The Statesman. — London, England, 1821-01-12 00:00:00

COMMON CO.7JVCIL. A Court of Common Council was held yesterday, at Guildhall, for the ttispatch of public and private business. Mr. OLDHAM referred to a report of the Court of Aldermen, in which the privileges of the Court were involved, relative to the late proceedings in the Court of King's Bench. It appeared from the Report, that the payment of the cost of prosecution was charged upon the City purse, and the defendants were desig nated as having been guilty of a misdemeanour. With respect to the question which it was the object of that prosecution to try, namely, whether on the day of electing a Lord Mayor, the Livery had a right to enter upon the sli.cussion of any other business ex cept the election ? The Court of King's Bench had, in fr:t, come to no decision ; and as each party had to pay their own costs, the same punishment had lieen inflicted on the prosecutors as upon the de. fendaiits. He moved that the Report be referred to a Committee of Privileges. Mr. T. N. WIALIsSts seconded the motion. He had been himself one of the Committee, and he had certainly made every effort in his power to conciliate matters, and set the question at re.t. With that. , view hr had advised the Corporation to pay the ro,ts on both %Ars, though he did nut concur in opinion with the defendants. Mr. Alderman WarrusriN laid, thst thotieh he was a member of the Court of Aldermen, hr had not been able to obtain a sight of the evidence upon whirl the report of the Co:»mittee of Privileges was founded. When that extraordinary Report was first presented to t .e Court, he had declared that the statements con ts.:.ed in it were unfounded, and expressed a wish t o Lave a sight of the evidence. It was consequently wo.tpone , l at that time, and at the next Court he (Mr. AVaitlemati) was unable to attend in coo .equence of severe indisposition. A prosecution, however, was considered so indispensihlr, that the Court of Alder ut .1 praceeded to art upon that Report. How many Aldermen were present upon that orea.ion he coulsl not say ; perhaps the Court might not hr mire name romity encoded than on a late occasion, when the Lord Mayor and himself were obliged to transact some in hnsitte.s, no other Member of the Court of Aldermen being present. One singular feature ia this transaction was, that Sir IV. Curtis, for the first time in hi. life, discovered a feeling fur the City Pulse, tis 'ugh lie had no srruplrs in putting the Corporation to au expellee of 1,9001. to keep his own birth-day. li e trusted that, when this report came to be dis cussed, due notice would be given to that Hon. Barotset. 31r. lIKOWS;n and Mr. Alderman WOOD sup ported the motion, which was then put and agreed to. Mr. Sheriff IVii.LIA3la presented a Petition front the City of London Auxiliary Bible Society, prayiug for pecuniary aid. Mr. Itstitstx was afraid that the excellent ob jects of thi. ilotitution•might be defeated by a spirit of politic. which seemed to have crept into it. Ile had observe) that the advertisement in Thr Times newspaper announcing a politic meeting of the So eiety was anonymous, while tit it in The Neff. Tintra was subseralual, as it awl, with the mosses of the Secretaries. Mr. Coo/Reza, the Secretary of the City of London Bible Society, uho attended at the Kir with the Peti tion. having been asked whether he had any observa t•ons to offer to the Couit, said that he 11.111 no dis cretionary power to offer any arguments to the l'o'ut, but be tbought there cotshl not he a more striking pi nor of the absence of All political feeling its the pro c..etlings of the Bible Society than that at the very meeting to which allusion had been made, the first Resolution was propseo.sl by the l'hrtscellor of the ENchequer, and the second by Mr. Sheriff The Petition was ordered to be referred to the Cossunittee of General Purposes. 