Star. — London, England, 1820-05-24 00:00:00

EtTMINSTER ME TING: Yesterday a numerous and respectable assemblage cf the Electors of Westminster met at the Croirn and Anchor, in the Strand, to celebrate by a dinner the '...hirteenth Anniversary of the return of Sir FRANCIS' i'ORDETT to Parliament, which they entitle the Tri umph of Westminster ; Sir FRANCIS litYnnr.rr in the Chair. After the cloth was removed, the following toasts were drank with throe times three: " The People, the only source of legitimate power." 0 The King : may he recollect the declaration of the Prince cf Wales, that the Crown is held in trust for the benefit of the Ikeple."—Tune, Rtee, Britannia. " The only remedy for the unprecedented grievances, the or:.eiralleled distresses, and the lamentable degradation of the rople—a Radical Reform in the Commons house of Parlia rent."—Tune, Kick Me rdgiwi The CHAIRMAN, at the rerp;est of a large portion r: the company, begged leave to propose" the health the Queen." The toast was drank with dim' time s ',roe,and the- waving of handkerchiefs, beat,ig of the tables, and other expressions of enthusiastic. ap prebation, continued for several min;:tes. As soon as the applause subsiied, Mr. DEAL one cf the Electors of the Parish of St. James, accompa nied by some of the Stewards, entered the room, t raring an elegant Silver Vase, which had been-voted to Sir FRANCIS BURDETT by the Electors of that Parish. The following is a minute description of this riece el plate: It is formed after the design of Sir WILLIAM HA/lIT.TON'S, and in size it i 3 sufficiently capacious to contain six gnarls, wine measure. The base has a tidily embossed banded wreath of oak leaves, immediately above the carat*, and the bottom and cover of the vessel are entirely covered with intertwined roses,thistles, and shamrocks of dead silver, richly chased in alto-relievo; the c..p eirrounded by a torus, chased in imitation of thefasoet.— Two t;. mall figures, each holding in one hand a cluster of grapes, is the other a bowl, and terminating in a rich flowing acanthus and honeysaekle, form the handles; and the cover is surmount ed by another winged female figure, emblematic of the guardian genius of the liberties of England, presenting the civic wreath to its champion in the Senate. On one side of the body of the •sse is a group of figures, beautifully executed in bas-relief, re r resenting the worthy Baronet haLitcd in the Boman toga, and riounted upon a rostrum ; from which he is haranguing an as sembly of Citizens, and pointing at the same time to the insignia cf the British Constitution—the crown, the mace, the sword red scales of Juoice, Magna Charts, and the Bill of Rights, en twined with chaplets, oak and laurel, and placed above his head. Among the group of Chimps are seen two soldiers, in the act et' applauding the speaker, 'by waving their helmets, and tram pling on the instrument of punishownt, in allusion to the Ho nourable Baronet's oppositien to the flogging system in the Army. The epp.isite side of the vase bears the arms of the honourable Baronet. richly embossed and chased ; and beneath is the following inscription:—" 'l'n Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, her:. frr four successive Parliaments, the fre. ly-chosen !Representative of the City of Westminster, whose undaunted courage and per severing consistency, during a period of twAity-four years, in a snuggle fig- the recovery of the Rights and Liberties of the People, have long been the admiration, and now form the chief hope of his oppressed countrymen, and will leave to all posterity a rare example of disinterested patriotism, this cup is presented a token of respect and gratitude by his Feltow-citizens and Constituents of the Parish of St. Jsmes, Westminster." In presenting it, Mr. DLAN spoke to the following cfrect :—" Sit Francis Burden, I have the honour to he deputed by a portion of your Constituents and Parishione-s to present you with this cup, which they request you will condescend to receive as a pledge of their esteem and gratitude for your zeal els and magnanimous exertions in the furtherance t the ohjest of their dearest wishes—Parliamentary Reform. - Ile then proposed the following toast: The. brave Supporter of our Civil Rights, and undaunted I.:fender of the People against Milit try Execution—our beloved Rtprestntative, Sir Frarcis Burdett." Tie toast was drank with three times three,' and followed by shouts, and other testimonies of approba tion, which lasted several minutes. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT then rose and said, it was Nvith feelings of unbounded satisfaction, and also, he trusted, of' . justifiable pride, that he received this token—this fresh mark of their esteem. There could be nothing so gratifying to the feelings of a public nnn, as the tbought, unbiassed approbation which his co , intrynwn bestowed on him on account of his pub conduct—(Applause); and he was proud to say. that it was not in the power of any other person, cr set of persons whatsoe?er, to convey to his mind, er to the minds of patriotic men in general, greater satisfaction than he derived from the mark of honour svhich they had so often conferred upon him, and particularly 'from that which they had bestowed on the present occasion. They all knew that among those natiorts which had been most renowned through the world for arts and arms, the esteem of his coun trymen had always been considered the highest re ':ard which it was in the power of a virtuous man to cbtain—(slpplause).—On referring to the page cf history, they found that among the Greeks and Romans, it was for the applause of their fcllow citizens that heroes and patriots toiled. The hosours snd the rewards of Governments, considered as Go vernments, and unconnected with public opinion, were DElt CO be compared with the voluntary expres sten cf approbation from one's fellow-citizens— ( .4pplause).—He did not hesitate on the present oc casion to declare his rride at standing high, as he felt he did, in their estimation; for the estimation of the people of Westminster, certainly not the least enlightened body of people in this enlightened na tion, was no mean subject of self-congratulation.— flaring been so long engaged with them in labour. nig for the recovery of their lost rights, and having row an opportunity of making further exertions in the same cause, he new incitement to persevere in the course which his early judgment had pointed cut to him ; and without mixing with the intrigues piny, having his eye fixed on the day-star of liberty—having Lis siews directed to the people, and :ely in g on their assistance, he did anticipate the final .siccc , ss a their cause, how discouraging soever pre ,cia circumstances ;sight appear—( Applause ).—tle had also the satisfaction to consider that this token of :Ipprubatiou came from those who were best able to judge of his conduct ; for it expre.sed the verdict of Lis owa ne;ghbours, his own fellow-parishioners, ho knew best, and were consequently the most able tv :tppreciate Lis conduct and exertions. He consi ;lend the Elcctors of Westminster as enlightened as atrictic—pethaps he might have the arrogance to cay, more patriotic than any other body of people 4,) On.; country, and therefore the best judges of public conduct ; and among them the Electors of the parish cl St. Jame:, being immediately connected with him, might be considered the best of the best of judges— lpyause).—The honours of Courts were often not tht rewards of good conduct., but of bad—(2lpp/ause) --and some of those who wine coronets, bestowed u; )1, them by Court favour, if treated according to ti,, &cistern of public opinion, would have been re v at dcd with a halter Great Ap i 9lau.cel.—Men in power had generally lAA oassion2 to gratify, -and while that was the case, it . was but proper that they should highly reward those who made a sacrifice of honour to gratify them ; but with the Public the case was different. The Public had no bad passions to mislead them ; their motives were always good; and though they might be deceived by pretenders, still their homage was paid to virtue, and if deceived, the disgrace only attached to those Who deceived them. So true was this, that it had been remarked by an author of the most acme and penetrating mind, that while the people were allowed•any share in the Government, or had the election of those who were to administer the Government, its measures .were always directed to the promotion of the public welfare. It had been justly observed, and the fact was worthy of attention, that though the Roman people had the power of appointing to all the execu tive offices of the State, yet, for a period of three hundred years they had never made an appointment which their country had cause to regret. It was clear, therefore, on reviewing the histories of other countries, that the more a people had to do with ap pointing to offices of Government—he did mean, the more they were concerned in exercising immediately the functions of the Executive, the happier that people must he—(Applause).—Now all that they, the Reformers, were contending for was, that every man in this country should have that fractional share of influence in the Government which coasisted in choosing those who were to have the disposal of the hard earnings of his industry, his life, and liber ties; and yet so degraded were the people of Eng land, that this claim, which he must call a rea sonable and modest claim, was treated as an im practicable scheme, and an insolent demand— (Applause).