The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-18 00:00:00

DINNER TO M. O'CONELL, M.P.

(Abridged froin the (ori kritor*r„A;igii,,i 14.)
The friends of Cit ii and Religiour;. I,ihi•rty, and
admirers of the pahlie character of 1\ ir. O'Connell,
entertained that Geotleman at dinner, yestri day, at
the Chamber of Commerce.

About 253 Gentlemen sat down to dinner; JAMES
LUDLOW STAWELL, Esq.,-filled the Chair.
T.l-e dinner having been despatched; and the cloth
removed, the Chairman proceeded to propose the
cuOtomary toasts ; after which he gave
" The health of the great, poptilat, eloquinst, pa-
triotic, kind-hearted Daniel O'Connell, M. 13:"
This announcement was received with treinendotii;
applause ; when it had in some degree subsided, the
Chairman said " one cheer more, Gentlemen, after
old Eldon," a call which was answered by a long,
loud, and hearty cheer.
Mr.! O'CONNELL then rose, but was for some
time unable to proceed in consequence of the re-
newed cheers with which he was greeted. After
bowing repeatedly in aclthowitidgelerit; as soon as
silence was restored, he proceeded—I know I ain
but a cipher, but I represent at great national cause.
If I have become any thing more it is because I em-
body all your sentiments.—(Hear, hear.)—l repre-
sent not OBC county, Gentlemen ; I represent the
feelings and wishes of every county and parish in
Irelaa--(Cheers.)—l do not advocate the cause
of the Catholics alone—for sectarian privileges I
never looked—my exertions have always been for
universal liberty of conscience, and you are all wit-
nesses with what sincerity I have pursued this prins
ciple—(cheers)—you were all sharers in the struggle,
and it is but right that you should partake Of your
own triumph. England herself ought to combine
with us, and I trust she will. I can easily conceive
that the wretched Tory faction, which has so long
held the Government of that country in its hands
will oppose our exertion for liberty of conscience;
but if there be any thing like a generous or manly spirit
in the English people they will come forward to aid
our exertions; and the-empire will find its best se-
curity in the triumph over our foes. If they wished
to govern honestly in the Legislature, does it not
stand to common sense that the people of Ireland
should be tranquillized ? Does not England want
Ireland, and want her aid against the combination
.now forming against her on the Continent ? Where
is England to look for a friend?--(Hear.)--Ts it
amongst the countless hordes of Russia, who are
now about, in defiance of England, to take possession
of the fairest portion of Europe ? Is it amongst the
ancient Bourbonites of France, or the revolutionary
Jacobins of that country, who are spurning alike the
altar and the throne, arc ready once more to favour
the revolutionary lava on Europe, and to put down
regular constitutional liberty every. Where ? Austria
is remote from Englasti, and separated by interett.
Prussia is occupied in schemes for her own aggran-
disement. Spain is unsettled, agitated by revolu-
tionary thieves, apparently on the eve of a shock.—
(Hear, hear, hear.)—Poitugal, even wretched Por-
tugal, now insults England with impunity, seizes on
her ships, imprisons her subjects, and spurns a Con-
stitution because England had a hand in giving it
to her. Then where is England to find Allies ? I
say in Ireland.—(Great cheering.)—There is a holy
Alliance for her. Let her unite herself with a court•
try, the people of which are unconquered and un-
conquerable. We offer her our young blood ; we
offer our country unblemished by infidelity and un-
stained by any breach of faith. I call upon England
to join with us. 1 have a right to address her as
the representative of an Irish County. I shall tell
her that the Irish people are ready to unite with
her, and shed their blood in her defence ; but if
she rejects our alliance, I will also tell her that
Irish people cannot, must not, will not be
slaves. 'We are too strong to remain in thral-
dom, we' are too numerous to continue serfs;
we are too-determined to submit to degradation.
There is no individual amongst you more humble
than myself. If I have become in any degree im-
portant it is because I possessed an unrelenting,
