The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-15 00:00:00

FASHIONABLE PARTIES.

Yesterday the Earl of Galloway, Sir John Wrottesler, Sir
Thomas Farquhar, and Mr. Godfrey Wentworth, gave elegant
dinners :—the first in Hanover-square; the next in Upper
Grosvenor-street ; the third' in St. James's-street, and the last
in Hanover-square.
Grand dinners were also given on Tuesday by the Earl of
Verulatn, in Grosvenor-square ; i.ord Langford, in Berkell,-
square ; Lord Calthorpe, in Grosvenor-square ; Lotd Gifford,
in Whitehall-place ; Lord, Binning, in Chesterfield-street ; Sir
Humphrey Davy, in Grosvenor-street.

SOCIETY for PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN KNOW-

LIIIDGE in IGH LA NDS and ISLANDS.
This Institution celebrated its fifty-first Anniversary Festival
yesterday, at the Albian-tavern, Aldersgate-street. His Royal
Highness the Duke of SirssEx presided. There were also prt -
sent, Lord Binning, Mr. Secretary Canning, Sir James Mackin-
tosh, General Turner, Sir R. Fergusson, Sir Peter Laurie, Mr.
Downie, M.P., Dr. Morrison, Chinese Missionary ; and several
other gentlemen of distinction. After the cloth was removed
Benedict s, the Winchester grace, was sung by Messrs. Broad-
hurst, Goulden, Phillips, and Muster Smith. The Royal
CHAI nmAN then gave—
" The King, God bless him ;" three times three.
" The Duke of York, and the rest of the Royal Family."
"The Navy and Army."

Mr. CANNING rose and said, that the arrangements of the
eveni.:g imposed upon him the pleasing duty of proposing to the
company the health of their illustrious and Royal Chairman.
Nis cares had not been confined to this society alone ; but he
was convinced that they would be the prouder of this, rather
than jealous of not monopolizing the whole of his patronage.
His Royal Highness possessed many claims upon their grati-
tude and affection. The son of George the Third could not be
indifferent to the diffusion of religion.—(Loud cheers.)—The
brother of George the Fourth could not be insensible to the
affection of Scotland. The Right lion. Gentleman concluded
by proposing the health of their Royal President, the Duke of
Sussex.—( Rapturous cheering.)
The Duke of SUSSEX, in returning thanks, begged leave
first to expres3 the gratification he felt at witnessing the nume-
rous
attendance on the present occasion ; it gave one courage
to advocate the cause of the charity ; and it did honour to the
exertions of the stewards. Ile felt indebted to the Ri'tht lion.
Secretary of State, for the manner in which he introduced his
name. His Royal Highness's object in every pursuit of life
had been to preserve the links which connected the highest
and the lowest classes of society. The old proverb said, that
" charity began at home," and we best consulted eur own inte-
rests by promoting the interests of those about us. As the
Right Hon. Secretary had alluded to the affections of our mo t
gracious Sovereign towards Scotland, he trusted that he might
be allowed to express a hope, that ever since the grace of his
Royal father had conferred upon him his second title, he had
not forgotten his duty to Scotland. He had often had occasion
to address a Scottish assembly, and he had frequently said, as
he had declared upon one particular and interesting occasion be-
fore Flora M'Donald's son, that he considered the political
offence of the Highlanders a venial offence. TheY had shown
that if Charles came amongst them defenceless, that was a suf-
ficient motive with them to stand up to defend him ; and for
this feeling he honoured theta- His Royal Highness then
entered into a history of the society, with its objects and advan-
tages, which he advocated with much zeal and ability, and
concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the Institution."—
(A pplau se.)
His Royal Highness called upon Mr. Broadhurst to sing
" John Anderson, my Joe, John," which that Gentleman sang
accordingly in a very delightful manner.
The Royal Duke then rose and said it was his duty and
pleasure to remark, that the Right Honourable Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, who had been hitherto an alien to
them, had come forward to lend his support to this Institution ;
thus devoting the few moment which retrained to him from
business to objects of philanthropy—a circumstance which must
afford gratification to every well-wisher of hilt country. He
did not observe that his name was among the list of Vice-Pre-
sidents ; but he hoped his name would soon be there. As many
as were of that opinion (that it be inserted in the list of Vice-
Presidents) would say, " Aye." (Here there was a burst of
acclamation, and cry of " All.") His Royal Highness con-
cluded by proposing " the health of. the Right Ho •. George
Canning, one of their Vice-Presidents."—(Long continued
cheering.) _

Mr. C%ANNIN G, in returning thanks, did not know whether
to feel more indebted to the Royal President for the manner in
which he had proposed his name, or to the assembly for the
manner in which they had received it. Ile came amongst them
as a stranger—he would not say an alien, for he was afraid of
reviving a discussion which had taken place elsewhere, al-
though ;
1 , his
w The tes highness seemed to take amalicious pleasure
inhow aliens were received amongst them. He
ia
in Scotland, but still he was not an alien to Scot-
land in.orporated amongst the officers of their
society.
Rightw Hon. Secretary then expressed his happi-
tiiinoe"g b
c hirela al
m
happi-
ness at having succeeded to the Administration in time of peace,
instead of hostility, and concluded by again returning thanks.
._(Loud applause.)
The Royal Chairman next proposed " Lord sinning, and the
Nobility of Scotland."
Lord BINNING returned thanks.
His Royal Ilighuess, ill a complimentary speech, proposed
" the health of Sir James Mackintosh and the Vice-Pre-
sidents."

