country long distinguished for the
brilliant talent of its inhabitants, and of late years become emi-
nent for manufactures of unrivalled excellence; promising
therefore to be a country, if not the greatest one, not to be sur
passed in intelligence and improvement. These sentinientg, _
gentlemen, though feebly expressed, flowing from truth and!
conviction, naturally increase the regret I experience at leaving
a country and leaving friends with whom I have passed so many
years of happiness and comfort. But upon this subject my
fellings will not allow me to dwell—indeed it is time I should-
throw myself upon your indulgence, though 1 beg to add and
repeat my unfeigned thanks for the distinguished honour you
have conferred upon me, and to assure you of my everlasting
gratitdde.
Sir WILLIAM ARBUTHNOT then read a letter from the
Lord President, expressing his great regret that he could slot
accept the invitation to dine with the meeting, and the very
strong sense his Lordship entertained of Mr. Earl's services
anti merits.
Mr. EARL proposed the health of Lord Gillies, to which
his Lordihip returned thanks in his usual impressive manner. ,
The LORD JUSTICE CLERK and Lord MEADOWBANK .
severally addressed the company, stating, in the strongest
terms, their high sense of the merits of Mr. Earl ; and that
while they held official situations under the Crown, Mr. Eirl's
great object seemed to be. the promotion of the most liberal
views, and of all the officers connected with his departmenf,
who, from their conduct and talents, were deserving of' it.
Mr. EARL then proposed a toast, to the prosperity of the
kingdom of Scotland.
Lord GILLIEs called for a bumper to the health of Sir John
Mortlock, the new Chairman of the Board of Excise, to which
Sir John returned thanks in the most elegant terms.
Mr. EARL proposed the health of the gentleman who was to
succeed him as Chairman of the Board of Customs. "'I tan,
desirous (said Mr. Earl), of introducing to your notice a stranger..
The Lcirds Commissioners of the Treasury having thought
proper, for the purpose of infusing general information, and
affording all possible accommodation to the trade of the noun- '
try, to direct that the presiding Commissioners at the publitY
hoards in this country and in Ireland should be annually
changed ; and however I may lament the change, I consider it
due to the Commissioner appointed to succeed me, to assure
you that be is a gentleman of high worth and great respect-
ability, and well entitled to your notice. I therefore beg to
name—Sir William Boothby.
The company parted at a late hour, every one present having
shown, in the most marked manner, his high sense of Mr.
Earl's merits ; his regret at Mr. Earl's leaving this country,
and anxious desire, if possible, for his speedy return.