Star. — London, England, 1822-01-26 00:00:00

I • I • It would he an idie t h k t t e ;onttast the character, of the two men ; it was enough s tn say, that from the plans laid down.by one.* them, a system had ema nated ebteh hacilbot lain an incubus upon the pro sperity (f this country; and when it would cease to be so no one could say, for the plans of the pilot who gathered the storm were acted upon by his suc cessors. It had, however, been said, that Mr. Pitt was not fairly responsible for the ill effects of his system, since those who followed in his path were wanting in those talents which enabled him with more apparent success to guide the helm of the State. If by talents were meant ability, the excuse was cer tainly good, for it was too sad a truth that for many Tears ability did not enterinto the requisites of a Mi nister. But it was no less true that they did not want the talent for doing mischief—(Cheers) —as the six Acts and some other samples could testify. These 46 pilot," piloted us with a vengeance, for they left not a plank to cling to—(Cheers). They " gathered" the storm, but left us to " weather" it--(Loud applause). And weather it we would, notwithstanding the pain-, taken by our friends to disable us. There was still in this country a certain something, that would in the end render unavailable the errors of its rulers. The very Meeting that lie was then addressing gave him confidence ; and if the spirit which pervaded it more generally prevailed, there would he still ho n e for the best friends of the country—(Loud cheers).—But he regretted to say, that many of the Members for the neighbouring Counties were already too much indis posed to promote such Meetings. From such men it was cheering to two to an illustrious Individual, standing amongst the highest in the coantry—a Pi ince equally amiable for his private worth, as repectalye for bis public virtues, whose boast it was to he ever ready in coming forward in the cause of the Movie — (Cheers). —Upon the public character of his Royal Highness the Duke of Susses he should forbear say ing anything—his act. were before the Public ; but to the many virtues which marked his r ri. ate life—his benevolence, and deep knowledge of human nature, he (Lord Albemarle) could not refrain from giving his testimony—(Cheers)--and these were qualities more estimable, as they were most rare—for rare they were, and unknown to the rulers of this country for years past, else we shoul,l not have had that disgrace ful affair of Mariches:er at this Jay as a blot upon our annals—we should not have heard of those accursed six Acts—that system of spies, by which one man was hile.l to entrap his brother—of that odious pro ceeding against the Queen, or of the military mur der, that last outrage to her remains !—(Load cheers) Ministers would know that Englishmen might be led, but could never be driven. His Royal High ness's character could teach them that kindireisseand attention to the wants of the Peor:e were safer wea pons than swords and bayonets. lie would tell them " That it was more easy By winning means, to pin unwilling minds, And let persuatien take the place of force!" Ministers should tread in the footsteps of Mr. Fox, if their view! were 'o benefit the count: y. It was to be lamented that t:.ey did not, for hi. memory would ever live in the breasts of Englishmen; or, in the words of Mr. Taylor, " We come to iris tomb, but not to weep, For it is Freedom's holiday we keep; The sacred altar let it be Round whicb we bow to Liberty!" (Applause.) —The Noble C.fUr .or concluded ht " The memory of Charles James Fos."—Drack in silence. u The King and Constitution."—Song by Air. E. Talmo*. The Bail of ALSEMARLIC again rioe, and said he should that instant comp' : with the bent of his feel ings, and indulge their impatience, by proposing at once the health of the Royal Duke a ho had honoured them with his presence— i('heers).—He cool great satisfaction dwell upon the many virtues. r , iiblic and private, of that Illustrious Ps ince ; but his Royal Hithness's public life was already w fir ten in the many disinterested and spirited acts which he had done.— His private lite, however, was not so gene: ally known, ' and he (Lord Albemarle), therefore, telt particular pleasure in stating, from his own knowledge, that the private character of Royal Duke was most strongly marked by the greatest kindness of heart and bene volence of disposition—(Cheers).---He stated this before ~his Royal Highness's face, not as flattering, but as a just tribute due to his worth. The Noble Lord then gave : " The health of his Royal llighness the Duke of Sussex."