Star. — London, England, 1821-04-05 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. DINNER AT THE CITY OF LONDON TAVERN. Yesterday, pursuant to advertisement, an assem blage of Gentlemen, friends of Reform, dined toge ther at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate- , street. Dinner was ordered for six o'clock, and by that hour the large room of the Tavern was crowded • to excess, there being present upwards of three hun dred and fifty persons. The LORD MAYOR presided on the occasion, supported on his right by Mr.LAMB TON, and *on his left by Mr. WHITBREAD. There were also present— . • Lord Nugent, Sir Robert Heron, Mr. Coke (of Norfolk), Sir Ronald Ferguson, Mr. Hobhouse, Mr. Fysche Palmer, Co lonel Davis, Sir George Robinson, Alderman Wood, Mr. Ri cardo, tke Hon. IL G. Bennett, the Hon. C. H. Hutchinson, Mr. Curwen, Mr. Hume, Mr. Wyvill, Mr. Peter Moore, Mr. • IV. Smith, Mr. Bernal, Sir Robert Wilson, Mr. Sheriff Walth man, Mr. Chaloner, Dr. Lushington, Mr. J. Dundas, Mr. S. Duncombe, Mr. Maude, Mr. W. Honywood, Mr. S. Lefevre, Colonel Torrens, Mr. Petre, Mr. James, Sir Charles Monck, Mr. Monck, Sce. &c. &c. * After the cloth was removed, The LORD MAYOR begged leave to propose— .' The King; and may he recollect his own declaration, that the Crown is held in trust for the People." • This toast was well received. Air—" Hope told a Battering tale." The next toast was— " The Queen ;" and it was drank with three times three, amidst the loudest acdamstions. " The People, the only source of legitimate power," was then given, and was drank, as the preceding toast, with three times three, the whole company standing up, and giving loud demon strations of applause. The LORD MAYOR now observed, that the next toast brought him to what might be considered the business of the day. Ile then expressed his sincere regret that the Chair was not more worthily filled on the present occasion, inasmuch as never before had been assembled, under any roof, a body of Gentle men more truly respectable than was met here to day in the cause of Reform—(Applause).—His Lord ship then proceeded to urge some arguments in proof of the necessity of Reform, and contended, that the People had no security for their liberties if the House of Commons did not act as a constitutional check upon the two other Estates—(Applause).—lt was needless for him to detain the company by any ob servations of his own, when there were so many Gen tlemen present whose distinguished talents were much more competent to do justice to this subject than any humble powers which he could bring to it. Ile then pronounced a high eulogium on Mr. Lambton, and concluded by proposing the health of that Gentle. man as the next toast. The company received it with enthusiastic cheers. Mr. LAMBTON said he felt most sensibly the high trilyae that was paid to him by this respectable body of his countrymen. He then referred with peculiar energy to the circumstances of the country, and in sisted that nothing but Reform could rescue it from its perilous situation. The corruption of the House of Commons was carried to the last excess. The People were as nothing, a Faction as everything ! (Applause).—He stated the plan of Refor ni which he had in contemplation to bring fora ard upon an early occasion. Ile would extend the elective franchise to all those who shared in the burthens of the country; so that he hoped to give a vote to every householder, and he would have the duration of Parliaments limited to three years. Ile then adverted to the efforts now made by the Despots of the Continent to put down the risiug spirit of liberty among their oppressed sub jects: it was linking the sound and healthy body of Freedom to the putrid carcase of Legitimacy ! (Loud applaasc).---Ile concluded by saying that he felt truly gratified at seeing around him at this Mo ment so many ardent and sincere friends of Reform. He then sat down amidst loud and repeated cheers. The Lotto MAYOR then said he had received a let ter from Mr. Ilyng, alleging that he was prevented from attending in consequence of indisposition. His Lordship paid a brief but forcible tribute to the merit of Mr. Whitbread; and proposed, as the next toast— " Mr. Samuel Charles Whitbread, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, and the Reformers of the County of 'Middlesex." Mr. WHITBREAD returned thanks, and professed his determination never, upon any occasion, to swerve from the principles with which he set out in life. He felt this to be one of the most trying moments he had ever experienced, because he saw around him not only those friends to whom he owed the honour of a seat in the Legislature, but many of the first patriots of the country, with whose claims he had nothing to set in com petiti on—(Applause).