Star. — London, England, 1820-02-11 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE PRIENbS OF SIR WILLIAM CURTIS. A Meeting of Bankers, Merchante and others, of London, WAS held yesterday at the London Tavern, for the purpose of inviting Sir W. CURTIS to become a Ca:Wl:late for the City, and to consider of the best means to be adopted for securing his return at the ensuing General Election. There were from 500 to 600 persons in the room. W. MANNING, Esq. M. P. was in the Chair. Mr. MANNING said, he bad been extremely anxious, on the present occasion, that one of the Aldermen of the City, or some individual more immediately cone netted with the Corporation than he was, should have been called to the Chair. The part he had already taken in a Committee for the purpose of again bring ing Sir W. Curtis Into Parliament, was as a private individual only. Since, however, it was the pleasure of the assembly he addressed to call upon him to preside publicly, he was equally gratified in obeying the voice of so respectable and numerous a meeting of his fellow-citizens. He should, therefoie most cheerfully do his duty in the best manner he could, and only hoped for the kind indulgence of those whom .he addressed. He concluded by heartily re- Lemmencling Sir W. Curtis as a fit and proper person to represent the City of Loudon in l'irliament— (Applause). ' Mr. J. HALL then read the Resolutions—(for altich see the front of our Paper). Sir C. S. HUNTKR in rising to propose the first Re solution, said, it gave him the greatest possible hap piness to see their old and worthy Friend,' the Ho nourable Baronet, again introduced before them as a person not only fit, but well entitled, to represent them ill Parliament ; and it was with equal gratifica tion he could assure the Meeting, that Sir William Curtis was most anxious and zealous to come for ward and ,seek their suffrages—(Appiamse).—Much had been already done for the attainment of this pur pose ; and when he kneW how desirous the great body of the mercantile community were to be duly represeated, he had no doubt of their ultimate suc cess. II: had been their Representative and servant for roa-.y years, and had done much good. If he was once more returned, he had no doubt be would eminently distinguish himself, and prove useful in the highest degree. Alderman ATKINS, in seconding the Resolution, observed, while he had had the honour to act in Par liamen: as colleague of the worthy Baronet, he found him an upright and most efficient Member; and, if his health permitted, he still considered him as the most'' fit person to represent the City of London: and as it was essential to have eminent mercantile characters, to act for the City of London, he for one should do all is his power to promote the 'objects of the Meet ing—the return oC Sir William Curtis. (i. BLACKMAN, Esq. proposed the second Resolu tion, and it was seconded by Sir C. FLowEst. Mr. JACKS, in proposing the third Resolution, said, he had long witnessed the career of Sir William Cur tis, as an old Member of thi Corporation. lie gave his hearty concurrence to every word which had fallen, either in his praise, or as to his fitness to re present them in Parliament. There never was a time when it was so necessary to have high mercantile characters in such a situation ; and while he would talk of the faults or virtues of individuals, he trusted that he should never again see so few real mercantile men in Parliament—(Hear, hear!)—He was c•n vinced of the lamentable deficiency which had for some time existed in this respect. Sir J. Shaw had communicated to him the fact, that when he was in Parliament, so great was the attention paid to the mercantile interests, that one hundred days. out of three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, were devoted to that purpose. In the return of Sir Wil liam CA tis, the Meeting would not only have the Corporation interests, and the interests of the City generally preserved, but the great mercantile inte rests of the country at large. FELIX CLAY, Esq. seconded the Resolution. Sir C. FLOWER proposed, and Sir F. DRSSANOES se conded the fourth Resolution. Alderman ATKIN's mentioned,.that the Resolution called on the, Livery to Jispense with the personal canvass of Sir William Curtis. This, he thought, looked arrogant, and suggested, that the Meeting do respectfully recommend to the Livery to dis pense, Ice.' The alteration was agreed to. Mr. W. WARD proposed the fifth Resolution, and Sir M. BLOXAM seconded it. The CHAIRMAN then suggested, that before they proceeded any farther, they should obtain an answer I from Sir W. Cuttis, whether he was ready to be- I come a Candidate for the Representation of the City of London ? • A Deputation was immediately sent to the worthy Baronet for this purpose. Ir. S. DIXON, during their abse%ce, observed, next to the desire for returning Sir W. Curtis to Par liament, he was most anxious that the City should , be represented by real men of business. And while hs had nothing whatever to'say against .the private virtues or characters of the present Members, be did not hesitate to say, that they were totally unac quainted with great mercantile questions.--( There v:eve here loud cries of " Name, name r but Ms call Wqs put dawn by as applause and hisses). Me hoped the feeling would go abroad, of the necessity of hay ing high mercantile men to represent the City of London in the Legislature; and that those who ap preciated Sir W. Curtis in this character would zea lously exert themselves, and not split as they had done before ; to the great injury of the cause, and the los; of his Election. It. 11. MARTEN, Esq, wished to join most heartily with those who had plezeded him, in urging the re turn of mercantile men as Members for the City. It was only mercantile men who could represent mer. c.tutile interests (Hier): —But the Meeting should j look at their choice of a IV:Taber in a political point L'''' ti view. They had arrived at a crisis when. the Con '> ctivition of the Country required that it should not i..ily be preserved, but balanced ; and the Represent a.ives of the People should be decisive. - Men, too, 14 ( . :vg':t to be decisive in giving their votes, and not A led :-at:sfied in affording cold common - place s u p - Ks pan to this or that individual. Men should look also U 1 ti, evil: which had been brought uppn the Country, tr.i t l ::rd return those who were likely to avert them. VI Alder cc Wood and Waithman might still vote as they pi eased : but there was little doubt of the line F a vi conduct Sir Wm. Curtis would pursue--(Hear). .., The Livery ought, therefore, to decide inaitrtiny ) and give their old and tried - Reptesentative their warmest support—(Hear, honr)L The Deputation having returned, Mr, HALL real the answer of Sir W. Curtis (which tat else he:min another dart of our impression). It was received with shouts of applause., Sir CIARLIi PRICE proposed the next Resolution, which was seconded by Sir WILLIAM LEIGHTON. Mr. MANNING proposed that a Committee should sit daily at the London Tavern, in order to carry the object of the Meeting into effect.