The National Register. — London, England, 1818-07-13 00:00:00

218 ALDERMAN ►rLWRP'b' ELECTION. Monday a limber Of respectable noblemen and gentlemen Ained at do: Loudon Tavern, to celebrate the election of Mr. Alderman Tharp. Befar- the company sat down to dinner, His Royal Highness the Doke of Sus-ex stated, that in con sequence of the inelatieholy event of Nlr. Harvey Cumin's death, Mr. Bryce Cumbe, who was announced chairman for the °erasion, WES prevented from attending ; and therefore Iw, who had come to the meeting timely to join as a visitor in congratulating his countrymen upon the triumph of their independence, was called upon to take the chair. Under such circumstances, lie hoped the meeting %mild grout hint every indulgence doe to his sitwition—(ApplatisPs.t Upon the cloth being removed, and the health of " The King" being given, the Clialiman proposed " The Prince Regent; an 1 may lie ne% ei• forget the principles which placed the Howie of Brunswick upon the Throne of this . country;"—( Acclamations of applause.)—" The Queen, and the rest of the ;ta . s al Family" followed, and was received with appropriate ilemonsti alien: of respect. The Royal I .11:tirman then said, that before he called the attention of tile pi esent assembly to the particular business of the day, lie would first propose— " The City of London, and Prosperity to its Commerce:" Anxiously alive as he felt fur the commerce and indepen dence of the City, he mullet not allow this toust to be put without the pleb:M.laq expressiou of his warm approbation noplausc.) The toast was civets widl three times three. The Roy al Chairmen, in rising to particularize more im. nitiliately the Ini-iness of the day, regretted in a poignant •sense, the ab.ence of the worthy Chairman, who was pre vented by a domestic affliction from performing the duty allotted to him, and the particular predicament in which he (the Royal Chairman) was placed to the injury of that cause of which lie declared himself so sincere an advocate (great ap •planse.) His Royal Highness stated, that he came to the meeting on public grounds, and merely as an individual,; anxious •to scot: emulate his words} , 'friend, Mr. Alderman Thorp, on the success of his•causc.(applause.) Heintended ) to have been ; present merely ss an individual participating in the sentiments to which the occasion gave birth ; but acci dent had, on this occasion, thrown hint into a more prominent situation, and he could assure the meeting, that no man more deeply felt for the interest of the country at large than lie did, or more cordially rejoiced in the triumph of that great question on which they had produced so constitutional and ceffective an epi ll ion (applause) He was a man of few words, ' though one who generally reflected on those which fell from 'him before their utterance. He had entered, so far as his judgment guided hint, deep into the interests end welfare of 'his country.—'sta y had been of late. years of site! impor.. •tance, and such as deserved the fair and unbiassed opinion of •the people of the country : indeed they were of that nature that it became a matter of importance, nay of duty, for an honest man to pronounce his opinion upon them (applause.) This .was an occasion in which a man would, generally speakine, •he inclined to sit down on his triumph, and not revert to the poltuoal measures that were so nearly connected with it. He wouldnot enter intothedetails °fate acts °film last Parliament; but as a 111411 an %lot's, andentitledat least to lament the resulisot: •these acts had arisen from a long and &Trott -acted war ' on the merits or demerits of which he now would not touch. But 'the country knew and felt that, after a long and arduous! struggle, when the Ministers ; by their own declarations, had •triumplied—when the country liad.condiseted this tsar to .its conclusion at au unparallelled expense, and when all the main pledges of economy bad been left unfulfilled—when in time of peace s standing army was maintained, and its • constitutioual reduction resisted—when every effort was vainly made 'for a reduction, and when all the promised re sults of the war had failed in the hands of the promoters of 'it—it was high lime that the people, should look at the con. duct &those who supported the war,and allied of those who 'opposed it. .It was.then from a review of the acts of their •legislatoes, the duty of the people,when the hour of the con. -siltation'''. exercise of their power came, to examine ;pea. .fically • the claims of the candidates for their support. The 'citizens of •London had, in his (mission, made a wise election, •and he now most heartily congratulated them upon it (ap .plauseJ) He would not, by a retrospect of the business of their election, touch upon the dead (laughter.) He would not unisteessasily enter upon ineidiout comparisons. No man more loved freedom than he did, yet lie would not sinneces aarily• interfere in the choice at as election—as a Peer it elmild be unconstitutional. Now, however, that the election was over, lie was free to say, that as he had heard many votes had been eolicited•for on the ground of private friendship, 'lie begged, on this account, to declare his opinion. He had lids private friendships and his predilections.; but he would .most positively declare, that on no grounds of private friend -ship,unaccompanied by a public claim, should his vote, if he 'had one, be given (great applause.) The confidence and disposal of public power constituted a different trust from that of private friendship ; where the rare union of the 