Star. — London, England, 1821-01-25 00:00:00

had been duly Administered and enforced, ..the cala mity at Manchester would not, he was certain, have ever taken . place—(Applause).—He deprecated the attempt to proscribe the British Press generally, in consequence of any seditious or blasphemous publi cations which might have gone forth, and which every good man must deplore. Bat such publications, however objectionable, should not reconcile any dm siderate man to the general abuse of the Press, espe cially considering the important obligations which freedom, humanity, and learning, owed to that great engine. It should be recollected, that to the Press Ave were indebted for the reformation of our Religion, as well as for all the great improvements which had taken place in our civil liberty and constitutional pri vileges at different periods of our history. The Press should never r therefore, be the subject of abuse with Englishmen. To abuse the Press, indeed, in conse quence of some errors which might belong to it, would be as irrational as to abuse the sun by which we were warmed and enlightened, merely in conse quence of some spots upon its disc, or in consequence of the vapour by which it was at that moment ob scured—(alluding to the fog, which was then very dense). After some further comments upon the tenour of the several Resolutions, the Honourable Member concluded with proposing the first. Mr. Bonntnorox, in seconding the motion, said, that he felt it unnecessary to add any observation to what had been so impressively urged by his worthy Friend who had made the motion, and to the terms of the Resolutions themselves, which most forcibly spoke their own merit. Sir WILLIAM CURTIS then stood forward, but not a single sentence from the Honourable Baronet could be heard, principally in consequence of the cheers of a band of his own partisans, who formed a corn pact body close to the hustings. The LORD MAYOR entreated the Meeting to give the Honourable Baronet an attentive hearing, urging, that in fairness all parties should be fully heard.— But the appeal was quite ineffectual. The Honour able Baronet deprecated the introduction of other matter upon an occasion when the only object should be to declare loyalty to the Crown and to the Con stitution, and he concluded with proposing the pre vious question. Mr. BosAsouir said, that be came forward on this occasion with great diffidence, but he declared that his object was to advocate any party or to sup port any Administration. His party was his country, and his only object was to support the Constitution, as he bad endeavoured to do through life. That Constitution he now feared to be very greatly en dangered, and particularly by the quietude and si lence of those who ought to stand forward and speak with unanimous and vigorous decision in its favour. The too great silence and inactivity, indeed, of the friends of the Constitution were the cause of the dan ger which he apprehended and the most fearful omen of the times. He fully concurred in the de claration that the majority of the people were loyal ; but what availed that if such loyalty were not an nounced through the Press, for silence served to en courage the disloyal and to promote a dangerous de lusion. Ile yielded to none in loyalty to the Throne, or in attachment to the Constitution, and in devotion to religion, every attempt to depreciate which was peculiarly revolting, as through religion only we were enabled to call in conscience to the aid of law. Religion, then, being of so much importance, in con junction with our invaluable Constitution, he called upon the People to declare themselves decidedly against those efforts of blasphemy and sedition which sought the subversion of both. That there might be errors in our Constitution or system of Government, which required amendment, he would not attempt to deny, although he was not prepared to admit any such errors ; but when a house was on fire, that was not the time to set about painting the doors and win dows. When the Constitution then was endangered, he would check the torrent of danger by the dam of loyalty. The necessity of such a proceeding was, in his opinion, quite obvious at pi e-ient. He was a friend to that sort of deliberate, wise discussion which had improved and matured our Constitution, from the. Revolution of 1688 downwards, but a decided enemy to every description of tumultuary movement ; for it was not by such movement that our Constitution Lad attained its present excellence. NVhen lie looked to the character and consequences of that Constitu tion—when he considered the gtory which the coun try had acquired, and the prosperity which it had en joyed under its auspices, he could not allow such a system to become the subject of experiment, still less to b^ subjected to the experiment of inexperi enced men—(Applansc, aad cries cant! cant ! They do not desire Ilciorm who subsist upon abuses !"). Ile did not, he said, mean to deny that some things in our system might require amendment; but the propriety or expediency of amendment should be the subject of temperate deliberation; for he would not submit our Constitution to any hazardous plan of in titivation, because, without pretending to the advan tages of early education, lie found, from reading and reilexion, that the Constitution was superior to any in the world, and that it had this distinctive charac ter from all other systems, that its tendency perpe tually was to protect rational freedom. Yet, under a Government acting with the sanction of that Con. stitution, the charge of despotism was raised as loudly by some men, as if we lived under a Sophi of Persia, or under the Sovereign of the Ottoman Porte—(Cries of Question, question !) The Honourable Gentleman said, that probably he was going too far, and con cluded his speech with seconding the motion for the previous question. Mr. BARING came forward, amidst the cheers and acclamations of an immense majority of the Meeting, mingled with marks of disapprobation from the in dividuals before alluded to. Ile began by entreat ing the attention of the Meeting, and deprecating that riotous and disorderly conduct, of which no other Meeting in the kingdom had furnished an in stance, and which would have disgraced the most irregular and tumultuous assemblies of Spa-fields or Manchester—(Mingled shouts of applause and disap probation). He would go on, if it was their pleasure to hear him ; and from the number of respectable Gentlemen whom he saw around him, he felt per suaded that a moment's reflection would convince them that a Meeting of this importance ought to be conducted with a due degree of order and solemnity. At the same time, lie was aware that, in their present crowded situation ; it was ittlyo4sible for them to at- tend with anything like comfort to themselves, and he should therefore occupy a much shorter portion of their time than he should otherwise have done, in stating the reasons which induced him to sign the Requisition for calling the present Meeting—(.Hear). —They all knew that the Country was at this time placed in a most extraordinary position. The Gentle man who last addressed there had talked of a torrent coming down,. to which it was necessary to oppose a dam of loyalty! Now,. what they were peculiarly called upon to consider at this moment was, whence the torrent came, and who it was that had opened the sluices ?—(Loud applause)—He feared that if the sluices continued to be opened as they had been, all the dams which these loyal Gentlemen might erect for our protection, would be found to fail. This was precisely the question at issue between the Gentle men who had signed the Loyal Declaration and them selves, who felt it their duty to call the present Meet ing. Before making any observation upon that De claration, he trusted the Meeting would permit him to state his entire concurrence in the observation of his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith), as to the respectability of the Gentlemen who signed it. Un doubtedly a more honourable and respectable set of names, to the extent to which it went, was never annexed to any public Declaration. He trusted that no Gentlemen had met here with the desire of ca lumniating or throwing aspersions upon the inten tions or motives of each other, but that all were de sirous either of lending their assistance, or giving a patient attention to others, while a calm appeal was made, if calm appeal they would permit, from the declaration of a few respectable individuals as the sentiments and opinions of the great body of the Merchants and Traders of this Metropolis.— He apprehended that the position in which the Gen tlemen stood who signed that Declaration, was pre cisely the position of all the Loyal Addressers throughout the United Kingdom. The Loyal Ad dresses and Declarations, as they were called, arose from the same motives in all parts of the country. They had been met in different Counties by Public Meetings, and he must say, that wherever they had been so met, they had been uniformly defeated— (Loud applause, ' mingled tvith cries of " No, no !") lle hoped that a Meeting of the Merchants and Traders of the City of London would not be found to present a humiliating contrast to the calm, manly, and deliberate character of the proceedings at most of our great Public Meetings, and that their sense of justice would prevent them from coming to a decision without hearing the arguments which might be urged on both sides—(Applause, with some hisses). —The question between the Declarers and them selves was precisely by whom, and by what means the country had been brought into its present extraordinary situation ?" The beclarers affirmed that a spirit of irreligion, sedition, and disloyalty, prevailed throughout the country, which rendered it necessary for loyal men to come forward, and express their affection for existing institutions. We say, on the other hand, said Mr. B. that the country was compa ratively in a state of tranquillity; comparatively, because undoubtedly, amidst the aggravated cala mities produced by a long and protracted war, it was naturally to be expected that muck distress would prevail, and some degree of disorder was almost the inevitable consequence of that distress.