The National Register. — London, England, 1820-05-29 00:00:00

1741 TRIUMPH OF WESTMINSTER. On Tuesday was celebrated, •at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, the Thirteenth Anniver sary of the—" Triumph of Westminster, and the Purity of Election." Sir Francis Burdett was in the Chair. There were rear titir hundred persons present.--Abcut half past five o'clock the Stewards entered the ?( , ),n,ll , llowet by Sir F. Bartlett, Mr Hobhouse, (the City's Meinbers) Sir R. Phillips. rite. The pity was received with immense ap plause, the ba:.al Sec .he conquering hero comes." After the clash had been removed, the Chairman gave— The stkvvvignt; , or the People, the only source of Legiti mate Power."—(Arplause.) The next toast was— . _ _ •• Tile King, may he recollect the delaratian of tie Prince of (Vale.—dust the Crown is held in trust for the k.en.dit of the people." (Applause, and three times three.)—Tune, •• Britannia." The. Chairman 'then gave, •• The mily remedy for the people's rrievances—a Radical Reform in the Commons House of Parliament." It was hailed with loud :oil long continued ap plauses and huzzas, and three Coles three. Tune, Kick the rogues out," and which excited a good deal of laughter. The Chairman said, at the wiliest of a large portion of the company he gave " The Queen.' This was received with tremendous applame and loud huzzas, the company exclaiming. from all parts, " The Queen, the Queen." and the ladies in the orchestra caught the entlito.ize,m, and waved their handkerchiefs in token of approbation. A party then entered the room, consisting of a deputation of six from the St. Jame:;'s Committee, Mr. lVilkinson carrying the silver vase,* and pre ceded by Mr. Deane. The party approached the table, and presented the vase to Sir Francis Bur dett. Mr. Deane (the printer) observing that it was the token of respect of the parish of St. James. He then proposed the fdlowing toast : '• The brave supporter of our Civil nights, and undaunted (Wender of the people against military execution—our beloved representative Sir Fraocis Burdctt:' The toast was drank with loud, enthusiastic, and long continued applause. _ _ _ *Sir F. Burdett ascended the table, amidst the immense and long continued hazzas and applause. He said, it was with no common feelings that he received this fresh mark of their esteem ; for there could be no higher compliment to a public man than the unbought approbation of his fellow citizens. It was not •in the power of individuals to give greater satisfaction to him than what he had fre. guently received at their hands. It was deemed in all times that the applause and approbation of fellow citizens surpassed all other reward. It was esteem which the ancients of Greece and Rome--of those who loved liberty most enthusiastically—deemed the highest reward. (Applause.) He viewed this fresh mark of their esteem as a proof ,f them increased respect. He should go on in the course which Ile had pursued without mixing with party or intrigue —(applause)—keeping the polar star of liberty in view ; and, however untoward circumstances might Le, he hoped that success would crown their efforts. He prized this mark of favour as peculiarly estima blc, because he deemed it the verdict of his neigh bours, the verdict of those who knew him best. (Applause)—The rewards of the Courts were often bestowed on unworthy objecti—were often granted tirr any thing but virtuous conduct. Many had worn coronets that the public had deemed to merit " * • • • • (Applause and laughter.) The public bestowed their rewards on those who were deemed to he the most virtuous citizens; and they always applauded excellence. If they were deceived, the :•1 none was on the deceivers. The people had shown toemselves considerate in this respect—and the more influence the people had in the appointment of the -G3vernment, the more happy was the country. For three hundred years the Romans exercised that power, and during all that period they had not to complain of the appointments. How was it in En , land ? They only asked for a right to represent, and e .yet what they required was termed insolent and visionary. The representation was even in the house acknowledged to be abominably corrupt— and the expectation of some that partial 'ldioms would be grialted w.ts now disappointed. But even the corruptiunists now saw that they were surrounded with ditliculties—aud no means of extricating them selves existed but u RetOrm. (Hear, hear). He, however, could not avoid alluding to passing events, and though there now could be hardly a company in England into which spies and informers might not Le introduced—and though Sir Charles Wol scicy had recently been committed to prison fin. words aile r ,oc.l to have Leen spoken Ly him— let what would be done, he, however, should not omit any opportunity to speak and to write those useful truths which he considered requisite for his countrymen. (Applause.) The meeting at Man chester had produced events which astonished him full as much as he believed the sentences on Mr. Ilunt and others had surprised those who passed THE 'NATIONAL REGISTER. mew, 'foes natt atten•wit an orderly, a peaceable, and an ‘• illegal" meeting, and they had been guilty of what every honest man in the