—l Ie entreated the company to do justice to feelings which he wanted words to express--(('heers). Mr. SHAW LEEETRE expressed his acknowledg ment in appropriate terms, and said, that such a Re form as that contemplated by the disfranchisement of Grampound could never satisfy the People. It was a Reform calculated only to enhance the price which the Boroughmongers received at present fur their seats—(Applause).--The next toast was— " Mr. Alderman Wood, Mr. Sheriff Waitkman, and the Re formers of the City of London." Mr. Alderman WOOD and Mr. Sheriff Wxantran respectively returned thanks. The LORD MAYOR then proposed— " Mr. Coke, Lord Bury, Colonel Walpole, and the Reformers of Norfolk." Mr. COKE, in returning thanks, said, that he had been for forty-five years in Parliament, during which time he had invariably opposed those who opposed the cause of the People—(Applause). When first he appeared in the House of Commons, he had felt it his duty to vote against the American war; and, for doing so, he had been called a rebel(Cheers).— Subsequently to that period he had had many such ap pellations given to him, and he did not doubt but that many of those who heard him had been so fortunate as to receive similar, honours—(Cheers). He came into Parliament in early life, with an impression on his mind that Reform was absolutely necessary. At . that period it was that he first admired the splendid talents of Mr. Fox; and throughout the whole of his life he believed that that illustrious individual had not a more consistent supporter than himself (Mr. Coke)—(Loud cheers). He looked upon Mr. Fox as perhaps the most truly constitutional man who had ever existed in this country. Previously attached by an admiration of his great qualities, his great con duct had induced him (Mr. Coke) throughout the whole of his life to support his principles. Of the necessity of a Reform in Psrliament no man could doubt who had any knowledge of the proceedings 6f the last 4.5' years ; and certainly the company whiCh he (Mr. Coke) had constantly kept there during that period had not one whit altered his sentiments— (Laughter). He hoped that this present, and corres pondent Meetings, might in some degree alter the. character of that company. He did not like to speak disrespectfully of those who were not present in the company ; but he must own that he was a little ashamed of those with whom he did associate in the House of Commons—(Hear, hear, hear). He very often felt great shame, although aware that it was a company which he must keep. He had now for very many years represented the opulent and important County of Norfolk ; and, doubtless, he always felt it a great honour to do so; but he always felt great pain in being invested with it, as he had not unfre quently informed his constituents. Throughout his life, his great object had been the preservation of the liberties of the People ; and if he could once have had the happiness of seeing . what he should call an ap proach to the true constitutional spirit of representa tion, he would long ago have retired, with satis faction and pleasure, to a life much more conge nial to, and consonant with, his feelings than poll tics, namely, a private life—(Loud cheering). He had, however, undoubtedly, as many Gentlemen who were present, and most of the Freeholders of Norfolk could testify, endeavoured, under the in fluence of those feelings which he possessed, to make a vigorous opposition, in the cause of Liberty, to everything which might seem hostile to its true and rational interests. Not only had his efforts been di rected to . preserve the Independence of the County, but also to forward the cause of Parliamentary Re form—(Load cheers).—lle had now fought many battles ; and having so often fought in earlier life, he could assure the Meeting that he was still ready to wage another for the cause of Parliamentary Re form—a cause for whose success he was the more anxious, as mliit'unquestionably the County of Nor folk was not at present represented. In his judg ment, at least, decidedly it was not represented, be cause he and his colleague were as much at variance as it was possible for any two men to be. k was his firm conviction, corrupt and venal as the House of Commons was, that nothing but a Reform could save the Country—(!tear, hear).