The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-09 00:00:00

01: NGE DE IIONSTRA TION IN BELFAST.

BE Lt. ST, CI{SaA NIGHT. —A soiree was held this
e,:eteeg, for Cif purpose of expressing the public sympathy of
the Pret,,sanis of that portion of the north of Ireland in favour
of Me. W 0,50,1, and their ir,dignatiou at his dismissal from the
Wilke of Deputy-Lieutenant, which he had filled so honourably
for upwards of a qthirter of a century. The place selected for
this display of puhlie feeling was the Music Hall. a large and
handsome building, situated in the neighbourhood of Donegal-
square. At the back of the chair was placed a crown, beau-
-1i:oily maim and tastefuil decorated; and before it a
email tie* in which was engravers, in letters of geld, the
tvor4. Itic Orangemen of Ireland." Other parts of the
also covered by similar flags with the words—
" The .Plotestant Operatives," and at the lower end was a
lit-i.;e',circular flag, on which were ingeniously worked in
'oldies; " Witsou for ever." At the lower end of the room
is a large gallery, which was also crowded by numbers.
file hoer determined on for the commencement of the soiree
was half past seven o'clock ; but long before it the streets in
:he neighbourhood of the hall were crowded by thousands of
-,nxions spectators, while the doors of the building continued
fdosely.blockaded by those who had purchased or obtained
tickets of admission. The price cf each ticket was five shil-
lings, but so great was the anxiety to obtain them, that the
siumber which the building could contain was sold in a few
hours. Shortly before halt-past seven, James Rose Cleland,
Esq., entered the hall, and was received with the most rap-
turous cheering, arid rounds of the Kentish fire; but the en-
thusiastic reception of the evening was reserved for the Earl of
Jtoden, Colonel Verner, and Mr. Watson, whose entrance
seas marked by so enthusiastic a welcome, as to be absolutely
6eafenilig in its effect. Peal upon peal followed close on each
other, until the very building seemed to resound with the
deafening echo, and then followed the Kentish fire, which was
contioued with the same enthusiasm for at least ten minute.
'The .Noble Earl, on taking the chair, was supported on his
right by Mr. Watson, ex D. L.. and J. P. ; Colonel Verner,
See. ; and on his le't by J. R. Cleland, Esq.. &c. &e.
)r) the m.,tinn of .1. W. 3laxweat, Esq., of Finnebrogue,
iwei:rifiiict by .1. W. SHANNON, of Beitast, the Right Hon. the
Earl of IZeden was appointed Prei,ii.mt, amid the most enthu-
t,astle arelareatchs.

CHA RM.% N then oblerved, that before proceed-
ing... the business of the evening, he would call on the Rev.
2d,. 111-I!.vaine to open that mee•ing, as was their usual cu.-
t qu, with a prayer to the Giver of all Good.

