The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-04 00:00:00

WIGAN, MAY

PUBLIC DINNER TO RALPH THICK
NESSE, ES Q., 31:P•
According to invitation received from a number e.
'highly re-pectable gentlemen and tradesmen of Wigan arse
the neighbourhood, Ralph Thicknesse, Esq., Member fo•
that borough, sat down to-day to a most sumptuous din-
ner, at the large assembly-room at the Eagle and Child.
The persons who invited the Hon. Member were princi-
pally his constituency, and those who have admired 1 i
Parliamentary conduct in supporting the all-engrossing
measure of Reform, and in furthering the interests of the
electors of the borough, both as regards public and private
bill., in which they had an interest. Such a meeting in
coint of respectability and numbers, toil:racing in its ob-
jects the principles and advocacy of Reform, as roll as
complimentary to an individual, has rover before teen
held,in Wigan within the memory of the oldest inhabitant,
as the borough of Wigan for centuries past has been
virtually rotten, the Member being returned by be-
tween thirty and forty individuals termed burgesses,
directly under the control of the Corporation, who
coalesced and have gone hand in hand with some
influential parties—(for instance, the Earl of Bel-
t: irras)—to return ti horn they thought proper, the
wishes of the inhabitants not being for a moment con-
Belted. Several attempt+ on the pert of the inhatitants
were made to open the borough, and they at length so
tar succeeded as to obtain, in lieu of the thirty or forty,
two 'hundred and sixty electors ; and in coreetereeece a man
was returned of their own choice. cvMeh man was Mr.
'Thisknesse, who having in his rehlic conduct pleased them
en satisfactorily, it was rietermined to pay the tribute of
rosrect to him which is now recorded. It may as well be
mentioned, ae en instance of the " march of intelligence,"
that the 4llifeynrs of Wigan for centuries past were Tories,
and strenuous supporters of corruption, in the shape of
teocoogh patronage ; hut so fir as a reaction taking place,
that, on the first occasion of a Reform Member dining
publicly in Wigan, the Mayor presided as Chairman.
A most excellent dinner was provided, and• as soon as
the cloth was removed,
The Mason proposed "The Patriot King," its aspeech
of much energy, expressing his gratitude, in common
with that of the country, for the measure of Reform now
pending.
The toast which next followed was, " The Queen, and
may she long reign in the hearts ofthe people," which was
received with great cheering.
The next toasts were, " The Princess Victoria and the
rest of the Royal Family;'' " Lord Hill and the Army ;"
" Sir James Graham and the Navy."
The Mevoa rose, and said the toast he had to propose
would, he had no doubt, receive the unqualified approba-
tion of all present. It was, " His Majesty's Ministers."
—(lmmense cheering.) It would be impossible to pay to
those Ministers that tribute of respect which they deserved;
and he regretted that it had not fallen to the lot of an in-
dividual to propose the toeec, who could have given it
more force than he was capable of doing. The Ministers
had, on theic first entering into office, pledged themselves
to labour for the reduction of the burdens which pressed so
heavily upon 'the country. To ,M this, the Ministers had
not had sufficient time ; but he had no doubt of
their Intimate success ; and in the meantime the
peos;ie were disposed to look with an indulgent eye
neen their exertions.—(Cheers.) They had also pledged
themselves 'o beneficially change the system of representa-
tion in the country, and had brought forward and sup.
ported that measure to arennipli,li the change. Through
evil and through good report they had passed the Reform
Bill in the Houle of Commons, and, by the recent division
in the Upper House, had got the Lords to acknowledge
the justice of the principle of the Bill. Fer this achieve-
ment they were indebted to the unwearied perseverance,
talent, and industry displayed by them, and their conduct
*must he a source of great delight to every honest man.
He should therefore propose their healths in a bumper,
with three times three. The toast was drunk most enthu-
siastically.
The Maroa then proposed the health of Ralph Thick-
nesse, Eaq, M. P. for the borough of Wigan. In doing
which, he (the Mayor) did not know which most to ad-
mire and extol—the private virtues of the Hon. Member,
or his public services, but be appreciated both, and Mr.
Thicknesse was entitled to the gratitude of the inhabit lilts
of Wigan, for the very efficient manner in which he had
represented their interests, as an instance of which it need
only be nained,thatMr.Thicknesae, during every stage of that
all-important measure, the Reform Bill, was present in the
House and had had lent it his support, by voting. He
(the Mayor) was not prone to compliment, or to speak flat-
teringly of a person before his face, but he could say that
actions were better than professions; and judging only from
the actions of Mr. Thicknesse, he was sure that a better
Member did not sit in the House of Commons.—.(Cheers.)