—Carried. Sir' CHARLES PRICE moved the Thanks of the Meeting to the Chairman, which was carried with great applause; and MT..MANNIKG returned s. , thank Sir CLAUDIUS HUNTER informed the Meeting that Sir Wm. Curtis, at the desire of a great majority of the room, would shortly make his appearance. The worthy Baronet soon after entered the room, amid shouts of applause. • Alderman ATKINS proposed a Resolution, to the effect that the Committee should be an open one, and constantly sitting. Every friend of Sir Wm. Curtis should hare free access, progress ought to be reported, and every thing well organised, in order that they might obtain their object, and once more receive m their bosom the worthy Baronet. ..Sir WILLIAM CURTIS (having recovered from'the feelings which appeared to affect him when he first entered the room) said, that having done him the honour to call him forth again upon the public stage of life, in order to represent them in Parliament, he had most gratefully obeyed the summons. He had for twenty-seven.years, he trusted with honour, repre sented the Livery of London. His political life was well known to them all. It might be supposed that he would now seek repose ; but seeing the state of his country, so long as he had mind and power t. act, he should fight to protect het, and maintain her great Constitution. That Constitution had not only been attacked, but its overturn and destruction media tated altogether. As long, therefore, as he had a voice, he should raise it in defence of his King and Constitution—(Wear, hear). lie trusted the Meeting would give him credit f. - his feelings on the present occasion, agitated as they were by gratitude and kindness. He was unable to address there as he could wish, for " what the heart felt, the tongue was not always able to express"--:(App/ausfs). It was his intention, when helost his Plection eighteen months since, to have retired altogether from pub lic life, but it was now impossible to resist the imperious call upon him by his fellow-citizens.— If they placed him, therefore, in the situation of their Represtntative, all his obligations, and the best ser vices of his remaining life would be due to them. No man on earth would stand up firmer than he for the peculiar rights and privileges of the City of Lon don. In other matters, he would think for himself. If he were to say, that he would not attend to the opinions and wishes of such reflecting men as the Livery of London, he should do wrong. But the House of Commons was a deliberative assembly; ar gumeas were there brought forward and discussed. It was from such discussions and oppositions that truth was elicited. His mind was' not prepared to. make a long oration. He felt much gratified by their Resolutions, and considered himself bound to come forward. If they exerted themselves, theie was no doubt but their object would be accomplished (Applause).---The Meeting then adjourned. • • ~ . liftELLtativa, 06TIM' OP CHANCERY, PEBItUARY VislX ATTORNEY.GENRRAL V. CATHERINIPHALL. t pleadings in this cause, which have occupied the court during several sittings were now concluded. The LORD CHANCELLOR deferred giving judgthent till he should have read over the papers. At the rising of the eOurt, Sir I , Tatkin Lewes ad dressed his Lordship on . the subject of asuit in which he' was concerned. He said the question at issut in volved the disposal of property to a very large amount, and therefore it was of importance that it should be decided as early as possible. He begged his Lordship to fix an early day for the hearing of this cause. The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he Would do any thing in his power to oblige Sir Watkin Lewes, or any other suitor; but he could not conscientiously bring on this cause (Lewes v. Morgan) out of its turn, while there were so many old appeals to be disposed of. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY IL Lord Kenyon took the Oaths of Allegiance td — hia Majesty, in consequenie of the patent office which he holds in this Court. THE KING V. / I ARICINS AND WAITHMAN, MRS. AND „ttrbo stsitest . two thqtilsttionS bi tall Comecon Halls, onessigned by 73 individuals, the Other ay upwards of 50, kad beers presented to him & but he had refused both applications: The names of Mrs Thompson, Mr. Fearon & Mr& Hurcomb, and Mr. Ste vens, were among the requisitionists ; and this depo nent, although not present, swore he believed these persons principally concerned in exciting the disturb ance vrhiclielayed the election of Lord Mayor.— Mr. Sheriff Bothwell, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Brown s also swote, that these persons, Mr. Waithman god Mr. Parkyns, were concerned, and combined to ob struct the election. Now, with regard to MP% Hur ; comb, the fact charged again.t him was contained in the affidavit of Mr. Brown, namely, that he had heed• seen distributing a certain hand-bill, in Guildhall, to kir. beau. Now Mr. Dean swore, he received no hand-bill from Mr. Hurcomb; and a Gewlemart, named Coutes, who - was with Mr. Hurcomb, also swore, that he did not see Mr, Hurcomb deliver any hand-bill to any one. Mr. Hurcomb was alsO accused of having stood in the way, and prevented dill, the Hall-keeper, from fixing up the boards containing the names of the Candidates for the office of Loral Mayor, as was usual, on the hustings; but Mr. Hill declared, in his affidavit, that no such circumstance took place. Against Mr. Hurcomb, therefore, be submitted, the Rule must be discharged. Mr. N. Brown, one of the City Marshals, in Ills affidavit, de tailed 'a great deal of matter relative to riot and con fusion, which, even from his statement, was not con fined to one side: but Mr. Brown went. on to state, that as soon as the Lord Mayor and Aldermen re tired, Mr.Waithman ru§hed forward to take possession of the front of thehustings, witliMr. Thompson ; and that Mr. Thompson laid violent hands on the Com mon gerjeant, who was remonstrating with him, upon which the deponent came forward to protect him from violence. Now the affidavit of the Common Serjeant did not corroborate this fact—he complained of no violence from Mr. Thompson ; and Mr. Thomp son, on his part, totally denied it, but said he was seized by Mr. Brown, who was pulling him back, whilst Mr. Henry Hunt had hold of the other arm, pulling him forward, till