— Three times three—<Lned applause). His Royal Highness the Duke of SUSSEX rose, and was for some time interrupted by the loud cheering of the company. He said that he should follow the example of the Noble Chairman, and express his feel ings without wasting time in affecting idle compli ments. Two years had elapsed since he had the pleasure of meeting them before, at the celebration of this anniversary. Then, as now, his hand and heart had gone witlithem ; and their late proceedings had convinced hisn—of what, indeed, he could have had no doubt before—that the best sentiments per vaded the yeomanry of that respectable County.— Their conduct had created in his mind a variety of reflections, and kindled in his heart the warmest sa tisfaction. It had shewn to him the honest and innate desire which they felt, as Englishmen, to do what was right—to protect themselves, and to uphold their Constitution. He had sometimes heard, and in Courts of Justice, that truth was a libel. He had not, how ever, heard that truth was yet high treason ; on the contrary, he believed truth often to be the best pre ventive against treason—(Hear, hear).—His Royal Highness then took a comprehensive view of the poli tical life of Mr. Fox, and of the times in which he lived ; condemning the wars arising out of the French Revolution, as undertaken solely for aggrandisement, and not for the liberties of the People. His Boyar Highness noticed the dismemberment of Poland,while England stood by, and saw the spoliation effected, ithout a tear for the lost liberties of a brave people.— To pass over later events, and come down to those which concluded more recent hostilities; where were the indications that Ministers felt any solicitude for the rights of the People ? The Allies entered Paris, and of their own act replaced the Bourbon family upon the throne of France, without any conditions in behalf of the people over whom they were to rule ; there was no compact for the rights or liberties of those for whose good it was said so many sacrifices heti been made. The fact was, that the war was carried on by the fiat of Sovereigns for their own pur poses ; and it was a warfare of bayonets, to put down the liberties of the people—{Hcar t heir). But the blood which had been spilt would not be shed w vain; a spirit would arise among th nations of the world, which would deter their oppresson, and the voice of the people would not be raised in vain —(liter, hear). What an appearance of identity with the French na tion was presented by the Constitution conjured for that people, when a single individual, by a sudden irruption, put it down without firing a shot, and made legitimacy march out, more rapidly even, than it had marched in among the people—(Cheers).— In former times, when England interfered in . Cont inental politics, it was to save the people of one State from the oppression of another—such was the inter ference of Queen Elizabeth ; but now there was a community of effort to crush, not to save, the op pressed. The system of spies and informers of late years so organized, were not the growth of an Eng lish soil. No ; they were the emanation of the Holy Alliance. Of a piece with these domestic proceed ings was one circumstance connected with that beau tiful Bridge street concern—(Loud laughter)—which he was surprised had hitherto escaped public notice. It was worth notice, that the Secretary of that So ciety was the Treasurer of the Society for the Relief of Foreigners in Distress—a situation which necessa rily gave him access, as often as he pleased, to the whole Foreign Diplomatic Corps resident in this coun try, and afforded the most convenient opportunities for any practices in which he might be engaged—(Hear). Next to the system of espionage, came the system of terrorism. Tiiis most infamous and wicked system was carried on under the unworthy artifice of as suming a name associated a ith everything that was the reverse of such baseness. John Bull was incapa nit of tolerating the atrocities which wretches were fonad to commit under the cloak of his honest name. The process of terrifying and frightening a man from his duty was easy, according to this project : for were he a father, it was only to send him an anonymous threat, that if he attempted to do such an act, he should read en the following Sunday such or such a story of his wife, his son, or his daughter—(Hear, hear). There was a mine for explosion, which at once went to overthrow the whole organization of society—(Hear, hear). This was the system which they now saw reared in England, and associated with the principles of men in power. And why was all this carried on ?