Star.
London, England, 1818-07-03 00:00:00

FRIENDS OF THOMAS WILSON, ESQ. M.P.

The Entertainment given yesterday at the City of
London Tavern to the new Member, Mr. WILt:ON,

was of the most splendid kind, and the Meeting was
graced with the presence of the first mercantile cha-
racters in the Metropolis. The company consisted
of nearly two hundred. The first thing which struck
the company on entering the Dinner-room was 'the
elegance with which the head-table was fitted up.
Branches of laurel and mingled rose wreaths, with
vases of flowers of the choicest and most odoriferous
kinds, were interspersed with various sorts of orna-
ments; and from the centre of the Music Gallery was
suspended a handsome blue flag, bearing in gold let-
ters the words " Wilson and Commerce."
At seven o'clock Alderman Sir CLAUD:VS STEPHEN
HUNTER, Bart. took the Chair, when a most sump-
tuous dinner was served up.
After the performance of " Non nobis, Domino,"
by Messrs. BROADHURST, LEE r, Leass, Master
TURLE, &C. Ezc.
The CHAIRMAN gave—" the health of the King,"
which was followed with " God save Me King,' in
full chorus.
The next toast was, "his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent," which was warmly drank with three times
three. Glee—" Hail, Star of Brunswick!"
" Better healli to the Queen, and hearty health
and success to the rest of the Royal Family."
Glee—" When order first."
The next toast was received with great applause:
CHAIRMAN.—" Gentlemen, I have now to call
your attention to a toast, which, as citizens of Lon-
don, you will drink heartily—it is, " the English
Constitution." I mean, by the English Constitution,
that form of Government which consists of King,
Lords, and Commons, as confirmed by the Revolu-
tion of WWI, each having distinct rights; and not
that Constitution which has been proposed by •Mr.
Hunt and others—(l,oud cheers.)
Glee—" King and Church."
After " the Nary and Army" were jointly drank,
and " Ride Britannia" was sung,
The CHAIRMAN next proposed as a toast, " free-
dom of election, uninfluenced by power, and unawed
by popular clamour."
CHAIRMAN.—" Gentlemen, we have had the plea-
sure of paying our tribute of respect to the venerable
Monarch who still occupies the throne; we have ho-
noured the Prince Regent as acting for him; and not
forgotten the rest of the Royal Family. It is proper
now to come to the business of the day ; and here I
confess that I feel gratified by the situation I fill.'
You know, if you have not for:.;otten what we read at
school, that it was customary for the Romans to cele-
brate their triumphs with a hearty good dinner; and
I believe, in this respect at least, we have not dero-
gated from this dignity—(Lau ter.) But in the pre-
sent case, we have the satisfaction of knowing that
we have embarked in an excellent cause, which well
deserved the triumph it met, in bringing out to pub-
lic view a gentleman of high honour, of the utmost
respectability, and whose entire life had before been
engaged in doing good. It is the character of Mr.
Wilson that has carried us through.. lie was an
English merchant, in the strictest sense. Foreigners
might deride us for the attachment we sheaved to
trade; but, besides that commerce had proved the
support both of our navy and army, it was easy to
prove that half the present race of Nobles had origi-
nated from the trading ranks, though they played
the part of aristocracy. lam satisfied that our new
Representative will do honour to your choice. if he
should think proper to accept of them, the highest
honours of tin) city now await hint. Gentlemen, I