—Yet, notwithstanding the resistance of their enemies, the people would proceed steadily in their course, and he was happy to say, that their ' cause had already gained so much ground, that few assemblies of Englishmen would be found—he meant without the walls of St. Stephen's—(A laugh) —of whom a majority did not understand and ap prove the principle of Representation for which the Re;Ormers contended—Wear, hear).—The present system was, even in the House of Commons, acknow ledged to be corrupt; and he did think lust year that Lord Castlereagh, *ho had himself been detect ed in an act of the Molest corruption—(A laugh),— had admitted that he was favourable to a change, in! those cases in which gross delinquency was proved. — I But he now found that this was all a mistake, and that Ministers were retracting their former conces sions, intending to withhold even that limited degree which they had promised, since it might lead to the admission of the principle of general Reform. It would be improper at any Public Meeting not to notice some of those ti ansactions which had lately taken place—(Applausej—and though there now could be hardly a company in England into which spies and informers might not be introduced—and though Sir Charles Wolseley had recently been com mitted to prison for words alleged to have been spoken by him—yet, be that as it might, it would not deter him from speaking or writing whatever useful truths he felt it his duty to submit to his coun trymen ! The most remarkable feature in the pre-! sent time was, that a Meeting having been held in Manchester for Reform, and having been proved in ' ' a Court ofJustice, and admitted by the Judge him self, to have been quiet and peaceable, though de clared illegal by the Jury, yet, for attending this quiet, orderly, peaceable, and illegal Meeting, Mr. Hunt, to the astonishment of all the Nation, had been sentenced to two years and a half's imprison ment !—(Cries of Shante!)—He saw it stated also in the Public Papers, that three other persons, who had been convicted at the same time, had been marched through the streets handcuffed, to be sent off to their place of confinement—(Louslcriesef Manic! shame!) He trusted that the Public would feel, whatever opi nion might be entertained of the individuals them selves, that in their persons justice and humanity had been violated, and that they would not withhold any means which would alleviate the sufferings which they were doomed to undergo—(Loud applause).— The offence for which these defendants were punished, whatever might be the pretence, was one which he and every honest man in the kingdom had commit ted—namely, opposing a Boroughmongering Oli garchy, which had oppressed and ruined the coun try, and who, though they had received the Petitions of the People on the table, did not hold out even a hope of alleviating the distress which they had occa sioned—(Applause).—Whatever opinion might be entertained of Mr. Hunt, and none had less reason personally.to be pleased with him than he (Sir Fran cis Burdett), yet he should be ashamed of himself, if he so far forgot the principle of freedom and justice (Applause) as, in the present situation of the country, to be biassed by any feelings of his own, either of a friendly or uniriendly nature, when every feeling and every thought was required on the part of the Public—(Applause).—There was no class of the Peo ple that was not now nearly driven to despair. The great body of the Agriculturists said it was impossi ble for them to go on without a remedy; hut when the only possible remedy was mentioned, they started as if they saw a ghost; and when they were told that corruption was the cause of all their distress, they had not the courage to' look the evil in the face.— Then the Capitalists, by whom the news of the De claration of War against the Liberties of France was received on the Royal Exchange with three cheers, they, too, had become quite chop-fallen !—(A laugh). The Manufacturers, who by the war demand had acquired large fortunes, were now astonished that the Nation, which looked so well in the face, should be so sick at heart. The state of the labouring classes was deplorable, indeed; and, in short, he knew'no class that could be said to be in a thriving condition, but those who were feeding on the vitals of the coun try—he meant placemen and pensioners, whose in come, by the change in the currency, had been in ' creased twenty-five per cent. Whatever measures might he resorted to—and strong measures, both financial and of a different description, would be ne ' cessary, unless that parent-evil, the Borough-pro , prieturship, ss as reformed, no set of measures could • g ive effectual relief. This had always been the opi : Mon of the Clcctors of Westminster, and this opinion had spread so widely, that now almost ninety-nine out of every hundred were for a great and funda ' mental Reform in Parliament. This principle, he hoped, would still continue to extend itself. The People of England surely would not witness the cf forts made in France for the restitution of liberty, and those in Spaiii also, without endeavouring to keep upon a level A t least with those countries. The claims of the Legitimates to govern were ridiculous, when compared with the claims.of the People to Li berty. He trusted, that though there were appear ances of a disposition to erect a system of. military government in the country, the peopl!! of England, Scotland, and Ireland, would unite and support a Radical Parliamentary Reform, which would give to all equal rights, and civil and religious. eeclorn.