'claims et both was apparent, then the task wax as easy as .it was grateful—where the claims were merely of a private ' Is/stare, and opposed to public principle, then in vain would 'the claims of friendship be pleaded to him—public duty .should have paramount sway (great applause). He congra ;tulated them on this good feeling in the late election. They lead chosen, among oilier independent men, a worthy Alder • Man (Thorp) whom his Royal Highness had known since the .time of his Shrievalty, and whose kind assistance he .hall often found in the cause of charity and benevolence (grea t applause)—*He had also given pledges of his future public • conduct—those, indeed, were unnecessary, when they con. aitlered that the worthy Alderman's father had been the con- Mani Mein' of the revered Charles Fox (applause.) The Royal Chairman concluded by proposnig— " The health of Mr. Alderman Thorp. said may he lung live in **affections of his Fellow-citisrus."—Drank with three times these, si ps; gr eat applause. Mr Alderman Thorp observed, that from the manner is whelt his health had been proposed by the illustrious Chair man and received by the company. he should have felt ex tremely embarrassed in returning thanks, if he could have deemed such en honour a personal compliment; hut con ceiving that honour tether meant as a testimony in favour of those pulsisr proiciples. of which he was but an humble ail• emate, that embarrassment was removed. He was glad to Lod himself regarded as the friend of liberty and indepen. deuce, and he hoped lie should prove himself deserving of th a t retard. lea's ideal esteem he duly valued, but he mach more tfteetnetl the support of those who looked to him as the advocate of let. tights •ush privileges of the people. He was indeed gratifii d to find that lie seas so regarded in the course et his CAUViiS, and in the progress of the poll. F or no Mama distinctive ur pas tiality could ever be so .geotefel. to THE NATIONAL REGISTER him as the snecess of the principles which were nearest to his heart. which formed the creed of that excellent man Mr. Hal sey Combe, who was now no more, and which were most essential to the happiness of this country, as well as of all mankind —(very loud applauses.)-1 he worthy Alderman concluded with proposing the health of the Chairman ; who had, lie observed, done so much good to ft cedont and humane ty throughout his life, and especially to the Chatitable Es tablishments in this City. The worthy Alderman's observations were received -with: 'aloud and reiterated applanses. The-Royal Chairman said, that he would not display -so much builloote as to comment upon the toast which had just: received from them .suCh flattering-marks of &approbation. — His politics were dirtured by his consciences—they were att least honest, if they were not efficient.—As to his efforts io the cause of chat ire, he only shared them with abler and, more efficient men, and exercised them, as he wits bound to; do, lire the benefit of the community at large. Ile had no political professions to make to arty public me-elite:. He mould, only any. that he understood and duly appreciated the pun- 1 ciples which had placed the House of Brunswick on the Throne. They were principles of freedom, the maintainance of which were alike imperative on the Crown and the pen. Applaose.) The next toast from the Chair was— " Reform in Parliament; and may its speedy attainments secure the People in the enjoyment of their constitutional Rights and Liber. des." [Three times three)mil great applause.] The Royal Chairman then rose to propose the health of Load „Holland, on whom his Royal Highness pronounced an eloquent and well-merited eulogium. He had in early life known his Noble friend abroad, and that acquaintance had , been subsequently matured and cemented by the warmest reciprocity of feeling on general political questions.—(Ap• plause.)- - Hebegged leave to propose the health of— • . " Lord Holland, the advocate of Civil and Religious Liberty, and the strenuous opposer of the suppression of those Acts which torn the great Bulwarkof the British Constitution." This toast, his Royal Highness observed, need no comment —he-called on the meeting te give it with , threetini..s three. -Lord Holland rose amid loud and reiterated cheers. He' thanked the meetin4 for the II ittering manner in which they had been pleased to drink his health, and under the emotions which the compliment excited he felt it difficult to express Isis sentiments. He felt, however, that the -compliment was not proposed to him as an individual, but as the -relative of that great man Mr. Fox, whose principles had so gloriously triumphed in the late Electi n for the City—whose name and principles lie was glad to find dear to his countrymen, as lie had no doubt they were to all the liberal andiintelligent men of Europe.—For the principles of his illustrious •relation's kind heart were, be was convinced, not more conducive to the prosperity and happiness of England, than to the freedom of all mankind.—(Applairse.)—The Noble'Lord congratulated the meeting upon the return of Mr. Alderman Thorp, whom he understood to be the son of a most respectable individual, always devoted to the genuine principles of freedom. There fore lie rejoiced in the event which the meeting was assem bled to celebrate, however that meeting might disturb " the green-eyed," or green-baw , ed minister of jealousy. Upon the hcalths of Messrs. Waithman and Byng being drank, each returned thanks in appropriate terns. The Duke of Sussex having proposed the health of Mr. Ellice, the brother-in-law, lie said, of Lord Grey end the late Mr. Whitbread, who had lately been returned for Coven-• try, which proposition was londipcheereil ; Mr. Ellice returned thanks in a -enmity impressive speech '•, assuring the meeting that his condent in Parliament should never be influenced by any personal isonnectiou or pasty at tachment.