The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-07 00:00:00

cotog-nu.,

GRAND DINNER AT THE .ASSEMBLY ROOMS.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.—A good dinner is incon-
testibly one of the enjoyments of human life. And 'John
Bull is so- thoroughly sensible of the genuine complacency and
kindly feelings that are engendered by throwing open the rich
stores of the refectory, that he never fails to fix upon a table-
congregation when he is truly desirous to celebrate any event
with splendour or eclat. Entertaining this very just notion of
things, those mercantile gentlemen of, Newcastle who had_ car-
ried their speculations into the countries of South America, de-
termined, to give a grand dinner to their worthy, and much re-
spected townsman, Edward Hall Campbell, Esq. as a compli-
ment to him, for the able manner in which—during a period
fraught with trouble and danger—he had managed their im-
portant interests in the Colombian State. And we are simply
the organ of truth when we say we never recollect any occasion
that seemed more pleasingly to concentrate the feelings, or
disposed a body of men to celebrate with greater demonstra-
tions of joy than the very event we are now recording.
In this great commercial country, to be sure, the name of an
honourable merchant ranks deservedly high. And when the
" mingled_ web of life" has operated as a sort of test, and
shewn a result that invests the' individual with all those attri-
butes that reflect imperishable lustre 'upon character—it is but
ssheer justice to sneak of him in the ratio of his merits.
" A wit's a feather, and a chief a rod,
An honest man's the noblest work of God I"
But to rethrn to the dinner a—Wednesday last was the day
fixed upon for the purpose. It accordingly took place on that
day. At half-past five o'clock, upwards of forty gentlemen
sat down to dinner, Robert Walters, Esq. in the Chair. The
Vice-chair was filled by Robert Marshall, Esq. Without draw-
ing too elaborate a sketch of the table, it may be sufficient to
remark that, when the couvercies are displaced, and the eye,
is at once fully satisfied with the exhibit of the bill of fare,
the dinner may safely be pronounced a good one—for the
appetite must needs be successfully wooed. Such, precisely,
was the dinner provided on this occasion by the keeper of
the rooms (Miss Brodie). It was very evident she had used
every effort to give .effect to the attractions of the table.
And, it is pleasing to add, those efforts were crowned with very
considerable success. A great many of the choicest delicacies
of the season were served up with equal taste and neatness.—
The French cuisine was drawn upon to an agreeable extent
both for cntremcts and pastry,. and there was, in every sense,
that inviting variety, during- the two courses, which must have
given solid satisfaction to the 'amateurs de bonne chore. The
wines were selected with great judgment, by the Committee
of Management (who, by the way, deserve every praise for the
superior manner in which every thing was conducted), from the
cellars of Messrs. illonkhouse and Co. And without intending
1i compliment to that very respectable firm, we must be per=
mitted to observe, we never had the palate gratified with richer
or finer. The bouquet of the claret (Chateau-margot) was par-
ticularly noticed. And the port and madeira might have been
placed on the table of the most fastidious connoisseur. Mr.
Walters performed the functions of the chair in an able and
pleasing manner. The first toast, after the removal of the
cloth, was " The King;" which was drank with enthusiasm,
and four times four; the band of the Tyne Hussars striking up
the grand national anthem. Then followed " The Duke of
York and the Army ;" and " The Duke of Clarence and the
•
Navy"—succeeded by appropriate music.
The Cm-mow; then rose, and in neat and expressivelana
guage proposed the health of Mr. Campbell. [We are restrain-
ed from publishing the excellent speech made by Mr. Walters,
from that sense of delicacy, which, we think, ought to be in-
fluential upon these occasions, where the full sincerity of the
heart bath utterance in the circle
,of private friendship.
