The National Register. — London, England, 1813-01-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL--REGISTER. JAN. 94. ~, -... resided,) have granted the ttie of th.tt Hall on any occasion which concerned the City, from which the Citizens were to be excluded.— ( Hisses.) rdthi - Gentleman would he al- The -ORD MAYOR hopes. re Worthy allowed a hearing, be: wished him to compress what he had to say, so as to confine himself closely to the subject, for which the meet ing Was convened. Mr. W A ITHMAN said, the length of his speech would depend upon the interruptions he,might receive, as the longer and more frequent they were, the longer should he hold out.—(H-isses )—He was sure the use of that Hall could not have been granted for the discussion of that which concerned the City, if the citizens were to be excluded. Mr TWINING begged that the Resolution might be read. The Resolution was read. Mr• s W AITHMAN hoped no person would again be so disorderly as to pre ume to dictate to his Lordship the line of conduct which he ought to pursue. He was a citizen of London, and had a right to express his sentiments. Mr. ROWCIOTT, in support of a point of order, and.in defoice of the ohiect of that meeting, wished to sty that it was called for a specific purpose, and not to discuss the general question. Those who diffeied from them would have other opportunities at other times, and in other places, and take those measures which to them might appear proper. Mr. WAITHM AN perceived that he was right in the idea he had formed. Mr. ROWCROTT Impel the Lord Mayor would see order main tained, and prevent a recurrence of such interruptions. It would be remembered that when the Mahommedans made a stand against cer tain articles of food, if a Mussulman wished to taste the luxuries enjoyed by those of a different persuasion, he persuaded himself that pork was beef, and thou had no hesitation to indulge in it.--(Here hisses and markt of disapprobation from all parts of the Hall ob liged Mr. Rowcroft to retire.) Mr, FAveci, put it. to the Meeting, whether it would not make better for their cause, that the Worthy Gentleman should be heard Mr. WAITIIMAN said, the Worthy Gentleman had put the ques tion on a right tooting. Some wished to make use of this question to overthrow the Government. Of this he disapproved. The resold. tions set forth, that the East India Company lisd Ling enjoyed the trade, that it had conferred great benefits on the city of London, and entered into large calculations. The LORD MAYOA here observed, the first resolution only was now under consideration. Mr. WAITHMAN believed it was common on such occasions, when speaking of the first, to take the whole range of the resolutions. .otherwise ten speeches would be mule for one. He then went on to Police the statements made respecting the number of men that would be thrown out of employ. He could not but think the number mag nified. if the import trade were given to the outports, Gentlemen seemed to say that every thing was given from the Company; the China trade would he ruined, smuggling would increase, and the re %TOW would be diminished. This with respect to the revenue was nonsense. If it fell ofl; Ministers would take care to supply a re medy. He never knew a Minister d.ficient in raising the revenue; he only wished they would take better care of it when-raised.—(Ap plause at d hisses) —These interruptions did not distress, but on the contrary relieved him Appleuset. Mr. MAKTIN spoke to order. Lir. WAIT tiM A N hoped he was not thus to be interrupted. The Lorie MAYOR again asked it as a favour, that. the Worthy Gentleman would confine himself as closely. as possible to the question. Mr. WAITnMAN. He wished them to consider, whether or not the opening of the trade would be so injurious to the City and Port of London, as not to be compensated by the good done to the nation at large. It appeared from the documents produced by the East India Company, that in six years the exports had amounted to about 10,000,00d1. and that 5,000,0301. had been sent out in bullion, and and 5,500,0001. in goods and stores. The returns had amounted to 8,000,0001. so it appears that there had been, within that period, a loss of -2,000,0001. on this trade. In one year there had been a loss experienced of 396,0001. The opinions of Mr. Dundas had been quoted, but he wished them to recollect, that the circumstances of the Company differed materially from what they were in 171.43. At that time their debt was 7,010,0001. now it amounted to 31,000001. and at present it was a losing trade. Had Lord Melville lived to see this, his opinion might. have changed. A Gentleman here observed, it was not the interests of the Com pany, but. their own, that they looked to in their proceeding. Mr. WAITHMAN thought they ought then to think for themselves, F Gentlemen behind him,'whwhad formerly. been angry with him for speaking of seats heirs sold in Parliament.