The Sun.
London, England, 1826-07-21 00:00:00

, .
1,
GRAND DINNER
Given by the FREEHOLDERS at NORTH SHIELDS,
z To THOMAS WENTWORTH BEAUMONT, Esq.

Monday the 17th histant, was the day appointed by the friends
of Mr. Beaumont in North Shields for giving him a public dinner,
as a testimony of their respect for his conduct during the late ardu-

otss contest for the County.
About one o'clock, Mr. Beaumont left the Turk's Head Inn,
Newcastle, accompanied by a number of friends in their respective
carriages, and proceeded on their way to Shields. About two
o'clock, agreeably-to appointment, they were met at Chirton by a
deputation of the Freeholdeta iu the neighbourhood, attended by
a large. body of Seamen of the North and South Shields Loyal
Standard Association, the Staff of Life Society, and also the mem-
bers of various other societies, bearing appropriate flags and ban-
ners, to the number of fifty and upwards, accompauied with two
hands of music, and followed by fifteen carriages and thirty gentle-
men on horseback. Here the hones were taken from Mr. Beau-
mont's carriage, and he was drawn the remainder of the way by a
number of persons who attached themselves to the ropes for the
purpose. The procession now returned, in company with their
worthy friend and his suite. The windows were decorated with
white flags, and festoons of flowers, • laurel leaves and evergreens,
tasteful arranged. A platform was also erected between theschool
and the teachers' house, on which stood a number of the boys, de-
corated with white favours, and bearing small' white flags, and
also the teachers and a number of the patrons of the school. Above
the platform a square flag was eihibited, inscribed, " T. W.
Beaumont, Esq. President of the Royal Jubilee School, North
Shields—the Patron of Education and the Friend of the Poor."
This flag was decorated along the base with a wreath of flowers and
evergreens, and surmounted by two white banners, each inscribed
" Beaumont for Ever !"
The inhabitants of the different houses in the streets through
which the,proeetsion passed, seemed to vie with each other in the
tasteful decorations of their windows and fronts with banners, flags,
and various devices. In Camden-street, in the centre of a festoon
which crottA front one side to the other, was suspended a circu-
lar device, with the following couplet—
" Welcome Brat:lloNT, noble youth,
" Who fought the fight, and spoke the truth."
The procession arrived at the Peorge Tavern about twenty
minutes after three o'clock, and it was truly astonishing to observe
the solid mass of people which at this time filled the street from
one end to the other, rending the air with their acclamations.
I,lr. IL after bowing to all around him, was carried into the Inn,
and shortly after appeared on a platform erected over the entrance,
sletorated with flags, from which he addressed the assembled mul-
titude as follows

Gentlemen—lt is useless to attempt to express in adequate
terms what I feel on this occasion, my return to North Shields.
You have bestowed upon me your approbation of my conduct at
Ahlwick—it is indeed the only reward you have now in your
power to give me, and it has been given in a manner the most
gratifying--I will say, the moat triumphant that has ever been
witnessed. In fact, Shields has outdone itself in its admiration of
Independence and of its Champion. Ido not wish to arrogate
to myself the title of Champion of Independent*, but the Free-
holders have been pleased to style me so.
Had I returned as your representative, then independence
might be said to have triumphed. But Independence is defeated
and this is the important lesson which your reception of me this
day teaches the people of England—that though defeated we are
tar from being without triumph.
As it regards the voice of the county, I would ask, is it to be
supposed that the voice of the County would return two Tories?—
No such thing. lam perfectly satisfied that the county, instead
of considering itself represented by these two Tory gentlemen, is
much misrepresented.. I do not by this intend to speak against the
merit, of either of the gentlemen individually, but collectively. I
look upon two Tory representatives as too much of a good thing ;
I believe the county would have considered one Tory quite enough,
and enough is as good as a feast-1-one Tory therefore would have
been quite a feast for them. I will not however dwell too much
on this subject, lest it should be imagined I envy either of them
their 411CCOSI, I have no wish to quarrel with either of them
foray far its Tories go, they are, believe, a pretty good specimen
of that article; though I must confess, I consider Mr. Liddell the
best of the, two—be is-more-is friend to religious toleration, and
therefore I prefer him. Mr. Bell Ido nut think so highly of; 1
do not consider hie sentiments quite. so liberal, therefore not so
prime an article.—(Here some person in the crowd hisserl.)—
Some gentleman in the crowd I think hissed. That gentleman
must have misunderstood toe, I meant nothing diarespectiirl -or
personal,. I was speaking merely on political grounds.
I bays erstainly been unsmacemfol in my attempt to reresent
you ; but there are °thee ittesativ of obtaining 'oat iii Parris;
ment ; and. I am not certain but I may descend and stoop to sit
for a rotten borough. When so many. are enjoying seats of that
kind, I do not see that I shall add much to the mass of corruption
by puttintin thyself for one. lam like the hey' who met twenty
of his play-follows going to rob an orchard. On being. asked to
join them, he said he did not like robbing orchards; but as there
were twenty of them, and a number of apples would be stolen, the
two or three more that he would take could not do much harm,
and therefore he would go.,
I beg, in conclusion, to assure you that the kindness and enthu-
siasm with which I have been received this day are indelibly fixed
upon; my beast 1 entreat you-to. keep up your spirits es I shall
keep up mine.-..you will 1 hope lore no opportunity, es 1 shall
lose none until the time arrives when 1 shall appear before you
again. When that tin* arrives 1 shall he funnel at my post again
to fight your battles. In the hope of then seeing you, .1 will now
bid you good morning.

