The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-21 00:00:00

MAY 21, 1846.

A new five-act play, entitled The King of the Commons,
in which Macready sustained the principal character,
was produced at this theatre last evening, pith com-
plete success. The scene
is laid in Scotland,,
and the
King of the Commons is the chivairous,warm-hearted
poet-king, James V. The play opens in the antichamber
of the palace of Holyrood, where we find Mungo Small
(Mr. Oxberry), a foolish, foppish, self-sufficient gentle-
man-usher in waiting. Buckie of Drumshorian (Mr
Cooper), the chief of a gang of robbers, enters, and de-
.
mands admittance to the King. To this demand
Mungo demurs, whereupon Buckie seats himself, and
declares that he will not stir until he has seen the King.
The King is soon after announced, and James V. (Mr.
Macready), accompanied by his nobles, enters. The
king is chafed and irritated, and dismisses his nobles,
who, it appears have opposed his wish to go to war with
England. Before dismissing them, however, he rates
them soundly, and, calling to him Lord Seton (Mr. C.
Fisher), directs him to go forth among the commons,
and ascertain if they are willing to support him ; and if
so he declares he will go to war despite the traitor-
nobles. When he is alone Buckle advances to him, and
is recognised as a man who had saved his life from
drowning. Buckle informs him that the greater part of
his nobles are, as ha had previously suspected, traitors in
the pay of England, and the communication with Eng-
land is carried on through the medium of Sir Adam
Weir, of Laichmont. The king dismisses him, and im-
mediately sets out for Laichmont to reconnoitre.
The scene then changes to the wood at Laich-
mont, where we find Madeline Weir (Mrs.
Stirling), and Malcolm Young (Mr. Leigh
Murray), wandering in the woods: Madeline is the
grand-daughter, and Malcolm the poor relation of old
air Adam, who is a sort of Scottish Sir Giles Over-
reach, and, like Sir Giles, is bent on forming a high
alliance for his grand-child. Suspecting that an attach-
ment subsists between Malcolm and Madeline, he has
forced-the former to become• a priest, and is using his
utmost endeavours to bring about an alliance between
Madeline and Ilungo Small, the gentleman-usher to
whom we are' introduced in the.first_seene. The two
lovers—for lovers they are notwithstanding the priest-
ship of Malcolm—are just about to come to an eclaircisse-
ment, when the clash of arms is heard at hand in the
wood, and Malcolm rushes out, and returns imme-
diately leading in the King wounded, whom he
has rescued from a gang of robbers. The king
is but too happy to accept the hospitality
proffered him by Malcolm, in Sir Adam's house, at
Laichmont, and to the residence of that worthy the
scene changes. Sir Adam (Mr. Ryder), a hale, shrewd
old man, is busied with his accounts, when Laird
Small (Mr. Compton), a garrulous old man, in the
last stage of fatuous senility, full of beginnings of
stories which his memory will not serve: him
to bring to a conclusion, enters, and they are negotiat-
ing the marriage which is to join their properties, when
they are informed of the arrival of the wounded stranger.
This incident happens most opportunely to serve the pur-
poses of Sir Adam, who needs a messenger to the traitor
Lords, and he determines to see the stranger,
notwithstanding the opposition of old Small, who
is dreadfully alarmed lest the stranger should die
during the interview; and this bringn us to the conclu-
sion of the first act. In the second act we have the in-
terview between the King and Sir Adam, and this is
certainly a most admirably written and cleverly managed
scene. Sir Adam and the King each endeavour to sift
the other, and albeit the King, in this shrewd encounter
of their wits, ultimately comes off victorious, yet he
comes not off altogether unscathed; for instance, he is
obliged to listen to some most bitter sarcasms
on his own poetry, which so gall him to the quick that
he is often on the point of betraying himself. However,
he at length circumvents Sir Adam, 'who entrusts him
with a packet containing divers parcels of money, to be
delivered to the various lords at the Scottish Court, to
induce them to prevent the king from going to war, and
persuading him, that albeit unknown at Court,
the delivery of those packets will secure him
friends and promotion. Previous to his departure, he
has an interview with Malcolm and with Madeline, and
discovers their mutual affection fox each other ; and
manages so that they shall know the true state of each
other's hearts • and then, meeting Buckle, he delivers to
him the packet, desiring him to bring it to the
palace, and deliver it to the King, in the presence
of his • council, in the evening. Meanwhile, Mungo