— The Honourable Baronet concluded by again assur ing the company, that he never felt more gratified than on the present occasion, and that he thought he was justified in being proud of the very.distinguished honour they had conferred upon him—(Long conti nued applause). The rollowing toasts were then given from the Chair, and drank with three times three: " Our brother Reformers in Scotland and Ireland and may difference of religious opinions cease to be a ground of civil in capacity.—Tone—lit in go bragh. " The able and intrepid opposer of the Botoughtrongering Oligarchy, John Cam liobhuuse, Esq."—This toast was drank with enthusiastic applause. Mr. Hour-rouse, in returning thanks, said, that if it had been so peculiarly ratifying to their long tried Representative, Sir 1. Burdett, to receive this evening the testimony of the approbation of his fel low-countrymen and constituents, how much more must he he gratified, when he considered how far short he fell of the great merits of his distinguished colleague, and when he, at the same time, found that they did not altogether hold him in disregard ? (Applause). He expressed a wish frequently to n - ieet his Constituents, in order to account fur his Parlia mentary conduct. It was his anxious wish to do his duty, and if his Constituents thought that he had not done so, he should be always ready to surrender his trust to more worthy hands. There was a time, as that great man Mirabcau had observed, when words were things, and the present Ministers appeared to think so at the present time, for all their acts were levelled against words. If a man spoke, he was charged with intemperate haste; if he wrote, with deliberate design ; but still he was determined to ' speak and write as he thought proper for the liberty and interest of his country !—(Applause). After ani madverting upon what he considered the unconsti tutional and illegal doctrines laid down by the Judges in discussing the motion for a new trial, upon the case of his worthy Colleague, the Honourable Gentleman strongly recommended a public subscrip tion for Mr. Hunt and his fellow-sufferers. Ile be. hewed the Jury who found them guilty neve in tended that they should be subjected to such A Mea sure of punishment, as that to which they were sub jected. He did not approve of Mr. Hunt's conduct in general—but he separated his conduct from his present suffering. A public subscription was no farce-- r it shewed that they were in earnest. As to Reform, he said he was re:tdy to ac^.ept whatever he could get. He believed that a good deal of ad vantage would be . gained front Mr. Lambton's mo tion, by the effect it would have on the country. For himself he would support it by his vote, and if ne cessary, by saying a few words. It would be opposed, no doubt, in the House; but eventually it Was as sure to rise as the sun was sure to return in the morning. In spite of all obstacles it would ascend at last, and tä the opposer of the great principle he would say, in the language of the English Pindar— " Presumptuous man! think not the envious cloud 4 Raied by thy breath can quench the orb of day : " To-morrow he renews his golden flood, " And warms the Nations with redoubled ray !" Yes, he was convinced the principle would rise, and shine with redoubled ray upon this unhappy na tion—(Applause). Toast—" Renovated Spain! May every King who sets him self above law, be like Ferdinand—compelled to submission by the people !" This toast was drank with three times three, and great applause. The CHAIRMAN said he had a toast to give, which, as it respected liberty, would be peculiarly interest ing to the Electors of Westminster. " Lord Cochrane and South American Independence. Li berty and happiness to its brave asststors :"—Three times three, and loud applause. Mr. Reruns made a few observations in reproba tion of the spy-system, which, he said, was com menced is 1794, and was used against Mr. Hardy, Mr. Thelwall, and others. Ile also alluded to the re cent prohibition issued by the Commissioners against the publication of the ti ials as they proceeded. When the trials in 1794 took place, no such prohibition was made, and thus persons were enabled to conic for ward to speak to the characters of the witnesses. He concluded with giving, as a toast— " May spies and their employers and abettors meet the just reward of their atrocious and detestable practices !"