The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-21 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL

Tradesmen's Conservative Association.

ON Tuesday last this festival of the Conservative
Tradesmen of Liverpool was held. We hardly know
in what fermi to speak sufficiently eulogistic to give but
an accurate 'and faint notion of this splendid display.
of Conservative feeling. On Monday such was the
demand, for tickets, that, at an 'early hour, none could
he procured; some additional arrangements were made
to enable a greater number to be seated, but still the
demand, continued, and we have heard of as much as
four pounds; in several instances, being offered for
tickets, arid as high as two guineas for ladies' tickets,
which, in the- first instance, so long as any remained,
were given gratuitously, the fair sex being admitted
into the boxes to view the spectacle.
The whole of the circus and orchestra was boarded,
and made level with the stage. On the stage, part were
five tables; longitudinally placed: on the orchestra was
a transverse table, where the Chairman took his place,
and which was appropriated to the visitors and distin-
guished guests. The whole of the circus was occupied
with eight longitudinal tables, extending the whole
length, and going under the boxes. The proscenium
was lighted with three temporary chandeliers, whilst
the remainder of the theatre was brilliantly lighted with
the splendid chandelier which is suspended from the
ceiling of this theatre, and by the numerous gas-lights
in 'front of the boxes. The place was fitted up with
that excellent taste that regards fitness of design as the
best concomitant of gorgeous display. The whole of
the back of the stage was walled in by elegant scenes,
appropriately painted, to represent draperies falling in
heavy folds and massy festoons. Round the sort• of
marque thus formed, were placed alternate flags and
banners of various colours, and relieved with rich Old'
emblazonry of appropriate inscriptions, mottos, and de-
vices,- Waving in superb magnificence almost across
the whole of the tables, in the proscenium, was the
beautiful flag of. the Association, bearing the following
inscription tastefully and effectively arranged : " Our
free and glorious Constitution ; Church and King;
Lords and Coinniiins. Liverpool Tradesmen's Conser-
vatiYe Association." The painting of Britannia, which
ornamented the centre of the flag, did credit to the
talents of Mr. Smith and Mr. Corless, by the last of
whom the design of the former was carried into execu-
tion. The upper part of the hOnse was completely hung
round with flags and banners, which, by their vivid
colours, and the effect of the emblazonry, formed 'a
series of tapestries not less gorgeous in effect than ap-
propriate to the occasion. On the right' of the chair
hung the tanner Of the Lancashire Conservative Asso-
ciation, inscribed with their motto, underneath which
was the following sentence : " May their principles and
their numbers grow .with their growth and strengthen
with their strength:"
On the left was seen waving conspicuously the flag of
James Aspinall, Esq., bearing his arms and motto,
" Dam Spiro Spero;" with the inscription, "James As-
pinall,.. Esquire, Conservative Mayor of Liverpool;
St. Luke's Day, October 18th; 1835; and underneath,
" King and Constitution."' Immediately in rear of these
two were the Sandon. flag, with crown and laurel, and
the Si Anne's Ward Conservative Association banner,
the latter bearing the bible, mitre, sceptre, and king's
arms, surrounded by the rose, thistle, and shamrock.
In front of the chair, suspended from the gallery, was a
beautiful, flag, bearing the crown, surrounded by an in-
scription, "Church and King," and " Conservative
Tradesmen's Association." This was flanked on each
side by two handsome flags, bearing the crown and
" Church and King." The boxes and gallery were
crowded with ladies in full dress, who gave an air of
finish and brilliancy to the whole.
When the whole room, such as we have described it,
lighted up with a blaze of gas which sparkled with sub-
dued brilliancy as it struggled and was dispersed in a
thousand rays through the drops of the chandeliers, was
filled with eight hundred gentlemen, and the boxes
crowded with nearly a thousand ladies, tastefully,
beautifully arrayed, a coup d' ceiel was presented, of
which we feel that description is inadequate to convey
more than a faint notion.
So great was the anxiety to obtain good places that
a long train of hackney coaches were waiting at the
theatre door for admittance as early as half-past three
o'clock, the dinner being at five. In the front of the
gallerY; Stubbs' Harmonic Band of music was stationed,
and played at the appointed intervals. So great was the
crowd of delighted spectators, anxious to obtain a view,
that even the musicians were intersected in every possi-
ble vacancy by the crowd of ladies. The tickets were a
guinea each, and upwards of 800 were sold, and num-
berless applications for tickets were made which could
not be granted.
The dinner did equal credit to the taste and good
stewardship of Mr. Horne. The tables were arranged
as well with a view to the comfort of the guests as to
elegance of appearance. At intervals were placed a
number of classical vases, loaded to the brim with de-
licious fruits, amongst which the rich clusters of the
vine hung in tempting profusion. Decorative devices of
every description were interspersed with the more sub-
stantial cheer which was served up. The eye, as well as
the appetite, was feasted in whichever direction it was
turned. Numberless pretty little banners, inscribed
" Sandon," and " Liverpool Tradesmen's Conservative
Society," were hung over unsubstantial towers of pastry
and frequently stormed castles of confectionery.
Whilst speaking of the arrangements, we beg to offer
our tribute of thanks to the committee of management,
for the courteous attention and advantageous position
given to the press. It very materially facilitated our
.arduous task.
Samuel Holme, Esq., the President of the Society,
Officiated as Chairman, and amongst the distinguished
company at the principal table we observed the follow-
ing : Lord Sandon, Hon. C. J. Canning, M.P.,Hon.
J. S. Wortley, Hon. B. Wilbraham, M.P.' Sir homas
Brancker, John Entwistle, Esq., M.P., W. E: Gladstone,
Esq., M.P., Nicholas Robinson, Esq., Charles Lawrence,
Esq., George Grant, Esq., P. Greenall, Esq., Dr. Brand-
reth, Charles Horsfall, Esq., &c., krc.
The following gentlemen occupied seats at the dif-
ferent tables : —Thomas Creswick Esq., of Sheffield,
.Richard Leyland, Esq., Duncan Gibb, Esq., John Shaw
Leigh, Esq., R. B. B. Hollinshead Blundell, Esq., Wil-
liam; Potter, Esq., James Heyworth, Esq., William
Smith, Esq., 'of Fulwood, George Hall Lawrence, Esq.,
Thomas Sands, Esq,; Joseph Sandars, Esq., Nicholas
Bold, Esq. John Shand, Esq., James Cockshott, Esq.,
Cardwell, Esq., Forsyth, Esq., Joseph Ackers,
Esq., Henry Sandbach, Esq., Thomas Moss, Esq., Ed-
', ward Parry, Esq. William Ripley, Esq., John Knowles,
-Esq., Thomas Wilson, Esq., John Wright, Esq., James
'-Aspinall, Esq., James Irving, Esq., Charles Parker, Esq.,
T. B. Horsfall ; Esq., R. Horsfall, Esq., George Irlam,
Esq., E. -G. Deane, ESQ. W. Ripley, • Esq., Richard
Houghton, Esq., J. N. Wood, Esq., Richard Dawson,
n keE., Peter Wright, Esq., Thomas Carson, Esq., J.
Pennington, Esq., Charles Eckersley, Esq., Peter
Bourne, Esq., Capt. Kellock, John Ashton Case, Esq.,
William Huson, Esq., Henry Glynn, Esq., John Wil-
kinson, Esq., Robert Rigbv, Esq., John Kelshaw, Esq.,
Thomas' Dobbs Butler, Esq., George Gurden, Esq.,

