Star. — London, England, 1819-11-20 00:00:00

I I i I r J i • r : 4 ,1 t 1 ii' I I rejected were men of high-flying Tory principles; but that aggravated, instead of lessening the offence. —( Cheers ).—He trusted that the Meeting would almlv and fairly discuss the question before them, and if a prison was to be the consequenCe of honestly expressing their opinions, then he would have the honour of being one of the sufferers. He, did not wish to give way to any personal feeling on the ques tion at issue between the Corporation and the Livery; it was to be decided by a Court of Law, and there he would leave it. But it - was strange that this charge should have been brought by persons who, .however they differed with the Livery on certain points, always professed to support the interests of the City: This, however, was for them to explain on some future occasion. After some observations on the impropriety of refusing so large a Body as the Liter) , of London the exercise of their right to dis cuss questions of a public nature, Mr. Favell con cluded by reading the following w tsolutions Prat the Livery of London, in on Hall assembled, lave an undoubted Right, on Midsummer. Michaelmas, or any other day, to discuss any matter of Public Grievance. • That this Common Hall have learnt with surprise that at tempts are now making to deprive them of this established and .Constitutional Right; and that the Court of. Aldermen, without - any previous Intimation of such intention, have directed criminal proceedings to be commenced against several Liverymen, among whom is one of the Magistrates and Representatives in Parlia ment for this City, and also against one of its Sheriffs. That the Court of Aldermen, Common Council, and Livery • of London, are separate and di stinct Bodies, possessed of sepa rate and distinct powerr—that the Court of Aldermen have no authority or jurisdiction over the Privileges of the Livery, who conceive the said proceedings to be an unwarrantable attack, not only upon their Privileges as Liverymen, but upon their flights as Englishmen ; and, if the same could be carried into effect, must tend to the total subversion of such Rights, and leave them without any means of discussing or Petitioning against I üblic Grievances—subject entirely to the caprice and arbitrary will of a Chief Magistrate, however he may be unduly or cor tuptly influenced—and that it is thtrefore the imperious duty of every Liveryman, and every Citizen of London, to watch with jealousy and alarm this unprecedented and unwarrantable attack upon their Rights and Privileges, and to use their strenuous ex ertions to resist any invasion thereof. That the Court of Common Council, as Representatives. of the Citiaens of London, are bound, by their Oaths, as wel l as their duty, to protect their Rights, and prevent any misappli cation of the bonds octhe Corporation, for which purposes the 'Common Hall do therefore earnestly request their co-operation a:'d su?port ; and the Right lion. the Lord Mayor is most re .speettaily requested to lay these Resolutions before the Court o: Common Council. That the Chamberlain of this City be directed not to pay any eipenee. tira insy have been, or may be incurred in such Pro secutions; ar4 that the Auditors be directed not to allow any such expense* That a Committee, consisting of _ti Liverymen, be now ap pointed to watch over the Rights of the Livery, With power to acid to their numbers, and to take such measures as they shall be ad4ised. That the Thanks of this Common Hall be given to Mr. Sheriff Parkins, for his manly, i:ependent, and impartial con. 'dent at the Common Hall on Mishaebnas-day last. That John Atkins, Esq. late Lord Mayor, by refusing to sum mit •Conunon flails, on three several occasions, when required so do by respectable Members of the Livery; by abruptly dissolving two Common Halls, when Liverymen were about to express their opinions on subjects of great public importance; and by now attentpting to deprive them of their ancient tight of meeting to discuss and petition against public grievances, has shiver: a disregard to the constitutional rights of Englishmen, and a marked contempt for the feelings and opinions 'of his fel low-eitizens, and can no longer be entitled to their confidence and eitet:m. That the Thanks of this Hall be given to Samuel Favell, Esai. the Mover, and Allen Purring, Esq. the Seconder, for the able ;id judicious manner in which they brought forward the ljeso lations agreed to this day. Thatthe Thanks of this Hall be given to the Right Honour able the Lord .Mayor,. . for his readiness in calling this Han, and lit his upright and inv, ..rt conduct in the Chair this day. Mr. Penn's° commenced by observing, that hav ing, on the 29th of Septornber,•given his. cordial and warm support to the Res(lutions