Star. — London, England, 1819-07-27 00:00:00

1! , ; I 7 ~~ i.., , .i,. 1 , .. t tl r. ) veral minutes. When the applause had somewhat subsided, and as the Worthy Alderman advanced to address the Livery, two or three Gentlemen came behind him with their hats on, which excited consi derable displeasure. Silence was, however, soon re stored, those Gentlemen disappeared, and the Worthy Alderman addressed the Meeting neaelY as follows : —Gentlemen of the Livery, on this occasion, as well upon all others, I most cheerfully throw myself into the hands of my brother Liverymen. I never allow my private opinions to interfere with public rights and public privileges ; and, connected as I am with the Magistracy of the City of London, I always wish to do every thing in my power which can add to its utility, and preserve its dignity. I always make a wide distinction between the office and the man ; and while I respect both, have no bias to gratify in the discharge of an important duty. I have been in formed, that I was called upon at the last meeting of the Livery to take the chair; hut I pledge my ho nour to my fellow citizens, that it was unknown to me. I had rather decline it, if it were left to my own election ; but when called upon by a majority to fill the chair, I consider I have no choice, and I obey their wishes. It was unknown to me that the Lord Mayor refused to convene a meeting upon a proper requisition being made to him for that pur pose; and I shall now briefly state to you the conse quences that have resulted at former periods from the pursuance of a similar line of conduct by others of your Chief Magistrates. Even, before the Revo lution, a Liveryman of the City of London was taken into custody for insisting upon his right to dis cuss the matter of public grievances, and for declar ing that previous to their proceeding to any election, such matters should be there debated. Through this illegal act, influenced by the Government, did that Goverameat subsequently proceed to suspend the Act of Habeas Corpus ! More than 10 years ago the same attempts were made to prevent the Livery from expressing their opinions, or discussing their various interests and grievances, as they would have been at this moment, if it were not for the manly spisit with which they had resisted it. Even lately they were prevented the exercise of their undoubted right to do so, although at that period to which I have just called your attention, the Livery had made a noble stand, declaring they would not proceed to any matter of election, until they had also the power to en ter upon the discussion of their grievances. It was the opinion of the celebrated Mr. Dunning, that the Livery had at all tunes a right of discussing grievances when assembled in that Hall ; and those who refused to allow such discussions did not best es iece either their own soundness of judgment, or well judged zeal for the interests and the wishes of their fellow citizens. The Livery have at all times to decide when they choose to exercise that right ; and no peuer, of which I know any thing, caulegallv ant coi atitutionally prevent their doing so.—EThe Lard Mayor at this period pa,sed through the Hall, aad was almost overwhelmed with hisses and loud howling's, and after the clamour had ceased, Mr. Al derman Waithman, the Chairman, resumed.] —lt is nut for a Magistrate, elected by the Livery, to say to that Livery, " You shall not meet to discuss any subject that does not please myself." No, Gentlemen, such is not the conduct becoming a man whom you have elected to so high and honourable an office— nor could I therefore, in consistency with those feel-, ings, have refused to answer to your call. I have obeyed it, because I felt it to be my duty ; and in acceding to your request, 1 feel I cannot do wrong. It is, Gentlemen, very well known, that I hold opt-1 nions very different from those which are held by persons who have called me to this chair—and these opinions I cats never consent to alter, until I am tho- ' roughly convinced that' are erroneous. When this occurs, I shall become a convet t. Until then, I shall honourably hold those principles, of whose incorrect ness I have not yet been convinced. I certainly feel there is too much risk in calling public meetings in the public places and squares ia the Metropolis, ex cept on very serious and important occasions. lam one of those who would much rather they were let alone, even though I approved of the objects they were assembled to discuss. Gentlemen, lam