Star. — London, England, 1818-06-17 00:00:00

)N: MR. HUNTS Yesterday molning, in consequence of the plat on tra ie ls ee t alls of Westminster indicating Mr. Hue? * in • n to visitthiyarious parts of the City, " tat h hivtMe fronnureof paying his personal re spects to as many of his friends as possible, bey the day of election , ' an assemblage of people at the appointed hour was collected in Old Palace-yard= they were of the same class as those who usually at. tend Mr. Herr upon public occasions. At about half-past twelve o'clock Mr. HUNT made his appear ance in an, open carriage, drawn by two horses, and' preceded by a hackney chariot, out'of the front win dows of which was thrust a very large crimson-co.' loured flag, having the inscription on one side of it; of ",Hunt and Liberty," and on the other, " Univer sal Suffrage." Mr. HUNT was attended in the open carriage by two of his sons, both of whom ware very large crimson cockades. The carriage stopped oppo site to the place where the hustings are usually erected, and the people having surrounded it to the number of net more than from 150 to 200 persons, Mr. HUNT mounted the seat of the carriage, and addressed the surrounding mob. He said, that not being able to employ churchwardens and beadles, rice men, or excise o ffi cers, to go about canvassing him from house to house, he was obliged to adopt this method of calling Upon his friends or their sup port. He offered himself, he said, to their notice as a Candidate for the Representation of the City of Westminster, in order to have a seat in the House of Commons. He did not say that he should be able to make an impression upon those in power, but he would at least make the attempt : if he should have the honour to be returned, he would not do as others had "done, compromise the rights of the people ; he would not go to that House as the pretended friend of the people, nor would he supinely sit still while Ministers were abusing and vilifying the People, while at the same moment they were robbing them, and filching . money out of their pockets by way of taxes. What line of conduct he intended to adopt if he should obtain a seat in that House, he believed, was already well known to the Citizens of Westmin ster ; he had made an affidavit which he intended to adhere to, and he only hoped that other Candidates for the Representation would imitate his example in this respect. An infamous report, he said, was afloat, and spread through the means of the public prints, that his intention was only to create a riot and dis turbance, and that he did not mean to stand the election. The report was as false es it was calum nious ; and he now openly declared that he would keep the poll open to the last day the law wculd allow. It was indeed true that he had not the power of bringing up his voters in the same manner as his opponents; but he should have the opportunity of meeting them face to face on the hustings in Covent Girlen.—(Cries of "they will run assay.")—No, he did not think they would have the cowardice to do that; but he had had an intimation that it was the intention of some df the Candidates to send their Deputies to appear on the hustings in .their itead.— He earnesdy hoped that the free and independent Cilieens of Westminster would not suffer this to be daire. He recollected at the time of the contest be tween Mr. Fcx and Mr. Horne Tooke, Mr. Fox, who had attended regularly for several days on the hust: ings, had occasion to go into Surrey to give his vote for another Representative, and was absent on a par. titular day. The celebrated Mr. Sheridan, whom, talents and powers of speaking he believed all were acquainted with, supplied the place of Mr. Fox.-- The expression of Horne Tooke, notwithstanding he had so high an opinion of the talents and abilities of Mr. Sheridan, then was, that " the great moun tebank had gone into the country that day, and had left his merry-andrew to represent him.."— This had such an effect upon the honest feelings of the citizens of Westminster, that they were deter mined not to listen to th.: merry-andrew. There was no rotten Borough, no town or county, where the Candidate had the impudence to say to his Electors, pay my Representative respect ;" and should it be said of the noble-minded independent Citizens of Westminster, that they suffered this indignity with im pinky ?--(Crie4 of Na, no I) No, he would bring these sneaking fellows from their slinking holes, and he would put such questions to them on the hustings ' as none of them should be able to answer. He then signified his intention of proceeding to Waterloo place, before Carlton-house ; and observed, that if vile and corrupt Papers chose to say that he went there to insult Royalty, his reply would be, " No, the man who lives there is one of the people, and am for all the people." He subsequently continued " If his Royal Highness will condescend to put his head out of one of the crevices in the building, he will hear nothing insulting to himself, but some plain truths, which ought to be listened to by every man:' • He concluded with stating that it was his intention to visit three other parishes in the City, viz. St. Mar tin's at Charing-cross, St. Ann's in Wardour-street, and St. Clement s, at Sr. Clement's Church, Strand. The Orator then proceeded in the carriage up Par liament-street, towards Waterloo-place, the hackney. chariot with the flag taking the lead, and was fol lowed by about 70 or 80 persons. When be arrived opposite the Horse Guards, he pulled off his hat, and waved it in the air, observing some of the Life Guards at the gate. His attendants gave a loud huzza. 