,Scc., &c., . .
Punctually at five ,o'clock, Lord Sandon entered the
room, and was greeted with deafening cheers, which
were continued for some time, the fair.spectators join-
ing in the-enthusiasm and testifying their feelings by
the waving
,of handkerchiefs, &c. Immediately after,
Mr.leanninm was announced, and was similarly greeted.
Before the commencement of ,the dinner, at a signal_
from the principal table, the, singers, Messrs. Holden,
s' en.; Holden, jun., Ball, Boothby, Maddock, Andrews,
Pemberton, and George, sung a passage from one of the
Psalms, " Praise the Lord," with impressive solemnity.
The tug of knives and forks then commenced, and
appeared to afford infinite amusement to the fair audi-
tory, whose delighted glances-and smiles were returned
with equal good humour... •
The cloth having been removed and the trumpet having
sounded•for silence, Non nobis Domine was sung. After
, . which,
first to give . . . .
_,_Tuhsee
.CuAntmax rose, and was greeted with thunders of ap-
iitiliae
tr.itisHheusiraoidnethatit was his privilege, as well as his duty,
the health or the monarch who so worthily filled
3 esty
ttrheem
eKnidnitr,
hearty • • He was sure that this toast would find a
response in the breast of every individual present. He
would,
.without further preface, give the health of "His Ma-
for a considerable with Duke of Lancaster."—The toast was drunk
.and enthusiastic cheering, which continued
cheering, and a I:'nd
The line'. courei.tiule.—" God save the King" was suns*.
pa.ny to the words.their politics" was met by continued
~. The CHAIRMAN said
rY marked emphasis was given by the com-
would be met with e n
he was sure the' if the last toast was received so favour-
ably,lone which he was about to propose
no less from the well ak
enthusiasm ; in fact; he could expect
Liverpool., He hoped tohoew o gallantry' of the gentlemen of
might illustrious lady whose health he
was about to propose
, • and exemplar .of her sex. ( beh long spared to be the pattern
thisthre
three.—Glee,
country, Majesty the Queen, the pridec (cheers.) He would giva." Her
molt of .her sex." Three times
, and" The th eQoureneali
of the valley."
~,The CHAIRMAN rose and said, the
next toast which he had
to offer to their notice was the Princess
of the .Royal Family—may they never Victoria and the rest
which seated their family on the Throne
forget the principles
'-'.Three t 0 times three. ' Glee, Hail Star ofßu of these realms.
The CFIAIRMAN.said; the next toast to which it itwas his duty
to call their 'attention; was one which he might with great
..prOprietY dilate upon, but inasmuch as a number of speakers
'.: had to succeed him who were much more competent to fix
their attention-than he was, (cheers) he should forbear, strong.,upon
~as was the temptation, to trespass at any great length
.-:.-their time. The "British Constitution" was lonndedupon
;-"principles
o
f justice and deep wisdom, and dear to
every inau