The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-26 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

Yesterday evening, the members of, the association, after
the scientific labours of the day, resorted to our noble Town-
hall, (with which they had been accommodated through the
kindness and hospitality of the Mayor and Corporation,) and
partook of a dinner consisting of all that was substantial or
delicate. We need say no more than that the dinner, des-
sert, and wines were provided by Mr. Radley, of the Adelphi,
to assure our readers that the viands and wines were of the
best quality, and that the attendance on the guests was
most prompt and satisfactory. The dessert consisted of the
choicest fruits. The dinner took place in the great and splen-
did Ball Room of the Town-hall, and the company filled that
large apartment. An elevated table occupied the north side
of the room throughout its whole length, and in the eentre
of this sat the chairman, the Mayor on his right hand ; the
Rev. Mr. Bowstead, as representative of the clergy, on his
left, and on either side distinguished members of the associ-
ation, according to their seniority and standings. Seven large
tables were filled at right angles from that on the north. The
room—one of the largest and most splendid in England, was
brilliantly lighted, and Mr. Stubbs's Royal Harmonic Band
were placed in the Orchestra, and played, with much effect,
a number of favourite airs during the evening.
The Chairman was supported, on his right, by his Wor-
ship the Mayor, Dr. Hastings, the secretary and founder of
the association, Dr. Kendrick, of Warrington, Dr. Baron,
of Cheltenham, Mr. Ebb, Surgeon, (late mayor of Wor-
cester), and other gentlemen. On his left the Rev. Mr.
Bowstead, Dr. Barlow, of Bath, Mr. Carmichael, of Dub-
lin, and other gentlemen whose names we could not, on the
eve of our publication, ascertain.
The first toast—" The Queen," was drank with great en-
thusiasm, in other words,upstanding, with " all the honours,"
followed by the national anthem, and afterwards, " Here's a
health to all good Lasses." " The Queen Dowager, and the
rest of the Royal Family" followed, and was drank with
equal approbation.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the health of an individual
who had deeply interested himself in the welfare of this asso-
ciation, to which he had directed an extraordinary degree of
zeal, energy, and ability. The gentleman to whom he alluded
was in truth the founder of the association. (Loud and re-
peated cheers.) It would be almost superfluous in him to
adventure a single remark on the merits of their enlightened,
their experienced, he might add,—their beloved associate—
their indefatigable secretary. (Loud and continued cheers.)
He (the chairman) had a yet more pleasing task to perform,
with regard to that respected individual : and that was the

presentation to that gentleman of his own portrait, by the
association. This was intended as a present to Mrs. Hast-
ings and her family as a token of the respect and esteem in
which they held the head of that family as a professional
man, and as a private individual. He begged to propose
the health of Dr. Hastings. (Loud.and prolonged cheering.)
Dr. HASTINGS rose amidst prolonged shouts of approba-
tion. He said that if, on former and less prominent occa-
sions, when he had met a smaller portion of his medical
associates of that institution, he had difficulty in expressing
his feelings, it might well be believed that on the present
occasion he felt it still more difficult to give utterance to the
feelings of gratitude and delight with which he had heard the
manifestation of feeling towards him that evening. (Cheers.)
He had endeavoured to promote the interests of the profes-
sion ; and he was desirous to impress upon them the impera-
tive necessity—having once joined the profession—of their
devoting their utmost exertions—their very lives—to the
various and important objects of the vocation which they had
embraced. Having been the originator of the association,
he felt sufficiently rewarded in the approbation of his col-
leagues and the success which had attended their united efforts.
He looked forward to an early period when the influence of
the association, would, through the instrumentality of the
commerce of this great town, be extended over the world.
Mr. Hastings concluded a most eloquent address, by an
affecting acknowledgment of the compliment paid to him,
and his family, by the presentation of the portrait.
Many other eloquent addresses were delivered by members
of the association and other gentlemen on their healths being
drunk, and the meeting was highly interesting throughout ;
but we regret that, being on the eve of our publication,
we are precluded from supplying our readers with details.
A high compliment was paid to the Mayor and Corporation
for their hospitality to the Association ; and the company
separated in high admiration of the splendour of the enter-
tainment, and the kindly feeling that prevailed amongst the
medical men present, several of whom were from America,
and others from the Continent of Europe.