But the Leeds Conservative dinner of Wednesday was quite outdone
by the Over-Darwen Conservative and Orange tea of Thursday. Twice the number partook of the milder refresh- ment, and were twice as noisy after it. The Rev. P. Graham, J.P., presided, a gentleman whose wrath against Mr. Gladstone must have been in some degree of a theo- logical flavour, it was so bitter. Mr. Gladstone, he said, was to be asked to stand for that division of Lancashire, but " they would make mincemeat of him, for no one wished to taste of such an unsavoury pie,"—all illogical reason for preparing a mince-pie ; no, they would fight the battle "with the honoured names of Holt and Starkic." Then a Rev. R. Moyall thanked God he was not a Dissenting minister, in a speech which looks as if it would have made most Dissenting ministers thank God they were not the Rev. R. Moyall ; and then the "honoured name of Holt " was received by the meeting with rounds of applause ; and then " the honoured name of Starkie " was likewise so received ; and then Mr. Maker, Q.C. and M.P., explained that the Whig craft had strained her moorings, and seemed likely to be drifting out to sea again, and everybody was very jolly over the wicked- ness of the Ministry and their Romanising policy. The Orange tea was not aesthetic, but taken hot with a little bigotry, it seemed to be at least as exciting as more generous liquors.