he was considerably alarmed, being in ill health at the time, for his personal safety. Mr. AldermanWaithman also swore, that he did not precis forward, as described by Mr. Brown, but kept at the back of the hustings, till he saw the violence offered to Mr. Thompson, when he came forward to speak to order. Mr. Denman then proceeded to read and comment on the opposite affidavits of the two Sheriffs, Bothwell and Parkyns, from which it ap peared, that the;e Gentlemen had taken different views of the lase, and each had acted on his own opinion, and were neither of them free from blame. He would next come to the Common Seijeant's 'affidavit, in which his Learned Friend complained of having been treated with disrespect by some of the defendants; and it appeared, that in consequence of some observation made by Mr. Sheriff Parkyns, the Common Serjeant declared aloud that be wished yo hold no conversation with him. Here, then,. was a complete cut between the Sheriff and the person who should have been his legal adviser. Mr. Hunt was described by the Common Serjeant as having held him up to contempt and ridicule, by de siring the persons who surrounded him on the hus tings to stand back to the right and left, that the Li very might see the Common Serjeant, who, though he considered himself as so great a man there, was only a junior Counsel at Westminster-hall.. This, perhaps, was not very courteous language; but surely there-was nothing so very degrading in being o ju nior Counsel in Westminster ; and he must re -peat, that he could not but regret his Learned Friend having' been betrayed into the irritation he had been. With respect to what had been said by Mr. Waith man, Mr. Parkyns, Mr. Thompson, and the other defendants, as to their determination to proceed to discuss the Resolutions held by Mr. Thompson, they were expressions used whilst contending for what they considered as a legal right. With respect to the defendant, Mr.l3timstead, there was nothing to affect him except that- he seconded the Resolutions. Mr. Alderman Waithman's affidavit expressed his 'firm conviction that the Livery had the right to discuss public grievances when called together fur the election of a Lord Mayor. He had heard that several of the Livery, dissatisfied with the Lord Mayor for refusing to call a Common Hall, had determined to erect huitings and hold a meeting in Guildhall-yard, and in consequence Of the rumour he addressed a ietter to the Livery, strongly recommending them-to refrain from such meeting, as they would' have the oppor tunitt of meeting in their own Hall on the 29th of September. They did accordingly refrain froth such meeting in Guildhall-yard. The affidavit then pro ceeded to detail the transactions in Guildhall,• and denied any violence of conduct on his part, or that, he in any way insulted or attempted' to degrade the Common Serjeant; nor did he, as was stated in some of the affidavits on the other side, use the following expression—” Hunt, Hunt, tell Thomscai to stick by them and give way to no one"—and he also denied, in positive terms, having had any share in drawing up the Resolutions, or any intention to prevent the election of a Lord Mayor, as was ultimately the case. The Learned Counsel then went through the other affidavits, which were numerous and volumi nous, and, on the whole, submitted that' it was per fectly clear that all these individuals had acted on a 'conscientious persuasion that they had the right. If they had it not, yet he trusted this Court would not now treat them as criminals by granting an informa tion, but would send them to a Grand Jury, the most convenient tribunal for enquiry. Mr. BROUGHAM followed on the same side, as Counsel for Mr. Thompson, ante submitted that if on this occasion their Lordships should grant an Informa tion, they would by that decision bring on themselves every little petty corporate political quarrel in the kingdom. They would open the doors of Westmin ster Hall to every Common Hall, who Would have nothing to do in future but to create a riot amongst themselves, and make the Court of King's Bench a Court of Appeal, to decide the quarrels of all the Common Councils and Common flails in the Empire. He now contended, that in making out the present [case ? the prosecutors had not laid before the 'Court ;he best evidence they could have got. Their strong point was, the usage and custom of the City of L. , n- Oon; yet they ha d - not got the bet authority they might have done; namely, that of ,the Recorder.— They had not even- given that of the Common Ser jeant, but rested on t h e opinion of the Town Clea . . . . . , if 4 .. . . •". . . . . . . • • • . . • . . . . . . . . . . ... _ . - .... . :;; MEETING OF THE PRIENbS OF SIR The Livery ought, theretbre, to &cid.) Iliaattni. LA* IiftELLtGENCE6 , 106 Stitiest due two thqtitsttiont tli tall Coniston , WILLIAM CURTIS. and give their old and tried - Repiesentative their . • Halls, by a... 5............ alls, onessigned 73 individuals, the tither by '. tl warmest support—(Hear, hoar)L upwards of 50, had beers presented to him; but he j OHM' OF CHANCERY, VERItUARY los., - A Meeting of Bankers, Merchants s and ot h ers, of The Deputation having retu r ned, Mr. H ALL read asRE ATTORNEY-GENERAL IP V. CATHERINHALL. had refused both applications: The names of Mr ' * es London, was held yesterday at the L ondon Tavern, the answer of Sir W. Curds (which tnillelso be sews le • ;s e pleadings in this cause, which have occupied Thompson, Mr. Fearo ni Mn s H ur c o mb, an d M r . S te - - , for the purpose of inviting Sir W. CURTIs to become enotheepaet of our impression). It was received with the Court during several sittings were now concluded, tens ; were among the r e qu i s i t i on i sts ; an d t hi s d epo - a Ca:tell:late for the City, and to consider of the best shouts of applause., Th e LORD CHANCELLORdeferred giving judgment vent, although not pr esen t, swore h e b e li eve d t h ese i: means to be adopted for securing his return at the Sir CIA RLli PRICE proposed the next Resolution, till he s h ou ld h ave rea d over t h e papers. persons principally concerned i n exc i t i n g t h e disturb- P s ' ensuing General Election. There were from 500 to which was seconded by Sir WILLIAM LEIGHToN. A t t h e r i s i ng Of t h e C ourt, Si r W at ki n L ewes a d - ante R vrhichaielayed the election of Lord Mayor.— 600 persons in the room. W. MANNING, Esq. M. P. Mr. MANN ING proposed that a Committee should d resse d hi s L ordsh i p on the subjec t of a - su i t i n wh i ch Mr. Sheriff othwell, Mr. Tu r ne r , an d Mr. B rown , also swore, that these persons, Mr. Waithman and was in the Chair. sit daily at the London Tavern, in order to carry the Mr. Parkyns, were concerned, and combined to ob- he was concerned. He said the question at issue in- ' Mr. MANNING said, he bad been extremely anxious, object of the Meeting into effect.