The National Register.
London, England, 1821-10-29 00:00:00

31u

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WI? ROBERT IVILSO.V.

Ott Thursday a !pectin; took place at the City of Lon-
don Tavern, Ilishopsgaie-street, for the purpose tit con-
sidering and adopting measitres so aid the subscription
contineoced by the Borough of Southwark, to raise a
subscription with the view of placing Sir R. Wilson,
the reach of Ministerial vengeance and ma-
lice," to quote the langtiage of the advertisements.
The meeting was held in the large assembly-mom,
and a more respectable we mi er beheld.
Soon alter one o'clock a large party entered by the side
door—amongst them were Messrs. Lambum, Bennett,
!Cc,
Mr. FavEtt. moved, that Mr. I..anibton do take the
chair. Carried by acclamation.
NI r. sta ro (the member for INlrliam,) took the
chair amidst loud applattses. Ile had deemed it his
ditty, he said, to attend that ineettog in compliance with
the solicitations of the committee for Southwark, beim:
anxious to attend wherever the cause of Justice and his
country could be benaiited by his presence awl the ex-
venous of every matt. He begged to say, that this was
not the cause of an individual—it was in every sense a
national question—(Hear I). 11 it were once admitted
that an alined hOtly were implicitly to obey the dictates
of a Ministry, whateter those orders might be, then
there would he an cud of their liberties.—(Hear, hear.)
As to the dismission of Sir Robs. Wilson, he could not
discover any shing like a cause for it. He knew the
conduct of Sir Robert Wilson on the eventful day ; he
thought he knew 311 that individual's thoughts and
wishes on the occasion, and he could take upon himself
to lay, and lie pledged his character to the accuracy of
what he stated, that all that had been set forth by the
adherents of Ministers was Idle' wholly false.—(Loud
.) The conduct of SI Robert Wilson on that
day, that eventfol day, had materially aided the magis-
trates; but the fault was, that such officer had sustained
our late Queen through the iwrtecittions levelled against
her by the Almisters—persecutions that would make
them stand for ever memorable in die pages of history.
But it was part of the system. Those who were not the
blind tools of Ministers were dismissed—whether it was
Lord Fitzwilliain, Sir It. Baker, or Sir 11. Wilson, Ind
those were the Al inisters, he said. who had employed a
Castles, and Edmonds, and an Oliver.—(Hear, hear!).
He, however, would have the people look to amid be
jealmis of the army, for its members were confined in
barracks and separated from the people; anti he la•lietit-
ed to observe that the army were being directed to such
purposes as he feared were eontemplated. The services
of Sr It %Vilsolt were of the most eminent character.
He had served his country in the East, the %Vest, and
the North, and eve ry where, with the most distinguished
success and advantage. The Sovereigns of Europe had
recogoized those services; but amongst all the stars and
honours that glittered on the gallant officer's breast, tint
one of them had been placed there by the !toter ))))) ent
of England.—(hear, hear !)---1-low was this? %VII,
as the Emperor or told him—" You speak the
truth." Yes; he spoke the " truth," in the camp and
in the Parliament, and that was reason enough for at.
tempts to destroy hint Let the meeting recollect that
the arm of ;muce was still raised against Sir R.; and
therefore it became the people of England to step for-
ward to support him against such power—for this cause
ss'as the petillit..s. Though the question was properly
taken tip here, he trusted it would be investizated by
Parliament. lie had not notch hope of the result there
—but investigation would tend to expose the character
of the systeto noire completely,—(Applause.)—They
would now have the resolutions submitted to them.
AI r. F‘VeLL then rose. He said lie had been soli-
cited to step forward to move a series of Resolut ious.—
lie Mil so with great pleasure, because he thought the
dismission of Sir R. 'Wilson a most unjust proceeding,
and if they did not step forward to sustain the cause of
that individual, what would the Sovereigns of the Coti-
tinent think of this country I—they would declare it to
be no longer " Great," but " Little" Britain.—(Loud
applause.) lie etiocluded with moving the following
That the dismissal of S'r Robert Wilson from time army,
sv it host t tit!, or even the statement of any eharee
against hint, ilia Wanton act iirathiliary power, under the
utprrrug:uiVc, a danua inroad WI the principles of the
constitution, and a Clad! injustice to a brave, humane, and
meritorious 00ivei, whose ilietingoith-d services to this
wountry and her allies have been repeatedly and solemnly re
cognised by t eery power in Europe.
't hat thi• roweling, :is friends of public liberty, nod the
con-littat ,)Ltne.r country, as e,.ttibitshed at the ievolution,
seilliugl embrace this importnitity of avowing, their abhor-
rence or any adniiiii•tration maintaining a large Winding
alai) in time of peat e, and endeavouring to make its officers
I e mere cre;.itnes of Inc minister I'm the tone beitig.
S. hint tins uireuui tiros •ith great snlisfacti iiii the
inacly law, 41 lai.Calet in %Inch so roomy of the hest and
m, t,ursr siippiiiters of the Mien les of thermion) have come
tot **aid io luau. with their felloss t ilizests in marking their
intli.maitini at such an attempt, as equally thing, routs to the
sou-titutlien nun deArndin.; to the army= threatening the one
subvei. tis military force, and depriving the other
af the noLle-t Itr:biOtt of Englishmen—that 111 freely
disc insing the nit mutes of the gus ensures.' under a hide the)
lave,

