The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-12 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY

EDITION.

FOURTH EDITION.

THE O'CONNELL
DINNER

COVENT-GARDEN
THEATRE.

(THIS EVENING.)

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 this evening.
The pit of the theatre was boarded over so as to
make it on a leyel 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 whieh 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 cclour. 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 "
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 and the 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 or
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 lox-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 right 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 R. 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 Wason, 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 CHAIRMAN 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 o" 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 indulgence which it had
been his good fortune on many other occa-

sions to receive from the hands of large
bodies of h's fellow-countrymen, ant 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, if he 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
same faction which in 1830 had deprived King
William of the pleasure of witnessing the loyalty
and of partaking of the hospitality which had been
prepared for him by the citizens of London—it was that
faction which now deprived the Queen of the plea.
sure of visiting her Irish subjects, because those
whose duty it was to attend the Queen of England
to Ireland, dared not show their faces there.—(Cheers.)
They feared to show themselves amongst the people,
whose origin, whose language, and whose religion
they had so scandalously traduced, maligned, and in-
sulted.— (Immense cheers.) They well knew that
it had been the intention and wish of the Sovereign to
have visited Ireland last year ; but, instead of that,
Belgium and France were favoured with her presence,
while poor Ireland was neglected.—(Cheers.) To be
sure it was a gratifying sight to witness, as he had
done last year, the Queen returning to her native
shores with the standard of England and the
tri .colour of France waving from the same
mast and fluttering in the same breeze.—(Loud
cheers.) It was a pleasing sight to those
who, like himself, thought that those feelings of amity
should never be interrupted, which now subsisted be-
tween the two greatest nations of the world.—(Cheers.)
But it would have been a prouder and a happier sight
tohave seen the Queen of. England returning from her
visit to her Irish subjects, after having personally
witnessed their loyalty and investigated the manifold
wrongs and oppressions which they endured.—(Great
cheering.) He was satisfied that the result of such a
visit must have been the confusion of evil councillors
—(Loud cheers)—and amidst the benedictions of her
people she would have declared that the union betwixt
this country and Ireland should not have been a union
in name only—(Cheers)—but that it should be a
real union of equal laws, equal rights, and equal
privileges.—(lmmense cheering.) The Chairman
concluded by proposing the health of " The Queen,
and long may she reign over a happy, free, and united
people."—(Tremendous cheering.)

AIR.
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen :
Send her victorious, •
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us.
God save the Queen.
0 Lord our God arise,
Scatter her enemies,
And make them fall ;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On Thee our hopes we fix :
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen.

The CHAIRMAN said the next toast he had to pro-
pose was the " Health of Prince Albert and the Royal
Family."—(Cheer3.) He was sure that he need not
remind them that this toast included all that was dear
to the Sovereign, and all that was respected by the
people.—(Loud cheers.) It :included husbands, and
offspring, and parent ; and he had only to mention
the name of the Duchess of Kent to ensure for this
toast an additional mark of their gratitude and
esteem.—(Drank with loud cheers.)

GLEE.
Here's a health to the Prince and the Queen !
Proclaim it each son of the wave,
May their hearts long entwine, like the oak and the vine,
To shelter and cherish the brave.
Prosperity smile on their reign,
And concord to hallow the scene,
While the people rejoice, and exclaim with one voice,
Long life to the Prince and the Queen.

The CHAIRMAN then gave—" Our brave defenders
by land and s a, the Army and Navy." Drank with
loud applause.

SONG.
When Britain first at Heaven's command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sung this strain :
Rule, Britannia, rule the waves,
Britons never shall be slaves !

Rule, Britannia, &c.

The nations not so blest as thee,
Must in their turns to tyrants fall ;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all !
Rule, Britannia, &c.

The Muses, still with freedom found,
Shall to thy happy coasts repair;
Blest Isle, with matchless beauty crown'd,
And manly hearts to guard the fair !
Rule, Britannia, &c.