then proposed to the Livery, it was net surprising that he shoeld ex press his satisfaction at having the honour of second- Inc those which had been just read. He hoped that in thus coming forward, he should be considere'd as one of the Livery, and not as giving, from a.profes sion which he - had long left, any additional Weight to his opinions. It had been well observed, that We Nee in ardnous and eventful times—in times when every thing dear to Englishmen were equally threat ene. from two quarters, which quarters it was equally their duty to watch and guard against. It had been urged from a high quarter, he would not say from high authority, for he disbelieved it, that there was a large portion of this country disaffect to Government--terirs of No, so !).—He denied that this was the case; but he would concede that there were a few dangerous characters, who, taking ad antage of the public distresses, and anxious to gra tify their ambition or their avarice i seized on the pre sent occasion to agitate the minds of the people; thus giving to the whole body a character which they do not deserve. In considering these matters, it was im possible to shut' their eyes on the causes which gave si , .e•to them. His opinion was, that the meeting of large and tumultuary bodies cf persons was calcu lated tti endanger the rights of the people, by sub jzceltig their conduct to misrepresentation ; but he was at the <arne time convinced; that these Meetings ev..r.re of a legal character, and that any invasion of this right ought to he firmly resisted, as an offence against the great body of the people—(applause).— if one restriction of the people's rights were allowed to pass with impunity, many similar innovatiptis would soon be made. The conduct of the people, he had already observed, arose from distress, and rot from disaffection ; but there were persons high in authority who watched for opportunities of in vading the public liberties, and who would not scru ple to make the errors, or the sins of a few indivi duils, a ground for punishing the many. He re gretted that violence had been used to attain this object ; but it was their duty to resist such proceed ings. The people had an undoubted right to asserti ble and discuss their grievances, and if the Magis trates were allowed to prevent or allow such Meetings at their pleasure, and to compel the adoption of their opinions, then there was at once an end to the liber ties of Englishmen—(Chetors).--Aie concluded by giving his warns support to the Resolutions. The first Resolution was then put arid carried una ritnously.—Con the second Resolution being put, Mr. Alderman Warrroraw said,_ he stood, on the pvevent occasion, in a very peculiar situation, *cause he appeared to be personally interested in th e ques tiot,• and, therefore, he should feel more difficulty in addressing the Livery, than he probably had ever done at any preceding period. That difficulty did not at all arise from a' want of a number of very im portant topics, to which he was inclined to call their attention, but rather from the vatiety and magnitude of those circuasstatitis - whicti - ctowded oa his mind, -; and which, in his present situation, he thought it would be better to avoid entering into. • Aldrough he was happy to lee personally interested , he coul d assure the Livery that he did not feel at all more in terested in the question, than every other Liveryrnae • in the City of London most be—(Applause). How ever he might. be harassed and oppressed, he felt 'that , he stood in a proud and elevated situation, when he was placed in a condition, not to defend himself individually, but the rights of the whole community of this great ' —(Applause). They had placed erl4 7 him in ay lnd responsible situation; but he could assure ern, that however greatly he valued the honour that had been conferred on him, if he could bring his mind to think that his conduct was not directed by an honest desire to defend the rights of those who had confided in him, he would, without the slightest hesitation, lay those honours at their' feet, and retire from public life—(Applause). But when he'found that he possessed their confidence, he was bound to devote all his energies, all his time, all his exertions, to the defence of their just rights-- I (Applause). They must make some allowance for the angry feelings of some individuals. They could not but suppose, that when they made him the hum ble instrument by which those to whom they were hostile were to be overthrown—by which individuals who had insulted their feelings, and betrayed their confidence, were to be opposed—the persons against whom he had successfully acted, were likely to feel considerable irritation. It was naturally to be sup posed that those things would rankle deep in their 1 minds, and that they . would seek revenge as. soon as possible—( Applause). Those persons, impressed with this feeling, thought that a good and fair oppor tunity had occurred, at once to crush an huMble in dividual, and to destroy the privileges which enabled the Livery to meet together, and gave them the power, as a compact body, to speak their sentiments on great political questions, and to choose those per sons to represent them; whom they deemed most worthy of the honour = (Applause). however some amongst the Livery might f. el indignant-at the con duct of these Gentlemen, still they must make consi derable allowances for the feelings of individuals re deccdao..thia bumble, he would almost say, degraded' condition—(Applause) ; ; In the situation in which he was at prkint plac'eltitie would endeavour to refrain from alluding to the conduct of those persons, even if - they were present; but, as they were absent, he should be still more arixious to Itiaid animadverting on their, proceedings, further than he should be obliged to do, in consequence of the peculiar circum stances of the case. He could only state, that during the whole course of his political life, he had taken but one view of the office of Chief Magistrate of the City. -He differed from many of his friends on that point. Ile conceived thit.-a Gentleman's political opiniots should -not esclu4e him, frmai sitting in that Chair; except ; Wilin, trona prejudice, or from some sinister motive, he had suffered llis political opinions to warp his judgment in the performance'of his pub lic duties. - Much as his politics differed from those of Mr. Alderman C. Smith, when he found thxt an attempt was to be made to exclude, him from the' Civic Chair;on account of his poli:ical principles, he refused to take any part whatever ia the contest. He acted on this ground, because, niter, an effort was made to keep out Alderman Cornbe, it was founded on the principle of a political exclusion. He at that time tot* an active part in the eleetiou.of that excel lent Mat'iaiiite. - thus :hewing that he was an enemy td a* 'e elusion merely on account of political opt niotts!: • Therefore, whether he was right 'or wrong, he hid *always acted uith perfect consistency. He had always held it to be the duty of every man to support the Magistrates of the City of London. He had gone further ; .be: had always •thoeght it right, when a Alagistrate committed any casual 'Mistake, any errorol.judgment, to look on it with indulgence, and to give to the-erring party all the credit that was due for good intentions. But when he saw a sys tematic design to insult the Livery, and to trample on their rights, he had, in common with every man of independence amongst them, repelled any attack on their, privileges and inimunitie:s--(Applauzi).- 7 Sinnebow er other, by some strange circutpiwce, certain secrets had transpired with respect to anelher 'body A men. They were told; that these were se crets which ought not to be divulged. ' Hp,Would say nothing about that. He would leave it to the Livery of London to judge, whether those secrets ought, or ought not, to - be kept in darkness and con cealment from them ? .From these disclosures, how .ever, they would see how all those proceedings had been conducted. lie (Mr. Waithman) had all through . been acting on the defensive. He had had a very powerful body to contend with. Out of the whole number, there were only three or four worthy Alder men who stood by him. He went to the Court to hear charges, of the nature of which he had had no previous intimation. He believed, with respect to those proceedings, the Court of Aldermen were as much in the dal k as he was; because, though they had given orders for certain legal steps to be taken, they had not seen the case, or the opinions on which they were founded. He had much experience in the business of the Corporation, and he never knew any instance of similar treatment having been experienced by a person accused. If a charge were made even against a Marshal's-man, the investigation would not be closed without the party being called on for his defence, allowed to adduce evidence, and to 'state' what he had to say in his own behalf. This was not his-case. All the evidence was on one side. He was all in the dark ; he knew nothing of it. Even when it was understood that he was on a sick-bed, these proceedings went on (Show!) and he would tell them the reason for this precipitancy. In doing so, he begged them to attend particularly to dates. The Meeting of the Court of Aldermen took place on Sa turday, the 6th - of-November, when this prosecution against him (Mr. Wait'. man) and others-.