Star. — London, England, 1809-12-15 00:00:00

COMMON HALL. Yesterday. pursuant to a requisition to the Lord naycr, a (7cmmon Hail of the Liver)men of Lon don was convened at Guildhall. The business of the day being opened, The LORD MAYOR came forward, received by the loudest applauses, and stated, that having called the Hall, pursuant to requisition addressed to him, he had row only to request of the Livery present, in the course of the day's discussioh, to allow every gentle man who should offer himself to their notice a fair and patient hearing. The Requisition was then read by the Common Crier. Mr. FAVELL came forward, and after apologizing der obtruoling himself on the notice of the Livery, said he was only induced to do se ia the absence of the Gentleman who usually stood foremost to advo cate the rights cf his fellow-citizens ir that assembly, (he alluded to Mr. Waithman) ; bet if the Livery had not on this occasion the advantage of an open ing speech from that Gentleman, they had at least the strong fact which had been the ground of his ex ertions in another place (the Court of Common' Council). For his own pelt, he took up the subject, not as a question of party : he knew of no party in this case, but the party of his country, against the corrupt and incompetent Ministers who, most unfor tunately for her prosperity and happiness, had too long had the direction of her affairs, and who, not withstanding they had held so long at their disposal the whole strength and resources of the country, with an expenditure of seventy millions a-year, had, by their mismanagement, involved the nation in disasters and disgraces unparalleled at any former period of our history. To put an end, if possible, to a system so ruinous and degrading to the British nation, he con ceived it was the duty of the Citizens of London, as sembled in that ancient hall, to call to mind the glory of their ancestors, and the talents of those illus trious statesmen, who, in former times guided the affairs of the country with so much honour and ad. vantage ; and to unite their voices in reprobation of the conduct of those whose imbecility and miscon duct were the sources of all those calamities which at present involved the nation ; and he trusted that the manly proceedings this day to be adopted by the Li verymen of London would prove the death-blow of corruption, and the resurrection of honest men to gnice our affairs, He did not wish to harrow np the fedings of hi., fellow.citizens by going into the dis-. tressirg details of those disasters which the country had of Mate sustained. He wals convinced there was no man in that hail who would not have felt greater pleasure on rrictting to vote an address of congratu. lation to his Majesty for those signal successes of his arms which the country had a right to expect, than to complain of grievances and disasters. But it was impossible to blot from their memories the disgrace. ful affair at Ciutra, or the misriirtunes of our first ex peditioa to Spain, which terminated in the rapid and disastrous re_reat of our army to Corunna, and the death of the gallant Sir John Moore. That lament able issue to our first. Spanish expedition did not complete the measure of our disasters ; for, to make the cup of misfortune still more bitter, the affair of \Veld:even followed, and formed, as it were, he cli max of our calamity and disgrace: and this while one of his Majesty's principal Ministers who directed that disgraceful measure was cruizing in Margate roads ; and another, his colleague, remained at home brooding over accusations against the incompetency and imbecility of the former. In coming forward then to implore of his Majesty a rigid iinpory into the • misconduct of such men, he felt that he was urging the cause not only of the Citizens of Landon and all the people of aglaed, but of the; army and navy who were embarked ie the same common cause of their country, and whose honour and tame were im plicated in these disasters, and who he was convinced would join with one voice their country on this occa sion; in the universal demand of inquiry. The op posers of inquiry in another place had urged, that it was unnecessary to address his Majesty on this sub ject, as Parliament would soon meet, and inquiry would follow, as a matter of course. In that guar- I ter, hew ever, he placed no reliance. Inquiries had l already been proposed and adopted there, but what I was the real& ? The foulest imputations had been I cast upon those who proposed them, and even where they were followed up to time detection of delinquency, I no punishment ever followed Ile was unwilling to I trespass longer on the attention of the Livery ; lie had only to rejoice that the people of this country I were roused to a sense of their misfortunes, and that a spirit of inquiry was excival in the Citizens of Lon don, which, he Li to ed, would, frem their example, I extend throughout :he kingdom, and prove the source I of o ur saleatien. it was t the spirit of the City oil London that the country owed the suppression of Le- • neral warrants, and the resistance of many other en croaclalments of to: reser Ministers, subversive cf the rights of the peop'.