Small has arrived, and is introduced to Madeline, and,
in the presence of his father and the Widow Barton
(Mrs. Fosbroke), relates all sorts of anecdotes of his
doings at Court. This scene, which is a perfect hors
d'ceuvre, had better, in the future representations
of the play, be omitted altogether ; it is far
from being well writtten, and is anything but
cleverly acted by Oxberry ; and the success of the
play was last night jeopardised—the audience became
impatient, and gave expression to their impatience iu a
very audible manner. The aversion of Madeline to the
match is so apparent that Sir Adam threatens her that
if sho will not consent, he will send forth Malcolm a beggar,
and sends Malcolm to urge her to it. Malcolm, however,
unexpectedly turns upon the old man, refuses to aid him
In his schemes, and taxes him with his cruelty. At this
crisis the whole of the household of Laichmont are sum-
moned to appear at Holyrood instantly, to which spot
the scene must now change. The king, on his return,
is waited on by his old tutor, a bishop (Mr. Walton,),
who tells him that he has discovered that Seton in his
absence has entertained an envoy from England,
and has dismissed him with safe conduct. Seton is sum-
moned instantly, and the scene between th% King, Seton,
and the Bishop, is the scene of the play. Seton listens
to the Bishop's statement, and admits its truth. The
agony of the King is intense—he hits been deceived in
one who had been his playmate in boyhood, his
fellow-student in youth, and his friend in man-
hood—who might have coined him into ingots,
so that he would not have betrayed him ; but
he will be firm. He summonses his guards to lead
Seton to instant execution ; but when he comes te pro-
nounce the fatal words he cannot utter them,
and sinks into a chair speechless with agony.
Seton demands that the Bishop should produce
the messenger, whom he has arrested. The mes-
senger is produced, and delivers the letters
of Seton, in which that faithful and loyal friend spurns
with indignation the offers which have been made him,
and challenges the offerer to single. combat whenever
the Scottish army shall cross the Tweed. The King
takes him to his heart, and dismisse s the Bishop to the
superintendence of his priests, desirir ig him henceforth to
insist somewhat more on charity, an d somewhat less on
firmness. This powerful scene was given by Macready
with an intensity of passion and tenderness which left
nothing to be desired. He was great—very, very
great in this scene, and worked up the audience to a
pitch of enthusiasm which carried ti te remainder of the
play through triumphantly. In the last act we find the
captives of Laichmont at Holyrood. The King has pro-
cured from the Cardinal Archbishop a dispensation, re-
lieving Malcolm from the duties of the priesthood, and,
after awhile playing upon his hope s and fears, gives it
to him, and at the same time enrolls him in the army.
The nobles are assembled, and Sir. Adam is present.
Buckle is introduced, and proves himself to be the
nephew of Sir Adam, who, having been cheated by his
uncle of his property, has been f( weed into unlawful
courses; and, having made this expose, he accuses Sir
Adam o treason, and produces the fatal packet. The
traitor-nobles are horror-struck. sThe King opens it,
but, without reading it, destroys it:, and by this act of
generosity wins the attachment ot: the traitor-nobles
themselves. Sir Adam, as the price of his pardon, con-
sents to divide his property equally I3etween Buckler and
Madeline, and the latter is united to Malcolm, who is
knighted by the King. Chivalrous—high-spirited—
"jealous in honour, sudden and Quick in quarrel"—a
lover of adventure—a poet—manly in thought, in act,
and in bearing, yet with a woman's tenderness of heart,
the character of James the Fifth . is one admirably
adapted for dramatic purposes, and most especially
suited to Macready's peculiar pow( trs. It was evident
that he had carefully studied the character, and his
delineation of it was a series of exquisitely-finished
pictures. At the conclusion he was called for, and re-
ceived with rapturous applause; a nd then there was a
call for the author, "Mr. White, who bowed his ac-
knowledgments from the stage bo x. Mr. Cooper and
Mr. Leigh Murray were very good as Buckie and Mal-
colm; but Mr. Ryder was scar( rely the Sir Adam
of the author. He was an old man merely
by virtue of wearing a white wig. Not so
Compton, whose Laird Small we s perfect. He was
literally "a foolish and a faded gentleman," and his Laird
Small was, in its peculiar line, quite as great as the
James of Macready. Mrs. Stirling! was a very interest-
ing Madeline ; but Oxberry, as Ye) ang Small, was much
too farcical. The house was crowd ed, and the play was
announced for repetition amidst low I applause.