'The cavalcade then proceeded, and at the confectioner's, in Spring-gardens, Mr. HUNT took a little refreshment. At about half-past one, he arrived at Waterloo-place, and there delivered, with some additions, the speech he had previously given at Palace-yard. He again observed, that he meant no insult towards the Royal Personage ; but if his Royal Highness would condescend to come out and give his approbation, he need not fear the same danger as when he slinked out the back way to Parliament. Them should be no pop-gun plots here, and no stones. His Royal Highness should have no occa sion to have thick plate-glass to his windows to protect his Royal person. It was for Brougham sad the other Whigs in Parliament to insult his Royal Highness : from himself he would meet only with respectful language. He next observed upon the great extravagance of Ministers, and said that in the last year the Prince Regent had received no less than a million and a half out of the Civil List; to which one of the assembly replied--“ That is not truer Another—" That is false To the latter per son, the Orator answered, in the following sublime terms:—" You are a scoundrel!"—(Laughter and applause.)—" I sly, Sir, you are a scoundrel, who. ever you are! But I know you must be a tailor— you are either one one of the Prince Regent's tailors, or one of his cooks!" The h having been concluded, Mr. Hunt pro ceededltcugh Palr-mall, up St. James's-street and Piccadilly, through Park-lane, and to Hanover square by way of Oxford-street; thus taking a cir cuit of the principal part of Westminster. He was followed, by about a hundred persons, and when ar rived at Hanover-square about two.hundred and fifty might be collected. Here the oratot again addres sed the citizens, but the speech was much shorter than that delivered at either Palace-yard or Waterloo place. He repeated in nearly the same language the words he had previously used. At the termination of his address, his horses were taken from his chariot, and he was drawn by the populace to his house in Norfolk-street; and the mob, at his request, imme diately afterwards dispersed. ) • A 1 4 1 4 • 1 1 : 1 1 ,)'• • • • • • • I 1 I I CITY ELECTIOY. The election of four persons to serve in the ensuing Parliament, as Representatives of the City of Lon don, commenced yesterday, and we believe a fuller attendance of Liverymen has not been known on any former occasion. The heat. of the weather had no effect in abating the ardour of curiosity excited by the novelty of the appearance of so many Candidates for their favour. At one o'clock the LORD MAYOR and Sheriffs, accompanied by several Aldermen, came upon the hustings. The Proclamation for the , Election was then read, and the Sheriffs sworn in the usual form. Sir W. CURTIS was the first ivho came forward to address the Livery. He observed, that the Consti tution had again placed in their hands the power of choosing their Representatives, and they were now assembled for the purpose of executing-their duty. He once more stood before them as a Candidate for their suffrages, and was ready to state to them not only what he had done, but what he intended to do. He had already served in six Parliaments as a Re= presentative of this great City, and now, when he came before his Constituents to ask them to re-elect him, he could tell them that he had discharged his duty fully, fairly, and fearlessly. If he should be rechosen, he assured them that he would pursue the same course he had hitherto done—( Marks of dis approbation.)—He requested of the Gentlemen of the Livery that they would hear him out, and not let their anger carry them away too fast. He could ssert, thatle had always discharged his duty fairly and conscientiously, and he was determined to con tinue to do so. He should now say one word en the doctrine of the right of Constituents to instruct their Representatives, which had lately been brought for. ward, and much insisted on. With regard to that question, he assured the Livery, that whenever the rights and privileges of the City of London came un- 1 der the consideration of Parliament, he should con stantly stand up for them, and would only on such occasions attend strictly to the interests and wishes' , of the Livery. On questions, however, which re lated to the interests of the Nation at large, he claim ed the right of judging for himself. In all such cases he was determined not to be bound by any opinion before he went into Parliament. The House of Com mons was a deliberative assembly ; but it would en tirely cease to be so, .if the Members made up their opinions before they went into it—( Hisses.)