Star.
London, England, 1826-09-09 00:00:00

GRAND PROVINCIAL DINNER.

ABRIDGED FROM THE DUBLIN EVENING 'POST OP
TUESDAY.

Tuesday, the Grand 'Provincial Dinner was held in
that fine, spacious room, generally appropriated to
such purposes, in the Town Hall, Waterford. The
triumph of Lord Fitzwilliam's principles was graced by
his presence.
At seven o'clock precisely, Earl Fitzwilliam, accotb-
panied by the lung tried friend of Ireland, Sir J. New-
port, reached the Town Hall, where they were received
with shouts, long, loud, and vehement.

Of those who attended we noticed in particislar—The
Right Honourable and the illustrious Earl Fitzwillians,
Lord Ebrington, the Hon. Mr. Ponsonby (son of Lord
Dencannon), Sir John Newport, Bart. M.P. Captain
Newport, Captain Stowell, of the county of Cork, Robt.
Shapland Carew, Esq. M.P. /Itc. &c.
joubi Esq. of Elmvale, county of Clare, was In the
Chair. On his eight sat Earl FitzwiWam and Sir John Newport;
and on his left, Lord Ebrington and the Hon. Mr. Ponsonby.
On the cloth being removed, the CHAIRMAN gave—
" The King—may he never forget the dedaration of the Prime
'Regent, that power is held in trust for the People' Four times
four (incessant cheering for some minutes). Air, 'Galante theft g.":
After the Duke of Sussex's health, and general national Nub
had been given, the Cuasabas proposed,
" Earl FitzwilSam—may he speedily see the accomplishment
of the lust and enlightened views of the Lord Lieutenant of 9S,
and receive the congratulations of a Free Country."—(Molt entim-
siaatic applause).
When Earl FITZWILLAP4 rose, the enthusiasm which
his name had excited was again called forth. He Celt
there was required from him some explanation of. the
motives which had led him to adopt the system of ea_
a.. he had embraced in the year 1795--(Hear).-4-He
did not mean to charge any one with the insincerity with
which he had been treated on that question, which he
tame into this country to execute. He came to execute
that which circumstances afterwards inclined him to
attempt. He knew, he was well aware, that up to the
time he tame into this country he had powerful circum-
stances to contend against. lie did not charge Mr. Pitt
with having betrayed him, for he did not expect sin.
cerity from him; but it so happened that he (Earl rita•
william) took a step which he was fully aware was the
one he ought to have adopted. He did adopt it. The
measure was moved, not upon his account, but being
once moved, it became necessary to adopt the measure
itself, or, by not doing so, to abandon that principle
which he had ever advocated. With that view it was
adopted, and so the responsibility of the measure fell to
hi niself—the responsibility of having adopted a measure,
which he then, as well as now, conside; ed necessary for
the good and the salvation of this country. It was with
that view he lent it his assistance. It was not moved
ny him, but by another. He had been given hopes that
the measure itself would have been carried into.effect.