OPENING OF THE EASTERN UNION LINE.—We are
led to understand, from what we believe tc be good authority,
that this line will be permanently opened for goods traffic' on
May 26, and for passenger traffic on the Thursday following.
—lpswich paper.
[ADVERTISEMENT.)—A CATHOLIC CLERGYMAN AND
llor.Lowat's PILLS.—A poor person, who had. 4 •een in a very declining
state of health for a considerable time, and Zit id tried all the doctors
in his neighbourhood, without deriving the It last benefit, has been
restored to perfect health in a few weeks by Holloway's celebrated
Pills, which were presented to the then dyint t t nan by a distinguished
member of the Catholic clergy. John Thom pe on, Esq. the proprie-
tor of the Armagh Guardian, can attest to the truth f
! this, as well
as other remarkable cures that have been effect ed in that part of Ire-
land, by the use of this invaluable medicine. Sold by all druggists,
and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 24 4, Strand, London.
[ADVERTISEMENT.] —DEAFNESS ' AND -DEFECTIVE
VISION RELIEVED, 39,, ALBERMARLE-STREET„ PICCADILLY.—NewIy
invented acoustic tubes, for relief of extreme deafness, and when
inserted in the ear cannot be perceived by tb ,e nearest observer
they are entirely different from all others, and t i re the smallest hear-
ing iastruments constructed—measuring only a tuarter of an inch in
their widest part; they may be securely adjusts lin the ears unob-
served, and removed therefrom with as great east a and facility.
most
Per-
eons are enabled to join in general conversation, and to bear
distinctly in a place of worship, &c., and what should be greatly
considered, a natural expansion, of the cavity of Cl ie ear is preserved
—a thickening or contraction of which in many instances is par-
tially the cause of deafness—and by their use th e unpleasant sen-
sation of singing noises in the ears is entirely of related. Also im-
proved hearing trumpets of every description,.
n
Immediately the
am imperfect vision,
newly-invented spectacle lenses are placed b
either by day or candlelight, that mist and
object
becomes cleariessmwnichap and
before the eyes is at once removed, every obe
and
dmes originalbrigstt
aatned
distinct, so that the most aged defective sight
brilliant, and is brought to its youthfuLesneaotura
Also the most pow'ersul achromatictel
microscopes. Caution—Messrs. S.and mtelescopes opera glasses, and
Solos pons, opticians, are
not in any way connected with a person of thethe
omtr3. T
csame n,.ame.
pin retvhwei,rt
immediate neighbourhood. nor in any pact f
"mlitakes, be cautious, and observe—only to be h ad at 39, Albermarle-
trot, PicemutiUy, opposite the Yoe hotel.

PRICE SD.

