The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-24 00:00:00

DINNER BY THE LORD MAYOR
CO MR. THOMAS ATTWOOD and the BIRMINGHAM
DEPUTATION, and other COUNTRY REFORMERS.

Yesterday the Lord Mayor gave a splendid en-
ertainment in honour of Mr. Attwood, the Bir-
mingham Deputation, and other Reformers now it,
London from the country. The dinner was attended
by Lord Ebrington, Sir Francis Burdett, G. Byng.
Esq., M.P., Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P., T. Don-
combe, E q , M.P., Colonel Torrens, M.P., Alder-
;nail Wood, Count Czapski, Dr. Bowring, T. Camp-
bell, Esq., Rev. Mr. Fox, and other distinguished
metropolitan Reformers. Mr. Thomas Attwood,
Mr, J. Scholf-field, Mr. J. Parkes, Mr. Potter, Mr. W.
Collins, and several gentlemen from Birmingham,
Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Stroud, and other
towns, and from the National Political Union, Lon-

don, were present, and upwards of 120 guesrs sat
down to d nner. The dinner was given in the
Egyptian Hall, with all the usual civic splendour
and hospitality. His LORDSHIP in the Chair, and
most of the leading Reformers of the Common
Council evere among the company. Lord Ebring-
ton, Mr. Potter, Mr. Alderman Wood on his Lard-
ship's right ; and Mr. Attwoed, Sir F. Burdett,
Mr. Parkes, Mr. Hume on his left ; the cross-table
being filled by many well-known country Reformers.
After the removal of the cloth, the LORD MAYOR
proposed " the health of the King," and afterwards
of " the Queen," which were drunk, but with a
marked absence of that enthusiasm which but a few
days since such toasts would have excited.

The LORD MAYOR then rose to propose the
health of an illustrious Prince, who was entitled to
the affection of every inhabitant of this free country
—he meant his Royal Highness the Duke of Sus-
,ex.—(lmmense applause.) He proposed his
health, not on account of his high station, but be-
cause he was the steady and uncompromising advo-
cate of the people's rights, and the firm and un-
flinching supporter of their liberties.
" The health of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex
was then drunk with three times three."

The LORD MAYOR then rose to call their atten-

tion to a Least which he anticipated would be re-
ceived with the warmest enthusiasm. After taking
an able review of the state of the country, a year
and a half since, at the time of his Majesty's Minis-
ters taking the helm of State, of the noble manner
in which, when in power, they had fulfilled the
pledges which they had made before taking office,
and of the alarm and agitation which the temporarily
successful attempt of their enemies to drive them
from the conduct of affairs had excited in the coun-
try, arid after referring to the consistency of Earl
Grey's conduct during the whole of his long political
life, and enforcing upon his fellow citizens, and upon
the citizens of those towns and cities whose Repre-
sentatives were then at his table, the necessity of
giving his Lordship their confidence and support,
he concluded by proposing "the health of Earl Grey
and his Majesty's Ministers."—(Tremendous and
continued applause.)
The toast was then► drunk with three times three.
The LORD MAYOR then begged to propose the
health of a gentleman who, though holding no pub-
lic office in the State, was yet entitled to the confi-
dence arid gratitude of his fellow-citizens, and of the
people of this country. Alluding to the freedom of
the city which had that day been given, he begged
to propose the health of their fellow citizen, Thomas
Attwood,Esq,—(Great applause.) From the man-
lier in which they had received the toast, he felt
there was no occasion for him to dilate on the merits
of that gentleman. The freedom of the city of
London had frequently been given, and their
sympathies had warmed towards men who had dis-
tinguished themselves in naval or military victories
—victories, some of which, perhaps, were achieved
on behalf of the rights and freedom of the people.
But, however highly they might esteem such cha-
racters, his friend Mr. Attwood had a far higher
claim to their gratitude.—(Cheers.) Their victo-
ries were gained by the effusion of the blood of
some of the brave defenders of their country;
whereas, Mr. Attwood had upheld and secured the

liberties of the people without shedding one drop of
blood, and without committing one act of violence.
—(Cheers.) He had effected this by the influence
of his character; by that influence alone was he
enabled to control and direct that important body
of which he was there the representative, and of
which he was the able and efficient Chairman. He
concluded by proposing " The health of Thomas
Attwood, Esq., Chairman of the Birmingham Poli-
tical Union, and citizen of London," with three
times three.

