The National Register. — London, England, 1822-02-17 00:00:00

- WESTMINSTER MEETING• On Wednesday last one of the most numerous and respectable isitetiogs of the electors of Westminster, we ever remember to have seen, took place in Covent bar den, where lis• ings were erected opposite to the church. —The object was to promote the great cause of Par liamentary Reform, and to Petition Parliament for a redress of the grievances under which the people of England stifl'er ; to effect which reform in the representa tion of the people is now universally considered as the only true meatus. At one o'clock the hustings were occtified, and the Hi-lit Bailiff read the resolution. Amongst the distin guished person s who assem bled were Sir Francis Burdett, Mr. Hobhouse, Mr Home, Mr Bennet, &c. Mr. Srußcrs informed the meeting, that several of the electors of Westminster had requested that he would propose certain resolutions, which hail been thoroughly digested, and a petition to Parliament, founded upon those resolutions, and praying a redress of the grievances of the people, awl a reform in Parliament. Mr. Stnrch concluded a speech of considerable length with moving a resolution, teat" it is the opinion of the meeting that the distress of the country will continue unless a full and equal representation of the people in the Commons House of Pali uncut shall take place." The resolution was carried unanimously. Nlr. STUiit it then moved, that a petition should be presented to the House of Commons, complaining of the oistress of the country, and other grievances, and praying a speeuy anal effectual remedy, by the adoption of a com plete measure of reform. This resolution was also carried in the affirmative unanimously, and the petition, which alluded, amongst other splendid topics, to the resistance winch America had made to the encroachment of an arbitrary and en shying authority, was received with rapture, and adopted with the consent of all. A retioliiiion was then carried, that the petition should be presented to the House of Cutworms by the two able and independent representatives of the city of West minster. Sir FRANCIS Bu MITT MOM forward, and was loudly applauded by the meeting. Never, he declared, did lie feel the importance of the crisis in which the country was placed more deeply titan upon the present occa sion ; never did he feel greater confidence than in the hope that the crisis he was contemplating would turn to the benefit of the liberties of the country. In the whole course of his political life he had never despaired, and stow that the eyes of the community were opened, nosy that the enlightened views which the Electors of West minster had long since taken, and vigorously supported, were making way through the country, his hope as sumed a brighter aspect. When he observed such evi dences of the conviction of all ranks that the whole system of Government, as it was now conducted, was erroueons when lie saw 111.11 at the great County Meet ings the affluent owners of land joined the rest in pro niotiwt the object for which the electors of Westminster had been so long contending, he could have wished that they, powerful asohey were, had long since co operated to prevent the es as which they were now de ploring, and been the means of sparing themselves their own soflerings, and the bulk of the population the mi series which they hart previously endured. —(Applause.) —The country had now indeed reason to congratulate itself alma the late display of public spirit—a feeling high the County tip Norfolk exhibited with peculiar force; but it would also be found that persons who had hitherto been, it was to be supposed mistakenly, the supporters of ministers, that the old partizans of wets in power, acknowledged the necessity of other measures, and yielded to a conviction which, he hoped, would be followed by acts, that a remedy must be applied to the intolerable grievance of a House of Commons not faith fully representing the hotly of the people. The worthy Baronet next alluded to the petition, which he said was drawn up with great spirit and ability, and did tint con fine itself to the subject of taxation, but went to the more important consideration of the gross, scandalous, and ni onsirotv violation of the rights or the peoplr . The petition held up to view the principles of ministers, and wew hack to the first gre.tt attack on the rights and li berties of America. It told the peoplthe that An;et lea r esisted what they were no w resisting, e greatest of all injuries, taxation without representation. —(Applau se.) —ln 179.3, this country entered into a wicked and scan dalous war, lor the purpose of imposing on France the intolerable yoke of the Boisrbons, which ministers now glory that they have achieved—a glory winch the House of Cmon partakes with th. ‘Vherever strugales base o been m s ule for liberty, th e y m have beets opposed by the English g overnment. and it would be as reasonsb!e to expect that ligh. should arise out of darkness, as that any inner conduct should be pursued while the House of Gowitions continues to he constituted as it is at pre sent.