Star. — London, England, 1819-08-26 00:00:00

i 1 THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. TAURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1819. Tim FUNDS. P n ICE OF STOCKS Tills DAY .I.T OKE O'CL.CCK : Lank Stock 228 229 • 3 per Cent. Reduced 71i 72j 3 per Cent. Consuls 701 71!1 S. per Cent. 81-1 I,er Cent. 90i 5 per Cent. N*vy 104 tit Bank Long Annuities 19 1-163-16 India Stock 218 2161 218-13onds 9 12 11 pre. _xcliequer 13111 s (2d.) 4 5 dis. par . o.nnium 4 pre. Curls. tor Acct. 71.111. The Smithfield Meeting actually took place yes terday afternoon, under the auspices of those who ' differed from 'Major CARTVatIGHT. and Mr. MILLS, of Bristol, as to the propriety of holding a Meeting at the present conjuncture. The proceedings, such as they were, are detailed in another column. The assemblage was not interrupted by any injudicious Magisterial interference, and, as was anticipated, dispersed very quietly, , after the different Speakers bad made their respective displiys of oratory. the Times of this morning says we led them into an error in stating on Tuesday that the Meeting had been postponed in deference to the opinion of Major CAarwattort, The fact, however, vas precisely as has been stated in The Star. The Reformers pro mised to abide by the opinion of the Major, whose advice they were induced to seek by the suggestion of Mt. MILLS. In the detail of the proceedings will bet found the very le,ter which the Major sent in con sequence of this application; and, in the Mansion= House Report will be seen comp etc evidence for the conectnes. of the other part of our statement—that respecting Mr. Mtm.s. This Gentleman absolutely complains that the Ultra Reformers broke faith with him in persisting to have a Meeting after what had, been resolved to the contrary, and threatens, in con sequence, to cooperate no more with them in any of their measures: and this very fact is stated in the columns of The Times this morning. Lord Sznvount's Letter of thanks to the Magis tracy and Military in Lancashire for their " prompt, efficient, and decisive measures, for the preservation tithe public tranquillity," at Manchester on Monday week, has called forth strong and pointed animad versions from our contemporaries ; and, to say the least of it, it must appear, to all who are in posses sion of no other facts than those which have hitherto come to the knowledge of the Public, very sur prising that Ministers, on the spewing of the parties under whose aucpices tranquillity was bun reamed, should have sanctioned such a letter, with out taking any measures to lay before the Public the evidence that yielded themselves such ample convic tion. We refrain from any farther remarks that we stray give room for the following : FROM THE TIHEs : • s , We doubt not that the intelligence transmitted to Lord SIDNIOOIII, considerilig the sources whence it must have been derived, was of such a nature as, if true in all its parts, would fully justify the thanks of Government conveyed in the above letter. Minis ters, like other men, can judge of facts only from the evidence which is offered to them ; like other men, they can only act on what they believe to be true. The informants of Ministers, howeoer, it may be re marked, were the official personages whose conduct is die subject of discussion. We are sorry, therefore, that time was not taken to revise the intelligence first transmitted, and to compare it with the result of in quiries instituted for the express purpose of ascer taining its correctness—a task which, we fear, there o. , as no adequate opportuuity of accomplishing, be tween Tuesday night, when the news reached Lon don, and Saturday, which is the date of Lord SID- acOUTil'fi letter to the Lord Lieutenant. If the whole case were made public, it might appear that Govern ment have been not alittle embarrassed by the" promp titude and decision" of their zealous friends at Nlanches ter. We have already, within these few days, published • same hints which bad been communicated to us, touching a diversity of sentiment supposed to exist b9tween the Supreme Magistrate in the Metropolis, nod the Provincial in the North. Perhaps our Readers may agree with us in considering the con duct observed yesterday with regard to the Smithfield Meeting . as a fair clue to the real principles of Minis ters; and as a test of what would have been their • policy towards the Reformists, on Monday sennight, •had the Cabinet been sitting at the New Bailey, in . Manchester, instead of at Whitehall. What wa s th ere to call for lilitary interference at Manchester, more than at either of the Smithfield Meetings, the second ' . of which was held no longer ago than yesterday af ternoon? If the Magistrates in one case deserved • applause for their vigo - ur, the Ministers in the other ta , ,e, by evevy rule of reasoning, are liable to re proof for their negligence and languor. Yet, how gratifying are the results of their blameable forbear ance, when contrasted with those of the "prompti tude :old decision," so loudly extolled at the Man