The toast was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm.
Mr. ATTWOOD rose to return thanks, and was re.
ceived with deafening applause. He felt deeply in-
debted for the honours which had been conferred
upon him. He had that day been admitted a free-
man of the first city in the world—among strangers
he had been received as a brother and a friend. He
t\ as deeply gratified to find the exertions made by
him in the cause of his country estimated so highly
—so much more highly, indeed, than they deserved.

—(No.) Few men have had the happiness which
he then enjoyed—he had that day received the
highest honour which one citizen could confer on
another; and though he could meet danger un-
moved, he never had his nerves so much shaken as
they had been in the Court of Common Council
that day. He felt then as if the principles which,
as a public man, he had advocated, were now de-
fended by the protecting shield of one of the oldest
and most powerful Corporations on the earth. He
felt as if in his hutnble person the seal had been put
upon the great league and covenant of the people of
England—(Loud cheers)—and now, come what
will, the great Bill of Reform must become the law
of the land.—(Cheers.) He had been fearful that
as his conduct had trespassed closely on the verge
of the law, it might have been subject to some ani-
madversion, and he was rejoiced that he had been
thus received by those whom he would now call his
fellow-citizens of this great city—a city which, from
mthoestea.lrnlitehste u
pcearisoedsofolfbrt_
our history,
rye,had stood fore-
Could he
forget its conduct during the oppression of the
tyrant John, and afterwards, when its trained bands
marched to 'Westminster, to defend the persons of
Hampden and of Pym.—(Loud cheers.) Nor
had it been behind hand in these latter times.
He had watched the conduct of this great and
illustrious Corporation, and be had gathered
strength from every movement which he had seen
them make; he gathered fresh confidence from
every step which they took—every resolution
to which they came afforded a new pledge
for the liberty and happiness of the people of Eng-
land.—(Cheers.) He then alluded to the spirit
displayed on the re-election of the Lord Mayor. He
was in London at that time, and he noticed the
spirit then displayed as a barometer of the feelings
of the city of London. Had that re-election been
lost, he should have despaired; but the result con-
vinced him that the people were determined, and
that determination nothing could resist.—(Ap-
plause.) He felt that no human being could charge
choimuntywrit.h seeking to interrupt the peace of the
Itsholudinldseelf peaceably,after-
lifeverbethestuldegyaollfy,hiysetde:
to conduct
terminedly—(Cheers)—in support of the liberties
of the people. But if ever the time should come
when those liberties should be violated by despotic
power—(Hear)—if ever violence should be brought
against the people, he would at least not be the
last man to oppose and repel force by force.--
(Bursts of applause.) In his humble person the
wbole body of Reformers of the midland districts

had been honoured—(Cheers)—and there was no
t man among them who would not feel proud of
the honour, as a tribute of respect to himself. He
could conclude by repeating the strict determination
•tf the Birmingham Reformers not to violate the
aw, but to repel force with force, whenever any
nan should be found who would dare attempt to
coerce the free -people of England. He begged
permission to propose the " health of that illustrious
man the Lord Mayor."
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks in a very able
speech. He.said, that he felt it his duty, consider-
ing the influence which the conduct of the chief ma•
gistrate of the first city in the empire must neces-
sarily have to take an active part in supporting the
great measure of Reform, and he was amply re-
warded by the satisfaction of his own mind ; but
still more proudly by the approbation of his fellow-
citizens. He proposed " the health of Lord
Ebrington, who had so manfully stood forward in
the hour of danger to defend the rights of the people
of England."
The Noble Lord's health was drunk with the
greatest enthusiasm.
Lord EBRINGTON said, that he was proud to re-
ceive the approbation of so numerous a body of his
fellow-countrymen; and he trusted the present com-
pany would believe that he entertained the deepest
sense of the honour which had been just done him.
At the same time, he could not but attribute to
their good nature and partiality the approbation
which they had been pleased to express of his Par-
liamentary conduct—(No, no)—because if he had
not taken that course which he thought it his duty
to do on a former occasion, he knew that it would
have been taken by other persons, far better able to
do justice to the subject. The only merit which he
laid claim to, if he had any merit in the case at all,
was that of not doubting that the present House of
Commons, representing more than any former
House of Commons, the feelings and opinions of
the people, would not be false to its own pro-
fessions, stultify its own acts, nor betray the in-
terests of the country.—(Loud cheers.) He had,
likewise, never done the people of England the in-
justice to suppose that they would, at this crisis,
turn their backs on those who had, at the expense
of much anxiety, and in the midst of great difficul-
ties, almost succeeded in passing the great measure
of Reform.—(Cheers.) Of the opponents of that
measure he was not disposed to speak in their ab-
sence; but this much he would say, that what they
had seen and heard within the last ten days must,
he thought, have taught them to appreciate more
justly the value which the brave, free, and hottest
people of England set en public honour and consis-
tency.—(Great cheering.) The Noble Lord con-
cluded by proposing " the health of the Lady Mayor-
ess," which was drunk with three times three.
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks, and proposed
" the health of Sir Francis Burdett."—(Cheers.)
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT returned thanks. He dwelt
on the necessity of union. The Tories had been
lavishing much abuse on the Ministers for placing.
the King in an awkward predicament—a predica-
ment which was all owing to themselves.—(Cheers.)
It reminded him of a story in the Spectator :—A
fat man got bustling amongst a number of people,
and blew every body up for pressing on him in such
a crowd. " Take your fat carcass out of it, then,"
said one, " and neither you nor we shall any longer
suffer inconvenience."—(Cheers.) He would take
the present opportunity of canvassing for an old and
stanch Reformer of the name of Hallett, who was
now a candidate for the representation of Berkshire.
This gentleman was opposed by Mr. Palmer, a kind
of Wellington Reformer—fo..., now-a-days, even
Wellington had turned ii Reformer.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. Palmer was undoubtedly a gentleman of great
respectability, but at the sime time he was by no
means up to the mark, as far as Reform was con-
cerned ; and he therefore advised every person who
had any election interest in Berkshire, to use it for
the purpose of securing the return of Mr. Hallett.
—(Cheers.) Having connected this little piece of
business with their amusements, he begged leave to
return the company his cordial thanks for the man-
ner in which they had expressed their approbation of
his conduct.—(Cheers.)
" The Health of the Members for Middlesex" being
given, _ _

