The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-26 00:00:00

Whi. ANDERSON, Esq. Des. of Guild, is the Chai►.

The greatest order, harmony, and decorum, pre-
•ailed thrtrughout ; and the company pried at a
late how, mutually gratified and pleased with the
ptocreiling..
After the usual tosids—. _

Mv. ANDIUI9OII rose to give the health of Mr.
Hume, and said, that after a trial of four succes-
sive Sessions of Parliament, during which Mr.
flume had sat in the House of Commons, the
proof if his talents and perseverance had been
fully and most satisfactorily thewn, by his inces-
sant labours eight and day for the interests of the
people. It wus by his intrepid perseverance in this
line of conduct that he exceeded the expectations
of his constituents, and had become the admiration
of his friends and of the public in general. Many
who were here present could also bear testimony
how attentive he had been to their private interests,
and with what promptitude sod kindness he had
served them when applicatimes were made to Trim.
Nor was his goodness in this respect confined to
those who agieed with him in politics, but shared
by those who held different sentiments.—(Hear, and
applause.)--Ile would give " The health of our
worthy. intrepid, and independent Member. Mr.
Hume, and mail thanks to him for his public
novices."
Mr. liUMR was highly sensible of the kind man-
ner in which the meeting had received the toast from
the chair ; and when he saw around him so many
of his own towlism•n, and those of the Guildry
lie-
corpuraiinn, who had Oust recommended him to the
no,ice of the Magistrates, lie was highly gratified
by this mark of their respect and approbation.
It is now four years since he heed stated his prin-
ciples, and pledged to them the course he in•
tended to follow an Parliament ; and nothing could
afford him, or any public man, more satisfaction than
to find his constituents, after the lapse of that time,
*proving of his conduct. Every Representative
ought to render ill account to his constituents in the
way lie was always happy to do, and be ready to
satisfy them in any point they wished. He was
satisfied that tilt partiality of his townsmen had
much overvalued his exertions. He had b, en, as
they knew, from youth in active employment for
his own purposes, to acquire a competency ; and he
had only continued the same exertions for the pub-
lic. II the kind of Members of which the House
of Commons consists were examined, it would be
found that • large proportion of them were men of
fortunes advonced in life, or cadets of Noble fami-
lies, and little accustomed to laborious acquite.
melds ; or men of business, occupiej most of their
time with their own affairs, and.vrithEut time to de-
vote to the public service in the way the extensive
and complicated affairs of the State required. What
could he expected if the electors sent such Mem-
bers to Parliament ? The House of Commons has
beet), and now is, governed by an undue and
unconstitutional influence, contrary to the inten-
tions of those who effected the Revolution of
/688. Self-interest and aggrandisement were. he
found, the effect and cause of that influence ; and
the best service to the community and to the cause
of reform is, to take away the means of supplyb,g
them. Has whole labours had been directed to elect
that object—to lop off all useless expenditure,
and to reduce uniircessary establishments; and the
meeting were as good judges as himself how far his
objects had been successful. The public appro-
bation of his conduct by the City of London and
other public bodies, had aided burn much iii his ex-
• tionr, and made Iti• humble labours more useful.
lie an enlightened country like Great Britain, pub-
lic opinion was power, and several examples had of
late been afforded, where it was found to be irre-
aistible, by the legitimate influence of the Crown,
and all the undue influence of Parliament.
He was convinced of the advantages of such meet-
ings as the present, and of all meetings of the peo-
ple to consider of public affairs. or of the conduct
ut public (two; and had therefore done has utmost
to prevent the passing of the odious six Acts—Acts
winch have infringed so deeply on the liberty of the
press and the rights of the people. He requested
them to accept his thanks for their attention now,
nod fur meeting him here ; and assured them of his
anxiety to merit, by his continued exertions, their
good opinion.—(Great applause.)
The health of the present and late Provosts of
Montrose followed, with several other liberal and
coustitutiousl toasts, uutil a late hour.

1

1.,.

[

PRESENT/010N OF A PIECE OF PLATE.
• The piece of piste to Mr. Huntersubscribed for
by the guildry, trades, and other inhabitants of the
• boroughs of Arbroath, Brechin, and Montrose,
arrives in Arbroath on Friday week, and during
Saturday stood in the Trades Hall for the inspec-
tion of the public. It coo • of three female
• - *gores 'leading on a round pedestal, supporting
Pl= a kind of basket of fillagree work, ou the lop of
which is placed an elegantly cut crystal basin for
holding fruit. The figures me emblematical repre-
sentations of the three boroughs by which the plate
has been given. Each of the figures has its right
hand held up in the attitude of bolding that part
of the basket which rests upon its head, while with
the left it leans upon a shield containing tile ar-
morial bearings of the borough which it represents.
the base of the pedestal is tastefully decorated with
roses, thistle., and shamrocks, iu alto 'diem and
the basket is surmounted by a beautiful *teeth of
roses in the same style. The whole has an elegant
and superb appearance, although the extremity of
the figures are rather clumsily executed. The
inseriptioeftio--

1.