— But this state of disorder and dissatisfaction had nearly subsiJed, and the country was beginning to enjoy a state of comparative tranquillity, when cer tain persons brought forward a proceeding which roused the indignation and outraged the feelings of the country front one end of it to the other. Here the Honourable Gentleman was interrupted by renewed vocilerations. The undulations of the immense crowd which filled the body of the Hall, had for some time indicated an approaching storm, and a scene of riot and confusion shortly ensued, of which it would be vain to attempt to convey an ade quate idea to our Readers. Shouts of applause and disapprobat'on, mingled yells, plaudits, hisses, and vociferations, set all attempts at renewing discussion, or restoring order to the Meeting, at defiance. After reperted ineffectual attempts to resume his speech, Mr. BARING at length retired. Mr. T. WILSON was equally unsuccessful in his en deavours to obtain a hearing, as was Mr. MARTINEAU. The LORD MAYOR came forward, and expressed his regret at the inconvenience sustained by the Gen tlemen in the body of the Hall, and entreated an im partial hearing for every Gentleman who presented himself to address them. Mr. BARING main came forward, and was re ceived with loud enthusiastic cheers. The great majo rity of the Meeting was evidently desirous that he should proceed; but the efforts of the Faction were renewed with increased violence, confusion became " worse confounded," and the Honourable Gentleman was again compelled to retire. The LORD MAYoR said, that as there appeared to be no disposition to hear any Gentleman who came forward to deliver his sentiments—a circumstance which he was willing to ascribe to the inconveniencies of their situation, for he could scarcely believe it pos sible that any Gentleman could come there with the intention of creating disorder—he should now pro ceed to take the sense of the Meeting upon the Reso lutions and the Petition. Mr. J. HALL (the individual who sent the Circu lar, requesting the Gentlemen to whom it was ad dressed to attend an hour before the time appointedfor the Public Meeting) protested against any Resolutions being put, unless they were distinctly heard by the whole Meeting. The Loan MAvon now put the question, whether the Resolutions should be put, which was carried in the affirmative by an immense majority. The Resolutions, and the Petition founded upon them, were then put and carried by a majority of at east four to one. The shew orhands upon the nega hive Ix; tg put t was very scanty. Sir W. CURTIS declared, with his characteristic good humour, that his friends were completely beaten. Mr. P. Gnarryzia. moved the Thanks of the Meet ing to the Lord Mayor, for his honourable and im partial conduct in the Chair. Immediately after his Lordship had returned thanks, and retired from the front of the hustings, a Gentle man stepped forward, and called out, " The Queen!— The Queen r The cry was received with enthusiasm, and was followed by three distinct and loud cheers, in which at least five-sixths of the company joined.— The Meeting then began to disperse, and in a few mi nutes afterwards the Hall was cleared. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. • HOUSE OF LORDS, JANUARY 24. Their Lordships met a little after two o'clock, and immedi. •a 1 after proceeded to the Palace of Carlton House, to pre sent the Addres . to his Majesty. The LORD Cuaxont.Loa afterwards returned to the House, but no business was done. HOUSE OF COMMONS. - - -- - At five minutes before four o'clock, the Snout took the Chair. A new Writ was issued for a Knight of the Shire to serve in Parliament for the County of Dumbarton, in the room of Archibald Colquhouu, Esq. deceased. Mr. ALsor presented certain Accounts from the County Court of Middlesex, which were laid upon the table. The Marquis of TA VISTOCK gave notice of a Motion expressive of the opinion of that House upon the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers, relative to the late proceedings against the Queen. The important Wiliness which would occupy the atten tion of the House during the next week would induce him to give notice of his Motion for Monday se'nnight. Mr. WA RRE said, that if the Under-Secretary of State had been in his place, he should have put a question to him concern ing a'Petition which was presented to the Home Office in Oc tober last, concerning those unfortunate men, the nowdiches; but, as the Honourable Gentleman wais not in his place, he would content himself, at present, with giving notice of a mo tion for a copy of that Petition, to stand for Thursday next. Mr. WA RAE then moved, that a Paper which was laid on the table, containing an Account of the Revenue for the last five years, be printed.