The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-01-28 00:00:00

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GLOUCESTER WHIG CLUB A.A VERSARY
MEETING.

kniag the anniviessatini birth of the late lamented
im:4l=ous finsteirnan, the fon. C. J. Fax, the Annual
eeting of the Blau cestershirtOwneltutional Whig Club took place
at the King's Head, likuicester, in commemoration of that event.
Although, from a variety of cantos, the attendance was not so full
as up dia. yet a numerous and highly respectable party or gestlctnen
of the county and city met their President, Major Oenerel
The mood routine bovines% of the club was transacteti bdore dinner,
when sevtrtd new members *ere elected, and the report of the pr;ss.
litmus state of the funds was highly gratifying. About four
o'clock the party adjourned to the dining-room, where an entertain-
ment, unite in character with Mr. Dowlines accustoined taste and
liberality, was served up. Nothing was wanted to complete the
pleasures of the table ; but tie great enjoyment of the day arohe
from the continued succession of patriotic and censtitntional semi-
nienta, which kept the minds of all present In a *tate of highly•
wrought interest throughout the whole of the evening.
Oa the removal ofthe cloth, the first toast given by the President
as---
The ging and the Coostitutien, and may the filmset never for-
get the sentiment so honourable to himself, mid so woolly of a
British Monarch, that the Crown is licid in trust tor the :ienetit of
the people."
This toast was received and drunk with great applause, as were
likewise those of— • ..