-indeed, he might say, against the whole Livery (True, true! tee are all in z), was determined upon; he was at the tsne absent. Wow; on , the Friday preceding, the opinion of the Legal Gentlemen Was procured, at so late an hour that the Simnsoning Officer was ealled out of his bed, at eleven o'clock at night, in order to summon the< Committee for ten o r elock the nett' morning, who were to report at eleven. Now, why was this business hurried over thus? The reason was this—Mr. Alderman Atkins was 'the person who brought the charge (Mau): Sir William Curtis was the individdad who moved the Resolution (Hisses) ; .and Alderman Cox was the Gentleman whoseconant if marched standing o le 4 m b e Se) ordero; ut until 4 o ft hf. the C e ourt h t i h ad Committee,o f 11a n d w a i te dAld e rmandermmk:aAnt Eton made the 6th 6 tni b tl lyf hav e ou afr your present 'Worthy Chief Magistrate. This was one reason; but there was also another. fly a standing order of the Court of Aldermen, two senior Alder men would have gone off the Committee by the 9th; and on this occasion, these two Aldermen would have been Sir William Curtis and Sir William Leighton. If they had been turned off the Committee, how was it possible that this plot could have proceeded ? (Cheers). It was true, that abundance of Counsellors had been retained to manage it—not less than 'ine er ten, as he was informed independent of their own Officers; for it was curious to remark, that though enormous salaries Were paid to them, salaries full twice as large as that which was paid to that honest and independent man, Serjeant Glynn, there was so little confidence placed in them by the prime movers in this business, that they travelled beyond them, and veiled upon the Attorney and Solicitor. General for assistance. Their conduct reminded him of an anecdote mentioned in a poem of Ansty, with which they were well. acquainted:—Mr. Blunderhead, on his arrival at Bath, fell sick, and was obliged to send fbr a physician; 'the nurse who attended him said that he must have more than one, because when a difficult job was to be transacted, many could ma• nage it better than a singleindividual. Now in this case, the worthy Aldermen seemed to be a whole fa mily of (Cheers). Besides these circum stances, there were several other ireportaut facts, which, though they bad not reached, would still in due time reach, the public eir. It was not fining to disclose them at present, fee. two distinct reasons: the first was, that as the right was to. be tried in another 'place, they were not to unfold just now the whole this case; the second was, that some parties whose con•- duct was implicated by them were not present, and, therefore, could not vindicate themselves from the' charges which would be made against them (Cheers). Though they had not shewn this kindness to him, he was determined to return them good for evil : not that he wished any one to suppose from this expres sion, that he had wanted any distinction to be paid to him as an individual—by no means : all that he *desired• was to have an opportunity of meeting the accusations which had been urged against him, and thus of upsetting that plot which had been devised to destroy the rights and privileges of the Livery: for if he had been allowed..to examine witnesses on the different - charges, the trash inserted in that day's Pa pers would have been contradicted by at least 500 of the individuals %shorn he then saw assembled before him. Another poipt on which he conceived that he had good reason to complain. was this—that he had been associated s ith several individuals whom he. scarcely knew, not for the sake of any sentiments or principles which they held in common, but for w the sake of exciting and prejudice against him on their account. And on whose affidavit was it that he was thus arraigned ? Why, on that of the very, persons—he would not mince the matter—who had been the most conspicuous in promoting the tumult of that day—(Applause). He would ask all who heard him, whether, in the course of their experience, they had ever seen so large a Hall as that which was then assembled either at an election time, or during the agitation of any other important matter, behave with more order, or in a less tumultuous manner?... (Cries of" No, no ; all was quiet and orderly.")