Star. — London, England, 1820-12-21 00:00:00

WI t w >c is- !T° th Con, he-would retire disappointed and humiliatid, and would despair of being able to shew that all who are against the Ministers are not against the Constitu tion, and that those who lift up their voice against the ;abuses of the Constitution are the last to call for its subversion. He would now call their attention for a moment to adespicable pretext which had been as signed for their conduct upon this occasion. It was insinuated that the individuals who had signed the Requisition for this Meeting, were not actuated by a sympathy for the sufferings of the People, or love of tile Constitution, or of any other disinterested motive, but solely by an anxiety to get themselves into power, place, and emolument. He felt not for himself alone, but for the distinguished individuals who surrounded him, on account of the falsehood, and the utter absurdity of this charge—(Hear, hear). In estimating the force of such an insinuation, they had only to observe the names t. 3 the Requisition, and to consider whether these men looked like hungry expectants for office—greedy envious persons, who had no chance of consideration, until they were in wsted with the glaring trappings of official dignity? Who are we? and who are they? What was the character and conduct of those who were charged with this design? Had they not fought their way up eo the present day? he would not • say how success tully ; but they had at least gone on merrily, gaily, clicerily—( Laughter aid applause). Among those persons were many who had spent their youth and manhood in support of their principles in opposition to their interests, and who had arrived at that stage of life in which they might naturally be thought snore desirous to secure liberty and peace to their posterity, than to receive any office. or dignity for themselves. For himself, he would publicly and fear -1,-,sly disclaim all desire fur office—he was actuated. by no such contemptible motives—he had no office of power or dignity in view—he would rather do without it ; he did not like its restraint, its pomp, its responsibility. He would let his conduct in future life confirm this assertion, that he would newer ac cept of any office or distinction to which any man, whether friend or foe, would Our acknowledge that he hr i a fair and hdnourable claim —(Applanae).= He would now proceed shortly to lay before the Meeting the scope of the Resolutions he meapt to propose. The complaints against his Majesty's Mi nisters, which formed the substance of these Resolu tions, were not of a particular, but general nature ; for it would have been insufficient only to have found fault with their conduct towards the Queen, which was to be sure an enormous and flagrant example of misconduct; but to what purpose would it be to dismiss Ministers on this account, if the other perni cious measures with which they were chargeable were persisted in? Did they animadvert only on their conduct in this particular instance, it would be the same as if they gave a tacit approbation to the whole previous system of their administration. In considering the various reasons for soliciting the dis missal of such persons from his Majesty's presence, that which most naturally presented itself, was the improvident and wasteful expenditure of which they had been guilty, on which subject every Petition and Remonstrance for retrenchment had been in iolently rejected, and treated with contempt.— Mr. Jeffrey then adverted to the commercial restric tions which embarrassed the trade of the country, and commented, in strong terms, on the stupid adhe rence to ancient absurdities and exploded maxims of policy, by which commercial nations had been alien ated, and had been induced to retort with interest upon out trade the restrictions we had aimed attheirs. lie also adverted to the foreign policy of the coun try, by which he argued that an indelible stain had been fixed on the name of Britain. Since the Revo lution no Ministers had appeared more averse to the exercise of popular rights than those who now manage cur affairs. He would not enter into a detail of par ticular instances of the display of this spirit. They were so well known that it was unnecessary. But among ethers there was one peculiar feature, and that was, the employment of spies and informers— ( Hear,hear) ;—by the encouragement of whom, not only has a blow been struck at the morals of the community, but the freedom, and he would say the licence of private speech has been converted into a source of danger, which in no good and liberal Government could be the case—( Hear, hear). — And not only this, but it has given rise to division and disaffection ; and it is evident, from the records of the different Courts, that these spies have pro duced those very measures for which other men were punished—(Loud approbation). He would allude particularly to one act of the Ministers, and that was, the persuading of his Majesty to render thanks to the Magistrates of Manchester, at a time when all that was known of their conduct was, that the blood of their fellow-citizens had been shed, and when it was unknown whether the Meeting was legal or not; and what was peculiarly worthy of remark was, that, in that Address, there was not a syllable of commisera tion for the blood which had been shed !