The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-17 00:00:00

HONORARY DINNER.

(From Anis': Birmingham ,Garette, Sept. 16, 1823.)

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.
A duty has seldom presented itself more con-
genial to our feelings, or more fairly offering matter of congra-
tulation to our townsmen, than that devolving upon us in con-
sequence of the late- most gratifying visit from the Right lion.
Gentlemen, whose official distinction introduces the present
article. It is already known that the Chancellor of the Ex..
chequer, taking advantage of a temporary residence in the
neighbourhood with his family, visited this town within the
last fortnight, for the purpose of inspecting some of the manu-
facturing establishments of the place; and having gratified his
curiosity as far as his engagements then permitted, he returned
to Leamington. Induced by the probability of his remaining
there a short time longer, an invitation was transmitted on
Monday last, in the name of • the Magistrates, High and sLow
and a number of respectable inhabitants of the town,
requesting the honour of his company to dinner at the Royal
Hotel, on the following Thursday ; the invitation was accepted
in the most flattering terms, ands Committee was immediately
formed to prepare for his reception.
The Right lion. Gentleman reached town soon after noon ;
and on his way to the Hotel, he visited the manufactory of
Messrs. Yates and Hamper; where he continued a considerable
length of time. The remainder of the morning ' was oc-
-eupied in the inspection of other establishments of interest.—
The gentlemen who had intimated their intention of giving him
the meeting began to assemble soon after six o'clock ; and after
a short time had elapsed, the Chancellor entered the room, and
was introduced to the company. Dinner was soon announced,
and the party, seventy in number, took their seats. The Chair
was taken by Theodore Price, Esq. having the Right Hon.
Gentleman on his right, and on hisleft a-Mr. Cumberland and
Colonel -Hooch, friends of Mr. Robinson. The Low Bailie
acted as Vire-President. The Chairman was also assisted by
W. C. Russell; Esq. and Mr. Meredith, who occupied the
chairs at the ends of the Bross table. It was intended that the
duty of presiding should have fallen upon the High Bailiff,
but in consequence 'of his absence from home, ;rnd,' though
specially summoned, of his inability. to return, the chair was
tilled by Mr. Price as the senior Magistrate present.
On the removal of the cloth, the "king," with four times
four, was drank with rapturous applause, succeeded- by the na-
tional Anthem of "God save the Rin" in the chorus to which
the company joined. The Royal Family," the " Duke of
York middle Army," and Lord Melville and, the Nary,"followed in succession. ,The Chairman next, in a titian ad-
dreas, introduced the health of " the. Chancellor of his Majes-
ty's Exchequer," briefly adverting to the popular nets of the
Right lion. Gentleman during the last Session Of Parliament,
and-to the broad and enligbtened views :which distinguished
his presidency of the Board': of Trade. The announcement of
`the toast was received with the most unequivocal tokens of ap.
Probation, and Waii drank with three 'times three, amitiSt the
loudest cheers. The Chancelloirmie, evidently mueltaffected
by the enthusiastic warmth with which his- name had been
ceived, and was for some minutes prevented giving utterance to

