The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-10-19 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY DINNER

OP THE
TRADESMEN'S CONSERVATIVE

ASSOCIATION.

11

Last evening the anniversary dinner of the members of
this association was held in the Music Hall, Bold-street. It
has been customary to keep these festivals in the more spa-
cious building of the Amphitheatre, but owing to its being
let to other parties it was found impossible on this occasion
to obtain it, and the Music Hall, being the only other public
building. in Liverpool fit or spacious enough for such a festive
celebration, tbe committee were compelled to take it, though
greatly insufficient in accommodation.
The gallery over the entrance doors was appropriated to
the ladies, for whom 300 seats were provided. The Chair-
man's table was placed upon the elevated platform at the
other, or top end of the room, from which speakers usually
address meetings, when held in the Music Hall : the body
of the hall was taken up with five long tables, the whole
length of the hall, which were to accommodate 400 gen-
tlemen.
The highly respected president of the association, Samusl
Holme, Esq., occupied the chair, and John Wilkinson and
Joseph Cooper, Esqrs., acted as vice-chairmen. To the
chairman's right were seated Lord Viscount Sandon, M.P.
for the Borough, the lion. R. B. Wilbraham, M.P. for the
Southern Division of the County, Joseph Bailey, Esq., M.P.
for East Worcester, Sir Thomas Brancker, Jas. Aspinall,
Esq. Ex-Mayor; Duncan Gibb, Esq„ T. B. Horsfall, Esq.,
John Roby, Esq., of Rochdale; P. Greenall, Esq., of St.
Helen's; Nicholas Robinson, Esq., G. H• Lawrence, Esq.,
and J. A. Tinne, Esq. To the chairman's left sat C. Cress-
well, Esq., 11l.P. for the Borough; J. B. West, Esq., late
M.P. for Dublin; Rev. Rector A. Campbell, A,M., Thos.
Bright Cross, Esq., late High Sheriff; C. Lawrence, Esq.,
Thomas Moss, Esq., William Smith, Esq., R. Gladstone,
Esq., Alexander Smith. Jun., Esq., and T. M Gladstone,
Esq.: and numerous other gentlemen of some note in the
neighbourhood, sat in other parts of the Hall.
The tickets for the dinner were a guinea each; and the
dinner, which was very magnificently got up, was provided
by Mr. Lawton, of the Rainbow Tavern, on whom it re-
flected great credit. The tables were very splendidly deco-
rated, and ornamented with numerous large and costly mo-
dels of churches, temples, houses, domes, &r., loaded with
Sweetmeats. We especially remarked two models of Grecian
temples on the chairman's table, the sides of which were of
looking glass, and surmounted by an elegant dome, supported
by pillars in imitation of marble. On the top of one of these,
was a very beautiful full-sized imperial crown of velvet, with
the jewels represented by confectionary, and under the dome,
a small carved full-length likeness of the Queen. At the
other end of the table, was a similar temple, surmounted by
the implements of war, in white sugar, and underneath, a
full-length carved figure of the Duke of Wellington.
On one of the tables at the side of the hall, was a very
splendid large model of the fort and lighthouse, surrounded
by an imitation of the green waves of the sea; and coming
round the rock, a very beautiful model of a full-rigged ship.
The whole most elegantly finished. Some idea may be
formed of this by the height of the tower of the lighthouse,
which was about three feet from the summit to the table. On
- the other side of the hall, on the side-table opposite to this
model, was a model of a water-mill at full work, the wheel
being turned by water, which by some contrivance, was
snide to revolve, and keep up the supply. This was also
finished with great taste, and was a perfect picture.
The chair was a curiously carved old masonic chair, behind
which was the Liverpool arms. This was surmounted by
Mr. Holme's crest. Above this, against the wall, was the
motto—" Church, Queen, and Country," which was illumined
by the Royal cipher, and a large crown in jet gas, which
looked very beautiful. To the right and left of the chairman
were hung some beautiful prints, in handsome frames, of
distinguished statesmen. There was also a full-length and
splendid print of her Majesty, from the recent painting for
which her Majesty sat, taken for the people of the United
States of America. The other prints were of the Duke of
Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Sandon, Lord Francis
Egerton, Lord Sidmouth, Lord Lyndhurst, Sir W. Follett,
Losd Wharncliffe, the Duke of Newcastle, &c.
The wall to the right of the chairman was covered with the
very beautiful flag of the Tradesmen's Conservative Associa-
tion, and to the left by the splendid banner of the South
Lancashire Conservative Association. The centre of tbe
side walls of the hail were hung with the splendid new ban-
ners of Abercromby and St. Paul's Municipal Wards. The
banner of Abercromby Ward had a very beautiful full-sized
portrait of her Majesty painted on the silk; and that of St.
Paul's Ward, a small painting of St. Paul's Church ;—both
were finished in very costly style. Every inch of the other
parts of the walls was covered with the silk banners of
Everton, Kirkdale, Pitt-street, Lime-street, West Derby,
St. Anne's, and other Wards; and union-jacks and royal
standards in abundance. Against the wall at the bottom of
the Hall, in large characters, were written the words " San-
don and Cresswell," and "4786" and "4652," the number
of electors that polled for each respectively at the last elec-
tion.

