The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-05-25 00:00:00

- - ~• ~' TRIG fpff OF WRSTMINSTER ANd PCIRITY OF gLECTION. h. Fifth Annixersary of Sir Francis .fittedetrs morn to (nr ;tbe City of : Weittnlnster, was celebrated on Saturday, at the Crown and . An chor Tavern, Sir Fonds Bdrdett in the Chair; who, a little after five o'clock, entered the room, ac. companied by the lion. C. 11. Hutchinson, M. P . ; T. Blunt, Esq. of Statfordihire ; Fawkes, Eiq. of Fernley, Yorkshire; Mr. Alderman Wood, at *hen a body of nearly 500 independent Electors o f IVestminster sat clown, to an excellent dinuer.— immediately after the removal of the cloth, " The It gent...sad may be hear in mind the declaration of the Prime of lVales, ' that the Crown is held iu trust for the Wuebt of the Peoplee " was drunk with thre, and loud applause—Tune, " God save the King." Sir F. Btllti err then gave— l' The Memory of that tilt.. Patriot, who, for npwtsrds of Shy years, athte.tt.. , l the People , . Cause—Jota Horne Totike." tbree.)—tune, •• The Dead March. Mr. Sruscu, after a prefatory speech, in which he observed, that every person who heard him, must, from the present posture of affairs, feel greatly ap. • probensive for the fate of the country—but this he weald say, even if the worst happened, the inde pendent Electors of Westminster might very justly entertain this copsolation, that their hands were clean —that acme of the evils with which the country might be afflicted were chargeable to them. They had acted purely and virtuously,, in their choice of Sir Francis Burdett, and they had sliewn to others how they ought to act. lie concluded by giving— ,r Westminster's Pride, and England's Hope—Sir, beds flordett," which was drunk with three times three, and the most unbounded applause—Tune, " Britons strike home." Sir F. BCRDETT immediately rose, and said he should be insensible indeed to any of those common feelings which necessarily operated on the human breast, if ha did not feel, in the strongest degree, gratitude towards the electors of Westminster, and devotion to their and the public interest for those genuine marks of affection and esteem, which he had so uniformly received from the public at large.— They formed an additional stimulus for his adherence to that principle of public duty, which had secured him a reward, that, after the gratification of his own-, mind, after the feelings of his own heart, was the Most pleasing return which could be made to him for his exertions—he meant the approbation of the eke. I tors of Westminster.—[Bear!]—Calamitous as was the situation of the country, he conceived little satis faction could be derived from reflecting on public affairs. But he confessed he felt very great satisfac tion in having an opportunity of addressing so re. spectable, so numerous, and so enlightened a body of his Constituents; those sentiments, which, un fashionable as they appeared to be in many other places, where one should suppose they would be re ceived with congenial feelings, he did experience much gratification in avowing, before an assembly, where public virtue, public feeling, and the consi deration of public duty, were not extinguished— [Hear, hear!]—lt was often his lot, in the per formance of his duty to address number of. Gen. timer, whose feelings appeared to be of a very differeot description. Paying the electors of West.. Minster this Compliment, if, indeed, if could be at all so considered, he begged leave to observe, that it was a very ihdifferent one; and, therefore, they mast place it on the ground of his not having been in the habit of addressing assemblies in a compli mentary way. Such, however, as it was , he trust ed they would receive it as it was intended .--[ Heat', hat!]—Without certain great public Measures, he observed, that the old sham miserable pretence of be nefiting the Public, by any change in Administra tion, would be found illusory. New, the measure he proposed, and on which he would stand, was this— that no Administration should be formed, except on the principle of redressing the grievances of the pub lic ; of cutting off and stopping the profligate expen diture of the public money (for instance, the paying of unmerited pensions, and the granting of sinecure places to worthless individuals); that no Administra tion should be tolerated that did not proceed on the broad basis of univerdsl rights, that would not oppose the rights of the Constitution being withheld from descriptioo of persons, on account of religious opi nions—together with this principle, which could only secure the continuance of the benefits he lad men tioned, or. of any ethers