There appears to have beers no Tory thinner in the
Metropolis ;
but the Reformers celebrated the day at the Horns Tavern, Kenning- ton. Mr. Clay, Mr. Hawes, Mr. D'Eyncourt, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Wason, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Baines, Dr. Bowling, Air. Edward Bulwer, Mr. T. Duncombe, and three hundred other gentlemen, dined together. In the absence of ltlajor Beauclerk, Mr. llity presided. " The health of the Princess Victoria, the hope of the country," was given by the chairmen, in an appropriate speech ; and drunk amidst enthusiastic cheering. Mr. Villiers proposed the health of " The Dutchess of Kent," in
the best speech we have read for some time—full of matter, and every point well put. In these days, said Mr. Villiers, when the old men were going backwards, there was not perhaps much harm in the young wen coming forward ; and for himself, he would not scruple to express the joy he felt at the dawn of a bright day which this anniversary pre- sented to those who desired by purify;n3 “nd reforming to strengthen the institutions of the country—
He would cheerfully propose the toast which had been placed in his hands,
which was to do honour to her to whom, if their expectations were realized, they were deeply indebted, for it was; the health of the excellent and enlightened parent of the personage whose nativity they were met to celebrate. They were met to commemorate the attainment of the majority of the personage who night occupy the highest post in this country,—who, if they were rightly
i informed, had been trained in principles suited to the day in which she lived, wad to the country over which she was to reign, and who had been taught to understand that the English monarchy was upheld for the protection and hap- piness it was capable of affording to the people at large. That a person should occu y the throne who had been imbued with such principles, lie thought a
cheer as pr,epect to those who were ever labouring to accomplish the same ends. ...al as el ey wt.te building hope upon this prospect of advancing the Cause of public improvement, he thought the occasiou was not ill-suited ta the Reformers to state openly to what ends they were steering, and what senti-
ments were really their own ; for they lived in days when apostacy and comp. tion were inventing phrases to cover their own designs, and with consistent trickery to impute motives and conduct to their opponents which -h
be It was said that the Reformers were enemies of the Thro andewbto Church. Let the charge be examined—
The Reformers do wish to see reforms in the Church. They propose the principle on which the reform should proceed—that is, that the property should
be applied in the manner most fitted to accomplish the objects of a church-_ that service and reward should go together—that the anomaly of those that work most should be paid least should cease. They complain that the people want a good parochial clergy, who should be adequately rewarded for their ser. vice ; and th it the clergy, from the unequal distribution of the Church property, are now in many places rendered inefficient. It is for advocating the cause of the working clergy, then, that they are so assailed ; for they have lately heard from the new Tory organ, that this distribution is perfect as it is; that it causes no practical evil ; and that it cannot be touched without injury being done! But need they be afraid of leaving this issue to be determined by the people, who are ever justly and piously inclined How was he to persuade those who sent him to Parliament, that there was no practical evil in the present system, when thousands were annually drawn from the property of that town, and ap. prom iated to sonic dignitary, who never placed his foot within its church, or whose face was not known to ten people in the town, and when the stipend allowed to the curate for the charge of thirty•five thousand souls was something between 60/. and I001 a year ? Will any eloquence short of that of the Member for Westminster persuade them that there was no practical evil in that? Drivel' to the corner, then, when pressed to establish their charge of disaffection ins the Reformers to the altar and the throne, they vent forth a tissue of phrases and epithets against other projects of the Reformers, which they call visionary, un-English, or unpractical. Here, again, let the public arbitrate between these exclusive guardians and the Reformers. What is it that the latter are ever toiling to obtain ? First and foremost, equal government in England and Ireland—civil equality betlyeen Churchman and Dissenter—freedom to industry and commerce—cheap and competent administration of justice—the education of the people, and effective protection to them in the exercise of the franchises which they are allowed to possess. Watch the real Reformer in his course, and you will ever see him striving for one or other of these objects, and you will know his adversary—not by the nickname that he may give himself to delude others—but by his determined resistance to moat of these objects.
He would ask any candid Tory to reflect upon the present temper of the people— Are they the ferocious animals that it was said they would. prove if power were extended to them ? Are they so hostile to property as timid men assent them to be? Why, what is the boast and vaunt now of that party, but that the people have become so moderate in their views lately that they are almost Con. Nei votive ? Why, then, if this approaches the truth, what does it prove, but that the people may be safely trusted with power ; that they become more moderate as theit grievances diminish ; and that they will nut urge their de- mands with anger and impatience as long as there is a hope of obtaining what they wish by peaceful means? Why do they not try, then, to understand their fellow citizens, iustead of ever maligning and mistrusting them ? Why do they not study their interests, and, in a generous and confiding spit it, seek to pro. mote them ; for though ;he people are patient and enduring, let them not for- get that there is a spirit within them that will fix the limit of that endurance■ a spirit which it will be as dangerous to arouse as it will he difficult to allay. Let those, then, who are to influence the destinies of this country study the character of the people; and whether it he the 'Monarch, the I'cer, or the ruler in the Commons, let them remember that the institutions of this country have never been endangered by doing justice to the people, but they have been and will he endangered by its stubborn and continued refusal. It is, then, because be believed that the interesting and important personage whom they had met to honour had been taught. to understand her future position, and to value and appreciate a great and generous people, and that they were indebted for this ad- vantage to her much-esteemed parent, that he proposed to them " The Dutchess of Kent, and may she live to sec her maternal cares rewarded by the affections of her daughter and the gratitude of the nation."
The healths of the " Duke of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family," and of "his Majesty's Alinisters " were received with ap- plause. " Mr. Shell and Justice to Ireland" elicited u speech from the Member for Tipperary.
"This," said Mr. Sheil, " is but one of the many festivals in which an event hailed with joy by England is commemorated. To•night there will be in the ancient palace occupied by the Kings of England a vast concourse of the splendid aristocracy of this country, to celebrate the attainment by the Princess Victoria of that age at which the constitution deems her entitled to form a judg- meat of the interests and of the rights of the great people which Providence may have appointed her to rule. The proud nobility of England will meet around her, and offer her the tribute of their anticipations. 'Tis well and right that they should do this ; and the royal lady to whom these oblations of almost premature protestation of devotedness will be made will know full well how to estimate the sincerity of those homages of which she will be the object ; but while she goes through these formalities of the palace, I rejoice that she should also be furnished with the proof which such meetings as these will give her that she holds a deep place in the affections of the people, and that while this auspicious day is conimemoratsd by courtiers in the saloons of royalty, it is also hailed with an enthusiasm at least as real by the great body of the people, whose affections are of a value so infinitely greater than the adulation of the heartless great, by whom princes are so often treated either as their idols or their victims. Be this day a happy one, and of hope for this noble country let it be the initiation!"
Mr. Shell became more poetical and more Irish as he proceeded. His is the last speech reported ; and soon after its delivery the party broke up. About eighty members of the Reform Club dined together; Mr. Ellice in the chair. There was very little speechmaking, but a good deal of conversation about the union of Reformers and the happy prospects for the good cause in the next reign. Mr. Ellice and Mr. O'Connell were mutually civil and complimentary. The provincial papers bring accounts from all quarters of festivities on the 24th. In many places wealthy and charitable individuals have gladdened the poor with good old English fare ; the toils of business were suspended, and the day kept as one of general rejoicing.
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