Star.
London, England, 1821-03-19 00:00:00

ST. PAT .RICK'S DA Y.

Saturday last being the Anniversary Festival of the
metal- Saint of Ireland, the President, Stewards, and
fiends of t!te Benevolent Society of St. Patrick
dined together, according to annual custom, at the
City of London Tavern. The principal room of that
extensive mansion was devoted to the accommeda-
tion of the very numerous visitors who had assem-
bled to celebrate the prosperous continuance of this
excellent Institution. By half-past five every seat
was occupied, excepting those at the upper table,
which were reserved for the Chairman and the Stew-
ards ; and at a little afler six o'clock his. Grace the
Duke of WELLINGTON, followed by the Duke ofl
LElNsruit, Lord CASTLEREAGH, the Marquis of
LANSDOWN, the Larl of DARNLEY, Lord Aturtrutt
HILL, Mr. CANNING, the Cuaticet.t.oa of the Ex-
CHAIMPari. General Sir JOHN DOYLE, Lord BLESIN-
TON, and a great number of Military Officers and
Members of Parliament, entered the room, and was
received with the 'oldest acclamations, which were
redoubled upon his Grace's taking the Chair ; the
band, stationed in the gallery, playing Seethe con-
quering !Pro come.t." A sumptuous dinner was served
up, which did credit to the excellent arrangements
of the Stewards. _ _

As soon as the cloth was removed the usual healths
cf the Itoyal Family were given from the Chair
amidst the loudest demonstrations of enthusiastic at-
tachment, " A'on nobit Domine" having been pre-
viously sung by Messrs. Broadhurst, J. Cooke, Hawes,
Webb, &c.

His Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON, in proposing j
the hea!:h 4 the King, declared the satisfaction he
fele in the honour of announcing to them
that he was the bearer 4 his Majesty's usual dona-
tion-of 200 guineas, with the Kings best wishes for
the success of this excellent itistitution—(Cheers).—
"The Royal Family,"—" The Arroy and Navy,"—
“ The Mother of St. Patrick," followed, and were
given with three times three. At this period of the
evening, the children, who are the objects of the Cha.
rity, were introduced; and, in making the tour ofl
the room, presented a spectacle highly interesting to
every charitable bosom, and highly honourable to
that useful bounty which had extended to them its

suppoit and its protection.
The Doke of WELLINGTON then rose to call the
attention of the Meeting to the great objects of this
benevolent Institution. It gave support, without any
distinction, to several hundred poor children, who

would be otherwise destitute and helpless. In the
progress of this Institution one thing was for a long
pertod.w•anted, namely, an appropriate building for
the reception of the poor children who were the ob-
jects of their bounty. The building intended for
that pu-pose was, at length, established in Stamford-
street, Blacktriars-road. The completion of this edi-
fice had, however, according to the Report of the
Sub-committee, brought upon the Charity a debt of
1:3,000over and above the btlance in the hands of,
the Treasurer. The great benefits of this Institution
they now saw exemplified before them. He need say
no more than point to that as the great reward of
their la.bouis. He concluded by proposing " Suc-
cess to-the Benevolent Society of St. Patrick ;" three
times three—(Load applause)—and the band struck
up the air of St. Patrick's-day in the luorttikg.
The Duke of LEINSTER said, he felt the highest
gratification in calling upon the very respectable and
benevolent company by whom he was surrounded to
fill a bumper toast, which he was quite confident the
wishes of every man had already anticipated. In
their illustrious Chairman (Immense applause)—they
beheld not only all that was glorious and fortunate
in that profession of which be had long been the
most brilliant ornament, but they saw him, in peace,
forem4s4 in promoting the beneficent views of charity,
and in *.esteading the sphere of public and private
benevolence. He (the Duke of Leinster) begged to
propose ".the Health of their Illustrious Chairman,
the Duke of Wellington, the Hero of Waterloo, and
may his happiness in peace be equal to his renown
in war." This toast was drank with marks of the
warmest approbation. He need only name his toast,
which was one of the standing toasts of the Society,
to entitle it to the applause which, he was happy to
nee, accompanied the announcement.

