The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMWER 8, 1845.

respected, and beloved by all—(Cheers)—and our valued and
much-regarded friends, Mr. Cleland and Colonel Verner, zea-
lously and earnestly supporting this great, good, and righteous
cause. 1 beg to tell you this feeling is not confined to the north
of Ireland. I have received gratifying addresses from Liver-
pool, Dublin, and Cork, also marks of approbation from Lon-
don, showing that the spirit which animates us is spreading far
and near.—(Cheers.) My Lord and friends, to excuse my
egotism, you must place yourselves in the enviable position to
which you have raised me. Entertained by you, seated en the
right hand of one of the best of men—accept my heartfelt and
grateful thanks ; and sincerely wishing each and all of you
may attain to my old age, health, and happiness, I shall con-
clude my long-spun yarn in the emphatic words of the Derry
heroes, " No surrender."--( Renewed applause, during which
some excited gentlemen nearly smothered Colonel Verner, by
clapping over his head and face a flag inscribed " Verner and
no surrender.")
Mr. W. DANE, of Enniskillen, returned thanks for the
health of Lord Enniskillen, and declared that concession must
be stayed now and for ever.—( Cheers.)
The Noble EARL next proposed the health of those Pro-
testant Members of the House of Commons who, true to their
religious and political principles, voted against the State en-
dowment of the Popish College of illayncoth.—( Cheers.)
Colonel VERNER spoke to the toast, and said—Ladies and
gerelemen, friends and brethren, for such I must ever desig
nate you, because we are bound by a tie which never can be
severed—the duty devolves on me to say a few words in reply
to the sentiment which my Noble Friend has put from the chair,
because I believe I am the only individual present to whom it
applies. We have all heard it said, that if a person is able to
answer satisfactorily for himself he does very well, and I will
ti,d, therefore, take upon myself to answer for those Mem-
bers of Parliament who did not. do their duty, the more
especially as they will come before those who have a much
better right than I have to ask for an explanation, at the
proper time and in the proper place. My Lord, I have
the satisfaction of saying that, on that occasion, we
had as respectable a minority as ever was seen in the
House of Commcns, when it is recollected that we had opposed
to us not only the whole weight and influence of the Govern-
ment, but the hostility of the Radical and Roman Catholic
Members of the House; yet, my Lord, notwithstanding all
this, we mustered 109 against the infamous measure.—
( Cheers. )—My Lord, I attended here for the purpose of ex-
pri ssing my sentiments of regard and affection to my old and
valued friend, Mr. Watson—and, my Lord, I attended, also,
for the purpose of joining you in the expression—to give it
the mildest term—of your regret at the uncalled-for and
undeserved censure which the Government thought proper to
pass on him for having attended a meeting on the last 12th of
July.—(Cheers.) I say without hesitation, in the presence of
Mr. Watson, that his conduct on that occasion, instead of being
deserving of censure, merited the strongest approbation—
( Loud cheers)—for he attended for the purpose of dis-
charging a double duty as a friend and a magistrate.—
( Loud cheers.) My Lord, there were circumstances con-
nected with that meeting which ought not to be forgotten,
and in connexion with the subject, I shall refer to an ex-
pression delivered many years since, which was to this effect,
" With regard to Orange processions, it is unwise and absurd
to think of preventing loyal men from celebrating an event
to which they owe their liberty and the blessings th'y enjoy."
