Star.
London, England, 1816-11-04 00:00:00

-THE DUKE OF KENr 9 BIRTR-DAT.

The Birth-dat of his Royal Highness the Duke of
KENT was commemorated on S.tnrday by I grand
public dinner at Fishmongers' Hall,• in testimony of
gratitude for flit Royal Highness's beneficent exer-
tions in sui:port of the numerous public charities of
this metropolis, the Right Host the Lone MAY(`R in
the Chair, supported .by his Royal .Highness the
Poke' of &siert, bib -Serene Highness t!.c Duke of
ORLEANS' Lord EIaKINR, L,ird faufeTroeirt, Sir ,
TuostAs BELL, and sever=! other 'Public characters.
Whilst the usual toasts of the Royal Family were in
prciress from the Chair,
The LORD MAVOIL rose, ea hoped, that as the
meeting was convened for the purpose of paying a
tribute to the Mite of Kent, they would allow him
in'early op-piirtuoity of gluing affect to their wishes,
by Drop ►sing the health of this distinguished patr6n
of, public charity. It' was out ot course, in point of
esiqtle.te, to do sof but when they knew the great
dui..icier of ;Ileitis% and when they were told that
be only remained abroad to enable himself, on his
return, to redouble his efforts in the cause of charity,
they would reel as he (the Chairman) did; the neces-
sity of paying, at an early moment, this tribute of
respect (Great I:ph/awe.) He would therefore propose.
The health of the t}uke of Kent, the Patron of Charity, the
Promoter of Etletatioti, the Ornament of his• Country, and the
Mani of the liumen.Race!"

This toast was teceivcd with loud acclamations.
j•lis Royal Highness the Diem of Sussex then rose,
and. was greeted with loud applause. He begged,
on the part ot his illustrious relative, to return thanks
for the high honour done him on the present occa-
sion. His Roya; Highness said, that the modesty of
his brother Would he an effectual bar to his acknow.
ledgiog the high tribute he had received; but the fact
really was, the tribute went to do honotrf to the
Royal Family (for it could not fall on one of its
members without shining upon all), and he (the
Doke ot Sussex) felt his share of gratitude for so dis-
tinguished a favour--one emanating from individuals
of rill parties and opinions: and this meeting showed
that people could " agree to differ,' for here they were
assembled, as his Royal Highness supposed, ler a
general purpose, quite forgetful of particular d,ffe-
Seneca. In return for the health of his illustricus re.
letive, be would beg leave to drink " The healths of
the company present."—(Lord apitlause.)
Mr. SMART theta read a poetical address, written
by Mr. Thomson, complimenting the Duke of Kent
fqr hie public conduct.
Mr. TuosisoN then proposed that an Address be
presented to his Rnyal Highaiss from the Directors
of the Benevolent Institution which he patronized ;
Which was received with loud applause ; and.
On the motion of Mr. WILLIAM, seconded by Mr.
THORPE, one of the late Sheriffs, the Address was
then agreed to, amid loud acclamations, and ordcred
to be for warded to the Duke of Kerr.
The LORD MAYO.t then prefaced the health of the
Duke of Sussex, with an appropriate eulogium upon
his public and private character. His Lordship hit.
enorously observed, 'duo the Duke had become
proficient in arts and sciences before he became a
. tradesman. His theory anticipated his practice, and
for such proficiency the fishmongers, much to their
• honour, made him a citizen-,—(Lord applauses.)
• His Royal Highness's health was drank with loud

applause.
The Duke of Sussex then rose and returned thanks
for the honour done him on the present occasion.—
Some people had called his rank in question because
he had Avoved himself a fishmonger and a citizen of
London. Now he was inclined to run the gauntlet'
ou that point. He meant well, and was not ashamed
of his Company—(Lord aritlause.)—He was not of
that class that felt sore at receiving such honours. It
had not bten his good fortune to seek glory in a naval
or military career; he therefore sought his meed of
approbation in a Civic Crown, and he received his
reward from his fellow-citizens of London, who had
elected him of their body—(Great atisknuc.)—Eng-
liand was a commercial, agroculloural, and manufac-
tura' country ; and the man who'attempted to under-
value the' individual who obtained honours from
either of these bodies, did not deserve to have his
!lame enrolled among the phabont of Englishmen.—
(Great afiplaase.)—His Royal Highness stated, that
in his public lone of conduct he was solely actuated
by conscientious views ; and he would recommend
the adoption of a similar cconse to others, for then,
as bets . what come may," let disappointment ar-
airs, they had yet in their own bosoms the antidote,
and the grand consolation to bear them up against
ithiforee of opinion, be it what it may. His Royal
Highness concluded by urging the meeting to feel
tor each other, and make allowance for particular
opinions; and by the adoption of such a Lne of con-
duct, make controversial topics more palateable and
seemly in civil society—( Great aftplaust.)
The LORD Mawba then proposed degliealth of the
-Dolma( OriaraUs, observing that his Serene Histimets,
.caclusive of his own immediate, claims for their ap
_probation, had a strong title from his acknowledged
.attachment to the Duke of Kent ; and, above all,
from the circumstances of his endeaiouring to rear
•bis own infant family in England, and making this
country the birth-place of the immediate heir to his
tide.
The Duke of OaLeihs rose and returned thanks.
• He had been, he said, as was fl.atteringly observed
by the Lord Mayor, engaged in rearing an infant
family in this country, and the best acknowledgment
he conld give in return would be the assurance, that,
in his parental instructions, he would inculcate into
the grinds of his children the principles of the British
tilonstitution, and an endearing attach-meat to its in-
stitutions and liberties-- ( Great efritleure.) .
The Rev. *Dr. LINDSAY, after an animated and
interesting speech, proposed the following sentiment:
. " May every Royal Duke in Europe qualify himself
iss the same school, and entitle himself to the same
truly noble return as his Royal Highness the Dula
of Kent from the great body of his fellow-Subjects
Mr. But", Lincoln's tnn, seconded this pro.
i' shine.
The sentiment was given from the Chair, amid
great applause.
The following toasts were also drank with appro.
'Rae marks of respect : e
" Prosperity to the Estabitsbnteats for rootlet% she Bawls.
aeaa of the Poor."--" Proeperity to the Hospitals Dipsupariei,
aid ether Institutions for Mirth* the Diseased ot.ths Poits"-i—
-" Prosperity to dap Sot-feet, for rekkving the
,Distt,,mea at
Ey.
die
"--" Grace the Duke of Wtilonaton,". Lord