which an Administration might bestow on the country, " a full and fair Re presentation of the peoplein Parliament,'"—[flearl —.to which he thought they were as well entitled as the King was to the Crown. It was part of the com pact, it was part of the original agreement when the Monarch ascended the Throne—and the people had as full and completes right to It as any individual had a right to his private estate ; and in one point of view, the claim might be considered more powerful, be cause it was most essentially connected with the happi. mess and prosperity of the country. By the recogni tion of that right alone could be supported the boasts which they were so fond of making, sometimes, he believed, without much consideration, that this was a free and independent nation. It was not for him, at that time, and before so enlightened an assembly as he addressed, to trace back and chew that, which was as plain and clear as the day-light, that the freedom of this country depends upon a pare ad ministration of the Constitution. It had been the fashion to talk of the present as the period in which constitutional privileges were most attended to; but, the more they went back i n t o th e hi s t or y of the Con. atitction, tg its primitive tinves and transactions, the'' more Is ttiey be impressed with the idea o f ? the r ate of freedom enjoyed by their ancestors.— iNear .9 They were so jealoes of that freedom,' that they appointed to most of the great offices in the country. These rights, however, had either been ' taken away by. violence, or had' been juggled from them by trickery or corruption—and the only popu lar right which was left, was tjiat of chasing their own representatives in Parliament.. Ile had always be lieved and maintained, that. the great .constitutional bulwark of a Parliament fairly chosen by the people at . large, was slot more necessary to ,the dee administra tion of the laws -t lie safety of the conetry, and these_ entity of themeople hi general, than codduclvd to the greatness andpermaiiency of the Throne. To Was! grate Ibis tiolut a little, he would just gall their recta. - 'rIIE STATESMA% lection to the transactions which had. lately occurred. They were told in the daily Papers, that the Admini- I titration was put au end to; and that the King had sent to my LordThis,and Mr. Such-a.ene, to form a new one. Now, those persons to. wham he was obliged to ' apply, are,, or suppose they will be, able to Immo so • much Parliamentary . influence (that is, t o .comman d so many votes from rotteu boroughs) as would en, Ole an honest King, and an honest .Minister, to . carry on the Government of the Count t y. [L ou d laughter.] It appeared to him that the Kin was degraded by such a proceeding as this. In point of i fact / he was not the ping —there was t Sovereign over him, whose will he was obliged to comply witYs and to whativ-he was obliged to sacrifice (that might be'allowed to eo oil at all with his Govern meat) the best interest of his people. [Hear, hear, hea;•!] For his own part, he should call the act of the Sovereign, in thus sending to such or such , persons to form an Administration, a periodical ' abdication of the Government by the King. [Loud cheering.] The great object which .he ever bad in anew, was to endeavour to bind together the kn.. tenets of the Kiog and the People; that they should be strong enough, united, to put down that bo rough faction, which, he again asserted, st o od as' Sovereign over both—to cuff down those orols gad unclean birds that impudently seat themselves, cheek by joul, on the same chair with Royalty.l [Great app.'ause.] In following this course, though, he was well aware he was not likely to obtain the applause of that description of persons who .usually surrounded a King, and for their own pri 'rete purposes (and, gene-ally to their own ruin)! 'misguided and mislead hitt—but he had this consols don in hii mind, that he was doing that whiekevery honest subject would do for his King—he was sup ; porting his interests as much as those of the people at large. Sir Francis then, in an animated strain of eloquenCe; called on the Country Gentlemen to ootwe forward, observing, howeier, that if they did not 'chase to show themselves the advocates of their own and their country's rights, he.had no doubt but thg people, determined to be free, would act for them. selves, and become their own leaders. Plausel-rr.Tlitsteopd bmdi a • ini conatitutien was the House of Lo rds, who - komposed a mini power. I ful,barrier between the King, and the ylVeopl. They were intestea .With their peculiar privileges, which 1 constitutionally . exert. ised, enabled them to protect and, support the Tifisine 4 and resist the undue en croachments,of the, people. The third branch was • the House of Commons, who ought to be the free and independent Represenlatives of the People, geic. I press their wishes, promote every Measure tending 1 to their adyantage, and resist every attempt of the i other two branches to diminish the just rights and in terests of the people. [area/ applausesl Such was the Constitution of our forefathers; and he left it to every person present to consider how far it continued • at present in its original purity.