The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

CONSERVATIVE FESTIVAL AT BRADFORD
(From the Leeds Intelligence-T.)

DINNER TO JOHN HARDY, ESQ., M.P. ' I
The public dinner by the conservative electprs of Bradford to
their esteemed representative, John Hardy, Esq., took place
on Friday evening, in the large room of the Exchange-build-
inFs, in that town.
Ihe proceedings were marked by that cordiality and enthu-
siasm which so are-eminently distinguish the conservative cele-
brations from the whip;-radical gatherings, and its effects will be
felt at the next election, come when it may.
A very excellent and elegant repast was provided by Mr. and
Mrs. Hey, of the White Lion, under whose spirited arrange-
ments the whole was got up.
During the afternoon the room was thrown open to the public,
and was visited by hundreds of all ranks, and was admired for
the taste displayed in the arrangements of the tables and the
beauty of the ornaments around.
Three rows of tables were placed along the whale length of
the room, at the top of which was an elevated cross table for the
chairman and the principal guests.
The room was very tastefully decorated with evergreens and
blue and white flags. On a blue and white screen, immediately
in front of the orchestra, and behind the presidental chair,was
emblazoned in silyer. in.the midst of a scroll the letters " W.R."
and the figures "413," and "611," the former ieferring to the
number of plumpers given to Mr. Hardy, and the latter to the
number of votes which placed him at the head of the poll.
Above the chairman, and projecting over the cross table, was
an elegant blue and white entablature, ornamented with a silver
border, and-inscribed in letters of silver. " King, Lords, and
Commons." On a white flag, suspended on the right of the
chairman, was inscribed in blue letters—" May the constitution
of our country be our general toast ;" and on a smaller flag on
the left of the chairman was the following inscription :—" May
no one wish for more liberty than constitutes happiness, nor
more freedom than constitutes the public good." At the lower
end of the room was an elegant blue flag inscribed in silver let-
ters—" Pro lege, grege, et focis." The pillars on each side of
the room at the head of the table were entwined with wreaths of
evergreens and artificial flowers, as were also the three chaude-
hers. The windows of the room were overhung with festoons,,
of blue damask. The arrangements of the table were excellent;
the plates being all marked on :he back with the names of the
persons for whom they were intended, and this effectually pre-
vented confusion on the entrance into the room. Equi-distant
from each other, and about three yards apart, were the places
reserved for gentlemen acting as stewards, and these were de=
noted by white wands, at the top of each of which was a neat
blue rosette.
Matthew Thompson, Esq., presided with his accustomed
ability. On his right sat John Hardy, Esq., M.P., the guest of
the evening, Joshua Pollard, Esq., the Rev. Samuel Stack,
A.M., Christopher Heldsworth Dawson, Esq., William Bus-
fend, Esq., of Milner Field ; Alfred Harris, Esq., Joseph
Greenwood, of Spring Head, Esq., &v., &c. IN the cairman's
left were John Garnett Horstall, Esq., (the returning officet of
the borough,) Henry Wickham Hird, Esq., the Rev. Thomas
Newbery, A.M., Macturk, Esq., M.D., Richard PawCett,
Esq. &c., &c.
The Vice-presidents were George Pollard, Esq., William
Horefall, Esq., William Walker, Esq., and John Outhwaite,
Esq., M.D.
'1 he following gentlemen officiated as stewards : —Mr. B. B.
Popplewell, Mr. C. Ackroyd, Mr. J. L. Lee, Mr. A. G. ROss,
Mr. Edward Manes, Mr. John Pratt, Mr, Richard Newby,

Mr. Joseph Pollan, Mr. J. H. Busfeild, Mr. John Cole, Mr.
William Wood, Mr. W. H. Nicholson, Mr. G. T. Lister, Mr.
Joseph Morris, Mr. John A nderton, Mr. John Lee, Mr. Walker
Rawsthorne, and Mr. Thomas Scott.
John Bower, Esq., performed the duties of toast-master with
tact and ability.
The Bradford brass band were stationed in the gallery over
the entrance doors. The Huddersfield singers were in the or-
chestra. Mr. Simpson presided at the piauo-forte. . •
About WO tickets were issued, and very nearly that number-
sat down to table. _

Dinner was served at half-past five. When Mr. Hardy en-
tered the room; accompanied by the chairman, all the company'
rose and loudly greeted him, the band playing " See the con-
quering Hero comes."
The Rev. Samuel Slack officiated as chaplain.
The cloth having been withdrawn, about seven o'clock,
" Non nobis Domine" was sung by the glee singers, Messrs.
Broadley, Milnes, Mercer, and Wilkinson, in good style, all
the company standing.
. The Chairman gave " The King"—four times four.
Song—" God save the King"—all the company standing.
The stanza, " Confound their politics, frustrate their knavish
tricks"—was loudly applauded.
" The Queen"—four times four, one cheer more, and loud
applause, all standing.
Song—" Rule Britannia."
" The Princess Victoria and the rest of the Royal Family"—
three times three.
IGlee—" Hail Star of Brunswick."
"Church and State"--four times four and loud cheers. One

cheer more was afterwards called for, and heartily accorded, all
the company rising again.
Song—" The Ancient Barons of England," by Mr. Broad-
ley (encored.)
'44 The Navy and Army"—three times three and one cheer
more.
Song—" The flag that braved a thousand years the battle
and the breeze."—Mr. Broadley.
The Chairman then gave " The health of John Hardy,
Esq., our worthy Representative." The toast was drank with
nine times nine, and one cheer more, attended by loud and
hearty plaudits.
Mr. Hardy rose amidst the most enthusiastic cheering. When
it had subsided, he said—Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, if upon