—(Cheers.) That was the opinion expressed by an individual
who now passes an unmitigated censure on Mr. Watson.—
( A voice—" Ah ! Peel.") lam not now speaking as an ad-
vocate of those processions; I have already expressed my dis-
approbation of them, because, unless I see them carried on as
they used to be, when the wealth and respectability of the
cottntry turned out to join them, it is much better to abstain
from them altogether.—( Hear, hear.) But they were never
intended to convey the slightest offence to any portion of her
Majesty's subjects, and those who said so misrepresented those
who took a part in them.—(Hear, hear.) It has been said
that Mr. Watson was dismissed because similar conduct was
pursued towards repeal magistrates ; but I ask are the loyal
and disaffected to be put together—( Hear, and continued
cheers)—are Rihandmen and Orangemen to be looked on in
the same point of view ?—(Continued cheers.) Are repealers
and the advocates and supporters of British connexion to be
put on the same footing ; or, in short, to be dealt with in the
same manner ?—(Cheers.) I would ask if the same conduct
is to be observed with regard to the two bodies ? Are they
to be treated alike, with equal punishments and rewards, al-
though with regard to the latter, I believe it is long since jus-
tice was done in this respect to the loyal Protestants of Ireland ?
—( Cheers.) No ; rewards were reserved exclusively for those
whom it may be considered expedient to try and conciliate.—
( Cheers.) My Lord, frequent allusions have been made to
the letter written to Mr. Watson, and " signed E. Lucas." I
believe that letter was as much written by me as by Mr. Lucas.
—( Hear.) Your Lordship knows him well, and for my own
part I have no hesitation in saying that he is incapable of writ-
ing such a letter, or doing anything that would wound the feel-
ings of any gentleman ; but particularly one so deserving of
esteem as Mr. Watson. It is only by comparing a portion of that
letter with the answer given me in the House of Commons, thatit
will satisfy one as to the particular locality where it was con-
' cocted. For myself, I think it smells exceedingly strong of
Downing-street.—(Laughter.) I concur and heartily join
with those who say that the nafne of Lucas is out of its proper
place in being affixed to that manifesto ; for I cannot help re-
gretting exceedingly that, at the close of his official career, he
should lend his name in such a manner as to give offence to
thousands of those by whom he had been at all times most af-
fectionately regarded—( Cheers)—and who are much con-
cerned for his reputation. I have heard it said that he
would have done much better had he resigned office sooner
than write that letter. I cannot give any explanation why he
did not do so ; but this I know, that it had scarcely reached
Mr. Watson before he did resign.—( Cheers.) My Lord, I
rejoice to see you there—( Cheers)—it is a place that becomes
you—( Great cheering)--for you are at the head of a body of
men who not only still regard you with respect, but
entertain for you the most sincere affection—( Cheers)
—and I may be permitted to say that no preuder situa-
tion exists in which a man can be placed than at the head
of the Protestants of Ireland.—( Great cheering.) My Lord,
I said I should only answer for myself. I have been fre-
quently asked why it is I make myself so conspicuous—that
it does no good ; that, as there is no use in it, why is it that I
dais() more than anybody else ? To that I say, more shame
for those who do not exert themselves; and, with regard to
myself, my conduct is explained in a few words, namely, that
my conscience tells me I am pursuing the true and proper
course.—(Cheers.) The Hon. and Gallant Gentleman then
resumed his seat amid loud cheers.