11r. Dinnin moved, that it he ass instruction to the Committee to inquire why the names of the Serer- Lairs were omitted its the advertisement antionncing is Iletieral Meeting of this Society its The 27,4ars news -13 'Per. The motion wets negatives' without a division. TIIE QUEEN. Mr. Parsi.L, in rising to submit to the Court a Ile- respect to the rause of the Queen, he thought it 1 solution, of which the object was a Petition to the would he well if the Court followed the advice so Hoe •t: of Cutiintons for the restoration of her M aje,tv's ably given by a gentleman on the duo', who fairly 'lame to the Liturgy, and the restitution of all her veiweil both sides of the question----who considered tights and dignities as Queen Consort, felt the di& that the Queen had been oppre:sed (hear !), bat that chliy of saying any thing now upon topics which had the motion was unnecessary. He thought it would been so amply and ably discussed. He deeply lament- have hems mire wise to confine the resolutions to the col the necessity of recurring so often to the subject cause ot . her Majesty. without mixing up that cause of her Majesty's grievances; but who were to be with other topics. Ile had heard with regret, that blamed for this, but the Ministers of the Crown, who, day, expressions which were cruel, vindictive and sm atter abandoning the unjust and impolitic proceedings necessary. He thought, the sooner the unfortunate against her Majesty, had not the honour to do her business was ended the better for the country, and he justice, but kiln every thing suspended, with the view therefore disapproved any step that tended to keep it of throwing the apple of discord among the people, alive. Ile thought there was lunch force in' what a• and screening themselves from that inquiry into their lieutleman had said, namely, wbribould dm Court conduct which, he trasted, would still be instituted? anticipate the House of Commons? they isoght at . Ile could not but reflect with satisfaction upon the part least, to wait until they should hear the decision of which the Corporation of London had taken through- that House. He wished from his hearu a that the out the whole of these proceedings. In the course of Queen had preserved the high and honourable ground the last year, they had at once shewn their respect to I she first took when she came over. Iler Majesty said, the Family on the Throne, and their attachment to " I come to claims my rights and to vindicate any cha- Ahe principles of the Constitution. Within that short ratter ; I will not mix np my rase with the politics s pace of time, they had occasion to express their sor- of the country ;" but she soon changed her tone ; she r•w for the death of the late venerable Sovereign, and • identified herself with a party. Mach had.beeu said e ( another Member of his family, who was at once a about the name of her Majesty having been expunged l'rince among Philosophers, and a Philosopher among from the Liturgy, but her name had oever been in Princes. They had shewn their seal for Royalty, and the Liturgy.—(A laugh). Ile really did out wean to they hid shewn likewise their regard for the (mini- • cavil.----(Loud laughter). lie thought the complaint wilt', in expressing their abhorrence of that unjust , on that bead was groundless. and unconstitutional measure, the Bill of Pains and i Mr. A. BROI% NI said, that the right of petition was Penalties, by which her Majesty's enemies had : sacred, but it was a right that should neter be exer sought to ruin her honour, and deprive her of ! cised unnecessarily. Ile would wish to see her Ma her just rights and privileges. Though that Illustri- jetty restored to her rights ; he would vote for any ous persons had been completely acquitted, yet every measure which would tend to restore her name to the thing was kept suspended, and Parliament had been , Liturgy, and to put her in possession of her rank and prorogued in order to bolster up a tottering Adminis- power as Queen of England.--(Hear, hear.)—But trades, by raising a spirit of Royal or rather Minis- , there he would stop, and therefore he disapproved of rent Radicalism, and screen them from that inquiry the Resolutions, because they went farther. He width the justice of the c.ountry demanded. An at- concluded by declaring that he would support the attempt had been made to identify Administration amendment. with the King, as if attachment to the King's Minis- ; Mr. TAILOR said, that, in the minds of the great tars and to the Person of the Sovereign were one and majority of the people, her Majesty was legally and the same thing. He should be glad to know who of morally acquitted. Certainly, voices were yet hears! his Majesty's subjects had sworn allegiance to his lili- to calumniate her, but they were the voices of false- ~..~• ~.. 6L- ...limit "NI, - ....A .41111. 