The Sun. — London, England, 1827-08-27 00:00:00

mug of all neat Lt few arter. ely at larley arter. irther e Go- Tbe lorth, ntain ttion, Saks. 105 MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM. 40 2383 7833 rery ri of 2d. Fri- s. d. 6 4 - 5 4 ally I of ow- s. d 48 0 47 0 40.0 47 0 48 0 40 0 41 0 30 0 27 0 ael Sir Ist ; On Friday last, a publimeeting of the inhabitants ti Birmingham took place, to address the King in lsrins of condolence on the,death of Mr. Canning. There were subscribed to the requisition no less than 125 names, amongst which we can confidently State were very many of the most opulent and re 4ectable of the inhabitants of Birmingham, of all ,parties. The High Bailiff immediately complied with the 'desir e of the requisition, by appointing a meeting to he held at the Public-office on Friday last. No sooner Was this known than a little band of the extreme • Tory faction, who have long been accustomed to carry every thing their own way at Birmingham, set t o o th v r er ork ,, t ‘ o ve d a e k fea in t v t e h n e t o io b n je s c ” t otfoth,evmhieeeh resortedytitnhge.Am Was the c i rcu l at i on o f anonymous l etters and ad resses. We obt a i ne d a copy o f one o f those corn ositions, whi c h we h ere i nsert. I ts scurr i l i ty will of fail t o exc i te i n our readers the came feelings of on gst isgust which it raised in the minds of most of those :the Public Offi ce . oeeNtvihno m to- i i t no .a r , r a o s w a d ( F d t r . i e d s a s y e ) .l , Sta---I beg to so li c it y our attendance at th e t own ' s The sectarians and liberals with whom, alone, this hum ag address to the King on Mr. Canning's death has ori inated, intend to carry it their own way, if they can. at the real Church and King party will be there to op ose them, and therefore I earnestly entreat you to be at :the meeting to vote with those truly loyal men, who are determine d not to suffer this hypocritical piece of imita tion -loyalty to go forth as the unanimous sentiment of the lovvn, on the death of a turn-coat apostate Tory. I again request your punctual attendance, and mind not poly to go yourself, but also send or take with you to the Meetin g all the friends you can muster, whose political %Pinions are the same as your own. Let this humbug Presbyterian loyalty be properly ex "sed• Relying on your co-operation, I remain your's, B' • l,rmingham, Aug. 23. TRUE BLUE. _hetrbeesutiltltras must have been deeply mortified at (erred of the meeting, from which it may be in erred that their power in this town is passed away .or ever. • The HIGH BAILIFF took the Chair at twelve , , . . clock, at which time the large room of the Public -0 ice was completely filled, and numbers of persons 'An were anxious to be present were unable to ob ain admission. Th e CHAIRMAN requested a fair and impartial iearing for every person who might address the Assembly. il M zie r t . y T , annEDs sorrow,' w P , it . iceEi their said, excellent v business h had he i. meeting appeared to him to lie within a very arrow date compass, ?Proved of all the measures lie had adopted since experienced. and H th i e s re m fo a r j e es h t e s, s w h a o s uld th n e o p t o f l e i e ti l ca i l t ecessary to occupy much of their attention. All ho were present must be aware how much trouble, o ther of his people, and it was their duty to con °le with, him on account of the difficuties he had / Perienced, and at the same time to assure him, if e Might use so familiar a phrase, that they highly .le illness of the Earl of Liverpool. To condole G t o h d e e d ii ecease of Mr. Canning i a s one object of the presenethmbeyettinhgesexapnrdesasnicortiheorf Ras‘7til tohissupAploajretsLtyorodn ~," Public opinion in his favour. The Hon. Gentle ;_'!ll concluded with moving, amidst applause, the Mowing resolution :...._ ~,:` 7hat an Address be presented to his Majesty, humbly iiioilmg him of our loy a l an d d evote d attac h ment to hi s aJZY'ts person and Government." tm...r. TI MOTHY SMITH felt sinc ere pl easure i n se _n )° ulng the resolution submitted to so'numerous and espectable a meeting. Whoever had observed he % ,_ C onduct of his Majesty in the trying situation in v le " hg had recently been placed, could not fail to C e r i e v ea thatnd' a a p n p y l aud potentateit . could sssis h b a e rd p l l y ac p e o d ss i i n bl a e stio t; a ly t e i °: of friends, n d a e n d d bdyis jarring tress. elements, Bereft of '', Ministe gr rs deserted by those who called them emvoesrt e t x n i s s g t e e n d e , r w et as tS, s i e t lfi eas sh y ,a t n o d i r m an a - .. ' 16: :r : assailedu 1 afaction I y o t n ht a ka r te ch could be placed in a more em ,, a rt . . t o s B sing situation ?—(Applause.)—He begged to : ree t an expression which had fallen from him in the attacks of faction would apply more proper l y respect , attacks Majesty's Governnient than'to his own Royal ;Non, In the situation in which his Majesty was . • 'heed, however, how did he conduct himself? midst all the difficulties which surrounded him ', steered an equable and majestic co urse . • iS Majesty, watchful of the spirit of the 'toes, and the progress of the human mind, se eted for his Minister the man whose abilities best 'tialified him to fill that exalted station. It was his 4 1'. Smith's) opinion, that Mr. Canning was peen l'i), fitted for the station which his Majesty called Pon him to occupy, by his sound judgment, the ikprebensisress of his mind, and the decision of 4;1! ch aracter.—(Applause.) That illustrious states ni e : 11 was now no more, but his memory wou ld b e I ;'halmecl in the h earts o f hi s f am il y an d f r i ends, and ,4' e -. gratitude of his country would render his name Perish able.—(Cheers.) The conduct of his Ma t?' was above a ll p ra i se .—(Ch eers .) H e h a d t , ll, ,ed himself a fit monarch to rule over a free iplc, and that he possessed all the qualities which l 'l i! er eed hi s station. U nder these circumstances, he ' I,l,9,i'ght the p resen t w a s a ti me pecu li ar l y appro „.• 1 11 14 te for addressing his Majesty in th e wa y proposed: • " eye of th e c ountry was upon th e i r procee di ngs; .11 ' i l ' l ' l l the examp l e t h ey wou ld set wou l d b e spee dil y i le '"wed. There would then be exhibit e d the gr ea t ~, , t t QCle of the King, the Parliament, and the people I s,: n g in unison.