The CHAIRMAN said he now rose to propose—
" Health and long life to Daniel O'Connell !"—(The
toast was received with most immense cheering, the
whole audience rising en masse, waving their hand-
kerchiefs for several minutes. Nothing could sur-
pass the enthusiasm with which the toast was re-
ceived, nor have we ever seen it equalled
on any:similar occasion. Silence having been restored,
the Chairman proceeded.) Yes, even at the risk of
incurring the displeasure of certain high personages
at the Home-office—(Laughter)—he asked them
to join with him in wishing health and happiness to
this " convicted conspirator"—(Great cheering and

laughter)—and he assured them that he felt there was
so much of sincerity in those loud and honest acclama-
tions—there was so much of truly British sympathy in
those gallant cheers—of sympathy for the chosen
representative of Ireland, and through him sympathy
for the wrongs of Ireland, that he felt it would
be worse than presumption in him, by any
lengthened observations, to hope he could induce

them to do additional honoui to the toast he now
proposed to them. But, in justice to them, as well
as in justice to the, public feeling that he knew ex-
isted at present in this country—(Loud cheers)—he
could not deprive himself of the gratification of as
suring their distinguished guest—(Cheers)—that
this sympathy, and this enthusiasm, was not confined
to within these walls.— (Loud cheers.) He could
assure him, that this building, had it been ten
times more spacious, that space would have
been insufficient for those . who were anxious
to come forward, not only to testify
their esteem and respect for him as a patriot and a
man, but for the purpose of expressing, by their
presence, their disgust and indignation—(Applause)
—at the persecution, at the injustice, at the
treachery and meanness—(Cheers)—the malignity
and vindictiveness which had marked the recent
State trials, as they were called, in Ireland—
(Cheers)—and of which he and others were
attempted to be made the victims. The At-
torney-General for Ireland—(Hisses and laugh-
ter)—the first law-officer of the Crown in that
country—he, at the onset of the proceedings, pledged
himself that he would prove the existence of one of
the foulest, and one of the most wicked—(Laughter)
—conspiracies that ever endangered the safety of an
empire.—((;Treat laughter.) He would not in-
sult their understandings by asking them how
he succeeded. All England, every honest man
in England proclaimed his failure.—(Cheers.) All
England despised his attempts, and cried shame upon
the Government proceedings.—(Cheers, and cries of
" Shame.") It was with much satisfaction that he
heard, the other evening, one who had been high in
the councils of her:Majesty, a member of the late Go-
vernment, and leading member of the Opposition at
the present moment—he meant Lord John Russell—
(Cheers)—it was with great satisfaction that he
heard that Noble Lord express his opinion of Mr.
O'Connell, that he had not had a fair trial..(Loud

