Star. — London, England, 1811-03-19 00:00:00

. . v015r.-.7-,„%. .- . . .--400440.4 - s-vro-- 1 IVEST2fINSTIR MUTING. - 1117ENING STAR. i A General Meeting of the Inhabitants of the City - _ . and Libaties of Westminster was held yesterday in Palace-yard,' ursdant to a.Requisition. , Major CARTWRIGHT addressed the multitude.— Having lately become a householder in the City of Westminster, he took that as the earliest opportunity of assuring the people, whether they met for the purpose ofpromotingaParliarnentary Reform, or the liberty of their country,although he was old and infirm, yet i would always find him at his post.—(Loud Hzetz th at e l , Notwithstanding the tinfavonrable impressions which . He thought the primary question for their considers. were raised in the public mind by the reports of yes. tion was, whether they should or should not address 1 the Regent upon his appointment to the Regency of terday respecting his MAJESTY'S renewedindisposition, the kingdom? When they considered that they inha. we are happy to find that the accounts from Windsor . bited the same city in which the residence of his Royal I are still of the most favourable nature. 1 Highness was situate, he thought it was but meet that The disagreeable report alluded to was stated with they should pay him that tribute of their respect. It ' so much confidence by a Morning Paper of yesterday, was not possible, however, to congratulate him on . his appointment, for, whether the manner of his being 1 that we were led to notice it ha common with our co appointed to the office, the treatment he had received, temporal ips. We have now the satisfaction of stating, , or the state of the country were the topics of comment, however, that the object of the In --RD 6HANCELLOR'S there was no ground for congratulation. (Cherri.)— vis:ts to the PRINCE REGENT, on Sunday, was en- 1 The People might, indeed, congratulate themselves tirely official, and 'merely to intimate the result of the upon one subject, namely, that a door of access was , ope ned to the and that they had lenth deliberations of the Quenh's Colancil on Saturday. S o i an opportunity of Throne, stating their grievances, at g with the far from it being thought advisable to stop all inter- 1 prospect of relief. That there had been no mode' course between the Roa - m. FAMILY and his MAJESTY, 1 of reaching the royal ear for a long time, he well there can - be no doubt that his Royal Highness the I knew; now, however, they might congratulate them. PRINCE REGENT had an interview with his Royal Pa- selves upon the certainty that when his Majestrre , lumed the exercise of his Royal functiotfs, kis , rent on Sunday, which lasted for an hour ; and on ' ' would make a faithful report of the state of the cons-, the same day the Duke of YORK walked on the Ter- `m,, and the condition of the people. There was one race with his MAJESTY for a considerable time. By 1 other argument in favour of an Address : that was to subsequent accounts from Windsor, we learn, that ! say, the opportunity which would be afforded of re his his MAJESTY walked yesterday, for half an hour before Peating those arguments which had so often beets dinner, on the Terrace, accompanied by two of his ' urged by such factious men, as they were called, as Sir F. Burdett, and others in favour of a Parliamen- Family, their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of YORK t R f (net ) \NT tart' e orm.— r.r. ere they to neglect to and - - resumed his walk after - - that ' .- so '--- -, to every friend of li- LONDON. TUESDAY, MARCII 19. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Consols, money, 6411.—f0r account, 64i. Reduced, shut-4 per Cent. shut—Navy 5 par C. 9611 Exch. Buis, ss. Is. prep.—Bond ?..3s. prem._ son I press that topic, interesting , berty, they would be only giving a handle to their and leav their principles to zitalig- enemies, , open nant and unfounded imputations. Parliamentary Reform, in fact, ought to be the great burthen of their address, and on that solid foundation should they rest their hopes of a radical remedy for all the evils with which the State was encumbered. The next object for the attention of the Meeting was, the gross violation of the Constitution which had re cently been witnessed in the conduct of Ministers, who for two months had carried on the Government, when there was neither King nor Regent upon the Throne, thus assuming the Regal Power them selves by usurpation.—(aisert.)