chester Meeting! Both Meetings were called in the • saw. ;pirit—the Smithfield, indeed, for a more alarm-, it. b , purpose, by the same class of worthless Revolu . . tiuusts, but equally within the limits prescribed by law. The eff.xts of vigour and of weakness (as of course the good temper of Ministers will be called by their mor' fiery partizans) are now before us. By the vi gorous system, a Meeting commenced in peace has ended in tumult, and by it many lives have been lost, ' ti:e right of public discussion has been violently out raged, the popular feeling has been incensed to fury, and a necessity created for more coercion and for euntaued vigour. By the tolerant and patient sys- ; tern, a Meeting in the heart of the Metropolis, though attendel probably by most of the vagabonds it con tains, was suffered to ventitself through its proper channels of pompous and loquacious absurdity, and to die a natural death. There is no reasonable pre tence for doubting that if Ministers had wished to be considered by the country as adopting the Manches ter State policy for their own, they would have seized with eagerness the opportunity furnished to them by the Smithfield Meeting of yesterday, to follow, and thus practically applaud, the course pursued by the Northern Magistrates. They would, in that case, have ordered the Ilorse Guards to disperse the mul titude. • But the negative evidence now afforded by Government is decisive of its feeling as to the prin ciples which prevailed at Manchester. Still we ad mit that the Cabinet has been placed in much dilfi culty by its Northern friends; and the letter of Lord SIDMOUTH, be it well understood, decides nothing as to the lawfulness of the proceedings to which it refers. That point, as well as what concerns the prisoners, must be left to a fir different tribunal." FROM Ms MoRWINO CHRONICLE: 66 We this day publish a letter which purports to have been written by Lord SIDMOUTH (his Lordship is now famous for letters), and conveys the thanks of the PRINCE REGENT to the Magistrates and Yeo manry of Manchester, for 64 their prompt, decisive, and efficient measures for the preservation of the public tranquillity ;" the preservation of the public tranquillity ! It promptness be a virtue, the ad visors of his Royal Highness are, on this occasion, entitled to the praise of it. When it is considered 'that the Meeting alluded to was held on the 16th, — that 21 hours must have elapsed before any intelli gence on the subject reached town,—that the con tusion of the day rendered it impossible immediately to collect accurate information,—that twenty-four hours must have elapsed before a Messenger from Manchester could reach town,—that the decision of the Ministers must have been sent to the Isle at Wight for the approbation of. the Parsec REGENT, they could have taken but little time to bring toge ther and examine the evidence, on which they felt themselves warranted to pledge the name of the PRINCE REGENT in support of measures, which were attended with the loss of the lives of several of his peaceable subjects. We are not the less surprised at their promptitude, when we consider that, however weighty the evidence which was laid before them might have been, it must have been in direct contra diction to a great body of testimony, which is before the Public. But to those by whom the evidence on which the Ministers have decided, has not been seen, it is still more surprising to hear of the preservation of the public tranquillity at Manches ter. The measures of the Magistrates are praised as being directed to that object. Now, though it' may happen that measures may be 46 prompt. deci sive, and sOcient," without being wise or effedual, yet there is nothing in the letter to lead one to suspect, that the public tranquillity has not been preserved. Who would have thought, that when a Meeting had assembled for a legal purpose, and had not committed nor threatened any violence, measures were , taken, which ended in the killing and wounding a multi tude of innocent people, in filling the town with unexampled alarm, and in rousing an uncontronlable spirit of animosity in one class of society towards ano ther ? Who would have thought, that at the time when this letter must have been decided on riots were con stantly taking place in a district before perfectly free from them. Who would have thought that all this was the consequence of measures praised for nothing else but for their efficiency in the preservation of public tranquility ? Who would have thought, that though similar Meetings to that at Manchester had been held at many places, they had, under the pre valence of a different system from that of the Man chester Magistrates and Yeomanry, ended without 'the least inconvenience or tumult, while the Man chester Magistrates are held up as the only preservers, of the public tranquillity ? Nothing but the public tranquillity? We have had another example whereby' , we may judge of the policy of the proceedings of.the Manchester Magistrates. 