The next toast was, " The; glorious principles of the Re-
formation, and long may its ministers and people hold the
written word of God, and unite in maintaining it.'
The Rev. Mr. CAmrxxLL felt honoured in being called on
to speak to the toast of the glorious Reformation, a Reforma-
tion well worthy of angels' tongues, and too high a theme for
mortal man to do it justice, because it delivered the nation and
the Church from Romish tyranny and Popish errors—because
it was the cause of the nation's greatness, which, by God's
grace and assistance, should never desert its principles.-
--

. .
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and said that he would not
occupy their time by saying anything with respect to the senti-
ment he had to submit to them, as the gentleman who would
respond to it they were all acquainted with, and who would do

full justice to its merits The Principles of Protestant
Operative Institutions. May they long be maintained in
Scriptural and Constitutional integrity, and form an indis-
soluble link between nobility and aristocracy. clergy and laity,
rich and poor, of our Protestant population."
The Rev. Mr. Wlta.wasor then rose, and was loudly
cheered. He had great pleasure in rising to respond to the
sentiment which had just been proposed. He could not come
to the question without saying a word of sympathy and re-
spect in favour of their honoured guest, James Watson ;
he would also say congratulation, and propose as an emend-
ment—that the gratitude of this meeting is due to Sir Robert
Peel for enabling Mr. Watson to stand forward in defence of
his principles, and appear before you as he has done. Until
Sir Robert Peel tested the matter you were not aware of how
great a man he (Mr. Watson) was. He had hit constrained
to attend that meeting, if it were only to raise his voice
against the arbitrary course that had been pursued with re-
gard to Mr. Watson.—(Hear, hear.) He must ssy that he
never saw a document coming from a legal hand that bore less
the stamp of loyalty about it. It referred to an Act passed in
1836 by a Ministry of r horn Lord Melbourne was the head, a
Ministry who were well known to be influenced in a great
measure by Mr. O'Connell, and yet, Sir Robert Peel, coming
into power under Protestant support, put this document for-
ward in justification of his dismissal of Mr. Watson —( Hear,
hear.) Why, we might if we were to go back to ItiZ6 as
well go back to George IV., to George 111., or James IL,
for a justification of any measure that any Ministry might
think fit to bring forward. In this letter it was attempted
to strike at Protestantism through Orangeism. It was
attempted to be proved that because there was rioting
in Armagh tie meeting in Down was to be considered dis-
orderly and unlawful. Ile denied that Mr. Watson was out
of his duty in attending the meeting for which he was dis-
missed—he attended it as the friend of what was constitutional,
as a landlord, to encourage his tenantry in upholding what he
and they believed to be principles which were right. He would
ask those present, was there a blow struck or an accident oc-
warred in consequence of this meeting? They could safely
answer no. Well, then, for attending this constitutional and
peaceable meeting he was kicked from the position the Ministry
should have been proud to see him occupy. It has been said
of Orangism that it is illegal, and that those who attend in their
magisterial capacity are liable to be dismissed. Well, they
have dismissed one —they have plenty more to dismiss for the
same offence; they may commence with the Noble Marquis
of Downshire ; and they had a great number of others—if

one was guilty so were all. A s7persedeas had been issued
against Mr. Watson, and although he might not like
it as well as a warrsnt of lodge, which he received the

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other day, yet he would tell themthat supersedeascs were al
• - • • - -

the fashion-in the days of James 11. The speaker contlnued
at considerable length to comment upon the subject of the sen-
timent, and, on concluding, was loudly cheered.

The Ctrailtatax had great pleasure in proposing the next
sentiment—" Our Protestant Town-council—may sound
,prin-
ciples and usefulness ever characterise their proceedings.''
Mr. A. HILL briefly responded.
" The Protestant electors of Ireland."
Mr. J. BATES responded.
" The glorious, pious, and immortal memory of the great
and good Kiag William."—[lt is impossible to describe the
enthusiasm with which this toast was hailed.]
Air. J. JonNsow replied.
Lard Roden was then moved from the chair, and Mr.
Cleland called to it.
Thanks were returned to Lord Roden, and the met ting
then broke up, and the members quietly sought their respec-
tive homes.

A ROBBER CONCEALED IN A BEDROOM.—Yester-
day morning, about six o'clock, William Thomas and his wife,
who are in charge of the house of Alfred Jephson, Esq , in
Ranelagh-street, Pimlico, the family being out of town, were
alarmed by a strange noise in the upper apartments. Thomas,
after closely examining the ground and first floors, proceeded
to the secnnd, and while in the act of looking under the bed
in the front room, a fellow darted from a cupboard and made
his way to the top of the house. He was followed by Thomas,
who caught him by the skirts of his coat as he was getting
out of the attic window. He, however, tore himself away,
leaving them behind him, and escaped over the roofs of the ad-
joining houses. He had packed up two large bundles ready to
carry away. The only things missing are a time-piece and
some silk handkerchiefs.

MONMOCTIISII IRR RATLIVA Y.—Twenty thousand
pounds being the first payment agreed upon, for the purchase
of the Cana. Company's entire interest in their canals, tram-
roads, &e., has been paid by the Monmouthshire Railway
Company. The miscarriage of a letter, which was forwarded
to Newport, Isle of Wight, instead of this town, was the cause
of this instalment not being announced at the late meeting of
the Canal Directors. There is every prospect of this great
undertaking, replete with F ueh important objects to the dis-
triet, being immediately commenced Monmouthshire
Merlins
HEN.—on Tuesday last, whilst James
I'ratherton, Esq., was playing the organ in the parish church
of Chesterfield, a hen walked into the edifice, and laying her-
self dawn, continued motionless till Mr. Brotherton hadfinished
playing.

TIIE LATE FIRE AT QUEBEC.—Yesterrlay, in ac-
cerda:lce with a pastoral letter from the ecclesiastical authori-
ties of this diocese, addressed to the clergy, sermons were
preached in seieral churches of the metropolis on behalf of the
sufferers from the recent fires at Quebec in May and June, the
lartieulars of which melancholy cataitrophes are still fresh in
the public mind.