Star. — London, England, 1820-03-16 00:00:00

''; .r.e l , •1 1: I ~~ AIME the penalties were enure severe; and, perhaps he sbduld have no better reason to be satisfied with his ttial.— But no power of arbitrary ;imprisonment existeckiin this country ; and if the King had no such power, he did not see how the House of Cortina, os, who were bound to protect the tights of the People, amid have it. None ought to have such power—stilliess ought the House of Commons to have it, for they Could claim no power but as their Representatives— (Applause); • As the time drew so very near when he would be called to go to The country to attend his own trial, he could assure them that he would go with a most satisfactory anticipation of the result of this Erection—(Applauu). He would take a few • days of preparation. For the result he was not • anxious. lie himself did not anticipate any expe rience of the sentence which was pronounced after a conviction at the prosecution of the Attorney-Gene ral. There it would be improper for him to enter further into that subject. went to his trial in the country with as much confidence as he had come to that Election. There was no knowing, as a Gentle man in the crowd had said, what a Jury in the coun try might do. But it rnight.he as tair . and impartial a Jury as coulJ be found in England. He was able to say, that he had that feeling in his own mind which gave him confidence ; and 'that, s o far as his own consciousness and his view anis conduct could influence the minds of others, he had reason to feel confidence—(Applause). Whatever depended upon him would never be left undone by him in the cause of public liberty—(Shouts of applause). They would do all that depended on them, and they would hold out that example to the country to which it looked with so much anxiety. When they should have strongly established their independence on this oc casion, it would not again be assailed ; and the in dependent Electors of Westminster would not, pro bably, be Jisturbed for a considerable time to come --(Applause). He hoped the Electors would continue • their exertions, and not suffer the success which had hitherto attended them to make them too confident. They were to hold high their character ; and to slim that they were not only victorious, but that their independence was riot to he lightly attempted. At present, nothing could be more favourable than appearances ; and he could not see how by possibi bility the conclusion should be less favourable than appearances promised. Bat they would not relax their exertions ; they would maintain their inde pendence on that high ground which belonged to them ; they would sustain the character which they had acquired, and which formed an example to the country—(Appla use). He now took his leave of them fur . the last time, as it was necessary for him to make tome preparations for his trial.—( Universal o;:d c.oFtinited cheers). Mr. LA:,111 then presented himself, and was re . ccived rather less uncourteously than on the former days. lie saiu is had yesterday been stated to them, that he had expre-sed his satisfaction at replying to t., - ; speeches of the Honourable Baronet; lie now be,_;ged leave to viadizate himself from the vanity of having ever thed that expression. He conceived that rate el. quence and ability of tae Honourable Baronet v....re too great to xrarraut any expression of his (Mr. Limb's) to reply to him ; but what he said bunt ho .11t great sati4action in speaking after Oi.e great source of that satLfacti,n w as, that his eloquence always left his audience in good hunictir ; and as lie himself had only a few remarks to < ff.T, he would be particularly Tiltrcky if he di,turbed that good larincarr in which tl,e Honourable Ba:o:;et had left them. But whe ther he had satisfaction or not in listening to the v orthy lla onet's .l etches, he could declare in truth that he found great pain in the declaration made by the IL:nom:Mk B:ironet, that this was the la , ,t occa si;m un v hick they would hz'ar him en these host- . jogs during the piesent Election ; for, however much his pre once might grafi:y his poli;:ical friends, lie• vas sure no one r-as ;uric happy to see Lint there than he was. It was st:.ange, however, that xvlri!e the Ilonourable Baronet represent:d l.is (Mr. Lamb's) , lopes as rising while the poll was sinking, iris own Lopes should sink, and he t:cspond while the rumbers on the poll continued to be in his favour— (Laughter and ‘7, 1 1 mse). He was warranted to be lieve that the Hoinarrahle Baronet was desponding, f,a - certainly his exhortation to the Electors to hurry to the poll, and his not expecting again another heavy day's poll, was not very hopeful. As to the s:tuation which he himself held on the poll, he was • not by any means surprised at it, and, unless he was much mistaken, that situation would soon be more favourable; for his friends had nosy begun to exert themselves, and, besides, his hopes lead been rendered greater by the speech of the Honourable Baronet. There was one circumstance attending this Election which was rather remarkable—namely, that while the Ilonourable Baronet's friends kept from the poll by being too sanguine as to the result, his own f: lends stayed away from the same cause—(Laugh ter). lie would form