The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-02-06 00:00:00

' MIDDLESEX MEETING. C. -. • A 'Meeting of Freeholders took place yesterday at Ritekney. • Mr..theriff,tri/CAS said, that before the Reqnisition rest read; • be had a few words to submit to the meet . iisg. / The objeCt of the meeting was, he observed, to solicit, by, their Representatives in Parliament, an amelioration of the grievances under which the coun try laboured, and as the best andgreatest of men had been engaged in support of and in opposition to the Reform now so generally called for, be hoped that every Gentleman who should address them this day, would meet with a liberal and patient hearing. For himself, he bad no hesitation in stating, that he Olonght all grievances could be removed by the Par; Utmost as at present eonstituted,without that Reform for which be understood the Petition intended to be submitted to this meeting prayed ; and he thought rich opinion was _strongly supported by the Speech of Majesty last night to the Hittite of Parliament. A' Rmernment feeling what was there expressed, cannot be worthy of the • confidence of those over whom as a pt iplitheyPreside, in a just and free administration of tliClairt, l as established by the Constitution by which t theY. rule. , The Worthy SHRIMP again begged a patient hear.- lag for all who might address the meeting, and thanked AO fist the Indulgence with which they had received itetptilitlen having been read by the theriff:' . • leisjoiCirritsairt presented himself to the Meet- He. hail the happiness of again addressing the :Freeholders of Middlesex, but tbathappiness was ma terially lespened by the necessity which had brought them together, namely, the daily increasing. want of a . Reform in Parliament. He trusted that a general _feeling of the necessity a real and boas fide Re. form in the representatiob of the people now prevail ed. Last night some gentlemen, members of a Com mittee, he believed, who had . taken great interest in the .election . of one of their worthy members, called upon him to say that they had prepared a petition, the object of which. was, to procure a Reform, with out stating in whit that Reform consisted. Now he ,hadever been; and ever would continue to be, a plain arken and a plain dealing man in business which he felt to be important. Mr. Thomas Paine had imlttna much, and had beets much talked about; now for that gentleman he had a very high respect, as far as he had advocated the principles of liberty. (Great applause .some disapprobation.)-It was well known that he had materially - contributed to the salvation of the li berties of Antedea.--(Cheers and dissatisfaction, with 'tries of no allusion to Paine.)-This same person (he would nut mention his name at it was not pleating to _some of the gentlemen now present) had many years ago said,we possessed no Constitution, and he believed he had said trulfiliWise'(Majoe C.) had never heard that Constitution satisfactorily defined ; it. should_ be of such a nature as • our Lord's Prayer, which was learned by oar children and understood without diffi culty. When the Contnittee gentlemen called on him knit % night, they exptlissedreat anxiety that hewoald not embody in his Perkins what alone he eansidaain of `essential IntioitatbAmillellatisaing-Awa ail"' 'the Representation, or, in'other word's, that he would petition for something, but that he would not give 'rink - something it definite character; that he would not, in short, pray for Anneal Parliaments and elec 'tie* by ballot; he hoped, - however, that Englishmen •w-re neither so enslaved as to fear to state their • rieyances, and 'mg* their claim to redr'ess, nor so pit t iltanknons as to claim redress, without stating the grievances under which they labour, and the Constitu tianal ble sings for which they petition.—(Much • coughing on the hustings, followed by considerable applause Trim the body of the-room.) At the time of the Revolution, Parliaments had no right to sit for a lene-erperiod than one year. There was no law en titled them to do_ so; and there were laws which, if fairly construed, Hinkel' the existence of those Parlia ments to one Sessitm,o'-(Conghing and applause.) Mr. Sheriff Tnowehert hoped the Meeting would give the venerable. Major.a fair hearing. , Major Caurwaseirr .resanned-those Parliaments, however. made taws far their own convenience-sat for three' years, and were then as unwilling as ever to return to -their constituents. -(Coughing.), lie should . not detain the meeting