-.-1 `IA laugh.] In his opinion, 'the Constitution hail • been most unjustifiably altered, to the disadvantage of the people. So far back as the yeAr Int, a re. ' spectable meeting of Freeholders, held at York; ' complained of the pernicious innovation which took place in the reign of ,Henri the Sixth; and conti- • nued by successive Monarchs, of empowering certain places to elect representatives who would favour the ' views of the Court, while oilier towns, which were increasing in population and opulence, were refused ' the right of representation; and ancient horoughs,which had fallen into decay, retained it, because they sub i mitted to the undue influence of dishonest Ministers. rAppionse.]—Such being the state of the represents_ , ; tion of the people, any Minister, however profli g ate lor pernicious his council might be to the country, i could always command a ready majority in a House of Commons so composed. This statement, which to i - some might appear exaggerated, was approved of, mil offered to be protect by a man of great talents and, eminence,though no violent Refo rm ist, he meant Mr. Pitt. —cd/ laugh.]—These were the gismt source* of oar national grievances, which were complain ed of thirty years ago; and as they had since rather increased than diminished, be hoped the people would never relax in their endeavours to remove them completely—[kplaese.T—lf they were not quickly and fully removed, our political dissolution must inevitably follow. Unless the free and uncon trocied right of election is restored, no rational hope can be entertained of the happiness and prosperity' at home, or of success abroad. A reform in the house of Commons had beenat all times his principal political object, because he thought that alone could tldireetually restore us the possession of our long lost 'liberties : While speaking of reform he wished the Company to understand that he meant no partial re ,form, but that reform, so ably insisted on by the Hon. Baronet. lie wished to see the present system en tirely eradicated. He used the word eradicated, be cause, until corruption was cut up root and branch, every remnant that would be left would again spring up and replunge the nation in those calamities it now deplored. ' 4 If," says the noble author of the Pa triot King, addressing himself to his countrymen, " liberty be the delicious and wholesome fruit upon which you are anxious to feed, the British Consti tution is the tree which hath borne this fruit, and will continue to bear it, upon certain conditions. It will furnish you with this alimend. If you on your , parts are careful to fence it in, and trench it round l against the beasts of the field, and the insects of the beasts earth :—the first, the beasts of the field, are the open t and avowed advocates of Prerogative ; the latter, like other insects, spring from dirt ; and the vilest of the animal kind, are the nibbling and poisouous agents of Corruption and Dependency." " The Navy—the Bulwark of a Free Nation." Sir FRANCIS, prc‘jous to giving the health of Lord Cochrane, stated, that illness prevented him from at tending. ' 44 Lord Cochrane, and his able exertions against Eugland'l• Vestige and Domestic Enemies." 44 The Army of England —and may it never be employe bet. against the Foreign Enemy." Sir F. BURDETT then read a letter from MrAtring r ,.: barn, apologizing for his absence, which was - oak. , sinned by indisposition. " Mr. Brougham, the able _opponent of the Orders in Couto The Honourable C. Hutchinson, and the Friends of Free dom la Mr. llvrcuissoit returned thanks in an energetic speech, in which he took occasion to contrast the growing interest which the people of this country take in the affairs of Ireland with their former apathy on the subject. The Band then played " Erin go Bragh," and 66 St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." The CuelastAst then gave, " The ladependost Livery of London, Friends to Parliamen tary Reform."