The National Register. — London, England, 1819-10-03 00:00:00

p . 1 No. 214—VoL. XII.] Volitirat lArtroiSpect. IT is a painful, though necessary, duty which the aTect and eireumaances of the times impose, that we have week after week to pursue the same melan choly details of violated Late, of persecuted Justice, of Individual Suffering, and of spreading discontent. The theme of the Manchester Magistrates, and their doings from the memorable I 6th of August dowuwards seems to be inexhaustible and eternal. We cannot quit it because it involves the dearest interests of our country, because no man is safe if limit proceedings arc suffered to puss 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 atom unties 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 press to enlighten the public mind, and to set before it the character of the events to which we allude may be mainly at tributed the march of sound patriotic feeling which is now making in every part of the kingdom.— Meetings, rising both in the number of their attend ants, the rank and weight of Ouse 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 now to add that of Liverpool, a place peculiarly im portant 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 stun of these extraordinary transactions. On the other hand the Magistrates of Manchester seem determined to pro ceed in their own extraordinary career of unsubdued passion and undisciplined intolerance. Alike re gardless both of the letter and spirit of English law, they appear to think that their own authority is alone supreme, and that the kiugdoin of Great 13ri. tain is only made fir these Lords of Judgment to think and act and move in. What should we think in other parts where too we have Magistrates sufficiently stupid, and sufficiently disposed to an 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 an individual brought before hint under the charge , of having assaulted a constable, in the thllowing words, and this too b,-(iire the guilt or criminality of the accused had been ut all proved—" I believe that you are a downright blackguard Retinmer.— :ome of you Reformers ought to be hanged ; and soma of you arc sure to be hanged—the rope is already round 'out necks ; the law hes been a great deal too lenient with you. I will have no bail for this ruffianly crew, unless they have some money." What may be the deservings of those who arc wret ched and therefore complain, who sec rottenness and corruption overspread the land, and therefore prevumero think that some remedy is wanted, and to :play that it may speedily be applied, we do not fed',. It necessary to determine, but we seriously and gravely believe that to hang up one or two of that august but worthless Body who have been the cause and origin of so much mischief, would boa cheap and wholesome sacrifice to the manes of the murdered, and their bones a very fit appendage to Sir C. Wage- atio nail ic tt itittr+ Our iting, eon6titution anb iL abs. IBEIt 3, 1819. SUNDAY, OCTO. ley's monument, or to decorate the front of their New 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 lings are now endeavouring to convince us ought not to be prejudged. 'tea, these very men arc to ge forth to the public and to their trial, if the power of corruption should prove inadequate to screen them, with every testimony which the highest authority in the land can bear to their cause, and yet all dis cussion of it by others, and every animadversion upon it by the frientlsofNual law, of humanity, and of justice, is to be held up as an unheard of act of iniquity and unfairness towards those who arc yet amenable to the tribunals of our Laws. We do not say that the example of the Regent and his Minis ters is one that ought to be followed, but yet even on the score of impartiality between the accusers and the accused it is but right and proper that if one side interfere to defend, the other should endeavour to promote the ends of justice and .fair investigation. But these attempts arc exactly of a piece with the cause they are 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 bad recourse, for regis tering their approval of the Manchester proceedings, and their entire confidence in his Majesty's Ministers, that we cannot help 4eeling 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 Cori:, who,when 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 he mounts what he seems to enjoy as if' it were really the theatre of his glory, flaps his wings, and cries coact doodle du, with all the air and satisfaction of the proudest conqueror. This semblance, however, is but a very imperfect one, inasmuch as it is further a proceeding highly dishonouraole to the movers and leaders of it, from the wide field it opens to that unfair trickery and imposition which we know to have beets practised for procuring signatures. If you ask three finirths of those, for instance, whose names have been affixed to such documents 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 about such things, bat Mr. such a one desired me to write my name, and I thought it could do no harm." Public meetings fin. the con sideration of public grievances are the old, the natural, and the genuine usages of the cunstitution. They are proper because they give an opportunity to the unintiirmed 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 nu place, and because what an Englishman had in former times always loved and called, it presents a e!car stage and no Avow. An after declaration may therefore be suited to a bad cause, but it is, from its very dark and unmanly character alone, disgraceful to a good one. It is a sort ofgame fit only fim fowls, knaves, and cowards, but in which honour and true courage should disdain to be concerned. Accounts ITCC ell fr Porin g s l ss 7 ri,lay morning sate that a rits.tramine or 31) (1,. e ll ,t , ..rls from (• a ds z , r;slyealt.sr, Ile. WJ4 rissorcin cks tins.sent no clausaison, on the loth alt. A I 1 . , • • isi 91d. . . A + • i 3 I . . LPRicE 91d. 1 r T RE. Wednesday even• ing the state of tv management, it tl, lie. The outlii.e e as Letitre ; but, `, imcn:ions of the that in so short a :ntrances have at titectural, and a ed for the gaudy ili%-uised the situ.. 1 are also enriched L.. entlid chandeliers, rivals have been ouvirpied by sta. . . LA, und producing .. : auditory of the ‘,l‘ % ished : an antique , I t a b o oti t t i . i r. e r r ti t l i l l o ir e i t en l:lleti r l ch gr e y. 6 ri . i l i by lg cn i v lt a i s a accord with the ' l is gaudy colour of L . ..ea succeeded by I'. . ich pervades the ih'i .. apany was ussem- ding and general i 6 ,. tew manager, and N, , • :rtKlillg. , • . . = .esA-Housa.