The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-22 00:00:00

DINNER TO MR. RUME.

On Friday the entertainment by the Citizens of Edinburgh to
Mr. Hume was given in the Waterloo Hotel. Upwards of five
hundred gentlemen were present. Leonard Horner, Esq. was in
the Chair; Robert Ferguson, Esq. of Raith, officiated as Croupier.
At viz o'clock, Mr. Hume, accompanied by the Chairman,
Croupier, Stewards, and many distinguished individuals, entered
the room. An excellent dinner was served up by Mr. Gibb. When
the cloth was drawn, the Chairman gave " The King."—(Three
times three.) " The Duke of York and the rest of the Royal
Family."—(Three times three.) " The Army and the Navy."
(Three (Three times three.)
The CHAIRMAN said, they had already testified their respect
for the Royal Family, but after his Majesty there was• one member
of that august House who was entitled to a particular notice, the
Duke of' Sussex. (Applause.) His Royal Highness was the
sttenuous supporter of those principles which had placed his family
on the throne of these realms—the steady friend of the rights and
privileges of the people—and the zealous advocate of liberal
opinions; and who on every occasion was always ready to stand
forward, with his .high rank and character, in the cause of bene.
violence and enlightened philanthropy. The Duke of Sussex.
(Great applause.)
311'. HORNER then role, and in a long and animated speech
complimented their distinguished guest on the boldness and perae.
verance which hail marked his political career, and the zeal with
which be bad ever contended against the abuses of patronage and
influence. " Gentlemen," said he, " I will not attempt to enter
upon the questions of great national importance which Alt Hume
has either been the eneansj of brineing under the consideration of
Parliament himself, or has powerfully supported. I allude espe-
cially to the abuses and oppressions in some of our colonies—to
that great stain upon a free country, the impressment of the sea-
men—(Applause)—to the state of the administration of justice in
India—to the great question of Parliamentary Reform —(Applattae)
—the education of the poor in Ireland—the tithe system In that
I misgoverned country, and his inquiries into the gross abuses that
have so long existed in the church establishment of Ireland. But
there is one question of great public interest, in which Mr. Hume's
labours have been very conspicuous, which deserves mote par..
titular notice, as it has lately occupied so much of the public at-
tention. I speak of the Combination Laws. There have not been
wanting persons, you are well aware, who have represented Mr.
I Hume, upon this subject, as a willing and premeditated disturber
of the public peace. To those who know him, no refutation of
such a caPtimny is necessary ; but, in the dignified and most judici-
Otis addresses which he delivered upon a recent occasion, to the
deputies of those workmen, who, in their ignorance, supposed him
to be the peculiar champion of the labouring classes, and that, in
obtaining the repeal of the Combination Laws, he was consulting
their interest only, will be found a complete and triumphant .11151 fer
to all the malice of his enemies." (Applause.) After some further
observations, Mr. Horner concluded as follows:—" We come with
hearts full of admiration for great end disinterested patriotism, thus
puhlicly to exoreas our conviction of the benefit the country hale:de-
nted Iron Mr. Hume's exertions, and to bestow upon him the
highest reward which a true patriot can desire—the unsought,
willing, and grateful acl,nowledgments of his fellow citizens." (Mr.
Horner sat down amidst tumults of applause.)
Mr. IIuME said, the Chairman had been pleased to say that he
had been employed in a useful manner—but he hail done no more
then many of his intelligent fellow-citizens would have performed,
had they been similarly situated. He had been accustomed to hard
labour from his boyish days, and therefore labour became an object
of pleasure and a recreation to him, which would prove hard to
others. He undertook those duties for the good of the public.
Having sought and found his fortune in a dangerous climate, he
returned to his native country, and finding that labour was to him
a pastime, he resolved to devote the remainder of his days to the
1 enjoyment of the good opinion of his countrymen, with whom
he was IW spend the remainder of his life. basing acquired a
fortune, ho had no emolument to look for front office; no family
for whoui lie had to provide beyond his means—all that he there-