eternal determination to be free—because I never
ceased to struggle—because I never submitted—be-
cause I never met the eye of an Orangeman without
meeting it with a prouder glance—and never heard
an Orangeman declare his sentiments without turn-
ing them into ridicule, or beating him at fair argu-
ment. This is all I have been able to do, anti you
are all capable of doing the same. Let every man
exert himself in his own sphere : he is a base slave
.that crouches. Who are those base creatures that
are your. Aldermen, and your Mayors, and your
Sheriffs ? lam told the wretches have formed a
friendly club, or knot, as it is termed, to deprive
you of any powef`in the electiOn of corporate officers.
Would you call such wretches as those your supe-
riors? How must the iron enter your soul when
you behold such persons lording it over you. Of
what are those persons constituted ? are they better
flesh or blood than you--are they honester men ?
What gives them superiority over you ? I will tell you.
It is your acquiescence : their strength is in your sub-
mission. Do you struggle as you ought to struggle
and their friendly knot will soon be broken to fritters,
anti the inhabitants of the city of Cork will at length
have justice done to them.—(Hear, and cheers.)—
We were but three when we first began at the Ca-
tholic Association. We increased to five; we then
extended to a hundred. We are now seven mil-
lions. Let us now commence a new struggle. Let
me. sound the trumpet for our resurrection. The
genius of Ireland is not dead; it only sleeps.--
(Cheers.)---4 am now the Member for an Irish
county. A county selected me for its Representa-
tive, and I would ask is there any stands higher
amongst those who sit in Parliament ? Did I buy a
Vote ? Did I seduce a vote ? Cries of " No, no."
No, Gentleman, masters and servants-came together;
they came with their wives and children to devote
them to their country, and it was Irishmen who did
this. (Applause.) Was it in crime and drunken-
ness the triumph was effected ? No, Gentlemen,
the victory was obtained in peace, and those who
gained it conducted themselves with all the innocency
of childhood, when angels' wings fan its cheek and
lull it to repose. Our country now presents an ex-
traordinary but a glorious picture. Political excite-
ment was never so -high. Baron Pennefather says
the Magistrates and Police have made this country
quiet ; but I should wish to know whether we had
not always the Magistrates and Police, and why did
they not tranquilize the country before ? •
.I will
tell Baron Pennefather why they did not; because
they wanted an adjunct, the Catholic Association.
The, Circuits have concluded; there has been hut
one man-left for 'execution. This fact speaks vo-
lumes. We were tranquil once before; it was when
Lismore gave food and education, and entertainment
to 6,600 of the British youth. But since the hostile
foot of Britain prophaned our shore, we were never
so peaceful—there never was so great an absence of
crime as at the present moment. From us alone
tranquillity has arisen :, by us alone can tranquillity
be Made-pernianent. I have spoken to yOu at great
length—(Hear, hear)—but I have spoken to you
from,my soul.—(Cheers.)' It bas been said, Gen-
tlemen, that our population is superabundant. It is
no such thing. -Our- population is 'not one-third
what it ought.to be.. One-third• of -the land is not
occupied, or at' leastis not Wehave "greatresources, which only Want tObe• called into action.
Hitherto I have struggled for your rights. I will
now begin the Work of agitation.—(Cheers.) I am
in the fifty-fourth year of my age, beginning, I
pledge myself from this night to commence to be in
—(Mr. O'Connell sat down-amid
reality an agitator.
great cheers.)
Other toasts were then given, after which the
party dispersed at a late hour in the morning.

We have heard that his MAJESTY intends
passing part of the ensuing winter at the Pavilion at
ig Herald.
DINNER TO M rt. Moonr.—The admirers of
this gentleman's principles, entertained him at dinner on
Thursday evening, at iMonarsores great room. The com-
pany began to arrive at half-past six, and the Chair was
taken at halt-past seven by the Earl of RA TII DOWN.
Dublin Morning Register.