The Statesman. — London, England, 1810-01-05 00:00:00

•• . in I utter et or of the General Officer. iota ntenilieg that Army on ifs leshalf—it was not a cientenii:rctiirn from a few Officers ..r rank and consitteratiost, setting forth their own sentiments, or conveying respectful advice concerning the mi lt try affairs or intereets of the Coast : hut it Nas lei bring to our Council Board a cheviot ous de. 'nand, edforeed by the combined and united voice of an Army. lit other words, it was' to latimidtte and overawe the authority to which •it was addressed.'. 21. This attempt at intimidation was the more leprehensihle, es it• Was altogether unnecessary, • and entirely inapplicable to the purposes avowed by the . Memorialists. It will not be said, or to "loco% perhaps more correctly, it will not be • strewed, that the remover of Sir G. Harlow hem - the Government of Fort • St. George was the psi. • Miry aid substantive object of their proceedings, that the Army was to speak in a body, not fee thecae's; of the grievances set forth in the llemoriel, - but for the purpose of cashiering and electing Governors at the discretion of the Offi cers of the Army. If the redress of grievances then was the object proposed, it is manifest that purpose could not bo accomplished, but was flkely to be impeded by this culpable proceeding. 22. The grievances enumerated in that paper are— The exclusion of Lictitenant-Gen. Macdowall from Council. The release of Col. Munro. And the removal of the Adjutant and Deputy. ,Adjutant-General from their offices. 23. The first of those complaints related to a, measure, adopted, as the Memorialists well know,l • by the llonottaable Court of Directors, and alto. tether beyond the competeoce of eny authority in 21. The release of Colonel Munro is a measure which, if it was wrong, might be a fit subject of representation by Lieutenant-General Macdowall, whittle order for his arrest had been superseded. As Commander in Chief, he was the proper chat'. nel or that representatipn, first to the Supreme Government, and then to the authorities at home. • The interposition of the army itself was unneces. Lary and culpable. • 25. The same remarks apply to the removal of the Adjutant and D,spety Adjublini.General. Adjetant.Gencral had hims.•lf embarked for Eli/. • land. The Commander in Chief was also on his fassages Thossoodteet of that discussion in Eng. land might be safely left to them, and could not be assumed by any other perms with equal pro. rthtr• ttl. All these important points could receive a definitive deeittion from the Supreme Authorities in England alone. To ngitite them here could • Wither influence nor accelerate that decision, anti Could answer oac purpose alone, that of foment. 1 :11111114 spirit of discontent and controversy, en.: gaging murmurs, and exciting heat and fer ment iit the artny,all which it was fertile pitolie in. terest, anti not less for the interest of the army than of the government and the rest of the cont. minify, to prevent or appease. It was surely this manifest dirty of every servant of the Company, whether civil or military, and must have been, the earnest desire of every honest and honourable man, to devise every possible means of tranquil. lizing the minds of the public, allaying past irrita. lion, and promotin; a return of temper and har mony, at least during that interval. ' 27. If the _conduct of the Memoralists could vest contribute to the accomplishment of the ends they professed, it is obvious that the menifesta. tine of a turbulent spirit, and of a disposition to excite in the array sentiments of disaffection, and to in involve the Officers at large in acts of insubor. • dilation and hostility towards the legal Govern. Mutt of the country, could only prejudice the pub. lie cause, which served as a pretext for their pro ceedings, by making it at least questionable, whe. - the authorities to which the appeal was made - might think it compatible with the honour of Go - Tertiment and the interests of the:public, that they should concede to violence and sedition, even those points, if there had been any such, in their case, which might in other eiranustausets have been viewed more favourably. 