--If there was any man who could doubt the existence of that venality and corruption, he must have been but too well sa• tisfied, in the course of the present Session, of the melancholy truth that they did exist in confidence and in vigour; and that for a disease so dangerous, Reform was the' only practicable remedy—( cheer, ing).—lle again desired to return his acknowledg ments—(Loud cheers). The LORD MAyott, in alluding to the next toast, observed, that it was in honour of an old and tried friend, who certainly would have been present but for. the invincible detention occasioned by a verdict of the Court of King's Bench—(Reiterated cheers). — That honourable and truly patriotic individual had been tried, convicted, and severely punished for writing and publishing a letter, which, however, contained, as he believed, the sentiments of the great majority of his Constituents—(Loud and con tinued cheers).—Before he proposed the toast in the usual form, he would wish the letter to he read, which he (the Lord Mayor) had, in the course of the• evening, received from the worthy Baronet. The following Letter, addressed to the Meeting, was then read by Mr.GA It DN ER : " King's Bench, April 4, 13•_1. " Ginerennot—You will not, I am sure, doubt the sincerity with which I express my regret at being unavoidably detained from the Meeting of this day. My heart is, however, amongst you, and my mind altogether in the great cause you are met to promote. That cause has been supported by so much ability, acute reasoning, and profound learning, that it baffles ingenuity to offer anything importantly new upon the subject. Nor do I now take up my pen with the vain lupe of doing anything more than expressing my respect for the Gentlemen assembled. In deed, the question Is itself so plain, and Is .s been so elaborately set forth and illustrated, that, to u e the slang of the Honour able House, ' the people out of doors; the profane vulgar, per fectly understand it. For in this enlightened age and country, no one, I take it, is so ignorant as not to know that to have is to have, which is the whole of this subject—that if what I ac quire, either by good fortune or the sweat of my: brow, another can take from me without my own c-msent, it is not my pro perty but his ; that in that case I am only , tenant at will; and that if any man or set of men can make laws to imprison my person, to which I have never consented, my person is as inse cure as my property ; in other words, that ' liberty and pro perty,' the watchwords of our forefathers, are sounds as sense less and empty as the beating of a drum—as' sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.' Gentlemen, that Mr. Canning—l mention him as the champion of the party—a part for the whole—should defend to the uttermost a system, by the !locus poe us tricks of which he and his family get so much public money, can cause neither me nor, any man surprise or anger— ' For 'tis their duty all the learned think, espouse that cause by which they eat and drink !' Do I therefore say that the House of Commons is corrupt ? Not I, indeed, even though I should run no risk of being tran sported : no such thing, they are true to the interest of those who send them.' The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his mas ter's crib; and they at least equal the ox and the ass in know ledge and virtue, and are moreover superior to the Jews, for they do know their Mains. I will boldly adduce their example as proof undeniable of benefits the People would, derive from appointing their own Representatives, seeing that these Gentle men are ever true to their own and their patrons' interest. This identity of interest keeps all smooth; And the Public may rest assured that the same cause will ever produce the same etrect ; and that, whenever the Public shall have the appointment of their own House of Commons, the public expenditure will be controuled, the public burdens diminished, the public money ap plied to public purposes, and the public happiness and prosperity, in other words, liberty and property,' secured and not till then. In the meantime I take this opportunity of expressing my satisfaction at the cause being in such good hands, and to add, that the Reformers may always command, such as they are; tily services in any way or situation which they can think useful —vet duce, ed nsilite, me titemini. " I remain, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant, " FRANCIS BURDETT. v —The LORD Miami concluded his speech by express ing his good wishes for the success of Sir Francis Burdett's forthcoming motion for an inquiry into the Manchester outrage—(Loud applause).