The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-10 00:00:00

13011OUGH OP EVESHAM.

(From the TVorcester Journal of Thursday.)
On Thursday last, the Ist instant, a numerous and most re-
spectable body of the Freemen of the Borough of Evesham, and
of the friends and supporters of Patrick Grant, Esq., the unsuc-
cessful Candidate in the late Election, met at the Northwick Arms,
for the purpose of complimenting that Gentleman with a dinner,
in pursuance of an invitation which had been forwarded to him
some months since, but of which Mr. Grant bad as vet been un-
able to avail himself, in consequence of having met with a severe
accident, by the explosion of a powder-flask while on a shooting
excursion in the highlands of his native country, Scotland.
Mr. Grant arrived from London about two o'clock, accom-
panied by his friend, Mr. Walter Merry, and his presence was
bailed and ushered in by the ringing of bells—the floating of ban-
ners—the waving of handkerchiefs—the strains of a full band of
music—the loud acclamations of his friends—and by every poi-
pile demonstration of joy. It was truly gratifying to U 9 to ob-
serve that, amidst all this general excitement, there was not even
an approach to disturbance—there was not even an expression
that tended, in the remotest degree, to betray the bickeriag snap-
pishness of party spirit ; but the most active and determined par-
tisans of his political opponents seemed to remember, and to feel
with us, the mutual urbanity, the courtesy and gentlemanly de-
portment which distinguished the conduct of each and every of
the candidates during the election, and silently respected and did
honour to the man, even while they " fixed their cannon" against
the politician : this is as it should be. •
At four o'clock the party sat down to dinner, in number about
a hundred. Sir William Rouse Boughton—That " Hero of In •
dependence," that firm, staunch, and intrepid friend and adherent
of the Blue Interest, had signified his intention to take the chair,
but was unfortunately prevented attending, by an engagement
which detained him in London; in consequence of the promotion
of his brother-in-law, Mr. Sergeant Vaughan, to the Bench.
Francis Holland, Esq., of Cropthorne, being unanimously called
upon, consented.to occupy that situation. -
Aftea.," The King," and the usual toasts had been given, which
testified the undoubted and affectionate loyalty of all present, the
Chairman, in a neat and appropriate speech, proposed the health of
their guest, Patrick Grant, Esq., with three times three, which
was received and drank with an applause almost deafening.
Mr. Ge.auT spoke nearly as follows :—lt is with no ordinary
feelings of pride and gratification that I rise to return my most
sincere and hearty thanks for the kindness with which vou have
received the toast given from the Chair, and also for the distin-
guished honour which you have conferred on me by meeting toge-
ther upon this occasion. It is true that we are not assembled to
celebrate a political victory ; but, considering the circumstances
under which I appeared amongst you at the late contest for this
Borough, I do not look back to its result with those feelings of
bitter mortification usually attendant on defeat, alleviated as it has
ten by every circumstance of kindness on your part, and by pro-
mises of future support. I shall not, therefore, occupy your time
by the expression of vain regrets as to the past, or by presump-
tuous anticipations of the future ; but, viewing myself still as a
candidate for your favour on some future occasion, I shall briefly
state one or two political opinions, with which you have a right
to be acquainted, and from entering more fully upon which I was
prevented by the hurry of the late occasion. If any of my opi-
nions should be at variance with those which you entertain, I
shall deeply regret the circumstance ; but, much as I should value
the honour of representing you in Parliament, I would not pur-
chase even that distinction at the expence of candour and sincerity,
and should infinitely rather lose the vote than the esteem of any in-
dividual now present. —(Much cheering. )—lt will be in the recol-
lection of some of you that I declined upon the hustings to give any
pledge as to my future conduct, if I should have the good fortune to
he returned. This I must respectfully persist in doing ; but
there is no inconsistency at the same time in stating what my
present opinions arr. To say that these opinions never shall
undergo a change would be indeed presumptuous, but I sincerely
trout that the period selected will not be so evidently seasonable and
expedient uto lay axe open to the charge of ineincerity. But
whatever may lie the case with regard to those abstract and specu-
lative questions where even the wisest men differ, there is one sen-
timent in which I can anticipate no possibility of change, and
which I feel convinced I shall retain to the latest- hour of my ex-
wtenco—l mean, Gentlemen, a deep, sincere, and ardent affection
for our glorious Constitution in Church and State. Founded ou
the immutably just principle of allowing to man every liberty
het the liberty of injuring his neighbour ; asserting equally the
eights of the peasant and of the prince, and requiring from all
equal submission to its established laws, this excellent structure
has long been the pride of Englishmen, arid the wonder and ad-
miration of the world.—(Cheers.)—That some defects should ap-
'near in an edifice so old and venerable, is not to be wondered at;