—Besides this, the Regent, on being nominated to his Office, was so trammelled and restricted, that had he. the will, he was deprived of the power of consulting the welfare of the nation.—(Loud Cheers.) —The grand mischief; was, when the King became incapable of perform-i ing his duties, when he fell from the Throne, aast, no longer existed in the capacity of a King, that the two Houses of Parliament took upon thew selves an authority to which they had no right.— The moment that Parliament lost its head, it be came only a Convention, and was incompetent to pass a law even for the guidance of a broomstick! — They attempted to justify themselves upon the max im that the King never dies. Their application of that principle was however completely erroneous. It was true in case of the King's death, that, politically speaking, he never died, because his heir immediately stepped. into his place ; but when he merely became incompetent to the discharge of his functions from his insanity, when he fell from the Throne and the Sceptre fell from his hand, from his natural debilities, the case was widely different ; there the heir could not step into his place, and consequently the office of Monarch became vacant. Something therefore ought to be done ; but what that something ought to be was a question for consideration. The Speaker of the House of Commons had declared that Parliament was called upon to fill a chasm in the State. What, then, was not a chasm a vacancy ? But even allowing them the full scope of their arguments, by whom was this defect to be supplied ? Not surely by the Legis lature, because they were merely the Trustees on be half of the Nation. Then by whom was the chasm to be filled ? The answer was manifest, by the Na tion. It was a vital principle of the Constitution, that no part of it should be violated except by those by , whom it was created, namely, the nation at large.— The nation at large, therefore, should have been called on for their sanction to the adoption of any new or extraordinary measure, The two Houses should have framed Resolutions indicating the course they inten ded to pursue, and meetings of .the people should be called, to whom those Resolutions should have been refer,-ed. The worthy Major concluded by taking an animated survey of the dangers with which the coun try was threatened, and by proposing the following resolution : Resolved—That this Meeting think it right to make known to the Prince Regent their sentiments on public affairs, particularly on the absolute necessity of a Parliamentary Reform, not only for his Royal Highness's own consideration, but in a hope also, that, in case of surrendering his charge, he may report the same to his Majesty ; evil Counsellors having, for many years past, deprived the People of this Realm of access to the Throne. (Lad Atm.) Mr. Wavicaa..came forward and seconded the mo tion. It was sufficiently recommended in coming from Major Cartwright, whose character for public spirit and attachment to freedom, for a manly mind and a sound judgment, had been rewarded by their uniform approbation. If they saw their liberties invaded, or their property squandered, they had a right to state their grievances to the supreme head of the Govern ment ; and although the Prince Regent was too much shackled, yet lie ought to be made acquainted with the expectations of redress. The obvious cause of their long oefdre-itcoldrit tgligent of their duty, and to listen to the allurements of self interest. The Electhrs of Westminster, in their choice, bad set an example highly to their honour, and con sistent with their interest and dignity. Such conduct as Sir FRANCIS Bunorrr had pufsued, might lead many cities and counties to return patriotic represen tatives. But if Parliament were reduced to its origi nal annual duration, and interest to yield to merit; the national mass of intellectual ability would be brought into action. Towards the end of next year or at the beginning of the following, Parliament, which was now in its fifth session, would-be dissolved; mid it would behove the people to bear in recollection those persons who had opposed reform, or warded it lby saying, this was not a fit time The present Mi nisters had been content to revive the frantic cry of popular delusion, No Popery," although they dis regarded the sober, persevering, and steady call for Reform. We had been told to look at the state of our Finances now compared with the year 1788. lit was a strange cause of comfort, that our taxes had !increased. Finance (said Mr. W.) means taxation ; and whet the