The National Register. — London, England, 1816-12-09 00:00:00

SPAFIELDS MEETING. Monday, pursuant to adjournment, the Meeting that was convened about a fortnight since, re-assembled in Spafields, for tb^purpose of hearing Mr. Hunt's report of the manner in which the Prince Regent bad teceivod the Petition of the last Meeting. At one o'clock Nlr. Hunt an iveil, in a tatelent, at the Merlin's Ca% e, into which the Orator entered, and he ant‘d.ately the people assembled outside the house. Mr. Hunt opened t!“. proecedings by moving, that Mr. Claik shoot,: lake the Chair. Mr. Clark then recommended peace and good order among them ; and begged them jo let no spies or informers excite them to riot. They were owl to obtain their rights by Peti tion, and not by violence. Mr. Hunt commenced by requesting them to be silent; the best way to obtain which, was for every man to hold his touxue. He saw sliCh an assemblage of his fellow-country men around him as had never been witnessed before in this our happy - country. Since he was last there, he bad endea voured to perform the task they bad entrusted him with ; and finding that Sir F. Burdett was at Brighter', and not likely to come to town, he undertook to present their Petitloa to the Regent Itine , elf. He hoped that conduct would be satisfac tory to them as far as he was concerned. lie proceeded to Carleton House, and asked Col. ISPHabon 'if he conk' have ais audience to present the Petition of the Distressed Menu factnrers. Theenswer was, that he might present it at the next Levee, u r through the Home Secretary of State, and that there was no other why. He then inquired when there would be a Levee, and was told it was uncertain. He therefore exercised his own discretion, and carried the Petition to Lord Sithnouth's O ffi ce ; wheu be was instantly adMitted, and received with that politeness and respect that was due Aroma grvot Minister of State to the Agent of a great and important Meeting. He told his Lordship that lie should go to Spalields to coumiunicate the answer of the Prince; and he promised sot to misrepresent what had mimed. Lord Sithnonth pro mised that not a day should go over his bead without his re aentine the Petition, which he fulfilled ; and the next day wrote to bins (Hand that he had done so. Lord Sidamoth informed him. that upon no occasion since the present family came to the Throne. had they ever returned answers to Peti tions, except to those from the city of London and the tee Universities. That if be had gone to the Levee, he would have had to make his bow, present the petition, and then re tire. That was a little more about Coin matters than he knew of before. Their Petition bad received as much atten tion as had been paid by the present Family to any one. He bad understood that the Prince immediately attended to the Petition. • (Here there was.soine uproar.) It was natural to suppose that on such en occasion some bug-bear would come to frighten women and children ; but that any Englishman should feel alarm at exercising a constitutional right was too con temptible to be thought of. He replied to Used Sidmouth, that it would give him pleasure to inform the Meeting that their Prtitioa bad been attended to ; and lie now expected a depu tation from the Soup Committee to thank them for the 5,0001. which that Petition had caused the Regent to seed them. But that was not enough ; they had asked him to give 900,0001. out of the Civil List ; but bad arbiters had compelled him to give 6,0001. only out of the Omits of Admiralty, of which they bad robbed the sailors. Still their Petition effected that, and the calling of Parliament sooner than it would have been. There they were again; and what would they do next? Witold they give up the thing ?—No, ,w.—lf they had said, " tea," be would have been astonished indeed. He was therefore prepared to submit to there some Resolutions; which, if they adopted, he thought they would proceed a little farther in their constitutional endeavours. He wished be had-the voice of a Stentor, and would give three years of . his life to be able to make the whole assembly hear him. Since he was last there, they bad seen the way in which he had been vilified and abused. Having been honoured by the etiefideure of so immense an assemblage, he should be un worthy of their future contideuce if be displayed his private feelings by one word of reply to so much abuse. They !tail like told most egregious lies ; that he had been put into a mad-hense ; next, that he had got