—He begged to propose, " Sir Francis Burdett, Mr. Hobhouse, and the Reformers of Westminster." This toast was hailed with continued acclamations. Mr. HOBHOUSE thanked the company for the ho nour they had done him, and said he could not re frain from observing, in the words of Milton, who was not less eminent as a Patriot, than he was illus trious as a Poet—that 44 when the People is employed in thinking about substantial truths, then it is that the People does not give any proof of its degene racy, but gives a proof rather of its throwing off the old skin of corruption; and that it will was strong, And revive again into another youth."—Wear, hear, and loud applause). Upon the health of " Sir RonewrWit.sow and the Reformers of Southwark" being proposed, the gallant General presented himself to the company, and said, that any man who could presume to cast an asper sion on the character of Reformers, must, if he were now in this room, retract his words, and acknowledge that his ideas were Tounded in error. The man who, witnessing such a Meeting as the present, could cen sure the friends of Reform, was a man not to be rea soned with—either his intellect or his heart must be' bad, or perhaps both—(Applause).—He then spoke' at some length in favour of Reform, and proceeded to notice the evezits that had taken place in Naples. He denied that he had yet accepted any offer to go to that country; but if the sacrifice of any claims which he might urge as a General Officer in the set vice of England—if the sacrifice of his station as a Member of the British Parliament, could assist the cause of liberty in any part of the world, he would be ready to forego these claims—(Cheers). —Had he any hope that his efforts in favour of Naples would be seconded with effect, he should be ready to aid the cause of the Neapolitans in any rank, however humble. He would go to Naples, and join the Pa triots-of that country, even as a private soldier, with a musket in his hand—(Repeated cheers).—lt was only the day before ye.terday that he had received a communication, inviting him to assist Naples against Austria, and no man was more disposed to do so; but, from recent events, it could not be expected that he should leave England in that cause, till he saw some spot for the banner of freedom to rest upon— (Continued cheers). — He could not possibly express how much he felt the honour which the company had done him. The next toast was—" The Formation of Repre sentative Governments where they do not exist, and the Reformation of them where they exist imper fectly."—The company drank this toast with ani mated applause. The LORD MAYOD then gave " Sir It. Ferguson, Mr. Hume, and the Reformers of Scotland." Sir R. FERGUSON returned thanks, as did a!so Mr. Husra, who dwelt upon the corrupt state of the Re presentation in Scotland. He said that he considered it a high honour to be returned for Montrose, as being a borough that was the first to support Parliamentary Reform— ( Applause). Lord NUGZST expressed a confident hope of the progress of Reform in that County with which he had the honour to be connected—which boasted the birth of Milton—which contained the grave of Hampden —and which could never forget the Barons of Rutty niede. Against Reform (observed his Lordship), many objections were urged ; but the most singular was that advanced by the Gentleman who was called " the Champion of Anti-Reformers:" That Gentle man had said that the present system worked well ! Yes, truly, it worked well for the corruptionists, but it wor ked very ill for the I'eople; and therefore he should say to this Champion, in the language of gakspeare's grave-digger, " I like thy wit well—the gallows works well for those that work ill—ergo, It works well for thee !"—Gluck laughter.) Mr. Hosywoon alluded, in a very eloquent man ner, to the conduct of the House of Commons in the suspension of the Habeas Corpus, the passing of the five Bills, and the prosecution and illegal treatment of the Queen. While he had life he would never be satisfied till the British Parliament, instead of being the most . most dignified and freest in the world—( Very great applause). . Mr. LAMBTON proposed the health of " The Lord Mayor," and eulogized the principles by which his conduct had uniformly been regulated. He at the same time expressed his hope that the Citizens of London would avail themselves of any future occa sion to return his' Lordship as one of their Repre sentatives—(Applause). The LORD MAYOR briefly returned thanks. With unfeigned gratification he had seen the highest and most distinguished character, the great patriots of the age, assembled to