ih

cheers)—and that if he had been tried by an Englist,
Judge and an English jury, it was his opinion that
he would have been acquitted.—(Cheers.) W1°1.4
not justified in stating to Mr. O'Connell that he n.u't
not judge of the feeling of this country by t.ia_n3,
which had been testified upon the present ocean.
he must not believe that with this evening's Proceed'
ings the enthusiasm would end.—(Great cheernigLi
No, he might depend upon it they would not ref;
tongue-tied--(Cheers)—while they saw
secution pursuing its accursed way, and not makeha;
attempt to rescue from its fangs that man in ``.,' ish
were centered the hopes and affections of the ir
people.—(Great cheering.) If there was no stroller
inducement than their attachment td the imPar. t
administration of justice, he was sure the atteegd
would be made—(Cheers)-s-and let him rein,
this
them, that that which was Ireland's fate to-aseff
might be England's to-morrow—(Cheers)—if the
qui( tly looked on.—(Cries of "No.") if tilef 61•
juries packed—if they allowed Judges to become
nisterial partisans—if they allowed the law w
strained—if they allowed public meetings, legally if
convened, to be put an end to by proclamationss
they allowed the rights of petition to be abroc
by such proceedings—if they allowed it to be Pthe
' claimed that the sword and the bayonet strer°• iC
just remedies—they might depend uP°l „id
that the struggles of their ancestors for freedom 10"1"
be in vain, if their descendants acted with such P 1
silanimity:—(Cheers.) But had Mr. O'Conneto
other claims for their admiration and support?
they forgot the Catholic Emancipation measur,_.„,•
(Cheers)—which was his, and his only act? To a 5
the Catholics were indebted for it.—(Great cheeringr;
To him the Liberal Protestants owed their
tion. Had they forgot also that to Mr. O'C°Tted.
eU
and the Irish Members they were inde.thst
for most valuable assistance in the strugg,,,,,,le it
took place for the Reform Bill ?—(Cheers.)
was that the Reform Bill had disappointed-%11
sadly disappointed—them, but Mr. Ote°111.)
was not responsible for that.—(ilear,
Had not Mr. O'Connell made mail 7,- re
flees for the cause of liberty ?—(lmraense cw-is
ing.) Had he not devoted his time, his servic:
eat
his profession, and his fortune, to the cause I'l
people—and his services at the present rul,j-s,
were at the command of his country. ( hot
mendous cheers.) He (Mr. Duncombe) tif
heard Mr. O'Connell state to Ministers th'fre.‘
they would bring in measures for the benefit of 'pot
land, his much injured country, he would ea° to
how they had treated him ; he w ould forget it all Woo
prosperity of his country, and co-operate streontor
with them for the benefit of his native land•--(C:this
ing.) What return had these Ministers made ‘°„i.se
man ?—(Cheers.) What was their reply to the.foi,
position ? Why, the reply was this—that cos
cession had seen it utmost limits, and
.es,)
condign punishment must be his reward.—(Ch-ptis
It was quite clear that the last act .of that contlsgt,
ble drama, which had been played in Ireland, haoo
to be enacted ; and that the Government, hallee;it
by the blood-hounds of the Tory press--(00
cheering)—meant to send their law
...t° d
of the Crown again into the C°°.`' 130
Queen's Bench in Dublin, there to deinanicries
vengeance of the Court upon their victim Nsy,
of " Never, never," " No, no," and cheers.) of
at this moment you could not go into be'
society, but if you met any person wif tioe,
longed to what was called the Orange laLbed
with that peculiar delicacy which invariably ot7itiog
to all their proceedings, they were heard ooniTinevaell
as to the number of years for which Mr. o\l'os
was to be incarcerated.—(Laughter.) Mnstive
this, they might be heard speculating on the re
8,0
strength of the gaols of Kilmainham and Carritieristal
—(Hisses and derisive laughter.) Delud',..,his
short-sighted men Did they think that b,,
incarceration incarceration in a prison they could conceals... Aid
O'Connell from the eyes of his countryine°' j
they think that by imprisoning such a „..jost
that his virtues, and that his patriotism, would-e`tol
to their memories ?—(Loud cheers.) No! 11;fle thi
them in their name, and he told then
rior)
name of the people of England—(Great ens
bean/.
of
—yes, and in the name of the toiling roill'
England, that how dark soever might v-on,