—He' perceived that what he said was displeasing to some, but he did not quarrel with any Gentleman for his political sentiments. Every one had a right to his own opinion on these subjects, but that right which he allowed to others he claimed for himself. He stated plainly and openly what he thought. If any who had voted for him on former elections believed he had been actuated by motives of self-interest or ambition, they would of course withhold their votes on the present occasion ; but if that did not appear to be the case, he was entitled to their support, for his principles and conduct had been what they ori [ginally approved. Notwithstanding that some of ' them appeared to be dissatisfied with him at present, he expected to see ma ly of their good-natured faces coming up to the poll, and voting for him. He felt confident that, as they had already chosen him to represent them six times, they would on this occa sion return him for the seventh time, and they might rely on his discharging his duty faithfully—(A mix- Iture of applause and disapprobation.) Alerman Sir C. S. HuNrEit said, that when he last had the honour of addressing them, he occupied the chair of first Magistrate. At that time he had expressed his solicitilde to receive their votes, and I ventured to offer himself to their notice ;' lint cir cumstances then prevented him from coming for ward in the way he wished, and he retired. Thk lapse of six years had not diminished, his wishes and ambition to serve them, but the experience of six years had convinced him of the necessity of having in their representation some gentleman intimately connected with 'the commercial interests, on which the prosperity of the city of London chiefly depends. In making this observation he did not speak for him self; but he intended to propose to them a gentle man, from his character, truly worthy of their. suf frages ; and, from his commercial experience_ and connexions, in every way qualified to represent for, the City those great interests which formed the bul wark of the nation. Though that gentleman did not himself belong to the Magistracy, he was of a fa mily which had obtained considerable honours in the ,' city. He was not yet a member of the Corporation, but if the Livery now chose hinvfor their Represen tative, he would doubtless be willing, on a future occasion, to take upon himself the duties of a Ma gistrate, if they should consider him worthy of that additional trust. He should detain them no longer; , but would move that Thomas Wilson, Esq. be one , of the Representatives of the City. Mr. &aim seconded the motion. 1 Mr. Alderman ATKINS then came forsard, but was received with strong marks of disapprobation. He begged leave to assure the Livery that he entertained a deep sense of gratitude for the honour which they had on former occasions conferred upon him. The duties which belonged to their Representative he had always endeavoured faithfully to discharge. What ever shades of difference there might be between his, views and those entertained by others, his vote had never been given but on conscientious grounds.— Haring always discharged hii duty to the best of his ability, he relied With confidence on the appro- , bation of his fellow citizens, which he trusted they would take this opportunity of shewing, by azaia returning him their Representative. Mr. Alderman WOOD next presented himself, and was greeted with considerable applause, mired how ever with some tokens of hostility. This partial dis approbation manifested itself several times during his short address, which he commencectby observing that he felt highly gratified in once more soliciting the suffrages of the Electors. He had endeavoured to discharge the trust with which they had not long since honoured him with diligence and integrity. He was fully sensible of its importance, and was not conscious of havi shrunk from any of the labour performance which the due of its duties necessarily imposed. He had devoted himself almost exclu sively to their service, and had never been absent from his post in the House of Commons for a single day. It was for them to appreciate his exertions, and the value which might belong to them. If they met with the approbation of the Livery, they would probably once more confide in him, and they might Vest-assured that his attention to their rights and in terests should never be relaxed. He had certainly experienced a most flattering reception on his canvass, and this encouragement left but little doubt of his success; -even if he failed, this kindness would be an ample reward. He perceived that he had enemies in the Hall—he knew not whether they were Livery men, but if their opposition was of a political nature, they might shew it in a more decent manner than by interrupting him, and preventing a Candidate from being heard. With regard to his own political principles and conduct, he was of no party in the State; and if he had opposed the measures of Go• vernment, it was because he conscientiously disap proved of them. He threw himself on the opinion of the Livery, and could asssure them, that if their opi nion was favourable, he should never, refuse to obey their instructions, unless he felt on any such occasion that he