—(Applause.) Every one must e obs erve d t h e generous sympat h y w hi c h t h e 4 th of Mr. Canning had called forth. That ex tizoession of feeling was not confined to this country 1404 e, but extended over the whole of the civilized j oii rl d• It was impossible to look into a foreig n A teal without beholding some tribute offered to flte worth of th e d eparte d S tatesman . Th us , th oug h ,fA,''gland was th e centre o f M r. C ann i ng ' s g l ory , i t t ° ,,uld be recor d ed of him that he had illuminated ilo urparts o f t h e world with his liberal views. His h ey was not of an exclusive or a confined nature, t embraced the happiness of civilized man where ter he might be f ound.—(Cheers.) If Mr. Can 'rig had not done all that was desirable, he at list had done all that was possible. By hi s death, he King had l os t a faithful and illustrious statesman, it tu n l, the people a Mi n i ster w h ose unceasing wish 4 endeavou r it was to promote the welfare of his ) tr.—Cheers.) .4: 1111n • e res y oluti ( on He concluded by secon di ng . The resolution was then put, and carried unani niously. • ,Tho Rev. R. KRRNimy (of the Established ',‘-,hurch) said, that he had been requested to move le following resolution : , - " " That his Majesty be humbly requested graciously to toiieeive our dutiful condolence on the lameuted decease of 'e lat e First Lord Commissioner of his Majesty's h is >t4 the Right Hon. George Ganoino-, in Whom hi; 7,[ljesty has lost a faithful, able, and zealous Minister, and 'e British empire a wise and patriotic States man. The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded t o say, that ~finking of M r. Cann i ng as h e (M r . Kennedy) did, " - believing, as he did, that if it were possible t o L i s eertain th e sent i men ts of all unprejudic e d persons tra• oughout the empire, who were capable of thinking i 'Pon the subject, those of a large majority would be s°,lin,,d. to correspond with his own, — believing ons ~,,ul 4l, that the wisdom of our gracious Mon arc h ' his paternal solicitude for the good of his People tee re never more conspicuous than in the act which Placed Air. Canning at the head of his Councils, he (Mist be strangely inconsistent, he must greatly fall hi low his own sense of duty, if he did not express satisfaction at t h e present M eet i ng , if h e did not W,ice that Birmin g h am was one o f t h e fi rs t place s ,Ziell bad adopted such a measure, and if he did not raestly hope that the example would be followed ( n A t i the chief towns of the united kingdom.— . e, rtraUSe.)—But it would be said, however, i l f is ii only ageneral statement of what you think its ' 4 l. * Canning. Come to particulars, lied show I -what respect be deserves the gratitude of his ountty • i ? and why he was fit to be placed at the head of her affairs." This demand he would endeavour to meet; but before he claimed for Mr. Canning the praise that was due to him, he would just pre mise, that - a - part of that praise was reflected upon Lord Liverpool, of whom Mr. Canning was the chosen coadjutor, and for whom on many accounts he entertained the highest respect. He hoped to be allowed, then, first to speak a word or two of Mr. Canning's principles, for those were the fountains from which actions proceeded, and from which we estimate the character of a moral or political agent. He began with mentioning his principles, chiefly to obviate the jealousy which different parties in the State had harboured against Mr. Canning, in regard to some of the objects of his policy. While he approved of the tenour of Mr. Canning's. political life in its later stage, lie .was not one of those who agreed with all the opinions he advanced, and all the measures he advocated, in its earlier periods, though he did coincide with the general principles on which Mr. Canning's opinions were founded. They were the principles of a man who was a friend to the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of his country, — of a man, who had sound, correct, and safe views of her constitution in all its parts, the monarchical, the aristocratical, and the democratical,—who wished each of them to be maintained entire, unshackled, and unimpeded in their respective spheres, of opera tion,—of a man who was decidedly hostile to jaco binical licentiousness, but the lover of a rational, legal, and well-regulated liberty; and who hated the former, because he justly deemed it the worst and most baneful enemy of the latter.—(Cheers.)—The sentiments of Mr. Canning on these points were beautifully developed in a speech delivered at Liver pool in 1820, in which, as on other occasions, he showed himself scrupulously fearful of any sweeping plan ofreform in the House of Commons, as endanger ing the safety of the monarchy, which he rightly con sidered to be the root and the trunk of that system of government under the protecting and benignant shade of which it was our happiness to live.--(Applause.) He made this last remark, in order to convince one des'cription of men, that in advocating so zealously, as Mr. Canning did, the Catholic claims, he had in view not merely the welfare of Ireland, but the pre servation of the unity of the empire—(Cheers)—the preservation of the Protestant Throne and the Pro - - testant Establishment; and that in this he only agreed with his great friend and patron, Mr. Pitt, and with all the men most distinguished for enlarged and exalted minds who haVe acted a part in public life.—(Loud cheers)—He (Mr. Kennedy) would not give any opinion of his own on this subject, ex cept to observe, that the majority of moderate and dispassionate men appear more and more inclined to think, that there will be either no safety or quiet to the kingdom, until some plan is devised (if that ever can be done) by which the reasonable claims of the Ca tholics might be conceded, with such safeguards as would allay the existing apprehensions of the Pro testants. What Mr. Canning supposed to be the truth, and the whole truth, on this momentous ques tion, it was his duty to declare to his master and to Parliament; but it was very certain, that as a man of honour, he would rigidly have abided by the ; pledge he had given, not to make it a Cabinet ques tion, but to leave it to its unbiassed effect on the public mind. He had thus endeavoured to shew to one clasp of men, that Mr. Canning, by principle, was not a speculative theorist, but a sober, wary, practical statesman. He would now state to ano ther descripticni of men, that Mr. Canning was, at the same time, and might very consistently be, the advocate and supporter of liberal sentiments, and that, in connexion with a few other men like him self, he did great good by modifying the features of former administrations, in which he bore a part, as be adapted their policy to the pro gress Of opinion and the increasing illuminations which science, experience, and events were throwing around him.