The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-07-27 00:00:00

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!OP rrfrlif empty . I here however wine's.
1;::lly routs forward ow this *erasion to propose
cote of 'thanks to those worthy, discreet, and pa.
rinhrGentlemen, who acted so becomingly duriiiig
'le last week. They did not provoke disthrbance
..9 the Lord Mayor did ; nor could t fern look
..pon the statue of fireltford now within my'viiiv,
without wondering how the present Lord Weyer
••ame to have acted in the improper 'mutter he lies
.!our. The vote he intended to propose had amino!:
ha t.isevcr of party feeling in it, and he was therefare
• •.. more certain of its being unanimously passed.
I:s. •y on3u tnu.t have smiled at the strong tale of
,he Lord Mayor, of the intended destruction of the
thpie city of London; but, as his Lordship
fie had information of the fart upon the oath
of several itersons, he was hound to come forward
and nulistantiste his assertions. The worthy Gentle-
man. after a few further observations, concluded by
moving the following It PltOllftiOn
" That the theiks of lids CONItI6OII Hall are eminently
Jas. and ire'/lerebyiiven ta Mr. Aklerntan Wood sad Mr.
Aldercian Waithman, foe their zealous and patriotic anew.
to preserve the peon of this great City, during the
fleeting helJ in Smithiehl, on Wednesday, July ; for
their constitotiowal and spirited Protests against isifrinenig
..0 the liberties of this City, by the socalledlor parade of
the military* where not the slightest dispositims to riot was
manifest ;,pad fur the indiciotts advice given by them in
•Ltir capacity of Magistrates of this City, which, is time
..pinion of this Meetiug, were calculated to temper and inn.
.hrac the exiesordioary seal displayed by the Right Hun.
the fmril Mayor upon that occasion?'

Mr. WOOLER next appeared amid the greet-
liiis;of the Livery, and addressed them at consider-
utile length in seconding the motion of thank+ !im-
posed by Mr. Stephens. He observed that the
Lord Mayor °illy wished to act the dictator over
the citizens of Unities', at the head of the Life
fliturila, and felt satisfied the line of conduct
Happier] by his Lordship was more likely to have
created thin prevented riot. He hoped the Lord
Mayor wonld not hive been able to make so preci-
pitate a retreat, until he (Mr. Wooler) was first
enabled to stamp the bUrning lie upon his forehead.
No riot took place at Smithfield, nor was there
any thing in the conduct of the 'Radical Reformers
which could have led to it, if it was not for the ill-
'uthred seal of the Right Nondurable the Lord
11layor; if they intended to burn hod destroy
the whole city of London, they would not have
given three full weeks previous notice of theirinten-
tip° to do so, nor would they put it into execution
in 'ibli'middle of the noon-dry. The Reformers,
howitzfre provokingly tranquil—and his Lord-
ship,• . ore, thought his preparations should
have beeu ihe more extensive. The Lord Mayor
throughout-iremed to act in total contempt of his
fellow-citizens, and the only way to reward him
-would be, for his single contempt to return him the
contempt of his insulted countrymen. He richly
deserved it, and he might preserve it as a testimony
how time-serving ended and prospered in the world.
Mr. FAVELL said, that he should upon this and
eery occasion, claim for the tiveryrnen of London
the might of expressing their dpinions upon every
political topic which involved their interests or
their grievances ; and if this privilege were not to
be firmly maintained, what would become of the
.11111 of Rights? what would become of those gluri-
eel privileges, to the exertion of which the illus-
trious House of Brunswick owed their elevation
to the throne of this realm ? The conduct of the
Vbief Magistrate upon late occasions, lie thought
it impossible to avoid condemning. Wheu the
lust Members who represented the City in Far-
Lament lost their seats, on the ground of their
pottsicaf principles, there was something manly
it, their conduct when they fairly expressed their
dislike to mesimres brought forward in that as-
sembly..
a But the present Chief Magistrate ob-
served quite differentchnduct; for nut only did
hr refuse to comply with • requisition of the
Leery, 'most 'respectfully signed, to call a Hall fdr
the discuitiitin of a subject he did not like. belt
even ibis day when the Livery were asseinliled, and
'night lake the occasion fur discussion, he totes
away the twice and attempts to diasotve flee
as-enibly. But while he (Mr. F.) had a hand to
raise lie would rime it to the last against a proceed-
hug so unconstitutional. When a requisition was
recently presented to him, signed by upwards of
forty most respectable Liverymen for calling a
Common Hall, he refused to comply, because he
said there were some things proposed for discus-
sion which he did not like ; but if the Chief Ma-
'goitre'se ilioultrattempt with success such conduct
'as this. theie was an end to the freedom of the
City of Lonro,. The subject of disettssititi to
=attic', the Lord Mayor obected was Psrliamentary
Itvforni. But lie . Firvell) pr..tested against
itis 'authority to reject or fit 'elicikie any subject
alien which the Livery of London niight or might
not choose to discuss. He trusted, however, he
%N. at this moment addressing a body of sincere
It. formers ; but he most earnestly deprecated
every attempt to effect such a measure by the da-
intier of tumultuous assemblies, as • means the
'lnuit fatal to so desirable a measure. The worst
foes to Reform were the promoters of such assem-
blies. *or Upon this point be would 'quote the
proverb—" God deliver tree Iroin uuv
instals ; I will take care of my enestries nit self."
Hr trusted that before the next SCS4IOII of l'ailia-
•liirot, the Corporation of Loudon woul.l discuss
'th. subject of Parliamentary Reform. and lay their
sriiiiments on that subject 'before Parliament, in
such a manner as, be belied, would tie found to
ft.-terve the iinaniinous co•operiniwit of the whole
kiorcloiti ; which would be the best road to ults.
11114te Weer**.