—Carried. volved the disposal of property to a very large struck the election. New, with regard to Mr% Hur on the present occasion, that one of the Aldermen of Sir' CHARLES PRICE moved the Thanks of the amounf, and therefore it was of importance that it 1 the City, or some individual more immediately cone Meeting to the Chairman, which was carried with s h ou ld b e d ec id e d as ear l y as poss ibl e. H e b egge d comb, the fact charged agai n d hi m was conta i ned i n his et netted with-the Corporation than he was, should have great applause ; and Mr..MeseiteG returned thanks. Lordship been called to the Chair. The part he had already Sir CLAnDIUS HUNTER informed the Meeting that this cause. seen distributing a certain hand-bill, in Guildhall, to :,. taken in I Committee for the purpose of again bring- Sir Wm. Curtis, at the desire of a great majority of The LORD CHANCELLOR said, he Would do any Mr. bean. Now Mr. Dean sw ore , h e rece i ve d no ' ing Sir W. Curtis Into Parliament, was as a private the room, would shortly make his appearance. 'The thing in his power to oblige Sir Watkin Lewes, or hand-bill from Mr. Hurcomb ; and a G eie l eman, s individual only. Since, however, it was the pleasure worthy Baronet soon after entered the room, amid any othe r su it or; b u t h e cou ld not consc i ent i ous l y named Coutes, who-wee with Mr. Hur com b, a l so , . t of the assembly he addressed to call upon him to shouts of applause. b r i ng on t hi s cause (L ewes v . M organ ) out o f i ts swore, that he did not see Mr, Hurcomb d e li ver any - ". preside publicly, he was equally gratified in obeying • Alderman ATKINS proposed a Resclution, to the turn, while there were so many old appeals to be hand-bill to any one. Mr. Hurcomb wa s alse accuse d - the voice of so respectable and numerous a meeting effect that the Committee should be an open one, and disposed of. of having stood in the way, and prevented dill, the • - of his fellow-citizens. He should, therefore most constantly sitting. Every friend of Sir Wm. Curtis COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY ie. Hall-keeper, from fi xing up the boards containing - the names of the Candidates for the o ffi ce of Lard • cheerfully do his duty in the best manner he could, should hare free access, progress ought to be reported, Lord Kenyon took the Oaths of Allegiance td his Mayor, as was usual, on the hustings ; but Mr. Hill ' and only hoped for the kind indulgence of those and every thing well organised, in order that they Majesty, in consequenie of the patent office which whom -he addressed. He concluded by heartily re- might obtain their object, and once more receive in declared, in his a ffi davit, that no such circumstance . he holds in this Court. semmending Sir W. Curtis as a fit and proper person their bosom the worthy Baronet. took place. Against Mr. Hurcomb, therefore, be to represent the City of London in Parliament— ,Sir WILLIAM CuitTis (having recovered from - the THE KING ti.'7AREINs AND WAITIIMAN, ESQRS. ANN submitted, the Rule must be discharged. Mr. N. • (Applauce). - • . feelings which appeared to affect him when he first pTHRRS. Brown, oee of the City Marshals, in his affidavit, de- Mr. J. HALL then read the Resolutions—(for entered the room) said, that having done him the At the sitting of the Court, this morning, the above tailed 'a great deal of matter relative to riot and con- : ithich see the front of our Paper). honour to call him forth again upon the public stage cause was called on. fusion, which, even from his statement, was not con- Sir C. S. HUNTER in rising to propose the firstße- of life, in-order to represent them in Parliament, he Mr. DENMAN proceeded to shevr cause against the fined to one side: but M r . B rown went. on to state, - solution, said, it gave him the greatest possible hap- had most gratefully obeyed the summons. He had for Rule for a criminal information. He appeared for that a s s o on a s th e L or d M ayer an d Ald ermen re- -- t „ p 'se s s to see their old and worthy Friend s - the Ho- twenty-seven-years, he trusted with honour, repre- Mr. Alderman Waithman, Mr. Hurcombe, Mr. tired, Mr.Waithman rushed forward to take possession Fearon, and Mr. Stevens, and had now to contend of the f ront o f t h e h ust i ngs , w i t h M r. Th ompson i and nonviable Baronet, again introduced before them as seated the Livery of London. His political life was that his clients, who were charged witlpa riot, and that M r . 'Th om p son l a id v i o l ent h an d s on t h e Com- • 4 ' a person not only fit, but well entitled, to represent well known to them all. It might be supposed that s them lit Parliament; and it was with equal gratifica- he would now seek repose ; but seeing the state of obstructing the election of a Lord Mayor on Michael- mon Serjeant, who was remonstrating wi t h hi m , upon -. mas-day last, were on that occasion only exercising w hi c h the dep onent came f orwar d to protect him • g' . tion he could assure the Meeting, that Sir William his country, so long as he had mind and power t. )".. Curtis was most anxious and zealous to come for- act, he should fight to protect hef, and maintain her a right ; and if so, then the charge of riot would re- f ro m v i o l ence . N ow t h e affidavit of the Common ward and ,seek their suffrages--Much—Much great Constitution. That Constitution had not only coil os their opponents, who had been the promoters Se r jeant did n o t c o rro b orate t hi s fact—he complained•": • had been already done for the attainment of this pur- been attacked, but its overturn and destruction medis of riot ; at all events, if he could make his clients' of no violence from Mr. Thompson ; and Mr. Th ornp . pose ; and when he knew how desirous the great tared altogether As long, therefore, as he had a right to act as they had done only appear doubtful, so n, o n his part, totally denied it, but s aid h e was '. . he was persuaded the Court would, under that doubt, se i ze d by M r . B rown , w h o was pu lli ng hi m b ac k , body of the mercantile community were to be duly voice, he should raise it in defence of his King and pause before they visited these defendants with the whilst Mr. Henry Hunt had h o ld o f t h e olier arm, .. -.' represe.oed, he had no doubt of their ultimate suc- Constitution —( hear, hear). lie trusted the Meeting severe penalties of criminal information. To estab- pulling him forward, till he was considerably alarmed, cess. ile had been their Representative and servant would give him credit for his feelings on the present for maey years, and