fore desired to seek fur and acquire, was the confidence and good
opinion of his countrymen, and the mode of acquiring that had
been detailed to them by their much-respected Chairman. Ile had
seen the poverty and distress of other countries from exaction and
power. lie could not look upon the excess of taxation in our own
without lerling that taxation was the cause of much suffering.
which those only who examined could learn. The Honourable
Chairman had truly said, that the extravagant expenditure of the
public money completely prevented reform in the abuses of govern.
ment. He felt that the most effectual mode to remedy that part of
the evil—the corruption that existed—was to cut those sinews off'
which supported the extravagance. If, in the present state of the
population anti intelligence of the country, all the burghs of Scot.
land were placed in the situation of Montrose, they would possess a
set of representatives who would show that Scotland could be as
fatuous for her political integrity, as she was for her moral and in.
tellectual superiority. Ile wished that Edinburgh was in that PI.
tuation, and be was glad to see near Mtn many gentlemen of this
city, who for weeks and months had laboured isefore the commit-
tee of the Howse of Commons, to expose fully the abuses of the
close-burgh system. They proved that abuses did calk, even
although the Member for Edinburgh said that he saw no
abuses, nor any remain for asking for inquiry. That inquiry
was nnatle, and how satisfactory it had proved, was well known
to every man in the country. It was to be regretted that com-
plete success Indeed had not crowned their labours, yet much
good bad resulted from the inquiry. Nay, he was confident,
that many would live to see real benefits result from that very
investigation, as connected with Scotland. He never would
despair of success of any measure while the people acted on sound
principles; sooner or later success roust result from their labour,.
Of his own acne he did not wish to speak ; they spoke for them-
selves, for they had not been hid under a bushel. Year after year
had persons traduced him, and endeavoured to stifle every effort of
his. They however forgot, that while they supposed they were
trampling him to the dust, they were in fact taking the most effec-
tual means to insure the ultimate success of his measures, and to
lower themselves. (Applause). The Members of the House of
Commons, whatever faults it hail, still possessed the invalu-
able privilege of speaking freely, and thus putting the people
in possession of every act of oppression or injustice. I;very Mem-
ber who could speak ought, aid thus proclaim to the people the
evils threatened, by which the public might judge, and by their
' opposition check or prevent the mischief. (Applause). In his at-
tempts to reform the Church—to improve the navy—to lessen the
expense of the army—to inquh e Into the state of the revenue, for
which a Commission, appointed after four years' struggle, had pro-
duced a report, the result of which was incredible—and he was
afraid even to mention the sums that would be spared to the public.
He had been guided in all he (lid by public motives alone. There
were many present who knew him In private life, that he was not a
dangerous man, nor one who would create discord, although he had
been represented as a wild beast or monster capable of raising the
storm and riding on the whirlwind. It was however a great con-
solation, that neither the frowns of power or threats of office had
been able to make him deviate from the great object he had in view.
He had been called ambitious: he was an ambitious man—he was
ambitious to acquire the good name of his countrymen; but he was
not an ambitious man seeking after place, rank, or power—no, he
trusted, if lie knew himself, no man should ever see him occupy a
situation from such unworthy motive. Accusations had often been
made against hint ; he dared them to proof. but they had none, and
he trua.ed never would possess any. For the marked kindness
shown him that night he could only promise continued exertion on
his part ; and he should at all times be ready to forward the interests
of Scotland—as he considered himself, not a representative for a
particular burgh or set of burghs, but for the whole inhabitants of
his native land. (Applause). Such distinction as he had this day
received would rouse him to redouble his efforts. and—if ever they
should meet again—he would meet them, he trusted, as he had
now done, with clean hands.