POOR r.IAN'S GUARDIAN SOCIETY
A public Meeting of the inhabitants of the western
division of Finsbury was held last evening, at the
Queen-square Rooms, 8, Theobald's-road, to consider
and to promote the objects and views of this society.
THOMAS WAKLEY, Esq., M.P., took the chair at half-
past seven o'clock, and opened the business by reading
the requisition, signed by 116 of the householders of the
district, out of which the meeting originated. - He said,
few things could give right-hearted men more plea-
sure than to contribute to relieve the distress of their
less fortunate brethren, and that was the object of the
society with which he stood connected ; for it was, novel
as it might be among the many combinations for various
purposes at the present day—it was a poor man's league
supported by the rich man's purse—supported by those
who desired to lessen the evils which arose from poverty,
and alleviate the misfortunes of the poor man. The law
which concerned the poor had undergone a change, and
was not considered so good as when the integritythe
43d of Elizabeth was maintained;
law in the land which says that but still there wag a
want shall have relief, and the tpoor man who is in
objectPedrTiainoifstthereesdo_eipeetyrhwapass
to see, at least, that that law was
tihf its working
to try to improve the law—and
was so objectionable, to get rid of it altogether. _ He said
that the feeling of unkindness—the hard,
whose
on
the part of the workhouse officials
it was to administer to the wants of the destitute,
wdausty
disgrace in a civilised country. It was unprecedented
that riches should be accumulating in one part of a
country—a country which stood a terror to foreign
nations—and that those who were the producers of the
wealth of that country should be sinking into deeper
destitution and distress. Poverty was an evil in any
place; but it was a dreadful calamity in England, for it
was punished as a crime. It was the object, then, of
the. Society to see that the poor but deserving family
should have the attention and relief which the law
entitled them to ; and if the Society did not succeed, it
would not fail for want of an effort. He was. glad to
say, the press had come to the aid of 'the Society, and
exposure would follow the flagrant conduct of the ad-
ministrators of the poor-law. Why, he heard of a case
but the other day. One poor man was guilty of saying
of a poor-house, that the people there. were hungry, and
ate raw potatoes ' • but it so happened that this poor man
vfts reduced to have to apply to the house for relief.
But what said the officer ? You must get no more out-
door relief. What had you to do with the house that
you should talk of the people here being so hungry as,
to eat raw potatoes? You shall come into the housei and
you'll see whether you can't be brought to eat raw
potatoes. In the case of the Andover Union, which was
before the House of Commons Committee at present, the
Society had sent down persons to Andover to make inquiry
of every poor family, what had been their condition ;
whether they had ever applied for relief; and where
and what answer had been given them ; and what had
been the circumstances of their family at the time : and
there would be poor men and women brought up to Lon-
don at the expense of the society, to give evidence before
a Committee of the House of Commons. The Chairman
concluded his energetic address, which called forth great
applause, with expressing his approbation of the society,
as the best he had ever been connected with, and his de-
termination to support it to his utmost.
Mr. COCHRANE gave a statement of the efforts in
which the Society, during the time for which it has
existed, had been engaged. He said the first effort of
the Society had been to reform a diet table, formed by
1 the guardians of the Marylebone Workhouse, for the
casual poor, which proposed gruel or soup for the appli
cant. The gruel, ho was glad to say, had been with-
drawn.

The next case which came under the Society's notice,
was that of a woman, Gardiner by name, who was ill-
treated by Ann Lynch, in the Marlboro' House, at Peck-
ham. That woman had had her hair torn out by her
companion, in the workhouse, and then turned out, be-
cause she had become noxious to a person at the head of
that department. The Society took it in hand, and Ann
Lynch was put into Horsemonger-lane Gaol, and the case
was to have come on for re-hearing before the magistrate
on the 2d of May, but the woman Gardiner was not
to be heard of The Society wrote to the Lord Mayor,
and applied to the Commissioners of Police if it were
possible to hear of her, but she had not been heard of
since, and there was good reason for believing that
bribery had been exercised on that occasion. The third
case was that of Mary Jones and Mary Smith. One
of these women was coming out , of the house before
mentioned, and plucked a flower as she passed along
the garden walk. The workhouse officer upon that came
forward and knocked the woman down. Her companion
remonstrated, but his assistant came forward and
knocked the companion down also. A warrant was ap-
plied for at Lambeth Police-office, and got against the
two men. The case should have come on for hearing
on the 9th instant, but the women were not to be found.
Here, too, they had reason to suspect bribery. The
Society advertised this history, and offered two guineas
to any one who would inform the Society of the women
in question, and two guineas for information about the
woman Gardiner. The remaining case Was that, of
another poor woman, recommended to the attention of
the Society, who had attended at the Poplar Union, and
been refused assistance. The society took various
steps, but at last applied to the magistrate at
Lambeth, this being the parish in which the
woman had last been staying. She was recom-
mended to apply to the workhouse in Lambeth,
but meanwhile, this woman, met with Mary Smith,
one of the women they had been wishing to discover,
and it was found out that she had been bribed one day
with 2s. 6d., and another day with 35., besides articles
of apparel—a list of which the Society had—all
given her by the two ruffians who had abused these
women. Mr. Cochrane concluded his statement by
movin4—