—(Applause.)—He should at pre sent only advert to the principle of free trade, which Mr. Canning's colleagues and himself bad to a great extent encouraged, and the ad vantages of which were, he believed, beginning mere and more to be felt. Above all, consider not only what new marts and what new sources of trade he opened in the New South American States, but, by their means, from what a mortifying situation to what a glorious and exalted one be raised Great Britain I He did not call these states into existence ! If the copy of his speech which he (Mr. Kennedy) had just read were correct, he never asserted that he (lid. Under God, they did that for themselves. But while they were struggling for existence, he prevented them from being crushed by a meditated confederacy at the instigation of the Holy Alliance.—(Cheers.)—ln the name. of his country be declared, that no European power would be allowed to move against the Spanish colonies, except Spain herself. The consequence was, they dared not move a step, and the new States were established. In this way he avenged the insult offered to England by the members of that same Alliance, when they virtually said to her, " Not withstanding the treasure you have spent, the blood you have shed, and the glory you have acquired, you shall have no more influence in Europe except at our pleasure"—(Cheers)—and when they enforced this language by causing France, in opposition to the declared wishes of England, to take military pos session of Spain, it was then that Mr. Canning placed Great Britain in a commanding attitude be tween Europe and another hemisphere. " It was then that he called in the New World (for that is she corrected expression) to redress the balance of the Old!" It was a prompt and decisive act of policy, worthy of Lord Chatham, whom Mr. Can ning resembled in many points, and whom (if cir cumstances had required it), he would more especially have resembled, 7iin his pre-eminent character as a War Minister. —(Applause.)— He might allude to what under Mi. Canning's auspices (but not before) had begun to be done for Greece, what the Noble Lord who has succeeded him as Foreign Secretary, and than whorl no other man was more qualified to succeed him, Would no doubt be instrumental, if possible, in accomplishing. He would only touch on two more topics. To prove that Mr. Canning's Administration would not have been one .of mere temporary expedients and fair ap pearances, they had only to observe that he no sooner entered upon it than he began immediately to grapple with the difficulties under which the na tion laboured. In addition to his Bill on the Corn Laws, believing the interest of our enormous national debt to be one of those difficulties, he projected, as we were assured, by a scheme of economy, the re duction of one million in the national expenditure; and he pledged himself to bring forward in the next Session of Parliament a Committee of Finance, in order to show, in that disguise, the real situation of 'the country.—(Applause.)—He mentioned, as the last claim of Mr. Canning to public gratitude, the Ministry which he contributed to form, and that which, as it appeared, he would have caused to suc ceed him. He (Mr. Kennedy) intended not The shadow of disrespect to those members of the former Administration who had seceded; but while he deeply regretted that the country had no longer the services of one or two of them, he had only to say that the secession of all of those Ministers was their ow n act and deed. What, then, did Mr. Canning at this crisis.? Ile took down the partition -wall between Whig and Tory. He acted upon the prin ciple avowed by his Majesty when he came to . the serve, Regency, who w inviting to the aid of his codntry, without party predilection, all who were qualified and in clined to ser wio might differ on minor points, but were agreed in their main object. He formed a phalan x of the ablest and worthiest men, at a time when in the ey es of done for her face of things, inte grity her leader s t he those who look beyond the sur face e country needed all that could be combination of talent and inte atniii unanimity in the people.-- (Cheers.)—He ha-d was a sound friend to the Nl C ' stated principle s and his us shown from Mr. Canning ' s ell-known actions, that he , r o o nstitution, a liberal and enlightened Statesman nister, an honest and arcrentinkttriot.ad energetic Mi nister, of these characters. It' was the h gave to his eloquence its greatest charm, for elocluer g ic e was al ways niost,interesting when it reflected the mind , from which it emanated; and it certainly was then only valuable when it was made the instrument of wisdom and yirtue. In the hands of Mr. Canning how powerful was this instrument ! His eloquence partook, in greater or less degrees, of the oracular and truth-speaking manliness of Chatham, the dignity of Pitt, the force and ardour of Fox, the richness of Burke, the brilliancy of Sheridan, combined with a grace, a classical elegance, .a pointedness of wit, a playfulness and a fascination, peculiarly his own.— (Loud applause.)—lf he were alive he would re quire no one to speak for him. He would do that for himself, except where he chose to meet his ene mies with the silent magnanimity of. scorn. But his - lips were closed in death, and his countrymen were called up to speak for him, especially as there were many who spoke falsely and maliciously against him. If those who think of Mr. Canning as he thought of him did not come forward to do him jus tice, the very stones of the land they trod upon might be expected to cry out against them. The Rev. Gentleman concluded by moving the resolution which lie read at the commencement of his speech. The Rev. JOHN CORRIE (a Dissenting Minister) felt sincere pleasure in seconding the resolution which had been moved by his reverend friend., . Mr. BIRD felt considerable anxiety in presenting himself to the meeting, because he should feel it his duty to utter'sentiments which he was aware would not be agreeable to the majority of those present.