The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-23 00:00:00

GRAND CONSERVATIVE FESTIVAL.

DINNER TO LORD VISCOUNT GRIMSTON AND
ABEL SMITH, ESQ., AT HERTFORD.'
Yesterday afternoon at five o'clock a dinner was given to
the two Conservative Members for the county, Lord Grim-
ston and Abel Smith, Esq., in the Town Hall, Hertford.
The Hall was splendidly fitted up for the occasion, being
tastefully decorated with branches of laurel leaves with
oranges interspersed, and numerous flags bearing inscrip-
tions, amongst which were the following The King and
Constitutional Liberty," " The Church and King," " The
Farmers' Friend," " Grimston and Agriculture," &c.
Among the distinguished guests we observed Lord Salis-
bury, Lord Mahon, Lord Verulam, the two Members for
the county, the Hon. Edward Grimston ; Sir W. Heygate,
Bart. ; Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. ; Col. Browne, Col.
Osborne, Admiral Gosselin, Captain Trotter ; G. J. Bo-
sanquet, Esq. ; W. C. Cassamajor, Esq. ; Astley Paston
Cooper, Esq. ; S. H. U. Heathcote, Esq. &c. &c. About
400 freeholders of the county sat down to dinner, and after
the cloth was withdrawn,
The Hon. Granville Dudley Ryder, who acted as Chair-
man, rose and gave " The King, and may he never swerve
from those principles which placed the House of Brunswick
upon the Throne." (Drunk with three times three,
amidst much applause.)
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and begged to propose--
." The health of the Lord Lieutenant of the County."
(Much cheering.)
Lord VERULAM rose to return thanks, which was the sig-
nal for several rounds of applause, and it was some time be-
fore his Lordship could proceed. He said that after the pa-
negyric passed upon him by the Noble Chairman, and the
manner in which they had received his health, he could
scarcely find language to return them his thanks. Since he
had assisted at any public meeting in Hertfordshire circum-
stances had arisen attended with pleasure and with pain.
The circumstances of pleasure, he need scarcely say, emanated
entirely from themselves.—(Cheers.) It was impossible for a
father not to feel proud when he knew that the freeholders of
such a great county had, for a second time, reposed confi-
dence in his son.—(Cheers.) The circumstances of pain
which he had adverted to, he was sure they were acquainted
with, the dissolution of the Administration under Sir Robert
Peel—(Hear.) He could not perceive the least statesman-
like conduct, or the least shadow or pretence for the op-
position that was offered to the Hon. Baronet—(Cheers.).
He could not conceive how men could say " Oh, this
measure is admirable, and the evening after vote against it.
(Cheers.) He could not conceive how such things could
come to pass, but they had come to pass, and could only
be attributed to party virulence and to hatred—(Loud
cheers.) What were the circumstances that had taken
place ?—(Hear, hear.) The Gentlemen in opposition
said, " Oh, Sir Robert Peel's Administration must have
fair play ;" but how did it obtain fair play ?—(Hear.)
On the very first vote party feelings got the better of
men's consistency, and what did the Opposition do ?
( Hear.) Why, they voted Sir Charles Manners Sutton out
of the Chair of Parliament—Sir Charles Manners Su,tton
whom the year prior they had placed there—(Hear.) And
whom did they place there ?—(Hear.) Mr. Abercromby.
If they were to make a comparison between the two men
they must say that one was a giant and the other a dwarf.
(Loud cheers.) He would ask if anything had taken place
on the part of Sir Charles Manners Sutton to justify such
conduct ?—(Hear, hear.) Had he done anything that
could be considered partial ; indeed, had any reason been
assigned why he was not as fit to preside in the House of
Commons in 1835 as he was in 1834 ?—(Hear and cheers.)
No reason had been shown, and he (Lord V.) would say
that such opposition arose from nothing but revenge and
pique.—.(Cheers.) The next measure of the Opposition
was an amendment upon the Address to the Throne, after
which the question of the Irish tithes was introduced—
(Hear)—and a resolution was entered into to appropriate
the surplus of the Church income to religious instruction.
Now it was an essential question in this matter into whose
hands the money to be appropriated found its way.—
(Hear, hear.) Religious instruction was a very compre-
hensive term—(Hear)—and if the money proceeding from
this surplus was to be placed at the control of the Roman
Catholic priesthood, he should like to know how much better
education among the Protestant inhabitants of Ireland
would be attended to ?—(Loud cheers.) Talk of the fair
trial that was to be given to Sir Robert Peel's Administra-
tion !—(Hear.) Why not one of the acts of that Govern-
ment had been allowed to come to maturity.—(Hear.)
