The National Register. — London, England, 1820-05-28 00:00:00

174 TRIUMPH UP 11"L'SIMINSPEIt. On Tuesday was celebrated, at the Crown, and .knchor Tavern, Strand, the Thirteenth Anniver sary of the—" Triumph of Westminster, and •the Purity of Election." Sir Francis Burdett was in the Chair. There were near timr hundred persons present.—About half past five o'clock the Stewards entered the.wom, followec by Sir F. Burdett, Mr Hobbouse, (the City's Members) Sir R. Phillips. &c. The party was received with immense ap plause, the baa,l playing— .. See the conquering hero comes." After the cloth had Lett removed, the Chairman have-- " The scwerti k ony of the People, the only source of I.eg;ti nue Fos er."—(Applause.) The nest toast waS— " The King, may he rezollect the declaration of the Prince of \1 alts—chat the Crown is held in trust for die benefit of the people." (Applause, and three times three.)—Tutie, " Rule Britannia." The Chairtnan then gave, " The only remedy for the people's grievances—a Radical Reform in the Commons House of Parliament." It was hailed with loud and long continued ap plauscs and huzzas, and three times three. Tune, •` Kick the roues out," and ‘vhieli excited a good deal of laughter. The Chairman said, at the request of a large portion of the company he gave " The Queen. ' This wet received with tremendous applause and load huezas, the company exclaiming from all pans, •` The Q _teen, the Queen " and the ladies in the cfchestra caught the enthusiasm, and waved their ltandkerchieti in token of approbation. A party then entered the room, consisting of a 4cputation of six from the St. James's Committee, Mr. Wilkinson carrying the silver vase,* and pre ceded by Mr Deane. The party approached the table, and presented the vase to Sir Francis Bur• den. Mr. Deane (the printer) observing that it was the token of respect of the parish of St. James. He then proposed the following toast : ** The brave supporter or our Civil Rights. and undaunted 41rfender of the people against military execution—our beloved representative Sir Francis Burden." The toast was drank with loud, embuiriastic, and long continued applause. Sir F. Burdett ascended the table, amidst the immense and long continued hazzas and applause. He said, it was with no common feelings that he received this fresh mark of their esteem ; for there vould be no higher compliment to a public man than the vabeught approbation of his fellow citizens. It was not in the power of individnals to give greater satisfaction to him than what he had fre tuently received at their hands. It was deemed in all times that the applause and approbation of fellow citizens surpassed all other reward. It was esteem which the ancients of Greece and Rome—of those who loved liberty most enthusiastically—deemed the highest reward. (Applause.) He viewed this fresh mark of their esteem as a proof of their increased respect. He shotsld go on in the course which he Lad pursued without mixing with party or intrigue —(applause)—keeping the polar star of liberty in view ; and, however untoward circumstances might be, he hoped that success would crown their efforts. He prised this mark of favour as peculiarly estima ble, because he deemed it the verdict of his neigh hours, the verdict of those who knew him best. (Applause)—The rewards of the Courts were often bestowed on unworthy objects—were often granted for any thing but virtuous conduct. Many had worn coronets that the public had deemed to merit • * * e • • •. (Applause and laughter.) The public bestowed their rewards on those who were deemed to be the most virtuous eitisens; and they always a7,:landed excellence. If they were deceived, the s7tarte was on the deceivers. The people had shown tl•T:.r.seives considerate in this respect—and the more it :luence the people had in the appointment of the C , :f.erranent, the more happy was the country. C.ree hundred years the Romans exercised that powes., and during all that period they had not to complain of the appointments. How was it in Eng lasl They only asked for a right to represent, and yet what they required was termed insolent and visionary. The representation was even in the House acknowledged to be abominably corrupt — and the expectation of some that partial Reform would be granted was now disappointed. But even the corruptionists now saw that they weresurrounded with difficulties—and no laczois of extricating them saves existed but a Reform. (Hear, bear). He, however, could not avoid alluding to passing events, and though there now could be hardly a company in England into which spies and informers might not be introduced—and though Sir Charles Wol seley had recently been committed to prison fgr words alleged to have been spoken by him— let what would be done, he, however, should not omit any opportunity to speak and to write those useful truths which he considered requisite for his countrymen. (Applause.) The meeting at Man chester had produced events which astonished him full as much as he believed the sentences on Mr. Hunt and others had surprised those who passed THE NATIONAL REGISTER. them, l'ecy nail :mewled an orderly, a peaceable, and an `• illegal" meeting, and they had been guilty of what every honest man in the country had com mitted; doing the utmost to resist a borough-mon. going domination, which had brought ruin to the country Whatever opinion might be entertained of Mr