" That this meeting is of opinion that the labouring
classes, and the destitute poor, are at all times anxious
to maintain and recover their position of independence
by their own honest labour and exertions. That they
are not insensible to the humiliations and mortifications
attendant on the necessity to seek parochial relief, and
that the parish authorities ought to be, under every
legal, as they are under every moral, obligation to render
them efficient aid in the hour of trial and difficulty, in a
spirit of kindness and benevolence."
Mr. FIELDEN, M.P., seconded the resolution, and sup-
ported it with many other remarks on the working of
the present poor law.
The resolution was put and carried unanimously.
Mr. KITCHENER moved, and Mr. MASS seconded, the
following resolution, which was put from the chair and
carried unanimously :

" That this meeting warmly approves of the principles
and objects of the Poor Man's Guardian Society, acknow-
ledges the services which it has already rendered by
awakening public attention to many acts of hardship
and cruelty, committed towards the poor by various
parochial authorities, and pledges itself to promote its
benevolent operations, by aiding to increase the list of
members, and the funds of the Society."
It was moved by Mr. SAVAGE, and seconded by Mr.
OSBORNE, and passed unanimously by the meeting, -
" That their cordial thanks are pre-eminently due to
The Press,' for the valuable assistance spontaneously
rendered in recording the exertions of the Poor Man's
Guardian Society."
A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman
with acclamation, Mr. Wakley acknowledged the honour,
and added several remarks and instances corroborative
of what had been said, after which the meeting separated.

SPORTING INTEIk.LIGENC E. I
TATTERSALL'S—ThaminDAY
DERBY.
The last four and twenty hours appear to have disposed of
Sting's pretensions for the Derby.OnTuesdaayv.jningol:nly. ,v.,el:
20, and 25 was laid against him, and yesterday he 11;:,d only a
nominal standing at 18 to 1. His backers
sanguine even of having a race for their mone3, but they are
a retro ession.
curious to know the cause of so extraerdintyr y
His decline gave the two favourites a furtidei lift, gr
and brought
The Premier and the Conqueror _more prominently into
favour. The betting in other reapetts Ims
4 to 1 agst Mr. W. Scott% air
Tattoo Sykes—t 9to 2
13 to 2 agst Lord Maidstone's ToniTullock—t 7 to 1
10 to 1 agst Sir J. Hatviey'sHunidnim—t and aft off
10 to 1 agst Mr. Molldanf
s Fancy Boy—offered
18 to 1 agst Lori), E Russell's Sting—nominal
22 to 1 agst XI% Merry's Peri colt—t and aft offered
22 to 1 agst Mr. Gully's Pyrrhus the First—take 25 to 1
25 to 1 ar..st Mr. Wall's Crown Prince—t. and aft. off.
30 to I. ngst Gen. Shubrick's Brocardo —taken
BO to agst Mr. E. R. Clark's The Conjuror—taken
BB ~01 agst Mr. Dawson's Poynton....no backers
3`'s to 1 agst Mr. Mostyn's The Premier—taken
50 to 1 agst Mr. E. Peel's Twig—take 1,000 to 15
50 to 1 agst Mr. Ramsey's Malcolm—take 1,000 to 15
Even on four against the field.
We have again to remind parties betting on the above
rade that books should be compared this afternoon.
THE LATE CHESTER, CIIP.—It will facilitate the settling
of several beta if we state that the question has been sub-
mitted to Colonel Anson, Mr. Greville, Mr. Payne; and seve-
ral other gentlemen, and that they are unanimously of opi-
nion that Corranna was not one of the Irish lot.

