Star. — London, England, 1816-07-30 00:00:00

.1)i. 111 . Meeting hle Would oar e f o r a few minutes. He had, with many When been nrnoned to attend this Meeting, and he could not, w i t h ou t a dereliction et his public fluty, declitie at. Ten ding on suck, an occasion— (Hear.) He should s ot, however, have trespassed on the Meeting; had o b s erved that any other person contemplated the pure which he meant to takes Another inducement i ts his present step at that early period was, that his observations would not be suitable if the first Reso, l ot i o n were passed. This Resolution was entirely fpende4 upon a fallacy : for. it was nothing else, to my that the present distresses of the manufaCturing, ib e co mmercial; and labouring interests were the con arquea:e of a revulsion f , . 7n star item.. The real state of the gee tuns had almost ces eat ly e x pired, under the t which overwhelmed her.— gra lifi:d at the presence on. an bicasion uliere their ; yet be w oukl,swith great zch a ;fallacy as that on was bulk, ought not to stully from the Chair—( fi c s)—and that the Resolution was so founded, he was prepared to prove, from official documents then io bis hand, and which, if informal, the Chancellor of ;he Exchequer (on whose presence he fel& happy) Could easily refute.' That Right Honourable Gentle. so could set the Meeting right, if lit (Lord Co. dime) misstated any item in the .fitsancial accounts . ..which be was about to refer. They were .now waled upok to act upon a Resolution which he would t hew was-fallacious, and that no relief they could af ford would be adequate to meet the evil. Mr. Batman rose to order, and submitted that the Noble Lord's course of proceeding was irregular. The CHAIRMAN —µ Lord Cochrane, as well as ever) , other person present, has a fair right to state Ns sentiments on the Resolution: his Lordship will therefore proceed— (Great aNtlaw . e.) Lori COCHRANS assured the Meeting he had not the slightest idea of throwing an obstacle in the way of their laudable intention. All he wanted was to have their leading Resolution put on a right footing. The Noble Lord then entered upon his financial state- Ment. 'rise whole revenue of the kingdom, deduct. ing, of course, the Property and Malt Tax, was A 2,267,450. Its expenditure, in interest on the Notional Debt, Unredeemed Exchequer Bills, &c. 4145,163,01)0. This was the load and mill-stone round the neck-of the country. Mr. Rowcaorr, Earl MANVELS, and others, here manifested a wish to speak to order, without effect— several voices cr)ing out, " What have we to do with that !" others, " He is in possession of the Chair, and *all not be hunted down." Lord COCHRANE—I , These 2re truths that the people °Vic to know : they are the source of their burdens, and the origin of all the mischief. It was this pro. true expenditure of the public money, to say no worse of it; that occasioned the present calamities. It was that lavish expenditure to meet a compliant list of platemen that brought the country to its present state-(ifififtlaiue.) The expenditure of the country, on the whole, exceeded its revenues in the sum of A 11,578,450."_ (Loyd cries of Order !) The Duke pt KaNT beseeched the Meeting to heir the Noble Lord out. They would thee dasside: whether hk observations were appropriate or other wise, and receive or reject them accordingly.— (Loud them.) Lord COCHRANE*" it was clear, therefore, they bed to meet this sum beyond their national receipts. To apply a remedy they must be prepared with a purse to that amount -they had no other alternative, laud this was wholly independent of the long list of pensions sad places, and the import and export bounties. Take the least possible estimates of the rational expense, assuming that of the army and navy at only 19 millions, a deficit of a 3,578,485 would here take place in the current year. Were they also prepared to meet that ? (res.) Well, he was glad to hear it, thobgh he held a contrary opintrin, and was prepared to say that they must either put down all the army and navy, or extinguish hall the national debt. hien.) The reduction in the customs and excise tOr the la‘t quarter amounted to above 5ti,254 1 0CY.), witk an average prospect of their dimi. under in tlf year fno less a sum than six millions at least, melting in one division a deficit of twelve . millions and.a halt, which the people must supply. Were they prepared for this ? what could the Sink. lag Fund do here when the deficit amounted to more than Its whole amount ? (Hear, Hoff.) 