The vote was that' put end carried unanimously.

Mr. AVAlTilliAll assured the assembly, he would
rather address them on any tither aullect than the
i.sesent. He received this new proof of the kind-
-mar and confidesice of his fellowLcitizens with sin-
'. err thanks. He felt no claims to their gratitude
'fur the plain straight forward conduct be had
tioittrd on the late occasion. The Pleasure
'fie had recommended in opposition to the 'con-
duct oY fife 'Chief Magistrate had been privionay
agreed to in the Cou►t of Aldermen, earl he and
kiss brother Magistrates felt it their deity to -wash
Arlo- hands of the proceedings of the Lord
Mayor, rod the evil consequences they were likely
to produce. He would, however, put a question
to Shit. assembly, and it was, whether, if the Chief
Magistrate really knew of the plot be had stated,
for the conflagration of the city and the murder of
ioliabitaids, why he concealed this fact from
lhote fellow-eittiena and fellow-magistrates, until

the very eye of the flay it war laid to be fixed fur
eaecutius,--or why did be not give them some iuti.
'nation the day before—sad why with a belief, if
he entertained it, that the murderers were stalking
through the streets, had he iso other measure to
preveut it thaw by taking 30 or 40 constables to
take away from the meeting a single person,' and
thus excite the very tumult he priori-I.IIA to appre-
hend? He concluded by returning his sincere
thanks for the vote just passed.

Mr. %VAUGHAN Mnirets n Resolution—
" That Stile Merlin!, cmishlrring the c tort of the Right
/ion. the Lord Mayor toward* him ft.lhow-citisro. to hr
:Wetly derogatory to the &ligation he fills. that he ha. three/
rue failed all claims to their confidence sad esteem!'
' Mr. HUNT 'text came forward. Ile said he
wialied to address a few words to the Meeting. He
heartily concurred in the vote of thanks to Alder-
man Wood and Alderman Weidman. Hr said
that the gentleman who preceded him had spoken
more in censure of the coniloct of the Lord Mayor
than its praise of the worthy Aldermen; the same
course had been porsoed by Mr. Wooler.—(" What !
do you quarrel already l" from a voice near
Me chair.)—Mr. Huttt—•• No, we do out quarrel,
we only differ in opinion. Corrupt men may
agree in most points, but opposition is often the
evidence of truth and freedom. An Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Futrell) hair, in my opinion, over.
stepped the boondaYies of moderation and liberality.
...Mind. 1 do not rynorrel with kiss—(A
It is his right. and fur aught I know, he may think
it his duty to express himself as he has done. At
all events, I shell never censure the open and manly
avowal of m . That Gentleman has certainly
censored the conduct of a large and numerous
meeting. He said the people might assemble here in
a constitutional way. How ? Does he mean to say that
none but Liverymen attended the meeting at Smith-
field? Surely that Honourable Gentleman must
know. that the far greater part of those who attended
ait that Meeting hod no right whatever to act here.
We have, said he, the authority of Lord Sidmouth,
as well as of the legal advisers of the city, that that
Meeting was ■ legal Meeting.—(Appluase.)—A
Gentleman next me has talked of the national debt
—I will give my opinion of that debt freely. I
would not touch that debt—l have nothing to do
with it—the people who are not represented have
nothing to do with it—the borough-faction who
contracted that debt, are bound to make it good to
the last shilling of their means. This is my answer
to the Gentleman who thought fit to address me on
this subject. Gentlemen, said he, I came here in
the expectation of seeing a direct vote of censure
on the Lo►d Mayor proposed. The vote of thanks
to the worthy Aldermen may be considered a
censure by way of side-wind—those city Gentle-
men may have reasons, and proper reason..
standing as they do, in a relative situation with
the Lord Mayor, for not expressing their cen-
sure in strong and faithful terms ; for my pert I
have no such reasons—l have no cause for mincing
the matter—l look for no civic honours—l look
Dot, I prize not, the intimacy of arch a man—l
feel it my duty to express the language of my
heart freely sod without fear..(Lond cheers.)—
'These Gentlemen who have spoken before me have
condemned the conduct of the Lord Mayor as the
grossot violation of his duty; they have done so in
tie mostvn•quivocal manner. it will be for you,
Liverymen, it will be for you to abstain from mani-
festing your opinions.—(tries of • Yee.")-1 cannot
but consider the Resolution that has been moved as
■ mere milk and water Resolution." Mr. Hunt next
alluded to the nosertion of the Lord Mayor, that he
had received information of an intention to murder
the inhabitants of the City. He called upon him to
produce that information, if he had any value for
his own character, he called ou him to bring his
informant before his brother Aldermen--lie