1k i . THE STA? Miters. The short way wouldt be to pass an Act of P a rliament at note, making it high treason to speak disrtspectful of his Majesty's Ministers. The object of the Resointinn which he was about to 111bOVP, was to restore her Majesty's name to the solemn service of the Church, that the people of &Timid might pray publicly for that Illustrious Person, whom they already prayed for in their hearts. It was extremely doubt ful whether there was any legal authority for omit ting her Majesty's name; and it appeared, front a learned and elaborate investigation of the subject which be had lately seen, that every Clergyman who omitted it was liable to a civil prosecution. Ile could not pretend to decide upon that question, but he trusted, at all erents, that the House of Commons ' would entertain the subject of their Petition, and that they would take such measures as would not only re- I store her Majesty to her rights and dignities, but lead , to the punishment of his Majesty's Ministers. He I concluded by moving the Resolutions, fur which sec I the Advertisement. :t!.. SOt:TIIGATE Serniteled the motion. There could he nodoubt that her Majesty, whom Mr. Can ning bad declared to h.! the grace and ornament of so cietn would maintain her high station with dignity and propriety. The tes turation of her Majesty's name to the Liturgy was a Illt allure which the religious as well as the neural sad political intries!ri of the country de. mended. A cry prevailed at this moment that the church was in danger, awl he believed that these ap prehensions were not altogether without foundation ; but if the Church was iu danger it was out from the efforts of sectarians, mot from the dissemination of de istical writings, but from the conduct which had been exhibited by the beads of the Church, and pursued by thee great body 0; the Clergy, who, instead of preach ing truth and unity, seemed desirous only of render ing themselves conspicuous as political partizans. Mr. CLAux it. felt it ida duty to oppose the Resolu tions. Ile had certainly expected to hear something of t! .e nature and character of those rights to which the Queen was said to be entitled, but the Worthy Geo- tlrman . lead adduced nu argument to shew that those 1 rights were defeated or recognised by any established bur. In the absence of all authorities, the natural inference was, that the pa irate c otuforts andcontingent privileges of the Queen Consort rested upon tire dla.l cretiun of his Majesty, and were entirely subject to his controls!. It was certainly rustotnary that the Queen of this country should enjoy a palace, and an establishment corresponding to her high station, but hind not follow, that because this was customary, it was therefore to be claimed as a matter of right. If his Majesty thought proper to withhold those com forts and privileges, and in so doing did nut violate any know!' law of the laud, the public had no right to interfere. He did not mean to defend the pro priety of such conduct; on the contrary, he thought the erasure of her Majesty's name from the Litur gy was no less contemptible than odious, 1101 less undignified than unchristian-like.--(Cheers.)--•11nt he was arguing the question us a mere ihstrart goes. firm of right, and in that point of view he thought this Court ought nut to interfere, unless it . could be shewn that s one defined law was violated in withholding Coro her Majesty the privileges which were usually granted to the Queen Consort in this country. Ile concluded by moving the previous ti estion. Mr. Mew; seconded the motion. Much of what he had loran' that day lead no relation to the ca tr.,r of the Queen ; lie considered the proceedings much more injurious to her Majesty than all the itel , of her enemies. The gentleman who opened the busi ness of the day, slowed very high in his own esti mation—he (M r. Dixon) had of late, frequently beard that gentleman talk of himself, and of the military achievements of his aneestor.—(Cries of order.)--- The gentlemen who stood on his (Ms. D.'s) side, were attacked. in the most unqualified manner, their motives were assailed; he would not allow sods im putation., to pass nionoticed--they acre false and un just. It had been said that certain gentlemen w. re in the habit of creeping into corners—(hear, 'stmt.!), that they were afraid to meet openly (hear, hear bat it should he re•collerted that they had cause of fear, because if they met in a public way, they would only draw don n clamour upon their beads. With . _ -+~rrir~s s . • hood and corruption. Unceasing were the attempts ' to slander the Queen, not a day passed over their heads that a licentious and hired press did not throw out its lout and rancorous defamation. The most that could be said egaiust her Majesty was, that there icere pre sumptions against her---(a laugh from Mr. Dixon and his friends;) but, would gentlemen recollect the many presumptions for her innocence ? What, but the sense of innocence, could have induced her to reject a splen did bribe, and face the attacks of the most powerful Government in tha world.