The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-18 00:00:00

THE DINNER.

The visitor to the tent, in which the grand banquet was
served, was struck with astonishment at its immense size,
elegance of construction, and interior decorations. It
was 180 feet in length, and 120 in width, with 24 divisions
of tables of 8 in each—or 192 in all—capable of accom-
modatina about 15 to each table, or nearly three thousand
in all. This erection was nearly 40 feet in height in the
middle, with the roof sloping to the sidei, and supported
by three rows of pillars covered with evergreens, the
whole resembling in figure an immense church with aisles.
It was entirely covered exteriorly with canvas, and in-
teriorly lined,both roof and walls, with bright coloured
cloth, in alternate stripes of pink, blue, and white,• At
either end there was a spacious gallery overlooking the
scene, beautifully festooned and ornamented to corres-
pond,—tha to the south for the reception of ladies, and
that at the north occupied as an orchestra by the fine
military band before alluded to. From the walls, pillars,
and galleries, were hung numerous national and other
flags and banners, shields, with the heraldic bearings of
the Egerton family and Others, &c., all tastefully dis-
posed. Over each gallery was hung a large royal standard.
The whole of the tables were covered with white cloth.
In the centre of the west side a platform was raised, co-
vered with crimson cloth, and upon this at the back
slightly elevated and enclosed seats for the chairman and
his supporters. On the front part of this stage seats were
fixed across on each side for the .ladies of the family and
their female friends, and in the centre, immediately in
front of the chair, a table groaned under the weight of a
huge baron of roasted beef. _ _

The viands, &c., were provided by Mr. King, of the
Bush Inn, Manchester, and the quality and abundance of
all were highly creditable to him as a caterer. Several
sheep had, we learned, been roasted whole. The supply
to each man was most abundant, and the total weight con-
sumed must have been immense. Besides the viands,
17 cat. of pies and puddings, and 180 enormously large
plum-puddings were provided. Ale and porter was,
during the onslaught., plentifully supplied in pint pots.
We observed on the platform James Loch, Esq., M.P.,
P. Gould, Esq., Sir T. Philips, John Sharp, Esq., Richd.
Smith, Esq., John Smith, Esq., Hugh Birley, Esq., Robt.
C. Sharp, Esq.; John Dugdale, Esq., T. Townend, Esq.,
and many others. The gallery was crowded with ladies.
The baron of beef in front of the chair was carved with
a knife and fork presented for the occasion by Messrs.
Lees and Lister, ironmongers, Manchester,—fine speci-
mens of cutlery, but more remarkable from their ivory
handles being finely carved busts—the knife of the
Duke of Wellington, and the fork of Sir Robert Peel—
both admitted to be excellent likenesses.

About three o'clock, when the repast had nearly con-
cluded, Lord F. EGERTON, accompanied by his lady, and
other members of his family, entered tre tent amidst the
most enthusiastic and prolonged applause, which was re-
newed when he took the chair, his son on his left hand,
and Mr. Loch on his right. Lady Egerton, daughters,
and party, soon afterwards honoured the assemblage by
their presence, and were also loudly cheered as they took
their seats on the platform, where they afterwards partook
of wine and cakes.

JOHN Loci', Esq., rose amidst loud cheers to address

the immense meeting, He said that they were aware their
noble friend (Lord Egerton) bad invited them there to
celebrate the birth-day of his eldest son, who had that day
become of age. (Loud cheers.) Such an event was of
much interest and great delight to , families, and made
them look back and consider whether they had educated
and trained him for the position he was to hold in society.
He felt assured that if ever parents could so look back,
Lord and Lady Egerton could look back with satisfaction
to what they had done for him. He -(Mr. L.) had long
known the family, and he believed the young gentleman
would not be behind hand with those who had gone be-
fore him. (Cheers.) The interest of such an event did
not g:nerally extend beyond the family, but here it took a
much wider range—it extended to thousands of his
fellow-creatures. They could not be indifferent as to
what sort of person should hereafter be their ruler, and
he firmly believed his young friend would act towards
them as his noble father had ever done, for the prosperity
of the locality to which he belonged. He concluded by
proposing " The health-of Mr. George Egerton, and may
he long live to imitate the bright example of his father."
(Lhud cheers.)
GEORGE EERTON, Esq., rose amidst enthusiastic
cheering. He said he felt much obliged for the kind
manner in which his, health had been proposed and re-
-ceived. He feared that he was scarcely deserving of the
high compliment paid to him by his worthy friend; but
-it was to him a source of gratification to- see so many
happy 'faces before him, and he trusted he should neier.
belie the (pod winion expressed of his 'future condact
towards, them but:that he and his family .would ever give
cause of iatisfection,to.all under them. (Loud cheers.)
He hOPed they -had .sll! enj9yed thimselves, and could
assure them that .h.e.should ever be rejoiced'to-be a con-
?tributor to their happiness. He concluded by,- in return
for their kinduess, wishing- them all long life end pros..
p critY. MOO and, prolonged cheers:)
' The Rey., Mr. :DX 4cK smug Said he had to propose the
health of a 49ble; Low whose name, whether he were re-
garded...as a;public Or a'private individual,, they ebuld not
hear. without pride and exultation. He had had the hap-
piness of knoring Mullin upwards-of 'l7 years, and his
virtues were too deeply.impressed- on his (the speaker's)
heart to permithim to entertain any otherfeeling towardshim
,than that of the highest regard:- High in station as was
that distinguished gentleman, he was ever attentive to the
and 'bona forts of-those under him.' He 'proposed
d_..ao.ntinued health and happiness to Lord F.
interestsE Egerton.
."
Longer
o a
a. .
(Great cheering.)
Lord FrtAscrs EGgItTON said, addressing the large
assemblage as "his friends," that befound himself unable
to express to his own satisfaction his sense of the manner
in which his health had been received,-and his thanks for
their giving their company that day. It were easier for
him to say what his feelings were not than what they
were. When he looked along the friendly lines of faces
haute him, it was with no feeling of vulgar pride or