called on him to allow the matter openly and fairly
to 'be toxitnined. If he tlid not, be (Mr. Hunt)
bad nn hesitation in saying, that the entire was a
Kass lie—a malignant faitricalion, invented fur the
base purpose of Oilmen% unmerited obloquy on the
people. As to the Revolution which he held in his
hand, and which he iutended to move by way of
amendment. he wrote it hastily at the table. He
was not in the habit of consulting at public meet-
ings as to the support he might receive—he did not
know whether soy one would second the amend.
mem, but he felt it Rs duty to propose it. He
theft read the following Resolution by way of
amendment :

fteselved—That the Riglit Ron Jobs Atkins, the Lord
Mayor of the City of Loudon, by his intemperate and MIL
clone amnia dureug the Meeting in Ssaiihtle Id, on Wednes-
day last, by inciting
.the peaceable citizens to acts calcu-
lated in produce riot TO bloodshed, iu direct opposition to
the advice of his.brothic Alderney, is a proof of the dime.
gard iu which he hold. the eights and liberties of his fellow.
citizen, when put in competetiein with his ow. ambitious
views and party feelings.
" Resolved, inferior', Thauhe has betrayed the trust re-
potted in hint, and has thereby Centered himaelf unworthy
the future conlidence and siiPpurt of his rehow.eitizeos."
Mr. WOOLER stria forward and said, he should
be sorry 10 bee the Resolution Nil to the ground
fur the technical want of n seconder—he thought it
should be decided fairly. In the language of the Re-
solution, he entirely and filly agreed—indeed it
soon impoovibie that any latiguage could be too
strong. The 'Livery should teach the Lord Mayor
that they were nut to be lightly dealt with—that at
least they can return contempt with scorn.
Alderman WalTumAN then rose. He said fink
as Chairman, perheys, it was tnore has duty to heir
the reasons that might be offered, without troubling
them %%jilt any of his own. He said that they now
stood in an uniisii,il situation—that they should be
guarded hi their expressions, Jetta any part ut their
conduct ettritild suffer on itivestigstoon—lie would
be disposed to think that the amendment was ex-
pressed too strongly.
Here the 'Chairman was called to order by Mr.
.11uNT.

Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN said, he was in the
hands of the Meeting. He considered it disorderly
to interrupt the Chlirman when he was Eddressiiig
the Livery. He was not arguing en any question
before the Alerting, but as • frieud be thought be
might be allowed to submit his opinions.
Mr. IturiT-6. The Chairatau has soaring to do
but to put the question."
Mr. WArriniArt-..." Yon need nOt act with this
turbulence—you tired trot roar like • bull."
Mr. HUNT—" Nor you, Sir, need not act like
a bully. Do your duty fairly—no shuffling will
be allowed here—you have lost your power."
After some other obsetratious, Mr. WAITHIIAN