---(Cheers.)---What, but the sense of innocence, would have induced her Majesty to face the charges that had been brought against her, opposed, as she wcs, by the Monarch, and by Mi nisters who were ever ready to comply with the ca- . price of power?---(Cheers.)---The trial proceeded ; and such was the nature of the evidence, that no English Jury would find a verdict of guilty upon it.---(llear, hear.)---The Ministers had much to answer for, their power, indeed, was great, but they depended too much upon it ; before they had brought forward the charges against her Majesty, they must have known that the evidence was rotten.---(Hear, hear.)---It had been said, that the Court petitioned too often, but the fa..lt was not theirs ; they petitioned because they had wrongs to redress, they remonstrated, because they had reason to oniplain.---(Checrs.)---1f grievances were redressed, so many Petitions would not have been presented. There %v.'s another cause for tivise Petitions, it arose out of the defeciive star of the Representation. Mr. A. Mums's: sp,li:e to 'order. It was irregular Lli into the question of Reform.--(Loud cries of I "coder : Go on, go mi.-) Mr. TA V flu people were satisfied with the reprentation in the House of Commons, they would neither in•tition nor remonstrate; they would rest se cure that their representatives, feeling a common naive with the people, sympaihising veldt them, would consult their wishes, promote their interests, and guard the liberties of the toontry.--(llear, hear.) Mr. EICIIE supported the tion of Mr. Favell. A member (we believe Mr. Savage) expressed hib dissatisfaction with the wording of the resolutions, which last be had come down with the intention of supporting, but found himself compelled to oppose. Mr. Alderman WAITHMAX said, that the opposition I of reet!, men lay its a very narrow compass—it teas coolined to two or three points. One Gectletnan la mrnted that the Court petitioned so frequently. He I (Alderman IV.) regretted that they had so As cause for frequent petitions. Another Gentleman con detnned in the strongest manner the conduct of Ali-I sitters, het he ennteived to oppose the Resolution on I a technical point. Ile said that the Gentleman who ! hail brought those Resolutions forward had not proved the abstract rights of the Queen ; but he should have recollected that the case of the Queen had no analogy to the case of the lady of any private man. But even the lady of any private man, if cruelly treated—if op pre-sed and injured, would have her remedy at law --(hear, hear,)—no husband could deprive her of her rights—(Hear, bear!)—the law would be her protec tion—the people were the protection of her Majesty. The Gentleman altogether forgot that it was not a question between the King and Queen— but the ques tion was, whether the Ministers of the King had the right to degrade her Majesty, even after she had been acquitted by that tribunal before whom, against leer wishes, she was unconstitutionally dragged by those Ministers.—(Hear, Hear, hear !)--lint the Gentleman said that enough had been done, and that now the countay should remain quiet; but wool,' the Slioisters remain quiet ? were they disposed to concili ate ? the Gentleman not know that attempts , were making to degrade and villify the people, merely because they threw themselves between the Queen and her oppressors.—(Hear!)--Isid he not know that Ministers still hoped to du further acts of oppression against 13.4.1 Majesty.—(Hear, hear!)—Del hr not know that they were endeavouring, by setting their secret tools and engines at work, to villify and degrade—not the Queen? \e, they dare nut publirly declare that, het to sillily and degrade the Corpora tion of London and the whole country. He (Alderman Waithistate) lamented that the people were driven so often to petition; the frequency of petition marked the times of peril and oppression. It was their every slay business to petition, so long as acts of oppression were carried on ; it was their duty to appproach the Parliament ; to approach the Throne, and to tell his Majesty that he wax deceived by Ilatterers.