Hunt, and none had less reason personally to be pleased with him than be (Sir F. Burdett), vet be should be ashamed of himself if he so far forgot the principles of freedom and justice as in the present sitoution of the Country to be biassed by any feelings of his own either of a friendly or un friendly nature, when every feeling and every thought was required on the part of the public. and he thought the country would he wanting in duty, if attention were not paid to those who were now suffering in prison. But what an extraordi nary crisis had arrived, and how calamitous, how alarming was the state of the country. Those self ish men who had startled front Reform as from a ghost, were now petitioning fin. relief This was the natural result—the country which had looked so florid in the face, hail been in reality sick at heart. The country had been going on like a thoughtless spendthrift—all had looked well and flourishing, and :t MIA known that a spendthrift lie ver looked so well as the year before be broke down. But there were some preseribin ,, the payment (tithe debt as na of relief Unles•, however, there were strong measures, they could hope for no relief; but they were measures that could not be expected without a Retimm of the Borough-Pro prietorship of the House of Commons. This had long been apparent to the City of Westminster, and it was making its way through the country. It was a remarkable phenomenon, which had presented itself in this country, that the humbler, the work ing classes, were more ardent in the cause of Re form and National Freedom than those a ove them. Whatever might be the maul', be could not be lieve that they who had liberty as a birthright, would be satisfied in beholding France and Spain surpassing them in the enjoyment of reform. He trusted that England, Ireland, and Scotland would unite, and see the necessity of radical reform, of the equal enjoyment of civil rights and national freedom. That conviction would ensure them advantage, and he trusted they would lose no opportunity to kee l , alive in the breasts of their countrymen the remain ing spark of liberty. He concluded with again re turning thanks for the peculiar honour that had been conferred upon him. (Loud applause.) Tune—" Oh give me death or liberty." The next tcast was— " Our Brother Reformers in Ireland a• -, 1 Scotland, and may political and religious differences cease to be grounds of civil incapacity." Tunes--" Scots wha ha e Wl' Wallace bled," and " Erin go The following toast WAS received with great applause— "J. C. Hobhouse, Esq. the eutrepid opponent of a borough mongering Oligarchy." Mr. Hobhouse returned his acknowledgements. This mark of respect was most grateful to him, and in return he was prepared to go every length which the Constitution would allow to promote their cause. He then adverted to the arguments on the applica tion of Sir Francis Burdett for a new trial, decla ring that if some of the points which were then urged were successful, the most serious inroads would be made on the public liberties. One poin, was, that a writing, though never publishedt might still be punishable as a libel ; tm.l this opi nion was grubbed up by the Chief Justice, though the opinion had never been acted upon. The doc trines of search warrants set at rest, as was sup posed by Lord Camden, might be revived, it' such grubbed-up opinions were to prevail. The distinc tion between publishing and causing to be publish. ed, be contended, had never before been urged.— Seeing all these things, he declared, and no man of courage, in his opinion, would avoid avowing it, they must either be governed by a standing army or the rules which had been laid down by the Consti tution. He then adverted to the sentences on Mr. Hunt, &c. and declared, that the Country ought to step forward in the aid of the persons now suffering. He spoke of the necessity of Reform, of the advan tage which he expected would result from Mr. Lambton's motion ; and declared that though the sun of Reform might be clouded, he would rise again with renewed splendour. (Applause.) After some further warts, the company separated. • DESCRIPTION OF THE VASE. As this compliment to the Hon. Baronet, which pro ceeds from the Parish of St. James, exclusively, has ex cited a good deal of inlet est, a description of It cannot fail to be acceptable. It is a fine silver vase, and is after the design of Sir W. Hamilton's, and in size it is 'effi ciently capacious to contain six quarts wine measure. The base hiss a richly embossed banded wreath of oak leaves, immediately above the caorite, and the bottom and cover of the vessel are entirely covered With inter twined roses, thistles, and shamrocks of dead silver, richly chased in alto-relievo ; the cap surrounded by a Was, chased is imitation of the Fasces. Two female figures, each bold Log in one band a cluster of grapes, in the other • bowl, and terminating , in a rioh flowing acanthus and honeysuckle, form the bindles: and_the Cover is summated by another winged female figtua,ein- J oleo:attic of she guardian genius of the liberties of En gland, pi esenting• the Civic wreath to its Champion ire hr Semite. 