-. 1 k c6rmjurcd the Livery of this day to recollect the days of the venerable Beckford, and other Chief Ma; ; Htratc:: of Elm( r times, and to be guided by that manly British spirit which actua-o ted the Corporation in those days ; and he was con-I vinced, that could the shade of the venerable Beek-1 lead, whose statue formed one of the proudest monu atents cf that aacient hall, speak :it this moment, it I would either request that his statue might be pulled I down, or his example imitated. lie concluded by moving the series of Resoltßions, (for which see our first page). Mr. „loans, in a neat maiden speech, coincided with Mr. Favell's seatimeuts, and seconded lus mu- I trot:, Lamenting that datiog the present Adnemstra- tion, not oaly was Ow voltuneer spirit dwindled al-1 most to ecening flout an eiTectiste force of ii(er,o4 . )o men, titz. ~ ur airily of the lin e a l most annihilated by disaster, defeat, amid dis:•ase, in ttielecs expeditions. 1 Mr. Sheriff-At -ala s now attempted to speak, but his voice was drowned in hotain g and hisses. Mr. w a i t hman, however, c.inie Fur .vard and succeeded in obtaining for hint a short but not very patient at-1 tention. The Sheriff solemnly cli!claimed attachment to any party. He appealed to his ccriduct in the (mouse of Commons, where, frt.nl the conscientious dictates nfj hi , in agmere, he supp orte d Mi n i sters where only h ' thou - rht they deserved i t ; but when a prop os i t i on was made for the impeachment o f a pu b l i c delinquent (Lend Melville), be had given his vote against Mi ;esters, and fi r that impeachment. ( o n. Liee; ) man exclaimed, “ that was only in one kastante.") .He proceeded to say, , the Livery had been told Pails- . ment had exercised no controul over his Majesty's Minister: this he denied. [A voice cried out Castle reagh.] The Sheriff,said he condemned him as much as any man, and thought his conduct demanded the strictest inquiry. His only object was, that the In-• quiry should be asked of his Majesty in terms of be coming respect. The rest of his speech was drowned in hisses. Mr. QUIN supported the Resolutions, and adverted to the original Address of Mr. Waithman, of which the Livery no doubt had heard the fate, and also that another had been substituted in its place. He beg ged to say a few words as to those addresses. The original Address had been carried by a Majority of one, in the person of the worthy Chief Magistrate, who had truly acted with dignity in the conscientious vote he had given. The worthy Sheriff had talked (4 - the proceedings against my Lord Melville, that trial had been carried by a majority of one. The Corpo- I ration, however, had chosen to substitute another I Address in the stead of Mr. Waithman's, and he i (Mr. Q.) would chew them the rise, progress, and catastrophe of the juggle which brought about the sub stitution. The Sheriffs were directed to wait on his i Majesty to know when he would he pleased to re ceive the Address ; the Sovereign appointed a distant ! day, but there was a kind of interlude interposed, and the Sheriff proposed another Address, which was : adopted against the rules of the Court of Common Council. If this was not a state of degradation he did not know what was ; but then see in what a de plorable state the Corporation was placed with respect !to his Majesty. His Majesty had signified his inten tion of receiving an Address, die substaAce of - which he was apprised of, when the day arrivesikir receiving it, in stalk the Sheriffs, and say, 44 We the Sheriffs, Ste. wait on your Majesty with a dutiful and loyal Address. Your Majesty ordered us to present an Address. We are sorry, however, to be under the necessity of informing your Majesty that the identical I Address which you commanded us to deliver is no more ; but such is the zeal, uniformity, and vigour i of the Corporation—such is the loyalty which they feel I for your Majesty's Person and Government, that they ! have prepared a new one for your Majesty's accep t tance, which they hope your Majesty will receive."