An excellent company of glee singers were in attendance.
The gentlemen of the press were accommodated,at the top
of one of the centre tables, and we have to tender our thanks
for the attention shown to us in the fulfilment of our arduous
task.

The whole of the room was brilliantly lighted with gas,
and when all the seats were occupied by gentlemen, and the
gallery adorned by the gay presence of the ladies, with the
brilliant lights and profuse garniture and ornaments, it pre-
sented a rich and magnificent spectacle.
Dinner was on the table at five o'clock, half an hour be-
fore which time the ladies were admitted, and then com-
menced the busy din of knives and furks, and the other con-
comitants of the masticatory process.
Grace having been sung, and dinner eaten, the cloth was
removed. After which "Non nobis domino" had been sung,
The CHAIR N 1 N then rose to propose the first toast. He
said, gentlemen, when I remember that the female who now
graces the British throne, I think I might appeal to your
gallantry, as well as to your loyalty, to receive the first toast,
which it is not more my duty than my privilege to give; and
I am satisfied that there is not an individual in this room
who will not cordially respond to the sentiment which I
have on my list 33 the first toast. 1 beg to propose to you
" the Queen, the Duchess of Lancaster, (as we drink her in
this county) and may her throne he established in the af-
fections of a free people." The toast was given amidst
almost interminable rounds of cheering. Anthem—" God
save the Queen," which was loudly applauded at its political
allusions.
The Cll.l t RNIAN again rose. I have now, gentlemen, to
propose for your acceptance the health of another illustrious
lady; and I trust that her sojourn in the Mediterranean may
conduce to the re-eatabltshment of her health. (Hear.) It
cannot be too well known, that such was the attachment of
this illustrious lady to our country, that although, for the re-
establishment of h'er health, she was advised to sojourn at the
island of Madeira. she came to the resolution, although not
so beneficial to herself, to go to the island of Malta, because
it was a British settlement (cheers), and that the money she
received from Great Britain might be expended in one of
Great Britain's settlements. I beg, therefore, to propose to
you the health of her -.11 ajesty the Queen Dowager;" and
I will include with it •` the rest of the Royal Family." The
toast was given with three tines three cheers.
Glee.—" My dear Mistress."
The CH llt —" The army and nary."
Glee—'` Britain's best bulwaiks."
The CtIAIRNIA N.—l am quite sure gentlemen, that the
next sentiment which appears upon my list is one that will
meet a hearty response in the breast of every individual pre-
sent; it is "The British Constitution in Church and State."
(The company unanimously rose and gave three cheers.) I
wish, gentlemen, to dwell strongly upon the fact, that the
stability of the national institutions depends in a great mea-
sure upon the efficiency of our national church. (Cheers.)
And when I remember that the increase of our population
has not been met by a corresponding increase in the number
of churches, so as to provide for the spiritual destitution of
the people, I feel satisfied that the time has arrived when it
is necessary that we should put our shoulders to the wheel,
and that we should remedy such a serious and such a la-
mentable defect. I shall never consider the constitution of
our country perfect until 1 see—what I hope 1 may live to
see—a resident minister of ;he Church of England to at least
every 4,000 of our population —(cheers)—and until I see a
school attached to such churches, under the care and super-
intendance of the minister, in which the young of our coin-
try may be educated upon the only principle which may be
said to he a sound principle—a principle which is founded on
the invaluable word of God.—(Cheers.) I believe, gentle-
men, that if the system if education which is intended to be
brought into parliament by Mr. Wyse and others, be permit-
ted -
to be carried into effect, that it will have theeffect of aiding
much the opponents of the Church of England. Now, they
cannot injure her openly, but, I believe, thatthey can on the
sapping and mining system. But, I trust, that our represen-
tatives will speak out on that question—(tremendous cheer-
ing)—because, I believe, that a scriptural church, and a
scriptural church alone, will prove to be what it has
been, and what, I hope, it ever will be, the sheet anchor
of our British constitution. I hope that every facility
will be afforded by the British legislature to those
benevolent individuals, who are anxious and ready to
sacrifice their property for the purpose of obtaining such a
great and glorious consummation; and I hope that every re-
striction—for it is churchmen, and not dissenters, that have
to complain of restrictions—(hear)—will be removed from
the security of the church establishment, and that individuals
so minded, but unable to erect churches where churches are
wanted, will be enabled to do so. This will be beginning at
the rig ht end ; and then, and not till then, shall we have the
British constitution, in church and state, what I wishto see
it, and I am sure what every one here wishes to see it—per-
fect. I will likewise couple with this toast the name of a
gentleman who stands deservedly high. and needs no com-
ment from me. I need hardly say that I mean " the health
of our excellent Rector Campbell." (The company rose,
'leers )