44 The Smithfield Meeting was held yesterday. The Resolutions were to the full as-violent as any which could have been proposed at Manchester—an im mense crowd was assembled. Cavalry did not sur round the Hustings—the people were not cut down or trampled on—there was no fraudulent reading of the Riot Act, in anticipation of a non-existing Riot. Yet the people separated quietly, as they did after the last Meeting in the same place ; and as far as we know, the public tranquillity is in as high a state of preservation, as if our main streets were run ning with blood, or crowded with the heaps of the wounded or the dead, while the populace, in other parts of the town, were taking their vengeance by demolishing the houses of the loyal. The Meeting at Smithfield was certainly one of which we quite as little approve, as of that at Manchester. It seems to have been a fraudulent affair from the beginning.— It was called in the name of a Committee, which, for ought the Public knew, had no existence. The per sons who met together were, of course, only those who chose to attend to such an unauthorised requisi tion ; yet they assume to speak in behalf of the whole People of England, and to denounce as enemies .to the People all persons who do not exactly agree with this fortuitous crew, in all their notions of political propriety. This clandestine outlawry of such a large portion of the People, is revolting enough to common sense ; bet it does not, on that account, require to be put down by the sword. The Meet ing, it appears, was not contented with condemning all who differed from them, but they declared all speakers on Reform at Tavern Meetings, who refused to attend Meetings in the open air, when solicited by the suffering people t o d o so , were' the pretended, and not the real Friends of the People. That is, that all persons who do not atte n d an y M eet i ng to which /4essrs. Totsmawoop, PaxeroN, and WATSON invite them (for who else could have invited them to the Meeting before it was assembled ?) ate not Friends of the People. The proceedings of the body of men from whom these Meetings in Smithfield hav e • ' nated, sufficiently distinguish them, not only from the rational Friends of Reform, but from the Friends ,of Parliamentary Reform in any shape, It is some what ludicrous to see this small knot of Spenceans prematurely erecting themselves into absolnts Rulers,. and proceeding to denounce for punishment all wl►o will not submit implicitly to their guidance." FROM Tux Moicm'a 11454L,0: " It appears that the thanks of the Executive Go vernment have been conveyed, in earnest and unqua lified terms, to the Magistrates and Military force which put down the late Manchester Meeting. - No man who knows any thing of the British Constitution, or of the British character, will suppose for a moment that a political measure, upon which the public opi nion was unsettled, could be decided merely by the voice of the Government. On the contrary, such is the independent distrust of the people in the acts and motives of authority, that the very circumstance of the approbation of Ministers being thrown into one scale, would incline the opinion of the popular mass of the community to the other. We, therefore, arc far from thinking that Lord Swstouen s letter of thanks to the Magistrates and Military, addressed through the medium of the Earl of DERRY, will make any considerable alteration in the opinion and feel ing of the country as to their conduct. Nay, more, there is even a certain latitude of construction in judg ing even the opinion of the Ministers themselves. No one, at least no candid or reasonable person, can at the worst impute any more to the local Authori ties of Manchester than a disastrous error. Their anxiety and their fears may have disturbed their ima ginations. Objects, too, which are seen at too short a distance, whether by the mind's eye or by the visual organ, appear monstrously exaggerated and distorted. The observer, who thought he saw an elephant in the moon, merely beheld a fly in his telescope. Suppos ing then that the Magistrates, in their zeal for the support of constituted authority, acted wrong, still the Government, in consideration of their motives, would affect approbation even of measures which it deeply regretted. Every body knows that it must be a desperate case, indeed, where Ministers will saci ifice or disavow their subaltern functionaries. — The Government itself appears in rather a curious position. It has yoked itself with the proceedings at Manchester by this letter—whether from cordial ap probation or from a regard to the policy of protect ing the under depositories of power, we shall not take upon us to decide ; at all events, Ministers have flung themselves in the same bark with the Magistrates on the great ocean of opinion, sand it is likely that they will merely shale their peril without contributing to their safety. It is, sie think, important to press upon the Public, that the letter of thanks is not conclusive proof of the approbation of Ministers ; that even their 1 , approbation is not sufficient in this enlightened and jealously