Mr. BYNG, M.P., returned thanks. He had now
been forty-two years their Representative, and he
had lived to see the consummation of those great
principles which he had advocated during the whole
of his political career.—(Cheers.) As a public man,
he could have little more to wish for, bat so long as
the freeholders of Middlesex called on him to re-
present them, so long would he endeavour to fulfil
the duties of that high situation.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. HUME was received with great applause.
Though the years of his services had been few,
compared with those of his Hon. Colleague, he en-
deavoured to make up for them in zeal and activity.
—(Cheers, You do.) The conduct of the people
during this great struggle had shown their fitness
for the boon to be conferred upon them, it had
proved them worthy of enjoying those privileges
which they had so long sought to obtain. It was,
however, to no purpose that they obtained power
unless they made proper use of it when obtained.
The Reform Bill was but as a means to an end—
(Cheers)—and let no man who had struggled up
to that time think that his labour was now to end.
No, it was but just beginning.—(Loud cheers.)
They had to destroy corruption wherever it ex-
isted—to reform all the abuses of the country—
(Cheers)—to cut down all unnecessary expendi-
ture—(Loud cheers)—to reform the law—( Cheers)
—the Church—(Great cheering)—aye, and to re-
form those corporation abuses which he was sorry
to say existed to too great an extent.—(Cheers.)
He exhorted them to be steady, and pursue the
great work which they had begun to its final and
glorious termination.—(Continued applause.)
The " health of Mr. Calvert, and the Reformers
of Southwark" was then given. Mr. Calvert would
have been present, but for the recent death of one
of his children.
The " health of Mr. Alderman Wood" was then
drunk, who returned thanks in a very witty and
humorous speech.

The "health of Thomas Duncombe, Esq., M.P.,
and the Reformers of Hertford," was received
with the most rapturous applause.
Mr. DUNCOMBE returned thanks in a most elo-
quent speech. It he required any additional motive to
persevere in the cause he had begun, it would be the
emeia :rice
dofand
theire wouldapprobationre os astute
he sat in that House he would stand firmly and
boldly by the rights and liberties of the people.
s which
them, he
that had
as j
longw r ses-
The LORD MAYOR then gave "the health of Mr.
Joseph Parkes, and the Reformers of Birmingham."
Mr. PARKEs said that his Lordship's partiality
placed him in a situation not altogether fair towards
the zealous and able coadjutors in his town, who
had so efficiently aided the great cause. To Mr.
Scholefield, and many members of the Union then
present, and to two gentlemen present, who, in
persecuting times, had suffered imprisonment for
their labours in Reform, the country was especially
indebted. He fully concurred with Mr. Hume,
that when the measure of Reform was obtained, the
energies of the country must be continued and
exerted to obtain those ends of financial, corporate,
and municipal Reform, for which the amendment of
the representation was only the means. Close and
corrupt corporations must be cleaned out, and mu-
nicipal popular jurisdictions must be given to the
newly arisen towns throughout the country.
Efficient police and civil constitutions could only be-