one of those who would not deny to any man the exercise of his rights ; let prudence and honour always direct us in the choice of the occ asion we may select to do so. Gentlemen, after all, what are.the People to do? No man denies their distresses and privations—no man denies the pinching poverty with which they are attacked. No man says they do not suffer griev ances of the most severe description ; and is it to be endured, that when they call upon the man they have themselves elected to preside at a meeting for the purpose of their redress, that he refuses to . accede to the request, and positively denies them the exercise of their incontestible rights'? Gentlemen, they are rot the friends of peace or cf order who do so; they are not the friends of public tranquillity who do so, and who ultimately drive the discontented and dis tressed into the very streets and highways to discuss their grievances, and remonstrate against the oppres sion with which they are afflicted. I should have' felt happy to be relieved from this situation, but there is no post of danger to which m fellow citizens may call me that I will shrink from. I know nothing of' . the objects for which I have been this day called to the Chair. Nor does it follow, even when I do know them, that they may have my approval. I merely act as the organ of the meeting ; and I call upon all those who intend addressing you, to act with cool ness, temperance, and moderation ; and by so doing, form a striking contrast to the conduct of those who violently exclude you from the exercise of the most valuable and important rights that free Citizens of a free State can possibly enjoy.—(Load cheers.) Mr. STEPLIZNS—A striking contrast is just exhi— bited in the conduct of our late and present Chair man. You selected the worthy Alderman who has just addressed you, to a situation of the first import ance, in consequence of the patriotism and honesty of his principles ; while the Lord Mayor, who has acted so improperly by you, was never the free choice of the Livery of London, or of any majority of his fellow citizens. The Lord Mayor's conduct; during the last week, was extremely reprehensible, indeed, so much so, as to call forth the loud disap proval of every friend to peace and order within the City of London. We are all friends to peace and tranquillity, and were ready to be sworn in as spe cial constables, did the preservation of the public peace require it; but when we found the Chief Ma- gistrate was only the tool of Administration, we re fused to second his views. The public peace was not endangered; but a shew of bustle and activity was put on in order to procure the triumph of a Ba ronetcy for his Lordship. We would not assist him in procuring such an honour—for we neither thought nor think that his conduct has entitled him to it. The inhabitants of another Ward were equally ready to come forward were their assistance necessary—they naturally asked by whom they were to be directed, and on finding the Lord Mayor so unnecessarily busy, they refused to act—for they saw at least the apprehensions entertained by some were merely an empty bubble. I have, however, principally come forward on this occasion, to propose a vote of thanks to those worthy, discreet, and patriotic Gentlemen, who acted so becomingly dining the last week. They did not provoke disturbances as the Lord Mayor did, nor could I even look upon the statue of Beckford now within my view, without wondering how the present Lord Mayor came to have acted in the im proper manner he has done. The vote he intended to propose had nothing whatsoever of party feeling in it, and he was therefore the more certain of its being unanimously passed. Every man must have smiled at the strong tale of the Lord Mayor, of the intended destruction of the whole City of London ; but as his Lordship said, he had information of the fact upon the oath of several persons, he was bound to come forward and substantiate his assertions. The worthy Gentleman, after a few further observations, concluded by moving the following Resolution: " Resolved, That the thanks of this Common Hall are emi nently due, and are hereby given to Mr. Alderman Wood and Mr. Alderman Waithman, fur their zealous and patriotic atten tion to preserve the peace of this great City during the Meeting held in Smithfield, on Wednesday, July 21st ; for their consti tutional and spirited protests against infringing on the liberties of this City, by the uncalled for parade cf the military., where not the