—(hear:)—Butt the march of liberty will not be restrained —Spain !teal Portugal a ir tree—ltaly is full of hope—another hemisphere is free—and will make no exertion to induce the House of Coninous to do justice to the people! All these subjects are ably stated in the peti.om, which it will l•e his honour and duty to present. It is q uestioned by some, whether the present agricultural distress lie produced by taxation, or is rest rreblc to other causes; but it must be allowed by all that the cti et of unnecessary and excessive taxation is to produce general misery, and that when taxation becomes iiiittlic plunder, it is incompatible with liberty. —He had no doubt they would b.: willing to give the 'hots riff Men hacks, it necessary, to the support of good girvertniteiii, hot n *tabus. to give a farthing unjustly dettiari.ll. There are two sons of .4,overnment—one by lose, t tite other by fear. The first was the best, 31141 the e ither the ttttt st expensive of all governittents. (Hear.) All who calmed the vulistitusiou of their fathers. mat It'd IWCII Ismiglll silos blood, honourably sited in tae nett' Atilt till the scaffold—by the sacred blood of •114o,i,den, of S) dot), 4t;tl 0: liot,, ; wilt, were conso!ed UI tittar no,ottt. to the hope that d nig were ',titling an ,TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER imperishable charter of freedom, mast unite in the object of the petition, and rejoice in the belief that it could be attained without any interruption to the tranquillity of the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. HOBHOUSE said, it was the pride and glory of his life to obey the commando of the electors of Nest- I minster, and since first placed in the eminent situation of their representative, he was never backward of his semi ments in the House of Commons, and they should always find hint at his post, undaunted, and confident of their support. It was not the agricultural interest alone that was suffering ; tor if the landlord gets no rent, the trader can have no customer.—There was no part of the petition that would not receive the support of every honest HUH in the House of Commons ; but how many honest men were in that House he should not say. — Still the petition might do good, by making the number known, and his constituents might depend it should receive his best support. Mr. NICHOLSON came forward and moved, " That their representatives should be instructed to move for the repeal of the duty on malt, salt, leather, soap, and candles. There did not appear any perons to second his motion, anti, after some delay, Mr. Nicholson left the hosting*, and returner: before the close of the meeting with an elector, who seconded the motion, which was then put and carried. The following resolutions were then put and carried. " That it is the decided opinion of this meeting, that the distress which has for several years pervaded the country, pressing sometimes more set erely on some clas ses, and at other times more severely on other classes of the commonity, will continne to lucre Ise, unless the people be fully and equally represente d in the Commons House of Parliament. " That a petition be presented to the House of Com mons, complaining of the distress which pervades the country, and also of other serious grievances, and praying for a reform in the House of Commons la! our represent atives, hir Francis Burdett, and John Cain Hobhouse, " That the thanks of this meeting be given to Joseph Hume, Esq. for ibis great exertions in unmasking and exposing to the view of the people the enormous waste of the public money ; for his petseverance in the face of such obst-cles as nu man unacquainted with proceedings in the house of Commons can appreciate; for the un exampled courage he has all along displayed, which has increased as attempts have been made by the enemies of the people