'it was worse than wsless to talk of palliatives in such a state of thittgs. There was only one way of Meeting ;ham, and that was by applying a radical remedy. (Hear, hear) From a reference to public papers laid brume Pellt.ment, he was confident that the whole deficit of the present year would, in the end, be found to amount to Ac2ti,r,9i,ooo . and odd. Were they repared maize a:id continue that sacrifice ? If the fernd.l;t•it!ers cap meet that absolute loss, well 2::c1 good—weir they ready to goon and meet the cony neltioes of interest ? (Hear, hear.) }4 tied not speak at random, he spoke from a refeftnee to autlietitic documents, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer could not invalidate. He was glad that t!:e Eight; Honourable Gentleman was present to Lear those truths, and he hoped he would report tiem to Lis colleagues in office. Here, rather than in Anvlier place, would they find the real sentiments of tire people. ( ilftplaute, with kalttarekition.) Those tere salutary truths, necessary for the good govern. teent of the country. Impelled by such feelings, If uo other person moved an amendment to she first kesolution, te would do it, and assert that the Ted Cause of puhlic distress would be found ib the debt i l'icu?ted Ly a pi wine and useless expenditure of the money, which ended in the ruin of the mane-' 1 4 ttuf el' and the agriculturist.. The only interest up. field At the tominanity was the funded one, which koald, at length, abiotb all others. It Would, by its Stteanees, grasp at the whole landed property, unless coald put . down ;he loaded debt. The fun. eed.proprietors shquid, therefore, set the example of tacrtlice. The great sineeure - proprietors, the Dukes f.l Grafton, Rutland, and others, should follow this ex ample, and throw their unearned sums into the *vie. They would be doing nothing otherittse, It would be a mockery for thimt to tender showy sub I "*iugs, which only amounted to hill-a-crown in peund. Let them resign thateto which they had fro claim-ztheir rvesion profits. (Ailislaan:) . . 'lei otheilvise would het, Finis." a 114. a dowiwittlit. fraud : ~(( AS to the iinsendmieit he S. tompiaded, he would frame it at ones, if petmittod,tn . read cIIE original nitition--(// ens} &laded to hie Zmoli si4s)—itnd ne trusted his suggestiod would be *atop tied without a division. He again denied that the I sudden transition from war to peace WAS the cause Of the present distress.; it was a fallacy on the common sense of that assembly, which might; from its num ber and respectability, be represented as containing the aggregate sense of the metropolis. (Amolisius:)— He Would, therefort, propose as an amendment to this Resolution—" That the eridrnions bad .of the national debt, together with the large military &M. Mishima, and the profuse expenditure of public money, was the real cause of the present public dis. tress." (Great widen.) Mr. Lowe seconded this amendoient. He should not have ventured, but for the cause of patriotisin, to - take the liberty of addressing that Meeting. He felt, however, that they would bear his reasons, without reference to the humility of the iadividaal from whom they emanated—(Hear, hear.)—rThe people out of doors were of opinion with the Noble, Lord, as to the cause of their distress ; they openly asserted it. In this free country, all men had a right to sift and investigate public affairs—(Wear, hear). and the result of their inquiry was,, that they were overburdened with taxation that that was their misfortune —(Hear, hear.)—The trade of the country was hourly transferring to the Continent. The tea:. Oufacturers of Manchester knew that cotton twist could be produced cheaper abroad than it could be . got up at home; out of a population of 15,000. usually employed in this trade, at Stockwell, 4,000 were now discharged. This system of •taxation one the price of labour had transplanted the trade at the country— ( di/hero). Mr. Wit.sioteuitce addressed' the Meeting amid loud cheers. The Honourable Gentleman commen ced by observing, that he was too. much of an Eng.' Tishman himself, and too long engaged in polaical life, to feel or express any surprise at an Englishman, when he telt warmly, coming forward and stating With the saute zeal the opinions with which he was octuated.—(Greet efivalemee:).l3e could not, how ever, but think that the Noble Lord who had moved the Airiendmenti , encl . :the:Gentleman who had se. conded 't, would, art cool, reflection, consider whe ther they would uot be doing more to amend the dis. tressed situation of the community by confining 'their views at that moment to the immediate object of the meeting, (the administering a relief to that distress), than by extending their inquiry to an ul terior and distinct object, which had no direct iden tity with their present purpose.