The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-05 00:00:00

+Hs DUIOE LI HAM itlYilf 164 hi eptikiNA.
Whin political actions hive borne an adpect Oda.
ieurable to liberty, we have always felt it our duty
to animadvert on them; and by the same rale we
think it important not to pass by unheeded, politi-
cal remarks or doctrines which have the same ten-
dency. It may be a very easy matter to laugh at
this jealousy, and to throw a sneer on the terrorir
excited by a passing observation of the Courier.
Bat we know, and every one who reflects for a
moment knows, the extensive and permanent
effects produced by diger reflections and dashes
which seem only to live for a moment. Our
attention has been called to the observations made
by the Murier on the speech of the Duke of Ha-
milton, at the civic dinner given to his Majesty at
Edinburgh. The observations are as follow :•••••
" The Duke of Hamilton certainly .node a very
silly speech on the occasion. There is • season for
every thing, says the adage; bat never was any
thing more out of season than the egotistical rhodo-
montade of his Grace. We suppose no one doubted
I),s steadfast readiness to maintain • loyal duty to his
Sovereign, &c. But why lug io, as if addressing •
mbb of Parliamentary Reformers, the just and jea-
lous care?' &c. In the name of wonder, what
had the rights and privileges of the people to do
with a civic banquet given to the Sovereign ?
An episode about an Egyptian moonily would have
been as germane to the purpose." Aod there are
men with whom language like this passes for wit—
there are Englishmen who think all mention of the
rights and privileges of the people an ungrateful
ibject to royal ears. With alt due deference to the
Courier, we think that the rights and privileges of
people have more to do with Sovereign than an
episode about an Egyptian mummy. But his
Grace of Hamilton did not utter his speech in the
bearing of Royalty—it was merely to the com-
pany—and most suitable it was to the occasion,

Jto the spirit of the times. It was by no meows
amiss to infuse a bunch of myrrh into the festival
goblet, to make the dia.!glit wholesome though
'ter. It was well amidst the effervescence of

tat loyslty that some thoughts of the multi-

tude and their privileges should make that loyalty
rational and definite. It was honourable in one
who professes himself a friend to public liberty to
make that avowal where it would be likely to be re-
membered, and to let it be seen that while he was
4 Mpg to pay all doe respect to the person of the
Chief Magistrate, he was not unmindful of his
'y to the public. But our observations are
rather directed to the Courier—to the insidious
natare of remarks of this kind, of late so abun-
dant, mod so obvious in their meaning sod tend-
ency. The Doke of Hamilton's speech is called
unseasonable. Mark that word unseasonable. The
people may have rights and privileges, but it is at
imes unseasonable to say any thing about them—
aud a civic festival given to the Sovereign is one of
those times. What does all this imply, but that
7h subjects are unpleasant and gloomy, and
tpulsive We have often heard the Courier
lied an organ of Governmeut.—a demi-official

per; bat we hope and trust that in the present
instance it has a little exceeded its limits, and
It language such as we have quoted above

merely an outrageous effort of some under-
'be, who thinks to recommend himself by over-
acting his part; for little minds very much enjoy
insulting men of rank ; it is quite • luxury for
them to have their pens let loose on men or title.—
"he premier Duke of England is exposed to the
►potent malignity ofsuch scribblers: and even the
Royal Dukes of Sussex and Gloucester are made
ins for such circulators of scurrility. But the

great principles of liberty and sound loyalty, we
trait, will never be obscured by such sophists, or
ighed out of countenance by such would-be wits.
—(Bury Paper.)