[ his thanks by a continuance of the rounds of apageg hie' I/
were renewed on his rising for- that purpose. Silence being at
length' obtained, .llr. Robinson ,peoceoded to exOrma'lsis Se.
knowledgments, in a manner anek,lattguegir at, opee,marily,
eloquent, and impressive.
The Hight Han. Gentleman- conime—riced by alluding with
great .feellitg.and riDilnatiell to the: kind welcome with Which
ne bad ireen greeted--a yeleerne that could, ,eolyhaire
,been
looked for in reference to an old and long tried mate cont*-
- tiara. He said, he traced the :encouraging approbation:of tke
Meeting to the grateful taskahat had fallen to
.him since his
new official appointment—that of assisting in lessening. the
public burthens of theelmintry he could assure the company
that it was the first object of his policy, and that the reliefaio
afforded had beenextendect with.a most willing hand. Mr. R.
' then referged to the trying period through which the country had
passed, and adverted to the lamented efforts produced by the
late commercial distress, and, particularly as it related to this
and other manufacturing districts. lie next congratulated
those who heard him; upon' die present condition of our menu.
,lecturers and tlidit employeei under them, and touthed with
great delicacy and tenderness upon any feeling,• of diseentent
that might have been found among those who had borne tha-
t:tore intense- pressure of the times--adding, most truly, that
whatever might once have been the case all was now industry,
contentment, and happineas.—The Right Hon. t 1 entletnan
having alluded to the gratification he hail experienced in the
course of his- progress through the various establishments he
had visited, adverted generally to the policy of Government,
declaring dna it was its determinatioh to preserve the blessings
of peace so long as they epuld -be secured consistently with the
honour and dignity of the state; and in this he felt assured he
expressed the sense of the great majority of his tenon, subjects.
Should thelime, however, again arrive, when it might be ne-
cessary to call the resources of the primary into aetion, he
doubted not she would again put forth her mighty strength in
defence of our national safeguard, the Constitution. He eaie.
eluded by remarking, that although it had .been said. the walls
of that safeguard had been rent, and its foundations materially
impaired by time, and by others that it was tottering to its
ruin—he felt that it was founded upon a rock, that it stood
where it had originally been placed, in all its Unposing, he
Might say gothic magnificence; and he feared rot, that'll' at.
tacked from without, it would ,yet be 'found to far a castle of
strength amply sufficient to laugh a siege to scam, The
Right Honourable-Gentlemen immediately sat down amidst the
cheers his address had excited; he however rose again .11mOst
instantly, and proposed aga.toast, " Prosperity to the Town
and to the Trade of Birmingham."
The Chairman next gave " the House of Brunswick, and
the principles that 'tented it on the Throne of these realms."
This was followed by the health of the "'Duke of Wellington,"
and by that of " Earl Liverpool and his Majesty's Ministers,'
which was drunk With " thre times three." The ratter toast
again brought up Mr. Robinson, who observed, that in stating
Ins own opinion on the topics to which he had already adverted,
he had distinctly expressed the sentiments of hie .colleagues.
His Majesty's Ministers, lie repeated, were actuated be no
other motive than the public welfare, and though the line of
policy they bed adopted might in some instances be deemed
erroneous, they felt that it was only so long as they carried
with them the approbation and contidetee of the country. that
they could hope to
,maintain those situations, the ditties of
which it was their endeavour honestly to fulfil to the best of
their ability.—Ttie health of the " Marquis of Lansdowe," of
" Earl Talbot, and success to the approaching Festival," &c.
followed. The t;liancellor then rose, and lifter a few intre.
ductory remarks, proposed the " High and Low Bailift"—,
Mr. Beale returned thanks on behalf of himself and of his
colleague, the High Bailiff, whose absence on, the occasion
he much regretted. The health of the Chrirman was, pro-
posed by the Reverend Mr. Spry.—The " lkittgistiates •of
the ToWn" were next proposed by Mr. Robinson,_, who took
occasion to remark upon the great advantage thit country
derived from an unpaid Magistracy ; and ' bore his testi-
mony to the firmness and temper With which . the laws had
been administered and maintained in this town. Alt. Price
and Mr. Spry acknowledged the compliment on ,behalf of them-
selves and their brother ,Magistrates, The lattregentletuan,
in the course or his remarks, obseiVed, that there teas perhaps'
no part of the kingdom, certainly none of equal extent as to itsr
population, in which the laws were more easily maintained than