- 1 (Bravo ! loud laughing.) Mr. Quin then followed the j opinions of the former Speakers in favour of the Re solution, and denominated the Expedition to Wal cheren the Expedition to the Scheldt.. MTAVAITHMAN could not avoid offering some opi nions with respect to the Resolutions. - There was, he observed, no vast difference in the political opi ! nions of the worthy Sheriff and himself, but lie did not know which of them was right. He could not account for the intellect of any man who would tell ! him that the Parliament has a complete controul over the public purse. It was true that Lord Melville had been condemned, but he would ask the worthy She- I riff, had I e received any punishment for his guilt ? IWas he not readmitted into his Majesty's Councils ? i Were not his sons in the.direction of public affairs ? Was he not himself behind the curtain pulling the wires ? And did he draw from XS to 4'10,000 an- I nualiy from the public ? That corruption exists, there was no doubt ; nay, even the Duke of Portland, 20 1 years since, bad confessed as much in a protest, which Ihe signed in the House of Lords. lie had therein 1 stated, " at the circumstances of the country were sitch, that they could not be endured any ionger."— Mr. W. then noticed certain families, - whom he de scribed as partaking largely of the Public Money,. among them was the Marquis of Herthird, who drew annually from Lit) to £;50,060 ; tv o of the Sey i 1 moors having 'foal ,-12 to £1.5,000 each annually ; the family of Lord Castlereagh received from thirty -1 thousand to forty thousand pound.; annually, and the family of Mr. Perceval upwards of .elli,ooo ; to talk lof controul, therefore, was the greatest absurdity ; ' the acts which were made were incompetent to con- I troul the corruption which was going on in the public expenditure. It a;•ueared from the reports of one of • the Committees of Inquiry t before the House of Com ' mons, that they expended 450,000 in one year, in discovering abuses in one particular department, and had saved only 45000! These, he was aware, were bold and strong assertions, but they were neverthe less true. Mr. W. next adverted to the addresses in the Corporation, and the measures pursued for the security of the country. He remembered, some years , since, a certain Noble Lord had talked of marching to Paris as the only, means of securing our liberties ; hut lately he had seen works carried on on the river Lea for the piotection of London. From these to pics he travelled to Spain—on the subject of our pro ceedings as to the fate of that country, he declared, that in his opinion, the country would have been se cure, it the corruptions of the Government had been done away, and the people's liberties restored. The object which the Government of England had in view WA 5 to change masters, and in that object the people did not wish to share. After descanting at some length upon these topics, he declared that all he wish ed was to have the Bill of Rights in one hand and the Act of Settlement in the other. He concluded with recommending them to exercise their rights on St. Thomas's Day, by turning out those Members who supported corruption, and returning those only who were of independent principles.—(Load cheer: Plowed,' :hit (';endernan't sitter/1.) The Resolutions were then put successively, and carried with the opposition of only one, two, or three hands to some of' them. THE 0. P. DINNER. Yesterday a most respectable meeting of the advo cates of Old Pricer dined at the Crown and Anchor tavern, HENRY CLIFFORD, Esq. in the Chair. Covers were laid in the grand saloon for three hundred and ten pc .% ns,but the numbers that attended far exceeded the accommodations prepared. Shortly after five din ner was on the tabl , , and at six the exhilarating glass having gone quickly round, all was harmony and con viviality. The attention of the company was then directed to the Chairman, who gave, as the first toast, " The King;" and after the testfications of satisfac tion had ceased, _ Mr. CLIFFORD rose, Old addressed the meeting to the following effect ss— , Gentlemen, in-consequence of being appointed Chairman of this !Meeting, an ho nour which gives me the most sincere satisfaction, I had a message from Mr. Kemble, of Covent-garden Theatre, this morning, and that message has pro duced an interview between that gentleman and my self, in which