—Nck man had ever seen him hies or groan, or shew any mark of riotous disapprobation : it had always been his custom 'to defend the side which he espoused by fair argument, and as much ability as he could bring to it :—if he could not beat .his adversary by such means, he would not condescend to beat him by any other; but would readily yield up to him the palm, if it could not be retained without clamouring and confusion. However ludicrous the conduct of their opponents might have been on other occasions, on the present, as their object appeared to be the de struction of the established Rights of the Livery of London, it became them, as Members of that Livery, not only to defend their rights, but their interests, by preventing their hinds from being exhausted in at tacking their dearest franchises, and their Law Offi- Ors from being employed in subverting those rights, Which they were bound, by their oath and by their duty, most carefully to defend—(C'heers). It was-to effect this purpose, that a 'Hall had been that day summoned ; and he had no doubt that it would be found sufficient for the object for which it was de signed; inasmuch a s it was by neg l ect t h at l arge !bodies lost their rights, and by Public Meetings that they maintained those which they enjoyed, and re gained those which they had formerly lost. With regard, however, to Public Meetings in general, all present were acquainted with his opinions ; he had always asserted their legality, but had never defend ed either their policy or prudence when collected in large or tumultuous numbers. It was, indeed, more advisable that they should be held in the same man ner as the present Meeting was, because, in such a case, the two contending parties came before the Public with pretty nearly equal advantages. Their opponents, however, said, These are sad, perilous, and alarming times; the People are • deluded by wild "and - visonary men; and Meetings in the streets and fields are pregnant with danger*of.Oiry description." It wits therefore worth while to examine the measures whereby they proposed to cure the evil of which they complained. What, then, were they? Why, i n J une lust, *hen 4.:3,000,090 of new taxes were about to be imposed on the Nation, and the Court of Common Council was convened in consequence of a Requisition which it presented to the Lord Mayor, the said Lord Mayor thought fit to refuse citifies a Common Hall, though particularly requested to call one. Why. where were the People to ,meet, under such circum stances, except in the fields,and streets ?—(Clatters), Shortly after this 'another event occurred, which produced a Requisition for the convening of a Court of Common Council and a Common Hall ; ',and again the former was granted, while, the latter wee denied. This denial produced, however,_ a ream• stranee from the Livery; and that remonstrance w • `followed by other measures on their pgrt, 'which had. ended in the prosecution DOW pending ; though. what had been recently done had been previously dime by Aldermen Combe and others, in the Mayoralty of Sir W. Esdaile. The worthy Alderman then com mented on the absurdity of which those who acknowledged the right of the Live' and would not allow them the means of toineee, that right: and argued, that hyteeheordrinucei portant that the Livery t virtually abrogated that right which thpyth em, I acknowledged to exi s t. It wa s , therefore, should li n : tosubhmit to especially novel and such arbitra r y d''ttein esi of every party were equally likely i d :l tr it pee; d; a h v, e .lo, m uvi they were once established. A factious hilst placed in the Chair, might thencall M • een carry into execution any factious proje t i N on might chance t t t o rwu d as e tse v to his political opponents, even if they were Wi ndi dev ise, w i that to ge t th therefore, truste d the present was no pasty question._•but which depended the future existence, or nor; of their most valuable rights and privileges. these remarks he should conclude his preset dress to them. He had thought it requisite the ci csah?c, usom r m c s u tea m tnch s i t ne a gs nc sit e ol s gtgh i n which eesmre,;ianilda l d te tilie l a d bee n eldidheias ni whit, greater length than that which he had • tended ; he should, therefore, take leave the present, by esi , ressing a hope, ti. steps they might think prei_r to take would vigorous, and decisive, at the same time ih were-marked with temp,:rance and modem: would give m e an e t r h y en a s re s t r a e is l d '' s p u o c l, h e r s . t e p l s l h e e worthyw front of the hustings, amid the long and ci cheers of the attendant Liverymen. Mr. Titostevoe said, that he came forwar, dress the Livery, because he was one of tie who had been raised to the high hopour prosecuted . for defending their Rights and Pri Ile condemned, in severe terms, the conduct derman Atkins, during his Mayoralty, and ci laced the City on having obtained a Chief 31, ho seemed willing to cultivate a good inn ing with his fellow. citizens. Ile complied , ceedings in 16/0, when Pilkington, Shute, Jcili others, were tried for creating a riot in the I the present proceedings against Alderman V. and the Gentlemen connected with him ; at sundry other observations, concluded his c ; exhorting them, whatever might be the resu, present prosecution, to hand down the tigi, they had received from their ancestors, um and unimpaired to their poste:ity—(Cliee,x . The Resolutions were then put, and car n the loudest acclamations. Not