The National Register. — London, England, 1821-10-29 00:00:00

31u - WI? ROBERT IVILSO.V. Ott Thursday a !pectin; took place at the City of Lon don Tavern, Ilishopsgaie-street, for the purpose tit con sidering and adopting measitres so aid the subscription contineoced by the Borough of Southwark, to raise a subscription with the view of placing Sir R. Wilson, the reach of Ministerial vengeance and ma lice," to quote the langtiage of the advertisements. The meeting was held in the large assembly-mom, and a more respectable we mi er beheld. Soon alter one o'clock a large party entered by the side door —amongst them were Messrs. Lambum, Bennett, !Cc, Mr. FavEtt. moved, that Mr. I..anibton do take the chair. Carried by acclamation. NI r. sta ro (the member for INlrliam,) took the chair amidst loud applattses. Ile had deemed it his ditty, he said, to attend that ineettog in compliance with the solicitations of the committee for Southwark, beim: anxious to attend wherever the cause of Justice and his country could be benaiited by his presence awl the ex venous of every matt. He begged to say, that this was not the cause of an individual—it was in every sense a national question—(Hear I). 11 it were once admitted that an alined hOtly were implicitly to obey the dictates of a Ministry, whateter those orders might be, then there would he an cud of their liberties.—(Hear, hear.) As to the dismission of Sir Robs. Wilson, he could not discover any shing like a cause for it. He knew the conduct of Sir Robert Wilson on the eventful day ; he thought he knew 311 that individual's thoughts and wishes on the occasion, and he could take upon himself to lay, and lie pledged his character to the accuracy of what he stated, that all that had been set forth by the adherents of Ministers was Idle ' wholly false.—(Loud .) The conduct of SI Robert Wilson on that day, that eventfol day, had materially aided the magis trates; but the fault was, that such officer had sustained our late Queen through the iwrtecittions levelled against her by the Almisters—persecutions that would make them stand for ever memorable in die pages of history. But it was part of the system. Those who were not the blind tools of Ministers were dismissed—whether it was Lord Fitzwilliain, Sir It. Baker, or Sir 11. Wilson, Ind those were the Al inisters, he said. who had employed a Castles, and Edmonds, and an Oliver.—(Hear, hear!). He, however, would have the people look to amid be jealmis of the army, for its members were confined in barracks and separated from the people; anti he la•lietit ed to observe that the army were being directed to such purposes as he feared were eontemplated. The services of Sr It %Vilsolt were of the most eminent character. He had served his country in the East, the %Vest, and the North, and eve ry where, with the most distinguished success and advantage. The Sovereigns of Europe had recogoized those services; but amongst all the stars and honours that glittered on the gallant officer's breast, tint one of them had been placed there by the !toter ))))) ent of England.—(hear, hear !)---1-low was this? %VII, as the Emperor or told him—" You speak the truth." Yes; he spoke the " truth," in the camp and in the Parliament, and that was reason enough for at. tempts to destroy hint Let the meeting recollect that the arm of ;muce was still raised against Sir R.; and therefore it became the people of England to step for ward to support him against such power—for this cause ss'as the petillit .. s. Though the question was properly taken tip here, he trusted it would be investizated by Parliament. lie had not notch hope of the result there —but investigation would tend to expose the character of the systeto noire completely,—(Applause.)—They would now have the resolutions submitted to them. AI r. F‘VeLL then rose. He said lie had been soli cited to step forward to move a series of Resolut ious.— lie Mil so with great pleasure, because he thought the dismission of Sir R. 'Wilson a most unjust proceeding, and if they did not step forward to sustain the cause of that individual, what would the Sovereigns of the Coti tinent think of this country I—they would declare it to be no longer " Great," but " Little" Britain.—(Loud applaus e .) lie etiocluded with moving the following That the dismissal of S'r Robert Wilson from time army, sv it host t tit!, or even the statement of any eharee against hint, ilia Wanton act iirathiliary power, under the utprrrug:uiVc, a danua inroad WI the principles of the constitution, and a Clad! injustice to a brave, humane, and meritorious 00ivei, whose ilietingoith-d services to this wountry and her allies have been repeatedly and solemnly re cognised by t eery power in Europe. 