—(A p plause.) The meeting broke op about 12 o'clock. MR. WMTIIMAN'S DINNER. The friends of Mr. Waitlima° dined together on Wednes day at the London Tavern ; they were numerous and very respectable. Mr. Alderman Croodbelicre was in the Chair ; Mr. Waldman, Mr. Thorp, lee. sat on his rizlst.; Mr. °pig,. itc. on his left. After dinner, the usual toasts were given; -and npon the Chairman proposing '• Mr.Waithmatu i the intrepid ant. perse• vering friend and defender of the people's rights, and may lie long continue one of the .representatives of .the Cit.y , of London ;" Mr Waithman spoke as follows.;=" Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, were I to attemptio describe my feelings at this moment I know the attempt woulJ be vain. I never felt so, oppressed, if I may use the term, with the 'kindness of my friends as at this moment. If you were met here this day merely from personal attachment to me, I should feel •great difficulty indeed in addressing you ; hut knowing, as 1 do, that you are assembled to celebrate the signal triumph of the cause of truth and freedom in the election which returned me as one of your representatives, I summon fortitude to speak and to congratulate you on your success, on the success of the (illy of London, oo the success of the whole British empire. For myself, WI. may be.allowed to speak on so important a subject, ii . have to thank you for, placing me in the proudest situation in which an individual can bw,pineed—a situation in . which he can advocate the rights and likertiesof the first nation ; in the world; and you have placed me in tbis-sitnatiouotot by the powerful friendship of any partialitar person, but by your own intlepraidentchoice, fur the purpose - of supporting your independence, and restraining the tyranny introduced and supported by Ministers and their agents. Their gigantic efforts to establish a system of opinions and of public con• duct foreign to the feelings and to the habits of this nation, I hope to see nut only shaken but overthrown, absolutely overthrown, and that for ever. From my boyhood my opi- . wions of puolie liberty have been unaltered. i remember the American war, and my opinions were then formed by the doe Wiles of Mr. Fox. Upon those upirlious I acted then, upon those opinions I lease acted all in .life since, and 1 now see no reason to change my opinions. In the year 1793, a war was commenced, on the same principle as the American war ; it was a war to support taxation witl 1111 l t fermentation. Against this war, this cruel and destructive war, this war which has been the cause of all the ditheulties and esils we uow feel—against this war 1 was the first man w hopsiblicly stood forward out of Parliament, and was the.first who pro posed to petition against it. I,passover.all the Intermediate; events, and say that I was thefirst to eisposo the Inman, Tax,l and not wily to opposer that obhoreed tax, book) overthrow: it. lame efforts, if they were not in thcanselvesel much: value, at least tended to keep alive this flame of liberty which has led to this victory which we now celebrate. It is indeed a great victory for the City of Landon—for the friends of li..edy•all over the world. This victory has been acLieved JULY ls by von ; the whole credit of it belongs to you. 'Waterloo will: nothing to this victor. Waterloo was lio eeeeee ruble to the .11i ills!' character—it washonourableto the skill and bravery of our arms ;.but what were its:reoultsl Were not the Frerch nationsubjeeted to chains .of steel, in•order to compel th em to hen a system of governinenteuited :to she views of tyrenbet In ollr :own country, was PO a standing army kept lip in time of peace, only for the purposes of oppreroo . on t Nu retrench. meld was adapted—no reform was admitted. The battle of Waterlini was the Minister's battle, in which neither this countrymor the Continent gained any benefit. It Mils not, therefore, to be compered to the victory gained in Guildhall .; for till then the City of London had been the Minister's strong hold.; it. as, as they knew., strong and imassnilable. In theCitythe Minister had his tools as ready and as active -its in the !douse of:Commons. It is now gratifying, at the end of '2O sears, to remind those who insulted us, and whose power we contended against in vain—who laughed at us, cajoled us, and abused us, till the British lion was roused and hurled them from their station, it is gratifying to remind them that their power wits foundedin :falsehood and oppression, and is therefore short lived. When I 'first entered into the corpo ration of , Linnion, there was none to suppoi tine except the exec/lent-and tried friend who has now done me the hononr ' to till the chair; tinder his banners I listed, .and whatever differences:of opinion we may hove hail, our friend-hip has never been interrupted. The Common Hall was then a set.. vile instrument iu the hands of Ministers. They had only to sen d one t hi t h er t o propose a favourite measure, and it was adopted. Every thing was carried on with shin doors, and no talents were' even allowed to he bronght.iiiin action. The livery have now tilt their own etreitgth r anu I h o p e th ey w ill never renonnoc-the power tliey have