The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-13 00:00:00

BEAU BRUMMELL.
In the press, in 2 vols,Bvo., with original Letters, Portrait, &c.,

THE MEMOIR OF THE LATE

GEORGE BRUMMELL, ESQ.
By Captain JESSE, author of "Notes of a Half-Pay in
Search of Health.'

The work is intm•spersed with anecdotes and biographical sketches
of many distinguished characters of his day, and extracts from his
album of unpublished pieces by Georgians, Duchess of Devonshire,
Fox, Lord John Townshend, General Fitzpatrick, Lord Erskine,
R. B. and Tom Sheridan, George Ellis, Canning, Lord Mel-
bourne, &c.

Saunders and Otley, Publishers, Conduit-street,

THE O'CONNELL
DINNER

COVENT - GARDEN
THEATRE.

The dinner given to Daniel O'Connell, Esq., M.P,
to show the sympathy of Englishmen with Irishmen,
and the admiration entertained in this country
for the constant advocate of the rights and
privileges of Irishmen for more than forty years,
took place at Covent-Garden Theatre last night.
The pit of the theatre was boarded over so as to
make it on a level with the stage, and five
long tables, with two slips occupying the
bend of the boxes, making seven tables in all,
were spread in that part of the house. There were
six cross tables and ten long tables spread on the
stage, besides the grand table, at which sat the Chair-
man, the guest, Mr. O'Connell, and several noble •
men and other gentlemen. The stage was fitted-up in
the most tasteful manner, with fluted draperies of a
pale pink and light blue colour. The Chairman sat in
the centre of- the stage. At the back of, and imme-
diately over the chair, suspended from the ceiling,
there was a brilliant illumination of variegated
lamps, representing the rose, the thistle, and the
shamrock, underneath which appeared, in front of
the raised orchestra, the word " O'Connell,"
in variegated lamps. On the right of the device was
the word " Ireland," and on the left the word "Jus-
tice," also in variegated lamps. At the back of the chair
was the retiring-room, over which was the orchestra,
containing thirty vocal and instrumental performers,
under the direction of Mr. G. Stansbury. The
great salle, formed by the boarded pit and the stage,
was illuminated by thirty elegant ormolu chandeliers,
in addition to the great chandelier suspended from the
centre of the theatre andthe smaller chandeliers suspend-
ed over each box in the dress circle. The stage was
, adorned by mirrors at the centre and the sides, which
produced a most picturesque and pleasing effect. These
arrangements were designed by Mr. J. P. Burnard,
and reflect the highest credit on his taste and judg-
ment; and they were most judiciously carried into
effect by Mr. Sloman, the ingenious mechanist to
the theatre. The dinner, which was a cold one, was
provided by Mr. Rouse, of the White Conduit Tavern,
who is entitled to the greatest praise for the excel-
lence, the variety, and the profusion of the viands
which were provided. The wine, too, was of excel-
lent quality. The boxes were appropriated exclusively
to the use of ladies, who were admitted by tickets.
To the galleries both ladies and gentlemen were ad-
mitted as spectators. For many days past tickets,
both for the boxes and the dinner, have been at a
premium. In order to accommodate the immense
number of gentlemen who were desirous of
showing their respect to Mr. O'Connell, the
Committee had made arrangements for enlarging
the area of the theatre, to its utmost possible extent,
but the additional room thus afforded, was found to
be insufficient, and many hundreds were dis-
appointed. The same thing occurred with
regard to the box and gallery tickets. They
were all disposed of some days since ; and we have`
heard of high premiums being offered to those who
were fortunate enough to possess one, to endeavour
to induce them to dispose of it. The arrangements for
admission to the theatre were excellent. The entrance
for gentlemen with numbered tickets was at the
stage-door, in Hart-street ; Peers, and Members of
Parliament, were admitted at the private box-door,
in Bow-street ; while ladies, with box-tickets, were
admitted at the usual box-doors, in Bow-street, and
to their exclusive use the box-entrance in Bow-street
was appropriated. The doors were opened at half-
past five, and the theatre was filled in a very few
minutes, but so admirable were the arrangements that
there was not the least crowding or confusion. Every
person admitted had the number of his place marked
for his ticket, and was immediately conducted to his
place. About 1,080 persons sat down to dinner, and
there were 180 waiters to attend upon them. The
tables were laid out at five. At half-past five the band
entered the orchestra and commenced playing, and
they continued performing a series of popular airs