" Ilia Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex ;" and
" His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester."
The gallant Par:sloe NT then addressed the meeting in nearly
the follow ng terms
" I now rise to propose the toast appropriate to this day, and
coctnemorative of that illustrious Statretian, the splendor of
10,sts • talents so often shone forth in the arse of freedom and the
t institution. On such an occasion it may be weld to look back
a little into the page of hi-tory, and trees how far a dereliction of
Whig principles has proved Injurious tii the best interests of the
community. Since the lamented death of Mr. Fox, the paisent
Ministry, by artifice and intrigue, seized the helm of the State,
the chief director of which (the late Lord Castlereagh), without
talent, or one spark of patriotic feeling, sacrifited to his own self-
ish anthitiOrs the character of the country, prostrating alike before
the shrine of that Unholy .4 'liana, our policy. our commerce,
and our turd faith t and at the semi time strensoinly opposing
every strieafte for frt.:dons and the people's rights, both at home'
and abroad. Witness the breach of Loth to (tape and pulp !
—the straggle for freedom in Napa and Savor totally crushed.
and all lowly stink within the grasping influents Austria whilst
many et the print Berman States, that once tarkivl up to England
1* dieedithip and pmteetion, are noir transferred, like so many'
head of erode, withoitt one stipulation in their favour, to pammtg
the greedy ileepot.ii of the Continent! Ard where, let me ask,
rise the Ar-efire winch we ball a right to evpert from all the a e.te
of 'aloud and treasure expended during, the romett ? Miserably,
indeed, have such expeetatione. if formed, been disappointed, anal
such hoot" deceived t For where is thc port of Europe freely omen
to our commerce, and where the State friendly to one interests.
from tte kledi'erraeenn to the Pali ic Such is the deplorable pic-
ture of that Minister's foreign policy. minor:wised, insulted, and
dwelled. If we tumour eyes honiee an!. the scene appears equally
gloomy. Ills numerous attacks upon the glorious edifice of the
Constitution, erected by our ancestors, and remented with their
blood—the constant dills to stifle the Wilk rniee, both within
Reid Otiose* the walls of Parliament—the screening of public ite-
lir.quen-a in favear of corniption and arbitrary troves; whilst
sgs.••e a Session passed, but some Act was introdLeed to increase
the corrupt influence of the Crown. and to in rail the liberties of
tar subject, crowning the whole with those infamous Six Acts ;
—these are amongst the blessings bestowed by boot Castlereagles
Administration. The system of Government has indeed lately
been somewhat changed fur the better. Mr. Canning and Mr. Ito.
bineon now guide the vessel of the State. men of more talent, and
spore apparently enlightened mind than their predecessors ; with
*hat sincerity, time, the best test of human actions, will shortly
more. Ihe public burdens have in sonic degree been alleviated,
end the foreign policy not altoeether no subservient to the dictates
of the Holy Alliance. But still let us be on our guard; too much
of the old leaven remains, to hope for a thorough reformation of
abuses, without which no permanent advantage can be obtained.
To prove this, we need only observe the timid conduct pursued to-
wards Spain, and the time-serving and doubtful policy towards
South A /Hail= Had a more manly and decisive tone been as-
sumed, and the Foreign Enlistment Act been repelled, Spain
Might still have been free, and our interests with South America,
both political and cummercial, firmly secured. klark, ton, the
weakness evinced last Session towards that oppressive and car-
'opt Orange faction, who, whilst they domineer over the Irish
refloat, set at defiance the State, the Parliament, and the Laws.
Let, then, the whole Whip of England stand forth in support of
Parlitunernary Reform staff the just rights of the people-. Let
doss rouse our Eepresentatives to their duty ; and, whilst we in.
'eke the name of Fox, let the solemn appeal be a watch-word to
rally all the virtue and energy ok the nation round the standard of
the Constitution. The President then concluded by proposing-
- " The immortal memory of the Right lion. Charles James
Fox"—which was drunk standing and in silence.
Colonel BE na ELcir then rose, and, in proposing the health of
the President, heartily congratulated the -Meeting upon the seal
and ability which he had displayed, ati well in the excellent ad-
shess which be had just delivered, as in conducting the general
-business of the Club.
When the applause with which this heist was received had rob.,
sided,
General Gr tse. returned Busks in a brief speech.
Colonel BERKELEY again rose, and, in to most handsome
dub
proposed the health of Sir William Guise, the ti'hig Alen.
ter for the County, observing, that ati en honest Whig, he felt'
'called upon to mike one remark respecting their worthy Retire-
kentative's first election. On that wawa, it was well known that
lithiself and a considerable portion of the Whip of the county
were placed in array against Sir William Guise, who at that time
gained a great victory; but the Hon. Baronet had sines then
rertherved a still greater triumph; for such had been the unifonn eon.
amtency of his Parliamentary conduct with the principles he had
ever professed, that he might now reckon Lord Sherborne, himself,
and all the other Whip who then opposed him, amongst the
pawnehest of his friends.
. . „. .......

Immense applause followed this toast; after which Sir William
returned his thanks for the very flattering *ay in which the meet.,
jag had drunk hi health, and begged to convey his particular'
acknowledgments to Colonel Berkeley, far the very handsome
eaanzer in which he had introduced it. The worthy B onet then
:proceeded to observe that since the death of Lord Londonderry, and
the removal of 3lr . Vansittart to the House of Peers, the present
Chancellor of the Bede/wet had et inced a disposition to relieve'
the country from the pressure of some of those burthens, which
had become so great as almost to overwhelm it. For this tin was
in some measnre entitled to the gratitude of the country; and he
*aped he would continue to pursue the same track. The near ap-
prtrtch of the session of Parliament called upon itim to prepare ler
the resumption of his public duties; and for himself he could only
sar„ that it was his hmt intention to use all possible exertion in
supporting (levy propreitiim for the reduction of taxation. At the
aatue time he expressed his hope that, by a system of economy and
retrenchment, and by a considerable reduction of the milittv-y
..eit4b:lehment of the country (which he thought was aOraillaMl
more for the sake et the patrenege and power tt *inferred, than far
any real use), a large porion of the existing hurthens might
,W ;akin off. After a few other remarks, the Ben. Baronet eon.
cliodad by returning thanks for the attention with which he had
been heard, ant sit down amidst the cheers of the company.
The gallant General next proposed, in a very complimentary
apes* the health of their late President, Colonel Berkeley, which
'en immured with the in wt flattering notice rout rfl idea, and for
which the Colonel returned thanks in a forcible and well-delivered
spc.t:h.