longer than by reading the Re. solutions upon which he had grounded his petition, and he hoped they would be found explicit and fully explanatory. Moses had given the people of Israel the ten commandments ; he had not said, Be good people, and behave yourselves decently, but had de fined' the line of conduct that would make them good and happy ; to the Romans, as Cicero told them, gave their-children tables of the laws which they were to obey-and support ; and were Englishmen to be con teat with inertly staling to- their Representatives, - "'We , want Reform, but cannot tell you what we call Reform 7". Rather let the Petitions of the peo 'llpdscatige,Atenti strongly, -too, the nature of the Con stitntion they claim at the hands of those who would •little anderstarid-wbiCtims 'meant and understood by the solitary word Reform." The worthy Major then read his first Remlution, advocating the election by ballot and sonuei Parpausenti. The Reg: Mr: DIPER rose to advocate the cause of Reform, end he did so with-pleasure, because the • teemy had disappeared frmn the gates of the citadel. . • He had beeetnted to meet on occasions like the pre - • neat with some Ministerial Gentlemen, who would op pose any thing that looked like opposition to their measures. ' They hid, however, (thanks to the perse verance of the Reformers), left the field of battle ; • still, at a distance, they charged them with being in novators - rather let them say renovators, for that was their just denomination. 'Sir Robert Wulpole's as sertion that " every - man has his s price," n - as not a o'6o assertion; was'horne out by daily experience. Tfii Chiplain of the Ist Regintent of Horse Guardr • eitiployed es .his Deputy for some years; arid the - Co r nmandiwr Officer • (sot 'Lord Harringtish; e dohet,) . bat the ConanaldinT Officer, .Hbnourists' Colonel Lrgoa, t*.ught-alistlergyinen hereto.. %eked him, you. the 'Mr. leas „ibis 'proposlid'sitch iigliVt*tisithitions at such p . 41neeting ? arievierid,.',,7ll4 Sir:, Well, 'the wrote to the ,Chiphthi o 7 the rigiment another deputy. TheCbtplein cant t• town atarn ingly, and he had an inierviiw with the.-Liayned 1 . • ~. ‘. 1 4 4 1 - • „~ _ --.~ THE'. STATESMA Gentleman ; he thentold• him that he wat obliged to fin•i another deputy, as Colonel Lygon thought him too old for the duty ; he asked the Chaplain whther his voice was not loud enough?---(Laughter.)—(The Rev. Gentleman is more than usually audibly.)—Re formers are told that there are not any twenty of them agreed upon the nature of the Reform they demand ; but if the Minister would pass an Act of Parliament, enacting that places not having twenty electors should not return any Members to Parliament, and•tbit those which have less than one hundred should return but one, they would find that such Act would pass through the House as quietly as a Turnpike Hill. The Rev. Gentleman then supported the venerable Ma jor's Resolution with great ability, and concluded by calling upon the Meeting also to support it. The Resolution having been read by Mr. Sherif Tramie -1 SON, Mr. Rice came forward and nid. that no one mild more regret than himself the direr:ace of opinion which ,prevailed upon the present occasion. He then commented on the Re-, solution proposed by Major Cartwright. and by way of Amendment moved the following : 1. That the present constitution of the Commons House of Parliament is notoriously corrupt and defective, and a body not electively representing the people of England, or the watchful gesrdians of their rights and liberties. S. That the corruption and venality of Parliament have not only been offered to be proved at the bar of the House, but openly avowed and shamelessly defended by the advo cates of a profligate Government; end that it has been incon trovertibly demonstrated that the great majority of the Members of the Commons' House of Parliament Ip com posed of Moment. Sinecurists, and Pensioners. Nominee, of Prers, avid nominal Representatives of Rotten Boroughs. shilst the interests of magi.. at body of the People areeithef neglected or basely sacrificed. S. That the distress which has of late years, and which of the present time, 'Slats the country, as well the daring and flagitious violation of the rights of Englishmen, are to be attributed to the went of a Reform in Parliament,whe►eby wicked and unprincipled Ministers have prosecuted their career of misgovernment with the most disastrous and mon strous impunity. 