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

DINNER OF MR. THORPS FRIENDS.

A very numerous and highly respectable meeting
of the friends of liberty and independence dined
together at the London Tavern yesterday. At half-
past six the Duke of Susses, Lord HOLLAND, Mr.
BY NG, Mr. ELL ICE, Mr. WA ITIIMA N, MT. J. J. SMITH,
and Mr. TIIORP entered the room, and were received
with the greatest applause.
The ,Duke of SUSSEX, upon taking the chair, ad-
dressed the Meeting to this effect :—" I came hither
from friendship and esteem for the worthy Alderman
whose election you have met to commemorate this
day. Upon my arrival, I found that a revered and
faithful old servant of the City of London was dead.
In consequence of the death of Alderman Combe, his
son, Boyce Combe, Esq. could not preside here this
day. I have been asked to take the chair in conse-
quence of this lamented event. Gentlemen, in any
public duty, and on any occasion which calls together
such a very respectable assembly as this, I always
feel happy to be useful—(Great applause); but I
must say that I should have felt much happier to sit
on this occasion on the right hand of my lriend
derman Thorp), as that would, perhaps, be a more
constitutional place." This explanation of his Royal
Highness taking the chair in place of B. Combe, Esq.
was received with the greatest applause.
Upon the cloth being removed, and the health of
" The King" being given, the Chairman proposed
" The Prince Recent, and may he never forget the
principles which placed the House of Brunswick upon
the Throne of this country "—G./cc/emotions of Ap-
plause). " The Queen, and the rest of the Royal
-Family," followed, and was received with appro-
priate demonstrations of respect.
The Duke of Sussex.--" Gentlemen, in comme-
morating the election of a worthy and independent
man, we cannot forget where we are. The City of
London, its extensive commerce, the munificence of
its establishments, and the magnificence of its cha-
rities, arc entitled to our admiration and our praise.
Whenever I have come to the City of London, it has
afforded me great pleasure to drink a toast which
conveys a sentiment expressive of this character. I
have now much satisfaction in giving from the chair,
The City of London, and prosperity to its com-
merce' "—(Great applauses).
The Duke of SUSSEX next rose to propose the
health of the honest, independent, and popular Gen-
tleman on his right hand—(Great applause). He felt
deep regret at that moment on two accounts ; first,
because of
.the absence of a chairman, who. would
have done ample justice to this subject ; and next,
because he felt himself unable to express the satisfac-
tion he felt for the triumph of indepenlence—( Very
great applause). But coming thither, as he did, with
the prospect of being only a visitor, he could say,
that none could feel more sensibly than be the suc-
cess of their late conquest—(Applause); and none
could more cordially congratulate the City of Lon-
don and the country at large on their triumph than
he,-(Great applause). It did appear to him the
constitutional question than had been tried
f2orsg.:eslong time—(Very great applause). lie was a
man of few words; but he possessed the powers of
resection as well as any one, and none could enter
more sincerely into the welfare and interests of his
country than he did—(Applause). At present, it was
the duty of every man to consider what were the true
interests of his country, and to support them—(Ap-
plause). It was not for him to enter into a long detail
of the acts of the last Parliament, but he would men-
tion the results. After a long war, of which he would
mention neither the merits nor the demerits, for that
was not the question ; when he saw not economy, not
the diminution of the army, (every diminution of
taxes or burdens had been effected by very arduous
contests), not relief to the people, or benefit to the
general prosperity of the nation, to be the result, he
must say that there was something wrong—(lmmense
applause). It was their duty to inquire who they
were who had assisted in the contests in favour of the
people, and who had supported economy and reduc-
tion of unnecessary expense during the war and after
its close—(Great applause). Their contest for the
City was now over. He congratulated them on the
result. He would indulge no asperity towards those
who, thank GOD, were now politically dead-0/uch
laughter and applause). It was awkward for him as
a Peer to tat of elections ; but their election was
now accomplished—(Applause); and none could be
more constitutional than he was on those subjects.
He had his friends and his predilections; and he felt

it extremely pleasant natural friena ivH
his polit;cal friend,. for then there was a dotible title
But if he should have a friend ivho difkred froirl
him in politics, (and there were many whole_ polities
were diErent from his,) whom he respected and
esteemed, and if he were asked to give his vote ft
them, he should answer, No "Applause). Oil
the same principle on which he condemned the mr
Who over-reached the Tax office, beciute he UT it.
doing encouraged the extension of an old tax, or the
Creation of a new one; on the same principle he
would refuse his vote to a man who would support
a new tax, or a new measure, at the pleasure of the
Minister—(kip/a:e..;(). Was he to give his support
to a man who would sanction a legislative measure
that might perhaps go to hang him up if th^ Minir-
ter pleased ?—(buirease applause). fle took' care ;
himself, and when he did so he might be expected
do justice to his neighbour—(AppMele): So they h!
done, and he congratulated them for having done __
They had taken cure of themselves, and taken card
of the country by increasing the numb& of those
who consulted their interests—(Great applau,,e): Fid
had been acquainted with Alderman Thorp as Sheriff
the Alderman had assisted him in works of charity
his services in the City had been well known ; though
last, not least, his professions were known to them=
pi o es,ions grafted on his father's character, who h:
been the tread), friend of the Illustrious relation of
Noble Lord near him—be meant Charles James F;
----(Great applause); and who had also been the ft km
through lite of Mr. Combe, whose death was now
lamented.

