The National Register. — London, England, 1819-10-04 00:00:00

Dr 4/ No. ‘2I6—VoL. XII.] Voliticat Uettoopca: It is a painful, though necessary, duty which the trpect and circumstances of the times impose, that we have week after week to pursue the same melan choly details of violated Law, of persecuted Justice, of Individual Suffering, and of 'spreading discontent. The theme of the Mtochester Magistrates, anti their doingr from the memorable 16th of August downwards seems to be inexhaustible and eternal. NVe cannot quit it because it involves the dearest interests of our country, because no man is safe if such proceedingsare suffered to pass away unnoticed, and because it is through the medium of a free and unfettered discussion in the public Journals that we must especially hope to have the enormities which have been committed properly understood, and the paramount necessity of resisting the establishment of such precedents generally felt and duly valued. To the strenuous effects of the .preas to enlighten the public mind, and to set 'before it the character of the events tc which we allude may be mainly at tribute-el the march of sound patriotic feeling v. hick is now making in every part of the kingdom.— Meetings, rising both in the number of their attend ants, the rank and weight of those who preside over them, and in the firmness and constitutional tone of their- deliberations are becoming almost uni versal. In addition to those of London, Southwark, York, Leeds, Birmingham, and Norwich, we have new to add that of Liverpool, a place peculiarly im- I purtant because immediately connected with the memorable scene of action, and of course fully able to judge with unquestionable accuracy of what has been the nature and stamp of the whole sum of these extraordinary transactions. On the other hand the Dlagistmtes of Manchester seem determined to pro ceed in their own extraordinary career of unsubdued passion and undisciplined intolerance. Alike re gardless lanh of the letter and spirit of English law, they appear to think that their own authority is alone supreme, anti that the kingdom of Great Mi. tint is only made for these Lords of Judgment to think and act and move in. ‘Vhat 'Tumid we think in other parts where too we have Magistrates sufficiently stupid, and sufficiently disposed to un arbitrary exercise of power; but what I say should we think of a Magistrate who should be gravely sitting to dispense impartial justice thus addressing en individual brought bethre him under theTharge of having assaulted a constable, in the following words, anti this teo bethre the guilt •or criminality of the accused had been at all proved—" 'I believe . that you are a downright 'blackguard aeliumer.— Some of you Reformers ought to be hanged; and soma of you are sure to be hanged—the rope is already round )ota necks . ; the law Las been a great • deal too lenient with you. 4 will have no hail for this ruffianly crew, 'unless they have some money." What may be thedeservings of those who are wret ched and therefore complain, who see rottenness and corruption . overspretul the land, and therefore presume to think 'that some remedy is wanted, and to pray akat it may speedily he applied, we do not feel it necessary to determine. but we seriously and gravely believe that to hung up one or two of that august but worthless Hedy who have been the cause and origin of so much mischief, would bea cheap and wholesome sacrifice to the manes of the murdered, and their bones a very•tit appendage to Sir C. Wolse-. ational itoi tri tin% Our iling, Conititution attb R atoo. 1 ti r * %4 1 : 4111 't4 \ t • \t, ~~ ~~ .~ MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1819. lay's monument, or to decorate the front of their New I Bailey. And yet, gracious God, these are the 'men whose conduct has been already honoured by the thanks and approval of the Prince Regent and his Ministers, and which a party of Ministerial hire iiogs are now endeavouring to convince , ►ts ought not to be prejudged. Yes, these eery men are to go forth to the public and to their trial, if the power of corruption should prove inadequate to screen them, with every testimony e hick the Lighest authority in the land can beer to their cause, and yet all dis cussion of , it by others, and every unimadverlon upon it by the friends of equal law, of humanity, and at