slightest disposition to riot was manifest, and for the judicious advice given by them in their capacity of Magistrates; of this City, which in the opinion of the Meeting, were calcu lated to temper and moderate the estraortlinary ze3l displayed by the Right Hon. the Lord May ~r upon that occasion." Mr. Wool.Eit next aneared amid the greetings of the Livery, and addressed them at considerable length in seconding the motion of thanks proposed by Mr. Stephens. Ile observed, that the Lord Mayor only wished to act the dictator over the citizens of I.on don, at the head of the Life Guards, and felt satis fied the line of conduct adopted by his Lordship was more likely to have created than prevented riot. He hoped the Lord Mayor would not have been able to make so precipitate a retreat, until he (Mr. Wooler) was first enabled to stamp the burning lie upon his brazen forehead. No riot took place at 51114101,11, nor was there any thing in the conduct of the radi cal Reformers which could have led to it, if it was not for the ill judged /cal of the Right I lonourable the Lord Mayer. If they intended to burn and destroy the whole City of London. they would not have given three full weeks previous notice their intention to do so—nor would they put it into exe cution in the middle of the noon-day. The Refor mers, however, were provokingly tranquil--and his Lordship therefore thought his preparations should have been the more extensive. The Lord Mayor throughout seemed to act in total contempt of Hs' fellow citizens, and the only way to reward him would be—for his single contempt to return him the contempt of his insulted countrymen. He richly de served it, and he might preserve it as a testimonf how timeserving ended and prospered in the world. Mr. FAVELL said, .that he should, upon this and every occasion, clairnfor the Liverymen of London the tight of expressing their opinions upon every po litical topic, which involved their interests or their grievances ; and if this privilege were not to be firmly maintained, what would become of the Bill of Rights? What would become of those glorious pri vileges, to the exertion of which the Illastrious House of .Brunswick owed their elevation to the Throne of this Realm ? The conduct of the Chief Magistrate' upon late occasions, he thought it impossible to avoid condemning. When the last Members, who represented the City in Parliament, lost their seats, on the ground of their political principles, there was something manly in their conduct, when they fairly expressed their dislike to measures brought forward in that assembly. But the present Chief Magistrate observed a quite different conduct ; for not only did he refuse to comply with a Requisition of the Livery, most respectably signed, to call a Hall for the dis cussion of a subject he did not like, but even this day, when the Livery were assembled, and might take the occasion for discussion, he takes assay the mace, and attempts to dissolve the assembly. But while he (Mr. Ewell) had a hand to raise, he would raise it to the last against a proceeding so unconstitutional. When a Requisition was recently presented to him, signed by upwards of forty most respectable Livery men, for calling a Common Hall, he refused to com ply, because, he said, there were some things propo sed for discussion which he did not like ; but if the Chief Magistrate should attempt with success such conduct as this, there was an end to the freedom of the City of London. The subject of discussion to which the Lord Mayor objected, was Parliamentary Reform. But he, .Mr. Favell, protested against his, authority to reject or to dictate any subject upon which the Livery of London might or might not choose to discuss. He trusted, however, he was at i this moment addressing a body of sincere Reformers;' but he most earnestly deprecated every attempt to effect such a measure by the clamour of tumultuous! assemblies, as a means the most fatal to so desirable a measure. The worst foes to Reform were the pro moters of such assemblies. For upon this point, he would quote the Spanish proverb—" GOD deliver me from my friends ; I will take care of my enemies myself." He trusted that before the next Session of Parliament, the Corporation of London would dis cuss the subject of Parliamentary Reform, and lay their sentiments on that subject before Parliament, in such a manner as, he hoped, would be found to de-, serve the unanimous co-operation of the whole king dom ; which yeas the best road to ultimate success. The