could not couscii ntiously do so ! and that then he would resign his seat. He should always be anxious to do his duty, to maintain their privileger, ana to su port the great interests of mankin ri • (Loud a ause.) p Mr. A derman Buten nest came forward amidst very general approbation. He had been induced to offer himself to their notice as a Candidate for the honour of becoming one of their Representatives, from a recollection of their former confidence and kindness in raising him to the highest offices they could bestow. It was not for him under that roof to inform them who he was, or on what grounds he rested his pretensions. They must have been long since satisfied of his ardent loyalty to the best of Kings, his firm attachment to those principles upon which our ancestors had raised the glorious Consti tution under which we lived, and his teal in the maintenance of their own rights and interests. It appeared to hith that the execution of the high, re- 1 sponsible, and arduous offices connected with their Magistracy, gave a peculiar claim to the honour of their representation. He hoped they would be on their guard against other kinds of influence—the in fluence of those who, however respectable their cha racter, were hardly members of their own body, and could have but a very slender title therefore to their confidence. It was of importance that they should well consider what a trust they were now about to repose ; that their interests were various ; that there r was a Protestant interest to be upheld, as well as a ' commercial and a manufacturing interest. ne well knew the value of their time, and that it would be improper to trifle with it at the present moment.— They would form their own estimate of his fitness for their service, and he should feel certain that their choice would be dictated by candour and impartiality. Mr. Alderman 'Norte came forward, and was re ceived with applause. He had always venerated the Constitution of our country as it had been established by our ancestors, and he had reprobated the en croachments that had been made upon it. A full and free representation of the people in Parliament he considered to be essential to the excellence of the Constitution. He should therefore never cease in his exertions till such a reform could be obtained as would restore representation to its ancient and con stitutional purity—(applause). This must appear in dispensable to all who regarded the future prosperity 'of the country. Economy and retrenchment alone could enable the Government of this country to re trieve its resources, to alleviate the distressed situation of the people, and to perform those sacred engage .ments into which they had entered with the Public --(great applause). For himself he begged leave to say, that he had been born among them • that he had been bred in mercantile habits ; that he had al ways felt a. deep interest in the public interests of his fellow-citizens and of the nation ; and should be have the honour of being elected to be one of their repreientatives in Parliament, he should have no other object in view but to promote their prosperity, and to assert the rights of the people—( Shouts ~ applause). Mr. Alderman GOODEEHERE said, he came before them under great disadvantages, but he trusted to their usual indulgence—(anneure). He had heard a great deal said of the glorious Constitution of our .country. It was for them to judge who had and rho had not acted according to the spirit of the , Constitution. Their object in coming to that Hail was to exercise the franchise which belonged to them as the Livery of London. They were aware of the importance of that duty. If any of their represenu fives had been blameable or reprehensible in their Parliamentary conduct, it was their glorious privi lege this day, not indeed to remedy the evil that might have been done, but to prevent any future in jury from their hands, and to give their support to men who were incapable of betraying their interests --(great applause). He was proud to propose for their choice a friend congenial to their hears— (peat and long continued applause)--a man of known diligence, principle, energy, and talent, whose exer tions on behalf of the Livery they were a ll aware of --(applause). He propose d Mr. Waithman—frenemed shouts). He had been before them for 20 years, and they were quite competent to judge of his merits or demerits. The result of their judgment would be, his triumphant election to represent their interests, and to vindicate their sights. They would have as much pride in bestowing this honour upon him, as 1 he now had in proposing him for their choice— . (applause). All the candidates were before them, and they had the means of forming their judgment of their.merits. If they 1W the same lapin] had of them, their decision would be r. complete —(great applause). _ _ Mr. FAvatt seconded the propos; em r brought before them a great and honest Ci•i would never be brow-beaten by their adver He rejoiced in the opportunity of props,, Waithman to the brave, respectable and fret of London ; and he hoped that their • vo ices t and their votes afterwards, would rapp ort t i advocate of British