had done much good. If he occasion, ag itated as they -were by gratitude and fish this doubt, he would first advert to the affidavit b e i ng i n ill health at the tithe, for his personal safety. was once more returned, he lead no doubt be would kindness. e was unable to address them as he g of Mr. H. Woodthorpe, the present Town Clerk. He M r . Ald erman W a i t h man a l so swore , t h at h e did not eminently distinguish himself, and prove useful in Could wish,. for " what the heart felt, the tongue then Proceeded to read the affidavit of Mr. Wood- press forward, as described by Mr, Brown, b u t k ept the !night st degree. was not always able to express"--:(App/ausas). It thorpe, which set forth the mode of election, and a t th e b a ck of th e h ust i ngs , t ill h e saw t h e v i o l ence ' Alderman ATKINS, in seconding the Resolution, was his intention, when helost his election eighteen also cited precedents, wherein the Livery, assembled offered to M r . Thomp s o n , w h en h e came f orwar d to • . on Michaelmas-day, had proceeded on other busi- speak to orde r . M r . D enman t he n procee d e d to rea d '' observed, whil! he had had the honour to act in Par- months since, to have retired altogether from pub- ness; and the affidavit also set forth the opinion de- and comment on the Oppo s ite affidavits of the two Barnett: as colleague of the worthy Baronet, he found lie life, but it was now impossible to resist the -. - him an uprie,ht and most efficient Member; and, if his imperious call upon him by his fellow-citizens.— livered on this subject by Mr. Serjeant Glynn, in Sheriffs, Bothwell and Parkyn s , f rom w hi c h i t a p- ' health permitted, he still considered him as the most If they placed him, therefore, in the situation of their 1773, who was at that time Recorder, and who, in gea red, that these Gentle men h a d ta k en diff erent ' lit person to represent the City of London: and as it Representative, all his obligations, and the best see- reply to an application made by the Livery to him views of the law, and each had a c ted on hi s o w n on this very subject, declared, that the Livery, lo- opinion, and were neither of them free from blame. • was essential to have eminent mercantile characters, vices of his remaining life would be due to them. • to act for the City of London, he fur one should do No man on earth would stand up firmer than he for gaily assembled, had a right to discuss public griev- li e wou ld n e x t come to t h e C ommon S ei j eant ' s all is his power to promote the objects of the Meet- the peculiar rights and privileges of the City of Lon- ances, whether on Midsummer-day, Michaelmas- affidavit, in which his Learned Friend compl a ined . ing—the return of Sir William Curtis. don. In other matters, he would think for himself. day, or any other day. The Learned Counsel ob- of having been treated w ith di sres p ec t by some o f .t' G. BLACEMAN, Esq. p r oposed the second Resolu- If he were to say, that he would not attend to the served, the right of the Livery to petition the Crown the defe n d an t s; and it app eare d, th at in consequence tion, and it was seconded by Sir C. FLowEs. opinions and wishes Of such reflecting men as the was established beyond dispute ;pet it appeared from of some observation made by Mr. Sheriff Parkyns, . this affidavit, that the late "Lord Mayor, contrary to the Common Ser j eant decl ar ed a l ou d t h at be wished Mr. JACKS, in proposing the third Resolution, said, Livery of London, he should do wrong. But the he had long witnessed the career of Sir William Cur- House of Commons was a deliberative assembly; ar. the practice observed by his predecessors; had re- to hold no conversation with him. Here, then, . ' tis, as an old Member of thi Corporation. lie gave guments were there brought forward and discussed, fused to assemble the Livery, when requested to do was a complete cut between the Sheriff and the his hearty concurrence to every word which had It was from such discussions and oppositions that so, for the purpose of agreeing to a Petition, on a pe r son who should have been hi s l ega l a d v i ser —. subject highly Interesting to the liberty of the sub- M r . Hunt was described by the Commo n S er j ea n t as fallen, either in his praise, or as to his fitness to re- truth was elicited. His mind was' not prepared to present them in Parliament. There never was a time make a long oration. He felt much gratified by ject, and had refused two applications, a short time having held him up to contempt and ridicule, by de- when it was so necessary to have high mercantile their Resolutions, and considered himself bound to before the 29th of September last. This was taking siring the persons who surrounded him on the hue. characters in such a situation ; and while he would come forward. If they exerted themselves, thrise away the right of petitioning from the Livery, and tings to stand back to the right and left, that the Li- - talk of the faults or virtues of individuals, he trusted WAS no doubt but their object would be accomplished placing it wholly at the command of the Lord Mayor. very might se? the Common Serjeant, who, though ~ that lie should never again see so few real mercantile (Applause).--The Meeting then adjourned. To rescue this right as far as possible, when the Li- he considered himself as so great 'a man there, was men in Parliarnent—(Hear, hear !)—He was con- very were assembled on Michaelmas-day last, a only a junior Counsel at Westminster-hall. This, ' -, winced of the lamentable deficiency which had for GENERAL ELECTION. Gentleman named Thompson, previous to proceed- perhaps, was not very courteous language; but surely son,e time existed in this respect. Sir J. Shaw had • ing to the election of Lord Mayor, proposed several there-was nothing so very degrading in being a ju- :s communicated to him the fact, that when he was in DROGIIEDA.—Mr. OGLE has declined the contest Resolutions, whielt were supported by the other de- nior Counsel in Westminster-hall; and he must re- Parliament,fendants, and almost unanimously adopted by the -peat, that he could not but regret his Learned Friend • so great was the attention paid to the for this Borough, and it will be disputed by Mr. mercantile interests, that one hundred days out of WALLACE and Air. MITCALFA. Livery present, amounting to nearly four thousand, having' been betrayed into the irritation he had been. and this was the offence with which they were Wi t h res p ec t to what h a d b een sa id by M r . W a i t h- devoted --. three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, were Mau-DIP.