—Three times three, and enthusiastic applause. Mr. TrieLwar.r. made several observations on the state of the country, which he said was governed by two factions—the Borc.ighmongers and the Army. He prophecied that a civil contest would ultimately arise between the two parties, and that the latter, Cromwell-like, would drive the former out of the House. He referred to the ancient custom of having the Courts of Law open to the Public ; they were covered by no roof save the canopy of HEAVEN, and. from this he argued the right of the Press to give the proceedings in the Courts of Justice, without any restraint. He concluded with giving the toast— " The Libesey of the Press—it is like the air we breathe— when we have it not we die."—Three times three, and loud applause. The CHAIRMAN rose to propose the health of Mr. Lambton, and success to his intended motion for Par liamentary Reform, and in doing so he took an op portunity of stating, that it was the duty of the friends of Reform to support any motion for Reform, even if it did not go to the whole extent of the prin ciples of which they approved. He understood it was Mr. Lambton's object to obtain, if possible, tri ennial Parliaments, and to extend the right of suf frage in counties to copyholders, and in towns to householders. Such a measure, if carried, would rid them at least of septennial Parliaments, which were generally at the end cf their period affected by a kind of memento mori, but never till then (Applause). He observed, that the Ministers felt the last Parlia ment in a state of premature decrepitude, and for that reason defecred their more inipurtant measures until they should have " a young and vierous sinner to deal with t"---(Applayse).l l ntintunately, he added, the People were like the man in the Scripture, who, being possesseclof a devil, got him cast out, but the devil went and took to himself seven other devils, and entered into chi man again —now, it Might f) truly said, the latter state of that man was worse than the first !- (i.ritigkiir and cippi;ru.'e). He cor.-; eluded with giving— " Mt. burtlato, and roccess . to Ms MlitiOn for Reform."— . - Three times three, and great applause. Mr. RITCHIE gave tue next and last toast i— " Trial by Gur I?cers, and net by picked, or linked, or :per vial Juries.' —Three time:: thiee, and t mliusia.tic appinise. The Silve• va , .e was carried down between. the middle tables, and shewn to the company, who hared it with universal acclamations.—At o'clock the Chairman left the room with similar honours, and • soon after the whole of the company dispersed. EDWARDS, THE SPY. LETTER J. FROM LORD SIDAIOUTII TO MR. ALDERMAN vroop. • ‘lllitehall, Aril 26, Is , A). Rut—l have to thank you for tht cf• 2.!ary Barktr, Thomas Chambers, William Tur.t:idcr, and George which you left, in my absence, in tie hands of Mr. Clive. • " • " •- • • • • You are probably aware, from the list of witnesses which hr.* been delivered to the prisoner; now oil their trial, that George Edwards, who is alluded to in tlitre starementN is named in that list, and is liable to be called as a witness far the Crown ; and there does not appear to me any sufficient ground for insti tuting any proceedings against him. I am, S;r, your must obedient humble servant, Mr. Alderman Wood, Etc. &c. SIDNIOCTIL LETTER It. TO TILE RIGHT HON. viscousr SIDMOUTH. blr Loau,-11aving brought a question respecting George Edwards bufore the I ►ast evening, it is my barn:ion to renew that vestion in a different ►urm. I have received coati.. derable information besides thus.: documents I left at your Lordsbip's office, confirming the infamou! , conduct of Edwards. I have, therefore, to request your Lordship wilt prevent Ld war.'s front leaving the country, as I have been this day et furmed he is preparing to leave England for America.-1 have the honour to be, my Lord, your nu.st obedient servant, May:,, 10.0. .M. WOOD. _ LETTER 111. FROM LORD SIDMOUTIL TO MR. ALDERMAN WOMD. Whiteha I, May 3, 1820. SIR—I have received your letter of this date, in which you request me to prevent George Edwards from leaving this ectiki try ; and in reply, I have to acquaint you, that I know of no ground which would justify me in issuing a warrant against Edwards, that being the only mode by which I could c.imply with your request.---I have the honour to be. Sir, your most obedient humble servant, 51D31012/111. LETTER IV. TO THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT SIDNIOUTH. 