A NEW Talcs.—An impudent fraud, by which many
of the respectable inhabitants of Coventry and the neigh--
bourhood were completely swindled out of their money, was
successfully practised in that city on Friday se'nnight. It ap-
pears that a concert, under royal patronage, was advertised to
take place in St. Mary's Hall on the evening of the above
day. The artists announced were the veteran Braham, Mr.
C. Bland, Miss Homer, the Misses Smith, Signor Sivori, and ,
in the whole about 50 performers. Admission was to be by I
ticket only, 55. each, to be had at the ball, from 12 to k
o'clock. The scheme was a most attractive one, and tic)r..-„ts
were in great demand. One of the' parties enVa';,,,ed in
the hoax remained at his post until four o'cloe„; In the
afternoon, when he left, as it was thought, for the 'purpose
of completing the necessary arrangements for the per-
formers, having previously taken care t:0 have the music-
stands for them placed in proper r',,sition. At the hour
named for the doors to be opened, the purchasers of tickets
flocked for admission ; but there, was no one to receive the
tickets, and they walked into '(he hall and quietly took their
seats. After waiting long -past the hour announced for the
commencement of the c‘racert the audience retired from the
hall, much chagrined aft their disappointment, and some not
a little enraged at having been swindled out of their money.
e
these
There were three tretors in this disgraceful affair, the princi-
pal of whom werat by the name of Hayden, lias Proctor,
known
bt); transpired. nameir e
e Chadwick.f
gangthird i s
has
n
Theand anotherna m e
o o f
the
ee
worthies, it is stated, formedpart of a company of theatricals
lately performing at Gloucester A
description
of their per-
sons has been published, which it is hoped will lead to their
speedy appreheu4on —Birmingham Gazette.

-

LICEI SEI) VICTUALLERS'
ASYLUM.

The nineteeth anniversary of the establishment of
this excellent and philanthropic institution was cele-
brated last evening by a dinner at White Cpnduit
House. James Le Seager, Esq., presided, and was sup-
ported on his right by captain Peellell, M.P. Upwards
of 350 sat down to dinner; the large ro'm being almost
inadequate to hold those deairona of b:.-ing present with
anything like convenience. In fact, several persons
were compelled to dine in the lower apartments of the
house. _

Several of the most distinguished members of the
trade were present.
The dinner, and Non Nobis Domine having been dis-
posed of,

- The dirainmAN gave in succession aLd
long may she reign over a happy, propi;.
people," " The Queen Dowager," "
Prince Albert," who yestfrday pr's
to the funds of the institution; •• The
and the rest of the Royal Family," and the
Nary," all of which were enthusiastically rvs'po;,.
by the numerous assemblage.,
.;
The CHAIRMAN then called on Mr. Jones, 5.•.• ere-
tary to the institution, to reed the report for past
year, which detailed at length the iitbottr- of the
institution, and the benefits it had conferred on those
for whom it was established.

ilov

f

h IIeSS

-I*'