suppot t Reform. He concluded by proposing the health of Mr. C. Hutchinson and M. W. Smith—with them he connected the cause of civil and religious liberty all over the world. Mr. H trrentx sort returned thanks in an able speech. Mr. W. SMITH said, he was the oldest Reformer in the room. He was proud to be connected with civil and religious liberty ; for these were the objects and ends, Parliamentary Reform was but the means. Dr. LUSIIINGTON, MY. MONCK, and Mr.FYSCITE PALMER severally addressed the Meeting, urging the necessity of a Reform in Parliament. The Loan MAYOR next gave the healths of Mr. Peter Moore and other Gentlemen who had favoured them with their company. Mr. P. MOORE returned thanks. He had never, during the many years he had been in the House of' Commons, heard a debate so rich and so full of in formation. He had never, in fact, been able to sit out the consummate nonsense that was uttered in Parliament ; but here he could sit as long as they were disposed to go on—(Laughter and cheers). The greatest harmony and good humour pervaded the crowded company to a very late hour, when they all departed, almost at the same moment. A County Meeting was held at Hunting don- _ on Friday—present, Earl FITZW I LLI AM , Lord MILTON, Lord Jolts RUSSELL, and a number of other Gen tlemen. A Petition to Parliament, praying for Re form, was agreed to. Last week, a woman, of the name Of Morgan, was committed by one of the Magistrates for the County of Kent, for insolence and contempt of Court when before him on an examination; she was locked up that night in the cage in the Broadway, Deptford ; next morning her husband came to see her, and was in the greatest rage at the conduct of the Magistrate in committing his wife, as he considered she com mitted no offence. ' A coach was procured to take her to Maidstone Jail, and as she entered it, her hus band, who was overwhelmed with grief, and unable to speak, kissed her affectionately, and as the coach drove off he remained like a statue until it was out of sight, when he dropped down and expired on the spot.—A .Coroner's Inquest has since been held on the body, and it being the opinion of the Surgeon who examined it that his death was caused from a broken heart, or excessive grief, the Jury returned a verdict—Died by the viatatton of Gon. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF CHANCERY, APRIL Z. DAY AND MARTIN V. cousourtxt. Mr. HART moved that the service of the order 0 1 the injunction granted against the defendant, on hi' s premises in Bermondsey, should be considered g no the defendant having purposely evaded being p er _ sonally served, adder the impression that the injt nc _ tion was not effective until that had been done. LORD CHANCELLOR.—Let the defendant know !L a e he is mistaken, and that the service at his :maniac. tory is sufficient. SURREY ASSIZES, KINGSTON, APRIL: The following persons pleaded Guilty to the mi na , offence of knowingly having in their possession, with. out lawful excuse, forged Bank-notes, and seve ra ll y received sentence of transportation for 14 years, via, H. Brown, T. Cutler, Prudence Davis, J. Eason, L G aw 517 W. Groves, E. C. Hubbard, C. Hiscock, I.Joncs, 4., O. King, J. Knight, J. Kirby, W. Mori* wr. gents, J. Prince, Maria Stevenson, S. &mamas, W.gt aa b op; J. Taylor, and R. Yeomans. Against each of these unhappy persons there were indictments for the capital offence of uttering forged Notes, knowing them to be forged ; but as no evi. dente was offered for the prosecution, verdicts of Not Guilty were recorded. Several other pri soners have pleaded Not Guilty to both indictments, *a l were to be tried this day. Solomon .Joseph was indicted for stealing, at Xer. ington, on the 2.3 d of August last, 400 gold wee. reigns, the property of Messrs. Whitmore and o n There were other counts, laying the property rob e in other persons. This c:te excited considerabl e interest. It appeared in -eridence, that on t h e 2 .3 , 1 of August last, a pastel, containing 400 go ld not. reigns was sent from the Golden Cross, Ch ar i ng , cross, by the Chichester coach, directed to Messr s Hale, Dandy, and Co. of Chichester. There wastua one inside passenger in the coach. When the curb I arrived at the Elephant and Castle, St. Geo rge ., fields, it stopped about fire minutes to take up our . side passengers and luggage. When it stopped In change horses at the first stage nut of town, th e i s . side passenger, who had paid his fare to Chich ester, was missing. This excited some suspicion i s t h e coachman, and on searching the coach seats, where the parcel