—Mr. Jernsoe, it is said, will oppose to that purpose. In the return of Sir \'V& Mr. BEECHER in this Borough. charged. The Learned Counsel then adverted to the man, Mr. Parkyns, Mr. Thompson, and the other :- ham C.ittis, the Meeting would not only have the COUNTY DF CAVAN.—Two new Candidates, in op. case of Mr. F. Jenks, which occurred in the reign of defendants, as to their determination to proceed to ''" Corporation interests, and the interests of the City pOsition to Messrs. SNEYD and BARRY, have appeared, Charles the Second. Mr. Jenks had proceeded pre- discuss the Resolutions held by Mr. Thompson, they .. i f 7, .! generally preserved, but the great mercantile irate- namely, Mr. SAATNDERsoN, of Castle Saunderson, and cisely as Mr. Alderman Waithman and the rest of were expressions used whilst contending for what •.. ::,' rests of the country at large. - Mr. BARROWES, of Btradone—one or two others are the defendants in the present ca s e had done. Mr. they considered as a legal right. With respect to the , FELIX CLAY, Esq. seconded the Resolution. also mentioned. Jenks was taken up and imprisoned, and the Court defendant, Mr.l3iimstead, there was nothing to affect . S' . Sir C. Rower( proposed, and Sir F. DaSsealdee se- Qumn: . ; CousTy.—Sir CHARLES HENRY COOTE, party, aided by the then Common Serjeant, after- him except that- he seconded the Resolutions. Mr. I, .-.• conded the fourth Resolution. Bart. is returning from Italy, to stand for this County, wards Lord Chief Justice Jeffries, exerted-themselves , Alderman Waithman's affidavit expressed his 'firm '.. Alderman ATKINs mentioned,.that the Resolution in opposition to the present Members. to convict him of a riot, but failed. The Learned conviction that the Livery had the right to discuss called on the, Livery to dispense with the personal COUNTY or Colic —New Candidates are preparing Counsel also adverted to the case of Pilkington and public grievances when called together fur the election canvass of Sir William Curtis. This, he thought, to contest this County, and also that of Limerick. Schutes, and to that of Sacheierel, which were tried of a Lord Mayor. He had heard that several of the . looked arrogant, and suggested, that the Meeting COUNTY or LONGFORD.—Mr. LUKE WHITE, jun. it before Chief Justice Jeffries. In these cases there Livery, dissatisfied with the Lord Mayor for refusing -•- 4 do respectfully recommend to the Livery to dig- is said, will oppose Sir G. R. FETHERSTON, in this was much more of violence, personal violence, than to call a Common Hall, had determined to erect pense, &c.' The alteration was agreed to. County. • in the present; yet no conviction, even in those times, huitings and hold a meeting in Guildhall-yard, and e, Mr. W. WARD proposed the fifth Resolution, and CouNTY 07 LEITRIM.—The death of Mr. LA- took place. Indeed, out of the imprisonment of F. in consequence Of the rumour he addressed a letter Sir M. BLOXAM seconded it. rouenz has changed the political state of this County. Jenks the Habeas Corpus Act arose. He contended s to the Livery, strongly recommending them•to refrain The CHAIRMAN then suggested, that before they It is said, that Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. Ceemearrs that the present defendants had acted in the exercise from such meeting, as they would' have the• oppore 1 i proceeded any farther, they should obtain an answer has coalesced with Mr. WHITE, and both these Geis- of what they considered an established right; and he tunity of meeting in their own Hall on the 29th of !, from Sir W. Curtis, whether he was ready to be- tlemen will be opposed by Mr. LATOUCHE and the trusted, if they had exercised that right improperly, September. They did accordingly refrain froth such ' come a Candidate for the Representation of the City lion. Mr. CL E M ENTS , the s o n o f the E ar l ea s el/a t m, the Court would send the question to be tried in meeting in Guildhall-yard. The affidavit then pro- - ; of London ? ss ho have also united their interests. another shape, by action. for trespass, or otherwise ceeded to detail the transactions in Guildhall, • and 7e. A Deputation was immediately sent to the worthy COUNTY of SLIOO.—A vigorous contest is antici- by indictment, and not grant criminal informations, denied any violence of conduct on his part, or that, he Baronet for this purpose. pated in this County: a Candidate is likely to offer a course by no means convenient •for discussing the in any way insulted or attempted - to degrade the ,- air. S. Dixon, during their absdlCE, observed, who will stand on the Catholic interest. question. If they were contending for a right, they Common Serjeant ; nor did he, as was stated in some , next to the desire ler returning Sir W. Curtis to Par- were justified; and it appeared that they had good of the affidavits on the other side, use the following . ii..m?nt, he was most anxious that the City should ,BETTING AT TATTF.RsALL'S YESTERDAY. grounds for believing they had the right; for on the expression—e Hunt, Hunt, tell Thomsod to stick by • 4, be represented by real men of business. And while Alan'. . Journals of the House of Commons there was an them and give way to no one"—and he also denied, ~ - II to 1 apt Mr. rierse's...Taken 16 to I agst Brother Pindaree so Bloater `;'.• h 2 had nothing whatever to 'say against t is! to 1 a t Duke—Taken 17 to 1 a he private entry of a Petition presented on the 25th 'of June, in positive terms, having had any share in drawing ... ppt virtues or characters of the present Members, be did i s to 1 apt Sailor 20 to 1 apt any other. 1664 ; which Petition was agreed to in Common up the Resolutions, or any intention to prevent the sa not hesitate to say, that they were totally unac- o.txs.-5 to 1 agst the Sorcery fi lly. Hall on the day before, being the 24th, the day on election of a Lord Mayor, as was ultimately the e se is s , quainted with great mercantile Sr. LTlakt•-14 to 1 ag,st Mr. Pierse's Lisette colt. questionsi—(There Rios, EiWOR Elf .-4 to I apt Selima. which the Livery were assembled for the election of case. The Learned Counsel then went through the f . 