't hat thi• roweling, :is friends of public liberty, nod t he con-littat ,)Ltne.r country, as e,.ttibitshed at the ievolution, seilliugl embrace this importnitity of avowing , their abhor rence or any adniiiii•tration maintaining a large Winding alai) in time of peat e, and endeavouring to make its officers I e mere cre;.itnes of Inc minister I'm the tone beitig. S. hint tins uireuui tiros •ith great snlisfacti iiii the inacly law, 41 lai.Calet in %Inch so roomy of the hest and m, t,ursr siippiiiters of the Mien les of thermion ) have come tot **aid io luau. with their felloss t ilizests in marking their intli.maitini at such an attempt, as equally thing, routs to the sou-titutlien nun deArndin.; to the army= threatening the one subvei. tis military force, and depriving the other af the noLle-t Itr:biOtt of Englishmen—that 111 freely disc insing the nit mutes of the gus ensures.' under a hide the) lave, 6. That the 1,015( . 604m set on font by Sir R. W.'s con stituents shout base the hest support of this meeting, it Fusing fat ils (object to protect Dor Robert Wilson at:Hoist the aim of noimsterial sene,eance, and to show to the world Lai, as often ais the ndvisers of the Crown shall contrive the too nits of oppressing [hoed: public men who sitppoott the enure of the people, flue people will Ruud forts mod to fiustente all suet, t 11) attempt... 6. 1 bat the whole of the subscription raised and to hr enoseol, be seated its five trustees, to he by thefts dos peril of m the Aft, mo>l beneficial to Sir Robert Wilbuis bo it bu faintly. li. That flue Marquis of Tevisinek. 51 P. ; Sir Fianeis Dad. ti, Hart. 5!. I'.; Jelin Geodlie Lametoa, H•q. I'. I.ilward Ellice, Esq. M. ; gild Gvurge Weather., be refined ed to stet 10 t•uell Irthlre, 1. Than the (hanks of meeting ■►e eminently dee to John Ceiorhe Laitibtnn, E.q, M. I'. fur having originated THE NATIONAL REGISTER this subscription, and for his unwearied zeal in this cause ; particularly for having attended the meeting of this day. S. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Marquis of Tavistock, M. P. ; to Sir Frohcis Burdett, Burt. M. P. ; to John'G. Lambton, Esq. M. P ; to E. Ellice, Esq. M. P. and to George Wentlientone, Esq. for having accepted the office of trusiees to the subscription fund for indemnifying Sir Robert Wilson. 9. That the thanks of this meeting be given to James Bar nett, Esq., for having kindly accepted the office of treasurer to the said fund. . . . . Mr. G. BliatiNtrr rose to second the Resolutions. He bore testimony to the great merits of S;r It Wilson ; success had followed his march ; and honours had been heaped on him in consequence by all countries but his own.—(Hear, hear.) Yet he had obtained honour: , here—they, however, were given by the people. South wark had done itself great honour in electing Sir Robert Wilson, His heart and his feelings were completely lingle.h. He had eventually endeavoured to resist the persecutions of the Queen—conduct that had heaped coals of fire on Sir Robert's head, and kept alive that malignity which had never slept; that had been the result. As to the dismissal, no ease had been made out against hum. Why? Because he verily believed they had no rase. No douht, the houte-office was filled with aflid suits against Sir It. Wilson ; even the I •-office, however, would not believe them. Sir It. had shown great humanity; and that, he believed, was great rause of otience, else why had Sir R. Hiker been dismissed ? (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. B ) trusted that the people would spew that as Sir R. ‘Vilson had lost no honour, he should not sustain any pecuniary loss; and thus prove to certain gnu riling minds, however high might be their stations, that the people would not desert those who supported them.—(Applause.) Ile wished time go vernment to learn that the people were prepared to sus- tain to the last their freedom.—(Loud applause.) Mr. LAMITON said, he should most cheerfully do all in his power to promote the object of the meeting. Thanks were then voted to various individuals, who who were present, and who hail promoted the object of the meeting, 'Messrs. Lambton, Hume, Ellice and Lushington, &c. Mr. Husta, having been loudly called for, ascended the table. lie returned thanks for the manner in which his name had been mentioned. He assured them they would find him the friend of freedom: anti he hoped the time was not far distant when the people front one end of the country to the other would call for justice for many things 111.11 had taken place in the fatal month of August, at Manchester and at Cumberland-gate. If this act towards Sir R. Wilson wi:re to pass, then would 'up wards of twelve thousand hall-pay officers be under the complete and arbitrary eminent of ministers; fur he de nied that the King had the prerogative which had on the present occasion been claimed.