Liberty—(tippl atee j . Mr. WAITIIMAN now came fooward, but e speak for some minutes, on account of the I repeated shouts that resounded through t h e He felt it impossible to describe the K • that reception had recalled to his mind. H they would make aliowan..es for h; rn; for might be his deficieocies, they knee ho t ne tote of courage in maintaining their fi g h ts at ties, or in contending against corruption (A, He would not now toLch on the conduct 0 1 , He had done so on other occasions, whe n been himself no candidate. Every Livery a right to consider well the character of date, and it was his duty to ozercUe that (Applause.) They could he at no los s to 1 merits or demerits. WI :en they looked bac; conduct of those whom they had formerlj they could determine whether they would those who should represent their feeling? doctrine of instructions, he would not push He would not be for fettering Represent (Great applause.) They must nececsarilv E t they must be left to exercise their ono ;ad, questions as they presented themselves to ti if they were deficient in judgment, or worse, if they ve:e deficient in integrity. hisses)—the Li.. cry had now an oppo r t nn t u holding from them a trust of which they . worthy. When they had met and deliber given to their Representatives their sole:a tams as to a particular subject, where was wbo had spurned their instructions, and called for their rlffrage--(t!fach applaaz) heard some of those gentferart speak of and veneration of the constitution, and F r, they had uniformly defended the consort during the time they had been in Parlia Habeas Corpus Act, the great billwark of constitution— [Here he was interrupted derable hissing, which called forth the le plause from his friends]—that great bulwai, suspended no less than seven er eight time gentlemen had alwa;-s supported our glci stitution, and yet they had always stirring nister in suspending the Constitution—(Sit plause.) They had often heard it boasted right of petitioning was free and tinimpai House of Commons had Itovever been cm , petitions, complaining of gi c::: injwiec tug for redress ; yet a motion for inquir truth of those petitions had been refused they again return those men to Parliament many elections had come under his obsery he had never known a candidate prop who had not been a Liveryman. A than, could not be opened without a licence. ' bers of the Common Council had many and compulsory duties to perform; yet no ding all this, they were unworthy of the representing them. The Livery had not, talent enough among themselves—they mi debted for protection to others--(Appla they would, he trusted, depend upon them not delegate their representation to those for the first time, came upon their hustime had lately been hunting through the City lification. Were the Corporation of Londc to none in the kingdom, to have the:r upheld? He had only furthor to say du teracting influence had ever, and woUId re erted against them. But the influence of nion was the only influence on which he To prevent undue pressureand intimidation . Livery would poll early—( Very great : Mr. WiLsosi next addressed the Livery sequence of the solicitations of a great nun spectahle individuals, he had come forwa himself as a candidate for the representati great and ancient city. He hoped he shoe accused of intruding, on the ground thatl belong to the Corporation. He was convi to be a member of that body was not at qualification, and that if he should be cow respects worthy of their choice, they wou ject him on account of that deficiency. ] present necessarily little known to some him : there were, however, many to whot racter was well known, and at whose requ stood before them. If they honoured him suffrages, they would soon, from themanni he should discharge his Parliamentary dutie his strict adherence to those principles on great interests of the country depend, I fully to appreciate 'his character. With rem principles, he should only say that he wouli support the constitution of King, Lords, mons, as established at the glorious Rel 1688. He appeared before them, as he h; the solicitation of many respectable citizen don, who were pleased to consider him a to supply the place of their late highly-T Member, Sir James Shaw. If a majority very should be of the same opinion, and h with their votes, they might be assured thi s exert every facu lty; of body and mind to He had said, that his not being a member gistracy could be no disqualification ; but did not belong to the Corporation, his been a freeman, and he had taken op du his successor. With respect to the expect Representative being also a Magistrate o he declared that he should have no object that arduous task to his Parliamentary di could do so after the consideration of wh to his family, or consistently with his or strength. The Livery saw him, and m whether his personal strength would be s sustain him in the efficient discharge of t] All he could say was, that whatever I might be reposed in him, he would ezett the best of his ability in performing the d belonged to it.--[The noise occasioned tention of applause and disapprobation Wilsols was speaking. was so great as to