Star.
London, England, 1818-07-01 00:00:00

L 1.5. Est OF MR. C.ILVERT'S FRIENDS.
Yesterday a very numerow and respectable Meet-
ing of the friends of /qr. CATVERT assembled at the
City of London Tavern, to celebrate that Gentle-
man's return, as one of the Members to serve in Par-
liament for the Borough of Southwark. They sat
down to a very plentiful and well-arranged dinner,
about half-past five. After the cloth was remoied,
two very elegant flags were introduced into the
robin, the one decorated; in golden letters, with the
words, " Loyalty to the King,"—" Liberty to the
People:" the other with the words, " The 1932 Elec-
tors being the number who voted for Mr. CALVERT.
The first toast that was given was, " The King."
It was drank in solemn silence, the whole of the com-
pany standing. After this, the song of " GOD save
the King" was sung, and the Assembly still standing
joined in the chorus with the most enthusiastic feeling.
The Chairman (Mr. Soeotleene Davies) then gave,
" The Prince Regent, and may he never forget those
principles which seated his family on the Throne:"
this was drank with three times three. After this
followed a song, " 0 bring me wine, rosy wine."
The next toast was, " The Queen, and the rest of
the Royal Family."
Then followed, " Prosperity to the Borough of
Southwark," with three times three, and loud and re-
peated applause.
The Ciuttastax then rose and said, that he had
to propose to the company a bumper-toast. He was
sure that they would anticipate the Gentleman whom
he was about to give; and, if lie were not very much
fatigued with the business of the day, he should say
a great deal in his praise. Exhausted, however, as
he was, he should content himself with giving the
health of Mr. Charles Calvert, their worthy Repre-
sentative.—(Leuil and long continued applan ye.)
Mr. CALVERT rose to return thanks.—" Gentle-
men, (said he) my Honourable Friend has imposed
on me a very difficult task. 1 don'tmean that it is
difficult to return my thanks for the very handsome
way in which you have drank my health. I hope I
am not so deficient in ability as not to be able to do
that. I hope, that as long as it may please GOD to
continue me in that health which you have se kindly
wished. me, I shall always devote it to your service
(applause); but, Gentlemen, I feel it difficult to ex-
fress my feelings for the very proud and honourable
situation in which you have lately placed me. That
is rot the only difficulty which presents itself to my
mind on this occasion. This is the second time that
you have returned me to the House of Commons as
one of your Representatives; and therefore I consider
it as a proof that you have approved of my conduct
--(nplAftre). Gentlemen, in the last Parliament, and
particularly in the last Session of that Parliament,
many important subjects had occurred affecting your
religious and Civil rights ; and I beg to assure you,
that although I have been considered by some per-
sons as a servile adherent to party, I have never
given my vote on •me occasion without considering
the sobject undereonsideratioa, ar ! he; rowine on it
the best judgment in my power—(app/awe). (len'le
men, I am proud to see, I am truly happy to feel, the
display of this day : it is a scene that never was sur-
passed in the life of any man living. You have ho-
llowed with universal applause the humble individual
w:rom you have chosen as the protector of your
" rights and liberties—ferret app'ause). 1 roust now
beg leave to allude, hut in a very slight manner, to
what passed during the contest.' It has been repre-
sented by Mr. Barclay, or his friends, that although
1 did not openly and avowedly. yet that I did se-
cret'.y and covertly form a coalition with Sir Robert
Wilson. Now, Gentlemen, upon my honour, and in
tLe siecerity of my heart, I disclaim that allegation,
I beg to assure you, that I never asked any Elector
for any vote except for myself. I appeal to the
friends who canvassed with me. It was supposed
that Iliad an influence over some persons who were
my tenants. But how did I act under those circum-
stances? I told them that I should thank them for
their votes; hut I did not wich them to support me,
is they did not approve of my conduct ; and I added,
that if they did not think proper to vote for me, it
should make no difference in my conduct to them.—
(Great applaunc.) Gentlemen, I urn glad to perceive
that you approve of the course I pursued. Those
who are best acquainted with me, know that I am
not in the habit of making long speeches. My speeches,
such as they are, flow from the heart— they are the
natural effusions of my mind—(applause). I am much
obliged to you all for the honour which you have
done me. Bat before I sit down, I will give you a'
toast. I see exhibited at the bottom of the room a
flag, on which is inscribed ' The 1932 Electors:—
Now, Gentlemen, I was going to give you their
healths, but I will make a little addition. The poll-
iag was very short, and! am convinced, that if it had
continued longer, I should have been honoured with
the votes of at least '2,706 persons, for so many had
promised to support me. I will therefore give you
The 2,706 individuals who promised to support me,
including, of course, the 1,932 who actually voted
for me:/'—(Loud awl continued applause.) Song by
Mr. Pyne, "England's anchor, the hope of the world."
The CHAIRMAN then said—" Gentlemen, we are
honoured with the company of a Gentleman who has'
lately become a Representative of the County of
Surrey—l mean Mr. Dennison, who has favoured us!
with his presence to-day. I will therefore give you
The health of Mr. Dennison and the independent
Electors of Surrey,' with three times three."—(Great
applause.)
'Mr. DENNISON rose to return theelee—e Gentle-
men," said he, " I be leave to return you my most
sincere and heartfelt thanks for the honour you have
done rue in drinking my health in so flattering a
manner, and more particularly for connecting it with
that of the freeholders of the County of Surrey. My
gratitude to them can end only with my life. But,
before I proceed any further, you will allow me per-
haps to express what I feel with respect to your con-
duct, in returning my lion. friend as one of your Re-
presentatives. On the last day of the poll I was on
the hustings, wed I never saw an election conducted
more in the spirit of an old election than that
which I then witnessed. No wealthy Nabob bought
your suffrages—no aristocrat commanded them—no
oligarchy attempted to interfere with them. The
contest was fought with spirit, but with the utmost
fairness and ind-
ce. There was nothing like
exuberant triumXtenthe one side, nor mean humi-

11,1: other=-(silevaa,r•) a Aal u.e Liectors
in England would act like you----if they would return
such a Represailative as you have chosen, I think
that a Reform in Parliament. would hardly be neces-
sitry--(2,02d cheering.) I can only say that my prin-
ciples accord with those of my old.friend, your Re-
presentative. To pass a panegyric on him would be
unnecessary. With him I have always acted—with
him I have never disagreed. We have lately been
deprived of many great men—Whitbread, Horner,
Ponsonby, and the great and illustrious Fox. While
the spirit of the last survives—while his memory
continues to be revered, I shall always be proud to
follow in his footsteps, and to follow his example—
(applause.) I now beg leave to drink your healths,
and long, long may you live to be represented by
Mr. Calvert, the firm supporter of your rights, the
constant, ardent, and intrepid protector of your liber-
ties—(Loud and repeated cheering.)
The healths of Mr. S. DAVIES (the Chairman), Mr.
Alderman WOOD, and Mr. WAITHMAN, were then
separately given. These Gentlemen returnee thanks, '
and Mr. Ald(rman Noon and Mr. WAITHMAN re-
spectively declared their attachment to the cause of
public freedom.
The health of Sir ROBERT Witsom was next given,
and great applause ensued.
Two or three songs were then sung, when
Mr. CAtveirr rose, and after thanking the com-
pany for the honour they had. done him, retired
amidst great applause.

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