—(With three.) No Gentleman hiving offered to speak when the last toast was drank, Sir F. BURDETT then proposed the health of Mr. Alderman Wood," _ The, twit toast was-- " The veteran Advocate of Parliamentary Reform—Major Cartwright." Major CARTWRIGHT returned thanks. " The Abolition of Flogging—May the Defenders of the Laud be relieved from the ignominy of the Lash." " The Liberty of the Press—lt is like the air we breathe, if we have it not, we die." " Representation without Rotten Boroughs, Soldiers without Barracks, Defence without Foreigners, ai Legal tut•aus of suppressing Riots without Military Executions." About ten o'clock Sir Francis Burdett left the Chair ; .the Company sheaved him every densonstra. tion o respect as he passel, and departed shortly after him. ^l ?AA OE Wlril TO THE EDITOR. OF TOE, fr iTrall.l:4l'. .S,a,---The following is an text:act :Try! a sp..“.ch made by , the Right lion. Giosuait 1 '0419 the D..bot.os upon the Orders in Council: " 4 1 6)44: 4 ' 4) to America amounted, in 1814, to . ttvc:ve of which not more than six millions were for Ame rica herself, the other half being for the . colt 'et dements; so. that if we could succeed in'opening the intercourse with America, all we could hope would be to raise the exports from two to six millions." When mee, in elevated situations, descend to such direct perversions of truth, for the purpose of car rying a party measure, no language can be too se vere, no censure too loud in their reprobation. The assertion is directly false, and, must have been,know n to be so,when made by Mr. Ro ,r ; from the docutnett , a now before the House. The actual consumption of British manufactures by the United States is tow twelve millions annually, instead of six millions. As to the export of six millions of British man. rtc. tures, in ; 1810, to South America an 4. the West Indies from the United States, it is wholly eithout foundation; not only the table ,of exptirts of the United States, btit the opening of all the Spanish and Portuguse Colonies, 'two years previous; toßri tish manufactures direct from England; i must strike any one with conviction, that it is untrue. It is hoped in the expected discussions, that if this asset , lion is again made, that it may be unequivocally de pied, and that the Right Honourable (;entleman sissy b to much put down, as to tell the truth. i Liverpool, May 2!. MEHCAroR. NAVAL IN7'ELLIGKNOR. PLYMOUTH, MAT 23. Sailed oo Thursday night the Romulus frigate, having under convoy five transports, with about /00 dragoons 'on board, for Lisbon. They consist of detachments to join several regi...t In Portugal. Arrived the Betsey, American schooner, from Marble-head, with Sib, bound to Bourdeanx, detained by the Abercrombie of 74 guns, in compiny with four other ships of the line; the ship Ana and Eliza, Pant 111• Carton, mute?, from Majorca, with wine, touched at tbil port for orders; the French schooner, La Jeanne, laden with salt, a prize to the Arrow schooner ; and the American schooner, Betsey, Thomas bodes, master, from Wil mington, with turpentine, &c. for this port. Sailed the Iris frigate to the a estward. Arrived the Orestes sloop of w ar front a cruise, Came dow.t out of harbour, pod anchored io Cawsaud Bay, his 711ajety's ship Conqufttatlor. of 71 runs. PORTSMOUTH, MAY /4. Arrived yesterday his Illajesty'svhipi Linnet and Mivletoe. Sailed his Alajeity's ships Asia and Parthia, on a cruise. DEAL, MAT 24. • • Came down from the River his Majesty's ski}, Chatham and Royalist. - Sailed the Egmont, for of Flashing j and his Majesty's ships Valiant and Cretan for of ditto. TORBAY, MAt 21. • Sailed his Majesty's ship Comet, with the transports, &c, for QaeLec, &c. FALMOUTH, MAT ti. Arrived the WalsiDgham packet from Lisbon, in 10 day,. Sailed the Rapid schooner, with a convoy In Ili casts% ay!. The following packets are expected to sail in the course of this night:—Adolphus, for Sucinars ; Towmetad , for the ErAzils ; and the Eliza for Cadiz. The Victory, Coats, from Cork, was boarded off the Land's Fad yesterday, by a French cutter privateecr, but suffered to proceed. THE MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE, MAY 25. This day the fresb arrivals of Wheat cots wiseanake a inkidliag supply. with several arrivals of foreign, upwards of 501) quar ters, which tends to the effect of henry salts, at rather lower prices than on Friday. Barley again very dell, at somewhat less; Nish and White Peas likewise; Beans, of each sort, like- Oise. There are comiderishle fresh arrivah of Oats, sales heavy hardly at last prices. Flour continues at late quotations. Wheat Eineditto l3O 1 4 13 Do. (Fine Old) .. 