011 one side of the body of the vase is a groove of figures, beautifully executed in bas relief, re pt., set: Mg the Worthy Baronet habit rd in the Roman toga, and unmated upon a rostrum; fr which be is haranguing an assembly of tit tens, and p :Mg at the sail', time to the insignia of the British Constitution—the Crown, the Mace, the. Sword and Seals of Justice, Mania Chaita, mid the Bill of Rights, entwined with chaplets of oak and laurel, and placed above his head. litioag the group° of citizens are repot two aoldiefs, in 1.0 set of applauding the speaker, by waving their het tiampling on the instritments of punishment, in allusion to the lion. Baronet's opposition to the flogging ss sr, mii the Army. The opposite side of the vase beats the atm . of the Non. Baronet, richly embossed and and beiseaM the following inscription : TO Sea FRANCIS BURDETT, BART. For four successive Parliaments the freely chosen Representative n tae City of Westminster, Whose undaunted courage and persevering consistency. Danng a period of twenty-four years, In a struggle for the tecovery o f t h e R ig h ts and Liberties of the People, Have long been the admiration, And now fonn the c hope of his ..ppressed countrymen. and will leave to all posterity a rare example of ins nterested Patriotism, Tuts CUP is PRESENTED As a token of res,ect g:atitutte by his Fellow-Citizens and Constituents of the Parish of St. James, Westminster.. 1820. The sum suliseribed was 200 guineas; and that amount was expended in the material and workman mop, by Mr. Wilkiuson. Mr. HUNT.—The following is a copy of a letter received in town from Mr. Hunt :—.- 66 Ilchtster, Thursday morning. " I arrived at my de tination and entered the inner dour of my dungeon last night at ten o'cloce, having both taken from the Kings Bench at four o'clock in tne morning. .ravelled a distance of 130 miles in 1 K hours. It is needless to inform you, ho arc ell with the innate habits of our ma ten. that I on.y received about lour hours' notic• or my departure; and even tat was not ormimunicated till after the doors were closed. o that it was iender.d impossible for me to communicate to •ay distr. stied family. to save them the mortifi • cation of inquiring, in vain, for me in the morning. I slept seven hours, and awoke perfectly refreshed ; nd in such spines and health as have enabled me to continence my work of incarceration not wily with fortitude, but with cheerfulness—a practical proof that the inhabitant of a straw bed, even when tut iffrunt Vie society of hie dearest friends, and locked within Me walk ola grated dungeon, it blessed with conscious ectitude. is sure to obtain more substantial enjoyment than . My first thought induced me involuntarily to exclaim t o the wall s o f my dungeon, ' What would the hobbling poor cripple or the carbuncled give to enjoy such a ni g ht as L have passed P—To be brief:the Governor of this his Majesty's gaol of Ilchester bears the caaracter of a Mullane man ; and I have as yet no reason to doubt the truth of it, as he appears dis posed to do every thing that the strict rules of the prison disci/Ass will admit to make those who are put under his care a, comfort able as the nature of their situations will permit. Be pleased to inform all enquiring friends, that I ant in perfect health, and look forward to the completion of my 912 days of incarceration. not otarWith &mess, but with the greatest c o m p osure an d chmfulnesst Parson Harrison arrived in Cheater on Wednesday night lust, by the mail, in the custody of Mr. Mud• son, constable of the castle. He appeared to be in very good spirits, and conversed some time at the Post-office door with a stranger, who waited the ar rival of the coach. The whole periixl of impri sonment to which he is sentenced, is three years and a half. On Sunday last a loaded brig, on her passage from Chepstow to one of the Dock-yards, met with an accident that had nearly proved of the most se rious kind. When in the act of working through the Shoots, the wind dying away, she drifted on a rock called Gruggy, by which she received so much damage that, notwithstanding the most skilful appli cation of the best means that could be obtained to exclude the water, the benefit of pumps and bailing, aided by the valuable assistance of one of the New Passage boats, it was with much difficulty she was kept up until she reached the shore. A Shirt made without Needle-work.—Mr. David Anderson. of the damask tnanufitctory, Deanside Brae, has finished a shirt entirely in the loom with out any kind of needle-work, and has another in progress of a superior quality, intended as a present to the Hunterian Museum of Glasgow. We have seen this singular production since it was finished, and find in it every requisite and ornament of a man's shirt. The neck, handhands, and shoulder straps, are double cloth, and neatly stitched: the button-holes arc wrought with button stitch. It has also the requisite buttons, gussets, and a ruffle; and on the breast is woven the Glasgow Arms, with the motto, " Let Glasgow flourish," and below. " Woven and presented by David Anderson." We understand this singular piece of mechanical inge nuity, which does great credit to Mr. Anderson's professional abilities, was on Tuesday presented to Dr. Coupar, for the purpose he intended A wonderful fat sheep was killed and shcwn at Stow Fair, in Gloucestershire on the 12th inst. by which by Mr. Marshall, butcher, of that place, which, fur its enormous sire and brainy of symme try, was considered by all who saw it to be the beet ever exhibited; the carcase weighed :2(i ilbs.— It. was bred and fed by Mr. Large, of Broadwell, near Burford.