had been locked up, it was alsolcme, It appeared upon inquiry, that the inside patseuger had left the coach when it stopt at the Elephant and Castle, and no doubt was entertained that he had carried off the parcel with him. The question was, whether the prisoner was the man. The coachinaa and the guard, the latter of whom accompanied the coach to the Elephant and Castle, expressed their firm belief that he was the person, but neither of them would swear to him positively. The prisoner's Counsel submitted that there was no case to go to the Jury, but the Learned Baron thought otherwise, and called upon the prisoner fee his defence. The prisoner declared his innocence, and said he was prepared to shew that he was at home with his family at the time the robbery was committed. Accordingly four persons, the prisoner's father ; E. White, a person connected with the Cas tom-house ; I. Alexander, Secretary and Reader to a Jewish Synagogue ; Ann Edmonds, a female ser vant of the prisoner; and S. Coleman, one of the outside passengers who had travelled with the Chi chester coach, were called ; the substance of their tes timony was, that the prisoner arrivedfrom Hamburg's with his father on the 22d August ; that he was in bed at his house in Berwick-street, Soho, at seven o'clock on the morning of the 23d, when the robbery was alleged to have been committed ; that he was down at the Custom•house on the morning of the 23d at nine o'clock, and that he was not the inside passen ger who had left the coach. A great number of re spectable persons, Christians. as well as Jews, spoke of him as an honest and industrious man. The case went to the Jury under the Learnediudge's directions, and they found the prisoner—NriGuilty. - - B IRT I IS. . March 26, at Whitehall, Norfolk, die Lady of Captain He Bontein,of a sour • - Thursday, at Twyford, the. Lady of the Rev. J. G. Recital!, of a son. On the Ist inst. the Lady of Captain Frith, of the Bali Horse Artillery of a daughter. Thursday, at the East India College, Hayleybury, the bald the Rev. C. W. Le Bas, of a daughter. MARRIED. March 0 6, at Paisley, Mr. John Morrison Duncan, Usistnity Printing-office, Glasgow, to Mary, eldest daughter of the loe Robert Cochran, Esq. DIED. Sunday, at Brighton, Sit Charles Edmonstoae, Bart. NI. fir the County of Stirling. Yestetday morning, at Greenwich Hospital, Admiral Web Colpoys. By this much regretted event, the Governorships' that admirable Asylum has become vacant. •ffir John Col's'' , stood third on the list of Admirals of the Red. Sunday, in Wardrobe-place, Doctors'-commons, bb year, William Box, Esq. Deputy of the Ward of Castle &Ism' for forty-four successive years. Saturday, at Dover, aged 46, James Walker, Esq. eratlY Irma a Jurat of that Corporation, and a Magistrate of the Csanty. Yesterday, at her house, in Park-street, in her 89th V O' countess Pery, relict of Viscount Pery. Thursday, at Paradise-street, Lambeth, Wm. Craggy Under Secretary to the Board of Agriculture. Lately, at East Lavant, the infant daughter oldie Rev.% Deacon. The 28th ult. at Whiteburn Inn, Berwickshire, after aIA hours illness, Samuel Andersen, Esq. Banker in Edinburgh. The 7th October last, at sea, on his passage to Bombsb James Nicol, aged 23, late of Montreal, and second sr of Nicol, Surveyor of Customs, Banff. In the Island of St. Lucie, on the 3d February, John Pita Esq. of Cocoa Nut Point. yrtis March 11, at his lodgings, Rathminee-road, aged Sai Wrightson, Esq. of the Ordnance Department, Dublin. March 20, at Haddington, Lieutenant John Henning/ I P I Adjutant of the East Lothian Yeomanry Cavalry. March 12, at Edinburgh, Agnes, on ly daughter oftliebtel Alexander Murray, Professor of Oriental Languages le* • verslty of Edinburgh. • • March 22, at Templemore Barracks, Lieut. laaelth 1421 . 14 5. Ed Veteran Battalion, aged 29, of a complication of discateti y. effect of i wound received in the Rifle Brigade, on the Ftniame and wounds at Waterloo. March 20, at Torbreck; Alexander Frazer, FA+ 0 11 °1 Sunday, at Bury St. Edmund's, aged 58 , Geo r g e WaSaisis of the General Post Office. A few days ago, Joseph Austin, Esq. agcd 86, rola Proprietor of the Chester and Newcastle T hcatret , fer• last remaining Actor mentioned in Churchill's Rosclati. Last week, at Lynn, Mr. Chatteriey, conotitaat awl • English Op era Hou se. HIG 11.• W A TVit at L OiirDoNllliitabg TO" * ? bleming Afternoon . ' . 0 LONDON ; ism Koh rim — Baer, Temple-lieu. it . TA a/ 1 I ryt trf t KM gt. - : by i off the' las Ti US, W. 4 ...IN.. TM Lac a A vaa ar t I 116 kb übi Alpo ran lidi goy Wie lill. Is iii lila 1