imposts are so heavy that they can scarcely be endured, we are to be consoled by the In 'come Tax schedules. These burthens formed one t i cnuse of the increasing number of bankrupts. Public ciptnion was not allowed a free vent by the press. The patriotic writes (said Mr. W.) finds his way to a prison, without the advantage of that great bulwark, a Grand Jury. Our ancestors made it unlawful for .a Special Jury to try, in any case, for life. If not for .life, why for liberty ? Without liberty, life is a bur den. He then reminded the Meeting, that the old fashioned, circuitous proceeding by indictment, in case of libel, had been superseded by the short cut, the -formation ex officio. The man, continued he, who - • vents his free opinion, is pursued as a criminal. New. Northampton, Cold-Bath-fields, Lincoln, and gate, Dorchester jails, are the repositories - of some of our ablest writers !( Loud laughter. J—The Meeting (con tinued Mr. W.) may judge of Major Cartwright by the advocates of freedom who have, all his lite-time, been his associates. He wished to impress on the country, that it might be saved by a timely and radi cal reform in the Commons House of Parliament. [A long Address to the Prince Regent, being an echo of the two preceding speeches, was then read amidst great applause. Tt embraced two prominent points : the first, respecting the pernicious effects likely to result from a supension of the Royal Authority ; and secondly, the absolute necessity of a Parliamentary Reform. This Address was agreed to unanimously, anti was much cheered] Mr. WISHART moved the thanks of the Meeting to Sir Francis Burdett ; and concluded by saying, that Ithe House of Commons did not represent the PeOple of the Kingdom. This motion was also carried with acclamation. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT said he could not but feel the utmost satisfaction and gratitude for the free, unsoli cited, and unbiassed approbation of his conduct, which was manifested on the present occasion. He did, in deed, feel that approbation more strongly at present than on any former ordinary,or evenextraordinary occasion; for that approbation was freed from every thing per sonal, and bestowed on account of the principles which he had hitherto maintained, and which, he trusted,lie should always maintain. (Apidatue.) It was not ne cessary for him at present to enter upon these princi ples at any great length, as they were so amply dis cussed by the Gentleman who seconded the motion for an Address with so great ability, and in the Ad dress itself which was so ably penned. It was impos sible for mortal man to represent the se principles in juster or stronger terms than they were represented. (Alsfrlause.) He wished to advert for a moment to the question of Libel, which was soon to come under discussion in the House of Commons. When the question should come under discussion there, he would state his sentiments fully and explicitly on it, in the manner in which he conceived he was imperi ously called on by his duty, as well asby every tie of gratitude, to do on every occasion ; for if it was his duty not to state in that. House what he conceived to ke false, it was equally his duty never to withhold 'what he conceived to be true. It was notorious that the gaols were at present full of our most eminent public writers ; and there was scarcely a writer of any eminence who had not either been or was not at pre sent under confinement. While countenance was given to every species of delinquency—while connte unce was given to eve: y species of oppression, every expression of independence was jealously watched, mad visited with severe punishment. It was alone sufficient to prove to the people of England, whose feelings are so keenly alive to whatever regards their kts and liberties, that they are not duly represented, a they see themselves precluded from expressing i lkeir just sentiments. With respect to ex officio infor eations, he had always stated, and should continue to Mate till he was better informed than he was at pre. lent, that they were destructive of all the fundamental laws of the land. Perhaps he would be told that the laws to which he referred were obsolete—but he would be bold to say that it was to these laws they must look, if ever they wished to recover their liberties. It was singular enough, he said, that all the former oppres sions which the people of this country suffered, were exercised in opposition to Parliament, but that all the grievances which were now experienced, were sanc tioned by Parliament. Sometimes, indeed, these grievances were such, that those in possession of power were forced to yield from a sense of shame, and it was then they would come forward and pre - - pallia thimiattehiTh idia !hire of ngti;e"....