The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-12 00:00:00

MARGATE PUBLIC MRETING,

MONDAY, SITIKKOZZ 9. .

This day, al two o'clock. a numerous company of
Ladies and Gentlemen assemblsd at the Great
Room of the Royal noel, pursuant to adjournment
on Mondsy last, to consider the Rerrt of a Com-
mittee who had examined the cases 4f ocrofals. &c.
treated ■oder the new remedies of Mr. Charles
Whitlaw:

PETgit Moons. ErCit. lOW for the purpose or
proposing that Mr. Strickland, who was • visitor at
Margot_,_ should take the Chair.
Mr. MITIORD seconded the proposition.
Mr. 'LIDDY thought it would be proper that an
individual should be in the Chair who was entirely
unconnected with any party or any individual. He
therefore named the Rev. Mr. Bayley.
DORVILL seconded the motion.

Mr. RICIIMIL objected to Mr. Strickland taking
the Cbair, because he understood that gentlemen
bad a friend under Mr. Whitlow's treatment. He
was therefore a friend to Mr. Whitlaw.

A lung discussion took place on this point, when
at length the question was put to a strew of hands,
but the numbers appeared so equally divided, that
it was impossible to say which had the majority.—
The Meeting then divided—those who were fur Mr.
Bayley taking one side of the room, and Mr. Strick-
land's friends the other; but the difficulty of the
decision was as great as ever. It was then proposed
to appoint tellers, but to save the time of the Meet.
ing Mr. Strickland requested that his name might
be withdrawn.

The Rev. Mr. BATLEY accordingly took the
Chair, and having stated the object of the former
Meeting on Moodily last, namely, to receive the
Report of the Committee, which was adjourned to
this day, he then desired the Report might be read
to the present Meeting.
Mr. MITFORD accordingly read the Report.
Mr. STEVENS then rose to address the meeting.
He begged to assure 11:e Chairman that it had been
his individual opinion, which he had expressed to the
Committee, that he (Mr. Bayley) should be invited
to take the Chair. Who could they more desire to
see placed in that situation on this occasion than a
minister of that religion, the divine Founder of
which went about doing good ? Without offence
then to Mr. Strickland, he must say he was glad to
see him (Mr. Bayley) in that Chair, and be trusted
that Ina clinical education and correct feeling would
not suffer any thing ungentlemanly or indelicate to
be obtruded on the Meeting, if there were any per-
sons weak and wicked enough to attempt it. It bud
never been usual, he believed, where persona met
together for chaiiinble and benevolent purpoaes, to
have parties made against it; yet such had been
the case here. The present assembly probably
consisted of three classes of persons; naturally
there would be some friends of Mr. Whitlaw ;
there was the Committee, and there were those
who had received benefit from Mr. Whitlow's re-
medics. Ile knew that such were there, for he had
himself heard them state their intentions. " What !"
said they, " shall we sit idle at home when Mr.
IVliitlaw's merits are in question ? No, we will go
to the Meeting, and declare that we hsce ourselves
received benefit from them, and are living proofs
of their efficacy."—(Applause.)—Another class of
persons were also there. He would not willingly
suppose that there was ally person of the medical
profession, who would make a party to oppose au
institution for the benefit of mankind. Ile was sorry
that any thing so much like it should appear--
The CUAIRIIAW here interposed, and requested
the speaker to abstain from imputing iiiipsoper
motives; their opposition slight be sincere.
Mr.,ST•vsms resumed. The third party who were
there were the benevolent British imblic,who wtrerver
ready in the cause of charity, and who come to hear
the language of plain common sense, advocate that
cause from which they would not be turned by
sophistry or eloquence. On the part of the Coin-
tnittee he would stale. that they came there to
shrink from nothing; all they wanted was fair and
candid dealing. It had been insinuated, that it was
their intention to have smuggled the question
through the town of Margate, but they declared,
upon their honours, that they had no such intention.
At first it was merely inteuded to be a social meet-
tug, sod it was at the suggestion, Ise had almost
said the imprudent suggestion, of os,e individual,
that the meeting was ultimately a public one. This
explanution would, he trusted, free the Committee
from the imputation of wishing to carry any thing
by surprise. The meeting did take place, and some
gentlemen came forward and wished it to be ad-
journed, which accordingly it was to this day. The
Report, which the meeting had heard rend. ►tated.
that two public inciting. had been held in London,
at the second of which it was stated, that 87
, patients hod been received and introduced to the
notice of the Committee, not that they were all that
were then under Mr. Whitlusea treatment (they
must talk of thouaa9cle instead of hundreds if that

were the ca.e). it was only those that the
Commiltee had carefully inquired, ioto. [Mr.