Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser – Saturday 06 February 1847
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH DAY OF THOMAS PAINE.
A public tea party was held at the Literary Institution, John-street, Tottenham-court-road, on Friday evening, January the 29th, in commemoration of the birth of the immortal Thomas Paine. Mr. Thomas Cooper presided, and after tea delivered an appropriate address. He also read a letter from a gentleman in the North condemning on the services Thomas Paine had rendered to the human race. The lecture excited warm applause.
The chairman then gave the first toast:—
“The people may they study, the first principles of government, and may they never relinquish the struggle for social and political rights, till the whole population have obtained them.”
Responded to by Mr. J. B. O’Brien.
The next sentiment was:—
“The memory of Thomas Paine, may his works, imperishable as the language in which they are written, become universally studied and reduced to practice.”
Responded to by Mr. J. Watson, and Mr. Walter Cooper.
The next sentiment was:—
“The Press, may its transcendent talent be exerted in establishing the rights and liberties of mankind, and in elevating the intellectual, social, and moral character of the people.”
Responded to by Mr. Alexander Campbell, and Messrs. Buchanan and Stallwood.
The next sentiment was:—
“The speedy downfall of the iniquities of Kingcraft and Priestcraft.”
Responded to by Mr. Henry Hetherington, and Mr. W. D. Saull.
The speeches were all interesting and worthy of the political and intellectual celebrity of the speakers. The musical harmony of the evening included the “Marseilles Hymn,” “A man’s a man for a’ that,” and several other choice effusions of the democratic muse.
The services of the choir were most efficient, and the singers, both male and female, deserved and received the enthusiastic applause of the meeting.