The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-08 00:00:00

LONDON ALMS-HOUSES.

The third anniversary dinner in commemoration of the
foundation of the London Almshouses (in lieu of an illumina-
tion on the passing of the Reform Bill ) was held on Saturday
at the London Tavern, Lord Brougham in the chair. About
a hundred and fifty gentlemen were present, among whom we
observed Messrs. O'Connell, Crawford, Patteson, Bannerman,
and several other Members of Parliament. The Noble Chair-
man and Mr. O'Connell were enthusiastically greeted on en-
tering the room. We cannot say much in praise either of the
dinner, the vocalism, or the arrangements in general.
On the removal of the cloth, the first toast given was, " The
King ; and may he never forget that the crown is held in trust
to promote and secure the happiness of the people" (three
times three). Other loyal toasts, accompanied with appro-
priate glees, followed in due order. The one best received
was, " The Duke of Sussex, the illustrious patron of art and
science, and the zealous advocate of liberal institutions."
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said that the two next toasts,
" His Majesty's Ministers," and " Prosperity to the London
Alms-houses"—(Cheers)—be should propose together, for
that institution originated in the great measure with which his
Majesty's Ministers were so closely identified.—( Loud cheers. )
Having himself been one of the Administration by whom tit°
Reform Bill was produced—(immense cheering)—he felt
some delicacy in proposing this toast; but as it was a public
question, he should feel justified in waiving all personal feel-
ing, more particularly as his Majesty's Ministers had just pro-
duced a measure of Corporation Reform, which he looked upon
as a glorious following up of Parliamentary Reform.—( Cheers. )
Indeed the latter measure he considered but as a seed from
which the present Government were to raise a rich harvest of
fruit, not, however, by forcing, but by fostering.—(Renewed
cheers.) But to effect this great result the hearty support of
the people was indispensably necessary. Indeed the present
was a crisis at which such support was more than ever needed,
for he would not attempt to deny that never was a Govern-
ment more confessedly in want of popular aid than the present.
In addition to a formidable majority leagued against them in
the House of Lords—( Hear, hear)—they had in the House of
Commons to combat a powerful Opposition, amounting to
nearly one half the representation, and what was worse, an
Opposition composed of a compact and resolute body, while
their own party was split in half a dozen sections.—( Hear,
hear.) But though thus comparatively weak in point of
numbers, he was proud to say that the present Ministry were
strong in honesty of purpose—strong in the rights they had
to guide them--strong, he trusted, in the support of their
country.—(Cheers.) This was the support on which alone it
could stand ; for should it desert and disregard the people, it
would leek in vain for Court favour, and would be insulted,
mocked, and turned out, with the contempt of the Court which
it had sought to fawn upon, and the detestation of the people
whom it had betrayed.—(Cheers.) No Ministry whatever
could stand without the support of the people—it was the
breath of their nostrils.—( Cheers.) He had saki, four years
since, that no Ministry ought to stand without the support of
the people : he would now say—looking to the progress of
public feeling and opinion—that no Ministry could stand with-
out it.—( Cheers.) He would not even except tllo present
Administration, and lie knew their honesty and good sense too
well to suppose that they would be angry with him for saying
so. Moreover, it was the duty of the people closely to