—to prevent honest men from speaking their minds upon public questions. It was for that, this John Bull was erected against the honest ' frankness of his name —(Hear). On the subject of the grievances which now weighed down the coun try, he fully concurred in the opinion, that their im mediate cause was excessive taxation. The Govern ment had long tried to divide and distract the public attention, to set off the agriculturist against the ma nufacturer, and, vice versa—to concede this point, and form that Committee, ;mtil they had at length made such a juggle of all their interests in society, that none could extricate themselves from the mass of confusion which alike perplexed all. This was exactly what the Ministers aimed at, and from it the country had no chance of disengaging itself, but by a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull :altogether (Hear, hear). As to the remedy, the first step was naturally to re move the cause of that taxation which was the imme diate evil. K'hy uphold a gre at standing Army, and an immense unnecessary expenditure in every quarter of the State ? The Holy Alliance might want it ; but of what use was such a course to the People of England ?—(Hear, hear). Why not, according to the old proverb, cut their coat according to their cloth ? Why not square their expenditure to their means?— It were in vain to hope for relief except by a reduc tion of the establishments—all other plans would fall miserably short. His Royal Highness concluded by expressing his cordial concurrence in the opinions of the yeomanry of the county of Norfolk, and his thanks to that Me.•ting for the kindness which they had shewn him—(Loud applause). The CHAIRMAN then proposed: " The respectability of the Crown. the durability of the Con stitution, and the prosperity of the People;' and it wan followed by—" The cause fur which Hainpden bled in the field, and Sid ney on the scaffold."—Drank with three times three. The High Sheriff's health, which was drank with applause, was followed by—" The cause of Civil and Religious Liberty all over the World." _ _ The next tout was—" The health of the Bishop of Norwich." —Drank with enthusiasm. _ _ Archdeacon BATHURST returned thanks. " The health of the Duke of Norfolk, and may the ancient hereditary Nobility of this country ever consider it their highest honour to support the rights of the People." The Duke of NORFOLK, in rising to return thanks, assured the Meeting that he felt most grateful for the manner in which they had drank his health : and the more so, when be felt that compliment associated, as it was here, with the growing diffusion of the great principles of Mr. Fox—(Applause)—the only principles to the adoption of which the country could now look, if not for indemnity for the past, at least for security for the future—(Applause).—By them alone could the country be yet saved—(Hear, hear). Toast—" A speedy Repeal of all Laws which tend in any de gree to abridge the sacred rights of Conscience; and our thanks to those of the Clergy who signed from this diocese the first Pe tition to Parliament, in favour of religious toleration." The Rev. Mr. Cowan, a Clergyman of the dio cese, returned thanks on behalf of himself and his friends who had signed the Petition. The Duke of Sussex proposed " The health of the Chairman," which was drank with great applause. The CHAIRMAN returned thanks. Song —" The standard of liberty boats through the world." Li the chorus of " Down tyrants, fall," the voice of the Duke of Sussex was particularly audible. The CHAIRMAN said, that the next toast pressed upon him more than any other which he had yet given, owing to its connexion with the county in which they had assembled. It had, however, this advantage, that it required no preface; for to name the individual, was enough to secure fur him the en thusiastic approbation of every man in the county. No man surpassed him in good qualities, nor in his zeal to promote the happiness of his friends and well being of hi, country, in the extensive sphere in which P;tovinENcs had placed him. In proposing the toast, need he add that the individual was w Their worthy and long-tried Representative, Mr. Coke." Mr. Coat, in returning thanks, expressed the de light and gratification which he enjoyed on the pre sent occasion, when they bad assembled to comme morate the anniversary of a man with whom for more than thirty years he had been united in the closest bonds of intimacy and friendship. He was proud that on an occasion se dear to his feelings they were honoured by the presence of so illustrious a guest as the Royal Duke who sat near him. Mr. Pox was an Ensl4;ag of fink dealing and plain :peaking with his countrymen; he was a matt of !IF most urrhounded benevolence, the firm friend of civil and religinits liberty all-over the world, and the de termined opponent of tyranny and corruption.