Gentlemen present would observe in the address of Lord
John Russell, just presented to his constituents, that it was
asserted Sir Robert Peel had done nothing for the benefit
of the farmer. The fact was, the Opposition would not
allow him to do any thing.—(Loud cheers.) The Govern-
ment of the Hon. Baronet had not had fair play—(Hear)—
it had been overset entirely through pique and revenge.—
(Loud cheers.) In what situation, he would ask, was the
present Government ?—(Hear.) If he might use the ex-
pression, it rested on a pinnacle : on one side it had the
strength of the Roman Catholics in the House of Com-
mons, and on the other side it had the English Radicals ;
but in the front of it stood the strong body of the English
Conservatives.—(Tremendous cheering, which lasted for
some time.) In such a situation the welfare of the coun-
try called upon The Conservatives, as an act of absolute
necessity, to watch the present Government ; and he would
say, that if they found the 'conduct of the latter such as
the interest of the country required that it should be, that
its policy was not to destroy, but to amend and restore the
fabric, he in such case would say, that he would not be one
to make a factious opposition.—(Loud cheering.) The
Noble Lord, in conclusion, observed, in reference to the
address to the King with which the county had entrusted
him, he believed he should have the great pleasure of present-
ing it to his Majesty on Wednesday next. His Lordship
sat down amidst loud cheering.
The CHAIRMAN begged to propose a toast, which he was
sure would be responded to with the greatest cordiality ; it
had special reference to the object for which they had as •
sembled that evening—it was the health of the two Conser-
vative Members for the County.—(Cheers, which lasted for
several minutes.) They had received the toast in such a
way that it made it unnecessary for him to say much upon
the subject— Their Noble Representative, Lord Grimston,
was not unknown to them. He had stood forward gallantly
in 1832, when the evil genius was revelling in its insulting
triumph, and threatened to level to the dust the noble. fa-
bric of the British Constitution. He then stood the brunt
of the battle, and he achieved a victory for them—ay, for
them—and a victory also for the Altar and the Throne—
(Cheers)—a victory for the well understood rights and li-
berties of the people.—( Hear.) He would venture to say
that no man in the county could have occupied the post
Lord Grimston did in 1832 better than he did. He had,
indeed, from first to last, not been found wanting to them,
and he (the Chairman) hoped that from first to last they
would not be found wanting to him.—(Cheers.) After
briefly eulogising the conduct of Mr. Smith, the Chairman
concluded by expressing his belief that the enlightened
constituency of Hertford would continue to send Represen-
tatives to Parliament whose private integrity was the best
guarantee of their public conduct, and who would vote
from a conscientious conviction, and would not enter the
House of Commons like Egyptian mummies, swaddled
round with pledges, or as unreasonables echoes.—(Cheers.)
Lord GRIMSTON rose, amidst enthusiastic cheering, to
return thanks. It was but a short time since, he observed,
that they had done him the honour to return him as one of
the representatives of the county. Since then, however,
many important matters had been brought before the House
of Commons.—(Hear, hear.) A Government had come
into power, promising to do that which it was deemed was
necessary for the welfare of the country ; but how had that
Ministry been treated ?—( Hear, hear.) They were not
allowed to bring forward any measure, which the Opposi-
tion thought calculated to gain them the voice of the na-
tion. That Opposition, he might say, consisted of two
parties, one of which was endeavouring to lay down a prin-
ciple, respecting the property of the Church, that might
was right—(Hear, hear)—and the other party acted with
them, and gladly availed themselves of their votes to de-
stroy the late Administration.—(Cheers.) He rejoiced in
having given his opposition to that principle—for he had
acted,:he considered, in defence of the Protestant Church
—(Hear, and cheers)—of the Protestant Church both in
England and Ireland ; for, if once they succeeded in their
attack in Ireland, this country would be sure to have them
in it.—(Hear, hear.) But he trusted there did yet exist,
in the House of Commons, such a love of the principles of
the Constitution, as would put a stop to the machinations
against the Church.—(Loud cheering.)
Mr. A. SMITH 'rose to return thanks, and was received
in a very flattering manner. During the last two months,
he observed, he had seen in the House of Commons much
factious and irritating opposition, and much, which he
thought deplorable to the Great Council of the nation.—
(Hear.) That opposition had been directed against one
who had acted in a manly and statesmanlike manner—
(Hear, and cheers)---against one on whom the eyes of every
thinking Englishman should now turn.—(Tremendous
cheering.) The opposition to that Honourable Gentleman
would be but for a short time.—(Hear, hear.) Ere long
he would return to his post with the anxious wishes of his
countrymen.—(Cheers.) The subjects about to be brought
before the House of Commons were of so important a na-
ture, that they required to be dealt with by a deliberate
and friendly hand—(Hear)—and that man who was best
fitted to guide those subjects was one who should not pay
too great an attention to popular clamour, and who could
not be charged with apostacy from his former opinions.
Lord GRIMSTON then proposed " The health of the
Hon. Chairman," and the latter returned thanks in a brief
speech, in which some ludicrous observations en Mr.
O'Connell created much and frequent laughter.
Toast—" The church and State." Drank with en-
thusiasm.

rned thanks.
Mr. MOUNTAIN ret;ll
The CHAIRMAN then gaNT " Lord Hill and the British
a rmy."—( Cheers.) of
Colonel BROWN briefly returned-thanks in the name
Lord Hill.