—(lM/asue.)—The 'Noble Lord has said, that in the dread ciisis of a dangerous disease, we are about to propose a topical remedy.—(/leer, hear, from Lord Cochrane.) • But will the Noble Lord at such a moment refuse in allow the object of his concern that remedy which the hand of charity extends, because, though it can give comfort, it is yet not that extent of comfort which he thinks the CAW requires ?—(Hear, hear, hoar.)—And at such a moment would he reject the tender, and untimely suffer the victim tq whilst he sought the nature of the disci::: I—(.//t -idemse.)—Such a course of proceeding woeld be the reverse of wisdom. Surely; therefore, die Nobls LOvel would reel -that it woularbe tumor* manly and' charitable course—arid he (Mr. Wine.rforce), what ever difference of opinion he might have had with the Noble Lord, never douhmt the w.lrinth of h i v heart, and the manliness al kis character—to abstain from calling a meeting convened for one object, to the discussion of anoiati.r, instead of trying to embody air exertions for a purpase on which all were agreed, namely, the necessity of procuring eraploymvs: for the people now in poverty throughout the country. I 1.-(Hear, hear.)—lf the Noble Lard will reflect on Ibe best mode of relieving the distresses of the people, he will find his amendment not likely to have that tendency. Let him reserve starting a discussion on that point until he can chi it without interrupting the stream of charity, and till he can enter upon it under Lair aiol.pioper circutosiaaei.s.—(Hoar, /rear.)—He (Mr.W 16,rtorce) in a proper place would not shrink nom meeting the Nable Lord on that inquiry.—. (Hear, hear.)-- He ivai twice as old in public life as toe Noble Lord could pretend to be, and lolly as in. dependent; yet he would not have easily supposed that any man, however young in politics, could have started such a topic here, and questioned the heredi tery rights of individuals; under circumstances in which every. man would have played the same part. The Meeting must, on the present occasion, feel how much indebted it stood to the Etna' Personagei for their attendance. They came to listen to a discussion which had ter its avowed and direct object the relief of the people, and thej were in . the room suddenly called upon to lay aside the practical part of their inquiry, and to cotes upon a distinct pursuit. Was such a course fair towards those Illustrious Indivi duals ?—was it that which was likely to induce them to listen to proposals for their personal co-operation on occasions of benevolence, if they had no security, against the occupation of 'their time for disdOssions of a different character ?—(Amlasire.)—One word more: the Illustrious Duke who had been originally active in the formatioit of the Association, in 1812,, had borne testtmony to the candour of that benevo. lent man, the late Mr. Whitbread ...(Load cheers)—.. for the noble acknowledgment of his error ; that la.' metered person bad also expressed his belief to him that the Association had stinted up and infused fresh activity throughout the country. It was on such :experience that he (Mr. Wilberforce) grounded their present' claim—from their former success he had the most . conOttent ground for future anticipation ; and . fie entreated the Noble Lord, of whose real disposi . tion to relieve the People of iEngland he had no doubt, and whose motives he could justly appreciate ,. to withdraw his amendment,- , (Hear, Var.) Lord COCIIIIANS thanked the Hon. Gentleman for his personal civility towards him, and said, that he should feel no hesitation in withdrawing his amend ' went if the Hondurable Gentleman would state to the Meeting, on his own personal veracity and honour, that he believed the original Resolution contained tba, true cause of the public distress, end the amendment' the false one. If the Hon. Gentleman would sat that, if . any respectable man present would say it, he would be satisfied, though he more immediately id.' dressed himself- to the Honourable Gentleman who had just pre him. • Me. Coarrits (a Gentleman of the City) said, that ' was the moment to epee the eyes of the nation. He had prepared something iejsMitted b the Meeting, but the manly rootage of the Nobltt C,*d htid anticipated; his infamies'.