7.1 v Loan—l am honoured with your Lordship's answer to my letter of yesterday, respecting George rstlwards, wherein you stile, that you " know of no ground which would justify you in issuing a warrant against him. - I consider that those depositioni which I lath at ycur Lordship's Office contain such charges as would fully justify your Lordship in apprehending G. Edwards. —Perhaps your Lordship's objections are, that they are net sworn : if so, I beg to inform you, that the parties were in at tendance at your Lordship's Office, to give evidence, and were ready to be sworn to their statements, and are now ready, at en hour's notice, to attend your Lordship. I have also their evi dence to produce.—l remain your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, N. WOOD. 77, South Atidtey-street, May 4, 1820. LETTER V. FROM LORD SIDMOUTH TO MR. ALDERMAN WOOD. Whitehall, May 4, 1820. SIR—I have to acknowledge the receipt of yriur letter of this day's date, in which I see no ground for altering the opinion com municated to you in my former letters. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, SIDNIOUTH. Mr. Aldsrman Wood, 77. South Audley-street. Some persons, ill-informed on such points, have expressed wonder that the Qizakers should have ad dressed his MAJESTY on his Accession. That re spectable sect has always paid this 'respect to their Sovereign. A very early and remarkable instance of it is the laconic, but pithy Address which They pre sented to JAMES 11. and which is a model of delicate irony, and respectful reproach. "We come," said they, " to condole on the death of our friend CHARLES ; and we are glad that thou art come tot e our Ruler. We hear that thou art a Dissenter from the Church of England ; and so are we. We beg that thou wouldst grant us the same liberty which thou takest thyself; and so we bid thee farewell Y' Letters from Petersburgh, of the 28th of April, state, that the Government has issued a new Ukase, extremely beneficial to the temporary interests of the calico-printers of Russia, but calculated materially to injure the interests of the foreign merchants trading with that country. All printed goods, when printed and brought to market by a Russian printer, will be entitled to a drawback of 37} copecs silver the pound, which is the amount of duty on the white goods when imported. These 37i copecs, in addition to the duty of one rouble forty copecs, laid on foreign prints, give to the Russian printer an advantage of one rouble 71 copecs silver, or ss. 4d. the pound, Russian weight (about 14. oz.), over those printed goods im ported from abroad. This Ukase expressly adds, however, that the said drawback will he granted to those printers only who have actually ordered the white goods from abroad, and entered them in their own names at the Custom-house : the drawback can not be claimed when the goods in the unprinted state have been- purchased of merchants in the market, who must, consequently, be driven out of commercial transactions, of which they have hitherto formed the 1 chief medium. • SPARRING. The Fives Court was yesterday extremely crowded, to witness an Exhibition for the Benefit of Ned Turncr. After Lennox had commenced the play with Masan, the following were the sets-to :—Martin and Scimpuie turned-to spiritedly, and although the formet had best from practice, Brwrimigent was not to be shook off easily; be returned some good hits with judgment, and he Mewed that he had trained on. Harry Holt and Poriels seemed at first to 'be for shewing elegance of attitude, and to adopt the tapping system ; after a bit, howeeer, Holt turned to, and Parish, necessarily obliged to bear up against it, got the worst of it. There were some manly rallii s, but Parish was too slow for Holt's action. Spring and Crib next set-to, hut they were too friendly to afford amusement. ,Larkin and a Birming ham man : the latter was desirous of a taste of Lordon fighting, and he got it. He was altogether awkward, and could not reach Larkin, who kept giving him smeller, on the head, until he wag tired and wild. He was twice floored withal, and Larkin, ty gestures, wished to strip off the gloves, but the countryman would not until he had more. The G,uppey, who heat Wass Country Dick on the 16th, got the best of the elder .eflitiot, and 'hewed some good milling qualities. F,,a:es and Harmer made a scientific set-to. .Randal and Tu.-no. closed the sports is s most scientific and manly set-to, in which, with the exceptiouef Pales, all the sparrers could have !earned something. It drew down great applause, znd it *as a good day'‘ play. Cottn-Exemasiair, Maat-talat, )TAY g4.—Our market was abundantly supplied.. with all (;rain this morning, for which the demand was very limited, yet a few samples nt prime white obtained Monday's prices, but all other descriptions could have been bought on lower terms. Barley is nearly unsaleable, and full Is. per quarter lower than on Monday, and only a few fr es h samples were sold at that reduction. The arrivals of oats have .been considerable since :llomlay, and they arc is. lower, but few aalesi were affected. In other articles no alteration.