2tl. If .we confined . ourselves therefortraeceli. to this general view of thrform . which tlrellhaio. trial bears, wo'should find too much roam for fellUlfe. But the impressions made upon us by the general character and aspect of this proceed. log arc confirmed by a close examination of the metier and substance of the Memorial. 20. That the authors of this paper invite the army at large to delete rate on certain measures adopted by the Govermaent of Fort St. George, and to enforce, by the joint and united act of a military body, the insolent anti factious demand of the removal of the first Member of that 'ern:sent, is, plai n ly written in the Memorial. 7-- Tnis is alonea great and culpable departure from the first and clearest duties of the sailitaey pro. 30. But there is one feature of positive sedi. Lion too plain and Striking to be mistaken or over. looked., 31. The paper hears the title of 4 Meomrial ;'' and the epithet of s Respectful' is added to it. It is a petition to the Supreme Government, the prayer of (which is to remove the Governor .of Fort St. George from his office. But.this Memo. vial dues not trust entirely to the reasoning it con. - ' tains for the support of 'a request so extraortfa. • nary. The Memoralists have thought it advisee. ble to fortify the argument, and to enforce the petition, by a pretty istelligible intimatioo s . diet' • if the Supreme Government should hesitate to re. move a Governor who is obnoxious to them, they will take the matter ills. their own bands, and make a flew Governer themselves :•••.'" They 44 cannot suppress the expression of tbeir concern 64 at the manner in w bight he s exclusite rights of the 44 Army have recently been violated, and of their 46 sanguine hope and earnest entreaty, that the 44 Supreme GovernmeOt may in its wisdom be In. ct duced to appease their just alarms, and. to an. 66 Licipate the extreme crisis of their agitation, 44 by releasing them from the centruml of a ruler whose measures, &s. kr." • Lilt is cunteaded that this passage is, in Its let. lilL 44 1 1 6: g I I • \ i ~I s . s ter, susceptible of some other and terpretation, it must at the same ti that the words naturally bear which we have put upon them. was never addressed by such Mcmur a panet - its plaki voimbipeas lai phrase is equivocal end May by ivkport a tilted, is (in such a pa, was proposed, by all the Officers Army), to be received as an explicit that sense, and brings the crimc, actorily, home to it 3 anibors. 32. In considering the subject matter of this memorial, we perceive that of the three complaints prilerred in it, thure is °not one which could be made, with ropriety, the subject of a represent ation front fie army At. large, even if such repro. sentations were justifiable in any case. ° 33. Whether his Majesty shall call the Com. moiler in Chief of the Arsly into his Cabinet Council or not, it is for his Majesty, with the advice of his Ministers, to &tide, in his discre. I Lion. The Commauder in Chief Of the whole British forces is not necessarily a Member of Ad. anieistration, or of either Hulse of Parliament .; and we are well assured? that no Officer itv his Majesty's service could be found,, if the recent conduct of Lientenant.General flay Macdowall ',weld not compel us to- make an exception in his use, who would . countenance or promote a re. presentation from the British army at large, to his Majes, or to Parliament, on•that subject.• • 34. -Whether the Commander in Chief. 9f the army of the East India Company, servintuader the Presidency of, Fart St. George or Bombay,' shall ho appointed to a seat at the Council- Board or not, is a'question which is left by law to the decision of the II onourable the Court of Directors, whose duty and privilege it is to determine it, ac cording to their views of public convenience and advantage. . • 35. The complaint upon this subject is' intro duced in • the Memorial, immediately after 'the assertion, in lofty and declamatory language, that the " humble Memorialists ire not the abject slaves of a country enthralled by despotism and that they respectfully assert a claim to " certain rights and privileges; the enjoyment " of which may be allowed to them, without im. " pairing or encroaching on the dignity of Go. " 'efficient, or in any way interfering With the " other departments of the State." 