ELL rose amidst enthusiastic
iirman, and brother conserva-
respond to this toast, it becomes
xpre's the becoming, the deep
which I feel, at the manner in
• name ; in particular, I have to
nks to Mr. Holme, the chair-
he was pleased to introduce it,
which you are pleased to re-
,his, I now feel it my privilege
lv on the improved prospects of
gist meeting. (Cheers.) And,
:ongratulate you, I also feel it my
and influential share which you
irement.- It is by the combined
I like you, that a voice has been
ilous towns, proclaiming in lan-
Jod, that the people of hngland,
,cy salutary change, are not yet
‘rnment--:(cheers)—and are not
tional church to a selfish faction,
Aired institutions of our country
insat.iate idol of revolutionary innovation. (Cheers.)
.
And therefore, gentlemen, it is, that the intended sacrifice
has been deferred. But I believe that it has only been de-
ferred; and while we congratulate each other on the im-
provement of our prospects, we must not for a single instant
cease from further exertions, or imagine that the danger is
past and gone. The storm, no doubt, for the present is
lulled, and the rainbow hope is pictured in the sky, but
the elements of agitatioa are still hovering around us:

aoL uul CAcellelll 11G1 lul
and gave three enthusiastic Ott
The Rev. RECTOR CAMPREI
cheering.—He said, Mr. Chai
tives—(cheers)--in rising to r(
me in the first instance to exi
humility, and gratification w
which you have received my
return my most grateful thar
man, for the manner in which
and to you for the manner in
ceive it. And, having done tt
to congratulate you confidentl
the conservatives since our
while I feel it my privilege to c,
duts, to thank you far theLfreht,
!lava had to effect that iruprol
exertions of you, and of men
raised in the great and popul
guage not to be misunderstoo
though really alive for every
tired of their monarchical gover
prepared to surrender the nati
or to sacrifice the time-honou!
to the insatiate idol or