. -
" Pm/OmM t. Joseph Home Esq. M.P. by the laconic/-
relies' of Guild, Trades, sad other ishabitauts of the
boroughs of Arbroath. Brachiai aid bloodroot' is testissouy
of their 'smite& for, and adrsirstion of, has services as
their Representative le Parliament. They regret with
pride ,but he has appeared conepiesoss 'loosest tar advo-
cates of civil and religioas liberty, witrivalled is his seal cud
atisidaity is exploring the abides aid profusion of a ealefol
espeadasre and the sway sad consistent friend of Puha.
sectary Rama."
Monday-, being the day appointed for presenting
the plate, a considerable waseinblige of well-dressed
people attended in the Trades' Hell, to witness the
ceremony. About two o'clock, Mr. Howe, iCCOM-

panird by the Honourable William Mat& and
Sir James Carnegie, of Southesk, entered, escorted
by a deptita•ion from each of the trades, with their
flags. Deputatioos from Brechin and Montrose
likewise att.-tided. The procession having reached
the tinter end of the
Mr. W. liowea,the Dean of Guild for Arbroath,
who had the honour of bring appointed to present
the plate, addressed the meeting neatly as follows:
" Gentlemen--1 should not fulfil aright the im-
portant duty I have this day to perform, if I did not
congratulate you upon the happy circumstance of
the three Angus Boroughs -uniting for the first
time, to 'testily their esteem and respect for their
Representative in Parliament. On this memorable
ocria.tott, so honourable to yourselves and your Re-
presentative, you have displayed an unanimity of
sentiment and public spirit which deserves the
greatest praise. You have, in time past, firmly
supported Mr. flume, and 1 hope you will still
support him. I trust you will also display the same
spirit and zeal iii support of your own rights and
privileges; and that those flags which now grace
your rooks, will long wave as emblems of your
freedom and independence. Mr. Hume, your
constituents in the three Angus Boroughs, deeply
impressed with • sense of your important services,
have resnlvrd to present you with n memorial of
their gratitude. This gift, worthy of them, and I
trust acceptable to you, I have now the honour to
present. In discharging this duty, so flattering to
my own fee hug., permit ma, in the naineof your
constituents, to say, that daring the eventful
period you hove represented them, they hive con-
stantly observed your name in die honourable
list of those persons who, unbiassed by party,
untainted by corruption, have eloquently advo-
cated the cause of civil and religious liberty.
Among the Representatives of this nation, you
have stood unrivalled its real and assiduity in
exposing the abuses of an expenditure which
is overwhelming the country. And, above all,
they have observed you the steady and consistent
advocate for that just and necessary representation
of the people, without which no nation can be
truly great, and no people truly happy; to the
want of which this nation ewes all its evils, and
without which it must ultimately be involved in
revolution. Such distinguished sera ices are far
above any eulogy I can pronounce. They have
excited the admiration and gratitude of the whole
nation; they will shine in the records of history
when the jealous mutmurs of the present day are
hushed, and the minions of present power are for-
gotten. Continue, Sir, your glorious career. Let
the still small voice of gratitude, esteem, and af-
fection, cheer you amidst all your trial.. Accept
this plate, which I present you in the name of the
three Angus Borough., and while it graces your
social board as the tribute of • grateful people, let
it impart the consciousness of having deserved it."
In reply Mr. Hume, with becoming modesty, re-
presented his exertions as being greatly overrated.
He observed, that although he had the fortune to
possess one qualification—a persevering industry—
which enabled him to appear in some respects
conspicuous, yet there were many members whose
names were only to be seen in the minority lists,
whose services were equally useful as his own. He
then expatiated at considerable length on the necess
sity of economy, retrenchment, and reform; and
pledged himself to continue the firm and unwearied
advocate of these measures. He concluded by
stating the satisfaction he experienced in observing
the harmony and unanimity of sentiment which
subsisted among the three Angus Ilneoughs, and
warmly eit•ressed his gratitude for the present in-
stance of their regard. During Mr. Hume's speech
he was frequently interrupted by loud plaudits from
the auditily.
Immadistely on the conclusion of the ceremony
Mr. Home left the town in company wish Mr. Mettle
and Sir Janice Carnegie.