38. When such a body as au army is invited to asset a claim of rights and privileges, care should be taken by those who lie not propose to sow the seeds of revolt and public trouble to de. fine those rights and privileges. No affected am. higuity. at least; should attend such declarations ; 'and when a complaint of the exclusion of the Gommander in Chief from Council immediately follows such declarations, and 'Mods in front of the grievances which the Memorial sets forth, if it was not intended to class the admission of the Commander in Chief to Council amongst those lights and privileges of the army which they would be abject slaves if they did net assert, that claim should have been implicitly disavowed,. and ought not to have been strongly countenanced .by sis form of language scarcely ambiguous. 37. We deem it proper to declare expiicifly t that the admission of a Commander in Chief of the ' Coast Army to a seat at the Conseil Board of that' Presidency, is not amongst the rights and privi leges of the Coot Army 1 and thatapy.vepresen. ration upon that subject, in the name of the Army at large, would be an undue interference with objects sot within their competence, and •wostld be a culpable departurofrom the military character, and from the proper duties of their station. 38. It has been attempted to perplex this ques. lion• by misrepresenting the office and duty of the Commander in Chief in his office of Counsellor, when he has a seat at the Board ; and, above all; by introducing some indistinctand confused notions of a representative character which is ascribed to him ass Member of Government. The confusion of ideas on this subject is still incremied, by their. pointing naturally. at some false analogy between' the rights of representation in the political con.' stitutiun of the British Legislature, anti the right of the Army of Fort St. Georgt• to lie represented in the Government of that Presidency. To this' right is added the claim that the Commander in Chief• fur the time beipg shall, by virtue of his of. lice, be that representative. • 39. It is obvious that a step more, lo this pro. 4 cess of confused analogy, would set up 4 Crain! for : the .Army to the electiun of ire own 11epresenta.1 tivoin the Government of Fort St: George. 40. This tissue of error must either be the wads of extreme ignorance, or must have been constructed for the purpose of deception, poll 4 ranee of .others • ' bld oi it has been ~a Ire ~ ful source of delusion, and as " Repiresellter in Council". has been made a sort of watch-Word in these dissensions, it appears 'important to rec tify the false opinions which-ARO have beat ha-, bibed upon these points, and to substitute plain truth and reason in the room of all the perplexed' and indistinct fallacies in which it has been the study of an artful faction to entangle the sense and feelings of their unwary and less4utormed brethren. 1 41. A Commander in Chief, who is a Member in Council, has precisely the same %ha/aster and, duties as his colleagues. lie is not the eepresea. • tative of the army in any sense of the,word, Mitt, still less in the sense which may perhaps have been intended, of his being chargml is Cutrocil with th separate interests of the army, ' diatistOt Iry those of the public, and the getter; GI vernsneot. The. Commander , bee of Council, is the &legal, troops, which, in another moods in the field, but of the inlay, and of the British naC also with the interests of the C . Military Servants of the Cempatty smal prosperity of the whole and native, of the provinces =to which hetelongs. • But the ve t nor even yretersble alitillools of the Commander i.: _ . of providing o*ly 41.. That Government will consult . the experi ence of the. Commander in Xiiief in both these branches of his Military Councils, if be is ,a Mem ber of their Board; They will Consult him out of Council, if be is not their colleague.] and if any Commander"kn Chia should, have (+Adored. himself 'unworthy; of their confidence, it is not to. be ap prehended that fidelity, experience, and judgment will be wanting in', the superior ranks of the army to supply the blank. 