--(Hcar, hear!)—They petitioned the Hon*, of Commons not merely to state their wrongs, but also to aid Ow hottest and iollepettrient part of the House; that ilonse which front the beginning disrountenanced the per secution of her Majesty, and who, finally, were grit sly insulted by the advisers of the Crown.—(llear, ;scarf) —Her Majesty Ita , l been acquitted; she stood innocent in the eyes of the great majority of the people of England and of Ireland ; it was a matter of fact, and therefore the Court could not hesitate to declare it.— (Hear, hear !)—The Worthy Alderman next alluded to what are called Loyal Addresses. One Address, which vas passed in a Church in the City, accused the Corporation of London of designs hostile to the institutions and peace of the Country. Was there ever any thing so atrocious? Was there ever a more scandalous faltehood ? He was extremely sorry to say that a Clergyman was at the head of that affair, and, he supposed, the author of the calumny. I it dee 1 , it was z isotorions fact, that the meetings of per sons secretly and clandestinely brought together to snake hollow profession, to calumniate the people and to deceive the King, were, in many cases, headed by Churchmen. Those Gentlemen, it was true, ton• sidered the right of petition an invaluable right ; but they only considered it iovalwtble when exercised in favour of Ministers. The abliorrors in the time of Charles the Second followed the same course, but the House of Commons of that day oot being so completely nnder the influence of power, passed Resolutions in favour of the right of petition, and even expelled some, of their Members who had attempted to obs'ruct that right. I t was for exercising that sacred right that the Corporation was stripped of its charter in a year or two after, and it was that act of violence that ultimately led to the expulsion of the House of Stewart.—(Hear, (rear.)--At that time, the Earl of Anglesea, a noble man who, had received favors from Charles 11„ and was sincerely attached to his interest, wrote a letter to his Majesty, in II hich lie complained of the intem perate interference of the Clergy.—(Hear, bear.).—in . which he charged the Clergy with hiving shamefully neglected their duties.—(Hear, hear.}—ln which he charged that body with having aiways pro. motel' the evils and misfortunes of the nation. (Cheers) —lnstead of attending to the awful duties of their places, they had inflamed the country and forwarded the worst measures of the Court.-.•(Cheers•)--He (Al derman Waithrnan) feared that the country, in that re. spect, stood in pretty nearly the same situation at the present day—he feared that the same complaintsmight be but too justly made.--(llear, hear )--.Let the coon. try consider who were the accusers of the people. Sk is who looked up for the favours of power--churchme n who looked for elevation.--(llear.)---Who acted with the people ? The ancient nobility. Men who were alarmed for their estates—who dreaded revolutionists, and who saw those revolutionists in the persons of hi s Majesty's Ministers, not in the people, who stood by law, and defended royalty iu the person of their in. jured Queen --(Applause.) Mr. Stang said, that the act which expunged the name of her Majesty from the Liturgy was gr oss l y illegal. By the statute 1.1 Edward the Sixth, the King and Queen and other Members of the Royal Fa. roily were ordered to h.• prayed for, and not only el e officiating clergyman, hut the rongregaeinn were sub. jest to severe penalties in ease of nun-co u ►pliane. The unconstitutional act which they had thus com. milted, might lead to the most alarming consepiences-- it was a blow aimed against the Throne. If daring and unconstitutional won might one day expunge the name of the Queen, the same faction might up another ' day expunge the ilalllC of the King hiingell—fllear!) Mr. N. WitAiasts denied the legal conclusions of the previous Speaker, and contended, that the King in Council had the right to alter the Liturgy. The Worthy Alderman (Waitlinian) alluded to a State Paper; be (Mr. Williams) would also allude to an ancient document. He had read in the books of 1650, that divers noisy, boisterous, and ignorant persons— (Here loud laughter interrupted and amazed the Speaker).