—(Applause). A more pernicious and terrible example was, by this means, set to the Magistrates of other Counties, than had ever been exhibited in any free country ; and, if that example had had the effect it naturally should have bad, this country would ere now have been de luged with blood. But for the averting of this, cer tainly, they had to thank the prudence and good con duct of the Magistrates of the country, attd he could rot but particularly advert to the conduct of the Magistrates of Glasgow, and to the troops em ployed in that district, as shewing an example of prudence, forbearance, and moderation, well de serving our highest approbation—(Hear, hear). — lie would allude to another circumstance in the con duct of Ministers, and that was the removing from office of an illustrious and patriotic Nobleman, who had always performed his duty to his Sovereign in the most upright and conscientious manner, merely because he had given countenance to a Meeting like the present. And who was the , individual who had 'been thus removed—an individual who was the early friend of his Sovereign, and who bad arrived at th e last stave of his life wi thout having been in the smal lest degree distinguished by an inclination towards violent courses—(Hear, heat). —The last subject he would allude to was, the late proceedings against the Queen, and the sudden and unexampled proro ation of Parliament; and here he might possibly surprise the Meeting by observing, That he had not read the whole of the evidence in this case. He was nut willing to defile his mind with that mass of perjury, übsceuity, and filth, 'hick had be so long serried np his regale the delicate palates of the Upper House of Leg islatu re--( Laughter),—wh ile the:l crumbs which fell from their table had furnished a I plentiful repast to all Without doors who were fond of such entertainment—(Lovid and continued laughter). He would not say much of that measure which, after advancing to maturity, was abandoned bit by bit. Every man knew it was not a measure for the public interest, but a measure which was pressed against the disapproving vote of the House of Commons, and the long-contimied, incessant, and clamorous opposition of the country. Will any man say, that the small body of Ministers should have taken it upon them to oppose the decision of the Comrrions House of Parliament, and the unanimous voice of the People, in maintaining a measure which not only this countsy but the whole world reprobated as ,ridiculous and unprofitable? No sane man could possibly see for what ends such a measure was brought forward. As to the argument of state po licy, never was there a pretext so shallow, des picable, and ludicrous. The whole proceeding was repugnant to the feelings of the People ; and it was persisted in day after day, month after month, under all this violent reprobation of an enlightened people. Addresses had been pouring in from all quarters, ex pressing abhorrence of the measure; and it was re markable that not one of the many Addresses sent up by the opposite party, not even one, from any close Corporation, had acknowledged in the slightest degree its propriety or necesssity—( Hear, hear!). — Never was there a snore unanimous verdict, pro nouncing the unequivocal condemnation of any great public-transaction ; which was brought forward, too, at a time of great public distress; when we were threatened with commotion and tumult, partly by the effect of spies and agitators, and partly from other causes; when it was thought necessary to enact severe laws against libel and sedition ; while the ob vious tendency of such a proceeding was to give in creased effect to all those causes of discontent. The conduct of Ministers in this question was more like Asiatic servility than English compliance. They be trayed such an utter indifference to the voice of the People—there was such bullying and threatening— such wavering and inconsistency—such mean - and . trifling evasions ; the whole proceedings, in short. exhibited such signal stupidity, and such an utter incapacity and indecision, as, independent altogether of the merits of the measure, afforded sufficient grounds for pronouncing them totally unfit for car rying on the affairs of a great Nation—(Applause). They had made themselves objects of public con tempt; which was, of itself, a sufficient disqualifica tion for holding office. They had been beaten at every stage of the encounter; at every set-to they had come off with the worst; at every new round, in every rally, they had been defeated ; and having beenjloored so often, they had nothing to do but to carry them out of the ring !