--. He wished not to attack the memory of the dead, and would not have come forwardat all; had he net thought he perceived an intention on the part of those who had been instrumental in calling the meeting, not so much to offer a tribute of honour to the late Mr. Canning, as to give support to a Ministry with which, with some exceptions, he had neverat all been allied.—(A laugh.) He was likewise opposed to the professed object of the meeting, be cause he considered it an innovation in practice.— He had never heard of a meeting in Birmingham to address the King on the death of a minister, however able and virtuous. The Rev. Mr. Kennedy had bestowed on Lord Chatham the greatest praise by saying, that if Mr. Canning had lived, he would have equalled that nobleman. He would ask, whether any addregs had been carried up to the King on the death of Lord Chatham ? Was such a proceeding adopted on the death of Mr. Pitt or Mr. Fox ? When that great and good man Mr. Perceval fell by the hand of an assassin, did they address his Majesty ? (" Yes.") He could undertake to say that no address proceeded from the . town of Birmingham on that occasion, whatever might have been the case in other places. Under these circum stances, he was unwilling to establish a precedent of this nature, particularly when he saw the object of it was to set an example which might be followed' throughout the country, in order to keep the pre sent Administration in power. After expressing his satisfaction that Lord Lyndhurst was retained in the Ministry because he. was opposed to the Catholic claims, the Learned Gentleman alluded to the asser tion of Mr. Kennedy, that the ex-Ministers had de serted the King, and Mr. Canning had formed a new'Administration. It was, he said, as notorious as the sun at noon-day, that Mr. Canning did not form the Cabinet. It was formed by a great lumi nary in the law.—(Disapprobation.)—lt was Mr. Brougham, who left the law to become a Cabinet maker, that formed the Administration. Then why should it be said that the late Ministers deserted the Sovereign ? Knowing that. they could not agree with the Premier on the subject of the Catholic question, they felt themselves bound to retire from the Administration.—(A person in the crowd called out " A good thing they did," which excited a roar of laughter.)—ln consequence of this proceeding the country had been deprived of the services of Mr. Peel, a statesman whom it greatly respected, and in whom it placed unlimited confidence.--(Hear.)— He concluded by saying, that for the reasons which he had before assigned, he would move as an amend ment to the motion already submitted, r That this meeting do now adjourn." Mr. EDMONDS said he would second the amend ment, not because he approved of it (for he hoped it would be negatived), but because it should not be said that the motion fell to the ground for want of a seconder. Mr. RICHARD SPOONER deplored the loss of the illustrious deceased statesman as one of the greatest' calamities that had for a long time befallen the coun try. He hoped he should be excused for addressing a word of caution on the present occasion to the friends of civil and religious liberty. He entreated thein to wait patiently ; if they did not press the present Mi nisters to proceed too hastily, their cause must suc ceed. It would be carried, not by conipulsion, nor artifice, but through the conviction of the majority of the people of its necessity. If, • however, they presSed forward too eagerly to obtain their object, the recoil would be upon themselves.—(Applause.)— His Learned Friend had said, that the recent Admi nistration was not formed by Mr. Canning, but by a great luminary of the law. 'He imagined it must be the natural partiality of bis Learned Friend for his own profesSion which caused him to attribute_to the eminent individual alluded to the whole merit of having formed the Administration. At the same time he should not feel the less inclined to place con fidence in an Administration of which Mr. Brougham approied, or of which he even fanned a part. He Concurred with his Learned Friend in thinking that the retirement of Mr. Peel was a great loss to the country. He lamented exceedingly that the address recently carried up to that 'Right Honourable Gentleman from* Birmingham had not been pro posed at an open meeting like the present.— (Hear.)—Those who suggested the address to the King on the death of - Mr. Canning were not afraid of having the propriety of their pro ceedings' openly canvassed. The address to Mr. Peel purported to proceed from the magistrates, clergy, and inhabitants of Birmingham. Now seve ral of the magistrates had informed him that they had never seen it, and to none of them he believed was it Submitted in their magisterial character. That, he thought, was extremely improper. For his own part, he never would sign an address purporting to come from the magistrates of Birmingham, unless it were previously submitted to a general meeting of the magistracy, in order that if it contained any thing objectionable it might be altered.—(Hear.)— Heregretted that the address to Mr. Peel had not been publicly proposed, fcr he was sure it would receive the support of the majority of the people. His exer tions in the office of Secretary for the Home De partment bad been productive of great benefit to the country. Too 'much praise could not be given to his attempts to give something like form and 'cha racter to the statute law. He lamented that he differed from the Right Hon. Gentleman on the great question of Catholic Emancipation; but it was some consolation -to him to know, that the Right Hon. Gentleman on that point also differed from his great prototype Pitt, and Fox, and Burke, and Sheridan. Believing Mr. Peel to be an up right man, and that from his connections he would be always anxious to support the manufactnring interest, he thought the town of Birmingham had cause to regret that he no longer took a part in the councils of, the King.—(Hear, hear.)