drunk, and been killed. Al! this they had set down in print in their Papers, and had convinced the world that there was nothing in them worthy *1 belief. He had attended a great Meeting of the Livery (being himself one), not for the purpose of differing with one or another, bat to deliver the sentiments of his heart. Those knew little of his character who thought he-was to be put down by clamour and calumny. One was carried away by private feelings, and another by little mean polioy ; hut he would say no more of these petty dabblers in politics, who were unworthy of their notice. He would how and worship them, if they could shew they did more service•to the public than he did. The Mansion House Meeting bad taken a dif ferent cour.e from them to relieve the distresses; and where Was .the Englishman who would not relieve by charity kis fellow-creature in distress. Which would they rather have, • a penny of their own earnings, or a pennyworth of soup? At a Soup Meeting in•Wigau, in Lancashire, a Weaver went from his work, who told them that fur three months himself, his wife, and four children had not eaten an qtrim of meat ; and they would all die before they would taste their soup. He was asked What *retested. " Wain!" said he; o lam an Englishman, and I want my rights!" To hear Contractors end Bank Directors, who Guru on the people, telling them, that charity was the oilly means of ieliev lug the distressed, deserved uo other name 'than that of a cheat. They would knock until the door was '.pened and their liberties igiven to then.—[Here these was some tumult. "That,"said the Orator, " is another beta-liar.") —They bad been told they had the honour of being attended by a regular army. He hoped they were In attendance now, ;and lie would show them how to opposetheir artillery—by the artillery of reason, truth and justice. While he was exercising the right lie was now doing, he would go on if all the artil lery in Eufope were in that held opposed to biro. They could atßict and torture; but there was one comfort, thercould kill but once. Parliament was to meet on the 718th of Janu ary ; and he would now propose some Resolutions and a Pe tition to the 'loose of Commons, which he wished should know that the whole people of England were petitioning for their rigats. Would they not all put their names to the Pe tition ?--( Yes, ors.)—Brit where were they to get parchment saiongli s' The lawyers would be out of work. He would sub set the his mite to buy parchment. Ile hoped they would dis• serse rinietly; for be had ordered his servo:it to bring down saddle horse, to shew then, that the man they thought served then& could ride as well as w alk. He then moved his Reselaitious, which were eerbatias the same as those bewail foiled in ca tying at the Common HAI! on Friday as'imight. Mr. Hogan seconded them ; and requested that nothing on earth Might induce them to deviate fro.) a peaceable hi. e of eirodocL No doubt every attempt would tie made to stir op buys lis acts oh violeme ; but let them all go home quietly when the Meeting broke tip. Ile rectanmended every one ils.!widualty to licition Parhaulmt in his own way: then TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER. MiniNtees would not care to say that they were the acts of a rabble. 'llicßesolutions were then carried with clamour. Mr. Hunt then woved a Petitiou to Parliament for a gene ral Reform. Mr. Waddington then' came forward to second it, having been announced by Mr. Hunt as a man persecuted by Go vernment for opposing the war. He said, this Meeting was a proof of the enlightened age in which ac lived. If a few boys picked a few pockets, was it to be laid on them? He contended that the 'sufferings of indintry might be relie%ed, if a plan he had transmitted to Government were adopted, of establishing a new commercial COMpelti* to trade in the Pacific Ocean. That plan would clear the warehouses In six months. - The'Petition was then carried. Mr. Hunt then moved, that their fellow-countryman in.per secntion, Lord Cochrane, should be desired to present the Petition to the House of Commons. Mr. Green proposed, that Sir F. Burdett, who had always been the Blend of the people , _ shonid, iu conjunction with Lord Cochrane, carry up th e Petition. Mr. Waddington opposed that, unless some grave reasons were given why Sir F. Burdett did not come from Brighton to attend that Meeting. It was no time to attend his son, who had fallen out of a gig. Mr. Green persisted in his amendment. Mr. Hunt said, he was sorry any one had come to Interrupt the harmony of the Meeting. He had wrote to Sir F. Bur dett : and finding he wia not likely to be soon in town, he had presented their Petition himself. Was that satisfactory ( yes.)