The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-06-10 00:00:00

other. When in addition to these tits limbs, we look for the head,
and find amongst their most active writers and supporters the Kadi.
cal leader of the meeting on the Town-moor, 1 say there never was
a greater monster of coalition presented to the publi:. (Loud
laughter, and cries of hear.) It is not for me to say who is right or
who is wrong. It requires no logical argument to 'thew that one
party must be wrong. Ail I ask is this,—will Mr. Beaumont only
publish the correspondence that took place relative to his conduct
to the family of Sir John Swinburne, and let the freeholders judge
who was right and who was wrong ? (Cheer) 1 ask nothing
more on the part of those with whom lam connected. Let us have
an end to this mystery. In justice to all parties, in justice to the
freeholders, this must be done sooner or later, and therefore let it
be done with a good grace at once. (Applause.) I will now no-
tice another subject. I deem it of importance to state to you,
that most unworthy means have been used to prejudice the cause
of lord Hetrick in the minds of the freeholders. They have been
told that it was never his intention to come forward, and that he
was not in earnest in soliciting their suffiages. And I know that
not only many votes were taken away by those means, but that
many who intended to support him were induced by these misre-
presentations to favour his opponents. I say that conduct was most
unworthy and most improper, and that no freeholtier can consider
a promise given under such a delusion binding upon him. Gentle.
apemen, a great many of you are connected with the shipping in-
terest, and I will only say to you, that if you were about to man a
ship to sail to a distant clime laden with the produce of the industry
of England. your first object would be to provide • steady and pro.
per crew. lou would not go to the Thames 'mermen, with their
painted wherries and flimsy oars, but to that race of men who have
buffeted the elements, and contended against the storm—to the
stout and strong seamen of the North—men who have been used to
all the dangers of the seas, and who are of a stock whose valour and
courage have been proved for generations. (Applause.) So, I
ray, look not to any shallow and empty pretensions to your
favours, but to the good old stock of Grey, who have been trium-
phant in every storm, who have thriven with the prosperity of
Northumberland, and have never abandoned her when clouds hung
over her and she was exposed to dangers and difficulties. (Loud
cheers.) It is now not quite seven years since Lord Grey and myself
returned from Parliament to this neighbourhood. We were told
that the mea of the North were in rebellion, and that grey were
united in societies to overturn the Constitution. I was told that my
property was to be partitioned—that on my re:urn I should find
others enjoying it. (Much laughter.) What was my answer? I
said, ~I don't believe it; but if it be true, I would much rather
my properly should be partitioned among my friends in the North
than among the curruptionists of the House of Commons." (Much
laughter and applause.) I was told that there were 100,000 men in
inns amongst you ; but I knew you were true and loyal to the
King—true to your Sovereign and loyal to the Constitution and
liberties of the country ; and I was not deceived, for such I found
you. Our reception was most warm and enthusiastic, and such as,
I may say, we had fairly merited. Have we not then a right to ex-
pect that as we then stood forward in favour of your chmacter, you
will now support us, and take this opportunity of honouring the
father in the person of his son? (Applause.) lam afraid I shall
weary you, and I shall now, therefore, come to the toast which I
am requested by the Chairman to propose to your con'iderstion.—
It is one which is closely counected with the shipping interests
of this town—one on which I feel deeply. and which has already
been dwelt upon by my noble relative with that eloquence and
modesty which I admire in him, and from which I augur that he
will follow in the footsteps of his noble father. I know he is
well-grounded in constitutional knowledge, and he has shewn us
that he does not want eloquence to express his sentiments. (Ap-
plause.) I feel that, in proposing the toast entrusted to me, I
shall do little more than repeat the observations that have already
fallen from him on the same subject. I admit that the ma-
nufacturing
and agricultural interests of this country are of the
highest importance. God forbid that I should ever withhold my
support front any measure that would continue those interests on
that eminence on which they are placed. But I contend that those
interests never would have attained that eminence, had it not been
for our marine. What is it that supports those interests? The
safety of the shipping interest. I, therefore, view with alarm
those measures which tend to constitute a very doubtful experi-
ment, which may be very beneficial to the shipping interest if suc-
cessful, but which, if the resell: should be unfavourable. may strike
deeply at the root of the vital existence of England. I ask you to
reflect upon one thing. What was it, that, when the standard of
that great but ambitious man—for he was both—Napoleon was
carried in triumph front the walls of Lisbon to Vienna, to Berlin,
and even to Moscow—what, when every power in Europe quailed
before hint, what enabled us to withstand his mighty power?
What but the Union jack of England (loud cheers), carrying
in triumph our gallant soldiers over those seas over which we
then held entire and undisputed dominion ? I therefore dread
every measure that can tend to injure the state of our marine, or
lessen our naval superiority. If we look at France, her extended
coast, her splendid harbours, and immense population, and reflect
tl.at for a length of time she has been endeavouring to establish •
marine equal to this country—when I see a country originally
connected with us, of our own blood, our own spirit—America—
rapidly approaching us in the extent of its proud power—when I
know that our enormous taxation, and public expenditure render
it impossible for us to compete with the foreigner in the building,
equipment, or manning of our ships, I do feel the greatest dread
lest any thing should occur to weaken or destroy those naval
energies which have rendered England the arbiter of the destinies
of Europe. (Cheers.) It is in vain attempting to urge these
topics in Parliament; the shipping interest and the navy were not
in fashion in the House, though Huskisson and theory were, and
it was only with great difficulty a hearing could be obtained. I
have had communications with Mr. Lyall, the Chairman of the
meeting of Shipowners, and expressed my concurrence in the
adoption of measures to consolidate the interests of the shipowners,
&off to supply their friends with such information as would enable
them to meet the statements put forward by Ministers. I have
said thus much to you, because I know that these are times when
many theories are afloat, and I may be supposed to be departing
from the liberal principles which I have on all occasions been In the
habit of supporting. But reflecting that there arc many things
which, though they may be very tempting in theory, and beautiful
in philosophy,which would be very dangerous in practice,l am afraid
this will be case with the shipping interest. All I beg is, that if
experiments are to be tried, at any rate do not begin with that
which is the very vital principle of our national existence. (Cheers.)
I shall now conclude by proposing to you a toast which is intimately
connected with those that have preceded it, be I feel quite
convinced that if my noble relation be returned to Parliament, he
will pay that attention to the subject which he ought to give it. not
only on account of its importance, but asa debt of gratitude to the
shipowners of Shields, which his reception this day has been so
well calculated to increase. I give you, Gentlemen, " This Ship-
ping interest of Shields, and improvement to it."
The Honourable Gentleman than sat down, amidst the most en.
thusiamic applause.
Several other toasts were drank, and the evening passed with
much hilarity.