Mr. Htr me then sat down amid great applaute t and, in a fcw
moments he agaio rose, and begged leave to propose—" Prosperity
to the City of Edinburgh."
" The immortal memory of Charles James Fox" was next given
from the Chair, and drank in silence.

•
Mr. Fettottsose, the Croupier, proposed " The health of Sir
Henry Moncedf, and prosperity to the Church of Scotland."
Mr. JAMES MoxcalEer returned thanks in an eloquent
speech, in which he adverted to the question of Catholic Emanci-
pation. resting his arguments in its favour upon the great princi-
ples of religious toleration. The Learned Gentleman concluded
by proposing—" Catholic Emancipation, and the removal of all
religiose disabilities."—(Three times three, and great applause.)
MT. etTNINGHAME proposed "the health of Mr. Brougham,
and the cause of general eslucation."—(Three times three, and great
applause.)
Mr. PETER Meows; congratulated the Meetiug that they were
not doomed to lose one of the few independent Members sent from
Scotland, but that 'lure was every probability that the honour of
returning so valuable a Representative would again be claimed by
his present constituents. He concluded by giving " the independent
burgh which returned Mr. flume to Parliament."
Mr. Hume said, he bad to return thanks for this honour, as
none of the citizens of Montrose, Arbroath, or Brechin were pre..
sent to express, as he would now desire to do, a sense of the hand-
-1 some notice of them by the Meeting. He had the satisfaction of
visiting them lately, and of rendering to them an account of his
stewardship (hear, hear) ; and he wished no better return to any
man than to be called on to render each an account, and to and it
gratifying to his constituents. He hoped and trusted that, in ano-
ther Parliament, he should still be 3lember for Montrose (cheers);
and he assured the Meeting, that it was matter of great congratu-
lation indeed to sit, as he slid, an Independent representative of his
native town, and to say that he had not turned hie back upon his
old friends, even for the finest and fairest prospects. (Cheers.) In
proposing the toast put into his hands, he would only say, that the
effect of public opinion in all public measures is such as has told,
and must tell. wherever truth and justice were combined, to bring
an object into view. (('heers.) No means are more important for
securing the liberties of England. than the freedom of the press.
(Much cheering.) Through the freedom of the preys, all the mis-
deeds which power would conceal, are made known—all change of
sentiments or proceedings, which might take place in any order of
society, was instantly communicated to every part of the country.
The value of this was incalculable ; but nn matt could judge of its
importance, unless they looked at a comparative view of its pro-
gress. He had looked over some curious facts, which he would
now lay before the Meeting. In 1782, there were only 79 news-
papers--other sorts of publications had increesed in the same rapid
manner ; and lie took this opportunity of expressing how highly he
approved of the intention of Mr. Constable to circulate the best
works, on affairs of public and great importance, among the lower
ranks, for which he was entitled to the thanks of every well wisher
of his country. (Cheers.) In 1790, the number of newspapers was
146, and in 1820. it was 284. Now, was it sober :wondered that
such tneans, wielded by such independent hands, as by far the
greatest number of the daily papers was, must prove an organ of

THE BRITISH PRESS.

