The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-09-27 00:00:00

DINNER.

Mr. MAWMAN then proposed his plan of
dining the Corporatiou in the Egyptian Hall.--
The question was, how that was to be accomplish-
ed ; and whether,at the expence of the Cis. pora-
(ion, or of tho individuals who partook of it ? For
his part, he saw no medium between having no din-
ner---an idea nut to be endured, and that of hay.
hug it at the expends of the Corporation, because,
if it was to be at the expence of the individuals
who partook of it, it would be but thinly attend-
ed, which would be an effect muck to be regretted
oft such an occasion. He therefore proposed tlia:
the Corporation should dine at the Egyptian Hall
in the Mansion !louse on that occasion, and that
guests might be admitted, to a number to be limited.
[The latter part was exploded].
Mr.S.DIX,ON thought it had, of late, been too
much the fashion to indulge gloomy apprehcniions
upon the state of public affairs. He saw no rea-
son for it. He was of opinion that a day of
Jubilee should bo a day (Ojos. He had looked into
dictionaries, this morning, and there he learned
that a day of Jubilee was " a day of solemn feast-
ing, rejoicing, and praising God." Nur did he
see any inconsistency in devutilig the morning to
prayer, and the afternoon to a good Dinner, a
glass of wine, and cheerfulness. lie thought he
might adore his Maser in cheerfulness as well'
as in gravity.
Mr. BOX did not object to a dinner, but did
object to its being at the espence of the Corpo-
ration ; besides, the Members would better shew
the dower*, thtir- ettackseat to their Soy

~ 4i

reign. by putting their bands late mar ou
pockets, ilia., into those of others.
Mr. JACKS had no objection to the question
of dining in • the etl4lrect, but hc thought the
eatienee would be on, great for the Ciarporation.
Mr. K EMMY, u unid assent to dining, if those
who dined 'mid foi it out of their port ijecketP,
but should object to it altogether, if at the ci.
pence of the Gerporotiort.
Sir JOIIN-gAlllilt, did IVOt know of, and was
unwilling to . create, a precedent fur the Court
dieing at any other than the eipente of the Cur.
potation.
Mr. VA NDERCO Mil saw many inconvenien_
cies which might result from the Members .1. that
Court dining together in a body. Ile did nut an:
ticipate any tint or disorder on that occasion, but
s:suuld there he any, the Members of tic Court
would be less efficient fur the purpose of qu.liing
them, by bring ail dt I lIC use together,
than by being in their iespective Wards ; and,
upon such occasions, toe heads of fsmili.:s %veto
siever better situated than when among (tier!, and
giving directions to their servants ; he was there.
fore against the idea of a public dinner, u hies
did not appear to him to be consistent with the so.
hanisity of returning thanks to Almighty God.
Mr.-MARYATT supported the idea of diuksig
nit!' considerable energy. _ _

Mr. K FABLE ssiti, that although in former
days there wits a good deal of intoxication at ',ono
city dinners, there was now a great reformatios
he that parieular, for, of late, they were so welt
conducted, that Members might bring their wives
and daughters with them, without hurting their
delicacy ; of late he had nut heard, at a city
feast, any contersalion which he should be sorry
to bear at his own table. Formed', indeed,
sums persons used to become so intoxicated as tai
tumble under. the table, but that was a practice
'which had heen long discontinued.
Mr. DIXON bore similar testimony to mo-
dern temperance at city feasts.
Mr. SIOKEi had nu hesitation in Evyisg, that
if this dinner was to be at the expellee of thy Cur.
poration, it wool! be an absolute robbery. " I
say, au absolute robbery," said he, " fur ychu aru
Already so poor, as a Corporation, that you can-
not pay your own servants." fie referred to a
feet (the particulars of si hide the uproar which
it produced prevented us from hearing), as au il-
lustration of his assertion.

Mr. Alderman WOOD said, thAt in the Com.
mittce there appeared to be a general disposition.
for dining : but when it was said, that it should
be at the expenee of individuals who pa ttoul: of
it, there was a visible cum raction in the lineaments
ti the countenances of many of the Members. if
there was to he a dinner, he would recommend to
the perusal of the Court, the 'Les()lotions of this
Co.por4tion of the City of (Dublin; which was...
" That the ex pence wds to be defrayed by
ho dined—Altloatneu 5, Commuttors C, and the
G 2 guineas."
About half pest four o'cloct:, the question was laud'•
catied for ; and a division Wing deminded, strangers were
retied to withdraw. Of the proceedtng, which fotl.?"ed,
we eau ooly speak from information ; but re !earn that a
scene of tumult and confebion surceeded, of a deveription
wholly unprecedented iu tha &moots of Civic Debate. The
i; UV ft at length divided on the °KANO enemies) of a dinner,
or rug miner, which was carried by a majority of 23 is the
tafientatict. A division the:, took place on the que.stiou, wtie.
titer the expeure a! the clian..l &lipoid he defrayed by the Coy.
poration, or the Member! idaall v ; when there appeared
Fur the pavnienusf the repeat'? Aldermen - 4
Individuals - - - 5 Cortio..:ners 38
Fur dining at the expeaee of the ? Aldermen -
Corporation - - S Comnicosers 46
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