:1:44v and
1 to

The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the toast of the
evening. In doing so he said, he believed, th'ere never
was a more satisfactory report presented at any ,e the
former meetings of the institution than the one had
licensed victuallers on behalf of this large and Iniost
just heard read. It, evinced the'deep interest taken by
benevolent establishment.—(llear, hear.) But the in-
terest taken in the welfare of the society was ne.e.eoa..
fined to licensed victuallers alone, bat extended to the
highest personages in the country—(Hear, hear)—and
es not-connected
interest taken in it by other parf.
with the trade showed how beneficial it was considered.
—(Cheers.) On a late visit to the asylum with the
Lord Mayor, both himself and his Lordship were par-
ticularly struck with the excellent mangier in which the
whole establishment was conducted, and also with the
sympathy that appeared to be felt for the iumates by the
excellent management of the committee ; and it was most
gratifying to Query othnee phlreessseinntgsonpothureeoganstiohiei theans
owhich
he referred, to
of
those for the comforts which they enjoyed through their
(Hear, hear)—becausethey would
they knw that
instrumentality—
eisnpvlti
but for their aid and sympath
to seek the workhouse —that by
d be compelled.
despair, nonesh
could enter without abhorrence.
had not not yet seen the as) him to visit it, in ordere thate
they might see for themselves the happiness and com-
forts which the inmates enjoyed. Ile was most happy
to inform them that one of the circumstances alluded to
by the Lord Mayor had reference to the Charitable
Trusts' Bill, and his Lorship expressed himself a ith great
feeling on.the subject, and that he would oppose it ta
the utmost of his ability ; but he (the Chairman) was
gratified to state that without the exertions of the com-
mittee of the institution that end had been obtained by the
rejection of the Bill by the House of Lnras—(Cheers)—
and that there was no fear of the introduction of a simi-
lar measure into the Legislature, for some time to come
at least. And they ought not simply to look to the contri-
butions which they gave to the society, and to the ad-
vantages which they thus conferred upon those who had.
the misfortune to be stricken with poverty ; but they
must look further, and they would find, hat whilst
they contributed to the institution, they set a
noble example to those in other parts of the
kingdom to follow their example. He had also the
pleasure, a few days ago, to be in the company of Mr..
Thomas Phillipps, the late Mayor of Birmingham,• who
stated, that he was so delighted at the way the estele!ish-
went was conducted, that when he presided over the Pro-
tection Society of the town of Birmingham, he endea-
voured to induce that society to promote the • 4- eerests of
licensed victuallers by establishing a • • • •
similar institution
in that town—(Hear, hear)—and, as earnest of
evincing his desire to accomplish this object,
hearl
headed
a subscription list by putting down 501.—(Cheers.) And
eers.) And
he added that it was quite delightful to see the w
in
Which parties came forward to contribute their toi:lP'and
fifty guineas to accomplish so great an object, and he
had now obtained sufficient to erect a number of alms-
houses. for deeayed licensed victuallers in the town of
Birmingham.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.") And he • had
also got a similar fund in order to relieve
the distressed members of the trade until those
almshouses could be constructed.—(Hear, hear.) That
he (the Chairman) hoped that they would carry on their
exertions to the utmost extent, and that their meetings
would form a stimulus to their labours for the future.
He would not, however, detain
them longer on such an auspicious occasion, except to thank those who
had given donations to the institution. There
were many persons
at that moment, in the
last stage of poverty, who had lived in better circum-
stances, and as there was no tradesman who might not,
at some period of his life, be reduced from affluence to
poverty, he was sure their sympathies would be enlisted
in behalf of such an institution, and that they would
contribute to a fund which had for its object the support
of the decayed members of the trade ini-their declining
years.—(Cheers.) He concluded by proposing " Pros-,
perity to the Licensed Victuallers' Asylum.”--,(Cheers,)
The toast was received and drank with great appituse.
Captain PECHELL, M.P., said they were no doubt well
aware how advantageous meetings of that description
were, where conviviality was part and,parcel of the pro-.
ceedings. He thought it would be admitted on all
hands, that the proceedings had been coneatcted
by the Chairman in a manner which had
_led to the
-best results. It could not fail to he otheivvlse than a
source of pride and satisfaction to him to preside over
such an assembly. Beloved and respected by a large
and numerous bo-coald hot eearey:toihim-
self a more amiable distinction than to possess the re•
gard of so many of his fellow-creatures, But he would
not be guilty of such bad taste as to interpose one
moment between them and the object of theirs meeting,
which he considered was entitled to the utmost appro-