a mistaken judgment of the result of this Election who founded his opinion on, the numbers polled. He would advise any man to • look rather at the numbers unpolled, and thence he might form a correct estimate of the result—(Great noise and disapprobation). He begged , they would be silent on their own account, because ht was anxi ..,us to do an act of courtesy and justice to Mr. Hob house. He hoped that when he had committed an error, whether in discretion or otherwise, that he should always have the manliness and the candour to acknowledge it. He had yesterday stated that Mr. Hobhouse had an electioneering purpose in view in writing the pamphlet for which he had been corn witted to prison by the House of Commons ; and he now had no hesitation in expressing his regret for having made that charge—(Loud applause). He thought he knew the feelings of his auditors, and that, when a man candidly confessed his error to them, they would give him a kind reception; and, finding that to be the case, he drought he could not do better than leave them in that good humour in which he had found them at the conclusion of the I lonourable Baronet's speech—(Applause). Mr. Hammel= then presented himself, and was loudly cheered by the assemblage. Before he said one word with regard to the state of the poll, he begged leave to state most explicitly, that Mr. Lamb having said he regretted that he had made the charge respecting an electioneering manoeuvre, he (Mr. Hob house) regretted those expressions, which, by the re ports of his speech, he saw he bad used in reply to the charge. Mr. Lamb haring retracted the charge, he had no hesitation in retracting the Luggage m which he had - answered it. ..11. would talc-look a little at thestate of the poll. Mr. Lamb had said that he had ,nothing but the,most flattering expecta tions respecting the result. He, however, found him self 860 a-head of Mr:Lamb, and this majority, too, had been obtained in five days and one hour—a cir cumstance quite unexampled, he.believed, in the his tory of Westminster Elections. Mr. Lamb had yes terday compared him to the ." fortunate - youth," with whose character he was not much acquainted; having been abroad at the time when that character appeared before the Public. He had since, however, looked intothat history, and he must say, that one part of the " fortunate youth's" life did not tally exactly with the corresponding part of his own biography. All the notes of the fortunate youth had turned out to be forged ; but he hoped that his votes at the present Election would not prove forgeries ; and till that pa rody was established, he could not be thought so like the fortunate youth as Mr. Lamb had yesterday re= presented him : but, whether his fortune was consi dered good or bad, he was content ; and whether in the event he should gain his Election, as it appeared certain to him that be should—or whether he lost it, as it appeared certain to Mr. Lamb he shOuld—he would have reason to be contented with the result. As to content, which no fortune, great or small, was ever sure to give, he should feel content, whatever might be the issue of this contest. If he should lose the Election, as he was conscious of no satin on his character, he would feel content ; and if he gained it, he must, even according to theJ-lonourable Gentle man (Mr. Lamb) be content. In his conduct he was conscious of nothing to blush at. He hoped they (the Electors) would continue, as hitherto, to maintain the same place on the poll. Mr. Lamb had repre sented the state of the poll as favourable to him ; he. trusted it would continue equally favourable to him to the end.' Ile had no doiilit that he himself should have.a superiority on every day's polling, although not every day to the same extent. On this day, after polling for five days and one hour, he had palled 2QO votes more than Mr. Lamb had polled on the eighth day of the last Election, and more than 200 beyond ' what he himself had polled on the ninth day. Let none, therefore, go away with the idea that there was any slackness in polling for him on this occasion.— already they had polled about one-half the number polled at the Election in ISIS ; that was, irrone-third of the time they had polled about one-half of the Electors. Sir Francis Burdett had polled quite one half, and he himself nearly one•half. In these'cir cumstances, it was impossible for him to conceive how it was possible for the Election to terminate otherwise than favourably to his pretensions. Here Ihe must take notice of the advertisement of his ad versary. It was as short, and said as little as was possible. 'There was no excuse contained in it for the low place he held on the poll. No principles were stated ; neither the principles of Sir Samuel Romilly, of Mr. Lamb, of Lord Somers, nor of any other ; only Mr. Lamb's Committee was said to be in several places, for the purpose of Mr. Lamb's re-election.— That he was to be re-elected was the only thing the advertisement contained—( Laughter). But there was a Noir, Bene, which assured the Electors that there was free and open access to the poll. Who ever doubted this? He, or his fries:; s, might as well have Whereas it has been reported that ten men had their throats cut at the hustings yesterday ; we beg leave to say, that there was no such thing 1" (Loud applatac). But when they recollected f;iini what quarter the information came—(Cries " From Cato-.street !")