4. That it Is the decided opinion of this Meeting, that there can be no permanent relief from the pressure of the evils which now affect the eonntry, et any satisfactory secu rity for the remaining rights of Englishmen, without a tho rough end effectual reform of the rspersenratiOn In the Com mons Hones of Parliament. 6. That the Petition now. read be adopted-by this-Meet ing, snd signed on its behalf by the High Sheriff, tad tit►t . the tame be presented to the House of Commons by George Ilyng. Esq. and Samuel Charles Whitbread. Esq. Members for the county, who are instructed to support the prayer thereof. Mr. HEDGeIt seconded, the Resolutions. * Mr. 'MALLErr regretted that a division shonid exist between the friends of Reform on the present occasion. It was allowed on all hands that abuses existed to an extent unparalleled, and there was no disunion as to the remedy—Reform; but if we look to the county meetings which have lately taken place, we cannot but be convinced of the injury the cause of Refernt' has sustained by the diversity of remedies urged in the y various petitions that have been agreed to; and now again there was dissention, although neither. Mr. Cobbett nor Mr. Hunt were present; and white the disagreement on the present ocetaion.? it turned . upon comparatively an unimportant question, whether we should petition for annual or triennial Parliaments --(Loud cries of "Annual," which were answered by those of "Triennial.")--He, for one, would rather than contest that point, say —" give us triennial Par liaments, and all the good that will result from a re formed triennia Parlisunens...Ani we wiy il see Low • they will conduce to the nappiness of t e People oT, Great Britain, before we content! for . Annual Parlia-; flints." _ _ Mr. MILLS, of Bristol, having presented himself 1 to the Meeting, was asked by Mr. Sheriff Lucas, whether he was a freeholder of the county of Middle- • sev, and answered that he was; but said that if he had no; been, be trusted that the worthy Gentleman would, in his courtesy, have heard him.—(" No, ao. - ) Sheriff Lucas---Gentlemen, the Sheriffs of the Coun ty would not have done their duty to you as freehold ers, if they had omitted to ask the Gentleman if he was similarly entitled to conic forward on the present occasion. --(Hear, Lear.) Ms. MILLS---Fortunately is it, therefore, that I am possessed of the requisite qualification, as I wish to address you shortly and Now as I was not aware of my worthy Friend (the Major's) intention of being present, I canoe prepared to_ move a remonstrance, and not a resolution, for we have moved resolutions for the last 40 years, and what has been the result ? I cannot tell yon-&-hut I will read to you what I had in tended to submit to your consideration, if you had not been so fortunate as to have the venerable Advocate of Reform among you. He then read his remonstrance, which was drawn up in strong language.--(Cries of moor)---No, Gentlemen, I should not be justified in di viding you into thirds, but I call upon the Whigs pre sent to withdraw their present unseemly opposition, and not provoke the just animadversion of the radical apd bona fide reformers, or in other words, that of the great majority of the inhabitants of this country. Mr. GALLOWAY addressed the Meeting at consi derable length, and called upon the Gentleman who supported the amendment to withdraw it at once, and put an end to the unfortunate division. Mr. Wooler argued at great length that the mode rate party. had used moderate measures fur the last forty years without success, and that there could be no doubt of stronger ones being now expedient. Ile contended for the universality of suffrage upon principle, and expressed his hope that whatever peti tion might be adopted by the Meeting, both parties would then lay aside all petty jealousies, and support such a ninsure with all their power. Mr. H.tavgy strongly supported the amendment.. He contended that it was the wider and the more ex tensive measure of the two, because it asked for gene ral redress, while the other was limited to particular grievances. They had heard of the cause of Reform having dwindled in the House of Commons. But had they forgotten that splendid minority of 157 upon the motion for Reform made last year by Lord John Rus sel, combining ;nen of the highest talent, intellect, and unpurchasable integrity ? And when Lord John Rus sel should again bring forward that Motion, as he had • given notice last night, he.had no doubt but that the number of its supporters would be doubled. Some observations passed between Major CART WRIOCIT and Mr.' , Bie.ll,!but no adjustment of their differepers.toOk pare, end the Suaeivr proceeded to put the Auteudnient ; but the Coanty Members ex pressing. a -wish to address .the meeting, he suspeuded• the vote fur their acconiodation. • • Mr. iltio thin rose, •sita!sitid, that from the cam nteneeptent at hit pole liiit life he'. 