RALPH THICKNESSE, Esq., M.P. rose and said, for the
'high honour that had been conferred upon him, and in so
handsome a manner by the worthy Mayor, he felt the most
enfeigned gratification, as it was a source of peculiar
pleasure to him to be thus made acquainted with
flit sentiments of the inhabitants of Wigan, which
evinced that they were satisfied with his Pdrlia•
mentary conduct, for which he should always bear in-
mind, and continue more indebte I to the inhabitants
of the borough of Wigan than ever. With regard
to his Parliamentary duties, which bad been adverted to
by the Mayor, he (Mr. T.) could say, that those duties
had invariably been attended to by him ; he was an un-
compromising advocate of the interests of his constituents
in the House of Commons, and if, since he had sat in that
House, he had changed his opinions, the change was, that
he had l'econae more decidedly a Whig than ever.—(Cheers)
The distinction between the two political parties—Whig
and Tory—he had been led to believe were, that the Whigs
professed the interests of the people, and the Crown com-
bined, and that the Tories alone legislated for the Crown,
having its exclusive interests at heart ;but since he had been
in Parliament he had found that he was mistaken, for the
Tories, in opposing the measure of Reform, were opposed
to the interests of bush Crown and peopl-, and he had
noticed that all their orations and speeches delivered in
that House were in the spirit and under the influence of
pride and selfishness. When he toek his seat in Parlia-
ment, he did so with a determination to support his Ma-
jesty's Ministers in bringing about the great measure of
Reform, and to lend his assistance in every other measure
of the Ministers which he thought was proper and for the
general benefit of the country. He bad viewed the
conduct of the nominees of close boroughs, and he
was convinced that as the House was at present constituted
it was impossible that any measure of real benefit to the
country could he carried. Unless the Bill was carried, the
Ministers would not be able to carry on the Government;
and an amendment of the Corn Laws, the abolition of the
East India Charter, or any other measure calculated to
emend the condition of the people could never pass. The
Reform Bill, by its passing into a law, would, as a matter
of course, be preliminary to all other reforms ; and be
hoped, to obtain that object, that the Ministers would not
stiffer any alteration in the Bill. Hr bad heard
the Duke of Wellington declare that the people of
England wanted no Reform, that Reform was un-
lleSsary ; and he had since heard the Duke of Wel-
lington admit that some Reform was required, and
would be of benefit ; then what must the people think of
such conduct ? Why, that his Grace had been guilty of
Mean prevarication. He was confident that no R-form
could come from that party of real service, or that went
to cleptive the Peers from exercising an unjust influence,
and interference w ith the people. It would appear as
though the Tory notions were, that Government existed
merely for the purpose of keeping the people in awe in-
stead of being conciliatory and generous for the benefit of
people. He hoped that if the people wished to obtain and
retain their just rights, they would never suffer the Duke
of Wellington or his colleagues to make again one step
into power. He had every confidence in the present
Ministry, and he believed it to be their sincere wish
and intention to give the people a fair participation in the
representation of the country.—(Great cheering.)—Mt.
Thicknesse concluded by thanking his constituents for the
honour they had conferred upon him by the invitation,
which gave him an opportunity of meeting with so great
a portion of the wealth and intelligence of the county.
The MATOIL gave " Our glorious Constitution," in
doing which he made some observations on its original
purity, and deprecated its present abuses.
Toast—" The House of Brunswick, and may they
'never fore et the principles which placed them on the
throne of these realms."—(Cheers.)
Mr. TIIICKNESSE proposed " The health of the worthy
Cbitf Magistrate, the Mayor of Wigan," and expressed his
favourable opinion of the talent, industry, and perseverance
of his character, which so eminently qualified him for his
important office.
The MAYOR. returned thanks in a neat and appropriate
speech, and said this ditties, though onerous,
to
were no more
than it was his duty to perform agreeably his oath ~,
whicn elicited considerable applause.
The Rev. Mr. KNowr,Es rose to propose " Success to
;,...'
Ai the
great cause of Reform," which was drunk most enthu-
siastically with four times four. The Rev. Gentleman
' said, i
that,`"
it did. not a Imif of a single doubt, that the ma-
jority,4,;`..,' tt were in favour of the measure of Re-
. : .of 'l the cruse, and if this question was to
V,......:' "-a '!":, -..- , ~.... questions are, by majority, the
4-7- --m'- . . ~ •,134ve been, decided long ago;
4
. .
ig in a state of ear.citera.eot
0.:I. fl,•-.4,, .
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_. ',.:_ 'pnjoyment of the fruit! of ti e i