43. We abstain*. front delivering any opinion upon the general question, whether it is expedient or not that the Commander in Chief of the Army on the Coast should be a Member of Goterinent. it is - elven:lt for the vesent pnrpose to declare, that this is purely a questhin of public expediency, and iikjio respect connected- with any claim of right er privilege in the'arwy. • • • [To borouriudett to•taio raw.) 41. CROWN AND• ANGUOR TAVERN! • THEATRICAL RECONCILIATION.DINNER. At five o'clock the doors of the Great Rooth being opened, On tables . were in less than five minutes inaceesfihk, and many attic, company, which in number exceeded three hundred, were unable to obtain seats.. Soon after five o'clock, Mr. CLIFFORD took the Chair, Mr. KestELE and Mr. li.kaats, Juu: being seated on his right hand. • The first toast, after the rowel of the cloth, The King. After which ,followed •-••• The Yoire of the People. • • ' The Trialty Jury, with,three times Omer. • , Mr. Jonas then sung, " Pal Morphy the Pi per," with great humour. . The Stage • was next drank with very great applause. ....• The ancient and unalienable Judicature of the Pit, _ A being drank with three times three, the apphseit that ensued lasted several minutes. - The beautiful glee of "Glorious 4petlo l !' wmi l sung by three Gentlemen in a very ivpitior styLts of taste and execution. .... , Mr. CLIFFORD then entreated . particular attention te'the* taut which he was &bent to pro. pose, feeling confident that no toast could be more Appropriate to the object of the Meeting: - - _May tin. happy Reconciliation he of equid advantage tot nut* in ipouscsaeitt, and the Proptieton in emaluiveut, tittle drank with three times three—end was sic. eretind by very lirittand long protrieted,Opflaluse. Mr. YEMBLE then rising, said—Gesaloinen,. Mr. Harris and myself most cordially concur in ~tlic tout that has hatutOrett ; and beg to„have the honour of most, respectfully drinking all your healthr, . This was .followed id very loud applause. • The Immortal Meow" atillittltspemit, • Mr. MILLIta tips proposed The Health of Mr. Clifford I 1 which being drank with the utniost enthusiasm, :(' The CUAIRMAZI. ruse, and After the plan.: &be y which continua,. antne.minutes, hid ceased,: tuldressed the Company to the . following effect : G2STLlttils,-1 reforn . you -Most sincerely my **aka for the honour .yon hare e2nferred on me,. by placing me in .this sltsition, and for the very kind manner io w hich • I. have. been treated.. .1 consider it as somewhat nnfortunate for -etc, that it is customary, *lien the health' of the Chair. 'men is drank, that hi:FliOuT.l say something more than what would occur in merel y returning thanks; .and mors especially ' when hell - as, in any manner, been personally connected with the cir cumstances that have ocCasioned this . Meeting. It is also unfortunate, as I am desirous of burying in oblivion every wan:scalars that has taken place, during,the late dispute ; and I beg leaveio anal* ' every Gentlemiti present, that 'I shall feel sincere .regret, if any expression which I may the y , cen, .by say mhrepretentetien, ,be tOrtnred,in.,such a manner as 'to twoduce as unpleasant readies:Simile Any ituferithtal *rho heirs me. Oentlente4 l them is it eiceuntattane• collisionl with ihnt of the mini! digitate, to .which,. I tenst . l may, however, ittiveirti •witfrottt liffehmrts7lll7logrgilirlWalter ! , iltet my 10 to be the Plaintiff in ite ! !aft.ctitil, w, of the trial of which all. inyintanialielina. ' . 'lt. 14 'cfrom the reports in the - Nmi*ipprab asitik at ,Sng. 14mini.ntylelf prestnotorfulls* ireettifelk• In 11 .-tinireports it is stated, that distalO‘neursu lolf the 6114 or after it was over; I difineefaintoar 444013fliurpithliciy said that 'I whichatisc 41. an infstriated mob,: Meeting lii isieStc•nrir property, re destroy the GeVeretnerfti`to subvert the Constitution, and to overthrow thelifonarc:hy. (dere there ware lend Crit:s from every port of the room of No y so I- so such thing q ' Snits, G . *omen, Is - what is. stated in the .reports of that . tritlLln'the Newspapers to have hien said. Gen. demen t I recollect full well, theta/heti .. Colo Wardle hyrOoduced the charges against the, Dtik of York into the Meese of -r• Comes - ons i Ms. C:113. ; j ning aide asa of Ai* wiry Arta, but •tithstytl Tint ' 7 :this y ijact o( k . ‘ Meeting, is, however, connected In -a certain de. gree, Withevery Public Meeting. Gentlemen, 4 was greatq surprized on a recent trial for con. :piracy, in the Court of King's Bench (th e ' Wright. and Mrs. Clarke), to hear the Attorney. 