The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-10-28 00:00:00

DINNER TO GEORGE HUDSON, ESQ

The return of Mr. Iludson for Sunderland was
celebrated by a grand dinner in that town, on Tuesday,
at which three hundred and fifty gentlemen sat down.
Among the leading persons present were the Chairman,
J. J. Wright, Esq., Mr. Hudson, the guest of the even-
ing, who sat on his right, Lord Seabam, Sir Adolphus
Vane, Sir John Lowther, Bart., M.P., Matthew Bell,
Esq., M.P., Col. Thomas Wood, M.P., John H. Ilinde,
Esq., M.P., H. T. Liddell, Esq., M.P., Richard Spoon,
Esq., who occupied the vice-chair.
After the several toasts Dr. Townsend, Prebendary of
Durham, in replying to the toast of " The Bishop and
Clergy of the Din, ese," referred to the character of Mr.
Hudson in the following terms :—With respect to their
honourable and much-respected guest, he (Dr. Townsend)
should speak, not from hearsay, but from his own know-
ledge ; and he begged the attention of the meeting when
he stated, that in Mr. Hudson's character were to be
found everything to entitle him to their esteem and ap-
probation. He had watched Mr. Hudson's progress, he
had admired his zeal, energy, and common sense, and he
had never seen anything calculated to cast the slightest
stain on his fair fame- and character. Mr. Hudson's
abilities did not go unrewarded : he (Dr. Townsend) had
seen that day a testimonial from individuals whom he had

raised from the dust, and who now seek an opportunity
of evincing their gratitude. He had heard reflections
cast on Mr. Hudson for inattention to his religious duties,
and he had been blamed for not enforcing a compulsory
observance of the Sabbath. He (Dr. Townsend) could
contradict those insinuations ; he had seen Mr. Hudson
in church, and he knew how zealous he was in the per-
formance of his religious duties. He (Dr. Townsend)
trusted it was the custom of every gentleman present to
have prayers in his family, as he could tell them was the
case with Mr. Hudson. He (Dr. Townsend) bad him-
self joined in family prayers at Mr. Hudson's, and had
offered up a prayer for his benefit. They all knew that
Mr. Hudson had become the purchaser of the Duke of

Devonshire's estate of Longborough. On a late occa-
sion, a gentleman in conversation with Mr. Hudson re-
marked that it was a dull, stupid place, when Mr. Hud-
son replied, " I will make that village smile, I will melee
its people happy." He (Dr. Townsend) spoke in the
presence of those who could confirm what he had stated,
and he must add that the moment in which he heard such
philanthropic sentiment was one of the proudest of his
life.
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and called upon the com-
pany to fill a nigh bumper to the leading toast of the even-
ing, the health of the able and distinguished individual in
whose honour they were assembled that evening. He was
satisfied that Mr. Hudson would discharge the important
trust they had conferred upon him with advantage to the
borough of Sunderland. As a man of business, as a poli-
tician, and a private gentleman, he was entitled to their
greatest confidence—the signal success that had attended
all his efforts had become matter of natioral congratula-
tion, and his fame was diffused not only all over England
and Scotland, but also throughout the continent of Eu-
rope. He was at the head of the greatest amount of ca-
pital of any man in England, and might be called the
Chancellor of the Exchequer of railway undertakings in
this country. While he had benefitted the wealthy, he
had also diffused the blessing of employment among the
humbler classes. After referring to the political character
of Mr. Hudson, in which he said that although friendly
to the removal of restrictions on trade and commerce, he
would never be a party to breaking down those barriers
which protected the native manufactures of the country,
the chairman referred to the triumphs which had been
recently achieved by the electors of Sunderland on the
occasion of Mr. H udson's return against the machinations
of the advocates of the Anti-Corn-law League.
Mr. HUDSON then rose, and was received with great
cheeriog. He said he felt great difficulty in giving expres-
siod to his gratitude for the honour they had done him on
the present occasion. He was deeply sensible also of the
honour done him in returning him to parliament, but he
felt in fighting that battle that he did not fight it for him-
self alone, but for the nation. He should, indeed, have
shrunk from coming forward, and would willingly have
given place to any one better qualified ; hut, as no one else
did so, he did not feel at liberty to reject what appeared
to be the general wish of the electors. He therefore did
his best, and he rejoiced with them that he had succeeded.
He came there on principle ; and so long as his principles
were those of the people of Sunderland, he should be at
their service. He came there almost a stranger ; but he
was sure that no one could be in Sunderl nd 24 hours
without testing that he was amongst those who had at
least the general interest of the country. He felt it a
high honour at such a place to have been the champion of
Conservative principles, and he was proud that as such he
had defeated those who thought they had enslaved the
people of Sunderland. But their views were unsound and
selfish, and as they were met openly and manfelly, so
they were signally defeated. Political agitators were not
the well wishers of the people. Let Conservatives, there-
fore, banish political differences, and show a bright and
different example. and endeavour to promote the social
well-being of their fellow. creatures, each in his own loca-
lity. That was the course he meant to pursue at Sunder-
land, arid he felt satisfied that with such a course they
would be so satisfied, that his hon. friend and himself
would not long be the only Conservative members in that
district. He was deeply sensible of the eulogiurns just
passed upon him by the reverend gentleman. He knew
how unworthy he was of them, but this he would say,
that he had always endeavoured to promote the interests
of religion, and the well-being of all classes in the country
He was aware of the important position of the port of
Sunderland, and though he had thought it unfair to offer
any pledges, he bad yet explained his views in a manner
which he was proud to say had met the approbation of his
supporters, and even of many of his opponents. He hoped
to see the day when Surrerland would rival Liverpool
and Manchester. He hoped also that in struggling for
the object, political feelings would not be allowed to in-
terfere, and especially that they would meet no opposition
from a set of busy men who generally interfere with every
body's business but their own. In conclusion, he bad
only to repeat his thanks for their kindness towards him,
and to assure them that it would be a sufficient reward for
any services he could render them to know he discharged
his duties in a manner satisfactory to those whom he saw
around him. The honourable gentleman then proposed
—" The Electors of Sunderland," and sat down amidst
enthusiastic cheering.

Geo. Hudson, Esq., M.P., has been honoured with an
invitation to spend a few days with the Premier at Dray-
ton Manor.