.All
pseitent, however, felt the force and relevancy of the worthy
Chairman's excellent address, as was testified by the repeated
plaudits he was honoured with whilst on his legs.] The toast
was drank in a bumper. and- loudly. cheered'. Mr. Campbell
rose, and, in a very feeling manner, made his acknowledgments
for the high honour that had been conferred upon him—and in
a way; he must be permitted to say, so very grateful to his
feelings, .by their worthy, though too partial chairman. He was
not, as they knew, in. the habit of making long speeches ; he
hoped, therefore, he Might be excused. But'this he would say,
'from the bottom of his heart, he would be proud to remember
that-day to the latest penal of his life. (Great and continu-
ed applause.). He would fill a bumper and drink to their
health and prosperity ; and though they far oVerated hislumble
merits, he was quite sure•he never could ittifficiently estimate
their kindness and liberality--(Great applause.)—The Chair
then gave " General Bolivar, the President of the Colombian
Government, and may he shew as much wisdom in the senate,
as he did valour in the field." Drank with three times three
and great applause. —The. Vice-president, General Santander;
.The Representatives of the Colombian people. Three distin-
-4gluished Officers who deserve well of their country, Generals
Paez; Arismenda, and Montillo. The enlightened Minister of
the Colombian Republic at Paris, his xcellency M. Lea.
Drank with great applause, and three times three. Mr. Camp-
bell having obtained permission to give a toast, rose, and pro-
posed the health of. their very worthy and able Chairman,
whose attention and kind assiduities that afternoon were far be-.
yond any praise he could find words tolitter. Drank in a bumper
and with great applause.
The worthy Chairman rose to express his acknowledgments
for the complimentary manner-in which they had noticed him. •
He felt proud in having the honour to preside at so truly re-
spectable a meeting of commercial men whose object in con-
gregating
together that day might be said to be of a two-fold •
nature, namely, to pay a proper. mark of respect to the worthy
individual on his right hand (Mr. Campbell), and to celebrate, •
at the same time, the sovereignty of the Colombian people.—
(Great applause.)—He felt the greatest pleasure and satisfac-
tion in being placed, by their kindness, where he, was ; nor
could he omit to congratulate them on the truly grateful intelli=
gence contained in the public papers they had that day re-
ceived—information, no doubt, known to them all ; he meant 1,
the sanction of his Majesty's Government to the admission of
the Colombian flag into the ports of this great trading nation.— 4
(Great applause.)--He had no particular affection for long
speeches ; he trusted, therefore, it would not be expected he
should remain long upon his legs. Indeed he considered it a
sort of trespass to • intrude upon the time of gentlemen who
were all as well informed as himself. He begged they would
accept his best thanks for having confided to him- the post of
honour; it might have been in abler hands. 'He had great
pleasure, however, in filling a sparkling bumper, which he
begged to drink to their health, happiness, and prosperity.—
(Continued plaudits.)—Among the toasts that followed were—
the Committee of Management• in London; Mr. White, of
Trinidad, a warm friend to the Colombian Government—
(Drank Isith great applause.)—Mr. J. D. Powles, of London—
(Great applause)—Mr. Williams, the Secretary of Mr. 'Lea ;
the Vice-Chairman ; Mr. Marshall rose and returned thanks ;
the Mayor and Corporation of Newcastle; Job Bulman, Esq.
returned thanks.
" The Liberty of the Press" having been given,
GniEnsoar rose. He said iv would be sheer affectation
in him not to understand the' direct addresses that were then
being made to him. , He would therefore so far acknowledge
the .obliging courtesy of his friends, and with the permissioni
of the chair offer a few words upon the pleasing and important
occasion that had that day brought them together. H e must
be slightly acquainted with historical facts who did not know
:the extent of debasement that had prevailed in the ci-devant
Colonies of Spain in South. America. Not only was it impos-
sible for the useful arts • and sciences to expand, .every thing
withered, and political freedom and social happiness were alike
unknown. It was, in fact, the inhuman policy that operated
there which had led to that emancipation—that glorious deli-
verance from the most grinding thraldom to which human
beings ever bowed the neck, that they were.that day met to cele-
brate. (Applause.) It was true they had a double object in view,
the paying a well merited compliment `to that justly respected
individual (Mr. Campbell) whose talents, character, and worth
they had heard so ably, so correctly, and so feelingly delineated
by the Honourable Gentleman who so efficiently filled the chair.