114 be a. sincere refer 'icr. no wished .. tliit . Million link; adopt open the prevent oeeasion, it might be ad o p ted with'snattimity ; so that he might he able to present -it - ,a the opiaion of so considerable and respectable a body of his constituents. What be desired was to renovate the Constitution, which he considered to be the very best that ever was devised for the happiness pi a people. To restore it, he contended, that the Eople must hare considerable additional liberty. ith regard to - the right of suffrage, the utmost ex at that he could ever go, was that it should belong ..10 all householders who paid direct taxes. When si milar propositions to those now made by the worthy Major, were last brought before the House of Com mons, they were moved by Sir F. Burdett, and the oecoader was the ouiy one that supported him. Major CAIPITIt RICIIIT.—That is their best recom mendation. Mr. Brxr: trusted that he might not he intsrrupt ed, its lie attended patienly to what had fallen (ruin that Gentleman.• When lie had last an opportunity of meeting his constituents at the election, during his personal canvas, he had taken pains to learn their opinions upon the subject, and he fund them almost unanimous against Unisersal Suffrage and Annual Parliaments. He considered that it would be the fault of the country if it did not obtain Reform. It desired reform, and if it unanimously expressed that desire, it would obtain it, Mr. EA I) said ho thought they knew enough of him now to know that he was no friend to half measures, but a derided enemy to corruption. But he phould not hesitate to say that his principles were like . those of his friend Mr. Lambton, in favour of triennial Parliaments, and limiting the right of suf frage to those who pay direct taxes.—(Disapprobation, and cries of " that's half measures." However, if when they had obtained such a Reform as this, they should find it insufficient, no one would be more ready than himself to go farther.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped they would weigh well the decision to they were about to come, sad if possible preserve tinani 04Y. I ' Mr. P. MOORE, M. P. was about to address the Meeting, but the Sheriffs decided that sr;eli a pro ceeding would be irregular, and Mr. Moore gave way. _ . . The Hum SHERIFF then put the amended motion, Which, after much tumult awl difference of opinion, was declared by the Sheriffs to be negatived. (This announcement ambled considerably to the tumult a sick before prevailed to a great degree.) The Sunnier next put the original Resolutions of Major Cartwright, and upon a spew of hands bring taken, it was decided that they were carried, not, how ever, without considerable opposition. Mr. MILLS then proceeded to read a Petition found ed on the Resolutions, which occupied the time of the Meeting for afty minutes, during which time sou►e of the people in the Hall manifested strong symptoms of disapprobation. The petition was at length put and carried, an.l upon its being moved that the Sheriff do sign it on behalfuf the Meeting, Mr. Sheriff LUCAS observed, that as a freeholder of the county, he was opposed to the Petition, and he could not as Sheriff sign a document, which as a freeholder he disapproved of. lir. 3111.4 s submitted . that the High. Sheriff could oily act In Ms olliciatcapacity t sad as & judicial officer. he was as much bound to sign the Petition of the meet ing as a Judge of the Court of King's Bench was to sign the verdict of a Jury, or as the Speaker of the House of Commons was to announce a decision to which he was personally opposed. The HIGH SHERRIFF repeated his determination not to sign the Petition. It was next moved and seconded that the County Members should present the Petition. Thanki were voted to the Sheriffs for their impartial conduct in the Chair, but this was strongly opposed (cries in the crowd " Let them do their duty, and then we will"). The motion was ultimately negatived. At a quarter past live o'clock the Meeting was dis solved. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S COURT. PETERSFIELD COLLEGE. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL V. JOLLIPIPE. In this case, where an information has l een filel by his Majesty's Attorney-General, at the relation of Mr. Atcheson, an Attorney, against Mr. Hylton Jol.iffe, and others of the same family, seven in the whole, the Trustees of the College of Petersfield for inistuanagt ment of their trust, _ . Mr. WETHERELL applied to have the minutes altered and to have a longer account directed the defendants, that would take in the whole period of Mr. Hylton Jul litre's management. Mr. HONE opposed the application, and an argue meat of great length took place. The Vicx-CuAsceLLoa refused the application, on the ground that it would be putting the Charity to a great expence, without any reasonable probability that any' thing would be produced by it. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, FEBRUARY 4. The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said that his Majesty had issued his warrant to the Judges under the recent act, for enabling them to sit out of Term, which would be read by the officer. Mr. DEALTRY then read the warrant, which recited the powers given by the statute to the Crown, of re quiring two or more of the Judges to sit in vacation, and that there was a large arrear of business in the Court; and then proceeded to direct two or more of . 1 the Judges to sit from the last day of T.,rn► to the Ist of March, for the despatch of such business as could not he settled during the term. The Lotto CHIEF JUSTICE then informed the bar, that in obedience to this warrant, two of the Judges would sit daring the period specified, in some apart ment adjoining the,.pl+ce where the sittings are now 1141(1Ni. Mr. SCARLETT asked if his Lordship intended to sit at Nisi Pries. _ _ _ The LORD CHOW JUSTICE replied, that . he pro ' posed to' sit fur the trial of causes in that place, and two of his learned brothers would, in the mean time, transact the business of term in an adjoining room. i s Lordship added, " I trust tide arrangement' will 'tot be misunderstood." TRE KING NOSES MARTIN. • Mr. TnEsstnen showed cause against a• rule oh- - _ • . 774. 1 Nr • 4E- twined by Mr. Watford, allowing Mt ses Martin, charged W tth stealing 205., to surrender himself and be admitted to bail. The rule was obtained on the gronntl that the Magistrate before whom the case vas heard dismissed the defendant ; that no it:dictm nt was preferred against him at the ensuing Surrey sts sions, but that afterwards an indictment was form against him, on which a warrant had been granted. The Learned Counsel now produced an affidavit, ►et ting forth grounds of suspicion, which he urged were so strung as to deprive the defendant of any claim to favour. _ _ _ The COURT, however, thought that bail ought to he taken ; and accordingly the defendant made his appearance with his four intended sureties. On the examination of one of these, it appeared that he lead been rejected as bail five or six times, and he was ac. cordingly again rejected. The defendant was then committed to lforseu►onger Lane Gaul till the se!. sions. PREROGATIVE COURT, WzreiEsim T. Sir Henry ntrolnts, Bart. and Booth, against Sir Molyneux Hyde Nepean, Bart. In this case a letter, bearing date 7th Februar; 1822, addressed by the late Sir Evan Nepean to his so licitor, .1. Hutchinson, Esq., of Lincoln's 19n, contain , ing certain instructions for alterations to be made in the disposition of the deceased's personal property, and fur a new will to he prepared therefrom accordingly, was propounded on the part of Sir M. H. Nepean, tt codicil to the will of his late father. fly the terms of this letter, the personality was variously disposed of, and the several sums of 7,000!. 4,001 W. 4,0110/. ant 1,1100/. were given to the younger children of SI; Evan ; 1,200/. per annmu to his lady, and the wh o :, of the landed estate was given to his son, Sir Molyuenv, party in this suit. A draught was prepared by the r• - licitur, who was desired to expect further inetrudiew, which the late Baronet promised to forward, after cc.r. suiting with Lady Nepean, and which the new will was, of course, to await. In the mean time, Lady Ne pean, who was seriously ill at the time,. tlnity grew worse, and at length died. Public and private husitees::, (Sir Evan having been nominated High Sheriff of Glue.