but they have bean justly compared to the wounds of a parent,
which should be touched with the most anxious tenderness,
and not with the fearless intrepidity of an inexperienced prac-
titioner. In contemplating the present condition of the British
Empire, and speettlating- on its future policy—the chief difficulty
which meets us, oeitainly is the Catholic 'Question, and the de-
plorable situation of Ir,eigyd where that religion is pre'essed, by
so great a portion of the population under a Government exclu-
sively Protestant. For obvious reasons we cannot sever the po-
litical chain which attaches her to Britale, and century after cen-
tury she continues the SOUtd2 of anxiety and expenditure, instead
of furnishing to the Empire those resources, and that Additional
strength, which the fertility and extent of her soil must have pro-
duced, but for some blasting and ruinous policy. It is indeed an
anomalous state of things, and nothing remains but a choice
of evils. Much u I respect many individuals professing that faith,
I cannot reconcile myself entirely to the idea of seeing Catholics
holding the highest offices in the Executive, but conceiving that
there is a vast difference between the Executive Government and
the Representative branch of the Legislature, and being fully con•
winced that the cordial co-operation of the Aristocracy is requisite
to the good government of any country, and that such co-opera-
tion cannot he expected from the Aristocracy of Ireland whilst
eubject to their present degrading disabilities, had 1 a vote in the
matter, I should be for admitting Catholics to Parliament, ample
security being given that their number newer would exceed a small
proportion of the wools Honse. It humbly appears to me that
this assurance might he obtained in a manner no ways invidious
o-he Catholics, and upon the broad principle of making distioce
lion between Britain and Ireland, exited to the majority of the po-
pulation in each country—l mean by extending to Irish Members
alone the privilege of declining to take the test oath. The greater part
of the property ;f2 lie3and being in possession of Peoteatants, it is
-.cell known that a vary mall number indeed of Catholics wield
be returned out of the members for Ireland, and what could
some twenty men do in an Amenably containing 600 or 700—even
if they should forthwith vet-about the subversion of the Protest-
ant religion—the most improbable chnewea in the world. Thus,
with a very trifling, and really limited conceealce, Ireland might
be pacified, and even English Catholics would have the consola-
tion of thinking that they were net excluded by law from sitting
for Irish Boroughs. It would be endless to go into all ques-
tions of public interest- With regard to the Corn Question,
I shall only say that this very night it comes on in the House
of Commons, and that it is likely to
-be permanently settled
long before I have any opportunity of giving a vote on the
subject; but though from early prejudice, a decided friend to
agriculture, I am convinced that a steady moderate price is
more to their advantages, road
,that of the manufacturers, titan
either extreme ; for they are mutually the best customers to
each other, and the ruin of one class will involve that of the
other. Of the civil jurisprudence, it is satisfactory to think
that the nation is blessed with a Home Secretary, able and
seszious to accommodate with- caution and discretion some of
eta 'aiesolete regulations to the spirit of the present times. The
speed! And impartial administration of justice is of such hn-
portance to any community, that it can hardly occupy too much '
attention, or, be purchased at too great a price. Indeed, libe-
rality now begins to pervade every branch of the Executive, and
the age of narrow-minded policy seems drawing to a close. - Un-
der the direction of that enlightened Statesman, who, to use his
own language, " called the New World into existence," I
trust that the country will soon recover the distress
which has lately overtaken her, ami that the brightest petipkl of
her history is still to come. I hope Awe shall live to see Pro-
testants and Catholics vying only in love to their common
country, our poor laws, confined to their legitimate ob-
ject, the comfort and support of the aged, infirm, and blind
—not of the young, the healthy, and the idle,—(cheers)--
and the liberal principles of free trade, uniting the differen'
oations of Europe as it were into provinces of the seine empire,
mutually bestowing and receiving the comforts and luxuries of life.
—(Much cheering)—l shall not, Gentlemen, trespass longer on
your patience, but I cannot vat down without repeating my
warmest thanks for all the kindness which I have received from
you. If it is ever my good fortune to attain the distinction of
representing you in Parliament, I should hook for no greater re-
ward, after years devoted to your service and that of the country,
than the continuance of the same cordiality and friendship with
which lam now favoured. I bag to drink all your good healthy.
Mr. Grant concluded amidst reiterated plaudits and cheerings,
with proposing the health of the free and independent electors of
the ancient and respectable Borough of Evesham, which was re-
plied to in a most impressive and animated address, by Mr. Wm.
Henry Goore, who, if we might judge from the loud and conti-
nuous cries of "Hear, hear," echoed the sentiments of every indie
vidual present. He dwelt with peculiar enerr,y And justice on the