64 75 Rie - 76 82 ; Oats 46 50 56 Barley . • 5l 64 Yokuid do• ••••• ~ 51 58 Malt 94 ; Potatoe de. White PIO (hollers) ' 88 rape Seed 4irey do.' /A 78 Fine Flour Beans Amoag the Hintloos (a people tiypo means ferocious, but ta t Ilieessf mild and intarensive habits}, a slaocking practice has prevailed, during tilde biunernorial,..of mordering their (mimic infants as soon as they come into the world. The number of fe males, thassacrifinal, according to 'Weisman, in the provinces of Catch and Circe:at alone, was calculated in 1,807, at the lowest, to a:nitwit to :1030 &wally (according to another author, about 10.00 annually). The mother is generally the executioner, exept among worneu of rank, whose slaves or at tendants perform the horrid oilier. Several methods tur prac tised, one of which is, immediately after the birth of a female, they some opium itito its month. 'The destruction of sn tenderand helpless &subject, is effected without difficulty, wish , not a struggle. In defence or this iithantan act, these tribes al lege, that the education of daughters hcexpenslve, that it Is dif ficult (ultra/cure a suitable seuinnent for theta in marriage; that the preservatiou of female honour, is a charge of solicitude to a family ; and that when they want wives, it is more conveni ent to buy them, or solicit them from anothercast, than to breed 1 them themselves. This atrocity teas Airs& brought to light by the A NEW WAY TO COURTSOIP. — TA t e I y , at th e house benevolent and truly laudable exertions of some of our country- ' of a respectable farmer in the parish of Kirk Christ, men, who, although they pleaded in favour of humanity, their pleadings wereat first not only disregarded„ but received through a young enamoured Strephon, wishing to obtain a prejudice as an ;mutt; but the persevering character of Britons secret nocturnal interview with his fair Daphne, ac was not to be discouraged by obstacles t Colonel Walker did not desist from his humane purposes: he sought opportunities of flatly attempted to explore a passage through the informing the understandings of the potele, in respect to the , sooty stairs of a. chimney ; but, alas 1 Fortune nature ot thocrime; when he discovered i itwasgeherated hypride, proved inauspicious to his desires, for, owing to art avarice, and the alleged inferiority of woman; but by discussing the subject frequently in the Cut (Court of Justice) and . unexpected obstacle, he stuck fast in the middle.— ez posing the enormity of the practice as contrary to religion and In his efforts to extricate himself, he knocked down 1 sistare, every east, at length, came to express an abhorrence or Infanticide: and the obstinate priacipleo of the Jareja a large stone and such a quantity of sabl e dust, as to to be s b a k eo . What was the result ? In the coarse of 12 months, hi began • spoil two cents of cream placed near the fir e for churn. 'several of the Chiefsformally attjfired the practice of Infanticide, ing. His cries beingdistinctly heard, an instantaneous and were soon followed by the Jarejab Tribes in general ; shortly alarm pervaded the family , who imagined thatOid ick I after, in 1800, these Chiefs booed themselves , by a so lemn en N eaerfaret- to diseoolione the praclice. Aboo t the end of the intended paying them a visit, not by the astronomer's year 11109, many of the Jarejah fathers brought their infant 4 milky tarty,' but through thedark medium of a reeky I daughters to Colonel Walker's teat, and exhibited them with pride and fondne4; t h e w mothers and monies also attending nn eg flue! Th roansa nd cries of the incarcerated sufferer, ! this interesting occasion. The emotions of nature, here exhi- however, still continuing, a search was et length kited, wens extremely moving; the mothers placed their infants in the hands of Colonel Walker, calling on him to protect, ) made and the unfortunate swain discovered, half 'love rep.— art of what he alone had taught them to preserve. These infants they tomcatted, to his new fashioned '1 1 1 P emphatically called ail children.—A Jarejah Chief, by name the chimney wits obliged to be taken down for his re- Hettafee, who bad, contrary to_geiseral practise , preserved bis daughters, brought them to the British camp, to he sarsloated. lease, when poor itrephon, almo s t stifled with fear ''They were then six or eight years of age. but they wore tur- and coal vapour, presented a very weful and gro boos, lad were habited Tate boys, to avoid the taunts and re- • t ectu promises of the people !—Asi if afraid or ashamed to ackaow- spectacle. He has not since attempted the ledge their sex, they assured the English, .