Star. — London, England, 1821-01-19 00:00:00

and eloipsence which had been displayed by his No. ble Friend near him, in opening the subject of the Meeting, and in expatiating upon the principle of the Address. He was not aware of the nature of the Petition which he had to support, until it had been put into his hands; but be was aware of his own in :ability to advocate- its merits in the manner which they deserved. He willed it had fallen into abler hands, but trusted that *he shotdd then,. as on all si m- dar occasions, receive that ind ul gen ce i which it w was necessary for him to ask, and those whom he had the honour to address were always so ready to give—(Hear, hear). He was then in-therpresence of a part of.his Constituents, and was prevented from seeing thleis all face to face, because the High Sheriff, in his discredonits7 wisdom, .did not think Et to allow them-in opportunity of appearing lin such numbers as must base been expected, had he sanctioned their assembling according to the purport oldie Requisition. This .was the reason, and the only one, which prevented him faem facing, on this occasion, the whole body of hlit Constituents, whom, although that Hall was then crowded beyond precedent, it was capable of containing hut a small But were times come to this, het.the High rt. sheriff should designate as a seditious Meeting the free, unfettered assemblage of the " Men of Kent," to express their honest opaniOns upon public affairs, at the most important crisis which had over dawned upon this country ? For bit own part he should never shrink from any opportunity of expressing his opt. nion upon the late vicious and scandalous proceed ings in the House of Lords, which, the more they were analysed, the more they excited a just indigna-. tion and antipathy. He considered the Bill of Paine and Penalties at first sight both unnecessary and odious, but the further consideration of it raised that feeling to abhorrence—(Ckeers). The Ministers had said that it was a matter of State necessity ; but it was owing to the conduct of the virtuous minority, of which his Noble Friends near him formed scs con spicuous a part, that the pernicious measure was pre vented from consummating the calamities of the country—(Hear). But this virtuous minority was supported by the irresistible voice of public opinion; and the expression of that public opinion had caused the Bill of Pains and Penalties to cease to exist— (Hear, hear). " "fair said the Honourable Mem ber; " the end of all Bills of that nature be the same." (" Amen," from the crowd). If they looked back to the earlier history of the Queen, they would find that, from the time in which she had first set her foot in this country, she had been an injured and persecuted woman. Insult and defamation had driven her from the shores of England ; and no sooner had she set her foot in a foreign country, than persecution followed her, and every vexation was practised that could tend to vilify and degrade. But although every engine of undue influence had been employed against het, tl-e verdict of the country had pronounced her inno cent—(t:hays). It was the proud principle of British justice, that when a man was brought to the bar, the laws of his country presumed him innocent, and, when once acquitted, he was declared innocent for ever--(Loud'eheer.7). He could then walk out of Court as free and as unblemished as any who then heatd him ; was this a principle, the advantage of which Britons would give a man and deny to a wo man ?—(llear ' hear). It never was their character, and never could be their character, so to do—. (Chars), and especially among the Men of Kent; where the love of woman was predominant, innocence must ever be protected, but particularly when it ap peared iu the shape of a persecuted woman (Cheers). It was true, that the Minister of the Crown had said, that the proceedings, which they and all honest men reprObated, were necessary for the maintenance and support of the morals of the country ; but he could not see what advantage could be derivable, either to the Crown or to the community, from the offer which Ministers had made her Majesty, if their vindication of the interests of either was anything but a pretext : was it necessary; be would ask, for the honour of the Crown, or the morals of the People, that the Queen, if really such a woman as Ministers had represented her to be, should receive an annual sum of £50,000 from thii country, along with a plenary indulgence to sin on as she pleased, and to make herself as happy as possible in a state of unbridled licentiousness ? (i/ene,hear).—Nor, could he see how the community was to be benefitted by the opening of that floodgate of scandal, filth, and obscenity, which had deluged the Nation to Its remotest extremities during the pro gress of the foul and abominable investigation-- (Ilear, hear).