Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-12
Great Clay Dinner at X mic erbOcker Haul
Clay as1 W ebster--TerrApin Lunch oa0. AS
tor House.

tor House.
A great, glorious free, easy, and magnificent ban
quet given yesterday evening at knlckerDocker
Hail. in Park Row, I'm the immediate conugmty OF
the theatre and gambling houses) al when the
friends OF that eminent patriot, statesman, diploma
list, hnancler, 9uORdam Secretary, ana embryo Pre
sldent, HENRY CLAY, congregated IN great numbers
and high spirits, with their strong hearis peatlng WIN
the expectation OF hope the ardor OF me coming con-
test beamlng in their eyes, and manly confidence
eAergZlng their gait and demeanor, contrasting with
The sneaklng, evasve and exclusive festival which
celebrated Mr.. Websters advent IN the beginning OF
December last al the Asior House, and OF which a
curious, graphic and faithful account has been given
IN our columns.
The dinner at Knickerbocker Hall was understood
TO be in direct rivalry with the Webster affair at the
great house over the way, as the guests OF the
in manners and feelings are the complete aapodes of
the pets natreS coxcombs, and brates who dsgraccd
Dir. Webster's party on that occasion. Here all was
cordiaty openness, freedom of speech, thought and
actlon-there all was aitecaton and prlmness the
second hand manners of the silver fork school Of ton
of the present day, nerarded with the brutality OF
Charles King, and the awkward airs of the parrenus
who revolve round the system of the Bangup clique
OF fashion and finance The motto of the Aslor
House banquet was the famous half a million dol
lars" boast-the boa,ed arrogance of pecunary supe
rony-the naughty superclousness of Wall street
spectators and their clique of nanclers and bullying
Journasts;the principles Of the knlcker5ocker feed
are somewhat analogous TO the name of the locality
the fopperes of tawdry refinement, and every body
pleasing himself, and making himself merry accord
ing TO his own gulse. In the substantial appurtenances
of feed no difference percepuble Mr.. Alex Welch
the man of terrapns, osdd himself in his own line,
and the company acquitted themselves as knife and
fork men with eagerness and velocity as if their
wishes for the honor ard glsry OF Henry Clay were to
be estimated by the quantity swallowed and the cele
rlty with which IL was despatched The Mayor and
Aldermen ofLondon, on Queen Victoria civic visit
her good city on the 9th November, could not have
been more pleased with themselves than were the
Clayes last night this their first regular organlza
ton OF dinner eating political party, determined 10
devour their way the presidency through opposing
masses of turkey and chine, ana 10 wade through
waves of champagne to the proud emnence just rising
over the haze of the distant HORIZON. But they felt
that the consumption OF one dinner removed a load
OF lnpedments from their path, and they grded up
their IONS and besrred themselves like men resolule
IN their endeavours eating like good New orkers
careful for the culinary renown of Their famous city.
The absence of one nuisance which nearly
verted the Astor House assemblage into bear gar
den, gratefully acknowledged on this occasion;
we aude 10 the rudeness and impairment inierfer-
ence OF Mr.. Charles King with the guests. The
Clayes did no shroud their proceedings with an i'm.
penerable veil of secrecy, nor did they seal their
doors Theoretically to the reporters of the public
press; was there TO interrupt gentlemen, who
followed their indlspatabe rights which they had
bought, by staggering assumption which he back
ed by a lie; but all was harmony and good WILL and
gentemanly demeanor on the principle Of chdcun
son govt. And here consider it not appropriate
before proceeding the description of the Clay din
ner 10 close our account with the Webster concern
by proving the urJusifiable condsct of Mr. King On
that occasion, which is pregnant instance of the
union Of the sol aisant of fashion, the brapgart
the bully, and the liar. 1t will be remembered that
the editor of the American, the Webster dinner de-
MED the right of of the company to take notes of
the speeches. the assumed ground that il was con.
rary 10 express regulation Of the committee OF ar
engagements After the correspondence with MIR.
King, (aready published III these columns) the az
grleved party, not satisfied with the cavalier but cha
racteristlc tone Of the puny whpster wrec TO the
chairman OF the committee, (Mr Philip Hone,) and
requested TO know whether Mr. King acted in pursu-
ance OF instructions of the committee, according
10 regulation prescribing the line of conduct he had
adopted.
After detailing the circumstances of Mr.. Charles
Kings impertinence, Mr.. Homes correspondent says:
81 hayea particular desire to know whether Mr. King
authorized by the Committee acted in conformity its
instructions in the he took and
answera early as suits convenience have the honor
to be- very respectfully, ycur obj sery't, J. PRICE
PH'LIp HoSE, Esq.
To this request Mr.. Hone promptly acceded and
forthwith made the annexed reply, in which, while
he gives slap al the hateful press which is active
and Ubiquitous, ever at lis post, and from which no
secrets are hid he at settles the question of fact
and proves, that when Mr.. King asserted he acted
in conformity with the precise instruction. of the
committee, he asserted wilful and objectionable
fasehood:-
NEw YcRE, December 4, 1887.
In reply TO your note OF this day, I would state,
that 10 the best OF recollection for.ia question
raised in the Commuse OF Arrang ell Dinner
regard to the exclusion Of reporters however agreed
that the gentlemen OF the Press who getting
up the Dinner should refrain from publishing any report OF
the sps scbes
remeniber also that when Mr. Brooks the sdi
press applied for permission TO introduce his reporter
objected to- on tbs ground that the guests and sher gentle
who expected speak, would be under unpea
restraint IL they observed taking notes
that thereby The barty and the would
be represed Tuat ge temsn acquesced, believe, the
propriety Of the objection.
The practice reporting in the public prints the beings
and sayings OF our convvs meetings. without the consent
and frequently To the Of the parties who
unwliney brought before the public practice entirely
repugnsnt TO the feelings OF our citizens, happily confined
yet To 81 ipconsiferable portion Of the
not presume, TO ths Committee TO take any measures.
In advance, In prevent but am ~ opinion Mr. King
authorized by the expressed sentiments NJ gentlemen
forming the Committee oppose the Introduction OF report
for that object. j am,
Respectfully
Your obedent servant.
PHILIP HONE.
j. PAIGE, ESQ.
Reserving ourself the right hereafter TO reply 10
and 10 demolIsh the ridiculous assumption Of Mr.
Hone, that the reporting of cornwall, political as
Rembes. rcpupnaut the puhlc IN ate which ia