country had com mitted; doing the utmost to resist a borough-mon gering domination, which had brought ruin to the country Whatever opinion might be entertained of NI: Hunt, and none had less reason personally to be pleased with him than he (Sir F. Bartlett), yet lie should be ashamed himself if he so far forgot the principles of freedom and justice as in the present situation of the Country to be biassed by any feelings of his own either of a friendly or un friendly nature, when every feeling and every thought was required on the part of the public, and he thought the country would be wanting in duty, if attention were not paid to those who were now suffering in prison. But what an extraordi nary crisis had arrived, and how calamitous, how alarming was the state of the country. Those self ish men who had startled from Reform as from a ghost, were now petitioning for relief This was the natural result—the country which had looked so florid in the face, had been in reality sick at heart. The country had been going on like a thoughtless spendthrift—all had looked well and flourishing, and it was known that a spendthrift ne ver looked so - well as the year before he broke down. But there were some prescribing the payment of the debt as na effectual relief. Unless, however, there were strong measures, they could hope for no relief; but they were measures that could not be expected without a Reform of the Borough-Pro prietorship of the House of Commons. This had long been apparent to the City of Westminster, and it was making its way through the country. It. was a remarkable phenomenon, which had presented itself in this country, that the humbler, the work ing classes, were more ardent in the cause of Re form and National Freedom than those acove them. Whatever might be the result, he could not be lieve that they who had liberty as a birthright, would be satisfied in beholding France and Spain ' surpassing them in the enjoyment of reform. He trusted that England, Ireland, and Scotland would unite, and see the necessity of radical reform, of the equal enjoyment of civil rights and national freedom. That conviction would ensure them advantage, and he trusted they would lose no opportunity to keep alive in the breasts of their countrymen the Remain ing spark of liberty. He concluded with again re turning thanks for the peculiar honour .that had been conferred upon him. (Loud applause.) Tune—" Oh give me death or liberty." The next tt ast was— •• Our Brother Reformers in Ireland and Scotland, and may political and religious differences cease to be grounds of civil inca T pacity." unes—" Scots wha bee wi' Wallace bled' and " Erin go bragh." The Glowing toast was received with great applause— " J. C. Hobhouse, Esq. the entrepid opponent of a borough mongering Oligarchy." _ _ Mr. Hobhouse returned his acknowledgements. This mark of respect was most grateful to him, and in return he was prepared to go every length which the Constitution would allow to promote their cause. He then adverted to the arguments on the applica tion of Sir Francis Burdett for a new trial, decla ring that if some of the points which were then urged were successful, the most serious inroads would be made on the public liberties. One pain, was, that a writing, though never publishedt might still be punishable as a libel ; and this opi nion was grubbed up by the Chief Justice, though the opinion had never been acted upon. The doc trines of search warrants set at rest, as was sup posed by Lord Camden, might be revived, if such grubbed-up opinions were to prevail. The distinc tion between publishing and causing to be publish. ed, he contended, had never betbre been urged.— Seeing all these things, he declared, and no man of courage, in his opinion, would avoid avowing it, they must either be governed by a standing army or the rules which had been laid down by the Consti tution. He then adverted to the sentences on Mr. flunt, &c. and declared, that the Country ought to step forward in the aid of the persons now suffering. He spoke of the necessity of Reform, of the advan tage which he expected would result from Mr. Lambton's motion ; and declared that though the sun of Reform might be clouded, he would rise again with renewed splendour. (Applause.) After some further toasts, the company separated. • DESCRIPTION F THE VASE. As this compliment to the Hlllll. Baronet, which pro ceeds from the Parish of St. James, exclnsively, has ex cited a good deal of interest, a description of it cannot WI to be acceptable. It is a fine silver vase, and is after the dr sign of Sir W. Hamilton's, and iii size it is suffi ciently capacious to contain six quarts, wine measure. The base has a richly embossed banded wreath of oak leaves, immediately above the cavettu, and the bottom and cover of the vessel are entirely covered with inter. twilled roses, thistles. and aliamrocks of dead silver, richly chased in alto-relievo ; the cap sus rounded by a torus, chased in imitation of the Fasces. Two female figures, each holding in one band a cluster of grapes, in the other a bowl, and terminating in a licit flowing acanthus and honeysuckle, form the handles; and_the cover is surmounted by another winged female tigure,ein ideneirtic of the guardian genius of the liberties