—•(ow, hair.) —His arrientiMent harmongted With his 4114 r. C.'s) feelings. add trishei. Let than keep their i r is on the mite ,question front which the Hon. GMtleman, however •haMitne and beneiolent was hit general Char:utter, had tried to hOod-wink them by a side • *Misuse add ifirapprObation ) —by trying to make the amendment appear incompatible with the business of .the day. He (Mr. Coates) would contend it was not so, and for this reason, that the course of proceed ing adopted by the Conant; aim hiperatively called•fOr . Who called tLe attention of the Meeting to the sense of the present damns ? The Committee. And idiotild the Committei be allowed to pitlilish to the world as the cause what the Meeting knew was not ? '••••••(.lltplanse.)—And should the latter be deterred` from assigning the real cau s e, because the tornier did the fallacious ooe --(Greed applakte.) —He obwried The zeal and 'ability whist) the Hon. Gentleman Jig. played in attempting to get rid of the amendment; be begged, with deference and respect, to sat, he saw. throughout, its duplicity.—(Draappolainnt Honourable Gentleman Thad asked whether they ware to discuss politics when they ought to promote chri rity ? he siould answer, certainly not. But in justice and honour, when 'a cause was to be assigned, ought it hot to be the real one; and, knowing that real one, ee'nl.l it become 'them to apply a' temporary remedy, and patch up die wonaahtot the body politic, without attempting to correct or probe the evil at its spring. or, si)llrce (Hear, hear.)—This was all the Noble I Lord wanted, and he would not consent, under the I mask of charity, to a delusion on the public feelings. —(llear, hear.) The Duke of .Ii.ZNT said, t h at he had originally proposed the Resolution. it having h..en put into his hands in the room, for that purpose. If he could have had the slightest idea that it would have cteated A debate such as had arisen, he would be the last pan in the room to have been its proposer. He would now propose that the cause of the distress be wholly omitted, and from his knowledge of the Noble Lord's character in early life, he was per suaded he would not, on such an occasion as the present, where unanimity was so desirable, take a captious objection, or disapprove of the simple asser tion, that there does exist a stagnation of trade, care fully abstaining from an opinion as to its c...se, their object being to administer relief te'ithout any abstract consideration. His Royal Highness expressed his belief, that the majority of that Meeting had not met there for political coucention, and he was equally persuaded that the Naole'lord had too good a heart to revive a topic that must appear discordant on such an occasion. AU he would entreat was, that it would be admitted there did exist a stagnation in tr.de, and that the Meeting would do its best to reamer it. He was not competent to enter into a political discussion, though he was able and willing to debate 4 charitable one; he hoped, therefore, that the following Resolu tion would receive unanimity, as a substitute for the last, an.l that the Noble Lord would thereupon con-• sent to withdraw his Amendment. His Royal High. ness's altered Motion was as follows:--" Resolved, 'That there do at this moms* exist a stagnation ot iniployment arid arevidsioa of trade, deeply affectieg tEe ... inuafftin oflttitni - p.4tsa the Cuminun:ty, an,: producing many instances of great ',mat d.stress." Lord Ccettanse,' in reply, stated that 1r: had no wish to excite a difference ot opiaion on such an oc casiun, and that, atter the alteiatain in the Rsaolu. don, nothing gave him more pleasure than the op portunity of withdrawing his aeiendment. (Loud applause.) But in justification of what he had done, it became necessary for him to say. that s he never would have thought of his amendment. it it had not been for the assertion as to the cause of the existing distress—he had no doubt in his mind as to the nature of that cause, and he held it but just and honourable that if a cause must be assigned. it should be the true one. After returning thanks to Mr. NVilbertorce and the Duke of Kent for their expreasions- of per meal civility, the Noble Lord consented to withdraw his motion so far as he was personally conceited in h.