he desired me to state to you his senti ments and those of the proprietors, with respect to the matter in dispute between them and the public ; and I must say, that during my conference with Mr. Kemble, his general conduct and demeanor was such as firmly impressed upon my mind his anxious wish to conciliate the feelings of an injured public. He said, he should be extremely glad to state in public his feelings on the subject, if he was not afraid of being treated with disrespect. I told him I was not autho rized to act for the public at large, but that I felt convinced I might pledge my word that the Gentle men who would attend here this day would treat him with every possible respect, and that if 1 had not that assurance from themselves, he should not enter the room (loud applause:). What further conversation we had on the subject of the Theatre, I do not feel myself at liberty to repeat, unless in the presence of Mr. Kemble, who is now in the house, and if it is your pleasure he will come in immediately (shout: of applause, and cries of enter, enter; certainly, let him come in). I have no doubt, gentlemen, that from your as surance, I shall be supported in my promises as Chair- 1 I man, and that no irascibility will be shown towards Mr. Kemble of any kind, but on the contrary that he will be treated with the utmost civility."—The ac• • quiescence of the company was given by an universal shout of applause. A part of the Committee now went out, and in a few seconds Mr. Kemble was ushered in amidst a tcrrent c f applause, and having taken his seat on the right side of the Chair, Mr. CLIFFORD continued thus " Be ore Mr. Kemble made his appearance, Gentlemen, amongst us, 1 was stating that I had promised to represent to you the conversation which took place between us ; I shall now, in his presence, comply with his request. When I saw Mr. Kemble, he expressed a great deal of lamentation at the unfortunate disputes which had taken place between the Manager and Proprietors of Covent-garden Theatre, and the Public. The reason why he had not long before this communicated with the Public on the subject was, that he and the Proprietors were at a loss to know whom they were to address; but as he understood that a dinner had been resolved on, he thought that would be a lair opportunity of entering into a candid explanation. He told me, that it was the wish oldie Proprietors and Managers to conciliate the public feelings, so far as they could without ruin to themselves ; and he requested me to chalk out some plan which, without injury to themselves, would satisfy the public. His language and man ners at this time, as I before observed, were marked by every disposition to conciliate and remove the causes of complaint. I said I was aware that I had been called the leader of a mob, but notwithstanding that appellation, I had it not in my power to treat with him on the subject, and I advised him to point out, himself, such means as he thought most satisfac tory to the proprietors and the advocates of sold prices. I also observed, that the lowering of the prices was not so much the cause of dissention as the conduct of the proprietors in introducing the Magistrates, suffer ing a threat to be held forth of reading the Riot Act, 1 and introducing hired ruffians and police officers to insult the audience. (Lend cheers.) • The answer he gave to this was, that the coming of the Magistrates was an act originating with themselves, and not by any desire of the proprietors or managers ; and as to the employment of persons to insult the visitants to the theatre, he knew nothing of such conduct till he saw it mentioned in the newspapers on the ensuing morning. Now when a gentleman makes a point-blank asseaion, I feel myself always compelled to believe ; and Mr. Kemble having made that assertion, I cannot but say I have no doubt of the fact. Having then told him that I believed the great grievance was the private boxes, and that the public opinion was, that they might he applied to immoral purposes, the cor rectness of which opinion I did noteither uphold or op pose, he asked me if I thought the public would be satisfied if the present tier of private boxes were thrown open for their accommodation, and the Thea tre opened upon the same plan as heretofore, with only the same number of private boxes as in the old Theatre. (Crier of no and yes alternately.) I told him I did riot feel myself competent to give any decisive anSwer, but that I would make the proposition to the Meeting, by whose decision I could aleine