• Cannel Wens, the Whig member for the City, was next given
by Cob Backeley, in the recent Memorable terms; and the mew
Was drunk with the moat enthusestie bursts of applause.
Webb, in returning thanks, brieby exposed the high gratification
,be experienced in finding tbat his pubUc cendatt had been much
as to receive these Mattering marks uf, their regard, and pledged
• hireself uniformly to pursue the same eirs:, as he looked for no
',abet rewind thin the mead 41 their ap tion.
The heath of Captain Berkeley, ich was here pc
nailed forth lcmj enliewed Plaudits; which his brother, Colon
Berkeley, aekniewledged in gin menu* feeling, and truly ems
piratic speech.
The health sf 11Lr. Cnntili wets deaLsro,Lii_oisod, and drunk with
aims. simeathese upeemacilsahat theisn
tainvessive and MANI akequent the teases and mat.
-.tie eteadett we regret that wu Plante de' Ounce, nor will one li.
min allow us to do no than give an iniperfeet epitome of it.
Mr. Carroll &winowed by expressing his regret, that the eine
pthaset offend to him should he aworiated with :similar once, due
so the eaperior dins althea who surrounded him, and whose ac-
-I.' et ;edged tide to them only tended to sheer him how unworthy
mss of such a distinctiou. hi following the President through
Rite ditferent topics of his speech, he remarked that the points on
'milli he felt it necessary to oonipliment tha Minister', were pre.
timely those pealing which be Oir. irroth amsidered it most in-
cumbent upan him to put them ea their guard, with reference to
rtm portion of credit due is Ministers. l•raidates unperformed, and
pr waives uerealised. were what we had bran most accustomed
to experience at their hands: and he imploied the party, not ro
allow their um generous crednlity to be entrapped on e1..!+% orea-
ninn fur although Mr. Canning, in his awe rn Parlismeot, had
alined up his prayers for the 'mews of the Spanish cause, end
Mr. Robinson, in his, had promised a remission of the Awned
Taxes. yet the bayonets of Owl:waders in throne instan•ee, and the
rapacity of collector* or muyeyers in the ether, had rendered
tire the peepers of both. While the bigoted ferocity of France
called forward with the ma of discoed in one hand, and the 'weed
rof extermination yt the other. ravaging the fairest valleys of Spain
with impunity, the prayers of Mr. Canning were inoperative, as
were the beet intentions or Mr. Robinson, while his surveyots and
&raiment were employed la endeavouring to double the Melton.
inane.' to which preteens taxation had devoted as. Mr. Carroll
the De-- - characters of these who graced the
red manor less the institution ; and
ee and example, as affording a sdma.
ub to use his best caesium; in pm.
those to wham he had alluded, he
A independence and incorruptible am.
manifest in human nature. lie then
ring ont Col. Berkeley as particularly
nib station, Task, and importance,
to recommend him to the highrat an.
into a mein obedience to their views,
tenements that grandeur and the seder.
and geye to the humbler side of his
political consistency and incorrupt.
• taunt of remaining amongst than,