justice, is to be held up as an unheard of act of iniquity nod unfairness towards those who arc yet amenable to the tribunals of our Lows. We do not say that the example of the Regent and his Nlinis terteis one that ought to be tidlowed, but yet even on the score of impartiality between the accusers and the accused it is but right and proper that it' one side interfere to defend, the •other -should endeavour to prt ttttt ite the ends of justice and fair investigation. But these attempts are exactly of a piece with the cause they arc meant to serve. There is indeed something so excessively mean and cowardly in this whole process, to which the gentle men above alluded to have Inul recourse, for regis tering their approval of the Manchester proceedings, and their entire confidence in his Majesty's Ministers, that we cannot help feeling astonished that any honourable man, whatever might be his sentiments, should be induced to connect himself with it. The only semblance we -can find to such a measure is that of a Dunghill Cock, whomben fairly challenged to an open trial of strength and courage, prudently turns his tail upon his antagonist and declines the conflict, but no sooner finds him gone, than be mounts what he seems to enjoy as it' it were really the theatre of his glory, flaps his wings, and cries coda doodle do, with all the air and satisfaction of •the proudest conqueror. This semblance, however, is but a very imperfect one, in:is:nu:li as it is further a proceeding highly dishonour:l,de the•movors and leaders of it, from the wide tial it opens to that unfair trickery end imposition which we know to have been 1)1 -liaised for procuring signatures. If you ask three fourths of those, for instance, whose names have been affixed to such doc•unents now soliciting and begging encouragement ► the answers returned will be but one of these two, " Lord Sir, I signed it against Hunt and mobs," or " Lord Sir, I know-nothing shoat such things, but Mr. such a one desired me to wtite my name, and I thought it could do no harm." Public meetings fire the con sideration of public grievances are the old, the natural, and the genuine usages of the constitution. They are proper because they give an opportunity . to the uninfirrmed of being enlightened, because whatever may be the question of enquiry it is openly submitted to the bar of public opinion, . because undue influence can then have no place, and because what an Englishman bad in former times always loved and called, it presents a clear eve and no favour. An after declarati►m may thcrefi►re be suited to a lad amuse, but it is, from its very dark and unmanly character alone, disgraceful to a good ow.. It is a sort of game tit only tin- fools, knaves, and cowards, but in which honour and true courage should disdain to be concerned. Aceminis rreci‘vil f l'ombA .at Nridav mornitit state that a war:inn:sr of IV • A Oil atl sew•vl frmit Cadiz. Gibraltar, ,Sce. %%AS entriretti LI Choir 4.4/4311 PM. I:loinatitni, Ilia ilia) 61‘. lyszcz 91d. DRURF.LAI•t TIIE.iTILC. -.0.- This theatre was lighted up on Wednesday even. ing fin. the purix►sc of exhibiting the state of decoration in which, under the new management, it is to be submittal to the public e 3 e. The outline of the -ititerior remains the same as before ; but, short of an alteration in the dimensions of the theatre, every thing Las been done that in so short a period could be expected. The entrances have at last been rendered completely architectural, and a colour in fresco has been substituted for the gaudy salmon and green, which hitherto disguised the sim plitity of their structure. They sae also enriched by the introduction of three splendid chandeliers, lighted with gas. The bronze tripods have beet' renured, and the niches arc now occupied by sta tues after the antique, ably executed, and producing a chaste and classic eflixt. The auditory of the theatre has been entirely re-embellished : un antique scroll runs round the lower circle, surrounded by a fret border of gold, and a ground of French grey. To the canopy or the first circle, a tier of 16 lights 'has been attached. The lights of the principal chandelier have been reduced, to accord with the general tone of the theatre, and the gaudy colour of the ceiling and proscenium has been succeeded by the same style of oniament which pervades the entrances. A very numerous company was assem bled on the occasion, and a pervading and general interest was evidently felt for the new manager. and fur the succesa of his arduous undertaking. TRCATR Royal., ENVI.ISH OPERk•HorsE.