Page images
PDF
EPUB

and devoutly to be deprecated. From the latter, when corruption bids it rage, no person is secure the more exalted the character, the more is it exposed to the danger-nor are all the better qualities which can fill and dignify the human heart, repellants to be relied on-but, on the contrary, though they may eventually bear their possessor unhurt through the contagion, yet, experience has told us, that they have ever been numbered with the primary objects of its attack. There is a species of libel, though framed in the bitterest spirit of malignance, which conscious, generous worth, will totally disregard—and it is right, perhaps, that it should do so; but the forbearance will not similarly apply to the adherents of the assailed, to whose beneficence and favours they may chance to owe every essential benefit they possess. It is not, we say, for such men, for a moment, to be idle spectators of, nor listeners to, a libellous process of such a cast every principle of gratitude in them, demands, that the first exposition of the will towards it, should be received as the deed, and that their united, efforts should be ceaseless, until the venal enemy is subdued. Though the expressions of the systematic slanderer should be so ingeniously guarded, that the law cannot he brought into immediate, nor, perhaps, eventual action, to lead to the merited result, yet let but the vehicle of the abuse be denied admission into the houses of the correctly combined many, and a reduced circulation must follow-and in that, if the evil does not timely effect its own cure, that, and the despised and rickety machine which upheld its existence, may drop into nothingness together.

After the above remarks, we feel it unnecessary, at this time, to be more particular; we shall, therefore, briefly add, that, with libellous effusions prospectively, though the offspring of imbecility, which would aim at the destruction of the vital inte rests of their place, the inhabitants of this town could not act more wisely, than in bringing into strenuous application, some such resolution as we have pointed out: that feeling called "gratitude" would then be nobly apparent among them, shewing the dispo sition prevalent for benefits confesssd in the past, and exhibiting

a claim which reflection would consecrate, by rendering it resistless, as it might judiciously appertain to the future.

THE KING.

Since our former publication, the Duke of York, the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, and the Duke of Wellington, have had the honour of being received at the Palace. A routine of elegant and splendid entertainments, giving employment to trade, and agreeable bustle to the town, had heen commenced, when his Majesty was suddenly attacked by the gout. The Duke and Duchess of Clarence took leave on the morning of the 9th ult. and his Majesty became indisposed in the evening of the same day, and thence, for several successive days, was entirely confined to his bed. The anxiety which this event caused in the town was general; it was confined to no particular class of individuals, and multitudinous almost, at intervals, have been the applicants at the Palace, to learn the state of his Majesty's health. At this period his Majesty is favorably convalescent, and has been so for many days past. It was said, that the King had intended to open the two Houses of Parliament in person, but, if contémplated, that measure is now abandoned.---A Council was held at the Pavilion on Friday; present--His Majesty, the Lord President, Privy Seal, the Earl of Liverpool, Earl Bathurst, the Duke of Wellington, Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Robinson, and, as the clerk, Mr. Buller.---The Members of the Council arrived the same day. The preparing of his Majesty's speech, for the opening of Par

liament, by Commission, and the pricking of Sheriffs, constituted the principal business of the above Council, the members of which dined together at its close-but not with the King, his Majesty not having yet been advised to remove from his private apartments.---The whole of the Cabinet Ministers returned to town on Saturday.

ACCESSION DINNER.

The third anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the throne, was celebrated at the Old Ship Tavern, on Wednesday, T. R. Kemp, Esq. in the Chair.

The assemblage on the occasion, was, in the first degree, respectable and numerous; and unmarked by any event of a character to deteriorate the loyal harmony it contemplated, was the opening, the process, and the close of the entertainment.

Dinner was on table at about half past five o'clock, and the company seated. The viands embraced all the varieties the season could afford, improved by art, and which were as well served up as dressed.

On the removal of the table cloths, after a very neat address from the chair, of which our gracious Sovereign was the theme, the first toast, " George the Fourth," was proposed and enthu→ siastic was the feeling with which it was received. Four-timesfour followed, and continued were the subsequent clapping of hands, collisions of feet with the floor, and the rattling of glasses on the festive board. After the National Anthem, the joyous burst was repeated. The Brighton Glee Singers, six of them, were engaged for the day, and the band of the Royal Fusiliers were stationed in the gallery. "God save the King" was finely sung by the former, chorussed by the collective company, and with the band accompaniment.