—(Heremuch disapproba tion was expressed.) . A Gentleman observed, the persons there assembled could not stay there all night. if he (Mr. W.) could.. • Mr. WA I ramaN• was sorry for it, but he could not help it. The longer they interrupted him, the longer he should be. —He was proceeding, when . • Mr. ROWCROFT spoke to order; but could not be head{. The Loan MAYOR and Mr. W A ITHMAN spoke to as little purpose rand at one moment all three appeared to be speaking, though it was im possible for one to be heard. Mr. ROWCROTT made a new titbit !o obtain a hearing, and Mr. WAITHMAN coolly took some refresh ment. The LOR D MAYOR was at last heard. He begged that Mr. Row croft might speak on a point of order. Mr. RoweßOl r spoke, but could not be heard, and retired amidst loud hisses. Mr. W A Tura AN attempted to proceed, but was prevented by hisses and loud cries at " OW!" He then said, he would stay till mid night, rather than retire unheard. Mr. T i.v I N I red called upon the Meeting to support the Chair. Mr. WAITHMAN had never yet given way to clamour, and would not give way now.—(oW, off, off !) He would stay till they 'had done.—(Hisses, and cries of Off!) He knew. he should exhaust them.—(Hisses.) • The LORD MAYOR requested the Meeting to hear the worthy Gentleman. Mr. WAITHMAN said he should have been, able to compress what he had to say but for these interruptions.—(oll, off, off!) 'He was sorry to intrude upon the Meeting, but perhaps those friendly.. Ito him would derive some satisfaction from hearing that he felt himself very considerably refreshed by the interruptions which had been given.—(Laughter, hisses, dec .) He called upon Gentlemen to wait for information, and leave their minds open for .conviction, if ,the measure proposed should appear likely.to bebeneficial..rather than injurious. He concluded by moving an amendment, which had tot its object a postponement of the consideration of the subject. The motion was seconded by Mr. WAITHMAN, jun. %Sir W. Cuavis expressed himself .favourable to the extension of the trade, as tar as it could be beneficially' extended for the country ; but was anxious to carfine the importi to the port of London. The Amendmenrof Mr. Waurnstae was then negatived, and the first Resolution carried. The other Resolutions were agreed to with out a discussion. On one of them — Mr. Davis spoke of the evil effects to be apprehended from colo nization if the trade should be thrown open. He was of opinion it would bring a class of persons to this country from • !Ojai who would intermix with our females, and spoil the old English breed. — (A laugh.) Alderman Comae, Sir JAMES SHAW, and Alderman ATKINS, se verally addressed the Meeting, spoke favourably of its object, pledged themselves to give the subject their best attention, and the rights ail privileges of the City their firm support. The Thanks of the Meeting were given to the Loan Maeoe, and the Meeting broke up. MRS. SIDDONS AND MR. CO TES. • h (0 f • Mr. EDITOR --nollf4ll lam aware that it is next to sacrilege to rank Mts. SiDDCNS with Mr. COSTES, it may not be either uninteresting to our Readers or imprver to mention the different feelings, under parti cular eircum , tances, 'which actuate the conduct of these individual., and the more especially at a time when the Gentleman in question has had the temerity to fly for au excuse to motives of philanthrophy for his exposnre of himself; motives, which must certainly, it' in the present instance they were founded in truth, would even lessen the disgust, " the celebrat:d Amateur of Fashion" always excites, when his ignorance and vanity induce him to come forward to represent any ether charac ter than that for which nature intended hint. As a proof that this gay gallant Lnthario's inclination to make a fool of himself, does nut entirely depend on the wish to render service to Widows ur Orphans (as he bombastically asserts) several respectable Gentlemen applied to him, previous to his very recent appearance at the Haymarket Theatre, to request that he would consent to play for Mrs. CHER ay. widow of poor F R ay, the Author of " The Soldit r's Daughter," "The Try ellers," Sec at.d several years one of the Members of the Drury-lane Company. I. shall not, perhaps, commit myself in stating, that an appeal on the pally, uu CIIFII VIN 11, tuna tea...) , •vt.0n.4.A.4 tea Mr. W A ITHMAN thought they ought then to think for themselves, I s h a ll - • • not, peroaps, commit myself in suiting, that an appeal on the and not agree to resolutions which were nos o lounded in fact.—(Hisses, and cries of Off'!) made of rendering assistance to those who reqnbed it, was never before made in stronger terms, titan the one in question to Mr. Co ATES, %OH', The LORD MAYOR requested silence. notwilistanding the several requests in the case of the Lady, chose to Mr. WAITHMAN was ready to stand there till that time to-morrow. re f er ren d er i ng himself ridiculous —(Applause and hisses.)—He then went at considerable len.;th into p for a Mr. Slue, who, he w a s well the question . He then noticed the walls being placarded , bidding aware, shared the receipts of the night, with swell-known Critic—the them be aware of the chartered rights of the City of London. Thus .kittlior of the contemptible composition, called " The Hobbies'," and he disapproved of much. Their Charter had never been perpe tual ; man y other equhlly brilliant effusions, and indeed, which M r.C. was as their lease was out, and it was now for the Government to consider well a cquainted with, the only Writer V 4 ho has sacrificed his judgment 011 what terms it ought to be renewed.—(Applause.)—Some of the at the shrtu:. of Mr. Co Al t 3 . 3 vanity, and heed the &rola of his / 1 . "" a , :7