—Thio elegant and popular place of Nutusentent toucluded the SeRIOO OR S.ilurdoy ever ing, and,vie have t casan t °hope, to the culls e satisfaction of the lb opi ot ;at all events. we are sure lie licts,by the admirable at rangcnietots (tithe House, richly deserved a golden harvest. His Royal Highness the Duke df Sussex honoured 'the concluding evening's performances With ills Imrm ince— a coutleseension tlatit afforded Mr. Harley, the Stage-titana;er, mi opportunity which he must felicitously embraced, of tarring a tribute of waists to the brillistut and distinguished Nit-int s of this 'roily noittllAllentber of Ike Royal Family in Mt:following Addresifa:. ; LArtis Awl) GENTLSMEN,—For the first time since the establishment of this Theatre, I have the distinguished Montana offering our varewell Address in the I.mence ofa Royal Visitor. " The Pf;priettor has felt it to be impossible to lass over 'to flottcting au event without recnrring to the ori„ , vin of the Englialt Opera-Douse; foundod under the speeial and gracious auspices of our revered and helovtal king, unJ. though tire wisdom ot the present 4:overnment has deenart n mutter tit curtail the original licence grunted by eocumand of his Majesty, front !we've to Jics.r months, he cannot resist the impulse which his heart dictates, on this gratifying occasion, of publicly expressmg, through me, his gratitude, devotion, and affection, to his Royal Patton and his august family; and he trusts Ice may be.permitted to avow dm a feelings more especially on the present otrasioc, towmils the illus trious Prince who has this evening condescended to sett amuse ment within our walls. _ _ _ "To .ity more V Cr.! turtsk offidoling that delicacy which is ever the companion of high.thaert ; but. that the feeliso4. I have owl the honour to desorilse are experimcish in 01111111011 Mail the WWI. Empire, is proved by the untinintauc testimony of ull who hare the happiness to fall under the notice of Lit H•yal ; anti by the heartfelt enthusiasm of applauding ntintitodes, wherever the spirit of inquivyar the mild offices of charity con. duct his 'loyal presence. " Ladies and Gentlemen.—l cannot sink from so eitahea a subject to the niece common placetst . a Tioot,-;cul Fore-aril, but his Itoyal llighness havinf; been phased to itl:htify himself with the public by mixing with them as a fellow subject on this orca , ton, I cannot better second his gracious inteituim than by addressing luia Itoyal Highm ss and you as one tsillective tati:ily. In that character! have now the honour to otter to you the gran. I'M acknowledgments of the Proprietor thr your past pattionig.,te. and he trusts he has not b. - en found wanting in his endeavour to deserve it Mr the future. !Meth . then--.n Ids name. oral that of all the Perfo;niers 1 respectfully take are leave, wishing you ail health and happincia till we meet again" Cu:WM. MaGIWTMATES .—The late 'Lord Thur. low, when he was Chancellor, would never put a Clergrnom in the Commission of•tlre Peace ; wisel7 observing, that they were so eager to become, what they thought the Magistracy would make them, melt of consequence, that the momout they -- pointed, they took out their didiones, • more 'weighty duty of the Church, an to lac the lead of the Country Gentler the only proper Tersons to fill .and make such as it ought to be, respected by tb A meeting has bet n culled of the tcrested in Waste Lands in the counl who are friendly to luelosure, and " prove their estates, give einplo trent log p4,or, suffering tattler severe disti work, am!, as far as in their potter, necessity of their seeking an asylum in a foreign. 7 ,, century for support, sepirate flmn their connectior • • and at a consider:N.," apenee to the It of to be 4.1. i at Wi4:1 1 4•1111, on the 1 lib instant. r \tel t'A t i r~ they were air- s, neglected the . _ .. ..A • I 1.• till CIitieUVOUIV.;•'7.Z. • lemen, who ttre 4,, , , ,, nake that o ft -; ..A i the People •,..., 1 4 1 ..„.(il Freeltolde Vi n t y of Deo, .....,_. ; t t l o ier t e h l ie )y t t ...... v0.. ,.. ,5 ,..e_.:?...z..,4; ;1 1 tress for w ..4 ‘:. 4 : a 7 . 40 , to prevent s !l*.: .....0' 1111 mike -