MR. FOX'S BIRTH-DAY.

THE public, distracted with the various accounts of the celebration of Mr. Fox's Birth-day, naturally turn to us for an authentic detail of that important event from a recollection of the correct and impartial statement we gave in a former Number*, of what passed at a MEETING OF THE FRIENDS OF FREEDOM.

To justify their confidence, we have had recourse to the Morning Post and Morning Chronicle, (the Courier being too stupid for our purpose) whose statements we have carefully read, and corrected from the information of several gentlemen who were present. We are thus enabled to lay before our readers a genuine narrative of the whole proceeding, which we defy the tongue of Slander to controvert in any material point.

As Mr. Fox's reputation had been for some time on the decline, it was thought necessary by the party (who are in great want of a HEAD) to make as respectable an appearance as possible on the present occasion. It was therefore suggested (at a previous meeting of confidential friends) that if the unfortunate shyness which subsisted between the Whig-Club and the Corresponding Society, could be opportunely removed by a few unimportant concessions on the part of the former, such a number of citizens might be readily procured from that respectable body, as would serve to give the day an éclat it had not experienced since the fatal schism of 1792.

* No. 3.

This hint, so reasonable in itself, was immediately adopted, and Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, who was well acquainted with their haunts, was ordered into the neighbourhood of Smithfield with a competent number of tickets. He was on the point of setting out, when the Editor of the Morning Post observed, that forgery was so common at present, that he hardly thought it prudent to admit all who might come with a bit of scribbled paper on this it was determined to distribute the price of admission amongst a certain number of people, to be selected by the Envoy: these, it was rightly concluded, would not fail to appear, from motives of vanity, as they could have no other possible chance of dining with the Premier Dupe, we would say Duke, in England. It now remained to determine the sum: this, after a short discussion, was fixed at Eight Shillings and Sixpence per head, "which," said the Editor of the Morning Post, "will "shew we cannot be persons of mean rank, since we can "afford, in these hard times, to give so much for a "dinner*;" and Citizen BosVILLE was desired to advance the money upon the credit of the Whig Fund.

Previous to the meeting, the chairman dispatched a note to Sir WILLIAM ADDINGTON, requesting that the Crown and Anchor might be exempted from the visitation of his runners during the morning of the 24th. To this Sir WILLIAM assented, on condition that it should be recommended to the gentlemen, to leave their pocketbooks and watches at home, that there might be as little temptation as possible to break the peace. Thus every thing was arranged with a precaution that seemed to set accident at defiance.

"Before four o'clock the passage to the LARGE ROOM* was crammed," when, on a hint that dinner was on the point of being served, one of the head waiters advanced to the great door, and opened a wicket for the admisson of the company, as fast as they paid down their money. Two or three had already passed in good order, when Mr. JOHN NICHOLL advanced, and instead of 8s. 6d. produced to the astonished receiver, seventeen of his PRINTED SPEECHES, which, valuing them at sixpence a piece, he contended would make up the sum required. These "assets," however, were absolutely rejected; and a violent dispute was on the point of commencing, when Sir CHRISTOPHER HAWKINS stept forward, and whispering a few words, which we did not hear, obtained leave for his friend to pass. The speeches were therefore deposited, and Mr. NICHOLL was already got within the wicket, when the man suddenly pulled him back by the coat, and the dispute recommenced with more violence than ever. Upon inquiry into the cause of this new tumult, we found that a wag (whom we afterwards discovered to be Mr. JEKYL) had played the member for Tregony a trick; having taken an opportunity, in the crowd, of extracting the genuine speeches from the pocket of the Honourable Member, and replacing them by the same number of the spurious ones, printed for Mr. Wright, the Publisher of this Paper. These the waiter very properly refused to receive, alledging, and indeed truly, that instead of six pence a piece, the whole seventeen were not worth six farthings.

Morning Post, Jan. 25. - This seems to be the Room which the inaccurate Reporter in the True Briton of Thursday last, called the LONG ROOM,

This altercation continued so long, that the company grew impatient; and Mr. BRYAN EDWARDS, a little ashamed of his friend, who still continued obstinate, offered to furnish his quota. Harmony now seemed to be restored, when all at once, a cry of astonishment broke forth, that beggars all description. On putting his hand into his pocket for the price of admission, Mr. E. suddenly turned pale, and exclaimed, "by G-, gentlemen, some of you have picked my pockets!" A hundred voices instantly repeated the same cry, and a dreadful scene of confusion and uproar took place.

Ardebant cuncta et fractâ compage ruebant.

What the consequence would have been, it is impossible to say, had not the waiter, with an air of authority, commanded the doors to be shut at each end of the passage, and every man to exhibit the contents of his pocket. A faint cry of No! No! was over-ruled; and Sir FRANCIS BURDETT produced an old Red Cap from the bosom of his shirt, which he put into the hands of the Duke of BEDFORD, who was appointed collector-general by acclamation. With this his Grace went, from man to man, executing his duty with the utmost fairness and impartiality; and when he had finished, poured out the contents of the cap before them all. These, it must be confessed, were a little heterogeneous, consisting, besides a large sum of money, of a brass knocker, (this was immediately claimed by the landlord) a pewter pot squeezed together, a pair of pattens, a pint decanter, a duck ready trussed for dressing, a great quantity of potatoes, and a vinegar cruet. What was most extraordinary was, that though, as his Grace afterwards declared, the money was found in very unequal portions, yet the total sum, which was 2221. 5s. 6d.

being divided among the company, amounting to 523 persons, produced 8s. 6d. for each individual, with the exception of the Member for Tregony, who brought nothing but his speech, and Capt. MORRIS, who pays for every thing with a song.

Nothing material occurred during the Dinner, which was allowed to be excellent of its kind, and where no such dish as Cow-heel (as maliciously reported in The True Briton) made its appearance.

*

As soon as the cloth was removed, the Duke of NORFOLK took the Chair amidst repeated plaudits, and addressed the Company in these words:

"Three virtuous Men, Citizens, have stood up in defence of Liberty-MAXIMILIAN ROBESPIERRE, COLLOT D'HERBOIS, and CHARLES JAMES FOX: The first is guillotined; the second transported to Cayenne; and the third "Here all eyes were immediately turned upon Mr. Fox, who now entered the room, supported by Citizens JOHN GALE JONES and JOHN HORNE TOOKE "As the Right Hon. Gentleman (resumed the Duke, a little peevishly) has mistaken his cue, and appeared sooner than he ought, I shall spare his modesty the panegyric I was preparing, and shortly conclude with proposing the health of CHARLES JAMES Fox: "This was drank with three times three.

As soon as the clamour had subsided, Mr. Fox arose, and said That language, at least any which he could boast, was inadequate to the exquisite feelings of gratitude which at once delighted and oppressed him, at the sight of so numerous and so respectable a body of free

* Morning Chronicle, Jan. 25.

and