Sir JAMES, in returning thanks, alluded to the happy effects
of this free Constitution, Owing to which members of all classes
and all parties were collected together, without foregoing a
jot of their own opinions. As a native highlander, he felt the
greatest pride in beholding a Member of that Family whose
throne was founded on liberty—at seeing the most eloquent Mi-
nister of the Clown, of whom he could say, even in his presence,
that he was trusted by his friends as their most potent advocate,
and respected by his opponents as the man whom they would
have chosen for their head,—to say that seeing them come for-
ward on the present occasion affbrded hirn pleasure, would
hardly express his feelings on the subject. The lion. and
Learned Gentleman then pronounced an eloquent appeal on
behalf of the Charity.
" Prosperity to the City of London."
" The Church of Scotland."

The Rev. Mr. WATSON returned thanks, and entered into a
statement to skew the necessity of extending the number of
schools.

" Sir Peter Laurie, the new Knight; and may be long enjoy
his newly acquired honours."

Sir PETER returned thanks.
Mr. CANNING, in a short complimentary speech, proposed
the health of Major-General Turner.

The gallant ti.encral, in returning thanks, congratulated his
country on the interest which the Royal Chairman evinced on
behalf of the Institution; and on the union of two great politi-
cal rivals in its cause.

The next toast was—" Mr. Downie, M.P.," who returned
thanks ; and sang " Maggy Lauder." •
It was followed by " the Ministers of the Church of Scot-
land," " The :iecretaries," " The Land of Cakes," and
" The Stewards."
The Royal Duke then left the chair, and retired amidst loud
plaudits ; which were redoubled, and accompanied by a huzza,
as Mr. Canning passed out.
Sir JAMES MACKINTOSH presided for the rernainda of the
evdning,

FOR THE SUN.

LICENCE OF PLEADING.

Mu. EDITOR—Seldom do I venture into a
Court of Justice, because I do not wish to harass
my feelings-in listening to the liberties which are
too often taken by Counsel, and am inclined to
sympathize so much with the objects of their at-
tacks as probably to manifest emotions of indig-
nation. Having heard from an eye-witness, the
brutality with which a gentleman was treated in
Bond-street, by a person or much greater size,
and learning that the cause was to be tried
yesterday at the Westminster Sessions,
was anxious to know the result, and still more
to find that the assailant was sentenced to
condign punishment. Such I was gratified in
finding was the result ; but I was astonished
at the liberties taken by the Counsel for the
defendant, who dared to say that he would
not believe the plaintiff, an Officer of unim-
peached' honour, on his oath. Good God, Mr.
Editor, are people to endure such attacks upon
their characters, and particularly those in a mili-
tary situation ?—and are Counsel to make them
,with impunity ? This outrage committed upon the
feelings of the plaintiff, and the conscious-
nesss that he could not resent it in Court,
affected the Gentleman even to liethiing tears,
a circumstance that did honour to his sensibility
and wounded honour.—But how did the Counsel
attempt to justify his conduct ? Why, by stating;
that he should call a witness ‘sho would falsify
ihe
.defendant's statement. lie did call a man
named AUBREY, but the man wisely kept aloof
lest he should probably have shared the subse-
quent fate of the defendant. The Chairman,
with the mildness and urbanity, but yet the firm-
ness, that have always marked his character,
properly interposed, and rebuked the Counsel for
the intemperance of his language. The conduct of
Mr.C. PutrAPs,Counsel for the plaintiff, formed a
a striking contrast to that of the opposite Advo-
cate. Ile censured with becoming dignity the
freedom of his Learned Brother, and proved that
he himself carries into Court those liberal feelings
and gentlemanly manners which uniformly mark
his conduct in private life, and give an additional
lustre to his talents. I cannot conclude, Mr;
Editor, without expressing my satisfaction at
Ore calm, judicious, patient and dignified man-
ner in which the Chairman summed up the
case, and at the just and liberal tribute n hlcit
he paid to the conduct of the Plaintiff, commend -
hag him for appealing to the Laws of his Coun-
try, instead of indulging in feelings of mistaken
honour, respecting an outrage that demanded
only the decision of the Magistracy.
British Coffee-House, April 14.

►INDEX.