—ln conclu sion, the Hon. Gentleman expressed a hope that the address to the King would have some influence on the formation of the Ministry, and convince Mr. Canning's successors , .. that so long as th e y con ti nu ed to pursue hi s policy, they would receive the support of the country.—(Applause.) Mr. BIRD begged to state, in consequence of what had fallen from his Hon. Friend, that the address to Mr. Peel • received the signatures of four Magistrates of Birmingham. Mr. OSLER urged Mr. Bird to withdraw his amendment. It would be extremely inconsistent, after having agreed to a resolution declaring the propriety of voting an address to his Majesty, to se parate without doing so. Mr. T. PRICE also requested his Learned Friend to withdraw his amendment,in order that unanimity might be preserved. Mr. BIRD, however, said he would take the.sense of the Meeting upon it. The tunendinek wag Chen put, and negatived by an overwhelming majority, and the original resolu. tion was unanimously-agreedto. Mr. S. J. GALTON said, that conceiving the en lightened policy which had for some year's been pursued -by Government was mainly attributable to Mr. Canning, his death could not but be deplored as a great loss to the country. He hoped that the new Administration would be formed of the most moderate , men of both parties, to the exclusion equally of those whose antiquated prejudices made them the enemies of all reforms, and of those whose rash and inconsiderate attempts at improvement would- defeat the end they had in ,view. —(Cheers.) He then moved the following resolution : " That deeply sympathising with his Majesty in all the difficulties and anxieties which he has lately experienced, we greatly. acknowledge the wisdom and paternal care' dis played in the recent official appointments, by which his Majesty has given a confident assurance to his people of continuing the same just, liberal, and enlightened policy, which has lately directed the councils and exalted the cha racter of this country." Mr. GEORGE Nlcnous rose to second the re solution just read by Mr. S. J. Galton,—a duty that he felt the greatest pleasure in performing. He would yield to no man in admiration of Mr. Canning's transcendent talents, and in affectionate respect for his character and memory. If ever there was an honest man that man was George Canning.— He was too frank, open, uncompromising, to stoop to any thing mean or simulating. The greatest fault of his character was perhaps that of being too open, too ardent, too reckless of consequences; for from this cause ,proceeded many of the difficulties which he had to encounter in his late arduous struggle. Had he been less honest, he might have been longer !fired: A more timid or less ardent pilot might pos sibly have reached the haven less rapidly and majes tically, it is true, but with less hazard and a smaller expenditure of mind and means. Nearly all of what he had intended to say on this interesting subject had, however, been so ably, so admirably antici pated, in the brilliant speech delivered by the Rev. Mr. Kennedy, that he felt it would be almost an in sult to the meeting to attempt to recur to it. He thought the Rev. Gentleman's speech was one of the most eloquent, profound, and effective addresses that he had ever heard delivered on any occasion he felt the full scope and importance of his subject, and he graced it with a depth of colouring, a glow ing warmth of imagination, and with a power of ar- ' gument and illustration, that reminded him of the sublime efforts of the great man who was the object of his eulogy.—(Applause.)—One point, however, had hitherto been left unnoticed, on which he would beg to offer a few remarks. Mr. Canning had been assailed, vituperated, on the supposed sacrifice of principle, on the asserted " profligacy" of his conduct, in uniting himself with the Whigs. He (Mr. Nicholls) was prepared to show, by distinct reference t o every Ad m i n i strat i on formed in this country since the accession of Queen Anne, that there never was a strong, an able, Or an efficient administration, which was not formed'of such an union ; and the reason was obvious : with a party, the most violent generally obtain the ascen dancy, and a government constituted of such mate rials was necessarily violent and partial in its opera tions;' but in a combined or associated adMinistration, such as the one recently formed, and now happily continued, it was not so : here the more moderate and rational of each party Unite, to the exclusion of the more violent; each side. is influenced by a spirit of conciliation, and gives up a little; and a government is thus formed of all, and for all, and securing the confidence of all.—(Applause.)—Such had been, or rather such would have been, the result of Mr. Canning's' Administration, combining within itself elements so admirably adapted, men the most emi nent for sound sense and high and patriotic princi ple.—(Hear, hear.)—Yet it , Vt'lS for uniting with such men, with whom a series of circumstances had brought him into close approximation, that Mr. Can ning had been reviled and calumniated; as if the uniting himself with the Duke of Portland, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Dudley, and the Duke of Devonshire, could be disgraceful to any man— (applause)—men than whom England had not any more conspicuous for all the virtues that dignify, em bellish, and enlighten s6ciety. Of the Duke of Portland he might be permitted to speak, having resided 56.• veral years in his neighbourhood in Nottinghamshire, where he was loved, admired, and respected. Of Lord Dudley he need not speak there=he was their neighbour, and was so deserVedly popular among all ranks,—he was so well known as a man of ability and great acquirenient, that it was needless to speak further in his praise to this meeting, which was so well able to appreciate his character. Of my Lord Lansdowne, he would only remark, that if Lord Liverpool had been asked , who was the ablest man in the Upper House of Parliament, and the best fitted by his talents, character, and acquire ments, to guide the helm of State in that assembly, he would unhesitatingly have replied, that the Mar quis of Lansdowne was that man. Could Mr. Can ning be justly reproached, then; for uniting such men as these and his Grace of Devonshire, who inherits, as it were, by'hereditary descent, the public virtues of his race ?