—That trial, he was bold to say, had done more towards the demoralization of the People, than all the seditious, blasphemous, and anti-monar chical publications which had issued from the Press since it had first become free—(Cheers).—The Hon. Member then adverted to the conduct of Ministers in proroguing Parliament without the observance of the accustomed and decent formality of thanking the House of Commons for the Supplies. There was nothing, he said, to shew that the Crown was really informed of the bounty of Parliament. The Country was ignorant whether it had really received the sup plies:voted—(Hear, hear).—The Ministers of Queen Anne had not done so. They had not advised the Crown to prorogue Parliainent wit/to:ft acknowledg ing the receipt of the Supplies, nor had it been at tempted by the Ministers of George the First, Second, or Third • it was reserved forthe l Ministers of Geor g e the Fourth, to outrage propriety and , decorum in dis missing Parliament withourtondescending to take the slightest notice of its munificence to the Crown. He then proceeded to read the spetch addressed to the Parliament in the first year of the reign of Queen Anne, in which that Sovereign stated; that she re turned her hearty thanks to the House-of Commons for continuing the provision settled on the Crown in the pmckcling reign, and that, while hersubjects la bouredoeldor a great burden of mires, she would straitenienrown expenses to meet the necessities of the times, as far as was consistent with maintaining the character and dignity of the Crown—(Hear,. Lean). At that time, however, the National Debt was not greater than.the present expense of collecting it. It was worth while to contrast the conduct of Mims tom t h en a nd at present—nothing ceold be more dis similar. The Ministers of that day acknowledged the Crown dependent upon Parliament, b ut now they wished to make it paramount and independent. He could not conclude without saying one word about a set of men, some of whom were to be found at pre ss* la that and every other county. Thus men thought, or prete nded , that they were more loyal than others ; i the fact we; thit they arrogated to themselves an exclusive tide to loyalty, whiih they *either understood nor practieed. He(Mr.Honywood) believed his own loyaky to be the betterof the two, who, while he gave to his Kin all the rights and the deference due to him, defended the rights and in terests of himself anitfailomoubjects from destruction or encroachment—(Hear, hear).—He believed that true loyalty did not mean subservience to Ministers, but a faithful attachment to the honour and integrity of the Crown and Constitution—(Cheers). —He con cluded by assurinu s he t 4ssembly, that he would not only present their ' to the House of Commons, but would in his place support it, and hoped he should have the aid of his Honourable Colleague— (Hear, bud laughter). The question was then about to be put, when • Mr. LAIMIN rose to deliver his opinions, and en tered into a lengthened view of the state of the nation ' and the conduct of Ministers, in order to prove that the only effectual remedy for the many Reform of which the country complained, was a Reform in Parliament—(Appiause).—Ministers had the entire controul of the House of Commons; hence it was that Lord Castlereagh, a wholesale dealer in seats', was passed uncensured, while the retail trader was prosecuted to prison—(Applause).—Sir M. M. topaz and 'Mr. Swann were sent to prison, but Lord Castlereagh was stalking about the house at large —(Great laerghter).—He was no Radical, he was more of a Whig; but he detested all abuse of either Whigs or Radicals—(Applause).—lt was a pity they were not united in restoring the pristine purity of the Constitutidn—(Loud cheers).--Ministers, feeling the Commons 'at their _nod, had advised the King to thank those who had murdered his subjects !—(Lorry applause).—Would Ministers have dared to treat the Queen as they had done, if they had a prospect of meeting the Representatives of the People? (Cheers). Servility begot contempt, and that servile body had been treated as all servile tools were treated—(Shouts of applause).—The pretended loyalists'did more in jury to the Religion than even to the Constitution of the country, for they circulated what they knew to be infamously false—(Cheers).