The Duke of WELLINGTON, in returning thanks,
expressed the gratification he felt at finding his name
as one of the standing toasts of the Society. To pro-
:note their benevolent views he should ever be most
anxious. He knew he was indebted to them for this
kindness to the services which it had been in his
power to perform. He repeated his thanks to the
company for the compliment they had paid him,
and to the Noble Duke for the manner in which he
had introduced his tnast(Lond cheering).
a The Memory of the late Duke of tie.t, always
a liberal contributor to the funds of this Institution,"
Was drank, in the course of the evening, in silence.
The Noble CHAIRMAN then proposed " The health
of the Marquis of Hastings," which was received avith
suitable demonstrations of respectful attachment.
- The next toast from the Chair was, " The health
of his Grace the Duke of Leinster"—(Loud cheers).
The Duke of LEINSTER, in returning thanks for'
the honour done him on the present occasion, el-
tressed the gratification he felt at being present at
tins festival. He had this gratifying opportunity,
Owing to the circumstance of his having been de-
tained here by public business. In attending the ce-
lebration of this Charity, and using his best efforts to
promote its benevolent object, he only performed the
duty which he owed to his conntrymen—(Applause).
He repeated, that were it not for the detention of
public business, he should not have had the gratifying
opportunity of presenting himself now before them.
The principal inducements of his residence in Eng-
land having now approached their termination, he
intended vei y shortly to return to Ireland, not with-
out a hope, he would confess, of finding that his ex-
ample might be useful--(Ilis Grace here bowed to
Lord Casttereagh).—lethe feeling that he should
most usefully serve his country by remaining in it,,
he certainly did intend most speedily to go thither—
(ler, great applanse).—lie should conclude by pro..
:postng the health of his Noble Friend Lord Castle-
.leagh—(Cheering)—who had ever been a zealous
and strenuous supporter :of this Institution.—This
toad was very warmly greeted.
Lord CASTLIMIRAGII, in rising to mum thanks for
the hamar they had done him, expressed the difli-
duly' he tilt in acknowledging the compliment in

