The Sun.
London, England, 1835-09-21 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

The place selected for the dinner was the large Hall of
the Portable Gas Company, which is of very exten,ive
dimensions. The Hall was very tastefully and commo-,
diously fitted up, under the direction of Mr. Alston,
joiner. The pillars which supported the roof were de-
corated with laurels, as was also a large representation of
Mr. O'Connell's crest and arms, which was placed imme-
diately behind the chairman. The tables ran across the
room, that of the chairman and croupier being placed in
the centre of each side, and elevated above the -rest. A
gallery was fitted up at the south end for the ladies, and
calculated to contain about 150. There were also two
galleries erected on each side of the ladies' gallery for those
who could net find accommodation in the area of the build-
ing. The number of tickets issued were 1,400, but 1,500
must have been present during the evening. Mr. O'Con-
nell entered the room at half-past five, and was received
with loud cheers, which continued for a considerable time.
The Chairman was supported on the right by Mr. O'Con-
nell, Mr. Tait, D. Bowring, M.P., Dr. Browne, LL.D.,
Dr. Epps of London, the Rev. Mr. Nisbett, Councillors
Russell, Richardson, Mendell, and Councillor Mitchell of
Leith, &c. Upon the left by Mr. Ruthven, M.P. for
Dublin, the colleague of Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Gillon of
Wallhouse, M.P., Mr. Morgan O'Connell, M.P., Mr. Kin-
loch of Kinloch, &c. &c. Councillor Jameson, Deacon
Fenwick, and Mr R. Millar, officiated as Croupiers. Grace
was said by the Rev. Mr. Nisbett, and thanks were returned
by the Rev. Mr. Halley.
The cloth being removed, the CHAIRMAN successively
gave " The King," " The Queen," " The Princess Victo-
ria, and the rest of the Royal Family ," all which were
drunk with great cheering;

The CHAIIMAN then 6-ye " The People, the only source
of legitimate power," which was received with great ap-
plause. This was followed by " The Army and Navy," the
band playing the appropriate tunes of " Rule Britannia"
and " The British Grenadiers."

The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The health of his Ma-
jesty's Ministers."—(This toast was received with loud and
long-continued cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the tcast of the
evening, " The health of their honoured and distinguished
guest—the Liberator of Ireland, the Champion of the
people's rights, the Friend of the oppressed in every clime
and country—Mr. O'Connell."—(Rounds of cheers, last-
ing many minutes.) The Learned Gentleman proceeded,
in an eloquent address, to eulogise the conduct of their
distinguished guest, and to express the happiness which the
friends of liberty had in welcoming him to the metropolis
of the North.

The toast having been drunk with the utmost enthusiasm,
Mr. O'CoNNELL rose and said—l do not rise -to make
a speech ; I rise rather to a*k a question, " What brought
you all here ?"—(Laughter and cheers.) It seems a trivial
question, yet it is not unimportant in the history of na-
tions at the present moment--(Hear, hear)—what brought•
you here ? Curiosity, sure ?—(Hear, hear.) I have been
too much abused, and too much praised, not to be the
object of some curiosity—(Laughter and cheers)—but
when did curiosity ever bring together 1,500 Scotchmen
before ?—(Cheers.) If curiosity be the cause, why that
very curiosity bespeaks a foregone conclusion in the many
who come not from curiosity alone, but from a sympathy in
my opinions, and from a consentaneous disposition to Co..
operate in my exertions, humble as they may have been, in
the cause of civil and religious freedom—(Hear, hear)---
and those who come to evince that their principle of action
and mind are identified (being of course the overwhelming
majority of those whom I have the honour to address), in-
dicate by their presence here something that statesmen may
well ponder upon ; and to those who fancy they govern the
destinies of the nation, matter for deep consideration.—
(Cheers.) 'lt may be said that this is arrogance in me.—
(No, no.) How can that man be arrogant who has 1,500
of the Scotch people coming to meet him ?—(Cheers.) It
may be said that it is presumption. I have travelled through
England ; I have passed through her great manufacturing
communities ; I have seen her wealth, and all the intelli-
gence and energy of mind which have produced and accu-