—for associating in his Government my Lord Goderich and Mr. Huskisson, to whom the na tion owes so much, and their debt to wliom was daily, hourly increasing ? Surely not : they must praise the measure, and revere the motive, now that the great author of the union, which promised so much of good to the country, was removed from them by the inscrutable decrees of Providence ! Yet it was consolatory to reflect under this heavy priva tion, that the machine so constituted for their be nefit was not destroyed—the mantle of its great author had fallen on it. His spirit would remain with it, and combine, vivify, strengthen, and confirm it, to the honour of their gracious Sovereign, and for the happiness and prosperity of , the country.— (Cheers.) Mr, OSLER moved that the word " lately" be substituted for the word " hitherto." His object was to - confine the approbation of the meeting to the policy introduced into the administration of public affairs by Mr. Canning. ' Mr. BIRD said, that if the amendment were agreed to, it would imply that his Majesty had not always displayed his_wisdom in the choice of his Ministers. A desultory conversation ensued upon this point. At length the amendment was agreed to; and the resolution 'so amended, passed unanimously. Mr. LAWRENCE (the Low Bailiff), after express ing, in a few words, his admiration of the policy of Mr. Canning, moved the following address : TO THE ICING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. Most Gracious Sovereign,—We, your Majesty's loyal subjects, the inhabitants of Birmingham and its vicinity, in public meeting assembled, humbly beg permission to approach your Majesty, with assurances of our devoted at• tacbment to your Majesty's person and Government. We also beg your Majesty's gracious permissiol humbly to otfor your dutif u l con d o l ence on t h e lamented decease of the late. First Lo r d C omm i ss i oner o f your Majesty's Trea sury, the Right Tion George Canning, by which afflict ing event your Majesty has been deprived of an able, zealous, and faithful Minister, and the Britisit,empire of a wise and patriotic statesman. Deeply regrettin g this unhappy event, and sympathising with your Majesty in all the difficulties and anxieties which your Majesty has lately experienced, we further be per mission humbly to express our grateful a,chnowledgments, for the wisdom and paternal care displayed by your Ma jesty in your Majesty's recent official appointments, which affords us the most confident assurance, that the same just, enlightened, and beneficent policy, will be continued by your Majesty's present Government, which has lately conduced so greatly .to your Majesty's honour, and so eminently benefitted your Majesty's dominions, and the whole civilized world. . .• _ We fervently pray that your Majesty may long reign 'over a free, loyal, and united people. He then moved—" That the Address now read be approved and . adopted : and that it b e s i gne d b y the High Bailiff, on behalf of this meeting." Mr. T. E. LEE seconded the motion. Mr. T. PRICE thought that the introduction of the word " lately" into the address, ma d e i t apply too exclusively to Mr. Canning's administration. He thought that the policy pursued by L or d Li verpoo l , which had carried us in . triumph thr oug h t h e l ate war, was likewise deserving of prmse, ide time fore moved that the word " hitherto be substituted for that of •" lately." - Mr. BIRD supported the amendment. Mr. JOSEPH PARKES entreated the meeting not to agree to the amendment. The amendment was then put and negatived, and the address was carried unanimously. The publication of the resolutions having been ordered, and thanks voted to the High Bailiff, the meeting dispersed. EXECUTION-(THIS DAY.) At eight o'clock this morning, the last sentence of the law was carried into effect in the front of Newgate, on Thomas Norton, 28 years of age, who was capitally con victed, at the last Old Bailey Sessions, of being a principal in the robbery and outrage committed on Mr. Fuller, sur geon, of Bethnal-green, for which three young men have previously been convicted. When first taken, he expressed his regret that he had so long evaded pursuit, adding, "If I had been nibbled at first, 'twould have been all over now." Since his conviction, he has prepared himself for the worst; but all along, and particularly since the war rant arrived for his execution, he has betrayed a hardihood and effrontery that did not forsake him till almost the last hour, he having, no longer since than yesterday afternoon, in answer to an observation from one of the turnkeys, told him to "go be —.” At a qu ar t e r before eight the Sheriffs arrived, and immediately proceeded to the Press ' room, where they were joined by Dr. Cotton, the Rev. ' Mr. Baker, and other gentlemen ; and, in a few seconds, Norton was ushered to the same apartment. On arriving at the door, he bowed respectfully. to all around, and ad vanced with a quick and firm step to the table on which lay the rope by which his arms were to be pinioned. While that part of the ceremony, was performing, he kept his eyes fixed on the ground, and did not utter a syllable. He was afterwards addressed by Dr. Cotton and Mr. Sheriff Win chester, to each of whom he gave very slight answers, ex pressing himself quite comfortable, and fully prepared. As the clock of St. Sepulchre commenced striking eight, the melancholy procession ascended in the usual way to the platform, the Rev. Ordinary reciting a portion of the burial service. On arriving at the steps leading to the drop, Norton paused an instant, and shook hands with those near him, after which he ascended the platform with a firm and easy step, and placed himself beneath the fatal beam.— While the executioner was performing the last sad office of adjusting the rope, Norton did not betray the slightest emo tion, and, when the preparations were all complete, begged that his neckerchief might be faitened over his eyes. This was accordingly done, and the fatal bolt being withdrawn, his eyes were closed en this world for ever. For two or three minutes his frame appeared slightly convulsed; after which no motion was perceptible. Comparatively speak ing, very few persons were present at this execution. SPORTING.-RECEIVED THIS DAY. TAUNTON RACES.