—when they recollected that it came from these who had employed from 50:) Lo 700 bludgeon-men at the last Election—( General (Tics of " Tree, true," mixed with hissiugs). .1, vorn to. Ile had no better proof ihaa uath6 hi a Court of Justice, and they were usually reckoned idencc. The advertisement, then, merely stated what no one ever doubted. But there was an impe diment in the way of every Elector who came to po i for Mr. Lamb—it was, that he would rather not— (Cheer .l. He had rather reason to complain of his voters being impeded in their way to the hustings.— To prove this, he would beg leaVe to read a letter. to them, which was sent to tim this morning from a Society in Westminster, one hundred of whom had voted this day for the Honourable Baronet and him self. They were at the other end of Westminster, in the lower parts of it—(('ries of " And of the lower order!"). —Here he read the letter, as follows " St. J o h n ' s Union Society. " SlR—Accept our warmest acknowledgments for the honour you have this morning done us by visiting this Society. Be azsured, Sir, that !his mark of respect will not be forgotten by us; and although many of our, brethren are, by reason of local circumstances and Ministerial influence, ur.der the necessity of giving a vote to Mr. Lamb, contrary to their own inclination, yet they have done it in such a way as not to iniure your cause ; others have more boldly stood forward in the - face of corrupt influence, and laid the profits of their situation at the feet of their employers, rather than violate their conscience —(Cheers):' But the cause of Liberty, Independence, and Justice, which you have embarked in, is their cause, and they are determined rot to slack their exertions till you, and your worthy colleague, Sir Francis Burden, are returned the Representatives of the truly free and independent City of Westminster. I have the honour to be, on the behalf of the abovc-tren tioned Society, your humble and obedient servant, " THOMAS CRANFIF,LD. Bricklayer's Arm, Stretton-ground, March 15, ItliC). " To John Cam Ilobhouse, F.sq." —He did not suppose that Mr. Lamb personally used any undue influence; but undue influence was used. To-day he heard, from the man himself, the lan guage that had been used to him. He had been in the army, and was in consequence a pensioner ; but having expressed his intention to vote for him (Mr. Ilobhouse), he was addressed thus : " Are not you a pensioner of Government ?" He replied that he was. " Then you had better take care, and not vote on that side." It was true that many were thus more frightened than hurt; but he believed that influence was used in injuring those who voted for him.— Many who had voted for him at the last Election, had told him that they were in consequence injured in their circumstances. It therefore would have been much more natural for their Committee to have advertised, " That whereas k was reported, that Mr. Lamb's boot-makers had been turned off for voting for him (Mr. Hobhouse), they begged leave to state that that was not true." After the letter he had read to , them, this would appear mole like truth and fact ' than the insinuation in Mr.. Lamb's advertisement.— Very considerable influence, of one kind or other, he could assert, was used. Persons were not content with leaving cards, soliciting votes for Mr. Lamb, S . but left also their names, as if the Electors of West- 1 minster cared for the Honourablrso and so, or Lord so and so. He was confident this influence would have no effect ; bur tt looked more like impeiliMent than anything Mr. Lamb's Committee 'could state► Notwithstanding any influent -3 e thaecould be used, he could not help thinking the state of the poll decisive of the event. The Electors of Westminstir would prove, that, in opposition to every in nuence that 'could be exerted against the will of that great City,, they were determined to assert their independence,' and to have the man of their choice, and not the dicta tion of the Honourable so acid so, or of my Lord so and so—(Applause).--The Meeting then dispersed. DURHAM COUNTY ELECTION, MARCH IS. * This day, pursitant to public notice, came on the Durham County Election. Mr. BAKER (of Elemore) proposed 3. G. Lamb ton, Esq. as a fit and proper person to Represent this County in Parliament. He trusted the Freeholders of Durham would never suffer any set of men, whe ther Priests or not, to dictate to them who was a suitable Representative.. And above all, he conjured them never to elect any man who was receiving a pension from Government—(Applause). Sir M. W. RIDLEY rose.