* that the; were not same road to courtship, the heat of his love having g irls," and with is motile simplicity, appealed to their father to beets sufficiently cooled by the failure of his first en corroborate their assertion. SO strong have been the prejudices, jerrice. 'the oceepier of the boos?, though he must i aid se great the mental debasement of this le, that if by , r salt sow. a f ema l e i n f ant mowed , few we a r ,. peop m u . ho b ee " . Incur the es pence of repairing the chimney, wilt thus =reproach to er east. .Aaotbrr practice of , avoid that of having it -swept ! on the darkest sapersptiou, is also noticed , : ced, .1 3 ,0 Etibm•—ibeee is at a farin-hoitse, pear the j that of , t children in cimu s, osuroce of vows, or to ap- , ` Holm : pesee'theirrath of their infernal deliiix ; ''by drowning them in Abbey Town, Coltram, a bird. of the duck Abe met Gimps! or exposing thew its slimiest lo China and some other parts, lafanticidg is coonte nanced b y • • er"°dit'". ac. species' that every other year (-boors Ps outward ,IlmSlGloverament, oa principles ot luta:bed policy, chit avoid*. : appeals . 'ante as to its sex, one year beak; feathered i.i Winn of famine, i a duck ) the other as a drake. SSITTFIFIELD MARKET.—MAY 22. TO sink the (mai n per stone of alb. • Reef ....51. 01. to 6. 0.1. I Head of Cattle this Any : Mutton ..51. 4:1. to 61. 44. Resists Veal ....74. 0.1. Co 6.. al. I Sheep . pork ....6s. 0/. to Is. Ott Calves .., Hs 8111 s Lamb O/. to Ss. 01. Pi fTet ...........,,,.. HAY-MARK 3 ''. hay Straw Clover which waii received by the company with rapture. Aklerman Woo') then rose, amidst the unqualified applause of the assembly, and in a moot feeling and I eloquent manner, expressed his gratitude for the high honeyr just done him. He said, he should have! 48444 sooner to return thanks for the Livery of Lon ; don, had he not seen several senior Members round him, some of whom he anxiously expected would have performed the grateful task. lie was proud of tho honour of being himself an elector of Westmin: ster, and hoped soon to see the shining example I shewn by them of the purity of election followed up by the Independent Livery of London. [Great ap- I I picture.] Ever since he had been in a public situation,as ! ' far as his humble abilities would permit, he had with Unshaken zeal supported the cause of the • people ; and after the patriotic and enlightened speech deli vered from the Chair, it was unnecessary for him to intrude upon the time of the Meeting by offering his sentiments, which so reciprocally accorded with those virtuous feelings which the Hon. Baronet had so ably expressed. He should, therefore, conclade by re-1 questing they would accept of his sincere thanks for the distinguished marks of approbation which had been conferred upon himself and the Livery of Lon don, by so large and respectable* body of the free and iudependent Electors of Westminster.—[Reite rated applause.] Sir F. Buanur then proposed, " Mr. Fawkes, and the Hampden Club," which was drank shtth three. Mr. Falsities, in an eloquent speech, replete with bold and constitutional 'truths, addressed the com -1 patty. He begged' leave to return them his warmest thanks for the honour jest conferred upon himself + and the other Members of the Club to which he be-1 longed. .The natio) taken of him individually by so I I respectable a Meeting, imperiously called upon him to trespass a short time upon their indulgence in de ; daring his opinions upon public attain. Like the : worthy Baronet who filled the Chair, he for a long j time felt a. sincere and unaltered conviction, that a ' thorough change in the system of Government was absolutely necessary before any rational hope could be eutertained of benefit to the country from the ex- ertiods of any set of men, however good their inten- Itions. From attentive observation, and deliberate' reflection, he could conscientiously pronounce, that Itrot even an honest man could do good to his country . until what was rotten in the Statesheuld be previously and entirely removed.—[lpplause.)--Ml he wanted, ana they wanted, was a complete restoration of that Constitution which their forefathers framed, and uu der which they intended their descendants to live— that Constitution, so often, and so highly extolled in theory, but so strangely, perverted in practice.— ; [2l laugh.)---As he aliens understood the Bri, tish ConstrtutiOn was composed of three branches —first, the King, who was invested with powerfut authority .to 'protect. ,his own spleellour. sud dig nity, and the rights and interests of tho People, but the exercise or whose authority , was limited by positive Laws. --E Loud and riatorated ap- • , • omMil .-=~ , - -- • -,•.• • • .o ...~t I i.: ~l Z ` I:1