He proposed the health of Almerman Thorp, and
might he long live in the affections of his fellow
iieitxzens—(Great applause.)
•
. ' Mr. Alderman TIIORP, in returning thanks, said
that if the manner in which their Must:tons chairmr
had proposed his health, or if the enthusiastic mai,
ner in which they had received it, had pmcceded
from any individual attachment, be should haw-
been deeply embarrassed ; but- proceeding, as it di
from attachment to the cause of liberty and ind(
pendence, he was much relieved —(applause.) 111
was but the hurable instrument in their hand:
his canvas he felt that he must be successful.--(al.
plause.) He should make no allusion to others; but
one allusion he must make for a moment, as td the
remark made at a late meeting of Sir W. CuttiF'
friends. Whatever the present Representatives of the
city were, the blame, if there was any, niust attar;
to the Livery, who had repudiated their former
Members, and elected new Representatives-,-ral
plause.) He lamented most sincerely the death
the near friend of the Gentleman who was to ha‘
been in the chair. lie had always acted conseien,
tiously, honourably, find fairly, for the good of ht
country, and for the advancement of what he con-
ceived beneficial to mankind—he died, he hllieved,
with the good *islies of all his fellow citizei,s—
(Great ap arise.) The pledge he had given on the
hustings e should redeem, and meet them het eativ
to say he had done su--(appl«use.) He would alum,
oppose every ui:necessary expense of the pub'.
money, and every proposal to suspend the great bas
wark colour lawn ies, the II ibeas Corpus—he shale
always support the liberty and prosperity bf our f.
low subjects--(Shouts of applause.)
After a short pause, Mr. THORP rose again to preA
pose the health of their illustrious Chairman. 'P.
own professions remained to be proved; their Chail
man's had been proved. He had always devoted h,
time, his labour, and his authority, to the liberti
and best interests of mankind—(Great applause.)
The Duke of SUSSEX. said it would be very));
taste in him to say much in reply. Whatever hi
had given in charity, he had given only as their set
vans. He could only be a faithful steward. rev-
great applause.) What his Majesty had said Mr
the Throne he could now repeat—he gloried
having been born a Briton. ' If the Crown supports
the rights and liberties of the people, the peop,
would always preserve the dignity and authoriti.
the Crown—(Long continued applause.)
The I)uke oftiossEx next proposed a toast of whit
he felt the force, and of which they required no e,
planation. a Reform iu l'arliament, and may i
speedy attainment ensure to the people the erijo:
me.iit•of their rights and liberties.".--(applause.)
His Royal Highness then proposed the health
Lcrd Holland. None more intimately agreed wi,,
'him in feelings and opinions. They had gone abroad
together in their younger years. Their friendships
he believed to be now mdissoluble—(applause.) lie
had witnessed his conduct; he had fought by his
side; on one occasion they were alone, in political
warfare. He had steadily acted up to his principles,
a Lord Holland, the advocate of civil and religious
liberty, and the steady opposer of the suspension
the great bulwark of our liberty, the Habeas Corpus.
(Great rcipktate..)

Lord HOLLAND, in making his acknowledgment,
for the honour conferred upon him, observed, that
he could attribute that honour only to his connection
with a man whose name and principles he was glad
to find dear to his countrymen, as he had no doub'
they were to alI the liberal and intelligent men
Europe--(applauses.) For the principles of hi- Mut
trions Relation's kind heart were, he was con-
vinced, not more conducive to the prosperity and
happiness of England, than to the freedom of
mankind--(amlause.) The Noble Lord congratu-
lated the Meeting upon the return of Mr. Alderman
Thorp, whom he understood to be the son of a most
respectable individual, always devoted to the ge-
nuine principles of freedom. Therefore, he rejoiced
in the event which the meeting was assembled to c,
lebrate, however that meeting might disturb " the
green-eyed," or green-bagged monster of jealousy.

Upon the healths of Messrs. Waithman and Bynt,
being drank each returned thanks in appropriate terms.
The Duke of Sussex having proposed the hrolth
of Mr. Ellice, the brother-innaw, he said, of Lord.
Grey and the late Mr. Whitbread, who had been
lately returned for Coventry, which proposition was
loudly cheered,
Mr. Ewes: returned thanks in a manly impres-
sive speech, assuring the Meeting. that his conduct
in Parliament should never he influenced by any
personal connection or party attachment—am/awes.,
• The Meeting broke up about twelve o'clock, after
a scene which we witnessed with peculiar pleasure,
because it was marked with the utmost ardour in the
cause of liberty.