Star.
London, England, 1831-06-09 00:00:00

LEICESTER CHRONICLE.

LEICESTER PUBLIC DINNER, TO CELEBRATE THE
TRIUMPH OP INDEPENDENT PRINCIPLES, BY THE RE-.
Tuax or Fey a MEmszas.—The interest which was excited
by the announcement of a public dinner to celebrate the
Triumph of Independent Principles, was strikingly mani-
fested by the appearance of immense crowds of persons
of all classes, every where to be noticed bending their
course towards the New Cricket Ground, from the hour
of one to four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. Rich and
poor, old, middle-aged, and youth, of both sexes—all
commingled in one vast moving group, were seen hasten-
ing to the festive scene along Humberstone.gate, during
the greater part of the time—presenting a most ani-
mated picture. Long before the doors were opened to
the public, the upper part of Wharf-street was densely
filled with persons anxious to obtain admission, which at
length became so oppressive to numbers, that instead of
conforming to the regulation previously made, of admitting
only by tickets, it was found necessary by the stewards to
throw open the wide doors, when a rush into the ground took
place, that defies description. The electors who were to dine
had entered through another door some time, and had taken
their allotted stations on the ground till the period for seat-
ing themselves arrived, when each "district" (comprising
about thirty in number) repaired in succession to the tables
fixed upon, and took their seats with the utmost order and
regularity. The number of tables was nearly one hundred,
which were placed on the ground immediately opposite the
buildings used for the purposes of refreshment for spectators
attending cricket matches, &c. Between each table there
were avenues, that communicated with more spacious ones
in the centre, leading to the buildings above referred to,
where the eatables, plates, cite. were conveniently arranged
for the waiters; the whole of the dinncr ground being en-
closed by iron paling, to prevent intrusion from the great
crowd of spectators which surrounded them. On the left side
of the ground a gallery in the shape of an amphitheatre was
erected, which was occupied in the centre by 250 vocal and
instrumental performers, among whom were eighty females,
(under the direction of Mr. William Gardiner), and on the
tight and left by more than eight hundred ladies, of the
town and neighbourhood, whoa: gay attire, reflected upon
by a brilliant sun, produced a most splendid effect. Over
the gallery, and in ditrerent quarters of the dinner-enclosure,
various flags were to be seen floating in the air, with their
staves encircled with laurel, which added to the gaiety of the
scene. An elevated bower covered with the same beautiful
leaf, was erected for the Chairman, (M. Babington, Esq.) at
the bead of the tables, who took his seat, having on his
right, T. Paget, Esq. M.P. for the county, Wynn Ellis,
Esq. M.P. for the borough, and' Admiral Tatham ; and on
his left, Dl. Gisborne, Esq. brother of the member for Sta.
ford, as representative of Wm. Evens, Esq. M.P. (una-
voidably absent owing to the illness of a near relative), and
John Oldscres, Esq. the proposer of Mr. Ellis at the late
election, with on each side of the chair, the committees of
the borough members, and many respectable friends to the
cause of independence of the town and county, including
parties from Hinckley, liarborough, tkc. At the tables in
front of the chair, there were about 2,800 electors seated,
who, considering that they were principally composed of the
working classes, presented a cleanly respectable appearance.
In most cases, tradesmen or manufacturers were to be no-
ticed acting as presidents and vice-presidents for each dis-
trict, ar.d great order was every where observable.
Al three o'clock, (the pudding, beef, fite. having been al-
ready placed on the tables,) the company was commanded
to keep silence through means of a herald, while grace was
said, which silence being obtained, and grace accordingly
said by the Chairman, the band struck up " The Roast
Beef of Old England," and the dinner immediately com-
menced. _ _
__ _ _ .. _

The dinner, which consisted of excellent roast and boiled
beef, with plum-pudding and cheese, having been eon.
eluded, and pipes and tobacco introduced, the Chairman
gave--
" The King" (which was drank with three times three
cheers, followed by the national anthers, song by the Or-
chestra the whole assembly joining in the chorus, standing
and uncovered. It was performed with a precision, and
produced an effect, truly astonishing. We are informed,
that such was the power of voice exerted oa this occasion,
that the woris could be distinctly heard from the distant
hills and other equally distant elevated spots.)
" The Queen"—(Three times three.)
Song—Our Queen is the wife of a sailor.
" The Independent Electors of Great Britain,"—three
dines three. _

" The Members for the Borough"—Three times three.
Song—" Evan and Ellis," to the tune of " Hearts of
Oak"—Chorus by the whole assembly.
" The health of M. Babingtoo, Esq.
three times three.

l. the Chairman"—

Song—" Begone dull care."
"His Majesty's Ministers"—three times three.
Song Lovely Peace.
" The Alembers for the County"—three times three.
Hunting Song—Chorus by the Band.
" Independent Freeholders." (Cheers.)
" The Ladies of Leicester." (Three times three.)
Song—" Here's a health to all good lasses."
" The Stewards of the Festivity."
Mr. W. BIGGS returned thanks.
" The Freedom of the Press." (Cheers.)
" The Commercial and Agricultural Interests of the
County." (Cheers.)
" Civil and religious liberty all over the world." (Cheers.)
" GOD save the King" being again sung by the or-
chest's, and joined in by the whole assembly, the chairman
quitted his seat (about six o'clock) and was followed by the
gentlemen immediately surrounding him, and thus termi.
nated the proceedings of a day, in which every person pre-
sent seemed to take great pleasure (the females not except-
ed), and which, we will venture to say, will be remembered
to the remotest posterity by every spectator, as one of the
most interesting—most gratifying, and most heart-stirring
scenes ever known in Leicester.
Although there could not, on a moderate calculation, be
fewer than twenty thousand persons present, we did not see
or hear of a single occurrence which Gould for a moment in.
terfere with the pleasure of the day All was good humour
and kind feeling, and so well were the arrangements made
by the stewards, that the guests at a nobleman's table could
not have been better attended upon.
When the vast preparation required for this entertainment
ate considered, great praise is due to all the stewards fee
their indefatigable exertions. 40001bs of beef, 3000Ibs of
plum-pudding, 3000 loaves of bread, 2500 gal. of ale, 1001 be
of tobacco, 3000 pipes, 9000 plates, 3200 knives and forks,
000 dishes, and 4000 vessels for ale, were all provided tad
ranged without the slightest confusion—the presidents and
vice presidents of the tables, each attended by his waiter.—
performed their various duties without the slightest incon-
venience, and the whole machinery of this Immense festivity
was conducted upon a plan for which the stewards deserve
the highest praise.
A earrerpondent makes the number present more than
twenty-five thousand person*. The following is his calsu*
laden :