- - (iferlarsafion:.) . Illoy c IA expect affairs to go on well, under the City prallest long aration of Parliament. According to \ yin J ef utos nin r g er an ese d nt on ati e ves of of at tl o i: en Co m m t m . on s s u h ch ad a s l i o a n y;a i r n s . e.— terval before account emboldened men to be negligent V and CAMBRIDGE ; . that he . dinner for two hours and a half, attended only by a single Equerry. WINDSOR•CASTLE, MARCH 19. 4, His MAJESTY is in every respect as well as he has been through the last week. (Signed) ‘‘ BAILLIE. HEBERDEN." We yesterday received French Papers to the_ date of Wednesday last, consisting of the Moniteur: and Joarneaux du Commerce, from which we have introduced extracts into another part of our publication. In ad dition to these, we have a long account of a levee of the French Ruler, at which all the principal authori ties assisted, with the deputies from the Kingdom of Italy. We-are informed also in the same Papers, that ignorance in the classic languages is in future to be no impediment with the persons so uninstructed to their admission into the literaty and scientific in stitutions of France, and the prescriptions of Physi cians are in future to be written sit the native lan guage. It seems, that many - individuals of exalted rank have arrived in Paris, among whom are the- Prince BORCHESE and the Viceroy of Italy ; their ar rival is ascribed to the desire manifested by the Em peror to give the utmost possible celebrity to the com ing event or the Empress's aceouchement, which is to be followed by the most superb galas. A rises of ten . iter 4 cent. in the current value of the stamped dollars in circulation takes place this day. The increase in the price of silver has become so great, that the dollars or tokens issued by the Bank sell for more as bullion than they are current at as coin. The Directors have therefore given notice, that they will in future receive in payment all Bank dollar-tokens at the rate of fair shilling: and sixpence each, instead of five shillings as heretofore. All such tokens are hence forth to be issued at the same increased rate. BREAD.—There being no Court of Aldermen this day, the LORD Mayon, after inspecting the Returns, ordered it to continue at the present prices. The following Gentlemen, prisoners of war, made their escape from the. French coast in a small boat, and landed at Harwich on Saturday :—Mr. SWEEDY, late-Midshipman of his Majesty's ship Bouverie ; Mr. NATON, late Midshipman of the Calcutta ; Mr. Ro amsoN, late Midshipman of the Ruby • Mr. MAY, late Midshipman of the Jackall ; and dr. HELDER, late Midshipman of the Spencer. They have been in pi icon from three to seven years. • The CHALLENGER sloop of war has been captured off the Isle of Bas by a French 74 and a frigate, which had escaped out of some of the ports during the late foggy weather and easterly winds. The report which has appeared in some of the Lon don Prints, of the wreck of the SABINE, of la guns, er.T,taiu GRAVES, is without foundation. The SABINE experienced a heavy gale in the Straits of Gibraltar, but was refitted, and then went to Cadiz. FALMOUTH, MARCH 16. Sailed the Princess Elizabeth packet, Captain KIDD, fir Lisbon Wind East.' TORBAY, MARCH-17. Sailed his lkifsjesiy's ship HAZARD and brig RacROIT, with the vessels from Dartmouth, "feignmouth, and Torquay, for Xewfoutolland. PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 18. 'Arrived his Majesty's ship TY RIAN from Guernsey. Sailed the Wocu.VIRINE with convoy for the Downs ; and the Wool wich store ship for Woolwich.—Wind Westerly. , DEAL, MARCH 18. Came down from the river the ship Friends, with female con victs for New South Wales.—Sailed the Romuctrs frigate, with French Prisoners, for Leith; RIMALDO sloop of war, for off Boulogne ;eati,the Cambridge East Indianian, for Matins. The TaiacuLo takes convoy to Portsmouth.—Wind S. W. PLYMOUTH, MARCH 17. The brig Mary, of Sunderland, laden with coals, on coming this port yeliteLtiay r the weather being very hazy, " • • foundered. into , port yesterday morning, she snuck on the Shog-stone rock, and had nearly . -0 Ris was the want of a chie representation of the People. tend a remedy P • but that remedy was only a , she knockeda hole in her bottom, but a brisk wind being up, she I To this was the increase of taxes to be ascribed—taxes tion, and by no means went to removethe evil. Yet was fortunately enabled to reach Mount-Edgcumbe beach, where she is now repairing.