—Ordered. CORRUPT BOROUGHS. Lord JOHN RUSSELL gave notice, that on Tuesday fort.. night he would move for leave to bring in a general Bill on the subject of Corrupt Boroughs. THE SLOOP GEORGE. Mr. C. CA LvERT moved for a copy of all Petitions, Me rflorialt and Communications, which had been made to the Re venue iloard of Inquiry, or to any of its Officers, and of all Re ports, Proceedings, Examinations, and Instructions, of the said Board, relative to the seizure of the sloop George, llobt. Boyce master, and Samuel Elder owner, and to siz bales of silk, seized in the said sloop; and also a copy of the Affidavits of James Law, one of the Claimauts. He moved also for a copy of the Reports made to the Board of Inquiry by the Solicitor's Deptrtment in the Customs. Mr. LUSH I NGTON said lie had no intention of opposing this motion of the Honourable Gentleman, if he wished to per sist in it. But it appeared that the Papers moved for were of a considerable bulk; and he put it to the I lonoureble 31ember, whether it was altogether tight to put the Country to the ez ! pense of priming them? Mr. CALVERT said, that if the Papers appeared of a cor.- siderable bulk, he did not wish to put the Country to the ex pense of printing them ; but if that were not so, he should feel it his duty to move for the printing of them, as they concerned one of his Constituents, who hid been very much injured by the proceedings..--The copies were ordered. PETITIONS. Sir W. LEMON presented a Petition from Truro, in Cornwall, praying for the restoration of the Queen's name to the Liturgy, and for the restoration 'of all her other rights; also for an inquiry into the origin of the late proceedings against her Majesty. Ordered to be laid on the table, and printed. Colonel TYNTE presented a Petition from Bridge water to the same effect. In offering himself to the attention of the House for the first time, he must ask for that indulgence which has always been so libe rally extended to Members in his situation. The Pe tition which he had the honour to present, would shew to the House the decided opinion entertained by his Constituents, of her Majesty's entire inno cence. For himself, he would confess, that such was not his reason for agreeing with the prayer of the Petition, because he did not make it a question of guilt or innocence ; he only looked at the unconsti tutional nature of the proceedings instituted by his Majesty's Government. Looking at all the circum stances of the case, he could not but consider them as a dangerous attack upon the Constitution of the country. For if the measure had unfortunately passed both Houses of Parliament, no one could say how soon, or how often other . charges • might be made, or other modes of trial f tpted calculated to o destroy any other member e Royal Family. That House had made some most honourable efforts to preserve the honour and dignity of the Crown, and to protect the best interests of the country, by endeavouring to stop the late proceedings in another place, at an early period of their progress. It was unfortunately now too late to do that ; but it was not too late to preserve what yet remained of the Constitution—(Hear). The country had for some years .uffered under a suspension of those laws, which were the bulwarks of its rights and independ ence ; while others had been pasted, calculated only to suit the pressure of temporary circumstances. It was time that these subjects should receive the atten tion of the House, and that the condition of the peo ple shc.o.d, if possible, be ameliorated. He was aware that he might have refrained from these ob servations, but he deemed the occasion one on which he might be expected to express his sentiments.-- Ordeied to be read, laid on the table, and printed. Mr. PEARSE presented a Petition from Northal lerton, praying iOr the restoration of her Majesty's name to the Liturgy, and an inquiry into the Milan Commission. Mr. WESTERN rose and said, that, with regard to the latter part of the Petition, he bad understood the Noble Lord (Castlereagh) to pledge himself, at an early period of the last Session, that if there ap peared any grounds for supposing that a Conspiracy had existed, or that perjury bad been detected, inquiry should be made, and every endeavour used to bring it to light. He must say, that the wit nesses who had given such baneful testimony against her Majesty, had committed the grossest perjury.