—This 4.' 2t moot concluded the es teases' to hope, to 114, at all events, leo • S: resents of the House, lie Royal Highness 4 . ' .....,,, 1111C11111111g PlClllll4'4l COD4Cirells44 4 l4 that , • 11 : . ... her, an opportunity of tail leg a tribute ished skim, of this lily iii the following 111 he first time since the istinguisliol honour of t lbk i Ice of a Royal Visitor. Bible to Lass user 80 % i :origin of t:ie rnglish I and gracifais auspices igh the wisdom of the to curtail the original F, from ttec!-,- , to fi,,,e his heart dietatcs,ua t s sing, through ale s his Royal Patron end his fti \ ,l ermined to .150. V thoe toil, towards the illus. :ended to sesk amuse. delicacy which is ever N ' to feelings 1 user had mason with toe whole mony iii all who lia‘e ifs Royal Highness; plauding multitudes. )ifides ut charity coma ICI ,. : .1 ., link from so exalted nitriral Farnrel. but • o ieebtity himself with illow sukiect on tide , us intenuon than by one collo:sire family , . . , offer to you the grate- . 4 your past patronage„ 4 1 / 4, i lg in ills enilcaraur to 1 r his name. ALS that of leave, wishing you all l ) c awoo, _ . e late Lord Thin. rould never put a the Peace; wisely • • to become, what 1 1 make them, men t they were up- ..,,0 Gts, neglected the %,.-- arid endeavoureer ntlemen, who ur• 7-4 " I ! make that orb V ~ 4,._ r the People. . .. e Freeliol46l . ; •"..,,,, . '`'. \'' ! runty of Detillz , ""', . . •‘ thciel , y to ' • figt,"? . ....;0,,.!. nt to the lob -s;trsa.o ,o ,. istress for want • i:.tt . t . "' , , !r, to prc rent the • . rrlH Inns in a foreign . . their connections, . - lie public." It 111 di instant. ' • DUL32I"-LANE THE.! -411 - This theatre was lighted up on Wt ing for the purpose of exhibiting decoration in which, under the new is to be submitted to the public e 3 of the interior remains the short of an alteration in the dimen! theatre, every thing has been done period could be expected. The entrances last been rendered completely arch's colour in fresco has been substituted salmon and green, which hitherto di plicity of their structure. They . by the introduction of tlttt•e spiendi lighted with gas. The tnatze tripods removed, and the niches are now own! tuts after the antique, ably executed, a chaste and classic effect. The . theatre has been entirely re-embellished scroll runs round the lower tittle, fret border of gold, and a ground To the canopy of the first circle, a has been attached. The lights chandelier have been reduced. to general tone of the theatre, and the the ceiling and proscenium has been the same style of ornament whict entrances. A very numerous compete bled on the occasion, and a pervadin , interest was evidently felt for the new for the success of his arduous underthtling. THEATRE ROYAL, EP4IIIII OPlew elegant and popular phire of ofouseemosil .aeon last evening, and, we have for the entire satisfaction of the Proprittoc, are sure he has,hy the Rdmira 1:4 e anaagooseota richly deserved a golden harvest. His Roy. the Duke of Souses lionoered the concluding performances with hie p►eseaee—a afforded Mr. Harley, the Stage.msnager, which he most felicitously embraced, Of ut. of praise to the brilliant end distinguished truly noble Member of the Royal F 4111117 Address : " LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,—For the _ establishment of this 'flicatre, 1 have the distinguished offering our Farewell Aililre‘s in the presence of " The Proprietor ha, felt it to he impossible flattering an event without recurring to the: - Opera-House ; founded under the 4pecial v. 01 our revered and beloved King, and, though present Government has deemed it pruper to licence gsaimsl by command of his Nlajcsty, months, he eitrniot resist the impulse which ' this gratifying ocension, of publicly expressi gratitude, devotion, and attietion, to his lit august family; roul he into. he may he perrni feelings more eßpreiall., on the present UCC4.4011, trifle* Prince who has this evenirig candestvali ment within our walls. "To say more were to risk offending that delicacy the coinpainion of high desert; but, that the the honer to describe are experienced, in (-min Empire, is proved by the unatiimou.s testimon) the happiness to fall under the notice of his and by the heartfelt enthusiasm of appla wherever the spirit of Inquiry or the mild oifices duet his Royal pre. ence. " Ladies and Gentlemen.—l cannot sit a subject to the mere eisinmon placeofa Them his Royal Highness having been pleased to k! the puolic by niisiog with ti)ena as a tell occasion. I cannot Issuer ~c ord his gracious addressing has Royal Higlin.so . .rid you as one In that character I Mire now the honour to offer tul acknowledgments of the Prop. i,tur tire your and lie trusts he has not been found wanting deserve it for the future. Rriefiv then—in hi all the Performers I reveculdly take me lea) health and happiness till we meet agitin:4 CLER ICAL MAGISTRATES --The low, when he was Chancellor, w( Clergyman in the Commission of tl observing, that they were so eager they thought the Magistracy would of consequence, that the moment pointed, they took out their didilu; more weighty duty of the Church, to take the lead of the Country Gem the only proper persons to fill and such as it ought to be, respected by A meeting has been calk ul of the tercsted in Waste Lands in the om. who are friendly to Inclosure, and prove their estates, give employmem ing pour, suffering mailer severe distress. work, and, as far as in their power, to prei, necessity of their weling an asylum in a foreign teuntry for support, separate front their connections. and at a considerable expellee to the public." It a to be held at Wrexham, cat tlte 11th instant.