--, Mr. Fox had used his greatest ene rgies to avert from this country the calamitous war with France againsti the efforts of the people to assert their libert ies; but his counsels, unfortunately for mankind, had not pre vailed. Let, then, the haters of the liberties of man kind rejoice at the success of their schemes—let them take the glory of which they talked so much, and with it the taxation, which was the price of that glory —(Hear, hear). He had still hopes that the energies of the people would compel even the present MIMS.. ters to be less prodigal. Unless some speedy step were taken, it would be difficult to preserve the coun try from ruin and destruction. He hoped, however, that something might yet be done, and that the ex ample of one revolution would not be productive of another—(Hear, hear). The author of all these ac cumulated and still accumulating miseries, was the pilot who, as it had been well said, gathered the storm which now required such an united effort to allay.— For himself, he could assure the present Meeting, that he was proud in being the Representative of such a county as Norfolk. He had uniformly lived amongst them, and had, perhaps, more than any other man of his time applied himself to the improvement of the condition of the agricultural classes—(Hear). — The Hon. Member then glanced at the proceedings of their late County Meeting, and was glad that they had the credit of being the first to come forward and speak out upon the real situation of the country. lie knew that there had been other Meetings got up and put down in holes and corners. A Noble Lord had said at one of them (we believe the Sussex Meeting), that taxation was a great blessing—(ll laugh).—in Suffolk another Noble Lord recommended the farmers to go home, for that they could do no good by calling County Meetings. A Meeting was intended in Kent, but it was suppressed : every step was taken to pre vent the expression of the public sentiment. He would here treat them with an extract from an ex cellent pamphlet which he had only received that morning. It was called " Remarks upon the late Session of Parliament, by a Near Observer." There was a passage in the pamphlet which, as it related to the Parliamentary efforts of a great ancestor of his own, Lord Coke, he could not refrain from the gra tification of quoting, leaving it to the Meeting to ap ply i: as they pleased. The quotation from a speech of Lord Cokes was as follows:—" What shall we do ? Let us palliate no longer ;if we do, Gon will not prosper us. I think the Duke of Buckingham is the cause of all our miseries—(Applause and laugh ter)—and till the King be informed thereof, we-shall never go out with honour, or sit with honour here. That man is the grievance of grievances. Let us set down the cause of all our disasters, and all will reflect upon him." How personal the Lord Chief Justice would have been considered had he been in Parliament in our times. These are the specimens of what an Eng lish House of Commons has been—the model of what it should be. What a contrast they present to a modern Ministerial, Pension-making Committee—(Applause). The Hon. Member then proceeded to state, that nothing but the united voice of the People would compel Ministers to observe a rigid system of eco-. nomy and retrenchment. They .vonld urge every excuse to keep up the establishments which were the source of their patronage. The late melancholy atro cities in Ireland might have been prevented, had the Government paid timely attention to the state of the People of that oppressed country. In Ireland the face of the country was without that class of yeo manry which was so large and respectable a portion of this country. Indeed, there was no other nation in the world which possessed such a body ; and yet that was the class which was now sought to be mini ? hilated. He greatly feared that there was a wicked and bloody set of men, bent upon establishing arbi trary power in this country by the intervention of military despotism. lie hoped their measures would be defeated, and that the great principles of Mr. Fox would ultimately prevail, and effect the preservation of the country. He had already told them that these were the sentiments which had hitherto