—(Loudlaughter and ap, plause).—Next came the prorogation of Parliament.. After all public business had been interrupted—the whole time of the Session monopolized for a single in quiry—they had prorogued the Parliament without a Speeck—without even so much as a Court Circu lar: they had, in fact, turned tail, and shuffled off in the dark, and not even a place of rendezvous had been appointed!—(Laughter).—Never was a more ludicrous, pitiable, and disgusting spectacle exhi bited by a routed mob, and not one of them could give any rational account of the matter t Those who are bound to say something, all contradict each other-..a1l of them declare, that nothing is decided. They know not what to do, nor can they say, what is to happen. There was at present, in fact, no Go vernment, and it was high time he thought that they should take steps for getting up one. It was appa rent to all thinking men that the present system could not be continued without either the destruction of the public peace or of public liberty. The means of coercion so liberally resorted to by Government, only tended to exasperate. It was only by lenity that the discontents could be allayed. They could not bully the British People. New coercive laws could only add bathe general-exasperation. By such measures they would only compress the mischief till it burst. Their only security lay in healing mea sures, which would guide them safely through the conflicting extremes of hostile factions. This would serve as a landmark to direct thveir course, and would afford a position round which they might rally and take their stand. Mr. Jeffrey having enforced these' arguments for uniting the country by conciliatory' measures, concluded by reading a series of ltesolu tions, which he proposed, if seconded, should be se parately submitted by the Chairman to the consi deration of the Meeting. Mr. LEONARD HORNER shortly seconded•the Re ' solutions. The first Resolution was carried unanimously, bat after the second was read, and the Chairman had put the question, whether it was the will of the Meeting that it should pass ? Dr. AITON, of Stockbridge, begged to express his dissent from the Resolution now read. A more com plete farce was never acted on the stage of the world —( Hisses, and cries of " Put him out").—They had got, he said, a Harlequin and a Merryman, and the. only thing necessary to complete the farce was a Columbine. (Here the speaker's vdice was drowned in a tumultuous clamour of disapprobation.) How ever much the speech now delivered might have been disguised, it was delivered for a damnable purpose. (Here the confusion became greater than ever, and nothing was heard but violent hisses, and loud and incessant cries of " Out with him !") After order was restored, Mr. J. A. MURRAY stated, that it was unquestionably proper that every indivi dual should be allowed fairly and freely to express his sentiments, so long as he observed the rules of, order and of good sense ; but when any man went the length of saying that the speech lately heard was for a damnable purpose, he ought not to be heard— (Loud applause). - Dr. AITON said, he was very sorry he had offended the feelings of the Meeting by the expressions he had used. He had little more to say, and would only add, that the speech of the Learned Gentleman might be all comprehended in a few words— " Up with Sacchl, down with Flynn, " Turn out the Tories, and let the Whigs in!" (Much laughter and disci pprobation).- - The second and third Resolutions were then carried. On the fourth Resolution, which adverted to our foreign policy, being send, J. A. MASAI / Esq. said, he hoped he. would not ise-theitight int / 1444,0n ibe . 