—No arrivals —Sailed the ACHATCS ) re ' for carrying on a war , and not to protect their Tiber - what ever it was, the good-natured people were gene guns, to cruise off the Isle of Bas s ; and the ANT schooner for ! ties . By the want of a due representation. of the rally satis f i ed, and fondly fancied they had obtained P o rtsmouth.—Wind S. moderate and fine. People, impunity was extended to the bloated invi- redress. There was another subject to which he YARMOUTH, MARCH 18. duals whose opulence grew with the public burthens. wished to call their attention. and that was flogging. Sailed the Hess sloop of war, en a cruise. Arrived the Bat- i The approaching failure of some commercial specu. The whole people of this country were liable to me Pita cutter, from Heligaland, with convoy. TARTAIL and lators had lately brought them to renew their lease of be taken and flogged. Was that the liberty they se Holavio frigates, are under 'sailing orders, the former for the subjection to the Minister ; and it is said, that no man fondly boasted of ? Major Cartwright had told them Baltic, and the latter for He li goland. Ships in the Roads —Roe- , can make a good Minister, who does not understand that Bonaparte was a formidable enemy, and that he b•ick, ' Horatio, Quebec, Tartar, Partridge, and Snipe. Ships re litting---Brevclageren, Vixen, Portia, Sun -brigs"; lalide /nuns + the tactics of the House. Could the.people wonder was a great General ; but whatev er abilities he mi g ht and Cheerful cutters. There has been a smart p r e ss in the Roads; 1 that their endeavours to obtain reform received no have, and whatever were his resources, nothing and a numbar of good seamen has been obtained for the r Navy. countenance from men grown old in selfish pur. more was requisite for a defence, but the liberty' of LEITH, MARCH 16. Suits, and degraded by bad practices? Just demands the people of England—for a free nation must re- Sailed f rom t h e A m& yes t er d ay mornin g, his-Majesty's brig were obstructed and evaded by chicanery and 'subter. main unsubduable. Were freedom- not a source °I Cartons, on a maze. Art ived yesterday at noon, his Males- ,- age, the only arguments that could be opposed to strength but a principle of weakomilt would hi on aita brig kit OSITINGIAat, from a cruise. s , •• - . . , , . - • ~___ Y • i.. 3 'S l it •• • fortunate indsecifor mankka; hut the reverse of this had been establithed by Gem and Nature. Indeed nil government can stand without possessing the affection of the country which it governs. They were called on by a hypocritical party for uuanimity, and to avoid all measures tending to disturb that unanimity—while that very party was all the time doing what had the strongest tendency to produce disunion, and to which no good subject could give his assent. They had no thing to fear from Bonaparte- Give us, said be, ac cording to the homely saying, only a free stage and liberty, that is all we ask. He thought, he said, after being desired by them at a former occasion to present an Address to the King, that no means were left of approaching the Throne, that all en trance to the King was debarred, and that install of the King they were in future only to be admit. ted to a Secretary of State. On that account he had refused to accompany their High Bailiff, whos: conduct was uniformly deserving of applause, ant. entirely met with his approbation, He did not wish tc• see the Petition of the l Electors of Westminster throws, into an empty box, no more to be noticed. He never, indeed, hoped again to see the subject's right to p c . Cajon the Throne of any avail during the remainder of this long and misguided reign; When he lately presented a petition from them to that assembly, and saw that petition thrown on the floor of the House, be thought he should never again have occasion to be the bearer of another petition • but another occasio n has presented itself, where t hey might carry their complaints to one who has an ear always open to the voice of truth, and a heart alive to the sufferings of his people. On this occasion, therefore, he would as sist in presenting their Address with the most tin. feigned satisfaction. The Thanks of the Meeting were then voted to Asylums MORRIS, Esq. High Bailiff, for his prompt attention to the wishes of the