—lf Hunt were Prime Minister, he could get up the same Addresses that were now voted, and Lord Liverpool could pass to his seat at W'almer Castle without any notice from the conclaves at Rochester and Canterbury. Ile 'hoped the Meeting would express their thanks to the great palladium of liberty—a free and independent Press. Ile was proud to see all the licentiousness on the part of those who were paid by Nlinisters others supported independence with talents hitherto unknown—( Loud applause). The Petition was then moved, and carried without a dissentient voice. Mr. Hostwoon moved a similar Petition to the Hemse of Lords, which was also carried unanimously. Mr. Ilia:ma proposed a Petition to the House of Commons, on the subject of the Agricultural Dis tresses of the Country. Mr. Fours seconded the motion, and said, that it was only since his arrival that he had been called upon to second the Petition ; when he saw so many Gentlemen present of public integrity, independence, and great abilities, he was almost induced to shrink from the task ; but, however inadequately he could perform such a public deity; he felt that when called upon in the manner in which he had been, the com mand ought to be imperative—( ilmlause ).—But after the eloquent and splendid speeches which this assembly had heard, it would ill become him to ex patiate at any length upon subjects already so amply discussed. lie must be allowed, however, to say a few words—(Hear).—lle could not but reprobate the conduct of the High Sheriff, as insulting to the, County, which at that Meeting sheered that it se conded, by its almost unanimous voice, the wishes of the Requisitionists. Ile then commented on the state of the agriculture of the country, which he at tributed to excessive and intolerable taxation, and contended for the necessity of raising the agricul tural interests by legislative protection, in the same way that it had been attempted to restore the pros perity of our manufactures. He thought that the spinning-jennies of the North ought not to be better protected than the Kent plikugh—(Hear),—nor the, Protestant yeomen of England be sacriiced to the Catholic vine-growers of Portugal. He insisted that the present state of things would have the effect ofl converting arable land into pasture, and destroying the best source of opulence which the country post , sessed ; but he did net look to any effectual remedy for such a state of things, except a Reform in Par liament, which, as it was not the object of the Meet ing, he would not have alluded to, had it not been previously brought before them ; but, whatever his opinions on that subject might be, his honest ser vices would be always at the command of his coun try—(Loud cheers). The Petition was then moved and carried, with only the opposition of a Mr.Puarts, who had liefoie singly opposed the sense of the Meeting. Earl of THANE? said, the conduct of the high Sheriff imperiously required some notice from them. In the opinion of that Meeting, the High Sheriff had neither shewn due respect to the County, nor at tended to the duties of his situation, which by no means entitled him to arrogate to himself the right of deciding upon the sentiments of the County. lie then moved a Vote ot Censure, which, was seconded by Mr. /IoNYWOOD, and carried unanimously, ex cepting the dissent of the above Gentleman. Lord DARNLEY, in moving Thanks to the Mayor of Maidstone, for accommodating the Meeting, with the use of the Town Hall, declared, that while 'Could never be reconciled to subserviency, either to a mob or to a Court, to licentiousness or despotisni, be should always be ready to support any description of Reform calculated to improve our happy Constitu tion.—The motion was agreed to, as was a Vote of Thanks to the Chairman, who returned thanks, and the Meeting broke up about four o'clock. At a General Meeting of the Freeholders, Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners of Supply of the Stewartry .of Kirkcudbright, assembled at Kirkcud bright on Friday last, aldinisterial Address to the Kato was carried, by a majority of 52 to 15. The Earl of estaowzr, and twenty-eight Gendernen, all necessarily abseil, sent letters approving of the Addeess; and three Geadeuten, also necessarily al). sent, sent letters, expressing loyalty to the Ktuu, but disapprovipg of the oondlictorkis Ministers, 164TSHIRP, MEETING. - • Wednesday, one of the most numerous and respect able Meetings ever witnessed in this County was held st the Market Cross, in the Town of Devizes. The Meeting was called by the HIGH SHERIFF, pursuant to a Requisition presented to him, signed by the Duke of SOMERSET, the Mar iris of LANSDOWN, the Earl of CARNARVON Lord HOLLAND, and the principal Nobility and Gentry of the County, to consider the propriety of declaring their unabated and unalterable attachment to the Constitution, of expressing their regret at the late unconstitutional proceedings against the Queen, and of petitioning both Houses of Parlia ment to take the most effectual measures for the re-, moval of every obstacle to a satisfactory and final arrangement, and to prevent a recurrence te mea sures of a similar tendency, and the revival of