3 t , :eve here loud ernes ef " Name, name 1" but Ms can Sheriffs. He also contended, generally, that even if the other affidavits, which were numerous and volumi- i: PEDESTP.I.INISH. e was put down by esis applause and hisses). Me hoped defendants were guilty of the offence alleged against nous, and, on the whole, submitted that it was per- Mr. Mat.s's match to run It) miles in two hours, was totter.. '' i the feeling would go abroad, of the necessity of hay- taken and lost yesterday ini the Watford road. It Was for sots. them, yet this was not a case for a criminal informa- fectly clear that all these individuals had acted on a ieg high mercantile men to represent the City of The Pedestrian did five miles in the first half hour, and the ten tion. Criminal information ought only to be 'conscientious persuasion that they had the right. If : -'- London in the Legislature; and that those who ap- miles was accomplish , 2d in one ho;:r and two seconds. The next granted where delay would endanger the public they had it not, yet he trusted this Court would not • • . nreciated Sir W. Curtis in this character would sea- five miles were done in 32. min;..cs ; and here the Pedestrian be- peace—perhaps silly in cases of challenge and of now treat them as criminals by granting an informa- . gun to he beat ; he lost upon time until he was beat in the lath 1 irmsly exert themselves, and not as they had mile, when the two boors and two minutes had expired. libel. In such cases as the present, he submitted, don, but would send them to a Grand Jury, the most .''. done before ;to the great injury of rcause, and the In consequence of the change of weather, the the proper course would be, to send the case of the convenient tribunal for enquiry. -1 loss of his Election. Committee for distributing the Subscription to the defendants first for consideration-before a Grand Jury. Mr. BROUGHAM followed on the same side, as , ‘ - H. 11. MARTEN, Esq, wished to join most heartily p oor of Sheerness, have given away bread instead of He should now proceed to state the particular facts Counsel for Mr. Thompson, anti submitted that if on 1 with those who had peseded him, in t to be decisive urging the rt. turn of mercantile men as Members for th e City. It was only mercantile men who could represent mere -. 1 curdle interests (Hear). --But the Meeting look at their choice of a Member in a political point of view. They had arrived at a crisis when the Con- r :Lives of the People should be decisive. - Men , too , m tivg': in givin their votes, and not g coals; and 800 quartern loaves were lately distri basted in one day. Cosh-ExcuAarse, FEBRUARY 11.—We have had . of this transaction from the affidavits ; and if, in the this occasion their Lordships should grant an Inform:4- ''',. course of doing so, he should have to detail circum- tion, they would by that decision bring on themselves '. stances, imputing blame to highly respectable indi- ever y little petty corporate political quarrel in the -., dm" but little Wheat fresh in since Monday, for which ar- viduals, friends of his , who ought to have been legal kin tide, of fine quality, the demand continues tolerably frisk; and picked samples may be quoted Is. per ully supports -Monday's peels; but there is very Bans, and Oats, no alteration : the consumers of the A it d sat:sfied in affording cold - comma:el-Place sup' latter article hold off' buying, in expectation of large part to this or that individual. Men should look also tupplies next week. advisers and moderators on this occasion, but, kingdom . They would open the doors of Westrnia- on the star Hall to every Common Hall, who Would have contrary, by warmth and irritability on their part had nothing to do in future but to create a riot amongst ctitntion of the Country required that it should not quarter higher. Fine Malting Barley being scarce, tended to aggravate the disturbance , he should re - themselves, and make the Court of King's Bench a (..tly be preserved, but balanced ; and the Represent - - gut it ; but he should do so, notwithstanding, in the Court of Appeal, to decide the quarrels of all the little doing in the middling descriptions. In Peas, discharge of his duty. And their Lordships should Common. Councils and Common Halls in the Empire. .;• also be informed, that a vote of the Court a COM- He now contended, that in making out the present mon Council had declared its opinion, that peoceeds case, the prosecutors had not laid before the 'Court ; ings against these defendants should proceed no far- the bestevidence they could have got. Their strong r . a Lit . evil: which had been brought upon the Country, , 4 4 baassnitaxua Mwaxtr, Fro. ll.— Beef, 4s. 6d. to Es. ad. per ther, and the City Solicitor had been directed not to point was, the usage and custom of the City of L. , n- • iil .u;J return those who were likely to avert them. slop of Plbs.; Mutton, Ss olb -o 6.. od. V e al, 57. bci.to 7 k s. we continue his management of the prosecution, which 'don; yet they had - not got the best authority they 1- -4 i Alder as. Wood and Waithman might still vote as Por k t 555.520.; to 7s v t e d s .; Lamb Shee " a t n o d ° l c .. C1 to - , C 44 , -I t O t O e atril9eo.— was now conducted by other Solicitors., The Rule I might have done; namely, that of ,the Recorder„ .- they pi : but there was little doubt of the line Hay, perload, IL lus; to 44. 10s. p vi conduct Sir Wm. Curtis would pursue--(Hear). sa, as. to ii. 1 42 . C.Lover, 51. 10s. to 61.10.. Straw, was obtained on thirteen affidavits t the first to which! They had not even- given that of the Common Ser- - he would allude was that of the late Lord Mayor, t jeant, but rested on the opinion of the Town Clerk; • . " . . PTHISRS. At the sitting of the Court, this morning ) the above cause was called on. Mr. DENMAN proceeded to shevr cause against the Rule for a criminal information. He appeared for Mr. Alderman Waithman, Mr. Hurcombe, Mr. Fearon, and Mr. Stevens, and had now to contend that his clients, who were charged with "a riot, and obstructing the election of a Lord Mayor on Michael mas-day last, were on that occasion only exercising a right ; and if so, then the charge of riot would re coil out their opponents, who had been the promoters of riot ; at all events, if he could make his clients' right to act as they had done only appear doubtful, he was persuaded the Court would, under that doubt, pause before they visited these defendants with the severe penalties of criminal information. To estab lish this doubt, he would first advert to the affidavit of Mr. H. Woodthorpe, the present Town Clerk. He then proceeded to read the affidas it of Mr. Wood thorpe, which set forth the mode of election, and also cited precedents, wherein the Livery, assembled on Michaelmas-day, had proceeded on other busi ness; and the affidavit also set forth the opinion de livered on this subject by Mr. Serjeant Glynn, in 1773, who was at that time Recorder, and who, in reply to an application made by the Livery to him on this very subject, declared, that the Livery, le gally assembled, had a right to discuss public griev ances, whether on Midsummer-day, Michaelmas day, or any other day. The Learned Counsel ob-4 served, the right of the Livery to petition the Crown was established beyond dispute ; yet it appeared from this affidavit, that the late 'Lord Mayor, contrary to the practice observed by his predecessors, had re fused to assemble the Livery, when