governed his public life, and they were those to the dissemination of which his latest breath should he devoted—(Cheers). The CHAIRMAN next proposed the healths of " The Members for the City of Norwich." Mr. W. SMITH rose to return thanks on behalf of himself and his worthy colleague (Mr. Gurney), who was absent. The healths of " Lord Bury"—" Lord Holland, the repre sentative of the name and principles of Mr. Fox"—" Au honest man, Mr. Honywcod, the Member for Kent." Lord BURY and Mr. HONYWOOD returned thanks. Mr. HONYWOOD declared, that the cause of the disease at present raging in the body politic was dire ful, grievous, and oppressive taxation—(Hear)—and he therefore felt gratified in observing, that they had instructed their Representatives to say so in the House of Commons, and to state, that unless the weight of taxation were diminished, it would beimpossible for the country to obtain any relief. That this was really and strictly true, be would convince them by stating one single fact. Some time after the French war commenced, wheat sold at 455. a quarter, and the annual charge on the Debt was ten millions. How stood the case at the present moment? Why, wheat was only 48s. or 50s. a quarter, and the annual charge on the Debt was 37 millions; so that, with the same, or nearly the same, amount of income, they had to pay taxes increased in a quadruple ratio—(Lout cheers).—Could such a state of things last ? No ;it was quite impossible. Mr. Ilonyw•ood then adverted to the state of the Representation. Corruption (he said) was at the core of Parliament ; and until it was eradicated, it was in vain to expect any permanent alleviation of the distresses of the country—(llear). The Duke of NORFOLK proposed the health of "Mr. James Macdonald, M.P." Mr. MACDONALD, in returning thanks, took an able view of the present situation of this country ; and of the progress of rational liberty on the Conti nent, where, in spite of all the efforts made to retard it, it had unquestionably advanced. He next alluded to the struggle between the Greeks and the Turks.— Where (he said) was the man, with one spark of ge nerous feelings, that did not wish the Greeks success over the cruel tyrants who had for so many years lorded it over them ? He was sure that every man whom he then saw around him, earnestly wished for the emancipation of that great but unfortunate ua tioit—(C4ci Out did they ttnagine that; Lord Loa donderry wished itt-( o4 a *I" frid"l") -0; the crl of Downing-street was-.." The SublimeOttoasaa Porte, and the cause of legit imacy r for the Sublime Porte, though an unholf member, still was A bee of the Holy Allience 7 (Leughter). He trusted. however, that that legiti mate power, the O t to Porte, would not succeed In cru . shiag the ri s i ng etc , gies of Greece ; but, whether it clod or not, it was still impossible to deny, that since their lest tneeti teg the cause of liberty had advanced in Europe, n is , deed with the aid, but in despite of the efforts of Ea t . land to prevent it--(Cheers). Mr. HOWYWOOD, at the request of the Earl or m., bemarle, favoured the company with the song " While happy in my native land." ' The Cuatastax, in giving the nett toast, alindei to the changes which had recently taken place in t h e Administration, and said that he feared that the only result of them to the Public would be, that it W ou l d have to pay certain additional pensions, some to the persons who had retired from, and others to the i sons who had entered upon office. He wished t at the Gentlemen in public situations would give t h e country an account of the services for which they te , caved their pensions. He had seen a fart let's lately, of which the only item was, " For coring your horse till it died," so soany pounds. He suppo%ed that the item of services perfortred by Most ..f t h e pensioned gentry would be of a similar natu. e. It might, perhaps, run thus, " For taking care ef the interests of the country until they were such an annuity for life—(Cheers). —Alter some other remarks in a similar strain, he gave the I olio% ing toast: " May all corrupt advisers of the Crown meet their jl:4 punishment in the general c tetrad in of the country." After this toast had been drank, the Cann:m.o.; gave the health of Mr. Lennard, the Member for Ipswich, and eulogised that Gentleman's endeAv,-, ur to obtain a repeal of the Six Acts—(Cheers). Mr. LENNARD returned thanks in a neat speech. The following toasts were then drank : " A speedy repe al of the Six Acts."—" The health of Ridley Colborne . "—" Earl Grey, and our friends throci,r.At England who adhere to the principles of Mr. Fox, helienr.