to put him down, and to stifle inquiry, by scorn, contempt, and insult. " That Mr Hume be requested to pursue the straigh forward course he has entered upon, satisfied as we are, that he will convince every person not a dependent on corruption, that many millions of taxes may be taken off, and hopeful as we are, that when the people see that taxes cannot be taken off while the House. ()IC° 11111 l ons remains as it is, they will join us in demanding a reform in that House. Mr. Hume came forward amidst the most enthusiastic applause. He said it was gratifying to hint in the high est decree to receive the approbation of .he electors of Westminster for hia public conduct. The meson dis tress of the country was brought on by an excess of tax ation, imposed when the country was in a state of fever, and every exertion should now be. made to reduce the amount to the healthful state in which no more money would be taken from the people than was necessary for their own interest. (Hear, hear.) The current ex pellees of the Government for the last year was 26 mil lions—for the year 1793. seven millions and a half...-with such an increase of expense the present state of the Houe of Commons was not surprising; but let the sup. plies s be cut off, a nd the Members will conic to their understanding. (Hear, hear.) A vote of thanks was moved to the Hon. Henry Grey Bennett, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to Mr. Whitbread was also carried by acclamation ; as were votes of thanks to Mr. Wyville and Sir J. Honeywood. After which the following resolutions were moved : " That the thanks of this meeting be given to our worthy representatives, Sir Francis Burdett and John Cant Hobhouse, Esq. for their zeal and active exertions on all occasions in behalf of the people. " That the thanks of this meeting be given to Arthur liMorris, Esq. the High Bailiff, for his re-dy compliance with the requisition, and for his impartial conduct in the chair." The vote of thanks to Sir F. Burdett and Mr. Hob house being carried by long continued acclamation, as soon as the applause had subsided, these gentlemen again addressed the meeting in warm expressions of their uratitude and fidelity to the principles of liberty supported by the electors of 'Westminster. Tile vote of thanks to the High Bailiff being carried unanimously, he expressed his sense of the honour clone him, and the high gtinification he felt at the propriety of conduct which had distinguished the assembly, which '' I he then dissolved. nd A requisition is now in course of signature among the inhabitants of Southwark, for the convening of an early public meeting, to consider the propriety of petitioning the Commons House of Parliament, to amend the present defective state of the repre sentation of the people, and adopt a rigid system of economy in the expenditure of the public money ; and also to take into consideration the propriety of thanking Mr. Hume for his laborious and persever ing exertions in Parliament to effect a reduction of taix.ition. Mr, Lambton has become the purchaser of Her rington Hall, and about 70 acres of land attached to it—price 19,0001. exclusive of the coal, which is to be valued and paid for in addition. This same property was bought for 7,5001. about twenty-five years ago. , Ill= FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE. BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED. R. J. R. Jenkins, Axbridge, tiomersetshire, clerk, from Feb. 16 to Feb. 26. BANKRUPTS. H. Threlfall, Blackburn. Lancashire, draper. Solicitors, Messrs. Milne and Co. Temple. J. Kendall. Mile Eud, cow keeper. Sols. Messrs. Burnley and Co. Walbrook. R. Hobson. Maidstone, Kent, haberdasher. Sol. Mr. Ashurst, Basinghall Street. W. and J. Wilkinson, Bell Court, Mincing Lane, wine and spirit merchants. Sol. Mr. Clarke, Warnford Court. J. J. Watkins. New Crane, Shadwell, butcher. Sol. Mr. Townson, Ratcliff Highway. T. W. Andrews. Stamford, Lincoln, cabinet maker. Sol. Mr. Wright, Temple. T. Small, Alnwick, Northumberland, common brewer. Sols. Messrs. Meggison and Co. Gray's Inn. W. !limey, Bristol, brewer. Sol. Mr. Dix, Symend's Inn. J. Taylor, Franc, Sussex, shopkeeper. Sols. 