discus sions equally mischievous to the public morals, and dangerous to the peace of the country. At an early hour, Country Gentlemen, with their families, crowded into the town from all parts of the neighbouring country. The spacious Hustings, which had been previously erected by the Under Sheriff, was surrounded by many thousands of the Free holders, long before the appointed hour of meeting. The Marquis of LANSDOWN an ived soon after eleven o'clock. The Duke of SOMERSET, Sir FRANCIS SUR• [JETT, Mr. SENETT, Mr. GORDON, Mr. Hormones, and many other public characters, made their ap pearance shortly after : they were repeatedly cheered by the people. About one o'clock, those Noble Lords and Gentlemen, accompanied by the Hie? and Sub- Sheriff, and between one and' two hundred of the most: leading Gentlemen of the County, proceeded to the Hustings. At this moment the Meeting pre sented a most imposing spectacle :—the Hustings was surrounded by at least ten thousand persons— the windows of Parsons Hotel, and, indeed, of the principal houses in the square, crowded with Ladies of the first respectability—presented a rare and gra tifying assemblage of elegance and beauty—of feel ing involuntarily displayed, when a generous or af fecting sentiment occasionally fell from the lips of the different speakers. There was not a single spe cial constable sworn in —a few of the ordinary She riff's officers, With small white wands, stood before the Hustings ; they stood there mute and motionless, for they had nothing to do in the way of preserving order. Though the crowd was unprecedented, the utmost decorum and propriety prevailed. They ap plauded, indeed, with the warmest enthusiasm, the sentiments of which they approved ; but they heard other and opposite sentiments with patience, and without disrespect. At ten minutes past one, the Duke of Sosienser moved that the High Sheriff do take the Chair. The motion having been seconded by the Marquis of LANSDOWN, was then carried. The HIGH SHERIFF accordingly took the Chair, aad commenced the business of the day by reading the Requisition. lie next stated, that he had that morning received a letter from Lord Holland, which, with the permission of the Meeting, lie would.read to them—(Hear, hear!)—The High Sheriff then read the letter, which was as follows: " Ma. Hick Sntiurr—After having signed the Requisition which was presented to you, I regret tfrat I am prevented, by indisposition, from attending the Countylleethig which, in com pliance with that Requisition, in virtue of the o ffi ce you hold, and in the spirit of our free nd popular Constitution—you, Sir, have so readily and so properly convened. I was in hopes of having it in nay power to explain to the Freeholders of my me five county of Wilts, the Motives which induced me to solicit you to call them together at this time. If kbe not irregular, I shall now feel obliged to you, Sir, or t o an y b rot h er Freeholder, to read the following short statement to them : " I was persuaded first, that there never was a period in which the conduct of public affairs required more deliberation and wisdom. Secondly, that until the Queen was in full pos session, not only of her strict legal rights and dignities, but of all those outward marks of respect, and other advantages which the liberal and loyal People of England have been in the habit of conferring on the consorts of their Sovereigns, the Councils of the Nation neither would nor scold pay due attention to the va rious important matters, upon their decisions on which, the cha racter of the country abroad, and the liberty, property, peace, and happiness of its inhabitants at home, seem to me essentially to depend. And thirdly, I was convinced, from many observe. Lions too minute to be detailed in a letter, that nothing but the sense of the community, conveyed through such channels as the late restraints on public discussion have left uninterrupted, email extinguish 4 further proceedings on the subject of the Qom. It was with such views that I signed a Requisition, calling es you to convene the Freeholders of the County, and I now write to you, in the firm hope, that regularly convened by your antb• pliance therewith, they may do all that in them lies, to prevent the revival of discussions which, according to the just appre hensions of one branch of the Legislature, have been found on experience, to be d e rog a t or y from the h onour: of the Crown, and injurious to the best interests of the country. " I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, " Your obedient humble servant, " VASSALL HOLLAND. " 0141 Burlington-street, London, Jan. 16, 18el." The sentiments contained in this letter were re ceived with loud cheers. The thou Slims/ then said, that having con. vend the Meeting, he had only to