—The Resolution, its amended, was them put and carried. The Duke of CANIBRIDGE then rose to address the Meeting ; Anil, at the same instant, Mr. COATES pie sented himself to their attention. —(Hissing and great eailusi.n with fries of s' e l No question before the Meeting.") . • His Royal. Hameitss then proceeded After the excellent and appropriate speech of my Noble Rela tive, it would ill become me to take up much of the date of the Meeting ; biu.l am persuaded, that having Riven a short explanation of the advantages resulting from the Committee, no objection will be made to the I.Resolution which 1 have now the honour to propose. Having been a Member of the Comm tree, and al ways attending its meetings, I can assure the Public, that much-good has been effected by it, with means ooanparatively limited (Hear, hear.) And I now feel considerable satisfaction, efteraan absence of two Aucl twenty months fsom this my native country, that i am enablet to be present at the assembly.— (Hear, hear, &Jr.) I did not expect that any difference of opinion weuid have been expefienced, nor that this occasion would have been converted to political pus.- .poses. —( Hear, hear, hear.) I feel much pleasure in having this opportunity of paying the warm tribute of my gratitude to the late excellent Member for Bedford (Mr. Whitbread), who, on The formation of the Committee in 1812, having entertained an incor rect impresaioa respecting its object, subsequently came forward, and .acknowledging his error, moved, one of the Resolutions, which be supported with that' nervous eloquence of which perhaps all present have been witnesses—(Lord cheering from all parts of the roam.) I now also thank the Noble L:,rd for .the handsome manner in which he has withdrawn, his amendment.l We all concur in one object, and I reret that the! first resolution was so framed as, by stating the cause aftbe existing evil, to give occasion for ah y diff:rence alsentinsent ; and I also think that the Noble Lord, feeling as he does. was perfectly, justified in urging. his opposition to it—(House, hear.) In the existence of the. present distresses we all agree, and sh equally desire to afford•relief whencesoever they haVe origi nated. la . this Close then of •berevidence I address you, confident that I do not plead in vain to those' who have extended the hand of charier to the calami ties of Foreign Nations. I have just returned from the Continent, where I witnessed the good effects of ' soot t Getmons aid TAO these proof' of 4114iftte l ised CohddenCe in' , When. t. plead the cause of aga"lit.) tmo Iliustrin tkiding to read the second fain -took tip the first.-of Which The mistake excited n good.. Assfilitbly, which his Itoyal of approbation by tearing ti tletnen," continued he, I diosed 1 am to favour thi - (i.dirdlitfialattre. and criei ofbravo secood kesolution :--" Thar generosity el the Britiih nati be expected; that thew whd I Ricans of relibf to their fellow-sullects will contribute !their uttnost endesvJurs td illeViate the suifzrings of .the distressed." • Mr. Rein seeonded ob s erving; that Much of tom time hat been already occupied, he would Obtidde tih further than to tat; that the Res°• had hit Mesi zotlotis siipport.. ' • Tnh tias then arried unariiitiotidy. Archbishop CA Before I • move the Resolution I anW hold in my hand,•lteel anxious to address a few ihort obseriations to the Assembly. In the efforts now making by the Committee towards mitigating the eitren: distress of the poor. there mat appear to many a 7,1t4t disprnportlon between our paeans and the o'.l;•zct in contempladoo—and doubts and appreivensinns arise, ettl.er lof our total failure, or of the insulficiency of the exertions. Dot, if no a:tempt Ire made to remove the distress until see possess tvi:/tin our owii circle me :ns equal t'r' our hopes-.-if, we remain qttiesceut and passive, the means we now have well daily decrease, while the public distress 01 be daily adisocing. (liter, hear.) Success can b 4 h ped r•ly Irons an association hold ing a connection and corn spoodcnre throughout the countr i , such as was detailed to you in the Rgr 'rt encouraging the efforts of others 61 our own mow( • ple."—His Grace then read the third Resolution " That although it be oSviously impassible for ant Association of individuals to attempt the general* • reliA of difficulties affecting so large a pop:Lion of the public, yet that it has been proved by the expe• • rience of this Association that most important and estensite benefits may be derived. Iforri the co opera& lion and correspondence of a Societi in the Metro. polis, encouraging the efforts of those benevolent ini dividuals who may be disposed to associate themselves in different districts for the relief of their several neighbourhoods." Mr. BEIUTON LONG seconded . the mniioo k obstivjng that the distress of the labouring poor was excessive. lie tett much pleasure in being enabled to assure the Meeting, that the sums of money to benevolently bestowed by this country on foreigners, had bred attended with the most salutary efficts. 