— The whole testimony bore upon its very face evidence of its own falsehood. All the charges had been sup ported by testimony, which alone proved that there had been falsehood, perjury, and bribery. With these facts before their eyes, he would ask, whether or not there was a necessity for instituting an inquiry into the origin of so atrocious a Conspiracy? Lord CASTLEItEAGH said, the House was not to be dragged into any discussion of this nature by large words and high-sounding phrases—(Hear).— He was sure that the lion. Member would understand that he meant no personal disrespect, but from the nature of the questions, and of the important subject with which they were connected, he felt that he ought to give no answer to the observations which had been thrown out. If the Honourable Member thought it proper that any measure ought to be in stituted by the House, he was himself perfectly com petent to propose it— ( Hear, hear).—lt would be in the recollection of the House, that when the gallant Officer (Sir R. Ferguson) brought forward his motion in the last Session, he (Lord Castlereagh) did object to it, because he considered that as not being the proper moment for such an inquiry. But it rested entirely with the House, whether the time had now arrived when such &measure was desirable. It cer. tainly appeared to hint to be a little singulat, Gentlemen who had displayed so much stop all discussion upon this question —t o the subject, as it were, at a time whe n it going a judicial investigation, by causiiig prorogation of Parliament, should now :- dilate upon every topic with which it cow,, sibility be connected. He should certainly doing his duty to the House, if he we re to .."t answer to what had fallen from the Ho l y Sir R. FERGUSON said, that when he his motion before the House, the Noble site had met it by moving the alleging that the time was not come wh en , inquiry ought to be entered into. The tim e „ Is come, and he would ask if the Noble L or d redeem his pledge? Lord CASTLEREAGH.—If the fi nk Ni eink, thinks the time is come, let him submit hi - to the House • and try—Wear, (hear). Mr. G. BENNETT was ready to allow one, had wished to put a stop to the progre i infamous Bill which had been introduced other House. What he felt then and felt ow that in the evidence itself there was direct conspiracy. The Noble Lord met the subje c ' t the prorogation, with the expression of m wish, that if there was conspiracy, it shoaid , tected and exposed. He now called upon ii;ni e," that anxicus wish into practice. Ile (Lord (;,,R reagh) ought not to call upon Members on to propose an inquiry ; it rested with himself ; Colleagues to see that it was instituted. If tbeo w any regard for their characters and themselv e s, r. 4 he supposed they had—if they had any regia.lic, the character of the Country, they would male •r delay in doing so. Charged as they were, not say whether guilty or not—but charge.' , were with a participation in the conspiracy, great majority of the Country, they could serve their character by an inquiry into the progress of the proceedings. The Noble that at one time his Olr. Bennett'b) tiiends anxious to extinguish the question altogether. were; and now they were only anxious to det ect , guilty, whoever they were, connected with i:, bring them to punishment. He, for one, was anxious for that moment to come whm would be obliged to speak out. And he doubt but the time would come when they forced—when they would be dragged to not only upon this question, but upon Ile trusted that they would be compelled her Majesty's name in the Liturgy, from had been, illegally he thought—indecently sure, excluded. Lord CASTLEREAGH," I ai common sense, and according to the or of business, it is the part of those who ence of a conspiracy, to set about pt, would be rather strange, that they who dew be called upon to originate an inquiry ence"—( Hear). Sir R. FERGUSON would ask the Noble one question. Had the conspiracy, or spiracy, as the Noble Lord maintained it money to the Public? If it had, that , guardian of the public money, and had a acquainted with all its expenditures. _ Lord did not seem inclined to speak ; and if sisted in refusing an answer to the question, R. Ferguson) should give notice of a Motion subject.