—(loud applause.) That he should be hereafter prepared to show. The prerogat:ve possessed by the King was fur the benefit of the people; 4110 had lilt: InefOgaillie on the present occasion been exerted for the benefit of the people ?-111acksione and Locke told them to the contrary. If these things were permitted, let the country recollect what an engine had been obtained by the ministers—l2,ooo half-pay military, . and between seven and eight thousand half-pay navy officers. In August last, had not the military, instead of remaining under the civil power, acted fur themselves? If Sir It. %% ilson was to be put down—hencelo. tit every halt-pay officer must be considered as a " slave depen dent." Ile hoped, in conclusion, that the poor relatives of Hurley and Francis would not be forgutien. Dr. lAISHINGTON also returned his acknowledgments for the manner in which his name hail been mentioned. 'The case at issue had been well stated; and lie had no hesitation in gWing it as his opinion, that the cotidtwt towards Sir It. Wil,on, on the part of Ministers, partook of the character of "unmixed despotism." There was in trial—there was no statement to justify the dismission ; and it therefore became the cause of the people. They were bound in justice to themselves to place Sir R. Wil son in as indertulent a situation as he would have been hail hie ( . onstutition been sound ; for then, lie thoualit, he would still enjoy the pay of a general officer—The conduct of that individual, 011 all occasions, reflected great honour to hinisel!, and was of adiantage to the country. In the senate, he had done his duty; when the Queen was to be prosecuted, that gallant man threw himalf into the breach:—aks! all would have pardoned him but that. (Loud applause.) It was that conduct that aroweil the dark spirit of malignity; hut the ministers would find that the contrary etlect had been produced—an effect very different front what might have been wished. Ile looked forward with earnest ness to the period whets all the circumstances of Augu s t 14 would be sifted and branded at they ought to be. lle would not advert to them now, because he had no op ponent to expose and defeat. Mr. ELLICE likewise returned thanks, stating that Sir It. \V ikon was travelliil with hint from Paris till the evening before the Qii :en's funeral :—so much for the lying statements and affidavits antlOillieing that Sir If. Wilson had been present at meetings at Deus tigtim and elsewhere to plan the obstruction of the civil and military authonties.—(fiear, hear, and applause.) Thanks were voted to Mr. Pavel' and other gentlemen; after which the meeting was dissolved, Nlr. Lanibtoit having stated that subscriptions would lie received in au adjoining room. Major General Sir John Lambert, K.C.B. has been directed to fix hi, head quarters at Newcastle, in the county of Limerick, and to draw thither as many troops as he shall think necessary to put a total stop to the outrages. The 43d are reported to be on their march to Limerick, and it is also stated, that the II th and 42th regiments are ordered for the Limerick district. The 42d Highlanders, which moved from Kilkenny to aterford, were to march to Limerick, to arrive there on Sunday. SIR ROBERT WILSON. No. I. SlRHosEitr a wit.soN TO THE ELECTORS ON • SOUTHWARK. In, Regent Street, Oct. 23, Is2l. GENTLEMEN,—I feel it to be my duty 40 lay before you copies of the letters which have passed between Lord Viscount Sidinouth and myself; with an actumpanying memorandum of a conversation with Sir Richard Birnic.—And I have the honour to be, your lima obedient servant, To the Elccturs of Southwark. R. WILSON. No. IL SIR ROBERT WILSON TO THE LORD•YISCOUNT SI DMOUTIL 18, Regent Street, Oct. 19, 1821. Lonn.—Having seen a statement in the Newspapers, authenticated by the signature of Mr. Thomas Julian, chile to the Magistrates of the Kensington Division of the Courtly of Middlesex, In which it is asserted that Sir R. Birnie, one of the said Magistrates, did, at a General Meeting of Justices, held on the Nth of September, I 1, at the Hammersmith Coftte.house, declare that intiwmation had been given to him, at Bow Street, upon oath, that a meeting had been held at the house of Mr. 1 oude at which the plan of interruption to her late Majesty's funeral was concerted, and that I had attended the meeting ; I have to request that your Lordship will be pleased to direct ;t copy of such information upon oath to be delivered to me. that I may be enabled to institute a prosecution for perjury against the person so swearing. I have the honour to.be, Your Lordship's obedient servant. To the Lord Viscount Sitlinouth. R. WILSON. LORD VISCOUNT SID:1101;TH TO SIR H. WILSON. Whitehall, Oct. 19, SIL-1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day, referring