universal power In exposing every attempt at injury and oppres-
sion, and redressing every instance of the abuse of power ? Here
it was that the huinhlest individual—the very lowest of the low,
found an opportunity of dragging into light his wealthy, anti other-
wise indomitable oppressor. (ittueh applause.) .Mr. Hume eon.
eluded by proposing, '• The Liberty of the Press." (Three times
three.)
Mr. JEFFREY, in rising to propose a tout, said, that although
the subject of it bad been glanced at by two of the gentlemen who
had preceded him, he could not with propriety abstain from advert.
ing to it a little more minutely, as it was deeply important in it-
self, and intimately connected with the purpose of the present meet-
ing. lie alluded to the repeal of the combination laws, which had
been effected chiefly by the exertions of the gentleman who sat on
the right hand of the chair. This subject derived its interest partly
from the nature of the laws which had been repealed• and partly
from the mischievous combination, which had resulted—incident-
ally, and in part, but not legitimately, from their repeal. The
laws to which he referred had long stood a blot on the statute
book of the realm, and were repealed after the fullest inquiry in
Parliement, without opposition, and without dissent from any
quarter. This of itself was no light proof of the barbarous cha-
racter of those statutes. Their repeal was the result of laborious
inquiries by a Committee of Parliament. in which a large body
of master manufacturers and others, who might be supposed to
be chiefly interested in perpetuating the abase, had been exa-
mined ' • and it was a remarkable circumstance that, out of about
a hundred persons who had been examined, with the view, per-
haps, of propping op the evil, only six or seven had been favours.
ble to their continuenee, while all the rest were decidedly hostile to
their existence. Those statutes, besides other pernicious qualities,
had a blighting spirit, which tended more, perhaps, by generating
feelings of jealousy and distrust among the operatives, than by any
positive and direct operation in depressing the nature of their la-
hour, to produce that discord and animosity betwixt them and their
employers, which was utterly destructive of that kindness and
co-operation which was so essential to the prosperity of all. He
did not believe that, in &nem], the effect of any arrangements
among the masters tended materially to depress the rate of wages
below the proper level. The chief mischief connected with them
Was the rancorous feeling which was engendered among the
labouring climes, by denying to them this pr.vilege of lawfully
adopting measures for protecting their interests. This led them
to form secret cabal,' and combinations, in which they acquired
habits and feelings which reduced them almost tp the then.
dittos of desperate °milers. The ilinlition of such statutes was,
therefore, one of the proudest triumphs of the many triumphs
which Mr. Hume had won. But the abolition had been ef.
fected only a few short months, when unfortunately a fearful
and diabolical set of combinations arose throughout the coun-
try. These started up, unhappily in point of time, no doubt, u
regarded the genuine merits of the abolition, but still not materially.
Every one In any degree acquainted with human nature must be
aware that the entire removal of restrictions, which had long galled
a numerous class of such persons, could scarcely roil to produce
some commotion among them. He was inclined, with the gentle-
man who had already alluded to the subject, to ascribe much of
this to ignorance, misrepresentation, and to that dark course of se-
cret intrigue in which they had been trained, which had been en-
gendered under the laws which fettered them from seeking a legal
remedy for their grievances in the face of day--and the seeds and
germs of which could only be exterminated by the utter abolition
of the restrictive laws. He had no doubt that every right thinking
person would ascribe these unfortunate Irregularities to these causes,
and not to the measure of abolition, which only became more impe-
ratively necessary from the nature of the combinations, derived
chiefly from the abolished restrictions. The worst and most dis-
gusting feature, however, of these combinations was the gross incon-
sistency of the infatuated men who embarked in them. They were
not minified with the freedom which had been marked out for them
by the distinguished individual who was now present. They aimed
at the establishment of the grossest and roost hideous tyranny that
can be imagined—sat bvereive of those very princi pies of liberty which
the legislature, in its wisdom and benignity, had awarded to them.
Not contented with the freedom to carry their own industry andakill
to the beet market they could find, which they had thus obtained.
these misguided men had dared to deny to others that liberty which
they themselves had claimed as their right. They had carried
their purposes into effect by intimidation, by arson, and by murder
And could they imagine that such proceedings would meet with
the support or approbation of any good, or wise, or sane man ?
Could they 'suppose that Mr. Hume, who had struggled for their
emancipation, would join with them in imposing shackles upon
others ; upon those whose kindness and protection, and union with
whom, in their respective spheres, the general prosperity depended ?
It would not, in a company such as this, be breathed that any
countenance could be given to such practices or such principles; Of
that any toleration could be extended. For himself, and lie was
not altogether unknown to his country (great cheering), he would
not be suspected of indifference to the rights of the people; but he
could not abstain en this occasion, and on every occasion that pre.
rented itself, from expressing in the most unequivocal terms his
strong disapprobation of the practices which had lately produced so
much distraction in the country. He said this as the friend of the
labouring chissec—as their advocate—and, if his counsels could
have any influence, he would beseech the deluded men to tannin
from the ea inous and.dengerous course in which thew had embarked.
It was incumbent on the friends of liberal principles to speak nut,
for the enemies of liberal principles would not fail to take advantage
of these unhappy delusions and errors, as furnishing ?Tames for the
re-enactmenero these statutes, which he was convinced were the
chief cause of the evils that they all deplored. He trusted, how.
ever, that a wiser and more lenient course would be followed, and
that, after the brief season of trouble, which, he hoped, was now
nearly over ; after the seasoning fever, as it had been called, on first
touching a land of liberty, the labouring classes would return to that
just and reasonable course of conduct which alone could save them
from the restoration of those chains which have recently been
broken. Mr. Jeffrey concluded by giving " The freedom of la-
boar ; but let the labourer recollect, that in exercising the freedom
of his own rights, he cannot be permitted to violate the rights of
others."

"The memory of Francis Horner" was afterwards drunk in
solemn silence, and several local, personal, and political toasts, ap-
propriate to the occasion.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks for his health, gave—
" The University of Edinburgh."
Mr. J. alunaar called the attention of the meeting to the (tn.
proved administration of justice, accomplished by the Bill intro-
duced into Parliament by Mr. Secretary Peel. He said, without
attempting to describe its features, or predict its consequences, he
would say, the: had such regulations been established' in the days
of Charles the Second, the page of history would not have been
blotted by the account of Juries packed to murder Russell and
Sydney. (Great applause.) We must not withhold our ad-
miration for Ministers, for all have received much valuable informa-
tion, however they might differ in opinion upon questions of
political feeling front the Ilonourable Secretary (Mr. Peel), and we
ought not to withhold this just tribute of applause. (Cheers.)
Such services as these conferred more high honour on the s,atesmen
who performed them, than all the other actions of a busy life; and
when they were beyond the reach of our praise or cen. ure, formed
the most pleasing balm for their memories—" Met Peel, and success
to the efforts of every Minister who endeavours to improve the ad.
ministration of public justice 1"

Mr. A. Scotr proposed " M Lftobinson and Mr.Huskisson, and
success to their efforts to establieh the freedom of trade."