—Then no one should force him to any farther ex planation. After a great deal of tnniult, the Amendment was carried ; and, on the motion of Mr. Hunt, the Meeting adjourned until the second Monday after the assembling of Parliament. There was no symptom of a rioting disposition manifested by the people in tipaBeltla , and Mr. Hunt rode off amidst their sbouts and applause. FURTHER PARTICULARS. [The following account of the origin of these proceedings has been published. It should be observed that the speeches in the Spotsehis took place previous to Mr Hunt's arrival As early as ten o'clock a considerable number of Penons arrived In front of the Merlin's Care public-house In Spa fields, many of whom had come frost Old Bailey, where, as we have already noticed, the execution of four unhappy offenders against the laws of their country had attracted a vast number of spectators.—While those in front were pa tiently waiting the arrival of Mr. Hunt, the gardens In the rear were filled with idle and dissolute characters ) who amused themselves in playing at bowls aed driaFing intoxi- cating liquors. There were several active constables In the house, and the landlord had been advised to Prevent Mr. Hunt and his party from occupying his rooms, it he could do so by persuasion, but dot otherwise. Mr. Tenon, of Hatton garden Police-office, and several other active magistrates, were in a house immediately adjoining, to whom reports were made almost every five minutes of the state of the mul titude. M Wile, opposite, and in the vicinity of the House of Correction, there was a strong muster of constables from all the police-offices, and from the different county parishes within the bills of mortality these latter chiefly under the direction of Mr. Stafford, chief clerk of Bow-street ; by whom, and by the magistrates in their variouw districts, hourly reports were sent to the o ffi ce of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. In fact, nothing could he more praiseworthy than the arrangement for the preservation of the peace. Shortly before twelve o'clock, the room from which the orators bad delivered their speeches at the pre vious meeting became crowded by the friends of Mr. Hunt. Among others present was Mr. Opal!, the chairman, whose name 'was subscribed to the infamous hand-hills that have been circulated and posted in various parts of the town. At twelve, a backney-coach drove up, in which were fuer per sons of decent appearance, who seemed to be attracted ra ther by curiosity than business: their good clothes, however, formed no sinall'object for vanity among the inoboiracq, who hailed them with great gratification. Shortly after twelve, the shouts of the multitude anootinced the wival of more company ; and on looking from the window of Merlin's Cave, a crowd was seen entering the fields, surrounding two tri-co loured flags and a banner ; the largest of the two first men tioned was that which was so triumphantly waved in the pre sence of Mr. Minket) the former occasion. The latter was new and much swolleo. The banner contained the inscrip tion alluded to: " The brave soldiers are our brothers; treat them kindly." Part of the crowd in front of the public- . house were attracted, with others who bad been straggling about the fields, towards the Sap, whist* because stationary ; and in a short time not less than four' or five thousand per sons were congregated within about thirty yards of the cor ner-of the field next the Cold-bath-field's prison. Here a waggon was placed very opportunely; a fellow dressed in sailor's attire, bearing the larger flag, mounted amidst loud Minas, and asked if the people wanted a leader? He received en answer in the affirmative, and suddenly Dr. Wanton, his son, and a Mr. Hooper ? all distinguished with in-et:domed cockades in their hats, jumped into the waggon to his sup port ; and being recoguized as having been present at the former meeting were bailed with loud cheers. Dr. Watson now took off his hat, and waving his hand in all directions, craved silence while be ltd.:reseed the meeting. Dr. Watson spoke as follows: " Friends and Fellow -countrymen—We are convened this day in consequence of the resolution past at the last meeting, to bear the answer to the petition which we agreed to present to the Prince