requested to do so, for the purpose of agreeing to a Petition, on a subject highly Interesting to the liberty of the sub ject, and had refused two applications, a short time. before the 29th of September last. This was taking away the right of petitioning from the Livery, and placing it wholly at the command of the Lord Mayor. To rescue this right as far as possible, when the Li- very were assembled on Michaelmas-day last, a Gentleman named Thompson, previous to proceed ing to the election of Lord Mayor, proposed several Resolutions, whieh were supported by the other des fendants, and almost unanimously adopted by the Livery present, amounting to nearly four thousand, and this was the offence with which they were charged. The Learned Counsel then adverted to the case of Mr. F. Jenks, which occurred in the reign 4)1 1 Charles the Second. Mr. Jenks had proceeded pre cisely as Mr. Alderman Waithman and the rest of the defendants in the present case had done. Mr. Jenks was taken up and imprisoned, and the Court party, aided by the then Common Serjeant, after wards Lord Chief Justice Jeffries, exerted-themselves to convict him of a riot, but failed. The Learned Counsel also adverted to the case of Pilkington and Schutes, and to that of Sacheierel, which were tried before Chief Justice Jeffries. In these cases there was much more of violence, personal violence, than in the present ; yet no conviction, even in those times, took place. Indeed, out of the imprisonment of F. Jenks the Habeas Corpus Act arose. He contended, that the present defendants had acted in the exercise of what they considered an established right; and he trusted, if they had exercised that right iinproperiy, the Court would send the question to be tried in another shape, by action. for trespass, or otherwise by indictment, and not grant criminal informations, a course by no means convenient •for discussing the question. If they were contending for a right, they were justified; and it appeared that they had good grounds for believing they had the right ; for on the Journals of the Hou se of Commons there was an entry of a Petition presented on the 2.5 th of June, 1664 ; which Petition was agreed to in Common Hall on the day before, being the 24th, the day on which the Livery were assembled for the election of Sheriffs. He also contended, generally, that even if the defendants were guilty of the offence alleged against them, yet this was not a case for a criminal informa tion. Criminal information ought only to be granted where delay would endanger the public peace—perhaps only in cases of challenge and of libel. In such cases as the present, he submitted, the proper course would be, to send the case of the defendants first for consideration.before a Grand Jury. He should now proceed to state the particular facts of this transaction from the affidavits ; and if, in the course of doing so, he should have to detail circum stances, imputing blame to highly respectable indi viduals, friends of his, who ought to have been legal, advisers and moderators on this occasion, but, on the contrary, by warmth and irritability on their part had tended to aggravate the disturbance, he should re gret it ; but he should do so, notwithstanding, in the discharge of his duty. And their Lordships should also be informed, that a vote of the Court aCom mon Council had declared its opinion, that peoceed• ings against these defendants should proceed no far ther, and the City Solicitor had been directed not to continue his management of the prosecution; which was now conducted by other Solicitors., The Rule was obtained on thirteen affidavits t the first to which he would allude was that of the late Lord Mayor, GENERAL ELECTION. DROGIIEDA.-Mr. OGLE has declined the contest for this Borough, and it will be disputed by Mr. WALLACE and Mr. MITCALFA. MALLOW.—Mr. JErnsoN, it is said, will oppose Mr. BEECHER in this Borough. COUNTY Dr CAVAN.—Two new Candidates, in op • position to Messrs. SNEYD and BARRY, have appeared, namely, Mr. SAIINDERSON, of Castle Saunderson, and Mr. BA RROWES, of Stradone—one or two others are also mentioned. QUERN:, COUNTY.—Sir CNANLES HENRY COOTE, Bart. is returning from Italy, to stand for this County, in opposition to the present Members. COUNTY or COM—New CandiJates are preparing to contest this County, and also that of Limerick. COUNTY OF LONGFORD.—Mr. LULE WHITE, jun. is said, will oppose Sir G. It. FETHERSTON, in this County. COUNTY 07 LEITRIM.—The death of Mr. LA- Toucns has changed the political state of this County. It is said, that Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. CLEmrwrs has coalesced with Mr. WHITE, and both these Gen tlemen will be opposed by Mr. LATOUCHE and the lion. Mr. CLEMENTS, the son of the Earl of' Lam', uho have also un;ted their interests. COUNTY OF Sr.ioo.—A vigorous contest is antici pated in this County: a Candidate is likely to offer who will stand on the Catholic interest. ,BETTING AT TA'ITE.RSALL'S YESTERDAY. • 11 to 1 aptlfr.Pierse's..Talsen 16 to 1 agst Brother to Bloater , 1! to 1 apt Duke—Taken 17 to 1 apt Pindaree 15 to 1 apt Sailor 20 to 1 apt any other. o.scs.-5 to 1 apt the Sorcery filly. hswoit to 1 apt Selinia. Sr. Ltakit.-14 to 1 apt Mr. Pierse's Lisette colt. PEDESTRIANISM. Mr. Mitts's match to run 19 tulles in two hours, was wider. taken and lost yesterday oil the Watford road. It Was for 50gs. The Pedestrian did five miles in the first half hour, and the ten miles was accomplished in one ho;:r and two seconds. The next five miles were done in 32. minces ; and here the Pedestrian be gan to he beat ; he lost upon time until he was beat in the 16th mile, when the two boors and two minutes had expired. In consequence of the change of weather, the Committee for distributing the Subscription to the Poor of Sheerness, have given away bread instead of coals • and 800 quartern loaves were lately distri buted-in one day. Cuw-EzCnANor, FESRIIAnY 11.—We have had but little Wheat fresh iu since Monday, for which ar ticle, of fine quality, the demand continues tolerably brisk; and picked siustplas may be quoted Is. per quarter higher. Fine Malting ßarley being scarce, fully supports Monday's pncesi but there is very little doing in the middling descriptions. In Peas, Beans, ant Oats, no alteration : the consumers of the latter article hold off buying, in expectation of large ' , supplies next week. Smisitaisui Mwastr, Frs. 11.—Beef, 4s. 6d. to Ss. 6di per stone of tlibs.; Mutton, Ss olb Ja 6s. Od. Veal, Ss. bd. to 7s. ocl. Pork 5s 6d. to 75.0 d.; Lamb us. to Os,ol--tattle at Market— Beasts, .520 ; Calves, 10; Sheep and Lambs, 4,400; Pigs, 190. — Hay, perload, Si. 10s. to 4/. 10s. Clover, Si. 10s. to 61.105. Straw, 11. M. t• 11. 14s. 1 'l ~~1 i I 1