The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-28 00:00:00

LIBERATION OF O'CONNELL.

Thursday the friends of free discussion, assembling at
the Belvedere Tavern, Pentonvdle, had a dinner at that,
house in commemoration of the liberation of Mr. O'Con-
nell and his late fellow-prisoners from the Richmond
Penitentiary. William Hewett, Esq., presided on the
occasion, and was supported by T. S. l)uncombe, Esq.,
M.P., on his right ; Major Revell and Mr. Parry, &c.,
on his left. Among the company we also observed
Henry Patten, Esq., Common Councilman ; Dr. Kirk-
wood, Mr. Sharpe, Mr. Shillibeer, Dr. Simpson, Mr.
Doyle, Mr. G. Robinson, Mr. Yates, Captain Keogh.
Mr. M'Phail, &c. Upwards of sixty gentlemen sat down,
and did ample justice to an excellent, substantial, and
varied dinner, served in admirable style by the worthy
host, and accompanied by wines that were fitting asso,,
ciates for such a dinner.

The cloth having been removed,. and the usual loyal
toasts duly honoured,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of " The people,
the only true source of legitimate power." He was con-
vinced that the voice of the people must, in a righteous
cause, be ever omnipotent. They had always been the
real producers of wealth, and none were so entitled as
they to have their voice heard and attended to.
The toast having been received enthusiastically,
The CHAIRMAN again rose, and said they had met
that day to celebrate the liberation of Daniel O'Connell
and his colleagues. He need scarcely say that they had
not assembled either to support or oppose repeaL They
were there merely to re!oiee over the triumph of truth
and justice over falsehood and error—the triumph of law
over the illegal course of policy that had been carried on
by Government against Mr. O'Connell and his late fellow-
prisoners. He had great pleasure in proposing the toast
—" Daniel O'Connell and his Colleagues, who have been
liberated from an illegal imprisonment ; 19.1 d may they
continue to publish their nation's wrongs until they ob-
tain full justice."
Mr. is'. O'KEEFE DENNEIIEY acknowledged the toast,.
and condemned the gross injustice and oppression of
which the Liberator and his companions had been the
victims.

The CHAT ft:MAN then proposed "The Principles of Free
Discussion. and thanks to Lords Denman, Cottenham,
and Campbell, for their conduct in the late proceedings
in the House of Lords."

Mr. PARRY, in an eloquent speech, eulogised those
Noble Lords, and contended that the late triumph was
one that involved the very essence of the principles of
free discussion. Hence was its value, and therefore
should Englishmen, as well as Irishmen, rejoice over the
vict,ry that had been achieved.—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of " Thomas
Slingsby Duncombe, Ecq., and the other real Representi;-
tives of the People, who have honestly advocated and
supported the rights of the people en all occasions."
Mr.T. DyNcosinE, who rose amidst enthusiastic cheer-
ing, said he was convinced all must feel deep congratu-
lation at the triumph of constitutional law and justicz
over the chicanery of the Conservative Government as
lately directed towards the Irish people. The more he
considered Lord Denman's admirable judgment, the
more he agreed in what he himself had expressed at the
time in the House of Commons, that that judgment
ught not only to be printed for general perusal, but
printed in letters of gold—(Loud cheers)--as a manual
of every man's right.—(Renew ed cheers.) They sh-euld
all remember, too, that the measure of injustice and op-
pression that was attempted to be meted out to Ire-
land yesterday, would, if it had proved successful, have
been, in all probability, meted out to England the
day after. He did not believe the question could re-
main where it was. He thought that when Parliament
assembled some strong motion must be submitted on
the subject ; and even if an impeachment of thy
Ministers were proposed, he should feel it his duty to
support it, as he was convinced that if any Minister
ever deserved impeachment the present did.—(Cheers.)
All should make every possible exertion to maintain the
full right of free discussion ; and it was the right of the
people of England to use it, in a constitutional manner
and peacefully, and it did not affect the legality at all,
whether it was before 5,000 or 500,000 collected toge-
ther. The Hon. Gentleman resumed his seat amidst
general cheering.
Major REVELL said he rejoiced in finding so many
sympathisers with O'Connell and his colleagues. The
proceedings of the evening had called to his mind an
anecdote he had heard of Mr. O'Connell. That Hon.
and Learned Gentleman had observed upon the remark-
able fact that he had only been charged in tire counts,
whereas he had been found guilty on fifteen ; and, on a
friend having asked him whether he had, among other
matters, been found guilty of the murder of the Italian
boy, he answered that he had not—because the jury had
not been asked.—(Cheers and laughter.) He (Major
Revell) concluded by proposing the health of the Chair-
man and Stewards, to whom they had all been so muclit.
indebted. _ _ _

Some other toasts succeeded, after which the com-
pany separated, not far from midnight, after a most
agreeable evening—the enjoyment of which had been in
no slight degree enhanced by the vocal efforts of Mr.
George Robinson, Mr. Sharpe, and others of the com-
pany present.