.
former occasions I have been overcome by those emotions which
Abe welcome reception that you have given to nae on those
Occasions were but too much calculated to excite; if I was so
welcomed at two tables of guests consisting of the constituency
of this town and their friends in the year 1834; if in 1835 that
number of tables were increased to three, and I received the
same welcome ; what must be my feelings when I see as many
gentlemen as can be eranimed_into this spacious room, welcom-
ing me in the same manner? (Loud cheers.) As the load of
obligation increase of course with the number of those favours
which von coule nd the impossibility of making a due ac-
ot
knOwledgeineut i creases with that difficulty, I am happy to.
see now convincing proofs that my parliamentary conduct dur-
ing the four sessions that I have sat in parliament has met wall'.
the approbation of those who sent me there. (Cheers.) Gentle.:
men, it was not in pursuit of your approbation that I went there;
it was to discharge my duty conscientiously to my country; not
with a view of running after that approbation, but in hopes that
it might follow me. (Hear and cheers.) It has done so, lam
happy to say, and the cheers which you have now given me
will be like music to spur me on in that Career. (Cheers.)
(The hon. gentleman then entered upon an.elaborate review of
the proceedings of the House of Commons in reference to the
Carlow Election affair, which, we regret our limits will not per-
mit us to insert. We give the conclusion of his speech.) lam
satisfied that the approaching conflict, from every thing that
pertains, will be a conflict of religious principle; and it will be
the duty of all to support our religion. If you wish to have good
masters or good servants, good husbands, or good wives, good
parents, or good children, send them to their Bible, and let.
them learn their duty there. (Loud Cheers.) Don't tell us
that religion has nothing to do with politics: He was sorry to
see the present attempt to overthrow the Established Church;
but it would fail. The prime movers wanted to introduce or-
ganic change into the Constitution. They wished to have an
elective instead of an hereditary House of Peers. And why
should we expect anarchists and revolutionists to let the matter
drop. He had had his attention called to a neighbouring paper
in which was a defence of the House of Lords, and the writer
invited the prime movers of the movement to lay aside their
intention at present. But wh 7at present ? If they were not to
go on with it, why go on at all. It was disgraceful that they.
should. The editor argued the matter in a syllogistic form. He
said "The Reformers do not, and obviously catinot agree on the
question of Peel age reform; a division among Reformers would
inevitably bring the Tories into power." If that be true, the syllo-
gism may be stated thns; " To press peerage reform is to press re-
volution;" (Loud cheers) I hope, therefore, in conclusion, that
those who are friendly to the constitution of their country, that
those who know that no person in this coutry can be molested
whist sittting under his own vine and his own fig-tree, will re-
member the admission of the hon. editor himself, in his article of
the 17th Sept. He says that the question of Peerage reform is a
question urged by nu necessity, as all i he rights of the people and
all their reformed institutions are safe. Why are we to have a
gentleman coming from Ireland to meddle with the constitution
of England, Let us not submit to it. Young men of England, I
hope you have the feelings of those Of your ancestors who trans-
mitted our constitution from by-gone times, and that that asser-
tion which was made upon the field of Runnymede by the bold
barons of England finds an echo and response in your hearts and
that you will all swear that the constitution of England shall not
be changed. (Loud and enthusiastic cheering, the company
simultaneously risiug from their seats.) Mr. Hardy proceeded,
—Gentlemen, I beg leave to apologise-4cries of " No, non—
and shall now conclude with proposing those who have enabled
the to represent you in a humble and yet a satisfactory manner
in the Commons' House of Parliament. (Cheers.) I mean the.
611 independent electors who placed me at the head of the poll,
413 of them,pinmpers; and I know, there were nearly.a hundred
more unable to come to the poll, in consequence of. Mr. Hadfield
retiring three hours before the time that he said he iveuld keep
the poll open. '['here nobly supported me, and 1 hope that in
supporting me they supported your cause. They are still behind
me, and I hope they will ever be ready to push use to de! v.
(All the company rose and cheered fur some time.) . " The 611•
independent electors who placed Mr. Hardy at the head of the
poll, and those staunch friends who were preventedirom doittg
so by the early close of the poll"—four times four. .
Song—" Hardy and Independence," by Mr. Parrett.
Several other gentlemen subsequently addressed the meeting,
in speeches characterised by the most fervid.elo.quence. ;The.
eempanyieparated, after keeping up -the:harmony and :c-on•
viviality of the evening to a late hour.