to a statement in the Newspapers, that Sir Richard Bircie had declared, at u General Meeting of Magis trates, that information had been given him, on atth, that you had attended a certain meeting, at which the plan fur interrupt. ing her late Majesty's funeral was concerted; and requesting me to direct u copy of such information, upon oath, to be deliveied to you, that you might be enabled to pro,ccute the informant fa. perjury. In reply to this request, I have only to observe that, if any such information does exist in the hands of a Magistrate, it does not appear to me that I am the proper channel through which an application for its production should be made. I have the honour to be, Your most obedient and humble servant, To Sir Robert Wilson. SIDMOUTIL MINUTE OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SIR R. WILSON AND SIR It. BAKER. On the receipt of Lord Sidniouth's letter, air R. Wilson :A dressed a letter to Sir R. Birnie, for a copy of the depositieu on oath, asAgning also the motive of the request. The letter was sent on the 20th. On the 22d Sir H. Birnie sent a note to Sir IL Wilson, stating he had been absent attending the funeral of a frieno in the country, and requesting Sir Robert Wilson to call upon him, when he would give him the inform.- tion he required. Sir R. Wilson having waited on Mr. Birnie the same day, with Mr. Wm. Lanibton, and renewed his demand for a cops of the information on oath, Sir Richard infomied S.r R. Wilson that no information in writing had been taken ; that the infor. illation was a verbal one, founded upon a report at the Freemasons Tavern of a meeting having been held at Hationersmith, at which an ((neer bad bees present ; but that, on the examination of the tavern keeper at Hammersmith, Mr. Yuude, all the Magistrates were satisfied Sir Hobert Vs'ilsou had never been in the house."• • The above Minute was shown to Sir R. Birnie, and received his sanction. It. WILSON. No. V.—(Second Series—No. I.) Slit R. WILSON TO Low) VISCOUNT SIDNIOUTII. is. Regent Street, Oct. 2g, Ib2l. Jir LORD,—llaving received information that a deposition upon oath exists in the Home Department of my having been seen on Tuesday, the 14th of August, on horseback. with a porter pot in my hand, encouraging the populace to pull up the pavement and oppose impediments to the funeral procession of her lute Majesty, I have the honour to request your Lordship will be pleased to direct a copy of such deposition to be delivered to ow, that I may institute a prosecution fur perjury against the person so swearing. I have the honour to be. Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, To the Lord Viscount Sidinutith. R. NVILSON. No. Vl.—(Second Series—No. II.) THE LORD VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH TO SIR ROBT. WILSON. Whitehall, October 9.3. Su,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, in which you state that you have received information that a deposition upon oath exists in the Home Office, of your having been seen on horseback, on Tuesday, the lith of August, with a porter pot in your hand, encouraging the populace to pull up the pavement, and oppose impediments to the funeral precession of her late Majesty; and you therefore request that I will direct a copy of such deposition to be delivered to you, that you may institute a prosecution against the person so swearing for perjury; and I have the honour to acquaint yott, in reply, that I should not think myself justified in giving the directions for which you have applied. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your mot obedient humble servant, To Sir Robert Wilson. The eldest son of Sir Robert Wilson was first on the list of his Royal Highness the Duke of Glo cester for a commission in the regiment of Guards which he commands, and that his second son was at the Military Coll.ge where his conduct and his progress in study were such as to ensure his passing the examination for a commission, But the arbitrary act which removed the father from the army naturally prevents the sons from entering it. We learn that Sir R. Wilson, actuated by a be coming pride, has said that he cannot permit his sons to enter a service in which justice has been denied him. A series of experiments were tried at Harwich, and answered by Languard fort. under the directions of Rear Admiral Page, on Thursday evening, the 11th inst. to ascertain and arrange the best method of exhibiting signals in case of a ship being in dis. tress, and requiring the assistance of the life boats on that station. Several compositions were burned, at Landgreve fort, and guns fired and in the day, two flags are to be hoisted, one over the other, on the flag-staff at the fort. This arrangement is well worthy of imitation on every part of the coast. .