—FRIDAT, Auo. 24. TYNTE, Esq., Steward: Mr. H. HATCHWELL, Clerk of the Course. The Ladies' Plate of 50 sovs. Heats, twice round. Mr. Trelawney's b. c. by Foxbury, 3 yrs 1 1 Dlr. Farquharson's b. f. by Wanderer, 3 yrs 2 .2 Mr. Chamber's Nimrod, 6 yrs Mr. F. G. Cooper's Black Buck, 3 yrs dr The Town Plate of '5O sovs. Heats, two miles and a distance. Mr. F. G. Cooper's Conquest, 5 yrs... 1 1 Mr. Farquharson's Presentiment, 6 yrs 2 dr Mr. Hardwick's Jericho, 5 yrs Mr. Sanford's Tripoli, aged Sweepstakes of 5 sovs. each, with 25 added from the Fund. Heats, twice round. Mr. White's Pavilion, aged Mr. Chamber's Nimrod, 6 yrs 2 2 .Mr. A. Baillie's Naughty Tommy, aged 3 3 . RACES Yarmouth Actg. 28 Stourbridge Bridgwater 2B Egham 2B Aberystwith 2B Ottery Aberdeen 29 Leominster 2D, Ashford 3O Warwick .ept. 4 Pontefract Morpeth 132dford . 5 IVestern Mee ting (A y r) 5 Tent erden '0 COME. Shrewsbury liept. IS Martock lB Breconsh ire l9 Tewkesbury 2O Osvrestry 24 Leicester 26 Carlisle Walsall I Lincoln 26 IGlamorganshlre aki Northern Meeting l6 Hartlepool (Durham) 27 Newmarket Ist October Oct. 1 Richmond 7 Wrexham 111 Dumfries 11 Chesterfield 12 Stafford 12 Penrith 12 Northallerton ItExeter ............. 14 Newmarket 17 Newmarket 17 Lichfield Boccie.; Abingdon Northampton Rotherham Isle of Thanet Tiverton t, Doncaster ........ ......., Glouce4ter CRICKET. A Match between Sussex and Kent; with Saunders given to the latter, was played at Seven Oaks Vine, on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday last, and decided in fa vour of Sussex, with four wickets to go down, as follows: KENT. SUSSEX. First Innings lOl First Innings 74 Second ditto lOO Second Innings l2B Total 2Oll Total 202 The'Return Illnteh is to be played on the 17th of September next, when Kent is to be allowed Searle, in addition to Saunders; two of the best hitters in England. On Thursday a match was played on Tichborne Down, near. Alresford, between eleven of Basingstoke and eleven of Alresford, which was decided in favour of Alresford, by 82 runs, as follows: BASINGSTOKE. Fiist Innings Seoond ditto S9 I Second ditto 5l A LILISSFORD. Total 2lO Total ' 128 The Return Match between Bagshot and Eton was played on Wednesday last, at Bagshot. Bagabot went in first, and fetched 31 runs ; Eton followed, and the :side was got out for four runs, the Bagshot leading them 26. Eton followed their innings, got but 30 runs, and declined any further contest. PORTSMOUTH REGATTA. The ceremony of presenting the Prizes took place last Thursday, when the Gold Cup of 1001. value was presented to the Earl of Belfast, that of 50L to Lord Listowell, and the Sil ve r Cup to C a pt a i n Di c k enson (f or Lieut. Brook ing). The silk flags were also presented to their respec tive winners, and the pecuniary rewards distributed, after which a vote thanks to Captain Dickenson, for his great exertions on the occasion of the Regatta, was carried with acclamation. THE, RING.—FIGHTS TO COME. Aug. 28.—Ned Savage and Kirkman, 10/. a side. 29.—Byrne and Avery, 501. a side (Glasgow). Sept. 3.—Edwards and Ekins, 101. a side. Oct. 9.—Dick Curtis and Teasdale, 1201. to 100/. Oct. 16.—Reuben Marten and Young Gas, 1001. a side. Oct. 23, —Young Dutch Sam and Bishop Sharp, 100/. _ _ e. - NEAT, AND a B og d r weiNxe. Thursday a N feaavl nightsourafavourable publiclylaendanswer.challengedsai he would winmligat at al ,nay, pe h i ß m i I :l a b b n e O c r e ; to 1001. Wh en B o b h ears o f this, he IVED SAVAGE AND KiaKmAV.- --7 11;ce men will fight to-morrow, within twenty miles of London. They are both in good condition, and promise to chew rare sport. The fight between Stockman and Af‘Carthy is off, the latter having forfeited. M'Carthy's friends, however, are ready to make a fresh match for 25/. a side. Gaynor and Jennings met at Belcher's on Friday night, in consequence of Gaynor's challenge, but Jennings 4 dared he would not fight, unless Gaynor fought him 60/. to 50/. This Gaynor refused, and nothing was done. MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.—.A clergyman of the Established Church of England, of the name of Hanson, while travelling in Ireland the beginning of last May, suddenly ceased a correspondence which he had till then kept up with his family. The most painful con jectures are of course entertained respecting him, added to which a considerable sum of money, in Bank of England notes, which it is known lie had with him, have recently made their appearance from Paris, under very suspicious circumstances : these bear the endorsement of -." Walter Harden." His disconsolate wife and relatives, among whom are his brother, Mr. B. Hanson, of Bruton-street, Bond-street, have adopted every step likely to lead to e favourable result. A reward of 100 guineas has been offered, and, through the kindness of the police, every pub licity afforded in Ireland which could have been desired. His watch was made by Brockbank, London, No. 6,015, and he had with him a portmanteau, maiked W. H.," or " William Hanson,"• and the usual etceteras for tra velling, among which was a telescope stick, which, united with an umbrella and a walking stick, seems to have at tracted some attention in Ireland. The unfortunate indi vidual was about 37 years of age, rather tall aud stout, and, from being short-sighted, occasionally wore spectacles, and always an er-glass. SPIRIT OF PUBLIC JOURNALS, An important public meeting has taken place at Birmingh a m, to addr . dss His Majesty in cori dolence qn the death of Mr. Canning, and to thank the Sovereign for having formed such a Ministry as would ensure the continuance of " that just, enlightened, and beneficent policy, which has (through Mr. Canning) directed the Councils and exalted the character of this country." The immense numbers which at ' tended this meeting—'the great respectability of those who signed the requisition—the spirit anti ability with which its objects were unfolded and its resolutions enforced by the speakers, the most distinguished of Whom was a 1 clergyman of the Church of England, and the marked unanimity ' which prevailed as to the merits of Mr. Can ning's principles, the incalculable usefulness of his policy, and of that expected from his succes sors in this Cabinet; fully bear us out in th e epithet of " important," which we have bestowed upon the proceedings at Birmingham, which cannot fail to have their due effect upon the mind both of his Majesty and his subjects.