of En glund, presenting the Civic wreath to its Champion in 'he Senate. On one side of the body of the vase is a groupe of figures, beautifully executed in bar relief, re. presenting the Worthy Baronet Whited in the Roma,* logo, and mounted upon a rostrum; from which he is haranguing an assembly of cities's, and pointing at the same time to the insignia of the British Conant onion—the Crown, the Mace, the Sword and Seals of Justice. Magna Charta, and the Bill of Rights, entwined with chaplets of oak avid laurel, and placed above his head. Among the groope of citizens are teen two soldiers, in the act of applauding the speaker, by waving their hel mets, trampling on the insir 1111 l erns of l hment, in allusion to the Hon. Baronet's opposition to the flogging systrin in the Army. The opposite side of the vase bears the arms of the lion. Baronet, richly embossed and chased; and beneath the following inscription:— _ TO Sift FRANCIS BURDETT, BART. For four successive Parliaments the freely chosen Representative of the City of Westminster. Whose undaunted courage and persevering consistency, During a period of twenty-four years. In a struggle for the recovery of the Rights snit Liberties of the People, Have long been the admiration. And now form the chief hope of his suppressed countrymen. and will leave to all posterity a rare example of disinterested Patriotism. THIS CUP is PRLSENTER. As a token of respect and gratitude by his Fellow-Citizens and Constituents of the Parish of St. Jiunes, Westminster. 1820. The sum subscribed was 200 guineas; and that amount was expended in the material and workman. ship, by Mr. Wilkinson. On Sunday last a loaded brig, on her passage from Chepstow to one of the Dock-yards, met with an accident that had nearly proved of the most se rious kind. When in the act of working through the Shoots, the wind dying away, she drifted on it rock called Gruggy, by which she received so much damage that, notwithstanding the most skilful appli cation of the best means that could be obtained to exclude the water, the benefit of pumps and bailing, aided by the valuable assistance of one of the New Passage boats, it. was with much difficulty she was kept up until she reached the shore. A Shirt made ivithout • Needle-roork.—Mr. David Anderson, of the damask manufactory, Deanside Brae, has finished a shirt entirely in the loom with out any kind of needle-work, and has another its progress of a saperior quality, intended as a present to the Hunterian Museum of Glasgow. We have seen this singular production since it was finished, and find in it every requisite and ornament of a man's shirt. The neck, handuands, and shoulder straps, are double cloth, and neatly stitched: the button=holes are wrought with button stitch. It has also the requisite buttons, gussets, and a ruffle; and on the breast is woven the Gkagow Arms, with the motto, " Let Glasgow flourish," and below. " Woven and presented by David Anderson." We understand this singular piece of Mechanical inge. nuity, which does great credit to Mr. Anderson's professional abilities, was on Tuesday presented to Dr. Coupar, for the purpose he intended. A wonderful fat sheep was killed and shewn at Stow Fair, in Gloucestershire, on the 12th inst. by which by Mr. Marshall, butcher, of that. place, which, for its enormous size and beauty of symme• try, was considered by all who saw it to be the best ever exhibited; the carcase weighed 2641b5. It was bred and fed by Mr. Large, of Broadwell, near Burford. Extraordinary Punch Bond.—At an entertain ment given at Kenmore Castle, by the Hon. ..11 Gordon, present Provost of New Galloway, to the Magistrates and Council of that ancient Borough, a most novel and singular punch bowl was exhibited. This was nothingelse than an enormous cockle-shell, from one of the South Sea Islands, weighing 120 pounds, and of proportionate capacity, moulded into a most fantastic form, and exquisitely elaborated by the inimitable hand of Nature. When this gigantic vase, with its ocean of choicest punch, was placed on the oaken table of the vaulted hall, and the joyous company gathered round in dose order, the effect was highly pleasing; and it was curious to observe what zest was given by these peculiarities to this merry fete, so much in the character of the baronial hospitalities of other days. Doel.—A meeting took place early on Wednesday morning in a field on the verge of Kennington Common, between II D. C., Esq. a sporting gen tleman, from the North of England, and I'. S. %V., Esq.—The dispute which led to the meeting ori ginated in the former having used what was con sidered improper language to the latter, relative to a disputed bet between l'indarric and the Sailor for the Derby. The first fire was ineffectual; in the second Mr. C. was wounded severely in the upper part of the hip, but the ball fortunately did not lodge. Tuesday afternoon as !Ur. James horde, ironrriong“, Rotherluthe•street, Mile End, was going through Siei , - : ney Fair, be was hustled by a gang of pickpockets, and robbed of a valuable gold watch, gold chain and kf'y, and a silk handkercinef. The saute evening, Yr. John Paulin, broker, Broad Street, &while, in .vak.- ! ing through the fair was hustled and robbed of a silver watch and appendages.