acquired. lii %Vesicant. ster aristocratical influence was powerttil, Init.it was nothing to what it was in the city; 'for the Ililinister never attempt ed any measure without first paving the way in the city by a meeting of merchants, traders, der. For the war there was a meeting in Merchant Tailor's Hall, at which the war -whoop was first raised, and at which no man thirst oppose the Minis. terial sentimentsvithont hazarding his life ;for a friend whom I have in my eye (Mr. -Favell) very narrowly escaped with life from that meeting. Every mail's life was then at the pleasure of the Minister, who made daily eneroachments on the-constitution, and had reconrseso perpetual suspensions of the Habeas Corpus. Another meeting was held at Grocers' Hall, in consequence ol'a petition line the livery in Common Hall against the war.; at that meeting, which you enlist alt remember, I must have lost my life but for you. At that time all who advocated reform, who opposed the war, or who dis agreed with the Minister, were revolutiouists, fire brands. acd persons not to be enchired•in society. Of late, they have acted otherwise ; but they have done so, only because they have found:their delusion at an end. They formerly retiree( into corners, and voted the public resolutions of the Livery disloyal. Will they now charge us with disloyalty.? Look at the late meeting of the loyalists ;•they soon set a kick ing one auotlisr out oftloors, and it ended in a:common squab ble. We Jacobins, on the contrary, meet and enjoy one another's society in quietness and social humour. In can vassing, I found such a change of opinion, such a warmth and feeling in viewing public events, as proved the lively interest now taken in the conduct of your representatives. At the same time I found many who hail no idea of making any other use oftheir elective franchise but merely to ob lige or serve a friend. I hope those will-soon catch some of the flame which is happily now so powerful. It is most gra tifying to me to see so litany of the lowest persons, who ate ' usually called rabblc,taking such a keen but.-peaceable inter est in the triumph of independence. Those persons are usually'treated with contempt ; but is it not from those that our army and navy arc supplied.: and shall they have so much praise fur sacrificing their lives in war, and yet be execrates, if they but express a political sentiment ? Of professions I stave none to make. My -past conduct is the only profession I otter. :If your present representatives are found deficient in talent or in principle, your triumph is not therefore less ; for you have :chosen men whom you thought yon could rely upon, and you have displaced those whom you knew you could not rely upon. I thank you for the expression of your sentiments at this time; I thank you :for the exertion you I made during the election: I hope you swill transmit the ex ' ample to your children, and teach them to act in the same manner, when they find thegovernment of the country carry ing on measures inimical to the interests of the nation." When Mr. -Waithman concluded this speech, the whole company rose up as by one spontaneous feeling, applauded by every demonstration of and concluded by three most hearty cheers. Mr. Waithman then proposed the heath of Mr. Alderman Goodbehere. Mr. Alderman Goodbehere returned thanks, and congratu lated them on their deliverance from the transom's which had confined all their effosts. Maukind would ere.now have been muchadvanced in science, literature, wealth, and - happinesa. but for the preposterous systems of government which had prevailed, and entailed slavery, privation, and misery upon men. He hoped that their late se,ecess would prove but► the commencement -and Use stimulus to u better order of things. "The 4603 liverymen who voted for Mr. Weidman." " Mr. Alderman Thorp." Mr. Alderman Thorp, in returning thanks, congratulated them, not so much because he happened to be one of their trepresentatives; not even because of their choice of his friend, whose long, able, and conscientious support of ft ve llum,- entitled him to the warmest patitude of his fellow ci tizens ; but because they had established their own indepcsi. device. It -would be his duty and study to:Mkt:is the pledges Itedtad already given, and he trusted that when the day of account came heshouldnothe.futiud to Lave been His:father, if his age and health had allowed him to be pre sent, would 'myeloid I ' what. his principles had been for 50 years, and from them they might perhaps have inferred his own. Of his election he had only to say, that while Mr. Waithmau's was doubtful, he had no right to enquire their votes; but he had to thank their good Wilt and their affection for his success. " tllr. Byng, and the independent elec tors. of Middlesex." Mr. Ityne said that England, nay-the world, was indebted to them for the example they .had given. They had given an example to the powerf u l. that they were answerable ter their condor t to ,those from whom theyslerited all their power.— The change mas.edretuly visible. -Those who had 01W11)11 branded them as factiuiss, discontented, and dangerous, now spoke *lteeir conduct as only. CrniblitUliollai Oppd.alllOU. 1► o thing in this Judgment was so tattier's at tins 11111 l neuter. the administration Omen. He should persevere iu the comae which had obtained the approbation of the people. Hite ft It alarmed when his constituents felt no alarm, he would re. -sign his seat, and not attempt by his puny efforts to counter.- . . act theigeuetal setae of the .people. The.Freach.terolitUost