in the town of Birmingham ; and. with respect to the Magis.
tracy being an unpaid -IJody, the Right. Don.. Gentleman was
in error, for they were neruply remunerated for their services.,
not, It was true, in a pecuniary manner, but by the approba-
tion and esteem of those aunorigst whom they
Turner made some remarks on the bpnetit:i cluing to the
manufacturing interests of the country from the line of policy
pursued by the Right-Iron. Gentleman, and instanced the case
of a particular article used by the manuflicitirerapr the Lowe.,
in which the duty had recently been very considerably re-
duced. Mr. Kendrick, of West Brontwkit, also made sortie
observations connected with the subject of .cunimeree;—The
" County Members," the "'Earl of Aylieford, anti the tee-
manry of the County," the " Masters of the Free Grammar
School," &c. succeeded. In acknowledging the latter toast, the
Rev. Hann Kennedy drew a comparisai between the valet of a
mere English 'and a classical education, which, lie inairitainW,
was elderly encouraged by foundation schools situiltir to that to
which be 'belonged ; the advantages resulting fret u good.
classical education
thehe birtoiugtltit
fit,om.beattrie
r.--Other
•
and Clergy
sentimentsenlarged
nvLiolernas introducedofio a charactertiie,
,fihi I
io followed,
do .Mr. f
the
Bishop
of the Diocese ;" and Mr. Spry returned thanks, ag4 eareseV..
ed upon the munificent conduct or his Lordship towards this
town. Mr. Spry afterwards proceeded to give" the Disseothig
Ministers of the town," which he prefaced by some bigblycciut-
I plimentary remarks on their acknowledged piety and learning.
The Rev. John Currie replied to the compliment, and in return
proposed the health of the Rev. J. 11. Spry," which that gen-
tleman suitably acknowledged.,-In.the course of the everting
the healths of " Colonel Gooch," and of " Mr. Cumberland."
were drank; as was " the health of Mr. Canning," who, it was
stated by Mr. Spry, had passed through' town on that day, and
that it was with the utmost regret Mr. C. found himself cum-
polled to forego an invitation immediately conveyed to him by
the Committee, to meet their Right Bon. Guest at dinner.
Mr. Robinson afterwards begged to propose the health of the
" Ladiei of Birmingham?" and Mr. Bird replied ".on behalf
of ills fair towniwomen" in a speech that excited inueh mirtb.
fie concluded by giving" Lady Sarah Robinson. sail family,"
which was drank with great enthusiasm, anti produced another
address from Mr. Robinson. After it few other tossts, which
we are compelled to plats over unnoticed, the, (lomeellor rose
and took his leave of tho company, anti ttport retiring leas im-
mediately Ibllowed by the whole of. the party. The dinner,
more particularly when the shortness of the Letter isconaidered,
did great credit to the hotel ; every tielicacy of the season was
provided, and in greaubundance ; the drawn and wines vette
also of the first quality.
' Notwithstanding the length to which our report has extended,
we cannot refrain from adverting, for a moment, to the gratify-
ing scene presented by so complete and uninterrapted an in-
stance of social intercourse between intlividuale of all parties,
among us, as was displayed at this, interesting zneedog. It
must have been highly flatteringro Air. Robinson to know, that
persons of all political distinctions were anxious to pay their
tribute of, respect to his character as a statesman anti as art in.
dividual i and that, in print of fact, he was surrounded by the
great majority of thane. who are looked up to by their fellow
townsmen as_ taking the lead in almost every variety of political
sentiment. That the Right Hon. Gentleman was hitsself
highly pleased, might he most satisfactorily gathered from the
freedoin, urbanity, and t4pod humour which so eminently dig-
dinguished him through the evening, es well as from then hate
hour (nearly twelve o'clock) to which he was induce dto eettatill
at table.

The Right lion. Gentleman visited Gospel Oak Works on
the following morning, and in the afternoon ft town for Lon-
don, whither, we are informed, he had in Ai.... mean lima bran
specially summoned.

Creat improvements are going on in the-Docks
and Outworks at Dunkirk, smut: of Wl4ll wero PrO.keted under
dip reign of Napoleon ; they re noi,lowev vr, to extend to what
was originally intended. -

A singular instance of brute sagagity, occurred
daring the fire in the Menagerie. at Blum) Fan% There were
three young leopards ix the caravan, witere they were kept in a
kind of wicker basket, anti suclled bYg terr/Cr bitCh•
latter, faithful to her charge, 4.23 the al Proachiug the
spot, 'pulled,t the y„rigleoluuo„s one by one'out of the basket.
and laid them behind the (It)", in tt duce ,aftly- Tivv4frec.
tionate little animal thus saved the lives of' two of the leoptirdN;
but the third was so mach Injured that it (lied shortly afterwards.
(*.Briny" Afircurii.)