vote was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. WAITBMAN assured the assembly, he would rather address them on any other subject than the present. He received this new proof of the kindness and confidence of his fellow-citizens with sincere thanks. He felt no claims to their gratitude for the plain straight forward conduct they had adopted on 'the late occasion. The measure he had recommen ded in opposition to the conduct of the Chief Magis trate, had been previously agreed to in the Court of Aldermen, and he and his brother Magistrates felt it consequences they w ere likely to produce. He wou ld, however, put a t t l h l r L d n u r t d y t m o a g y a n s r l: t a lne d i r t h he and e s v proceedings of il of the plot he had of t c h o e n se q q uestion to this assembly, and it was, whether, if the Chief Magistrate really kne w stated, for the conflagration of the City and the mur der of its inhabitants, why he concealed this fact the very eve of the day it wa s said to be fixed for ex ecution ? or why did he not give them some intima tion the day before ? and why with a belief, if he en tertained it, that the murderers were stalking through the streets, had he no other measure to prevent it than by taking thirty or forty constables to take away from the meeting a single person, and thus excite the very tumult he professed to appreh end ? He con cluded by returning his sincere t hanks for the vote. Mr. WARNE proposed the following Resolution re lative to the conduct of the Lord Mayor : Resolved—That this Meeting, considering the conduct of the Right. Hon. the Lord Mayor towards his fellow-citizens to he highly derogatory to the situation he fills, that he has thereby forfeited all claims to their confidence and esteem. Mr. Hum', in moving a n Amendment, said that the Motion made by the Honourable Gentleman was such as he could not agree to. A respectable Com mon Councilman had spoken of the unwise Meeting in Smithfield, and had stated the impolicy of the Public assembling there, while they might have had the use of the Guildhall. But that Gentleman must have known that none but the Livery could legally meet in this Hall, and the Meeting he would further say, at Smithfield, was as regular and as legal as any one ever held in this Hall, at least they had the sanction of Lord Sidnionth and the City Officers for saying that it was. As to the question of the Na tional Debt, he would say that as Englishmen had never contracted it, but that it was solely occasioned by the Boroughmongers, he was for them paying it. —Mr. Hunt then, after several further observations, on the conduct of the Lord Mayor, said, tliat if his Lordship durst meet his fellow-citizens on a future occasion, without producing that person who swore to the information submitted to his Lordship, or Otherwise the person' who were alleged to have con trived that hellish plot, he would, for one, have no hesitation in pronouncing the whole to be a fabrica tion of his Lordship's. The Amendment he now proposed was stronger than the original Resolution, and he did not know who was to 'second it, not being in , the habit of having consultations before hand. Should it be seconded, however, he would leave it in the hands of the Livery, with the fullest confi dence in their decision. He should now read it, and then leave them to dd as they , saw proper : Resolved—That the Right Honourable John Atkins, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, by his intemperate and officious conduct during the Meeting in Smithfield, on Wednes day last, by inciting the peuccable citizens to acts calculated to produce ri. , t and bloodshed, in direct opposition to the advice of his brother Aldermen, is a proof of tae disregard in which he hot is the rights and li'oerties of his fzll citizer.c, when pot in campeti!ion with his own ambitious views and party feelings. ‘• ite;aived, therefore, that he has betrayed the trust reposed in hini. 113 S therel,y rerdcred himself unworthy the future con liderce and support of his fellow-citizei.s." Mr. Woottn recorded the Resolution. It was im possible that any Resolution could be tco strong in expressing their contempt for his Lordship. The Lord Mayor had grossly insulted his fellow-citizens, thanks to their folly for having placed him in his present si tuation ; but he having done so, it was their duty to let him see the sense which they entertained of that insult—( Applause). Mr. WAITIIMAN said, it was his duty to hear the opinions of all without expressing his own, but as he was peculiarly situated on that occasion, and as he wished that no part of their proceedings should suffer from-- Mr. HUNT rose to order. The Chairman had no right to express his opinion on any Resolution which 'he was called upon to put from the Chair. Mr. WAITHMAN (to Mr. Hunt).