One hundred and seventy electors of Perthshire, supporters of Mr.
Fox Maule, gave that gentleman a public dinner on the 1st instant, at Blairgowrie. Mr. David Nairne was Chairman, and Lord Duncan, Mr. Robert Steuart, Mr. Chalmers, and other gentlemen of property and influence in Scotland, were among the distinguished guests. The Chairman, in giving the health of Mr. Motile, observed that he was come of a good stock, and that he had not disappointed the expecta- tions of his constituents. Mr. Motile dwelt on the proceedings of last session, and especially on his own conduct with respect to the Gaine-laws and the question of Church patronage. Ile professed his readiness next session to persevere in his endeavours to amend the former, and to support Mr. Andrew Johnstone in his motion on the latter subject. In allusion to the support given by Mr. O'Connell to Ministers, he said— Mr. O'Connell had not dictated to the Government. He agreed with and had supported the measures of the Government, that was all. O'Connell and other Liberal Members saw that reforms were proposed for Ireland, such as neither a Tory Government had ever dreamed of nor any Whig Government put in force. But these reforms had been all stopped in the House of Lords. He therefore hoped for a reform of opinion in that House, or else in the House itself. How that reform was to be effected, it was difficult to say, It was a question of constitutional law, and a convivial meeting was not the place for discussing it fully. He trusted there would be a reform in the opinions of the House of Lords; for if not, it was impossible that the opposition between the People and the Aristocracy could long exist ; and if the Aristocracy would not bend their minds to the wishes of the People, the former, as the weaker party, must go to the wall.
Mr. Robert Steuart delivered an energetic speech
Allusion had been made to the independent electors of Haddington ; for this he felt deeply grateful. He hid assisted in upsetting the power of a man la that district who commenced his political life as a Liberal—nay, almost as a Republican, but whom they had seen retrograding in his old age into the Tory and Corruptionist—he meant the Earl of Lauderdale. In 1806, Lord Mel- bourne had been returned for the Haddington Burghs, through the interest of Lord Lauderdale. Now, Lauderdale had shrunk into his shell ; and Lord Melbourne, who at the period referred to had been his nominee, was at the head of the greatest Cabinet in the world. He had long admired Lord Mel- bourne's high bearing; and if his Lordship be supported as be ought, so that all his intentions may be carried into effect, the People will reap every benefit they can hope to expect from any Governmeat, coustituted as our country *1 present is.
Many other speeches and toasts followed in the course of the even- ing; which seems to have been one of the most agreeable of this dinner- giving season.
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