PRICE SEVENPENCE,

—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He wished those who Tea-
dered those hopes vain, and who now opposed them,
were in that room: It they las he did) beheld the opu-
lence, the industry, and wealth, which then attended
and surrounded him in that room, he was certain it
would no longet be a question with them, whether those
rights should be conceded to them to which they were
entitled. Why should they not obtain those privileges?
All the privileges which could be granted to the other
classes had been granted. The lower orders of the
people had every power which they could possess. The
power of election was already in the hands of the peoples
The great mass of the people was so situated, while the
, Gentry were ousted of those places which they should
possess: Every thing that could make the people
powerful was given them, while the Bill for the relief
of the higher classes was left in the lurch. No*, he
considered the matter in this point of view, that the
lower orders had the right of election given them ; yet,
if their soperior sought power, it was denied him. 'the
country was placed in this situation, that the higher the
orders of society were, every thing was refused to them
that could be refused. He felt that this *as a Violent
and a corrupt system. It was a system which Itches,
was preserved for its corruption, and for the undue in-
fluence that it gave.—(Cheers, and criesy hear) *he re-
jection of a Bill was to be attributed to those auses ;
those. were the teal causes of its rejection. At to any
thing else for which he could expect the kindness that he
had received, he did not know why his efforts had been
so appreciatede knew but of one. it was that which
made the people of this country what they were and
wished to be, mere Irish Catholics—that was the esta-
blishment of the College of Maynooth--(flear hear.)
He had the honour of being the original mover of the
establishing of such a College.—(Cheers.)-..He knew it
had done great good to this country. By that'esta-
blishment they had created an Irish Priesthood-:..not a
French Priesthood, a Spanish Priesthoo.l, an Italian
Priesthood, but such as were accustomed to the 'Coun-
try—those who were bred in the conntry7.natives of
it—and had no connection but with tbose ih their oern
country. He conceived that was One great and im
portant object for obtaining the permanent affection of
the body of the Roman Catholics. When he cast his eyes
around that room, be saw the name of that man, Mr.
Burke, who was the first to propose that measure. He
adopted it with pteasure,and he knew the satisfaction that
it had given to those of their own body, to possess a
Priesthood who, to every intent and purpose, were truly
national; a Priesthood who bad no looking to 'the right
or to the left' and do not seek a connection with Spain
or any other 'country, but whose connections were al-
together at home. This was a measure which heat the
suggestion of Mr. -Burke, first adopted. And are we to
be alarmed because the Irish people have a Clergy of
their -own P Directly the reverse. They should think
and feel otherwise, particularly when trey looked to
the Western lioriton, where they saw a great people
rising ep, and embodying the principles of true liberty
with the Catholic religion. 'Can he then thint that they
ought to be afraid of entrusting privileges to persons of
that description, who on every Occanon proved them-
selves to be patriots, and consequently :fit to be entrusted
with the care of a great Empire. 'He was sure the re-
verse ought to be the case. It was a satisfaction to him,
at this period of time, to look up to the great -example
which had been held forth to the world by this country.
To see the Catholicsteceiving a free Constitution, and
dispensing it also, was whet be earnestly wished. This
being the view he took, be was satisfied that a great
event was approaching. He could not but think so
when be came to that great town, and saw the mass of
population with which it was filled, and when he saw
the respectability of those around him—when he consi-
dered their great property and extensive influence
influence which they properly used—be wished that
those who were opposed to them would come there, and
see who it was they rejected—who it was they said
should not partake of liberty in this day. He had now
only to thank them, and to assure them of his respect
and the sentiments of gratitude which he entertained
towards them—(Cheering far several minutes.)
A Jerks of Catholic toasts were then given.
The health, of Lords Rbrington and Sir John Newport were
druhk with the customary honours, and produced the usual effusions
iX gratitude from the Noble Lord and the Right Hon. Baronet.
After a number of eleenotteeries and ether toasts had been givens
and drink with applause,
Lord ESSINGTON said he bad to propose a toast, to
which it was unnecessary for him to prefix any preface,
for he was about to propose that of Daniel O'Connell—
(Cheers). He was certain it was perfectly unnecessary
for him to say anything on the toast. He should there.
fore detain them no longer, but would propose, with
three times three, their able, powerful, and virtuous
Champion " Daniel O'Connell.*

Cheering for several minutes, during which Mr. O'Connell avow.
Mr.O'Co N mut. felt that there would have been a some-
thing soothing in the feelings of gratification which then
filled him, had the toast come from a countryman of his
own. He blamed himself for this, for he recognised
with honest pride the compliment that had been paid
him, when coming from an Englishman, from the Noble
Lord with whom it originated. The disinterested feeling
of kindness which prompted that toast he never could
be forgetful of—the honour he cherished as coming
from a noble and honourable Whig. He was truly
proud of the honour which the Noble Lord had done
him. Never, he would say, let it be said that an Eng-
lish Whig has a greater anxiety for freedom, a greater
hatred for tyranny, than those of his religion—(Cheers.)
Two and twenty years had he spent, pleasantly spent,
in the cause in which he was embarked ; and, notwith-
standing all the calumnious attacks that had been made
upon him, devoting himself to the sacred cause, the
sacred priaciple of civil and religious liberty.—(Loud
cheers.) His first love was for Ireland. He felt plea.
sure in her delightful valleys—in her awful and map
jestic mountains, which frown upon the deep, and give
to her beautiful and fertile plains tributary streams,
fitted for all the purposes of commerce and manufac-
tures, and, more than all, her gallant, brave, and in-
dustrious pi.ople.—(Cheers.) lie did not forget that
this lovely and beautiful country WAS trampled on—
that she was unfostunate—that she was indebted 1.. r her
misfortunes for seven centuries, to England.—(fleur.)
He acknowledged to England that he did not forget
th.s; but still he was induced, from his auxie y tcr