Mr. Joiroituu then delivered an eloquent and affecting speech
respecting the political exiles from Spain and Italy, of which the
peroration was in the following words:—" Many of these patriots
are wandering in Britain. They suffered because they did what
they deemed to be an exalted duty. They arc entitled, not to our
compassion, but to our friendship and admiration. They have
fallen 'victims to their exertions to attain for their own countries
that constitution of which we boast—a monarchy limited and
firm, and, we trust, immortal. They were not the humble and
the obscure—they were many of them noble—and were satisfied
to part with privileges which belonged to their own rank, that
they might extend blessings like those which the British Consti-
tution alone confers on the people and on the sovereign. Should
it be the fortune of say one of these illustrious exiles to be in
this assembly, they will behold a spectacle, which displays to
them the blessings of that constitution they had looked on from
afar, as the model of excellence; a spectacle, which is nowhere
else to be seen—an assemblage of freemen meeting openly and
manfully in the face of the world, protected by their loyalty
and by law, to render honour to an intrepid and constitutional,
and, let me add, a triumphant opposition, to the errors of our
own government. This is a spectacle, which is indeed calculated
to impress them with sentiments of admiration for our constitution,
and which may afford them some consolation in their exile, when
they reflect, that they. have suffered for their attachment to the
rprinciples of a constitution, which enthrones the sovereign oo the
iberties of his people." Mr. Jeffrey concluded amidst the loudest
applause, by giving " The Refugees from Italy and Spain, and
may Britain ever glory in being the asylum of exiled patriots."
The CHAIRMAN said, that two distinguished refugees, the Mar-
quis do Bossy, and the Chevalier dal Forza, were present, the
latter or whom had expressed a desire to say a few words.
The Chevalier dal Pozzo begged to return thanks for the man-
ner in which the toast in honour of the foreign residents had been
given and received, and felt (crateful for the hospitality they
experienced, and the attention paid them in every town and in every
city.
Mr. Hosti begged to submit another toast—lt was that of a
nation whose circumstances, though not exactly similar, were yet
struggling for their very existence. He meant Greece. He re-
gretted, but it was too true, that they had lately suffered reverses
from the fate of arms. In his humble opinion, that had arisen
from their plating too great confidence in their own strength, and
despising the strength and resources of the enemy. They had lost
the opportunity, and bad paid for their negligence ; but It was alms
consolation that, like other nations, they must profit by their drat-
bought experience. He then noticed the divisions that had existed
among the chiefs. The people were, and had always been, as
one. Considering the difficulties in which the chiefs had so long
laboured, it was no wonder that men of talent should cease to give
energy to the councils of a divided people. It must, however,
be consolatory to every British bosom—to every friend of humanity,
to know that their cause had excited British sympathy. Though
not consistent with the polity of Ministers, that Government
should risk the peace of the country, yet he believed they were
friendly to the measure. Attempts had been made to show that
• hostile disposition was entertained in certain quarters, but be did
not believe any such feeling existed with our Government. Let
us hope. therefore, that the assistance which is now on its way.
shnll reunite them, and cause a favourable change in the state of
affsirs. He gave as a toast, " The triumph of Freedom in Greece,"
which was drunk with three times three.

Some other toasts were glvtn by the Chairman, to whom a vote
of thanks was passed, and the meeting separated at half past twc:‘,..
o'clock.

-

LAIV NOTICES.

COURT OF CHANCERY.•
1111[0111 THE LORD CHANCELLOR TLIDI DAT.
FOR JUDGMENT.
In re Elephant and Castle Charity.
In re Wood—Lunatic Petition.
Exparte, King v. Tillv—Bankrupt Petition.
Oriinstead v. Ditto.
APPE•LII.
Wackerbath v. Powell.
Crossthwaite v. Ditto I Eade v. Eade l Atkins v. Giles.

BEFORE THE VICE-CHANCELLOR THIS DAY,
CAUSES PART HEARD.
Hill v. Reardon I Minot v. Eaton
CAUSES.
Pried v. Hull Att..Gen. v. Noel
Ditto v. Ditto I Ditto v. Marquis of
Brougham v. Idle Londondery
Beevor v. Preston Ditto v. Pembroke
May Bindley I Hall

Dim' v. Vansittart
Barber v. Banner
Ditto v. Stock

a>iiiinitoWr.Balfor

COURT OF KING'S BENCH.
MIDDLESEX SITTING AFYEII xtenAttsEAS ?Mt, OW
UESDAY, NOV. 29.
CAUSES.
Macklew v. Squibb I Child v. Grace I Thotudike V. Harvey
and another