The Ret. ti3;tlernan having done so,
j Nis 1,0 unrsitir next said, that he was anxious, before he pro.-
eeeossi ferther, to express to the meeting the sincere gratifiea-
floe fete-at the opportunity thus afforded him of uniting with
Ids Protestant brethren—the operatives of Belfast—in the great
and important objects for which they were assembled. He was
also an-xeus to, exprese his thanks to the Committee, first,
and to th:' satiety at lance, for their kindness in having
postponed the meeting from Thursday last to the present day,
loseive loin so opportunity- of having !he happiness of presiding.
Loud cheers. ) A list of sentiments was put mt.° his hand,
whici it was his duty and his pleasure to submit fur the appro-
kettien of that great assembly—and he, therefore, thought he
best consulted their feelings and interests by deferring any fur-
ther obeerva.ion; until another opportunity offered itseli, in
pireeising one of the toasts ( Hear, hear, and cheers. )
" ;err. PHILL(PS, the Secretary, then read letters of apoloey
. hew the Esrlef Colonel Blacker, Wi.liam Black-
wood, Feel.. Alderman Nelson, Alexander Johnston Mont-
turnery, Eel., 11r. Bowan, agent to Lord Downshire, and Col.
utra,:o, Cslow, fee , regretting their inability to attend, but
hrtari; a conc.:n-11)g in the of jeers of the meeting.
TheNoble-Cita titmaN propined the " Health of her Ma-
jesty ths Queen, mid prosperity to her."—(Great cheering,
and the Kentish fire. )
:rte. Noble EAitr, had nest to propose to them a toast, which
he hs. I ea doubt they would receive with equal loyalty and en-
Itlii4lllll —it was that of His Royal Highness Prince Albert,
and th !loyal Offspring of the House of Brunswick. May they
be hroellit op in mindful adherence to those Protestant prin-
ciples which placed their ancestors on the throne of these
Tra;MA, which alone can maintain our present Sovereign
there. —( Chi era. )
Tit=' Niilll.E C/1 IRMA!4, in proposing the next sentiment,
s. d- --Lilies and gentleman, I have already taken the opportu-
nity expressing the sincere pleasure it has given me of meet-
ing tee iyerativee el Belfast, in tendering an act of justice and
vete el, to yoer excellent guest; and 1 ran again assure you
that there are few things that give me greater pleasure than
the opportunity of uniting with my Protestant fellow-country-
man on any subject connected with the welfare of our cem-
teem etesetry.—(Cheers.) It has been my lit during a 101 l
life to 'have attended many public and important meet-
ing.e of my Protestant fellow-countrymen,- but I think I
can undertake to say, that at no time have I felt greater
pain, aitheogh that pain is mixed with considerable satisfaction,
Shan on the occasion which brought na together this evening.
--(Cheers. ) Ladies and gentlemen, I have felt pain at seeing
a Cooeervative Government, which you, as operatives, in con-
ienction with the Protestant gentry of this land—both united
together, and each acting in his separate sphere—placed in that
posit:on which they now hold—( Cheers)—l felt, I say, the
greatest pain that that Government should be now induced to
take the part it has latterly taken with respect to the object
'which brought us together this evening, in a case connected
with our respected friend, Mr. Watson —( Hear, and cheers )
When I bear in mind the course pursued by her Majesty's Go-
eereiment with respect to our valued friend, I cannot help
feeling; the sincerest sorrow, because I cannot help coming
to the conclusion that in this instance the Protestants of Ire-
land were affected; for he came forward and stood up for those
principles which are near and dear to us all.—( Tremendous
cheering.) I trust, therefore, that the eentiment lam
about to take the liberty of prepesing on the present occasion
will meet with your hearty approbation, and that we shall let it
be known that we and the P. otestants of Ulster sympathise
,most deeply with hint—(Cheers)—in the course the Gecern-
leant thought proper to pursue.--( Cheers.) We have been
led to ask what crime he had committed which caused him to be
dismissed from the ofilee of a deputy-lieutenant, and the situa-
tion of a justice of the peace, which lie held for so many years,
with honour to Wins ,It and usefulness to his country and so-
ciety.—(Cheers. ) For my own part, I should have been at a
loss to know the reason of such dismissal, anti so also would
have be, n my respected friend, if it were not fur the letter he
reeeived signed " E. Lucas," and written by direction of his
Excellency the Lord-Lieateoant, wherein it was declared that
the reason of his being removed from the commission was be-
cause he placed himself in a position wherein he was enabled
to check any violence which might have arisen, and allay
that irritation in the Protestant mind of Ulster which the
acts of the Government had unfortunately raised up.—( Great
cheering, which lasted several minutes.) Under these circum-
stances, I will not detain you with any further observations, but
propose to you the toast which I ant sure will meet with uni-
versal approbation, and that is " The Independent Gentry of
Ulster, and James Watson, Esq., of Broekhifl, their worthy and
excellent guett."—(Great cheering. )
[The Banner of Ulster gives the following as the true ver-
sion of the concluding portion of Lord Roden's speech :—" s I
shall proceed to read the sentiment put into my hand—a 'enti
went which, lam sure, you will all receive wth satisfeetion.
His Lordship then read the following:—" The independent
aristocracy of Ulster, and our high-spirited guest, James Watson,
of Broekhill, Esq., the first victim of the as,ertion of Protestant
freedom, in these perilous times, at the shrine of expediency."
As many as a 4rce to that sentiment will signify their assent by
standing up.' The companyl rose simultaneously, amid deafen-
ing and prolonged cheers.
Mr. tVATSON then presented himself, an orange and blue
kerenief in his breast, and was received with loud cheers and
peals of the Kentish fire. When silence was restored he said—
My Lord Roden, brother and sister operatives, you could not
confer on me a higher honour or greater favour than you have
done this evening, and which I duly appreciate. I am acre
that I am only a secondary object ; it is the Protestant cause
you have at heart.—(Cheers.) It is to show Sir Robert Peel
that he misrepresented the feelings of the Protestants of the
north of Ireland when he asserted they were favourable to the
Maynooth grant. The Protestants are awake and stirring to
uphold their rights and privileges—by all lawful means to main-
tain their position, to hand tiown unimpaired and scatheless
those valued benefits derived from their ancestors, purchased
by their blood, cheap at any price.—(Cheers.) Allow me,
brother operatives and Protestants here assembled, to
ceng.a
zulate you on having that valueble, that un-
cutnprorxeing champion of Protestantism and • religious
huh pr.,,,idi„g over yeoe this evening—that nobleman revered,