4eetin g if he alluded rshOrily to- th e Circumstances which, had occisilined that Resolutions , I/anything could give - them 0441 it would be to think chat hopes and promises had been held out by this codittry to European Nations, which had not-been realized---iffeari . hear)—lt was well' known that ai She close of the struggle in 1814, it was a part of our pOlicy to hold out promises of pro; tection to the free States of Italy; and to revive the ancient glory of the Italian name. - He would only refer to the Prciclamation of Lord W. Bentinck to the Genoese for evidence of these promises. Would .it he believed, after this, that Genoa, in place of being allowed to retain it s r i g ht s; h a d been given over to the King of Sardinia, its most inveterate e'fiemy ? If any man i n thi s Meeting could contra dict this, be would certainly be entitled to a much more favourable hearing than he (Mr. Murray) was, and it would be with the greatest Pleasure that he would hear any one stand up, and, in this instance, vindicate the honour of the British Empire—(Hear) On the sixth Resolution being read and carried, HENRY COCKBURN, Esq. in the observations he would make on this Resolution, assured the Meeting that be would not occupy their attention at any great length. The time was, when the nations of Europe all agreed in saying, with regard to England, , that amid all their quarrels and dissensions, the different orders of her People were attached to each other, and were devoted friends of the Constitution for which their fathers died—(Applause).—But these days were gone. A chasm now exists, not between the higher and the rower classes, but between the Government and the People, which, if' not done away, would swallow them both up in one common ruin. He thought that the remedy which Govern ment ought to apply to this, should .. not be to make the breach wider, but to heal it ; and that Government surely might have effected this, which rescued Europe from the thraldom of a military despotism, and which has been the setter-up of Kings and almost the puller down of Kings--(Applause).— He would ask %hat had been done by the present Administration to rectify what was wrong? What had been done to redress the grievances of the People,' to rectify the almost admitted defect in the repre sentation of the People, or to extend the rights and liberties of the immortal Press ?—(Applause).—Why was such a Meeting as this not held under the auspices of public authority, signed as the Requisition was by such respectable names?—(Hear, hear!). Why did' they not enjoy this popular privilege a s they oug h t to enjoy it ? And where lay the remedy for all the abuses ? Why, it lay in the exercise of their popular rights, as they were doing at present. If such Meet ings were attended by the mere rabble, little good might be expected from them ; but if men of respect ability, rack, and influence, took part in them, their beneficial effects could not be counteracted. That man must, indeed, be of a stupid understanding, and of a cold heart, who did not exult in the spectacle which such a Meeting afforded—(Hear, hear!).:— It was deeply to be regretted, that in Scotland, where the inhabitants are so enlightened • and patriotic, Meetings of this kind should have been so rare; and he exulted chiefly in the thought that the example here set would be quickly followed throughout the' rest of Scotland.' Then they might allow Councils, Burgesses ; and Cosporations to meet as.they . may, for the snaugglina of 'secret Addresses, which the' Burgesses, whom they represented, never saw (Hear). The irresistible voice of the great body of the People would soon prevail; and he hoped that they who, were thus met to-day Would shew, by the order and' moderation displayed in the exercise of their great popular privileges, that they were worthy to enjoy them—(Applause).—These privileges were enjoyed to all their extent before the domination of the pre sent Ministry, and would never be enjoyed, as they formerly were, till that domination was overturned— (Loud applause). JAMES Gummi, Esq. congratulated the citizens of Edinburgh on the respectability of their present Meeting, and expressed his strong conviction that the system pursued by Ministers, if obstinately per severed in as Wiled been, would infallibly involve the country in the calamities of a Restolution—(Applause). After a few words from Mr. SCOTT, the remain ing Resolution, and the following Address founded thereon were unanimously carried : TO THE XING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. THE HL ULE ADDERS.; AND PETITION OF TEE lINDEASIOIDED mum- TANTS OF MAY It PLUM VMS MAJESTY, " We, your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the un- ' dersigned Inhabitants of Edinburgh, convened by public adver tisement, beg leave to approach your Majesty's Throne with the assurances of our sincere and unalterable attachment to your Ma jesty's Person and Government, and to the principles of that happy Constitution