—" I call you tc order, Sir." " Mr. HUNT—" And I call you to order, Sir." Mr. WA' TII M A N—" Gentlemen, 1 am in your hands. It is quite disorderly to interrupt the Chair man. If such disorder be continued, I shall feel it my duty to relinquish my present situation. I know that I am not ex:ietly in order in offering my opinion on this Resolution, but surely as an old friend I may be allowed to say a word or two." Mr. HuNv—" I move that the Chairman himself decide whether the Amendment shall or shall not he put ? Ile had better do so at once. His duty, how ever, is simply to put the Resolution handed to him." ( .17:plause and 1. isse s). Mr. WA ITIINIA N--" This conduct is well calculated 'to create disturbance. I shall put the question; but if I see any more behaviour of this kind, I must make my bow and retire. As many Gentlemen as are of opinion that this Resolution be--" Mr. HUNT (in a loud voice)—" You are out of or der ; the Amendment ought to be put first"—(C'ries' tf bravo, Hunt ! and some hisses). Mr. WAITIINIAN" Sir, you need not bellow like a ball!" Mr. HUNT—" Nor need you, Sir, bellow like a bullock 1—( Applause and hisses). Here is a Member of the House of Commons who does not know whe ther an original Motion or an Amendment should be first put"—( The noise was here so great that it was (VI cult to hear whet passed). Mr. WAITIIMAN—" If this conduct be continued I must certainly make my bow and withdraw. I know that it is usual to put the Amendment first, but surely this could be done without such turbulence and bullying. It cannot be supposed that lamto be influenced by such conduct." Mr. HUNT—" Your shuffling won't do ; it is too late ; you have lost your power in that way."— (C . heers and hisses). Mr. WAITHMAN—" Gentlemen, you hear I am' taxed with shuffling, and am told that I have lost my power ; I can only say, that bullying • and violence will not do here, however it may answer elsewhere. The Amendment was then put, and carried by a considerable majority—( Loud cheering). Mr. BTEPHCNS said that the Meeting had still an important duty to perform ; he rose to propose a Vote of Thanks to their worthy Chairman, for his praiseworthy conduct in the Chair—( Applause ). He then proposed the following Resolution : " Resolved—That the Thanks of the Livery be particularly presented to Mr. Alderman Waithman, for g ivin g an additional proof of his devotion to the rights of his fellow-citizens, by con senting to preside upon the present occasion, thus enabling the Livery to express their sense of the irregul ar conduct of the Lord Mayor." Mr. HUNT had insisted on his right, in ordcr to shew that he wlts not to be driven cr.-tr. t 7 now came forward for the purpo , e vt he was not in fhe slightest degree in via , el .c• or party feelings He miist cordi.ul: Motion—( Cheers, and • The Resolution was carried unaninti..isl.-. Alderman Vs - ArrnstANAilid, that, iii • call which the Li7erymenad made upon the Chair, he had not done any thing duty. He returned thanks for the v"te had just passed in favour of his conduct, ti• sent, except to one individual, whose been such that he could not feel a \ ote from him as a compliment at ail. (,:decd.not believe that the individual to whom !;c• had joined conscientiously in it, bec.m.e i; Berman Waithman's) conduct had dcseivej terruptions as it had net \\ hit from that could not he justly entitled to his thar:ks. of the day had taught him one le—inn, \ihi,.! ; not easily forget ; it \vas this—iicver to al self to preside over a public meeting a: v. person was pre , ent, or to place himsch where that persOn could insult him. !! peated his expressions of gra:itude, 1). • meeting, Lind retired amid a mingled ings and applause, in which, howevcr the dominated. _ . Mr. I lN T shortly afterwards Collewek . not seem to attract rn , :ch of thc atteridcn The Alee;ing then dispersed. EMPLOYMENT TiiE POOTZ Mle.Oh - EN's PLAY. Yesterday a very numerous ascernh!ntr and Gentlemen net at the City of L0n,. 4 . , to receive t!:e lkpoit of a former Mectiug, to consider the t: ing an Establishment upon Mr. atve Employment of the Poor, the Dtit;:i of ki Chair.