be guided. Beare I went away, Mr. Kemble desired me to aware Mr. FAVELL again came forward, and, after a short energe:ic introduction, moved an humble Ad dress to his Majesty, ernbod) lag the substance of the Resolntit [The Address it would he indecorous to publish, bet Ore it be presented to his M.ljesty.] It I,4as carried nem. tun. and ordered to be signed in the tu.nal form, and presented to his Majesty by the Lord Mayor and heri Aridause. Mr. WArrintAN came forward, and declared that the Addrc , .s read, was precisely the same with that voted in the Common Council on the sth inst. altered only by the introductory words of ‘, We, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, and Livery of London, in Common Hall," &c. Mr. S. 1):xt;N, on the Address being read, attemp ted to speak ; but was hooted down. Mr. Sheriff Woon declared that he would cheer fully ()hey the directions of the Livery, on presenting the Address to his Majesty's hand ; and ; in case of atiy impediment from Islininers, he would demand an I' v a ic :11 . m cl o ia re ra w ct l e i r ch of l i • to his Majesty's presenee.eontinced, as you. that the object of himself and the Proprietr,- lie WO, t his Majesty was always ready to receive ' was to do every thing in their power to satisfy tl ., ,i s is al o w n a ly y s o one thing the ' the Addresses and Petitions of his people ; and that public; so far as they could consistently with their o wl it was to Ministers only that such Addresses were 1 obnoxious. (Applause.) ' 'to submit. T l h t e h M as Mr. Sheriff ATKINS also declared, that he too lishmen, when they obtained a victory, to tieat tt.e 'should consider it his duty to obey the instructions of vanquished with moderation. I remember a n , x p ri. the Livery. ! sion used by Mr. Sheridan, at the last Westmincter Mr. Favka.r. then meved the Thanks of the Livery election, which I then thought highly characteristic to the Lord Mayor, for the readiness with which he of Englishmen—" John Bull," said he, , 4 is (A te ., complied with their requisition, and the firmness and wrong headed—but he is never wrong hearted.".— impartiality with which he acted in the Chair, and And I trust this remark will be verified by your cot. in support of the Address in the Common Council. duct this day. Were you to act unbecoming the Passed with three tinter three. i dignity of your character, I am sure you would d.! The Loan Misvoe politely thanked the Livery for spise yourselves for your want of magnanimity ; and the honour of their approbation, and said he should I feel persuaded your liberality would never ieticc t always be ready to comply with their requisitions. you to exact terms which would be injurious to t!,,. The Thanks of the Assembly were then voted to Managers." (Loud and reiterated cheers.) Mr. Waithman for his firm, manly, and patriotic Mt e .CLIFFORD then sat down but ruse again ir. a support of the rights of his fellow citizens, on all oc- few minutes. and continued thus :-4. Gentlemen. casions ; and also to several Aldermen, &c. (See since I sat down, Mr. Kemble has begged me ti. Resolutions.) Mid at half past four the Assembly sure you, that if the proposition he has made wen t ; was dissolved. I with your approlr:stinii, he will pledge his bcr.on!- it slutll be strictly perforeaed."—( Continued (ruts cf I. No, No, and loud and confined murmurs of dissatisfa-ii o: ) A gentleman named FILE, then rose, and addres-a the Chairman—" It seems to me t he said, that tli• general wish of the company is, that the price of ec.. trance into the pit should be reduced to the old p r ,,.. of Ss. 6d. (yes, yes ' ) that the private boxes should Le abolished, and that, in consequence of his insuit:t f. conduct, Mr. Brandon should be dischargu.i."....: (Thunder: of altidau;c, and continued sh J urs : of Ihir:d . t must out.) At the same time they beg me to sal 1,,. they are ready to accede that the prices of luilt.:.. .; to the boxes should remain at 7s. and for this 11:: liberality on the part of the public, they do expect 4:-. apology on the part of the Dianagv: s and Proprit r m -,, fur the gross insults which have ii,:en offered to tt:•: public at large."—(Shows of apiti.l;ae continued for so:: minutes afro- this Speech.) The noise having subsided, Mr. Chfll - •rcl called -t. tention for a toast, and gave 44 Th..; liberty of the subject," which was drank with three times throe, and followed by enthusiastic exclamations of sat's.