•
ukulele terms. If the i rri peeativo obligation) Of public
duty which detained him here prevented hie following
'the example of his Noble friend the Duke of-Leinster, !
he could assure him that'he did not the less appre.
ciate it, and concur in the opinion, that the more ge-
nerally that example was followed, the better for Ire-
land—(Applause).—He hoped to take an early op-1
-portunity of revisiting his native country, to all the
interests of which he felt so strong an attachment—
(Loud'
applause).—The Noble Lord then expressed
the pleasure he felt in attending this Anniversary. It
was delightful to find that, whatever were the public
strifes of the moment in general politics, they-could
yet set apart one day in the year for the oblivion of
them all, an-I the generous devotion of all their feel-
ings to the common object of charity and benevo-
lence—(Lame/ applause).—He then called their atten-
tion to the great debt incurred by the Charity in the
building, and hoped to see the incumbrance removed,
if not by the collection at this Meeting, at furthest by
that at the next. He concluded by proposing the
health of the Earl of Darnley—(Costiaued cheers).
The Earl of DARNLEY, in returning thanks, con-
gratelated the Meeting upon the good temper and
harmony which it had exhibited, and which formed
it happy contrast to the conduct of a former Meeting,
when he had to contend against a very different spirit,
for he had always deprecated the introduction of po-
litics, or any other ground of dissent, into a Meeting
of this nature, which was originally designed fur cha-
rity, and which should he exclusively devoted to that
purpose. The Noble Lord proposed the health of
his Right Honourable ti lend and school-fellow, Mr.
Canning--(Great applause).
Mr. CANNING declared, that from the task imposed
upon him, by the very warm manner in which his
health had been drank, he found the expression of
his feelings was rendered peculiarly difficult. When
he considered the eminence of the Noble and Illus-
trious Persons whose healths had been previously
drank ; when he looked to the elevation of their rank,
the extent of their services, and the amount of their'
property, and when he felt that he had none of those
great advantages to recommend him to the &Aim-
tion of being classed with such men, he was at a loss
to account for the honour which had been just con-
ferred upon him— (Applause).—The partiality of
the Meeting might, perhaps, be influenced by his
derivation from that interesting country, to which,
no doubt, the
.great majority of them owed their
birth. He had the honour of occupying the Chair
last year, being as anxious as any man to promote
the interests of this. Charity, and should continue to
contribute to its support as far as he was enabled by
his humble means—(Applause).—lndeed, he should
think this a Meeting-peculiarly deserving of liheral
patronage, concurring as he did with his Noble Friend,
that it was a grateful scene to witness an annual ob-
livioh of political- differences, particularly among
men who had, no doubt, the same end in view, al-
though they might differ as to the means of attaining
it. Independently of the charitable object of the
Institution, such a Meeting was much to be valued
as a means of promoting social harmony, and of
suspending, if not removing, all party asperities.—
He had now, lie said, a pleasing duty assigned to
bins ; it was that of proposing the health of a Noble-
man of such eminent talents as would serve to raise
the possessor from any station,. and were calculated
to confer honour upon the highest. But those talents
were the more to be valued, as they were accome
palsied by that' degree of moderation which was
always characteristic of true wisdom; he meant the
Marquis -of Lansdown—(Loud applause).
The Marquis of LA NSDOWN, atter returning thanks
in very eloquent terms, urged, with peculiar force,
the claims of the Charity upon the bounty of the
Meeting. The Managers of the institution hid, in
their new building, he was sorry to say, committed
that which might, perhaps, be excusable in them,
namely, a blunder; for they had actually laid out
money before they were sure that they had got it-e-
-(Laughter). But lie trusted to Irish generosity to
supply the want occasioned by Irish indiscretion;
for it was an indiscretion, indeed, in those Gentle-
men to vote double the supplies to the amount of
their ways and means. But the Chancellor of the
Exchequer having heard of that, had, he was happy
to see, come liberally there in order to contribute to
their relief from the consequences!—(.4 laugh and
cheers). The Noble Marquis concluded with pro-
posing " the Health of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer, which was drank with,applause.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIEQUER, in returning
thanks, expressed his desire to serve this laudable
Charity, which, as an Irish officer and as a private
individual, he should be always happy to do. The
deficiency of the ways and means, alluded to by his
Noble Friend, would, he hoped and trusted, be soon
supplied by the liberality of both England and Ire-
land—(Applause).
The Treasurer now stated the amount of the sub-
scription, which was the largest that has been col-
lected for many years—Cl,9o4 16s.—The Duke of
Wellington gave 100 guineas.
The Duke of Waeeteuroe then, proposed the. Ma-
rquis of Lansdown as the Chairman for the next year.
The Marquis accepted the* appointment ; and the
Duke of Wellington, with Lord Castlereagh, de-1
ckared their intention upon that occasion to volunteer
in the service of the Noble Marquis.
About half-past ten o'clock, the Chairman, with
several of the Noblemen and Gentlemen at the head
of the table, left the room.

Mr. L. CONCANNON was called to the Chair; and
that Gentleman proposed 14 the Health of Mr. Plun-
kett," which was drank with great applause.
The CHAIRMAN considerably promoted the festivi-
ties of the Meeting, which broke up befo►e twelve.

Lady CASTLEREACI entertained a large party of
Fashionables on Saturday, after the Opera, at her
house in St. James's-square,
There was a County Meeting held at Cambridge
on Tuesday last, for the purpose of petitioning the,
House of Commons for a Reform in the Representa-
tion, and for the restoration of her MAJESTY to her'
sights and privileges. The Meeting was very nu-
merous and highly respectable. The Duke of BED-
FORD, the Marquis of Tevirroce, Mr. GUNNING, and
Mr. Parma, were among the speakers ia favour of
The Resolutions, which they enforced, with much
vigour and ability. A feeble oppcsition was made by
General WALL and Dr, CNA FY ; but the original mo-
tion was carried amidst immense appLuse. The Meet-
Hag diapeiaed after giving three cheers for the QtmisN.,