'Generel accuse the Counsel for the Preseention of the heieuus offence of aspiring topopuldrits --b it ; Gentlemen, f was stilt more greatly surprised to hear the learned Gcnleman, to whom that crimewla imputed . , smarting under that imputation,-avow . that he did not desire popularity, he dill not s a sk i it, he knew that it bad been obtainedby 'mail' without merit, and that it was frequently with. - drawn with es little justice as it had been confers t eL 'that many have acquired popularity without, merit is a truth with which we are 111 U , ile.' quaiutcd. But that the well.eeteed eav ol it gl i . the people is ever withdrawn without reastis o l is a position which I positively deny—for' it is .what I have neteryet known. [Great applause] Gentlemen, 'this is a very convenient doctrine for corruption, a n ti it has become's° common and so trite an observation, that many people really do believe It.". , They take upon credit an assertion which they have never thought. worthy of exansinatieu.. But it is founded on the Sophism, of - popularity; *being evtineeted'With the indipidual, instead of its being attached to the principles maintained and aitp.. ported 'by such individual. [ltratm, brood!) Gentlemen, let any; man give use an instances if , he can, of . an individual, who, having justly ae. i quired popularity, and obtained the appleise his ctuntrymcn, by his public conduct, end consistent adherence to the interest of ow, people—who ever lust that popularity which hell been conferred upon kite. I say, Geetteeke n4 ' there It no instance in which popular approbaftett , and applause have ever been withdrawn from ;our, ::man, who steadily and indepeudently has ilerseveccil ii . that uniform career of public conduct, whi c h had for its object the wel fare and ,interest of the public.—[Never ! stewed frets: approbeiti.m.) - But,' Gentlemen, when men, having . gained pe, 'pularity, are found by the public to have been pro. .fessingand talking only about principles ; and that the people have but been made use of as the mere 'leddet, the stalking Mario, tocupidity and ambi, 'dun; groates was' that ) approbation, in the MS instance, still greater' has unite:filly been their cgs, tempt nfindiviiloals so completelydespicable. fAitul approbaliou].—Gentlumen,itls mighty cenvealeat fur these corrupt apostates to talk of the Ackleasst of popular applause, but if we examine into the us., .. titre of these caMplaints ' it will be found gtestlieg resalable the feelings of a landsman going to stl 4 l I When the vessel first begins to most, lisp Aciall i . the cattle, the houses, and the there, all see m . rder ceding from him, uncoupcieus as he is of she WI. Lion by which ho is impelled, eed believiik I himself to be stationary, Exactly of this natio* 1 is the delusion of the political apostate.. -of the: .: man who deserts the cause 9f the pimple' for Ohl corrupt allerements of the I'r:eatery, end aI. itk • CiPlgion in the leerier' of Gorerineent, 'fifth e non either Necker, or:pretands to fancy, ...iliac he. himielf remains precisely its he was, stetionary in interests and in plifieip7et..:while the peeple tips deserted him. - But, (death:men, ' that man ksitict .left you, endeavours by-this 'convenient _doctrine. of the is k knees of impala! applause, to IP ita veil, over your eyes, by imputing to you, that cheep, which has been experienced only by himself.: [Loud applause.] Gentlemen, whether it be. right or wroeg, this is my idea Of popularity, which, although it is a subject not mistletod olik that of this Meeting, I have, nevertheless, frog the, ,very atiatige doctrine that his hietv 'OOOopeceil, i thought it a convenient' opportunity •tie tottke... Gentlemen,- I - have already detained . pot lirgeri then is your' consistent with pottage% t,i stit. :74peit ability, feeling, ai l do, the waft of , bia, a recent indispo sit ion ; and I will r bsiesidirose 'a' .whiii remains itef me to *say: In *terittng yc4 thy thenksitir the expressions of approbation with, which yew hail lionyuredme, I cannot refrain from, a:protein' to you, skit the part which j have taken, in tile transactions which give rise to this Meeting, Mill, to the last hour of my life, be to me a source. yr pride sad consolation. Geattensen, I int 1 1 4 the honour of meeting yon in this room at s' pr , piad of disturbance and of great dissension - .4 rca; she Public and the Proprietors or tiro i t rof,,,c• Viarturit