The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-10 00:00:00

C"

PUBLIC DINNER, TO Mr. LUDLOW
IN BRIDGNORTH.

(ERGS! ARGOS lilßth?itittlAll GAZETTE.)
_ _ _

On Saturday laid, Mr. 1i ndlow, in-compliance with the Requi-
sition previonstrpmented to him by a deputation,, visited his
friends at BridgMrth, and the klyntin excitement whitth pervaded
all classes du: Ong the whole of the day, Ftr °lig] y evinced the un-
bounded 'esteem and respece'in which that gentleman is held by
the generalolly of 'the burgt,sms and inhabitants of that town
and neighbourhood. ' '

For several hours previously to the arrival of Mr. Ludlow,
groups of persona, were: seen collecting and moving towards the
extremity of the town at which he was expected to enter. As the
dinner hour approached the impatience and anxiety of the pup-
lao became intense.
,At length, soon after three o'clock, a :salute
of cannon gave the signal of Mr. LudloW's approach, and to des-
cribe the enthusiasm which now universally prevailed is utterly
impossible. Mr. Ludlow WAR accompanied by his friend H. C..
Hayten, Esq. of Moreton Court, Herefordshire, in an
.open car-
riage. The horses were immmediately taken from it by the de-
lighted petiplei, by whom it was drawn in, The gentlemen on
horseback, many of whom had met Mr. Ludlow some distance
out of the town, together with those on foot who had waited his
arrival, , and a large body of people with a band of music and co-
lours flying, arranged themselves in regular order of procession.
As the escort moved along the line of streets, it received an ac-
cession of numbers from the confluence of numerous small parties
that had assembled at different points along which it passed. The
windows were filled with fair spectators, the bells rang a merry
peal, and the cavalcade moved forward, cheered by the smiles of
the ladies, and by the (leafleting and unceasing acclamations of the
surrutindine. multitude. The procession halted at the house of
Wm. Lionel Limpet, Esq. in Castle-street, its arrival being an-
nounced by another salute of cannon. Here Mr. Ludlow alighted,
having first briefly, but energetically addressed the immense mul-
titude. assembled around him, thanking them for the demonstra-
tion of kindness and joy with which they had received him, de-
claring that the feelings; of gratitude which filled his mind pre-
vented his saying what the occasion required, and assuring them
of his willingness at any future time to come forward in support
of, their freedom of 'election. This Tntiat have been one of the
Proudest days in the liti! of Mr. Ludlow--such distinguished ho-
-001111 reflected equal credit on those who paid them, as on Mtn
W4O received them. It 'Was not the servile adulation of Merce-
nary and interested individuals selfishly seeking some future equi-
valent tayourin return, but the spontaneous tribute of gratefid
.admirittion from a free, loyal,. and iodependeut people, to. the
zealous defender of the throne and the, altar, the patriotic sup-
porter of the constitution, and the eloquent advocate of their own
elective rights and privileges, :Shortly afterwards the dinner was
announced, when Mr. Ludlow, accompanied by a large, body of
friends, immediately repaired to the To‘vn HAIL Noivithstanaing
tlw shortness of the notice,:--although several of the neighbouring
clergy were prevented from attending in consequence of the day
being Saturday—and 4 vast number of the yeomanry were also
detained at home from the state of the harvest, yet a'party of I
nearly 120 persons, the
,most respectable as well as numerous that
had perhaps ever sat,down in the Hall, assembled. The dinner
was of the most aumpttrous description, and though prepared at
several places,- was served us up as readily and as hot (as Mr. L.
good-humetiredly observed) as if it had been cooked under the
table, or as if, -in the words of George Colman, the company had
assembled "immediately over the oven,"
The Rev. J. CLARKE: presided (with the greatest ability and
amenity), supported by Mr. LudloW, on his right; and the Rev.
E. S. Davenport on the left. The vice chair was ably filled by
GEORGE, Esq.