until six o'clock, when a flourish of trumpets an-
nounced the approach of Mr. O'Connell, the
Chairman, and the other distinguished guests.
Expectation was raised to the most intense pitch, and
on Mr. O'Connell making his appearance at the left-
hand door of the proscenium, leading from the green-
room to the stage, he was greeted with the most
rapturous applause ever heard within these walls.
The coup d'ceil presented by the appearance of the
house was splendid in the extreme. The house was
crowded in every part, the boxes being exclusively
occupied by ladies. All present rose, the ladies in
the boxes waved their handkerchiefs, and were most
enthusiastic in their greetings, of the Liberator.
The gentlemen cheered most rapturously, and
even the reception with which Mr. O'Con-
nell was greeted at the meeting of the Anti-
Corn-law League in this theatre, three weeks since,
was less warm than the reception with which he
was greeted this evening.
,T. S. Duncombe, Esq., M.P., took the Chair, and
was loudly applauded when he made his appearance.
The Chairman was supported on his right by the
distinguished guest, Daniel O'Connell, Esq., M.P.,
and on his left by the Earl of Shrewsbury.
The following Noblemen and Gentlemen were
seated at the principal table :
The Lord Camoys, Lord Dunboyne ; the Hon.
F. H. Berkeley, M.P.; the Hon. Charles Langdale;
Sir H. W. Bulkeley, Bart., M.P.; Sir John Easthope,
Bart., M.P.; William Collins, M.P.; Mr. Sergeant
Murphy, M.P. ; W. H. Tancred, M.P. ; Henry Met-
calfe, M.P. ; W. S. Crawford, M.P. ; Wynne Ellis,
M.P.; M. J. Blake, M.P.; Thomas Gisborne, M.P.;
Charles Hindley, M.P. ; James Pattison, M.P. ;
John Dennistoun, M.P.; H. Elphinstone, M.P.;
Robert Holland, M.P. ; Joshua Scholefield, M.P. ;
P. S. Butler, M.P.; Sir V. Blake, M.P.; Sir B. Wray,
Bart.; the Hon. W. B. Nugent; Edward Weld,
Esq. ; Rigby Wilson, Esq.; J. A. Yates, Esq. ;
Major Revell ; James Harmer, Esq. ; Senor Olozaga ;
General Washington Barron ; Summers Harford,
Esq.; and John Travers, Esq.
The grace (by G. Stansbury) having been sung,
the company sat down to an excellent dinner.
During the time of dinner, the band, led by Mr.
Godfrey, performed several popular airs, including
many of the most favourite Irish melodies. At the
conclusion of the dinner, the grace (by T. Cooke)
was sung, after which
The C lIA IRMA N rose to propose the first toast.
The Honourable Gentleman, on rising, was
greeted with enthusiastic cheering. After the
cheering had somewhat subsided, he said that
when he reflected on the importance of the oc-
casion on which they were assembled, and when he
looked around him and saw the persons distinguished
for their abilities, their influence, and their eloquence
—(Cheers)—by whom he was surrounded, he felt
that those persons had incurred a very great re-
sponsibility who had ventured to place him in, the
situation which he then occupied.---(Cheers.) 'They
had incurred a great responsibility, not only to
those whom he was addressing, but also to their
distinguished guest—(Loud cheers)—for the very
imperfect appointment which they had made.—
(Cheers and cries of " No, no ' ) Those, however,
by whom he was surrounded, had kindly promised
the aid of their talents and their eloquence, so that
on them would devolve the charge of conducting
the greater portion of the proceedings, and he must
rely upon them for that indulgenoZ' which it had
been lu
s good fortune on many other occa-
sions to receive from the hands of large
bodies of his fellow-countrymen, and which he
trusted would not be denied to him that evening,
when they considered that the occasion on which they
were assembled was one of great national interest. In
the discharge of the duty which devolved upon him
he had to propose the health of the Sovereign—(Loud
cheers)—a Sovereign who, let the faults and delin-
quencies of her Ministers be what they might—.
(Cheers)—held a firmer place in the hearts and
affections of her people, whether of England
or of Ireland, than any former Sovereign had
ever possessed.—(lmmense cheering.) He had
heard the Prime Minister say, in his place in Parlia-
ment, that it would be the happiest moment of his
life, ifhe could see the Queen of England set her foot
on Irish ground, to restore peace to that disturbed
land. That speech implied disloyalty to the Irish
people. He would ask who was it that prevented
the Queen of England from setting her foot on Irish
land? Was it the Hon. Gentleman on his right ?
(Cheers, and cries of " No.") Was it the Irish
people ?—(Cries of " No.") They were a people
whose loyalty was proverbial almost to weakness.
To insinuate such a thing was the greatest libel
against the Irish people that ever was uttered.—
(Loud cheers.) It was that faction—(Cheers)—the