hope that every Gentleman who should address them would receive , a full and patient hearing—(Applaese);—and fur , Cher, he bad tc, request that Gentlemen would con fine themselves to the immediate subject for which the Meeting had been called. , 'After the Sheriff had concluded, Mr. PAUL MSTUURN, of Corsham House, came forward to move the Resolutions. He was received , with loud cheers. He said, that in rising to move the Resolutions, he lamented his inability to do jus tice to the subject which, on that occasion, had called the freeholders of the county together--a subject which, he would venture to say without the fear of contradiction,occupied the attention of every man in this country ; and he would say, that he was able to add, of every woman and child. He seized with pleasure on that opportunity of returning thanks to the High Sheriff of the county, not only for calling the Meeting, but for the very handsome, liberal man ner in which he did so—(Applause). —The conduct of that Gentleman was the more honourable--the more deserving of public praise, when contrasted with the conduct of Sheriffs in other counties--indeed, it might be said that the Sheriff had shed lustre on the county; he proved that there was no Wiltshire Gen tleman so lost to the sense of delicacy, and of duty, as to refuse to his brother freeholders an opportunity, of openly avowing their sentiraents,(Applause).— With respect to the immediate business of the day, be would ask, could any one doubt that her Majesty suffered under a foul persecution?—(Cries of No one ears dos* it)—He believed that-she was the intended victim of a foul cons , begot in malice, engen dered in djrkness, supported by perjury ilause).—The Nutistarti throughout srctucd to barc but one object—fair or foul, foul or said the Ministers, find her popular Poet had said— " Slaves cannot breathe is England; when th e i r Receive our air, that moment they are free; — IA They touch our country, and their shackles fall; ' That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud And jealous of the blessing." (Applause). Such was the character which ' men once had—would they allow that be stained, or reversed by an infatuated 'tion, by men who did not value the nation, because they felt not their influence? men commenced what might be called a wa r , termination—against whom ? against one lonely, fenceless woman—(Applanse)A—Would the England allow that illustrious wom an , t h e wife ; their Sovereign—the first subject in the lana s .! man whohad a double claim on their scion's— daughter of a hero—the mother of their and beloved Princess Charlotte—would such a woman to be tried without justice, and without mercy ?—(Crts of Never, neter).—T o the language of the Honourable and patrio t i c ronet near him (Sir F. Burdett), " Forbid ita drop of blood that does not proclaim its °w oe bastard"—(Laud applause).—lt became the d ory , every honest man to speak oat, and to mark with, probation the odious system pursued by Min i t el against her Majesty--(Applauss).—lt also wa r , duty of every man to support the King, is d ie t of the State; but whilst they expressed their do n , soination to support his Majesty, they week , also to declare, that to support him or Sovereign they would never desert the Ccmstitoti c which they loved—(Loud applause).--Of the , they were bound to speak respecafully—(Apph o o., but of the conduct of his Ministers it was - to speak in language other than that of They led the King, step by step, to which could not be contemplated without horro r , (Applause).—What was the extent of they practised towards his Majestz ? See the p, Journals in the pay of the Government—wa s ern Monarch so meanly and so grossly flattered? ever a people so much insulted ? Was ever even the lowest—the most profligate mail even the female felon was not assailed with foul abuse—such filthy, unmanly, cruel attack s I , her Majesty was daily exposed to from the deo:. official paper of the Treasury—(True, He would give one instance of the manner in whirl the King was flattered and deceived. The of London, on a late occasion, solemnly that the Sovereign could do no wrong—could dos wrong, not merely as a King, but, morally, could& no wrong as au individual !—(A laugh). In the* Dion of that Learned Bishop, the King could do wrong towards his wife!—he was exempted common frailties of our common nature!, commit no folly !—(Loud laughter.) Such was as declaration of a Prelate of the Church of Engin& one of GOD'S Ministers!—(Cries of " He is no ad thing!") Such was the opinion of the Lord Bisb ct of London, that a human being was not morally* sponsible for any act of his to his country, to tie laws, to his conscience, Or to his Caviroa!