—" Freeholders of the County of Durham, this is the first opportunity ever offered to me. as a Freeholdei- of the County of Dur ham, of addressing you. I glory that the opportunity falls on this day, and I rejoice that it occurs on such Han occasion. I come amongst you with my new-won honours. I come to you after having been elected a Member of Parliament by the free Burgesses of Newcastle—(Applause). The tree of independence has long flourished North of the Tyne, and I 'am sure it will not languish with the Freeholders of Durham. Now is the time to select Gentlemen from amongst you, in your own neighbourhood, to represent you in the great Council of the Nation. Mr. Lambton is descended from a great and noble family, and pos sesses all the patriotic virtues of his father. Free holders, look to the past that you may judge of the future : he was ever attentive to your maritime and agricultural interests." The Honourable Baronet concluded with declaring, that, as he was himself a constant attender in the House of Commons, he could bear testimony that Mr. Lambton was never absent from his post while the. interests of his country re quired his presence—( Bursts of clilause). He then seconded the nomination. J, G. LAAISTON, Esq.—The wished-for moment was at length arrived when he offered himself, for the third time, to Represent them in Parliament.— `Supported as he was by his friends, he did not fear the opposition he had been taught to expect—(Ap plause). It was not long since he had last addressed them on a similar occasion : then he had thought it his duty to 'explain to them his conduct in Parlia ment, and the motives of that conduct ; and he was gratified to receive in return the meed of their ap plause. Though the short interval which had since elapsed was not fraught with many topics for re mark, he would say a few words on the subject. The first measure he had to observe upon was the grant iof £lO,OOO to the Duke of York. He hvd opposed it, because it was to be taken from the pockets of a distressed and injured People, to pay a son for that attendance on his father, which duty and affection alone should have dictated—( Great applause).- -He was the first to oppose the imposition of the £2,000,000 of taxes which had been added to the burthens of the People; and he did so, because lie was convinced that the slim was not requited for the necessary support of the Government, but for the be nefit of placemen and pensioners, and for extending the influence of corruption—(Applause). Again, he had thought it his duty to oppose the passing of the Foreign Enlistment Bill, because he saw it was meant to destroy the independence of South America; as he should ever continue to support the liberties of ' his native County and his Country, so would lie also the freedom of nations—(App,',. use). The last time he addressed the Freeholders in the same place, was en the subject of the Manchester outrages. Ile then stated, that that Meeting was a legal one ; but w he- 1 tiler it was legal or not, the dispersion of it in such a manner was certainly illegal. Oa that occasion, those of an opposite opinion were requested to come for ward. One Clergyman, however, (alluding to Mr. Phillpots) «ho had not the magnanimity to come forward at that Meeting to avow his sentiments, had socaked into his closet to asperse his iMr. Lambton's) character ; he, who occupied his station perhaps from no other cause than his sycophantic qualities, had the audacity to call him seditious, whose ancaetors were i co-existent with the loyalty and prosperity of the County. With regard to the late coercive measures of Ministry, he declared that the Constitution of England had never witnessed such acts since the Revolution. By one of them, an Englishman's house was rendered no longer his castle; and by another, an attempt had been made to destroy the Liberty of the Pre s s. If he knew anything of the subject, the Liberty of the Press would overcome every obstacle ; it was not to be subdued. If there were blasphemous and seditious publications, why were the Editors not arraigned before a Jury of theircountry ? Such were the Con stitutional remedies for such an evil : the laws of the land were sufficient to take cognizance of the offence. If these things have got to a dreadful pitch, the Mi nistry have themselves to blame for not employing, the means within their power. With regard to the contest before him, he had been told that the Requi sition to Mr. Wharton contained nine-tenths of the landed property of the County. This was strange ; since there was not one single name of very ex tensive property. Out of the fifty-five signatures, fifteen were' Priests, some Attornies, a few Con tractors, and one a Bankrupt ! Their enmity was directed against him personally ; and if ever he owed gratitude to any men, it was to them ; they had convinced him that he lived, where alone he was ambitious of being—in the hearts of his ConstitUents. They have shewn that as long as a man acts disin terestedly, lie will have the esteem of the Freeholders of Durham. He knew lie would be assailed by their reverend hostility, and, however they might preach up peace and charity, they would practise no meek ness towards him. Surveyors of roads had been told that if they voted for him, they would be discharged; Magistrates had threatened others that if they voted for him, they should not have the County work— (Applause). One characteristic anecdote of the de -44 good will towards him he would mention. A I Reverend Gentleman, a few days ago, happeneJ to meet, a band of music in a village, which had fol lowed him (Mr. Lambton). It was accompanied by a boy, and. the little urchin had - the wickedness to exclaim, " Lambton for evert' upon which the clergyman struck the boy so violent a • blow art the face as produced blood, and this Divine, in his sa cred robes, was coming from . church !