Regent. I cannot refrain from expressing tile pleasure I feel at aedressing so many of those who were pre sent when we last met, because they will be best able to ap preciate the manner in which our prayers have been treated. You will recollect that Mr. Hunt was deputed to present our petition to the Regent, In the hope that he would give an an swer to the cries of starving thousands. L have to inform you, however, that the Prince Regent has resolved to give nu an swer : it Is useless, therefore, for us to pursue that course. We are now culled ou, then, to sec w hether the people of Fslglaud will suffer themselves thus to he treated with con tempt. We are called, utin, because four millions of our countrymen are in distress; because as many wore are in fear of distress and imprisonment, whist half a million only are enjoying spleedid histiry. Only half a 'minion of the number stated In this placard (pointing to the bill %Oki, bad bees so geuer..lly circulated about the metropolis) are fr. e from tliceppieht'lliS nos of pores ty or de:it:i- I ask son, tut ' der these circumstances, friends and count. ymeri, if musters have dour their duty in advasiii,, ,, tlk Prince itegeirt not to hear our cries? E.rolgosiniou of Nu, so ! —Hag the Prince Regeut himself douse his duty ?- Na, uo I—Was there ever a morc - calamitous time in this country than at this moment?— DECEMBER I. Nu, not—lt is not only this country that has been thus op. pressed ; our sister country, Ireland, has shared in our mis fortunes; there the climax of misery has been brought to close; there their sufferings retool 611 extended fin there— (Murmurs of ilisapprobation, 48 if there was no wish to mix the came of the twb countries).—Are we to go on from time to time, from mouth to inoidlt, from year to year, crying to the fattier of his people (as he is called)lo vein tier redresst— No, no!—The present, then, is the time for us to do some hung I—What! will men with the Wilds and hearts of continue thus for months and years to be starved.— Nu, no I—Haw then are we to be revtored to our rights? Nut by petition, for our petitions are not heard. —Brace!—lt appears that we have beeu placed in a state of bondage for years, and this because the civil rights of society have not been attended to. —Meas.—The calls of the multi made from time to time have been neglected. The parlia ment, which should be solicitous for the protection of the people, have been invited to assemble together to take into consideration the distresses of these calamitous times—to consider in their wisdom, if they posseu that wisdom, the best means of a ff ording relief in this distressing state of diingc —to consider the situation of the dying multitude, but In vain.—Disapprolatisii.—lt rests with ourselves then to cog. sidcr how we shall relieve ourselves In these calamitous times. —Chases.—We have been told very truly, that trade and commerce have beet. annihilated ; but still the earth was by nature designed for the support of mankind. The earth is at all times sufficient to piece man above distress, "ad in a comfortable situation. If he has bit a spade and a hoe, to turn up his mother earth, be has the means of averting starvi lion. In the situation in which we are placed, how is this to be accomplished? I will tell you. I bare said Cut the hoed, of society have been neglected. They psis Majesty's =Wit ten) have placed us in a situation of misery; they fame pc. glectutthe cries of the hungry and starving peoPle—sries tt They Aare,"—There is not a day in which we pass the streets of this great metropolis that we du not see starving to death. Ave they ignorant of Ibis —lf t et are they ought not to be : but they are no 'They kno* well that the people are starving in every part of the Mow dom ; and yet will admit of no measure to relieve them..... Groans.—Will they nose hear our cries I—No, eo.—Hove they not been supplicated in the language of men—in the hapairp of forbearance and patient soffering?—Yes, ges.—Have w♦ not been in a state of bondage longer than the Israelites: they were in bondage bat 400 years, but we have been longer. Ever since the Norman conquest kings have bees admitted by you to do as they liked : they have is instances converted you to their wicked purposes • bat this mast not last any longer!—C r i e s eine, so ! 