The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-22 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

In the evening a grand dinner was given in the Royal Amphi-
theatre, the pit of which was boarded over. About 600 persons,
comprising the principal reformers of Liverpool, sat down ; and, as
each ticket admitted also a lady, there would be at least the tame
number of ladies in the boxes.

The cloth being drawn, the Chairman, Ismns BLA Neiman,
Esq.. rose and gave the following toasts :
" His Majesty the King, Duke of Lancaster," three times three.
—Band, " God save the King."
" The Queen and the Royal Family," three times th:ee. Band,
" Hese's a hea..th to all good Lasses."
" His Majesty's Ministers." The company unanimously rose
and gave three times three cheers, which were three times reite-
rated, amidst the waving of handkerchiefs by the ladies in the boxes.
The CHAIRMAN, having called for a bumper, then said,—We
have now arrived at the most important toast of the evening. We
are this day honoured with the presence of an ilinstrious man, who
is known not only to England, but to Europe and to all the world.
—(Loud cheers.) Honoured and beloved as Henry Brougham by
his country, and by his King as Lord Brougham, I propose his
health as Henry Lord Brougham—the zealous and consistent pro-
moter of education, and the powerful advocate of civil and religious
liberty.—( Great cheering.)
The cheers were prolonged and renewed for several minutes,
and, on Lord Brougham's rising to return thanks, the thunders of
applause were again and again repeated. Silence being at length
obtained,
Lord BROUGHAM proceeded lo address the audience as follows:
" Gentlemen,—lt is impossible to consider, without feelings of
the most animating description, this occasion which draws together
and is connected with cur assembling this evening ; for of all the
improvements that have been made of late years, in the condition
of the people in this country, the diffusion of knowledge, both of
science and of art, among the middle classes, to whom our Me-
chanics' Institutions are devoted, stand in the first rank among the
very first of those improvements.—(lmmense cheering.) They
have spread during the last ten or twelve years prodigiously over the
country,but it is a debt of justice to an eminent individual to remind
you that it is not only ten or twelve years ago that Mechanics' Insti-
tutions were originated ; for although the London Mechanics' In-
stitution was established through the exertions of Dr. Birkbcelt,
he had twenty-two years before that established the first Mechanics'
Institution in existence in Glasgow, where he first gave scientific
lectures to humble artizans.—(Cheers. ) Some have doubted if he
was the first that suggested the London Mechanics' Institute,—be it
that he had coadjutors in planning, as he certainly had coadjutors
in executing it,—l care not for it—it was only taking a leaf out of
his book twenty-two years old, which I have iri my possession,
printed at Glasgow in 1800, and which contains the prospectus of
the first course of lectures • ever delivered to the men of art.—
( Cheers.) And now, I hone that those who have assisted in laying
the foundation stone, and (hose who are here to celebrate the fes-
tival connected with it, will continue to promote to the utmost of
their power the cause of education, of popular improvement, and of
public virtue, which is intimately connected with education—and