'Messrs. Jones and Co. Mincing Lane. J. Morton, Parsons Street, Ratcliff Highway, victualler. Sets. Messrs. Oakley and Co. Cannon Street. E. Rostock, Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, bleacher. Solt. Messrs. llolnie and Co. New Inn. W. Smith, Galin Street, Shadwell, dealer. Sol. Mr. Grace, Ferichurch Street. T. Tulin, Cluindos Street, Covent Garden, cheescraonger. Sol. Mr Hutchinson, Threadneedle Street. J. Price,. Little :Malvern, Worcestershire, dealer. Sol. Mr. King, Sergeant's Inn. DIVIDENDS. March 23, E. Tollervey, Weatbourne, Sussex, miller-9..1. Langford, Milk Street, Cheapside, wholesale Iraberdasher--;), G. and J. Woolrich, Spits! Square, silk manufacturers—Vl, A. Anderson, Salter's Hall Co urt, Cannon Street, merchant-9, W. Bowler and J. Warburton, Castle Street, Southwark, hatters-- 13, C. Grinsted and J. Lanham, Horsham, Sussex, bankers-- 12, T. Mead, Sandwich, Kent, victualler—lL J. Murdock, W. APGirr, and P. Brown. Nottingham, drapers-23. T. Jones, St. John Street, West Smithfield, stationer-30, S. Miller, Ems worth, Southampton, rope maker-11, J. Booth, Chapel en le Frith, Derbyshire. common brewer. cmiTiFicATEs to be granted March 9. D. Manson, Throgniorton &.treet, dealer--'l. Davidson, Li verpool, merchant -G. Turner, Liverpool, merchant—T. Cart wright, Okehampton, Devonshire, innkeeper—J. L)ray, Great Windmill Street. Haymarket, dealer--J. Ward, London , dealer in foreign fruits—E. Wilson, Newcastle upon Tyne, merchant.-- J. Ilmley, Wanton Underedge, Gloucestershire, clothier—T. Till, Whitgreave, Staffordshire, dealer—ll. J. Northcote, Lime Street, merchant—R. Monkhouse, New Shoreham, Sussex, timber merchant. ------------ THE LANDHOLDER versus THE FUNDHOLDEH - - In contradiction to the assertion which is now so general, that the freeholder has, and has had fist the last SO years the advantage of the landholder—the following statement founded on iovantrovertible facts has been made. A gentleman died in 17S possessed of 2,0001. per annum, leaving behind him two sons. To James, who was the elder, he left his funded property of 1,0001. a-year. To George he left his landed property, then on lease, at a rental of 1,0001. a-year, which leases expir,:d in the year 1793. Each was satisfied with the arrange ment, and from the advance that hx)k place in the price of stocks from 1788 to 1792, James was thought by many to have the best of the arrange ment : but in 1793, the war broke out, and things took a different turn. James's income continued the same, and as all articles of consumption during the war advanced to double the price, and his 1,0001. a-year, could purchase no more than 5001. woeld have done in the year 1788, it was virtually a tax of 50 per cent. upon his income. George was a prudent man, raised his rents when the leases ex pired in 1793 at once 50 per cent. which he let en lease for 7 years, and before the 7 years were ex pired, was importuned to grant an advance extension of the term of 7 years more at an of .50 per cent. on his then rental of 1,5001. a year, making his income 2,2501. a year. When these leases expired in 1807, such was the dentand for laud, and such the ithat that the war was intermin able, that he actually, at that period, let at in 1788 was 1,0001. a year for 3,0001. a w hatea 14 years ; and from the high prices obtained during the war fir agricultural produce, for the first seven years the rents were paid without a murmur: but in 1811, and since, as the prices fell, the farmers began to complain, and George has been under the nece ssity of making abatements: yet he st u n much more than his original rental of 1,0001. a year, besides the savings of what his income has been bt yond his brother's. llow, then, does this account stand in comparison with his less fortunate brother, the fundholder, for the year 1814, Seven years increase of £5OO from 1765 to 1500 ...... DAM Seven year; ditto of 1,250 flan Iwo to 1807 ... 8,7 50 Seven years' ditto or . 2,000 limn 1507 to 1814 ... 14.G0U £26,250 and having had the prudence to invest this increase in the funds, he has a better income by 3001. a year than his elder brother from the tnnds, besides los estate, the rental of which is more than in 1793. —What is the inference from these facts? The case of James is the case of the fundho.er, who is no better off than he was in 1793; and d can he purchase any one article from the agricultural interest at a cheaper rate now than he could have done then? Taxation and other articles of expense press equally on the fund and landholder bo ss James James receive m ore than 1,0001. a year nuw his funds? anti does nut George receive, notwith standing his abatements, more than he did in t 793? If he were to allow a reduction of 50 per cent., h i. i nco me would still be 1,5001. a year. •' • •