which placed your Illustrious Family en the Throne of these Realms; and also to express our determination to repel and resist; to the utmost of our power, any attempt that may be made tie invade that Constitution, or to impair, in any degree, the respect that Is due to all and each of its branches. " Under the influence of these sentiments, and considering the circumstances in which this country is now plved, we feel it,to be our indispensable duty, most respectfully to represent to your Majesty, that it is our arm conviction and belief, that your Ma jesty's present Ministers have entirely lost the confidence of the great body of your People, and by a series of injudicious and reprehensible measures have deservedly, become the objects of such general.distrust and aversion, as to be no longer capable of conducting the affairs of the Nation with safety or advantage. " That they have, for many years, persisted in a cootie of most improvident and wasteful expense, and, in times of unex ampled distre►s, have obstinately rejected every proposition for effective retrenchment or economy. " That they have, in like manner, pursued an ignorant and_ illiberal system of policy, as to the laws and regulations of trade, by which the national distresses have been aggravated, or the means of relieving them withheld or intercepted. " That, at the close of a war, the professed object of which was to vindicate and restore the independence of the European communities, and which had been brought to a successful ter mination chiefly by the distinguished valour of our free British soldiery, they lent themselves to i policy inconsistent with the best principles of national liberty, and so conducted themselves towards various Independent States, as not only to tarnish the honour of the nation in the eyes of the 'world, but to bring snch suspicion on our good faith as must be productive of great prac- Itical embarrassments in our foreign relations, both political and commercial. 4 , That they have manifested, at all times, an unconsdtutional and distemperkl aversion to aU popular rights and privileges, and ..-._.; ra -s aiy occasions, Unitised uniecetsasy rest/knobs Cul their (...iercise and enjOinient. .• • .• • " That, in order to effect t hi s o f feet, and to maintain, if•pos: • .. Ale, their Mon power and influence in the countti; they have .thicribed the diaciintents,*hich Grote chid) , from theit own /ids: ipsverntitent, to the prevalence o a ipirit of disloyalty and db.; ,tilliection which kai had do natural to imitate eiliteitto among the Peepie. .• . " That they itiVe struck an alarMitig blow at the morals of tie PeOpie,.and have invaded the private security of every class of your Majesty's tiubjeets, by eMpii3ying, encouraging, ind pro.; tecting an unprecedented number of spies and inforMers, who are proved, in many cases, to have been thetnieb;es thelnstigo; tors of those disorder* f o r ithial O t h er i h ave been elipueed to prOsecntien and. punishineni. " Thati in pursuance Of the saffie objects, they hartltaketi advantage Of the peacefur and loyil dispositions, whickrevail generally in this Country, to persuade many Well-p'ettipg pet:: sons of the troth of their ctlumninus raisrepresentwimp, and have thus excited among them grievous anti von iititaaa alarmy while, at the same time, the severe me,slercp ttbiksoppsachful language 4,hiCh Were consequently adopted,. Steve .oseaeioned much fear and irritation among ;hots who sfellethe objects of • their calumnies, and • disposed the, liselnstfucted. among Aeln to listen more readily to the reductions of the few Wicked and do.; 'Signing persons who were hciftiler to our free Constitution. or Who expected to mike prat/ of it roam of tumult and dipordei. " That with a view to deter persons of rank and condition from concurring in the ileasonable coMplaints of the People, they have advised'the adoption of the otost harsh and !Malting atm.; sures towards individuals of the highest station, the most un-; questioned loyalty, and the most approved public service*, whose presence at Public Meetiup *as at once the surest pledge of the :tnoderation of the meatures to be adopted, and the best meani of repretaing any tendendy to extols or intemperance that might otherwise have been apprehended. " That, by these and other means, dug hue diffused a spirit of discord through the body of our population, and Ultimately produced a most alarming disunion between those chases of the community, without whose cordial co-operation theft can nd longer be peace and prosperity for the country. " That, by the late proceedings against her Majesty the Queen, of which they have been the avowed and