more than were held up against them. Mr. CROOK (a Member of the Common then stood forward. Ile would not occuE their time, after the very - able and eloquent in WhiCh the &use had -that day been cc/ His object in now addressing them was to veral Resolutions, ia which, he trusted, in meet with their supports. The worthy Mani moved the last four Resolutions. On the Vote of Thanks to Sheriff PAnsiNs passed by a great majority, that Gentleman adv. to the front of the hustings. Grateful as he le! his brother Liveiymen and fellow-citizens for honour they had just done him, in_ vroving humble efforts in their cause,, he could not lie!,; the same time stating to them, that he had r a t • slightest intention to have addressed them, hal come there merely in discharge of lii::*duty as their public officers. They were aware of tit ceedings s wlttich had been instituted against him ei where; but on these he would make•lin•obsenati, at present, as he thou - gig it mcirennudept.to asu taro what they would do hi the .r..st instance. 1, observed, that in some Public Prints hr was called Radical. Now what was meant by being a nadir he was utterly at a loss to know ; and' be aerie; wished that these Papers had stated wlfiateheymc whether they meant radically bad or radically gm , He would, however, inform these writers, that hew , a Radical Reformer of all Abuses, a Radical Say porter of the glorious Principles of the British atitution, a Radical Defender of the Chartered 'and Privileges of the City of London, and a Ita, Anglistiman !—(Applausc). He again thanked for the honoqr they had done him, and could . them he would devote every moment and hour Isis life in the cause of the People. • Mr. Huns' then stood forward amidst applause !and hisses. He observed, that, by their Resolutions, they had claimed the right of flee discussion, and ne hoped they would hear the few words he had to say. —(" No, no," and “ Go on." A person on the hustings .erred out " You'll spoil all.")—Mr. Hunt then repeated these words, and asked how he could possibly sped 'all, as the Resolutions had already been carried? It would be more manly in that person to come forward at once and speak boldly, than attempt to raise a cla• mour. He would only trouble them with a few words on the observations made by the Mover aQd Seconder of these Resolutions. Unanimity was said to be a de sirable object, yet there never was a Commit Ilan held in which there was not an attempt to vilify t!..e character of Meetings held in the open air. 'IN Mover of the Resolutions had slightly alluded to them, but the Gentleman who seconded them had stated 'that he objected to such tumultuous 3lectiass, as many pet-sons took advantage of them for seindi purposes. What 1 were the Livery assembled in Coal mon Hall to have the sole right of petitioning, ar- 1 were all other Bodies to have no such right Here a violent hissing began, when , , Mr. ROWCROF T spoke to or d er . He ooserseL , , there was no question before them, and therefore Inc Gentleman who was now addressing them, had rct right to act as he was doing, the purposes for rai d the Livery were convened being now accomplished — (Loud applause). Mr. HUNT seemed determined to persevere, bat waS presented, by the marks of disapprobation, iron going on.—The motion of thanks to the Lord Mayer being pat, Mr. HUNT renewed his efforts to be heard, when z.: e confusion again was renewed. Ile contended he lar k a right to be heard, and was determined to be Ilea: j —(y; of! Shame, shavne !).—The opposition to hell here increased, and the wish for his retiring seem : 'to be general. Mr. Rowcroft then went up to him , and advised_ him to-retire, laying, at the same time, his hand on his shoulder; on which Mr. Hunt turned . round, and 'in a 'rather violent manner exclaim ed, " Keep your hand off me, Sir." The Vote of Thanks to the Lord Mayor was thee put, and carried unanimously. The LORD MAYOR then came forward to the f rog: 'shed n1.4 1 k , of the hustings, amid the must distingtu et 1, Of la st bit to a for ' HC jUre, nb if t . du tints no hie-h to want . . kit t • .arral t t: br t thl s:,iste • be V. j ut sew, . i ec ite, .4. 1 laced, .to iCIA t h s i 3. 3 k a , • 'tit .a.le ..e &bat e ad anon: is; ce 3.: 3. [ float • Il duntia% tl, ri to is Per • c. nt . tl act t f • b; congra: tl . bi idera• ; d the p, Icnkc, a d I tail, E and i s l e ei t t an s ill:'3 1 ; u : tied, all I sia h3l. p n Court, r illy any mar. 2 :cnduca a move he nbcr ft INS tar aciv2r... he felt ns for ing cf of help • d ret .• 11, has , as one f the pro. him eke- senaticas n ;to wer• ince. lie .s called a therefore ley meal, Illy good tat he n• V ical Sup- itish Con. .ed a Radical tked then uld assure I hour of applause !solutions, Im, and he ;ad to say. re lizotings I repeated sibly sped rried It