The Sun.
London, England, 1826-01-09 00:00:00

I It E A N D.

DINNER TO GEORGE ROBERT DAWSON, ESQ.
LONDONDXRRY, DEC. 31.—0 n Wednesday last a grand
dinner was given by upwards of 1110 gentlemen of this county,
to Mr. Dawson, in compliment of his distinguished services as
Member for the county, and as a proof of the high regard which
all his constituents have both for his public and his private
conduct.

Precisely at 0 o'clock, Mr. Dawson was received in the re.
ception room, by the Stewards, Sir 0. F. Hill, Sir Robert Bate.
son, Sir Robert Ferguson, Sir James Bruce, Baronets ; Barre
Berresford, Connolly Gage, W. H. Ash, and Marcus S. Hill,
Esqrs. Shortly afterwards the company proceeded to the dinner
apartment, while the Londonderry Band played the national
anthem—Marcus 31‘Causland, of Eruithdl, Esq. the High
Sheriff, took the Chair.
The following toasts Were drank with the greatest ap.
plause t.—
" The Ring"—three times three—" God save the King."
" The Duke of York and the Artny"—three times three
—(Applause, loud and long reiteration.)—" Duke of York's
March."

" Duke of Clarence and the Navy"—((}rent cheering.)—
" Rule Britannia."

" The Lord Lieutenant, and prosperity to Iceland"—three
times three—" St. Patrick's Day."
" The Glorious, pious, and immortal Memory"—('Tie toast
was drank with a degree of enthusiasm which it is impos-
sible to describe.)—" Boyne Water."
" George Robeit Dawson, Esq., and long may he continue
our representative"—three times three.—" Orange and Blue."
It is impossible to convey any idea of the enthusiasm with
which this toast was received.
lair. Dawson eloquently returned thanks,' and, in the course
of his address to the meeting, obeerved—
When he looked around, and beheld the company with
which be was surrounded, when he heard the voice of appro.
bation still sounding in his ears, it is Impossible not to feel
proud at such a moment. Years of devotion to the public ser-
vice would be amply repaid by such a tribute of public appro-
bation, and whatever may he his fate in life, whether presper-
fif the happiest periods of his existence, as the best reward for
oum or unhappy, he should look back to this moment, as one
his humble services, ea the noblest incentive to continued ex-
ertion—this public and avowed expression of their approbation
had left him nothing more to wish for. Fortune had made
him independent; he had no occasion, as he trusted he hail
never %hewn an inclination, to crouch to the powerful, or to
cringe to the wealthy; but he did cherish an ambition to gain
the good will ofliitiellow.citizens by a sincere devotion to their
cause, and by a desire to contribute his humble services to
promote the general good, to find that he had succeeded in
this honest ambition was his best and greatest reward. On
such an occasion he might allude to the execution of his
Parliamentary duties without any imputation of vanity, and
he might say that, during ten long years, he never was ab-
sent from his place in Parliament upon any discussion relating
to the affairs or Interests of Ireland. During the last lour ycais
the attention of Parliament has been almost exclusively de-
voted to Irish business. Statesmen of the first rank, and men
of the first rate talents have applied themselves incessantly to
devise remedies for the unfortunate condition of the country, and
it is not too much to say that no nation in the same period has had
so many abuses reformed, so many salutary laws enacted, and
such a foundation laid for future prosperity and happiness as Ire-
land. This attention has pervaded every part of our domestic ad-
ministration. The collection of the Revenue has been simpli-
fied, and a more complete identification of the interests of the
two countries has been made, by removing absurd restrictions
upon trade, and by introducing one common system of managing
has been
tile pecuniary affairs of the two islands. The Courts of Jus-
tice have been regulated front the highest officer dawn through
1 every gradation of persons connected with the administration
of justice, the most wholesome lawn have been introduced for
regulating the property of the church. and for establishing its
character upon the surest foundation, namely, the good will
arid affection of the people.
The
with YipsaetleancTlee e°°pfre et constabulary,
Ireland,country4lu larlya,
that it
secured by a wise and etficient
evstem of- examination into every abuse, and of every abuse,
and of correction for every evil has been the sole study boa;
iinpnesible to overrate the
of the English and Irish government.—.Tbere is one question
of such paramount importance,
is impossible to omit it even in the Sketch of its history--he
meant the Catholic question. It is
interest which it. excites in every part of the empire t it is,
he was aware, the ,chief inducement of gathering together
this respectabki assemblage; and in every part of the country
which he visited, ie had found the same zeal, the same deter.
!oblation to resets any further eucroachment upon the Constito-
tien. Happy, indeed, would it be, if the Protestants of Ireland
were alive to the ,dangers of their situation—but they seem to
labour under a blind infatuation as to the signs of the times, Or
imprudently yield tip their judgments to false notions of liber-
ality. The engines with which the Catholics work in both
countries, are admirably suited to effect theLr objecte; and, un-
INS their artifices ere held up to public examination, they may
trove succesaful, when it will be too late to tout teract them.--
ln they work by England,,by the
sthleetwp6etiliblet bli;tplirliali'mcuatrieonrns weilihrich°efithdeimratincoilriceatliethh;eartirlotitYit of
their re in, or which contradict the accusations of history
against them. The system in Ireland is abort and simple.—
The eetuttry is emphatically called their awn inheritance ; and .