—(Applause!. He was happy to say, the boy's father intended to seek redress from a jury of his country. Mr. Whar . - tonl it had been said; had performed great services: since the opposition was pointed at him, it was his duty to inquire into the nature of these services.-_ Was he a proper candidate because he-was a lawyer? he could tell them he was a lawyer without briefs.- WAS it because he was a poet . ? his poems contained no poetry, and were almo s t without rhytne. Was it because ha was a pensiooer ? It was said, he might have had I:3,000, and yet mil!" consented receive £1,200 a-) e..r. Perhaps if he was 'elected for the County, and not the City of Durham, be would double it. Mr. Whartori's services were reit; demi as Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, and Secretary to the T. easurv. His office AS Chairman of the Committee f Ways and Stearis was d , -übtless very important. It was his duty, and his only duty, to say, " those who .tie of that opi nion are to say aye, and those of the contrary, PO Ile appealed to Sir M. W. Mile% if this was not his only dutyx-Wries of "yes," and loud applause', Finding Mr. What ton's talents above his situation, be was created Secretary to the Treasury, who is the whipper in of Members of Parliament, the man who has to call Ministerial Members from their wine, to vote in the House! lle is the person who has the keep ing of rotten Boroughs. When a Ministerial Candi date fails in an Election, he applies to the. Secretary for a rotten Borough ! The lion. Gentleman con cluded with observing, that Mr. Wharton was itot much obliged to any Freeholders for the requisition of so much boast had been made, for it had been previously hawked all over the County, w;thout feuding a man to accept it. General Avt,:cr: proposed the flo:7nurable Wil liam Powlett, which was seconded by Mr. CIIATEft, of Witton Castle. Colonel Str:tott, of Stockton, proposed Richard Wharton ; Esq. and the nomination was seconded by Mr. GREAVES, of Ord's House. S. Winner, Esq. M.P. for Richmond, asked the mover if Mr. Wharton was legally qualiied to Re present the County? acid insisted on his right, as a Freeholder, that the oilth shoeld be administered to him, which was accordingly done. 'the p.4ling com menced at twelve o'cloc.l:.—At the close the first day's poll the numbers were as fo;low : lir. Layirrox Mr. POW ELT r t 9 Mr. WISAILION 53 THE EV - ENING STAR LON DON. THURSDAY, 'MARCH 16, 18.20. THE FUNDS. PRICE Of STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLCCK 3 per-Cent. Cow.oi 68 1 / 2 3 / 8 5 per Cent. Navy 104 1 / 4 10578 . - Exchequer 42,i.. Is. 2s. dis. Consols for Account V. Rank Stock, 3 per • Cents. Reduced, 31, per Cents. 4 pet Cents. India Stock, and Bank Long Anus. are all shut. As we expected, the impending horrors of an aug r mentation of the Civil List, at a time when the majority ot the Nation are pinched in all their comforts,excitet uncommon interest. We have rea,on to believe, that what a Government Paper has said on the subject, in denying the intention of Nlinisters.to increase the Civil List, will be verbally true, but substantially false. But ➢e those juggling Lends no more believ'd, Who keep the word of promise to the ear Ani break it to the sense !" The stand of Ministers fir the augmentaticn will be, by separating some of those charges from the List, which have hitherto made a part of it; and yet they will propose an increase after this is done. It is re ported also, that they mean to keep out of sight all those Revenues of the Crown drawn from other sources than the Crown Lands, arid to state that the Hereditary Revenues are no more than the Rent Roll. This is at once « fair and foul." For the Public will recollect that some years ago, when this very subject was discussed in the House of Commons, it was stated by Ministers, that if his late MAJESTY had enjoyed the same Revenues as his predecessor, he would have received Sixty-seven Millions, when he had only received for his Civil List Sixty Millions!!! which referred to those Revenues that, in the ap proaching discussion, the Ministers now intend to keep out of sight. However, as we have said, give the KING his dues —or, if he consents to accept an annual stipend in place of the Hereditary Revenues, deal fairly with the Country—let all the Droits, as well as the Rents of the Crown, be really and bona fide surrendered. The bargain with the late KING was shamefully managed, and, in its effects, did great injury to the private reputation of the Royal Family. It was perfectly understood, when he accepted a stipend in lieu of the -Hereditary Revenues, that he gave up every thing connected with the emoluments of the Crown, and yet we found the enormous Droits of Admiralty retained with a greedy grasp.—Let this not be forgotten in any new bargain. We also would remind the Representatives of the Nation of the manner in which his present AlAstrevi was, during his minority, deprived of his Hereditary -Revenues--we recollect it was on one occasion stated, that if he had received a faithful account from those who ought to have.felt themselves but as his Trus tees, the balance due to him would have been equal to the first grant of the Nation to pay the fruits of 1