thus giving to his native county all the advantages that could re-
' salt from the expenditure of his splendid fortune amongst them,
and enabfir.g theta to participate with him in the enjoyments which
such fortune yielded. Mr. C.. then proceeded to make some re-
marks upon the political state of Europe, and observed, with re-
ference to the Holy Alliance, that their conduct proved them to
have assumed the character of the undertakers of the Continent,
who coetracted for the burial of the liberties of Europe, making
the destruction of those liberties the best source of emolument to
themselves. Ir. C. next adverted, with touch feeling, to the re-
marks which had fallen from the President with regard to the situ-
ation of Ireland, observing, that he had there touched the chord on
which all their sorrows vibrated. Ile lamented much the diTerence
of opinion which pc-era/led on certain topics connected with that
we unfortunate eentecjr, t still looked forward with hope to the day
when. all might ti fl it with him, that five millions of his Majesty's
subject*, who enj in common wit)) their fellow-creatures, the
breath of Heaven Air, the almighty providence of God deigned to
give them, were 2146 entitled to a participation in that political cli-
mate,of which the Ministers held the thermometer. In concha-
Sion, the eloquent speaker besought the individuals then present to
abstain from sudden or ill-digested decisions, either with reference
to the present or fame state of political affairs--to let the acts
of Ministers, not their professions, speak for them, and to
hold their best energies in readiness, in case the moment should
arrive when it woulu become their duty or their interests to em-
ploy them.
General Gems then proposed one of the chief pillars of our
Constitution, that inestimable blessing, the " Trial by Jury," one
of the crowning ornaments, and the capital of which, we had now
to lament as lest to the nation. lie meant that excellent and con-
stitutional lawyer, 1.0,1 Erskine—a constitutional lawyer in the
strictest sense of the cord, and consistent in the cause of the Cu,'.
"simian, from the first conitneneernent of his career to the last
moment of his existence. Let, th'n, his name always stand united
with that blessing which his exertions taught us std well toaPiwe-
elate. " The Memory of bad Erskine, and the Trial by Jury."
The following touts were then given in succession :
Mr. Colchester; (Mr. (1. returned thanks).—Mr. Clive. and
success to him at Hereford—Rey. Edward Jones.—Mr. Ilyett,
the Vice President, who returned thanks.—The newly elected
Members; (Mr. W. P. Hartley returned thanks.)—Tbe :Hamden-
curing Interest of the County; (Mr. P. Hicks returned thanks.)—
Rev. Mr. I.hre on . —The liberty of the Pieta—peal/mit, to the
Club.--The Mayor and Corporation of Gloucester.
The Gallant Prlnsinsier introduced the next toast, by ob-
serving, that when we looked around and saw the Holy Alliance
trampling under fbot every spark of trtedom, wherever to be met
with, and the equally Holy Inquisition giving its assistance in
striving to quench the flame of religious liberty, so that the cause
!of freedom is nearly extinguished in Europe, let us hail her re-op- '
pearantie on the Smith American contirent, and may her torch burn
with brighter add brighter radiance, till it illuminate anti blaze
ninniphant throughout the world. Ile therefore begged to wom
" The Cause of Civil and Religions Liberty all over the Globe."
Mr. P. HICKS immediately rose, to request that the name of
Admiral Guise might be counted with that toast, whose late and
present gallant exertions in the close of liberty, in the very quarter
alluiled to, justly entitled him to that tiiatinetion.
This suggestion was adopted by acelastatim, and the toast drunk
with reiterated cheers.

Next followed, The Cause for which Hampden bled in the field,
and Sidnev on the nealrnkt—The Wooden 'l% Alla of Old England
—Mr. Phillpott‘—rimtain (fray,
A variety of other toasts were drunk, and it wag late ere the com-
pany Peparoted, and will be long before the pleanures of the day
can be forgotten.
LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.

Crone-Oiler, Jo. arafy 27.

11,
it i
brauc.l to which merlon. taxation
tin alarmed at the peculiar chars
bud of die table, and influenced re
he foreiWy urged their presence an,
las to each member of the Club to
Iroise its &jam Amongst the
pmerirad the most unquelified indi
I I: &Ocoee that could be made meat(
Leak an oppertuuify of poirri.g us
worthy of ehesevation. With 11
.Which would at ewe vane to nem
• %bodges, wad to sedate him into a
• i he wilily 'aimed ill the aflame*,
? - gone of a t'ourt conld ClirCT. and 0
,AJleer. urn. a reed esample of po
' I dibir pa:a/gear. fir had age the it