The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-01-29 00:00:00

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ing, which rendered the concluding part of his speech quite in-
audible.
The Chairman in proposing the neat tiiast said he hoped.they
would never forget these who foirght the gbod fight of freedom
in the olden time, with nothing to cheer them in 'the struggle.
He therefore gave "Colonel Williams, the Rev. Dr. Shepherd,
and the Reformer's of ancient Liverpool. (Great applause.)
Col. WlLLlAros,kin returning thanks, only regretted the ab-
absence of the gentlemen whose name had been coupled with his
to aid themin etlebrating the triumph of that day. But they must
be well aware that his services were ever ready on all occasions
when required, and that it must be some mighty matter which
kept him from that meeting; and he had it from himself that
he was bound by an engagement, made several weeks past; to
attend a convocation of bishops of his church on that day, and
therefore he could not come. he therefore apprehended that
his church was in danger, (laughter,) and that was a justifiable
cause of his absence. Ave, they might triumph now, but let
them look back t 4 the last dozen years, and it appeared 'abso•
lately like a dream to think what they had gained within that
time. If reform progressed in the same ratio what should !hey
have arrived at a dozen years hence? (Cheers ) Their dis-
tinguished. guest, Mr. O'Connell, had been dreadfully abused
iu -all quarters. He was accused amongst other things of being
fond of power, and Of being ambitious. Why, he should like to
see the man who had any heart in his body who was not ambi-
tious. The only thing was,- whether the ambition was of the
tOtt sort. He should be glad to know how anything could be
acemplished without it ? But the slavish, crawling creatures
who had hitherto opposed them would not believe, nor would

they be persuaded that any man could have anything hut an
interest about himself—that no man could have anything like a
feeling for his fellow-creatures. But his hon. friend, Mr.
O'Connell, had proved in the labours he had undergone, that
he did think of some persons besides himself, and he (Colonel
Williams) had never believed otherwise. He knew that a man
could feel for others as well as for himself, and he knew a man
could devote himself to the good of his, country without any
prospect of immediate reward. (Loud cheers.) He hail
brought forwards iii the House of Commons, with all the in-
sufficiency of a tyro, a measure to endeavour to lessen the Ger-
man influence which had been so much exercised in this coun-
try,—he wanted to put a stop to the influence which was ex
e;:ted amongst them by the petty courts of Germany. On that
occasion he had consulted some members of thtreasury benches,
but he got no encouragement from them; they all said it was a
foolish act, and when he proposed the measure those men came
up and opposed him. It was, however, a measure which he
considered of very great importance, for all their troubles had
arisen from the influence of those courts. If ►t had not been
for that influence the Irish House of Commons would have been
reformed. It would have been much better if Ireland had been
enabled to govern itself. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed "Rigby Wason, Esq., M.P.,
the intrepid and successful advocate for purificalion of elect:0:1,"
which was drunk with loud applause.
Mr. WASON said none felt more delighted than himself at
witnessing the proceedings of that day. When he had received
an invitation from their worthy chairman to attend that dinner, i
he had asked himself how he had voted on the question of the
repeal of the union of the two countries. His sentiments were

' now what they had evet been, he had never adviicated the repeal
of the union. He thought it his bounden duty, both out of par-
' !lament and by his votes in parliament, to show that he was de-
termined that there should be equal laws for Ireland. He
thought that the Irish would not receive the same benefit from
governing themselves, that they would receive if governed
well, in union with England. (Cheers.) He therefore treated,
with the utmost disdain, the assertion of the public prints, that
all who attended this day, must of necessity be advocates for the
repeal of the union. He was not an advocate for the repeal,
and he hoped he never should be, nothing should- ever induce
him to become so, except, what he believed could not be the
case, the people of England wanted freedom ifor themselves
and tyranny for others. They had all read the speech—the
election speech of their representative, Lord Sandon. (Hisses.)
They knew that any man could tell which way the wind blew when
a straw was thrown up, so by Lord Sandon's speech they knew
that he felt a presentiment of what would happen to him at the
next election, which he (NI r. W.) fervently' hoped would take
place. He sincerely congratulated them on the triumph they had
obtained—a triumph which must give pleasure to the heart of
every honest reformer (Cheers.) He also congratulated his
friend, Mr, O'Connell, that he had delayed his visit to Liver-
pool until this occasion; for, if he had come previous to the late
contest, he would have been told on the next day by the tory
prints, though surrounded by the gentlemen now present, that
they were men of no property or consideration who had waited
on him. (Laughter and cheers.) Now, however, the tory
press would hardly dare to make such an assertion, nor would
one of the would-be oligarchy presume to call them a "low
set." (Laughter and cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said, amongst other toasts let them not forget
Poland. He would give—" Poland, heroic. nation ! her na-
tionality must not be lost," which was drunk with loud cheering.
The CHAIRMAN.—The only guarantee for the improvement
of society is the moral and intellectual advancement of the peo-
ple. Ile would, therefore, propose the health of " Lotd
Brougham, the steady and consistent friend of education."—
(Loud applause.)
Mr. Hall, the stipendiary magistrate, was here loudly called
for, but did not address the meeting.
'['he CHAIRMAN next gave, "Lord Durham, the steady ad-
vocate of the rights of the people." (Great cheering.)
The C lin RMAN then gave, " Mrs. O'Connell and the ladies."
Mr. O'CONNELL returned thanks.—The present was one of
the proudest and happiest moments of his life. The manner in
which he had been received, and the enthusiastic greeting
which every where met him in pleading the cause of his
oppressed and unfortunate country was most grateful to him.
All that he wanted was justice for Ireland. Their represen-
tative had shown by his conduct to-night that he will respond
to that call—justice to Ireland. The honourable member for
Ipswich had asked them whether justice should be awarded to
England and denied to Ireland. The people of England would
never endure it. The halls of Westminster would shake with
the applause which had, been given that night. (Applause.)
It was perhaps foreign to the toast that he should say this.
He would, however, carry to the mother of his children the
tidings of the manner in which the toast had been received.
After all, their comfort was in woman. If they had not warm
nests at home they would be less able to devote themselves to
the welfare of their country. T 4, happiness with which they had
received her husband, and the manner in which they had re-
ceived her name, would add no small share to the cup of honey
which she would receive. (Loud cheers.).
Mr. O'Connell, accompanied by the chairman and the majo-
rity of the company, then left the room.
A vice-chairman was then appointed, and the hilarity pro-
longed till an early hour.

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