independent nation, to silence or to incline the public judgment ; and that though both the Go vernment and Magistrates maybe perfectly agreed, still the memorable step taken at Manchester might be lamentably and mischievously ill-judged. The reason why this should not be lost sight of is, that if other towns should unhappily (which HEAVEN avert !) be placed in the same predicament with Manchester, the local guardians of the peace may not 'be too ready to adopt the estample and earn a like testimony of approbation from the Home De partment. We should tremble for the safety and character of the people, if such a scene were re peated even on a minor scale. The sight of blood upon the paved 'streets of a populous tower is a dreadful omen. It is remarked—we believe by Rot Lita—that the Arron at Rome was never stained with blood until the massacre of THIERMS GRAC , cirus, and from that period forward blood flowed in streams until Roman N irtue and Roman freedom gave way to murder, proscription, anarchy, and monAmus tyranny. The French. Revolution pre sents a similar example. We repeat that we make these remarks, in the hope that, should similar cir cumstances present themselves in other places, the Magistrates will pause and pause again, before they venture upon the example which Manchester has set before them." FROM THE BRITISH PRESS: " There were some who, in their anxious regard for the character of Ministers, indulged a hope that they would not prejudge the conduct of the Magis trates of Manchester, but would allow its merits to be ascertained by the laws of the country, upon a full and impartial hearing of evidence adduced, as well on the part of the People as of the Magistrates. This hope, however, was fallacious, the Ministers have thrown off all reserve, and identifying themselves with the Magistracy of" Manchester, seem resolved to share all the merit or the obloquy which, in the opinion' , of the country, may eventually be attached to the oc currences of Monday, the memorable 16th of August. I We do not suppose that this mark of approbation was given even by the Ministers to the Magistrates' of Manchester inconsiderately or suddenly. But allowing that the Ministers were influenced by the most upright and conscientious motives, it cannot be forgotten that they have decided on an ex-parte state ment of the case—that they have judged upon evi dence furnished by the Magistrates only, who were also peimitted to detail their individual fears, and the apprehensions of others no less timid, and no less unfriendly to the starving Manufacturers. It was easy for the Magistrates, interested as tl:ey must be in giving flatteritig colours to their own work, to suppress some facts, and communicate to others a false importance ; and confined as the Ministers must have been to such testimony, it would be impossible for them to come to any other conclusion than that which they have expressed in Lord Slosiourn's letter. Under such circumstances, they ought to have dis trusted their own judgment, and have deferred the expression of it until the whole case had been sifted in a Court of Law." His Royal Higness the PRINCE REGENT returned to Carlton House this day. On Saturday his Royal Higness sets Off for Ragley Hall, the seat of the Marquis and Marchioness of IlenTroup, where he is expected to dine on Sunday. Here the l'en;cr will remain a fortnight ; after which he will probably ♦isit Cheltenham, and the Marchionkas Dowager of DowNsulait. His Royal Highness afterwards returns to town. In October he goes to Sud'uurne Hail, in Suffolk. Yesterday morning Prince ESTIRIIAZY, the Aus trian Ambassador, and Count LIEVEN, the Russian Ambassador, had a long conference with Lord Cits TLERFAUH, at his house in St. James's-square. The former was with his Lordship upwards oftluce hours. MANCITEETBIL—ritesday Emi; FROM OUR PRIVATE CORRRspox rjr , We still continue perfectly quiet. Notl,ii;, leen decided on as to Mr. HUNT, or aryof, prisoners. A general expectation preva;ls Will be liberated barons the week Is over. seen Mr. WEST, Mr. HUNT'S friend, wh o L ai down from London to afford him any a n i s . : may require., in his present situation. He that on applying to see Mr. HUNT, be rentptorily refused admission. The jAilor referred him to the Magistr a% order, and the answer of the Magistrates'' " No—Mr. West (emphatically) cannot bt ted." Other individuals have, however, be ea interviews with him. - I mentioned yen ( but I was of coarse mistaken in suppo s i ng them to be NIT. 11%.:5t. LEEDS EL FORM MEETIAC. LEEDS, AUGUST £4. The announced Meeting of our Radical took place this afternoon, at the old place, Moor. At five o'clock, the hour nrpointeL, ing the Chair, very few had assembled and, who had then reached the ground soon themselves in every direction, to seek shet. heavy thunder-storm, attended with x fine shower. The rain cortinucd to fa 1, I vy, until after dusk ; but, after the first fury cd had somewhat abated, about 2,000 pe rs42 , pouring upon the ground from different dir and proceeded to the business of the chly: however, they had so much to transact, that closed upon them before they could get thrn v whole. In a word—their time was entirely, in reading details recpecting the lamentable rences at Manchester last week, and in passir lotions to assist their brother Reformers now son at that place. •liwas then resolved that the assemblage. proceed to the consideration of any other so late an hour, but reserve every thing fur Meeting at the same place, of which due . be. given in the u.aal m.tnner. It was now o'clock at night. The Meeting dispersed very ably, and the people in a very orderly - turned ta their various places of abo le wit nifeqing the smallest disposition to riot, or of any kind.