respossilia advisers, they have not only manifested such an utter disregard for the sense and wishes of the Nation, the dignity of the Crown] the honour and interests of the House of Brunswick, and the peace and safety of the Country, as to have subjected them to general contempt arid reprobation * but have, at the same time, displayed such a signal incapacity and Indecisien, at must be alone sufficient to demonstrate their unfitness for administering the affairs of a distressed and divided People. " That they have finally advised the Prerogatidv of Parlia. ment at a period when the agitated state of the public mind, the recent issue of the extraordinary discussions sboie allUded to, and the unusual pressure of business occasioned by the lope de pendence of these discussions, required, more than at any other time, the vigilant and unremitted attentiors.of the Great Coun . ell of the Nation. 14 We consider it, therefore, to be a duty irresistibly imposed span as, in this conjuncture of affairs, most humbly, but most asenestly, to entreat of your Majesty,"that your Majesty may be graciously pleased forthwith to remove from your Majesty's Presence and Councils those Individuals by whose snuestiona your, Majesty, and the great body of your Majesty's subjects{ lime been involved in so many calamities.—And your Pell- - 040 TM sever Pray, ate." 401111 Crux, Esq. moved that the Thanks of the Meeting be giSen to the Chairman, for his very abl e iamoduct in the Chair. The motion was secondra, by J.P.GIANT, Esq. and carried by acclamgion. - 4 Me. Metionterr returned thanks . for,-* honour' conferred npim bim. • • . • ;The Meeting tlien dispersed. The- number of perking present has been calculated. at• 4,000. • The crowd 'ol . people around the house, -who could - not taltrAccess, was very great. - "r: ?t; Yesterday, at three o'clock, the Duchies 4t the Princesses VICTORIA and FRODORt and suite, returned to her Royal Highness's apartments in the King's Palace, Kensington, from a visit of some weeks to Prince LEOPOLD, at Claremont, and 'which was prolonged on account of the extreme mildness of the season. The Royal Duchess, soon after her arrival at the Palace, hastened to pay an affectionate visit to' the Duchess of CLARENCE. Her Royal Highness was' accompanied by her daughter, the Princess FEODORE.. The Duchess had the pleasure to find the Duchess of CLARENCE and the infant Princess ELIZABETH goini on as well as possible. The Duchess of KENT an tie Princess FM:WORE returned to Kensington be tween dive and six o'clock. The Princess Sotnta called in the morning. Yesterday, the Earl of DONOUGHMORE, and his . nephew, Captain HUTCHINSON, late of the Ist Foot Guards, left town for Milford, on their way to Lord Dorrononsiones seal at Khocklofty, near Clonmell. By the Lady Popham, we have received letters and papers from Jamaica to the 10th instant. The Kingston Chroride, in.speaking of the affairs of slid . Spanish Main, says, that orders had been received from Panama by the Jamaicahonses, to countermand the purchases of goods intended for the Perummarket; in consequence of advices having been received there' of Lord CociIRANa having landed troops on the coast of Pises, about 35 leagues S.E. of Lime. This id the place the Chili Admiral ?risked in his late excur sion down the Pacific, where he, irritated the inhabi.; tants so much by wantonly destroyinga large quan tity of private property. The Jamaica merchants • regret this temporary intetruption,, though- they dd not apprehend any fatal consequences, as k was dent Cociraatre was unaware, at the time he landed; of the enthusiasm that had been excitedin Peril by thd Proclamation of the Constitution. The VICEROY wad prepared with a force of 8,000 Moth and the whole of the country was arming to repel the aggression. Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, an alarm.: ing fire broke out in one of the houses adjacent to Kensington Palace, adjoining to that in which Mr. SICARD resides, which caused great confusion in the Palace. There lino accountingfor the origin of, the fire ; it was discOvered in one of the upper apart.: ments shortly after it commenced, when the parish engine arrived and rendered every assistance. The military were soon called out, and proceeded to the Palace, and continued until the tire was at an end, which lasted several hours, but the flames were gee under by the arrival of the engines from London. During the time the fire continued it burned w i t h great fury ; every exertion was made to save the pm. • r "' which proved successful r but the roofs of t'*u louses, that of Mr. SWARD and the one adjoining were distroyelle ■ "I --3 I I . . W _~