a Oran litilforiblitiei , ill, io common with every other person, *oaf ,deplored. For myself, I certainly /111 /L par some measure; brought forward enwilliug , and was induced reluctantly to t a k e the • —but, bring placed in that sitestion, I did 64 , 041 that could tenth to widen tae brash, tuft. le: extite disturbanee--so far from isaukag egret* ' in such. a eharacter, I, on the enotteil % V., thlt pleasure of believing, that my healable elfogts lama, contributed to restore peace and harnieltyletntec' the Public and the Proprietots efarleg.' ; .l. it Covent Garden. . Gentlemen, .1 onesim reedy, from thenbottom of my hearklforeketten• lion with which you have heave redinroied kW! to hate the honour of drinking iii lame t 1", • The applause dari n g thi s sp eec h led ' . a 4 vl I occasional interruptious, but th e leaseg.: . 14:Idiot/ Which tolloawal, when Mr. ato s eek,letalivis, • i was more detickd than any CR' blliTeitittOMP l r t, pubic. .. , . .. • . 1 , )(s i outliniast then relP, whciseeemc we JO": a Mr. DONNAS:, of thy r01it,0144. and _ have to colograiolkte Ab u coin pony an fDa accomplishment of the i greis trend; original ]elkie ct if their .tweeting, IL gave him ervet PAW Nro reflect en tin happy results of - Owner tail aii ". Ind he WO no le# pleased, .41 the auhtitit. al isement, ilia% se nosey individes:ts gat 44 4' 10 should hive crowded together for the P" f ' 'Celebrating i'hi 410'. feet; iliil e aclPl'd tbat . bt:glt effected. lilt tiust•A that so much litre. ♦ ......-,.•-• - ....i.gr•-- - wr•-• - •—if•• . 7-... 7. .wrigoiwv . ' P-••••r-- •.•-•••••k - r17.--.114 • • . ... . . • ~ ~.. .. ~ . •- • .1.7.- • • •t . • •• • :'..' 4.11...*".••• - •citt'f- - --4•` , .-...,ii.• -•---..; t :.., - 1.0 , 4 464 , , -,...:- ~..,., . . ! ~ . . ~•-. , . • ''' " ES M Alf.* ; • . _ .. . ... . _ . ----..111.......... • I 1014• Vl' li, r es wrowe . rnatent, nor is it necessary for its interests rimy donsong, illich on atett......(Thwee.i—g a sk i . rime bead - Itted,. that it should. To drop, therefore, the false fami i -Oluot idfach iomewhere. Let it attach the the construction term of representative, and all the errors which w.h.rek wabeat 4t; And let it shine not as a brill. Sods. a malice it is calculated. to produce, and to.apaak in.the )lint and luminous planet; but as a dim sad morialists.to such true langstageof the Civil and Militifty ' . as... pile *ale, around the , livery head of hi s - w ag ittellaga:That tle (inn of these Provinces, the Prraidaillin s uoiii,i, JIMA utter such 11-,calUnsity.— [Mr. Cliff or 4 til; troy cons i tuct i on w h o ca a s sit il t v a the m ite military •as - o l eo : - Civil wet here interrupted by an unilatsal burst o liper, sidled, 'us Government atf the Country, is charged* ei approbation, which continued several nan o r es . re Of a powerful hand , with the dety.of regulating the for I have but one more observation to make licit expression of the public goad, and, on -the ottegimilladlion, it is on the subject of popularity, which, tboug • .fully and astir, of providing . thir for the interests of . iii. army nut imediatcly connected with tee object u( (hi t :•!..11 alvprilify. is_ however_ ennneetetl In •a r.... 4.:. A- •my, in diatio,st from ning seek *lds 411 * vary trod, but certahtly Which f general Aortic"; of Go. wbry o*Ni* eitiOseionv-P" Thoti die vas mor min Chiefoaa4Ateau &smilers 0 other; itse• attsekedi• .--.. Aestd.iii, delegate,' astt l fsc • the; ifiteeb somewhere --- fit must • fell eit*! , . ilms 'A Go is MC 1 . characiar t ,ths • amused er o ili .44 occusei." ..' Now, . -- ed was a the Eastlrtadia,- . ttemen, I hay:9ll4 honour of your art 4, beggad I tation. He is Abe get' —1 byre evel.tffe Aihority -of She. Preprielfroit eiesionpii m Civil, es heisfal the and &tanagers ofAlisi Theatoe—and, what is still at their Tatty, nud will% *liege- more s rfiase do •iiitlrrity . or• thilupde vuic i , to retiee popalatiuu t Eurlean. ~146% tie, grknfor twOla: Laiirri /41-tiojuitify 'ag, Anfil s subject tu-tbr netii- me-inibilieving, that iirfatity dues not attadion my adverthe .13ekt the army . brie no *conduct in these transactions—[P/et no! Itinoera. mind she able, c'aim upon the -81e,'indep'eldent !]qctittegorn,'; lave the soon, au. iiiiie, o'l iii Chid' as * sembcc thurity of the public voice tut asiciting, that in. .aimi Itmt _