bation.— (Cheers.) He, therefore, had only to pro-
pose that they should drink the health of James Le
Seager, Esq,
The toast was, drank, with three times three, and
with great apt cause.
The CHAIRMAN briefly returned thanks. He felt
himself quite inadequate. to express& thanks in
suitable terms. Ho assured them that he never
was more delighted or proud than ho felt at
that moment, because he saw around him so many
friends who entertained for him the kindest feel-
ings. He hoped he should not express himself with too
much enthusiasm, when he said, that he had been con-
nected in= business with many of those around him for
the last thirty years. He also felt deeply honoured
by the expressions of those with whom he was not in im-
mediate acquaintance. He had only one circumstance to
regret in behalf of the institution—that the Committee
should have pitched on so feeble an advocate as himself.
—(Cries of " No, no.") He felt his inadequacy to
discharge the duties of the chair to their satisfaction ;
but at the same time he considered that it was only
right to be in their call whenever they considered
that he could be of any benefit to the institu-
tion.—Cheers, and Hear, hear.) He felt himself bound.
at all times to express his gratitude, not only in words,
but by every means in his power.—(Hear, hear.) lie
hoped, however, that in what he had done they would take
the will for the deed. After again thanking there cor-
dially, the Hon. Gentleman resumed his seat, after
drinking the health of all present.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health- of Captain
Pechell, M.P. He was sure the toast would be accept-
able
-
able to all of them. He had not only
aided t
le he
am
dvoycatta
presence, but by a donation.
He was
an
nabno man who
of the liberty of the people, and there
was
had devoted himself more todestroyx_so the nn-English
in this country.
system of poor-law which_
his ete
services were not required
(fleet., hear.) And when
ready to aid them to
in the Legislature, he was always
further the -work of benevolence and the benefit of his
country. He concluded by proposing the health of the
Gallant Captain.—(Loud cheers.)
Captain PECHELL, M.P., briefly returned thanks for
the honour they had conferred upon him. It happened
'that, among his public duties, when he first entered the
House of Commons, he undertook the cause of the
licensed victuallers.—(Cheers.) He took up their cause
because he thought that they were some of the
most in-
telligent and most respectable portion of her Majesty's
subjects, and because they were nndoubtedly one of the
most oppressed classes of sooiety—(Hear, hear)—for
'whenever the Government of the day, of whatever' shade
of politics, found the imposition of a new tax necessary,
they invariably fixed upon licensed victuallers. They
also considered the tax they were imposing like physic,
but as long as they could get powers to inflict the dose,
they did not care how they got it down.—(llear, and
laughter.) It was, no doubt, from the measures which
he undertook to get rid of a great many disabilities and
impositions that were practised upon them, the.t he
believed his name had attracted their attention, and
it was gratifying that at the end of fourteen years he
had the honour to appear before them, and, to find that
they sanctioned all he had done.—(Cheers.) These
were the rewards which public servants had to look to—
no other did he expect, and it would be, a stimulus to him
to continue in the same coin se.—(l3.ear, hear.) He was
glad that they relieved the deaa-.
ed members of their
trade from the necessity of 'entering the union work-
house, and that they admiraietered to their relief in a
truly British manner.—clear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN than gave "Mr. Lacon (of Yarmouth),
and the wine and seiir'it merchants who had attended the
anniversary."
Mr. LACON of
returned thanks. Men his
occupation feit extreme pleasure in contributing their
quota to the support of their old friends• who sunk into
diffienitie;,
The (aKiAIHMAN then gave "John Sontt, 113 q., editor of
the gAdvertiser, and the Press," in a neat speech,
in -43eich he passed a high eulogium on the teleets of
:if% Scott, and the ability he had displayed in conduct-
beg the Morning Advertiser since he had been entrusted
with its management.

Mr. ScoTT briefly returned thanks in his own behalf
and of the press, and assured theta that whilst that news-
paper was under his direction, it would support the liber-
ties of the people.

The following toasts were among those given, and in
succession, and were as warmly
responded to as their
predecessors;--" The Governo Mr. Kemp ;" 4. The
Chairman of the Committees;" " The Manager of ,the
_Protection Society" (replied to by Mr. Elt) ; " Arr.
Larby, and the
" Mr. Jones, the Secretary," &c• ; and the assemblage.
separated. past Chairman of the Institution;"
The subscriptions altogether amounted to 2,5061. CS.
Amongst those subscribing were the names of th e
-.Chairman, 52L los. ; George Byng. Erg, M.P., aO/.
10s. ; the Lord Mayor, 101. 10s.; Messrs. GoklstrAtb,
101. 10s. ; Mrs. Goldsmith, Si. ss. ; Charles Pea; von,
Esq., Si. ss. ; J. E. Layton; Esq., Yarmouth, 26/. von,
;
Captain Pechell, Si. ss, ; Mr. Rouse, jun., 101. 10s. ; and
John Scott, Esq., ss, ss.