'Ole large grants also given to tle army of the Duke of Wel: lingtun, bad b.:en most gratefOly received by the wounded, and the friends of :hose who gloriously fell in the last campaign—that campaign of which the present peace was the coaft:quencc. By the peace many inJividuals were t!msw.. odt of employment, and he, truste l i that soave rebel would be Warded to . 'their necessities,qHear. Hear.) The Resolution was c.sried - tintotthutstkl - 'lll, Doke of RUTLAND Would offer no apolty lo: tre..).ssus a few gunman% on the patience.of the I Meetin g ,. in introducing a Resolution on wh;ca he could anucipatt: uo difference of opinion. TU./ °mt. slo:. on %sava they were then assembled was one of no ordinary importances—it was a subject in which the interests af every rank of persuls, of every class in society, were interested and blended s and Offitther their benevolent purposes would be fully accom. plished, as he hoped they would, or be altogether frustrated, this one substautive benefit must result from the Meeting—that the people, who now bend under their calamities, which he kit assured would be. but tempo' ary—( (fear, hear) —would see* deep interest their situation had eso.ited —that the Mus t! tous.blembers of the Royal . Family, and persons of the highest rank in the state. had evinced nut merely a dispusitioo, but a sinc..le demur, to inquire into their distresies, and afford theta t..liet, (1/ear, bear.) The Noble Duke then read die 4th Resolution, fur open. iikg a subset ipt ion. A Person amid the crowd said, that pecuniary provisions could effect no valuable purpose—they gave but a temporary relief. Much greater assist. once would be at forded by sharing the waste grounds, the royal forests, and royal dotnains among the people —(" dad the church land," added a voice from another pact of the wont) —he would therefore propose. that an (tumble Address be presented to his Rtiyal High. ncss the Prince Regent, praying for such a distribution. • The Duke of KENT said, that the Gentleman's proposit on could be much more advantageoudy ex amined in the 'Committee.- Mr. Bitowne observed. that although he felt anti. ously the oli.cts of Abe Meeting, he would not have summoned sufficient' courage to aditels them, but for the condescending invi:ation of the Illustrious Duke, who Moved the first Resolution, to all persons present to offer their sentiments. He thought k possiMe to offer any obj±ctions to the minion before them, for it was their bounden duty to relieve the public distress. Much advantage must arise from pecuniary subscription applied to the necessities of the people, under the superintendence of the Committee, and, as.he hoped, through the medium of the Minis ters of the several parishes. The only efficient remedy, however, was the encouragement of the manufactures, and he biped our fair countrywomen would set the example by using British laces. A person in the Crowd said, that he trusted tht causes of the present distress would be investigated in the Cimmittee, and lie felt satisfied, if the cause were discovered, and if traced to the.extraeagant expendi ture of Government.—( Great tweak, arising from Me expreition of mixed feelings)—ke.hved that• the sane beareolence that had hitherto distinguished the C ai unittee would be extended still.lurther, and that,. i . stead of calling on the people for sobscriptiotie, they would, to use the language of tile Noble LAW; be prepared to surrender their pensiontand Lad applerre, imith nits partial aspressims, #44oitro. basin.) —The Resolution was thee agreed to.. Another Gentleman 'haiing . alst!Fecombilbw*the surtendkr of sinecures, as the. only ePabk 1 4114: to Inc people, the Dtke,of KENT . Observoil;iliat.tbasnd slrotber suggestion; Oct eltbelgialinitteiturAhe ion troin a *at to a peace sys e country was, that her maim tied, and her-a riculture ne enormous lo tion •(.tfitplarue.) ighly e of the Ro s o r motives ao Able it deferenc44ll4lllhat su which the fret - Resolution be allowed. %o pass success Wet applause, and some disaitft r has frit it, atid is interull &Kish benesolence, I feel the sbectas of my appeal, of British subjects—(Leeef inua Duke wet thin pro. Re:Onion, but by !nig. shish he reed some words. ood.ttatbred laugh in the Highness turned into ene • the paper.] Gen- : hart. 41ewn von how litt! hat offendinz Resolution.' kayo !) —H: then read the hat, from the cartel-kneed. nation; it may confidently dui are able to atiord the ow.rulsieeta will ennertkiito