Electors, and for his coil duct in the Chair. The Meeting was then dissolved. BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ST. PATRICK. Yesterday the friends of this Institution held their Annual Dinner at the London Tavern. The Meeting was very numerous and respectable. After dinner the usual toasts were given, and the health of the Prince Regent, the munificent Patron of the Charity, war drank with long and eathusia.,L:c applause. Among other toasts proposed by the Noble Clair - the r man was, " Prosperity to , City . of London." TL s called up Mr. Rowcaorr„ who observed, that he h..d no doubt the Corporation of London would feel itself gratified, as well as honoured, by the notice of such a meeting as the present. The object of his rising at present, however, was to introduce to them a Gentle man, who, though not yet known to them in person, was one of the sons of St. Patrick, and had lately dis tinguished himself by his naval achievements. The toast he had to propose was .that of " Commodore Rowley" (Loud and continued affidavit), who had re cently arrived under the happiest auspices of united merit and success. He never shrunk under adversity, but always knew how to raise himself by 'new con.. flicts. He deserved the gratitude and applause of his countrymen, as much by the importance of the suc cess which he achieved, as by the personal merit •Aich he displayed. The health of the Commodore was then drank with enthusiastic applause, and thegallant Officer returned his thanks with all the modesty and brevity of a se.: mar.. " Prosperity to the City of Dublin." Mr. SHAW, in the absence of his Right Hor.. Ccl , league (Mr. Grattan), begged leave to re,Arii his ' thanks in the name of the capital of their native lar.J, of which he bad the honour to be one of the Rept:. sentatives. • Mr. SHERIDAN then rose,. amidst a tumult of ap. . Pause. The only reason why he obtruded himself upon their notice at present, was on account of last toast which had been given. When he heard I •the name of Mr. Grattan, he could not sit Owe without declaring, that he believed in his conscience, Ireland to be more indebted to that great man than to any other patriot that ever belonged to h.q..— (Brertio, Bravo.) While he was up, he must also say, that he almost envied the Honourable Gentlonan (Mr. Rowcroft) the toast he had given. They most all be proud to own the gallant officer for a coutary. man. (Applause.) The Commodore's answer to the toast was short and pithy, but it was the fit reply of a British sailor, who did not deal in words, but in deeds. The enemy know, and feel to their cost, that the thunders of a British seaman did not lie in his tongue, but in his cannon. (.4p lane.) He should sit down with observing, that be should be sorry to hear the toast of prosperity to the City of Dublin, without adding to itthe health of the worthiest and most persevering patriot that perhaps any country ever produced—he meant Mr. Grattan. (Bursts of applause.) And without any political allusion what ever, which would be entirely misplaced on an occa sion like the present, he wished to include Mr. Shaw in the same toast. Mr. GRATTAN, junior, expressed his regret that his father was unable to attend on the present occasion.' The health of the Marquis of DOWNSHIRE anal of the Marquis of LANSDOWNE was then drank , to which these Noble Lords very shortly replied. The subscriptions on the occasion were very liberal. In all, £1456 was collected ; among which was 109 guineas each from the Prince of WALES and the Mar quii of DOWNSHIRE. IV Authority of the Prince Regent one of the gripdest State Lotteries ever submitted for public approbation will be drawn on the 4th of June next, the King's Birth day. HORNSBY and Co. have a va riety of Tickets and Shares cn sale, and at the lowest Prices. Schemes may be had at HouNssit and Co.'s old established State Lottery Offices, 26, Cornhill, and St. Margaret's Hill, B.irough ; wher e a great majority of Capital Prizes have been shared and sold to the Public. BIR l'H. Saturday last, the Lady of John Gosling, E. 4. of Clou::sten Place, New Road, of a aen. MARRIED. On - Friday the 15th instant,by Special Licence, at tiaighlt Lancashire, by the Rev. Thomas Pigot, Robert Wardlaw, Esq. of Halcircle, it the county of Fife, t 6 the Right Honoarab:a Lady Anne Lindsay, youngest daughter of the Sari of Balesril. LONDON: Printed and r üblished by 'Arra Kau?, at the araa °erica , No.l, Carey street, aad at the 01110 1 Temple-Bar. • • _ 7 1..! • . Y , i ,. r , ~ : 7 4 *