% them to be best calculated to promote the happiness and welfare of our fellow-countrymen."—" The Liberty of the First. t h e _ _ •• bulwark of our hberty. —" Sir Francis 13urdett, and may the Oplyosers of a corrupt C we-mine:at be united in one princiiO for the common good."—" TheVice-President, Mr. Fowler."-.. " Sir Robert Wilson, and may the English soldier never forget the rights and duties of a citizen."—" The health of Lord Suffield." The Duke of SUSSEX rose to propose the next teas% which he said he had given upon a former occasion. and which the more he gave the better he liked it— he meant " The brave Yeomanry of the County of Norfolk," for brave, he was happy to say it, they really were—( Cheers).—A very different character belonged to those denominated the Yeomanry in ano ther County. There they might, indeed, be the se:. vants of shopkeepers, or even shopkeepers them-el%ts, but Yeomen they certainly were not ; for, if they ht& been so, the country would never have witnessed the disgraceful outrage committed on the Peopleat Alan chester--(Loed cheers).—He wished to be allowed to allude to a report which was current of the inteai•)a of Ministers to propose a new Property-tax. He, for one, should resist such a measure inch by inch, and foot by foot—(Cheers)—and he would tell them why.— If, under any pretext, such an act were once to pass, the principle would be admitted ; and, admit the principle, and no modification of it could afterwarA be resisted—(Hear).—He would have them look to the act of their own friends,the Whigs,when in power. One of the most unfortunate acts mhich they ha.: ever committed was the increasing of the per centage on property—(Hear).--Now if they could he led in:a such a snare, what would others be inclined to da who had every temptation to augment and not to minish the expenditure of the country—(Ckeers).— Tim agriculturists ought not to be deluded by :::e expectation of any relief from such a measure; it wottl be merely paying the same amount of taxes in other shape; it would be merely removing the 1)u:- den from one shoulder to the other, and in plain Er.- lish, only lobbing Peter to pay Paul—(Laughter end thee) r).—His Royal Highness concluded his speech, by giving " The health of the Yeomanry t;:: county of Norfolk, and may they long continue t 3 enjoy those rights, which they so well know how to maintain." This :oast was drank with three tint:: three cheers, as was also the following:— " Mr. llunse, to whom our gratitude is due for the con:;'.::_ detection and exposure of the system of corruption." Toast—" Sir T. Beevor and the Stewsrds." Sir T. BEEVIIR returned thanks. Song—" Scots wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled!" Toast—" The Gentlemen who formed the ComMt:i Management." Mr. E. TAYLOR returned thanks. Toast—" The Rights of the People." The Earl cf ALRENtARLic in giving the next ant last toast—" The Ladies of the County," returned t! , ..! company his sincere thanks for the support whic:i they had given him in the Chair, and expressed 1::s great satisfaction at meeting so numerous and re spectable an assembly of the Gentry and Ye:- manry of Norfolk. His Lordship then quitted the Chair, and accom panied his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex out of the room, amidst the loudest and most enthusiastic eheering.—The company immediately afterwards separated, it being at that time about one o'clock oa Friday morning. We understand that Mr. HOLT, who was stated is a paragraph in our Paper of Thursday, as having been dismissed from the Victualling-Wice, along' with several others, in consequence of some disco veries resulting from a recent investigation, was not dismissed, but was allowed to resign in conscqueace of upwards of fifty years service.—No charge rela tive to discounting bills was ever brought agailbt that Gentleman. We hear the• some of the Es-Commissioners of the Victualling Ward are preparing a Memorial to Go vernment to obtain their retiring salaries. I: 6w" parted, and we believe on good authority, that some or one of the Commissioners have surreptitiously had shares in contracts, of which themselves had the let ting l The report, if true, we presume, settles the Fer mi or persons so implicated.—Times. We may, perhaps, shortly be able to lay the whole machinery open to the world, We may record, for the benefit of admiring posterity, how an individual ; an bumble individual 1 in Deptford-yard wan enabled from a small tralary, little esceediug ESOO a-year, to aniabs a fortune of bermes' sixty itai 16":0,000.AMId.