— To the little pamphlet which we mentioned on Saturday last, under the title of " A Remon strance from a Tory to Mr.. Peel," is annexed a Postscript containing matter not 'unworthy of notice. • The author here quotes, from the:. re cently published Correspondence of. Edmund Burke and Dr. Lawrence, a letter which appears to. have been written by the Doctor, though' dic tated by Burke himself, .and addressed as an admonition to the late Duke of Portland, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord. SPencer, and others of the old Whigs who had joined Mr. Pitt,. and were lbws understood to be on the point .of resigning, from considerations of the policy to be pursued with regard to Ireland—then, as now, the hinge on which turned most of our domestic differences, whether of opinion or of party. The object of Burke in this address is to dissuade the Whig Lords from abandoning their post, however un favourable to their hopes of a better system for - Ireland . might be the maintenance of that always obnoxious personage, the Earl of .Westmoreland, in the government of that unfortunate country. The argument against the resignation was not founded so much on any error in the views of the above-mentioned Lords on the subject of Irish policy, as on the mischief thereby likely to result to Mr. Pitt's Government, then engaged in a deadly struggle for the existence of this em pire as an independent power in Europe. The' truth is, that the honour of the Noble Lords on that occasion could not in she slightest degree be affected by their remaining in office. Lord. Westmoreland had been Lord-Lieutenant before their accession to the Ministry, and might be continued a little longer without compromising the principle of emancipation, for which they had stipulated with Mr. Pitt. The question at issue being one of time and circumstance, they. were free to act upon it, according to their sense of those collateral advantages or injuries which the public service would be' apt to experience from their decision. It will probably be consi sidered that the advice of Burke was prudent and reasonable ; and that judging freely, they judged also discreetly by continuing members of the - Government. It must likewise be admitted, that had the resolution of the Whig Lords been different, their motives could not have • been with justice impeached : they would have gene out on grounds not personal but political, on. grounds divested of all tyrannical dictation to wards the Sovereign, of all mean envy or un forgiving malice towards a colleague whose re spect for freedom and splendid reputation were his only crimes. There may arrive; how ever, cases of an unhappy collision, if not between equal members of the same Cabin net, between parties in the Government ssiitlS • respect to whom no equality of station eY,:iete.— : If, for instance; one party be, by thy ; sw um o f the Constitution, responsible for the exercise of - a certain power essential to the activity and efficacy of the Government, while another party who is free from all responsibility makes an at tempt to exercise that. power in his own person, .or to compel those who are accountable fbr their actions to surrender their free agency, and against their Consciences to obey his pleasure, to which side will it then be actilowledged that the spirit of " dictation" is ascribable ? Whose just privileges are then invaded ? Whose honest pride is then offended ? Whose public useful ness is then endangered? On whom is an un fair and insidious alternative inflicted ? It seems . • to be asserted by the Eldon and Peel newspapers that Mr. H err i es i s " t h e Ki ng ' s candidate" for the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer ; aria that " from that gentleman's success or failure, , the public will be able to judge what degree of . dictation is exercised towards the Sovereign by his present " servants ;" and then, after denying a certain disqualification which had been alleged , against Mr. Herries , and stating the delay in his appointment, these thorough-going apes tolicals proceed to ask—" On what is this~ perverse opposition to the King's will founded ?"' Now, if a chaos ever existed in any human brain, if must have been in his who thought of apply ing the term " dictation," as it has here been had recourse to. The King has the right of chSosing his Prime Minister, from the very na ture of things ; and even then, such an act of obvious tliec Const i tution a n st rd i l tu t eso lo er nw n i al free without ou r et its s el i etin is n l e c ce o ssai.y ot le f t guarantee.by The Minister chosen, if he accepts the office, is responsible fo r th e c h o i ce, a l though he might have been passive, or altogether ignorant of the Royal determination in his own favour. What, therefore, is to be said of those among the King's subjects, who declare substantially by their con duct, that his Majesty shall. suffer for it. if he dares to direct his choice of a Prime Minister out as they shall permit. If any knot of persons combine, either formally or by way of secret un derstanding, to frustrate the formation of an effec tive Government because they will have one Prime Minister only, oishave personal objections h. to one, what name does dis conspiracy deserve ? Do they not, so far as they prerogative Is • besides, the. not this, to use the mildest phrase, imam) e ti l l t e c y roac n h o n t ier u tt su o r i p t 'the a King's Boyal free pre rog choicer . D . o " dictation" to the Sovereign;? But when the y' r 'l e ' s e p n o ' nsib . le [keeper pKriinalgehaivsiminaiadteerhils,imchseolir —a eOuncil, and his Secretaries of State, those alike G whoo iffl o cro v it:si e lle r l s epe n e s l i c il l gG l b u P e il r l ir e a l :e t d tSatlyf a rte r uS t si e Si o eceaat a ail w lj u lo it nt l ai o i all e er m l s aiPes t: s i r' s el Wabesbta sieedeyedeunaan,rarwetkeasalP:oloapfddsbfoelotalelebill'iesatviecie'dttKx3wh:li'e:lenlitaaloignlalls'o'idisl: filling K ing a nd u p o people c vacant a t riciht co nstitutional b el ong t the responsibility l o i t f y place, b the only one remaining in the Cabinet ? Is it not monstrous for any man• to set ep the pretension that such a power is the King's, un supported---nay, disapproved_by his respon sible Mr. Herries (of whi c h we miliisters? lf