—The Petition was then ordered' laid on the table, and printed. The Marquis of TAVISTOCK Noble Lord, if any measures were intended which would be calculated to relien'the distress of the Country? Lord CASTLEREAGH said, that it seen by a reference to the Speech from the and to a part of the observations which . he day before made in the House, in reply to Honourable Gentleman opposite (Mr. would be perceived, that his Majesty's Min. not unwilling to feel or acknowledge the , sympathy for the distresi of the Agricultural In the observations alluded to, he had opinion to the House, that that distress was butable to the state of the law affecting but to temporary internal embarrassments. port of the Committee of Inquiry in the' led him to hope that some improved taking the averages would be adopted, but than this he was not prepared to state t' sures were in contemplation. Lord GEORGE LENOX presented a from Chichester, praying that her Majesty restored to all her just rights and privilege name to the Liturgy.—Ordered to lie on Lord WILLIAM RUSSELL present' from the town of Bedford to the dered to be read, and laid on the table. Alderman WOOD presented a similar from the Ward of Cripplegate.—Ordered and laid on the table.—Also a Petition same place, calling for an Impeachment i••• tors.—Ordered to be read and laid on l'-• table , Mr. CURWEN presented a Petition mouth, praying for the dismissal of Mini) restoration of her Majesty's name, &c. them, and wished in his heart that : be induced to retrace their steps. It was not jorities of that House, constituted as it was, the sale of seats was open and acknowledr could give satisfaction to the People, attainment of the objects for which the . prayed. Ordered to be read, and laid on the Mr. SYKES presented a Petition from ' chants, Bankers, and Traders of King deprecating the proceedings against her and praying the restoration of her name to turgy. The Petition was agreed to at a ' Meeting of the Inhabitants, who were convene' public advertisement. He had intended to length the grounds upon which he gave to the Petition ; but, as so much of the to House had been already taken up with on the same subject, he did not think it to occupy their attention for more than a ments. He could not help drawing the n the House to the characters of the persons by this Petition was signed—men all of great - ability. • It was therefore a perfect delusion that such Petitions as these emanated a spirit of Radicalism—(llear, .—lt prevailing opinion amongst the persons who :Singlll4, th at , . 5 I D MU& t r . tItt lt1 „; "-_ then it *as s;tit 1, tle. . causin g a su d ,k, r e now endeavour • h it could by „►„tit certainly n ee , we to give a ,,, Giltt e H on, Membe4e. 5 5 wnen he had erne Noble 'Mn,! on r . Ih° . previous q u me when su c h: .ere( The tim e was it , - ; • A t eve he Hon . Mem eitui submit his Mot he he pr'ogressof TI ttroduced into and felt now 'as direct r ldc the suhject~~ on stun of aria' I a Ile (Lord Car'`, e s w• ith himself A i :used. If tlte j •uz I rd themselcc. D' ad any reg, r d , . eti cy would mak e 7 ley were, he e ct c . sam ut Charge{ to 11 e conspiracy, h,' titio ley could only p, on t r into the origi n a . Fre' e Noble L on h,.: , , tre nett'4 friend s " m Pet' altogether. Soda,, than IXIOUS to &tea t ; , cted with i:, as d cra lt l , for one, Was 155 ne scl zn llipi sat haw And he had of jest] :hgugenpeodnthleoey w vsePeryl4letle,‘be th e ..: cst Inpelled to re.isses seen from whencei' oat -indecently ix r 5 He ,haoppaureeghmedth,etiateitit. W ay apprehend, the ordinary coo, va.... 114 out proving it If who deny it timid yen , tquiry into its cis. and Ic the Nobk Yeti tot :y, or the mow cot rained it to bt, co, re that House sast. r eg d had a right. He itures. The Nob} eat ; and if he F. fac le question, hefti tin of a Motion en not ordered to be teal,: hen wished to m aniitt the intended tube fee elieve 'the alsrmii f Joel , that it would k h from the Ike* j te , which . he hadie thi n reply to a Lik . no e (Mr. I".terreq..it b u !sty's Ministersiret co vledge the daps Cr Agricultural bot. to had conveyedi Et istress was rot mi of Electing agriculma co .rassments. Mirk i n . r in the last Sty I : l r r stP: p e a r is r e t i t v eve nt a ed i d j th i e e d ' esg a t b es nit y u a anet , :::: lll k i :' .13;: hm h : to lie on the table th presented tc esameef a ec P L- 4; • ch v table. of a similar " Ordered to be Petition km . .. kr achment (1. 41 al ,d on the table. at :tition from CO b, of Ministers 555 &c. He coilal t it that Ministers cap b It was not thell IA as it was, lb' acknowledged,i i h P o i e o i c na h p i fd l o t e h: m e n P. thethe Le with ou t skit . r i t s o l j i rwa i t n ionen gt rams s et on at ehae lpo to t convertedvm ehelvigriajor.. intended to state' he gave his suet! 1 of the time of t ap with discuss!, t think it neat : : i r s cei v e t i op i t d i fe i g i cr a gis n uor d sne l ia a s e otnb f n y e r o efic. u: v ":_ nated entirely If! was' persons who 5111'