411111 tea 84•1154. The orator then stepped aside, and made room for Mr. Watson jou. who started forward with peculiar ha. petoosity and violence of gesture, waving his hat, is which was his tri-colonred cockade. This man spoke as follows: "The last time we met its this place, I had the honour of saying a few words to you, my fellow-conntrymen. b was the person who proposed the Resolution for our meeting again this day. Some were of opinion that oar Meeting should be adjourned to the first day of the Meeting of Par. !Monad; but I said that it was not in our power to tell when Parhament would meet, or whether they would meet at SOL Al that time we agreed to p r e sen t a Petitionia.his Mord - Highness the Prince Regent. This Petition, we had hoes told, was presented; but answer there was none, except that the Prince Regent, nor any of his family ever attended to doe prayers of the people, mamas through Petitions front the two Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, or from the Corpora tion of the city of London. In a word, he will not attend tO the prayers of the people —(Greene and hisses.)—This man calls himself the father of his people.—kies----seith —ls it not the duty of a father to protect his children?... (Yes.)—Does he do so?—(1W)---No, he treats your eons. plaints with indifference, sad tramplus on your rights. There is no luxury which he spares, because he knows the cape must come out of your pockets.(Greens.)—Are we to soil. mit any lotiger to this?—(ll4.) Will Englishmen any longer antler themselves to be trod upon like the poor African slaves in the West Indies?—( (o, a., reined have relief!)—But how is this to be obtained? Have may attempts been made to re. trove yea? Yes, such a pretence has been made since our last meeting, in consequence of the resolutions which we paned, and the firemen displayed by the people calling for relief. Some persons have come forward to give as ox-cheek soap and ex-bone broth—(Laughtsr and cheers.)--Those who have come forward with their two hundreds tsko should have come forward with their one or two handred thonsouds. .Do you believe that these people are sincere in their wishes for your welfare? (No/)—.Du they not cowe forward to rob yea of all you possess, and then give you a penny to pay huff turnpike?—(Leughter, sad cries af yes, yes!)-- rime Prince Regent, in his great generosity, ban given you 00801. oat of fundss which do not touch his own pocket. He robe you of millions, and then gives you part of the spOil—(ityptiniee.)-- My friend (Mr. Preston, we suppose) hies been described by the Treasury Journals as a second Wat Tyler —no bad titles for be it recollected, that Wat Tyler rose fur the purpose of putting down an oppressive las, and would have succeeded had he not been basely murdered by William Walworth, then Lord Mayor of London; but we have no basketwork Lord Mayors now; and if he was surrounded by thonsands of his fellow-countrymen as I am, he need fear no Lord Mayor whatever—(Hterats.)—lt seems the determined resolution of Ministers to carry things in their own way; or, as they cell it," Our noverign Lord.tbe King will carry every thing with fi rmness ." Thi s is to say, they will carry the business In defiance of the voice of the people. If they will not give us what we want, shall we not take it—(Yes, yes.)—Are you willing to take it? (Yes.)—Will you go and take it?—((Yes.)-.. If I jump down among you, will you conic and take it ? ( Yes, rearm a tisinisand eaices.)—W ill you then follow nie ? —(Yea, yer.)—The speaker then seized the largest of the Mi. coloured flags, and flourishing his hat, jumped among the crowd amidst the loudest shouts. Hr. \Watson and Mr. Hooper followed hint, and these heroes rushed forward, fol lowed by souse thousands towards Cierimuwell. It was singular to mark the diversity of opinion which pre. vatted among the crowd to whom these inflammatory speeches were addressed. A vast number accused to sanction and support all that was said or • there was still .a larger portion of th e andirons vilivielf them abuse appearance bespoke great distress, who seemed to hear with (lustros, and indignation the language which w uttered. Each offered advice in his neighbour; and, many cases, were heard eutreaties not to follow the iiilsgui ed crowd. Time leaders laid declared no plan: and all that :was promised by the people was, blindly to follow the , teps ..'the orators, by whose Mist Bow ls and minstatessients .heir m'eelings had c ticked: Whether any pretsoneerted si benne '.ad been arranged was not generally known, amid hundreds rushed on apparently indifferent to the consequence of their rashness; souse inflawed by liquor —saute indented by „ I I 1