--(flrie of" Shame !") The Bishop of London should midi things by halves; holding the opinion he ph.. he should have gone to the King, and said—" you wish to get rid of your wife; your Majesty as do no wrong, and therefore your Majesty had bee take up a kitchen poker, and knock out her brain! (A laugh). That would be an easy way to get ride her, and not criminal, as morally the King could de no wrong. It was_ lamentable, it was disgusting, see how Ilinisters treated the country. What! vs it to be endured that the property, the liberty, tie very morals of the People were to be put in jeopardy because domestic broils existed between the Kies and the Queen ?—or, to speak in plainer langur, because two old people hate each other—(Aiiiiena and laughter)—was all that was dear to the cowry to be put in danger? Was England to be cored with blood, or degraded by immorality, madly enable the King-to try his luck a second time kir lottery of wedlock, and probably to draw a Waal? a: IRO 11011 irn rni sin " Scilicet at Tura° coatingat *lea eosin, " Nos anima 'lles inhonata ianctalus nubs " Stet-Kumar =apts." No, he hoped the people of England would do their duty—doing so, they would prevail over evil al. visers ; they would not cease in their efforts ad they saw ample justice done to her Majesty—isd they saw her name restored to the Liturgy, Radii she was put in possession of her rights and dipilr A-(Ape&use).—The People would not desert di • Queen—guilty or innocent, her Majesty had 16 . 1 ° treated infamously--(dpplause),--aad the had been treated worse—(Contiased apple the Queen were zt, se her . husband might himself for it —( ).-.-ffis letter was a let* of license ; he said you may do what you please* go where you please, . so that you do n o t coati trouble me. The Bishop of London, if his Lora* were acquainted with the Scriptures, might hi written in that sacred volume, se He that wad away his wife, except for fornication, ceuseth bola commit adultery"—(App/ause).—git wae, holm% • but an act of justice towards her Majesey-,ad act which, in his opinion, every hOtiontable and oril mind would perform—to declare that the whole her Majesty's conduct bore the appearance of km cence. WAS ever magnanimity like' tier's motor nied by guilt ? No. She was the only metalled the Royal Family who ever had the magnaninfitY to restore one farthing of the large sums which were 2 0 ' =ally taken out of the pockets of a distressed PeoEla (Applause).—Never did any one of the Royal t,tl restore one shilling to the People, except her Ja'al jetty ; but she generously restored a sum of 4.140ffl ' a-year—(Loud cad continued etivlanse),He would say to those Royal Dukes, who on the late trial Id not only as Judges, but as Jurors—not only as Jw rocs, but Accusers—not only as Accusers, bat _s! Counsel against her—he would sa y to them, am' particularly to the Duke of York, who took ielOpl : a-year from the Peopl e , f or w h at ?—f or 4 ping frost ' London to Windsor in a one-horse charse, ow. month, to see his poor old father I—(Cries‘ismillg?'“ To hi m'and to another Royal Duke, who distinguisam himself on the late trial, he would point to the gene- rout conduct of her Majesty, and say, “ Go and do thou likewise"—(Applause). The people of Fogiastt were bound to condemn the proceedings against ISt Majesty, not only on her account, but on their dwn. She to be dic victim of to-day : but it was 42' Or fair, se e t , ity—(Appion) .. 1 ,0 " I; when their 1„.._ • cal e are free; - " I f e ii 3 proud ralwschactutiaerthntclhafltleteleiwuedtendhtifcaiancArtnetcbehatilr?rmatactitlig:;::::: 11.1"Itt:11: ainst one lonely, "'nit Would the people irgri t nd t ),'rtlj—:ill:villitorcihtiruaeoein,iresdibauiarinPtirtiainsilteevi.epery-411alif:411 thei3°r":lltl:7:°lsl.l d e and patrioti c 3er, never).- , To d IN • oclaim its owner • became the Thtty Ind to mark nith raid irsued by Ministe r at c .),—!t a l so was di, e ling, is the kV an d pressed th e i r ile a , nioi y, they were bosi cliff him or any* ert the Cortstit* evi use).--01 the Ki t the afu I I y..-( Applater4„. ers it was irept*, that of abluvrei c ' E ni ep, to an emote ! ' i ; ttcl without horror- Nit o( deceptionsahibT Icy ? See the pubh on a refiament—teas eon poi ly flattered? We e a l as Was ever ecen;; of - gue and licentious. snot t assailed with se a a 3 ly, cruel attacks al -occ to from the dee:. quc True, True).- thei he manner in %hid rho' tived. The Risky foul solemnly dechni, offe wrong—could dote effe t, morally, coulda Rej laugh). In the citi• Pee e King could do a QUT s exempted front& dec ra nature—he mid dec ter.) Such was the owe hurch of England- woi of 44 He is Re ad saw of the Lord Bid" was was not morally* . Mu his country, to the ing I C REA des nation should site to f inion he pronounci4 hoc ' and said—a fee, your Majesty al • she Majesty had bete me ock out her brains!' fro