—The only thing noticeable the mode of assemblage was the approacl; Horseforth Reformers, who came to regular. procession, accompanied by a ban, cians.—The lateness of the hour has left for giving more atople details by this Post: tWng is perfectly quiet, and the inhabitants are highly satisfied •with the pi uder cc the Magistracy in this neighbourhood, in _ ante of every thing like the exercice of a ri yOnd the law ; being well rersuaded that security for a continuance of tranquillity t entitely on the line of conduct which the wisely adopted —not to fiet or irritate the while they continue to avoid any bleach of lie peace. THE ARMY. Yesterday morning the 3d Battalion of Guards, under the command of the Hon. STEWART, matched into town from Chath;;Tr). they had been stationed for a considerable tine they will go into quarters, for a short peric are then to relieve the Coldstream now doirg in the Tower.—This Regiment will then quarters for the winter. The full Band of t) nadiers met them on the road, and being fuily ped in marching order, had a very iniposti pearance, and attracted the attention of an '- body of spectators as they passed along. Tuesday morning the 19th Lancers sands ceived :in order to quit Brighton, supposed on a to YlarchesTer. The 2d Battalion of the Firs: Rc: s iment left town this fore:'oon for Brighton. Tat beinr Seltling-day, and the vet) Luce during the present Account, the anz!ety fercncor this nnorni: war unusu:Ny great. Beforetweh nu Its than 1.! dtfatiltcr_ v rte e.eclared, whew differs.% thet amouut to .1:1 inlry nie I.; m.—Consois 14eied ° CI to 713, ar.l ore u'clock were at 71*. The Paris Papers of Monda7, receive.] noon, are quite barren of intelligerce. A Flanders Mail has broaTilt us this Brussels Papers to the 24th lost A number di sons have been arrested at Ghent, for enlr for the South American Patriot service. A Hamburgh M:iil arrived this forenoon, pers to the '2oth instAut. The spouse of Duke Nicliorais was, on the 3d instant, livered of a Prineess, who has received them MARIA. Hamburgh Exchange on Leming and 20th August, 35. 8. 35. 11. The Royal Sovereign yacht, Captain On' s ' rived in Calais Harbour, on Tuesday, to Wait Duke and Dachess of CLARRWCIL The following is a Copy cf Lord SIDNOto ter% in which the grant of a pension to Bt. signified: " WHITCHAM., MOIST Mil have great satisfaction in informing yo 4 !loyal Highosiss die Paisca Roszar has been graci:o l l to grain a l'ensiot, of £l6O a-year to Wp.1.1•311 Constable of Stockport, against whose life a most atr tempt w.is lately mid., ta w cossequence of the ezelliP.- in which, under circumstances of peculiar latportoc 6 charged his duty as a Peace Officer; and I :In fur his ROII%I. Hwttvasss gr.ltiolll intention, in We limcit's wound should (contrary to the hope which m a l reatonably indulptcl), unhappllr prove fatal, of et" Royal Bounty to his Widow, for the support of family, whous , he may leave behind him. "' I bare to request that you will c3mmericate to Bradt this instance of his ROTA,. Illautorsa's beneficence, I am persuaded, will be received with grctitude by bits, trust, will operate as an encouragement to ether to a Gilictui and fearless discharge of their rublit -" I have, &c. /sig ne d, " rr " The Ikv. C. Prescut, Stockpot*. • e • • 't i k If ; , ' 4 4 11 t 4 ' • If ?I F. ; '1 I I 4 ( 11,1i •q ?. 1. 1 •:811 ;I ticf; s 4rg ti . I ! ho L as He 11 t ha s . .1: ist ra% Its' Cl e. of UC . ill Ikea • 4 , eSterdi ; Al ? ) sing A D. /AC, ri cal R e f . lace, )inter; fq non s: . shelter b firi A tr. , r t of the . pets::; 2s A ent dit tct, th at thrne s k lrely o nitable , • passing ; rsnowh sr ages: ler b. fur a lue notict Was now ed very IT macro : withal t, or 141 ble res proach d he roil, • bard of ~ :ft me no ost but :anti g mantic 1 in their ' • a vigcte !al that on: d r 'P tr:e h: to the ? ch of the is L. cc of : • Hon. tl ratham, • ea ble rink r .t peric )v. , eking then le nd of the : 1 g fully inir,osi If an nr... ••• • suddenly s, , sed on a • lent of Ge h, -c Cl he Cur. tk -.• !ety tank . • a ' etaeheo difire-as he sect at 'CI, kt Et re] :hi 1. this f • h: aches tk enlisting 1 • t :owl, with c of the • ' !It, said' 1 the rams ~OtICJI t' in Osrvl :41 o wait for • .e to BINS ;en it, Ills ra Y 6 u , jig raci:44 f ' gags, axt atrorio employ • *mote, k urtha We lir OUT extteeki ' turad" l ' d 'Ate to leforce• by lira , "" r rate