—llis Royal Highness, after an impie, dress to the Meetipg uron the neces , ity every pus',ible n.e. as for the relief and seen;, the pfior un..hr the pre:ent calamit , als circlu of the country, wad upon the pre, iiet.y (.1 an experiment on the s•: tern of Mr. (P.y 2N , given a distinguished proof of the Fat:tit:4 his theory, read the followiag Report : a That the... have met several times, . • N, VA Pre:i leacy of his Royal Highne,s the 11 , 11:e that the risalt of there met:jags, at tvitic:t del of Mr. Owen's proposed Establishment jetted to inspection, and - .4r. Owen himself c to give further elucidations of it, while it ha, at the Committee a more accurate view of the nature of the proposed E,tablislirnent. leaves 'egret the want of an et..perience of Uie effect Establishments in practice. .‘ '11:e concurrent testimony, howe , •er, of sons who have visited the Establishment at Y nark, leaves no room to donb: t::e etliciency plan adopted there, under the immediate pure dente of Mr. Owen, for promoting the' coinh happiness of the persons employed in it: training their children in those habits of anon. pline, by which that comfort and hap :ins, all human probability, be enstn ed. " The Committee, however, remark, that tii as proposed for national adoption by Mr. (hr fers, in many essential particulars, from t;;.it cessfully pursued in the commercial Linden. New Lanark ; but there is, in the opinion Committee, sufficient analogy between them tify a well-grounded expectatiowhat simil rangements might produce effects of an equal neficial nature and result. " Influenced by this consideration, and sti impressed with a sense of the acknowledged pauperism, and of the waste and abuse of tht mous sums raised for the support of the pool Committee hope they shall not be considered passing too much on the confidence of the pth gladly availing themselves of any apparently , cable prospect of relief from evils 'o oppre increasing, they venture to recommend, that • Establishment, of the description in question, be founded, by way of an experiment, to a! the nature and extent of the advantages to be from it. " The more immediate benefit they cont. would be the constituting a resource for agri, and other healthy employments for the ;Wulf system of progressive useful education for th. poor ; thus affording the means of relief, b) drawing those classes from the injurious hal associations of Workhouses in the Parishes Metropolis, and other populous places. The Committee anticipate also the poss:l rendering such Establishments subservient to system of parochial relief ; and that a co proportion of the enormous fund raised in the larger parishes, consolidated and appn to the foundation of one common Establish! the kind in question, would, at no distant p( amply sufficient to support the poor, in cen. of the productive labours of the indiNien; 'should be placed there. " The beneficial effects of an union of fi already, for some years, been experienced in where the parochial workhouses have been svi by the erection of Hundred or District Ho' which means much waste and local abuse funds have been obviated, and the poor-rat , rially lowered in amount. " The Committee cannot conclude this ti port, without expressing their cordial thank! Owen, for the liberal manner in which he the wishes of the Public and of the Comm affording every facility for promoting the tion of his Plan, and for the candour evinced on all occasions, in his intercourse wit'a ti•( F : t li ..: , ' 'i l 1 ,11 i, i '• ,1 . ' ' ; . . • , , • • 1 •0 . -1. : , • i •i, i , t •• : .. • , i • '•: 'r ''.. • ' 1 , .., .. '• i 1 • , • I i 1 ti' A . mittee." Mr. OWEN, after describing his plan ft wooden model which he exhibited at tl..e Free Tavern, and descanting at some length urn fects likely to result from the general a.lo! that plan, concluded as follows :—Much a.; n said in explanation of my proceedings, your ti admit only of that which is most essoptial: some who are present mar wish, and are ju titled, to engage your notice, I will now con: briefly recapitulating those sentiments uhici to press upon your attention. The Ist is—Tha the country is in great di-tress.,. 2. That the principal catise which occasions such the Mind imrcas4.: of machir.ciy utl uih i ,Li:“ti:lL res. ; L e L;Lste I •• Lt Lerts vte „w be 111 tin , 311 ki :•3! ; 4 be ;Js n .1 6.l'h L e Of LL L:Lt ne „fly i the gJ . " L'aout ! . : oLsis K. TIL ith . 3 • ('las - 1 11n the t .irnp • • I 'lil ten kn.: r. '.l • • ' iz: tit (~. 1 I ' 1. 1 p t• , n•, Ciah . 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