(Great applause.)—He was aware that nothing he (Mr. G.)
could say could really enhance the high name which the re-
spectable individual alluded to enjoyed ; but having in early
life been co-associates at the same school, and having since had
the honour to serve under him in the same corps of NaTroaTAL
VOLUNTEERS—(V/IM our happy country was assailed by
nearly all the world !) lie trusted lie would not be thought ar-
rogant in thus presuming to offer his - humble though sincere
meed of approbation upon an occasion that every way so strongly
invited him to give utterance to his sentiments.—(Great ap-
plause.)—The worthy Chairman had alluded to the gratifying
and truly welcome news they had that day received from London.
Most assuredly it was gratifying, and they, as commercial men,
must be sensible how important it was to their interests that
his Majesty's Ministers—ever attentive to the wants and wishes
of the Country—had so promptly lent a favourable ear to the
mercantile voice of the British Empire.—(Great Applause.)—
But most gratifying as all this was, nothing in his (Mr. G.'s)
mind was more gratifying than to witness the first solemniza-
tion of South American Independence upon the .Banks of the
Tyne ; for it was quite evident that events of so promising, if
not of so splendid a nature, must draw forth 'similar demon-
strations of toy in other parts.of the. Kingdom. To have got
the start of the Metropolis was really and truly a proud thing
for Newcastle. The road being thus far smoothed it would.
be our own fault if this great trading Country, with its mighty
resources,' did not extract from the • Markets of the new
world-aas it was calleda-the most beneficial and lasting ad-
vantages--(Great ' Applause.)—Newcastle had shewn
an
early affinity to the Colombian State ; and he (Mr. CrTiti:.
`son) was quite sure that; by able management, they Might
hereafter maintain an intercourse with South America,
profitable in the extreme. He begged pardon for having tres-

passed so.long upon their patience. He was insensibly drawn
on by the importance of the subject, and he indulged the hope
that what he had said would not be considered as alien to the
business of that day.—(Great applause.)—Before,he sat down,
he begged to. give
" Prosperity to the port and trade of Newcastle."—Drank
with three times three, and great applause.
The company were enlivened' by some excellent singing in
the course of the evening, and the fine band of the Tyne Hus.
sars had its share in promoting the harmony and hilarity that
prevailed.—lt was a late hour before the Meeting was dis,
solved.
Amongst the Company present were, John Wright, Esq.
Wall-send ; William -Wright, Esq. ; W. H. Nonkhouse,
Esq. ; Kelso, Esq. ; P. G. Ellison, Esq. ; Capt. Innes,
N. N. ; John Stead, Esq. ; Joseph Bainbridge, Esq. ; John
Barras, Esq. ; Stephen Reed, Esq. ; William Armstrong, Esq. ;
George Barras, Esq. ; William Pollard, Esq. ; Thomas Carr,
Esq. ; J. Revely, Esq. ; A. L. Potter, Esq. ; General William
Stables, Esq. ; &c. all 42.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, MAY. 6.
IN THE MATTER Of' MURRAY.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL shewed cause against a Rule
obtained by Mr. Roach, calling or) Charles Murray, an Attor-
ney of the Court, to shew cause why he should not pay over
certain sums in his hands, to Thomas Dickinson, the agent of
several merchants in the United States of America. The Rule
was obtained upon anafHdavit, stating that Mr. Murray was
employed in 1809 to conduct an appeal against the decision of
the Vice-Admiralty of Barbadoes.
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE asked whether this matter
could not be put in a satisfactory train of inquiry ?
Mr. ROACH said he could not consent to refer it to a Gentle-
man at the Bar. _ _ _

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL then contended that there was
-no authority to sustain the application. Mr. Dickinson,
who commenced this proceeding as the Agent of the parties
in America, acted upon a Power of Attorney, which was
not proved to have been signed by the parties. 'The con-
sequence would be, that the parties might proceed against any
property Mr. Murray might have in America, after he had
paid the money here.
The Power of Attorney, upon examination, appeared to
have been executed before a Public Notary at Rhode Island,
and attested by the British Consul. It had not the sanction of
any established Magistrate's authority, and the Court held it
to be a document which could not be acted upon.
The rule was discharged without costs.