Between five and six o'clock, neatly 200 gentlemen tat down

dinnei ; among whOm were the lion. Capt._ Cochrane, brother of
Lord Cochrane, and several others of distinction, including a.mini.

ber of the most respectable Freeholders of North Shields ; William
Wright, L'sq., and Alderman, in the chair. The dinner, except
the fish and venison, was cold, the wines good, the music excellent,
and nothing was wantisl to gratify the company, but a little more
civility frbm the landlady. Mrs. Beaumont had contributed
greatly to the entertainment by the present of a fine buck, which
was well relished by many of the company who partook of it plen-
teously. After dinner, Mese. Nixons and Moor sang, " Non
nobis Domine ?" after which the Chairman gave, as the first toast,
—The King, with four times four—Air, " God save the King."
Toast--" The Duke of York and the rest of the Royal Family."
The Cumeatatr—l beg leave to give the health of our distin-
platted visitor, Mr. Beaumont, with three times three ; which
was drank With the must rapturous applause. Silence being ob-
tained, Mr. BICA.O MONT rose and spoke as billows
Gentlemen—Fer the enthueiaatia manner in which you have
drank my health, the ordinary language of modesty and affecta-
tion cannot, in' any adequate degree, expresoi the feelings that
swell my buxom.-,-(Applatne.)
f shall advert briefly to *het has led to my defeat. The con-
duct of the Whigs has evidently thwarted the wishei of the
comity. It would, however, •be ..unmanly in •tne to treat them
with harshness now when they are down. Theraffected to re-
proach me as reprobating the whole body of Whig gentry ;
whereas I evidently meant only such of them as were arranged
against me, and who split upon my Lord Ilowick and Mr. Bell,
which may be seen on reference to the poll-book. Their con-
duct in this respect has been alike impolitic and unjust. This
reminds me of an anecdote of ' the great moralist, Dr. Johnson.
When Boswell had been talking to him of the Whigs, be replied
hastily_" Hold your tongue, Sir, the first Whig Was the Devil!"
And from what 1 have experienced of these gentlemen, I ern led
to conclude that the Doctor was right.
I now turn to a more Orion% subject. There is no reward
like the approbation of unenlightened people, who are only to be
found in a free country. tt is my wish to enter Parliament for
the sake of being -useful, and I shall be ready at all times cordially
to co-operate with the Members of the county in forwarding your
interests. I have long been in habits of friendship with them,
and have received from both sew of courtesy.
I must now ewer's my gratitude to you for the manner of my
reception amongst you. To the lst, moment of my life it shall be
die& impressed on my mind. Nothing but the public appro-
bation could have supported me under the persecution of my
enemies). and lam cheered especially by theconsideration that
my coniaet during the contest has been approved by the Free-
holders or Shields. I shall now conclude by giving you as a
toast.:-..."_Prosperity to the Shipping interest of North and South
Sitieldi," with three times three.
Mr. IitAOtONT next rose to give as a toast the heilth of Ad-
miral Lord Cochrane.- " I shall be proud," riaid:Mr. 8., "if the
brother of the Noble Likitiat allow me to Couple 114 niune with
his. The world is his home, and every freeman his brother.
May God give hint 1111,406$
The Hon. Capt. cOC URA nit returned thanks for the honour
done to his brother by the gentlemen whp had in so handsome a
manner proposed the toast, an. and
dte
drank it l
the company for
em
rthepititubduasitasi y
t,tl
with which they had received
begging leave to drink the healths of all the gentlemen present.—
" neon; of Oak."
Eaq. of Whitby Park, in a short introduc-
tory speech, proposed/the health of Col. and Mrs. Beatimoot,
Toast..--Mr. Lamb and Mr. Button, the proposer and seconder
of Mr: Beaus tit.,
Mr. tieaurrumt,:* a speech of considerable length; Fthuted out
the importance of education for the emancipation of the human