"
The CHAIRMAN said he had a toast to propose vvhichies
was sure would be drunk with enthusiasm. It was
Majesty's late Ministers."—(Deafening plaudits.) le the
course of four short months they had exhibited their statet
menlike capacity, and shown a determination to reform a°
real and proved abuses, acting at the same time with Pru-
dence and caution. They had exhibited the attribiltes
good Government to such an extent as to shed fresh lustr:t
over the Conservative cause throughout the country ; bi"
their merits was the cause of that relentless hostility
played by their opponents. The Constitutional Wdis-
higs
rs,
were sensible of the superior talents of the late Minis
te
and yet embraced Daniel O'Connell, the very man whole
they made the King almost denounce last year from
the throne as a foe to the empire. The Chairman thee
proceeded to make some strong observations on 31'•
O'Connell, arid concluded by observino• that be believed th,e
present lath and plaster "Cabinet h1:1 dug a hole whien,
itself would be hurled into, and had erected a wall agai°s"
which it would be dashed into atoms.
" The health of his Majesty's late Minister? was then
drunk amidst loud and long-continued cheering. vea
Lord MAHON rose to return thanks, and was reee'
with several distinct rounds of applause. He would look at
the present state of things not on personal but on p01:5
grounds. He must say that he thought the Administratl
of Sir R. Peel had not had a fair trial. His opponents W.°
formed a coalition altogether unparalleled in Parliarneetar!
history—a coalition between men who not only differed a;
to the means of obtaining objects, but whose objects do
as wide as the poles asunder.—( Hear.) The late coalitie°
which defeated Sir Robert Peel was composed of 151
Whigs and 250 Irish Repealers and English Radicals. An,e
he would ask in what point did they agree ? It might P.r
said that they agreed on the Reform Bill ; but it was the',
duty to look to the present as legislators, and not to the pas;
as historians. Did the present Government agree ?I
any one question, whether it was the vote by ballot trial!?
Parliaments, or an extension of the household suffrage? Pe
considered the late coalition most unjustifiable, for it ar
peared to have been entered into with only one object---
namely, to raise an outcry of—" Down with Peel,l",if,
(Loud cries of " Hear.") But did the people of Englua-,,,,
respond to that cry ?—(Loud cries of " No, no.") No' t:;;
heard the voice of Protestant England arousing in ev,.„-:
quarter, and crying louder and louder against the Gera"
ment of Catholics.—(Cheers.) The people of Eng'.j,
were not anxious to harrass and oppress the Roman
iia-
tholics ; they were willing to allow them to be on an
lity with them, and to enjoy the same rights and priviler,'
but they were determined not to be governed by thew-
(Cheers.) He had been informed, and he courted Novi
diction if he was wrong, that a friend of Lord John iipssees
had requested O'Connell to allow his name to be us but
steward at the late dinner given to Lord J. Russell, e,
O'Connell declined, on the ground that it would be ilre,
dent, and placed that respectable gentleman in his 10;
-
O'Connor Don.—( Laughter.) His Lordship concludeunt
very long and able speech by remarking, that if the presei,
Government would show a disposition to uphold the kog
narchy and protect the Church, they might expect anlthi
but hostility from the Conservatives. lto
Mr. RATCLIFFE in a neat speech proposed " The -ea e-
of tho Duke of Wellington," which was drunk amidst e'
ral cheering.
The health of Lord Salisbury having been proposed, e
Lord SALISBURY rose, to return thanks, but it was E°lll.th
time before he could be heard in the vehement cheerief(l,lo
wibch he was received. It would, be said, be worse tcgr
waste of time were he to attempt to dilate on the re,ty
choly situation of the country.—(Hear, hear, hear.) ,bey
were in the extraordinary situation of being dictated to by
os,
Irish Popish faction.—( Loud cries of" Hear.") rf dyed
tion in the House of Commons which had been stigrnat-r
to night, but not more than it deserved, enabled Mr. O'C;fi„
nell to dictate to the Crown, and deprive the King of hignirit
nisters, but there existed, he trusted, in this country a f'r of
that would carry it through its difficulties. The majoritYro,
English Members were in favour of Conservative Go'
ment, a Government that would redress all grievances, •acid
still maintain inviolate the:principles of the Constituthi
(Cheers.) This was no time for trifling—(Cheers)--Ithe
they stood between. a faction and the preservation ei
the
Crown.—(Cheers.) The overthrow of the Crown was,•on)
object of that faction—(Hear)—and they (the fa° ej,
knew if they cut up the foundations of their religious Loud
the destruction of the Crown would soon follow:--4ld
cheers.) The opposition that would meet this faction aber,
be from the House of which he was an unworthy nieao its
—(Cheers.) That House, he was confident, would
duty—(Cheers)—and that if they were forced from t
Loud
position, it would not be without a last effort--(Ver
cheers)—but that effort would be unsuccessful unless sad
ported by the country.—(Loud cries of—We are
ready.) the
Iv'
The healthy of Lord Mahon. the Hon. E. Grimstee, pre
Mayor of Hertford, and the Conservatives of Essex
then drank, and the company separated at a late hour.