cell—how strong soever might be his dun/roof
how gross soever the indignities they might psi
upon his head ; he told Mr. O'Connell in tea bpd
and gorgeous assembly that he might lay hi. 0,11
in peace upon his pillow, for that the petitions, Is, tho
the remonstrances too, of millions of the virtu% his
patriotic, and the good, would not only attest 'frees
innocence, but would proclaim his liberation 4
Gisol
within the very walls of Parliament itself.-yid
cheering.) He had told them before that heel to
already gone beyond the limits he had assigll,,, could
himself, and he was satisfied that nothing m",,,farai
urge would strengthen the feelings they had 40;01-
' their patriotic and illustrious guest, and he Vat'
therefore, conclude his observations by loost
that they in honouring Mr. O'Connell did t}
tof
to themselves ; and, farther, that they testinc-dfd
sympathy and regard for a people- wb°sooe blt°
and liberties, whose prosperity and hal:Tine° thrif
be, and he was sure were, as sacred to then 3 ;11 tai
own.—(Cheers.) He had now, therefore: ,!..011.
propose—" Health and long life to Daniel 0 (cu.; pre
Perhaps a more magnificent sight Nos ne,e oftY
sented than that which offered itself to the 0 loft
observer at this moment. The whole eomP3l:fto lb°
and from the point where the Chairman Sh% of
opposite side of the house, and the very top pr
of
gallery, there was one moving and hurraingofOiej
human beings. The ladies in the whole tiers or
rose, and the waving of their handkerchiefs beteeel'oi
their heartfelt sympathy in the proceedings 0f
~ue 000.,
ing, whilst the loud and earnest hurraing ofwii
men seemed as though reverberations svevos
to cease. At length something like silence
tained, and ;sal
Mr. O'CoNNELL rose, and said—l g IS"
long and varied life I never was so embarrass' w fatj,
this moment—in truth lam not ashamed rpo- orer:v
am almost unmanned—my feelings are °Ye- oino
The dungeon has no terrors to n'fitasled ,13-0
(Loud cheers)—and if to it were -0
scaffold and the rack, they could not
illepte'pt
after the awful magnitude of the comp
orders'
have paid to me.—(Loud cheers.) Oh arid se,f
must be your love of justice; how steady t
your hatred of tyranny; how you mil joP:s
seeing justice honestly and uprightly a7e;Xtbiold
when, with the intensity which you
you /it
to-night, you proclaim the hate in Isrluc, 100
any partiality in its practice !—(Cheersq
rt ?
to
protest
athatr.-0030,
my claim to your kindness and your suPP°f ittifOlst
this—that you consider me the victim ° cansiof
cheering)—it is because • Ycr in
lies
that the law has been viola te-411°004
person—because those in power have yoo fp)
in a spirit of iniquity, and in your integr`vod cheed to
how to despise and hate them for it.—"( 110.1, an. of
Yes, you are able to turn defeat into vic'ept
make conviction not a source of punishn't
triumph.—(Loud cheers.) Glad am I ilo)0 orirjed
taken place, because it has given Inc th,eo o'lol
(and I say it in all sincerity of heart)t'' has for bet
of the extent of sympathy that England
land—because it has convinced me, not !elu i her of
with some difficulty I admit, that there's g!!,i'et. par:4o
animating the middle classes and thes7 were n,u,ef
the upper classes towards us, and that taro
to be united as a people, and to stn yes, 1.1,e,
against the world.—(Loud cheerhsg2
delight in the events that have ta en 140,)
cause in them there will result a 1.70114 cheethe
to both branches of the empiref."l,lo 11°9,10
Oh, what a scene is this to-day I thew 7,:aijc
rank and' station—when I contemPul'Aies, 11_04c
the talent, the rank, and the virtue--c7d, and as o,
of the ma-nly determination here evln.Le
the kindly feeling that glistens from !Lot; tora.,i;
When I behold those lovely forms l'ushose sYwito.
scene into a fairy land-7-when I !e_
our do.coll
those celestial beings, animating us in the IPloss
smiling sweetly upon us—l do 1'6070 cease
venience I. have suffered, seeing that as and
of it I behold such a transcendent sPe_croit hevhsbef
Yes, they have convicted me ; but ru, what. ~,its;
of what? I am here to tell you r
ened
or deli' us;
have convicted me, not of a crime de. fined
the lAw out
not of anylhing that you can read 11
have
spelt.
roi
but of something which the judges n,,er to
.I°oo
those law-books, and have put toga tion •r¢
monster indictment. There is no exagghere esci6W
—(A perscsTi in the centre of the theatre