- faction. Mr. CLIFFORD then again rose, he said, he had the authority of Mr. Kemble to inform the meeting, that he was ready to say the Managers and Prorrk.tors would accede to the wishes of the public in every thing they had stated, except the dismissal of Mr. Brandon. (Loud cries dirapprolation). He had n o t t h e p ower to promise;his, but he would make it his business to report the wishes of the public to the Proprietors.— (DiraMrobation and cries of, The term:, the terms!) The terms are as proposed by the Honourable Gentle man near me (Mr. File) ; that is to say, the price of admission to the pit is to be. reduced to Bs. Gd. The private boxes are to be done away with, and built o n the same scale as in the old Theatre.--"(gries of " as before Iktr. KENIRLE came to the Theatro,u mu re sounded through the room, and loud cheeripp pguwed ) . It is my duty to state to you what takes place ; I do pot give my opinion, nor is it in my awn knowledge that there was any difference in the Theatre after Mr. Kemble came to the management. (There was ! there was!) That I was not aware of; but as there does seem to be some difference, and as Mr. Kemble has heard your opinions on that subject, I think the best way would be for him to report to the Managers and Proprietors what he has learnt, end let them state what they can do to meet the public wishes.—(No, no I come to the 'toilet !) am afraid lam misunder stood ; Mr. Kemble is only *axioms that you shot:4 allow him a day or two to consider on the best means of meeting your wishes."—(No, no ! now or never.) After a short lapse, Mr. CLISFOAD again rose " I am desired to submit to you, Gentlemen, a TA -c position which, I am sure, you will not al:ilk unre,t sonable. The Gentlemen who have had the manage meat of the fund subscribed for the defence of such sons as might be prosecuted on account of the Lite turbances in the Theatre, have agreed to go out a 7.1 prepare Resolutions indicativSof the sentiment:: ef e9mpany. lam only to ask, whether it is your that they should retire for that purpose ? When t!.cy are finished, they will be brought in for your aprro val." An assent was given, with loud accLimaucr.s Mr. CLIFFORD proposed as a toast during their hb sence—" The ancient itnd indisputable right of tie pit." Which was drank with three times three. A song was then called for, and sung with much spirit by a Mr. Jones. After which, 64 The Stage" wee drank with great applause. The attention of the company was now directed to the appearance of several persons in the music gallery, at one end of the room, and after repeated cries if " No Private Boxes, out, out!" and other derron,tr.t tions of dissatisfaction, the gallery was cleared. (Art fusion reigned triumphant for some time, till at length--- Mr. CLIFFORD again engaged their attention. tie regretted that he was not before aware dt the cause of their discontent, or he should instantly have sent a person round to comply with their wishes. He the:: continued—" The Committee who went out to draw up the Resolutions have returned with such as they conceive will be satisfactory to your feelings, which I shall do myself the honour of reading to you." Here he was interrupted by an uproar at the other end of' the room, caused by a gentleman who wished to speak, and who was with considerable difficulty dissuaded from his purpose ; he proceeded— " I hold in my hand the paper prepared by the Committee. You may probably wish to know wl;c the Committee are. Ido not know all their :lames t but I am aware that they are all Gentlemen of strict honour and upright principles. They are some of those Gentlemen who served on the Westminster Committee at the time of the Election, and are, Lt.r tainly, extremely competent to judge what is ey.:iza ble to propose to Mr. Kemble, as the wisltes or z}:e public. He then read the followiag Resolutions • is:. That the Print.- Boxes should be abolished, and the lie:t ire placed on the same scale as in the year 1t302, previous Xemble's being appointed Manager. —( Loud applamw.) 3d. That the Prices of Admission to the Pit should be redu : s' to 3s. id. and that the Admission to the Bears should still be is. Uproar took piaci on reading this Proposition, I:t' 0. P. rondo was danced, and loud and repeated ci lei of 0. P. for ever I" resounded through the room On silence being obtained, Mr. CLIFFORD hope he might be allowed to read the Propositions, atte: which he said he would put the question sep.o - ALciY on each, and code'[ the votes of [lee meeting there,..:: The Sd Proposition was— ' That as splay shun* be made on the part of :le Propriettt E . t• • i i 1 1 - 1