- . cestersh re, and having a law suit on hand in respect of his own property) intervened to prevent the dcceas.'d baronet fr giving his final instructions, and his It , a death left thew imexecuted. The executors mama the will resist the letter set up as>Z - codicil to that will. Sir John Nichol', under these .eircamatances, de cided, hat however it ought he to be regrettesl, the pre snmption of law, although it was strong in favour of lc- I tention in the present ease, could not avail against a re , guittey executed will, and the tar:. of time whirl' had occurred, between the intimation of the deceased's in tended instructions as contained in this letter, and the period of his death. POLI : : E . !Ilattd.ROßoeoll STMT.—Yesterday Plank, tie Chief Officer, was sent for by Mr. WiNoek, of Golden yquarc, who is freasnrer to the Burlington Schutt!, in Oh/ liiir• lington-street, to examine a bundle found in the arra tif that Estabtishment. On doing so he die/cove-red an en . - tire suit of men's clothes almost 'iterated with blood, a blue coat, w ith gilt buttons, black witistethitortruto corded breeches, and a pair of &orb "loth gaiters. They were. brought to the °them, and appeared tit have lain RIIMOIR days in the area, as they hail evidently been there during the snow. As yet no clue has been found to accou...t fur this mysterious affair. Tuesday was the day appointed for the re-examinatiea of the persons suspected of being concerned in the atrocious murder of Mr. Smith, at Lewisham; the pri salters were brought from Maidstone Gaol to the Mitre Tavern, Greenwich, where a Bench of Migistrater as. sembled. At about twelve o'clock the prisoners arrived in the town. Their names are James and Robert Smith. and James Webster; the two former brothers; all bay ing the appearance of decent tradesmen. The prisoners Smiths ate shoemakers, and Webster a shipwright. 0 their being conducted into the Justice Room, they weir: placed at the bar, and questioned as to what they hart to say in their defence. The whole of the prisoners di ehard their innocence, denying all knowledge of the transaction.—Mr. BICKNELL intimated to them, ih it they were involved in strong suspicion, but in the ab• sence of evidence, the produciimi of which they had su •icipated, they would he discharged for the present. — The pri%oners then quitted the place, a:id proceeded in the 'iliac ion of London across Greenwich clinrcb-yir I. Fteili bills have been neutral, with rewards offered hir the discovery of the murderers. A sharking accident happened about two o'clock yester day, in the Crescent, Bridge-street Blackfriars, owing to the disgraceful practice of alowing women servants to cle the outside of windows : a young woman fell into the street from a considerable height, and was taken up in a won dreadful state. DIED. On Saturday morning, at his house, No. 9, Holborn-bars, Mr. W. Clerk, aged 30. On Friday, the Slat ult. at Brighton, Mary, the wife of T. Greenhill, Est. of 0 recechurch-street. At Calcutta, on the 18 ti of August last. in his 99th year. Mr. W. H. Weston, eldest son of Mr. R. IL Weston, of New Crane Dock, On Su• day last, aped.Bo, Ji Coldieonte, Esq. after a ser ♦iee of 39 years in the Stamp-olli , e. On the 2d inst. at Lincoln. aged 76, Mrs. J. White. eldest daughter of the late Sir F. Bernard, Bart. and sister to Sir 8. B. Wieland, Bart. M.P. Oo Friday, the 3lst ult. at York, Ann, wife of the Rev. C. Weilheloved. _ On the Sd inst. Sarah, wife of Mr. J. Jones, of Sorra , - comer, Minories. On Ike 29d u'l. at her 'down. in Portman-street, sired 74. the Right lion. Lady Jane Aston, dsughter of the first. and sister and co-heir of the Earl of Northington, relict of die late-Sir Willoughby Aston, Bart. COURSE OF EXCIRANGE.—Tussomr, Fem./. Amsterdam e f.. 19 II Gibraltar • 3Ol 0 Ditto at Sight ...... ..19 9 Leghorn..:. .... ... ,sq 0 Rotterdam.. .....12 6 Genoa ..:....43 0 Antwerp........... .12 6 Venice Italian Lie.... 27 50 Hamburgh. ..........37 8 Malta 45 0 Altona ..... ... ....37 9 Naples 39 0 Paris, 3 days' sight,. 25 50 Pa1erm0...... grox 1173 Ditto ....... ..... —25 70 Lisbon 80rdeaux,....... ....'25 7J Oporto 31 Frankfort oa the Main 157 Rio Janeiro 43 0 Petersburg 3us p ride 91 Bahia be Berlin.. .Cur Dolls 7d 7gr. ni llo i o 99 0 Vienna, Ef.2 ni....f10 10 27 Curk Neste ditto 10 27 BULLION. per 0e• Madrid . A . 37 0 Portugalgoldin m10.01.0.. 03 -- .- - • -.,,1d in bars. 317 6 Cadiz . . ~ .. : . 3O 0 Foreign gold in 1,, Siihoa 37 0 New Doubloons—. 0 0 0 3areelous titanic 314 0 Silverinbars,atandard4s 0 0 _._ _ Loudon : Edited,,nnted. and Put:l:abed, at the OlOtto of "The STATIUMAN" No. 297, Strsod, by R. WARERCLL, Lt./1 to wham all commobtcadona, Orders, is. are • • regrestrdte iidteseedi 7.7.;570. ` - 'IIIA ' Nr'w' 7F - '~ti J ' sr ± „-. ~~ ~ ~.~