The principal toasts, from the above, in succession, were,

“The Duke of York, and the Army,"-Three-times-three. Glee, "How merrily we live."

"The Duke of Clarence, and the Navy." Three-times-three. Song, "Rule Britannia." "The Royal Family." smiling morn."

Three-times-three.

Glee," Hail,

"Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, and Prosperity to the County— Members of the County-The Ladies-The Town of Brighton, and Prosperity to it-The Magistrates of the County-The HighConstable-The Very Rev. the Dean of Hereford, and the Clergy of Brighton-The Commissioners of Brighton-The PresidentSir David Scott-The Vice Presidents-The Stewards-General the Earl of Harrington, and the Officers of the first Life GuardsSir A. Clark, and Officers of the Royal Fusiliers-The Visiters of the Meeting-The Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle-The Land we Live in-British Valour and British Beauty-Manufactures, Agriculture and Commerce-Peace and Plenty-The Gentlemen forming His Majesty's Household-N. Kemp, Esq. &c. &c.

The above toasts were received with a spirit which forcibly evinced their welcome; and many of the replies which they called forth were rich in point, and pregnant with good sense.

The proposition, the "Commissioners of Brighton," emanated from Sir David Scott. The well-intentioned Baronet introduced it, by expressing a regret which, he said, he should feel, were any part of the Constituted Authorities omitted in the mentions of such an occasion. The existing difference, commonly deplored, between the Magistracy and the Local Commission, now naturally recurred to the recollection of all present-and the proposition, which had given so much pleasure to the company to hear and comply with, could but be regarded as the extension of the olive branch, to restore that good understanding between the parties, which had been, for a season, unfortunately lost. It was evident that John Mills, Esq. an intelligent gentleman of the Commission, regarded it in that light, for, in his reply, in the name of the Commission, he hailed it as the harbinger of peace, leading to a perfect re-union of the severed Authorities, and the burial of the already too long-lived animosities between them.[Tumultuous applause.]

After the first toast, "The King," Mr. B. A. Smart recited his usual offering, the product of his own muse, and was much and universally applauded.

The strength of approbation expressed, when the "Dean of Hereford and the Clergy" were toasted, has seldom been surpassed on any occasion.

The Glee singers were happy in their several efforts, and much applauded, The solo, "Love and Glory," was very finely sung by Mr. Newnum. In other attempts of a similar nature, he was almost equally successful. One or two Scotch songs were

exceedingly well given by Mr. Donaldson. The Glee singers engaged were Messrs. Donaldson and Newnum; Simes and Watson, Tester and Pocock.

Sir David Scott has accepted the civic honour of filling the chair next year.

LOCAL INFORMATION.

The subscription pack of harriers were briskly exercised on Friday last-but the sport produced was rather of a curious character; the pack threw off soon after ten o'clock, not at Patcham, as has been usual on that day, but more westward, and the dogs were presently in full cry. From that time, for better than three hours, every horse was continued at speed, without the occurring result of a death. The fact is, that instead of one, a dozen hares are supposed to have been included in the chase, the one so chancing to start and become the object of pursuit, to the relief of another, that to overtake and run in upon either, became impossible. Beden Hill, a breather for the best bloods, was up and down traversed in fatiguing succession, until, at last, horses and dogs were defeated, and panted for existence. But few of the former, however, had the bottom to keep pace with the pack, until the occurrence of the general pause-those that did, were so blown, that some days care will be requisite to restore them to condition for the field again.

During the late severe weather, when a slight fall of sleet had moistened the feathers of the winged race, which, freezing, took from them the capacity of flight, Mr. Boore, a Law Stationer of this place, as evening set in, picked up about ten dozen of larks, in a field, at the back of the Royal Crescent. He found them, in different parts of the said field, in clusters, wherever the snow had been opened to the earth, like sheep in a fold, huddled together to excite warmth. The beaks of many were buried in the mould, and all were easily taken by hand. The whole of the birds so obtained, he carried home and consigned to cages, all of which nearly, not only recovered the free use of their wings and legs, but their musical notes likewise, nor did they hesitate to

« PreviousContinue »