—He resumed. Noisy and boisterous per sons travelled from place to place and forced them. selves izto corparations.—(Lund laughter). He coo sidered the Resolutions nut sit ninth in fervour of the Queen as against Ministers. Ile deprecated the cla moire that had been raised to drown the voice of two of wealth and respectability. An Address had been handed to hint, signed by 2115 gentlemen, ten of whom hail mo.e property than all the persons who formed the Queen's procession were 'bossed of.—(Laughter, and cries of order). The Lunt, MAY/OR said, if the Gentleman had been out of order, he would ba►e interrupted him ; he did not exceed the fair liberty of speech. • Mr. NAVILLIANIS thanked his LortlFllip, and would go on. What lie stated was true; he also knew it to be a fart, that several neaid•servauts had gone up in the processions, anti the wives of tradesmen of the lower orders.—(llisses, and loud expressiuns of nation.) Mr. TAVIAR explained. Mr. tfatrrtrus said, there was no man in whose bosom true loyalty was more deeply implanted. 1.1.! thought the hest way of di:playing it, was by re spectfully awl lirinlv conveying to the Throes ths just complaints of the people against th, conduct of its advisers. The treatment her Majesty had received had united men of all parties (who possessed any ho nesty) in her favor, and unless her name was restored to the. Liturgy, he •••as convinced the whole body of the Euglish nat . would not be satisfied. Mr. Sheriff WILLIANIM regretted, that the Resole lions mixed up with questions of general politics with the case of the Queen. Mr. Oannass strongly supported the original Retm. letion.and dwelt with much force and eloquence Mn the ease of her Maje.ty ; the conduct of the Ooverii ment Press towards her was must disgraceful ; he knew of no language s►tlfirieotly strong to express the abhorrence which an honourable mind ninst feel at its base and unmanly calumnies ; but they would do the Queen no harm, and the high, and pure, and ho nourable female, that were dragged by that ruffian pros before the 'midis., might look down with semis upon the hireling who, as 4 matter of course, attacked every thing that was manly and independent in pub lic, and insulted all that WdN amiable in private life.-- (Loud applause). Mr. P.ts ELL., after complimenting the last speaker for the feeling and elopienee he di.splayed, Out did honour to his nature, said he would nut trouble the Court with a single word in reply at that late hour. The :Iniend n ►rnt was then put, awl lost a few liatv:s were held up itiits favtiur. For the original Itesnlu tions a vast majority of bawls appeared, and they were carried without a division. The reason assi ! owl by the Allied Sovereigns fur the steps they were about to take regarding Naples, seas an unanimous conviction that that Revolution was planned by fanatic sects, and carried into effect by soldiers forgetful of their duties. The violent over throw of all legal relations, and the arbitrary sad anarchical system substituted,being not only in direct opposition to the principles of law, of morality, and of the true happiness of nations, hut also incompatible with repose and tranquillity, and consequently with the maintenanre of the peace of Europe. They the:efore determined to take as to Naples, alai with the King himself, a step to remove all doubt as to the real sentiments and views of the Allied Power:., and, to sire, under the mediation of their bewelo lent King. the great majority of the Neapolitan nation. The letter written by the King in answer to the invitation of the Allied Power., tuerely ex presses his gratitude and his readiness to accept their invitation. Po :T.atoctit, J %N. 1 1 11.---Wo are sorry to .ay tlut the ltevolutiouttaire, 41;, Hon. Capt. Pellew, met with a winos accident on the night of the Hid. of Hetes , - ber, whilst in company with the Vetigettr, 74, Captain Maitland, having the King of Naples on board. lu crossistgon opposite tacks, in a heavy gale of wind, the Vengeur came almost direct on the midgbips of the Kevolutionnaire, when under full sail. The ihock " I fortunately received a little obliquely, or the Re" lationnaire must have gone down. The bow of the Vongem has cut hrr down to the water's edge, and she wan wits dilßcalty saved from sinking. It is reported she toast coots to England immediately. E` I . i it I ar ..- .