After the cloth was withdrawn, the Rev. Chairman proposed—
" The King".:—foue thou four—and said it :wait unnecessary to
say more in mentioning a.,toast which wouldeonvey itself to the
Heart Of every Englislloneet; .and long may our graeititriegor'ireign
live to reign over us. The band played "-God tiiiVe 'the King."
Ale then gave-Wi suceeseion, " the Duke of York, and a, speedy
recovery to him," "'the Duke of CLrence and the Navy," '" the
Principles which placed' the House'of Brunswick on the Throne;"
all or which were received with the greatest applause, and were
followed by " tbe,Duke of Wellington and the Heroes of Water-
loo." " A battle and a victory," said the Chairman, " which
sealed the fate, not of this country only, but of a great portion of
Europe. ..:= - " The Protestant Ascendancy."
" Our glorious Constitution." It was unnecessary, the Chair-
man observed, to eulogize, the British Constitution, We lived
innli:r it, and enjoyed daily the bleisings it imparted; and '-he
trusted our posterity would enjoy, admire, and support it. The
exertions of thi•freetnen of Ilridgnolth at the, late .alectionshowed
that they wished to be enrolled among its active aimmters in one
of its most important forms—the exercise of the elective franchise
-.-4mit, he made tio doubt, that when another Such occasion pre':
sewed itself, they would successfully assert their privileges, *swell
for the sake of themselyeß as posterity., The previous toasts had
, heen'imeceeded by appropriate airs, 'end' the flitightful notes of
" Sweet Home" were,with much taste selected to accompany this.
The next toast was, " May the Men we trust he honest,, and the
'Land we live in, free," which seemed to be well understood by
' the.oompany,'and was &auk' with louti,platulits. . •
The Cit4titlot.N then said, he rose to perform the most imper-,
tent part of his office--an office which he would have been happy
to have been contliksi 'to abler liands.:—( Applause; and cries of
" NO, no,"),Ele trusted, however, that the eau'a would not sutler
through any inability on his part. It would be easily perceived
that the name he had to mention was that of the Hon. Gentle-
man (or as he hopeil he might now presume to call him, his Hon.
Friend). no his right—Mr. laidlow...(houd_ applstise.).,..That
Gentleman, he could assure them, was most worthy of their re-
gard ; and he trusted that that day, and the events which battled
to it, would be long remembered in the borough of . Bridgnorth.—
There was a propriety in his then *reducing the name of Mr.
Ludlow, because he had'had the honour of being selected to pro,
pose him on the hustings at the late election. He had felt highly
honoured by, the selection, and had undertaken ;to. perform the
office at the solicitation of many gentlemen known and esteemed
by the'present company. He had.eiecuted the task, to his own
ffisaatisfactioa it was true, but, that ho regarded not—for he found
. that his want of energy, was aupporteel by the enthusiasm of the
iiiilepandent burgeSies'of Bridgnorth, and that the weakness of his
voice was strengthenedlby being' echoed from the hearts of free,
men l The result of the election, theugh a matter of regret, waseasily
accounted for. Mr. tlion, laboured' under heavy disad-
liwitage, Ile.arriVed only 'en'the` Friday, and was put in no-'
initiation A few hours, afterwards. , Yet, even under this uu.i
fevoumble circumstance, it would be fresh in their recollection.
that the show of hands for Mr. !airflow was second in number
only: to that of Mr. • Thomas,Whitniore. HoW eoulil this. steeirg
sejing be accounted for. The two Gentlemen,l‘lessrs. Whitriaesei
ci f 'odium' lie would s 9 111dIVIdt1415 speak with the highest respect;
rm,smed among -thith..:.-hail great ittfltiince at welt' a- 'near
This all felt ; but when the electors of
61;nidluglkn:rOtti,thesaybyurgetharsolere vem,dan.ier of the, purity of the Con
situti„„•-, in the exercise of the. nglit
.of,eb.mtion_, being injured,
a7l ate be eas nought its their consideration. ,They,hatuabown
gukt-, With them the. suppyri of t.i._,Coll”,o:Wion Wit, ,aft
,_ object
couch dearer than 'even the ebrigattens of social ties. Their
.ex-
eti°ll4-iit Was true, 'had trot titer crowned, with success. ' `Air...
Ludlow was not victorious in the contest. uelse thought, that
''''",_ ' wqryche 'Whitmore when looking at the etr,
,would be
sviellneitto 'ay with- a great warrior of the last century (Frede-
['?ol4-9f Pruasia) ... . - : ' -!s
undone.". .
- , , Another such a :victorYi sPd I'm 'in' . . .' • '
" But,"'&iiiiititieil the Chairman.' "the contest is not over,., 1
do net eat) it a defeat. When!' I 100--k around me, sielioth 40'1
ht
704a)octs?iinthn..0,1Aire,gim,),,binyelteiotn1:20aott:iii_titi:iithlyienotifl.tifi:.1}_re.:1,ltsnai:oili:.. the
l ,
nbiale*4
"'".
vvre.fihgfthtintigM.e' 4 itigirhzetlalt rfeOrPechtytialti'l alinYilioNnViihuar-t
..ile
6, t
e_
eleetweeftfo:in74.,%, isiend9tlttoi,s.riaiiyel‘,eitiii,onpet,
open
fr(:-)ru.t,oghltte
not the question. Your independence is the prize at which you
i'ut *lff.,ue &buy ,lniutt, be icattletuali:l--ifilt.°..,:f:.A*Tii everiel7eudo4l97l7)leintrtilJthuerl::
[
ripss o the tuturb,-ft i ''' len Li 'th .'
the apprehension
tipfr:'oall°itniiiiintbetaiti:;ectibi'ili:e:illktelei;4'estitletkor!,'llgth:"4::3,.....,:l,.4-jimide:P7tenhftel:lj.:ll"::"'m
..'efri''''',lrit.iide,i;.6, Pc:anbrisrit
i ' ft tb t alluded, lat4e. OP-
.f : 4,pki that Air ininiosi es we
*ed-in :Eiblititini' ',Their ittifol-win been great and 041104 4.
at its dhject ' ate eonsiitutiontli , lift , nithin7,4LA rwelhoili-ilo
shield but freedom—..no spirit bits that „,...e*. '• -)oriependerire—ind.tbe
lee burgesses wanted. no creams b '
4titut- T. • sni I,lt, those provktled by the Con-
i : HT..... a excite that, imith, had I—.
... ----trim the Ord id the Geo.
i - - -