6. That the 1,015(.604m set on font by Sir R. W.'s con-
stituents shout base the hest support of this meeting, it
Fusing fat ils (object to protect Dor Robert Wilson at:Hoist
the aim of noimsterial sene,eance, and to show to the world
Lai, as often ais the ndvisers of the Crown shall contrive the
too nits of oppressing [hoed: public men who sitppoott the enure
of the people, flue people will Ruud forts mod to fiustente all
suet, t 11) attempt...
6. 1 bat the whole of the subscription raised and to hr
enoseol, be seated its five trustees, to he by thefts dos
peril of m the Aft, mo>l beneficial to Sir Robert Wilbuis
bo it bu faintly.
li. That flue Marquis of Tevisinek. 51 P. ; Sir Fianeis
Dad. ti, Hart. 5!. I'.; Jelin Geodlie Lametoa, H•q. I'.
I.ilward Ellice, Esq. M. ; gild Gvurge Weather., be
refined ed to stet 10 t•uell Irthlre,
1. Than the (hanks of meeting ■►e eminently dee to
John Ceiorhe Laitibtnn, E.q, M. I'. fur having originated

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

this subscription, and for his unwearied zeal in this cause ;
particularly for having attended the meeting of this day.
S. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Marquis
of Tavistock, M. P. ; to Sir Frohcis Burdett, Burt. M. P. ;
to John'G. Lambton, Esq. M. P ; to E. Ellice, Esq. M. P.
and to George Wentlientone, Esq. for having accepted the
office of trusiees to the subscription fund for indemnifying
Sir Robert Wilson.
9. That the thanks of this meeting be given to James Bar
nett, Esq., for having kindly accepted the office of treasurer
to the said fund.
. . . .

Mr. G. BliatiNtrr rose to second the Resolutions. He
bore testimony to the great merits of S;r It Wilson ;
success had followed his march ; and honours had been
heaped on him in consequence by all countries but
his own.—(Hear, hear.) Yet he had obtained honour:,
here—they, however, were given by the people. South-
wark had done itself great honour in electing Sir Robert
Wilson, His heart and his feelings were completely
lingle.h. He had eventually endeavoured to resist the
persecutions of the Queen—conduct that had heaped
coals of fire on Sir Robert's head, and kept alive that
malignity which had never slept; that had been the
result. As to the dismissal, no ease had been made out
against hum. Why? Because he verily believed they had
no rase. No douht, the houte-office was filled with
aflid suits against Sir It. Wilson ; even the I •-office,
however, would not believe them. Sir It. had shown
great humanity; and that, he believed, was great rause
of otience, else why had Sir R. Hiker been dismissed ?
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. B ) trusted that the people
would spew that as Sir R. ‘Vilson had lost no honour,
he should not sustain any pecuniary loss; and thus
prove to certain gnu riling minds, however high might
be their stations, that the people would not desert those
who supported them.—(Applause.) Ile wished time go-
vernment to learn that the people were prepared to sus-
tain to the last their freedom.—(Loud applause.)
Mr. LAMITON said, he should most cheerfully do all
in his power to promote the object of the meeting.

Thanks were then voted to various individuals, who
who were present, and who hail promoted the object of
the meeting, 'Messrs. Lambton, Hume, Ellice and
Lushington, &c.
Mr. Husta, having been loudly called for, ascended
the table. lie returned thanks for the manner in which
his name had been mentioned. He assured them they
would find him the friend of freedom: anti he hoped
the time was not far distant when the people front one
end of the country to the other would call for justice for
many things 111.11 had taken place in the fatal month of
August, at Manchester and at Cumberland-gate. If this
act towards Sir R. Wilson wi:re to pass, then would 'up-
wards of twelve thousand hall-pay officers be under the
complete and arbitrary eminent of ministers; fur he de-
nied that the King had the prerogative which had on the
present occasion been claimed.—(loud applause.) That
he should be hereafter prepared to show. The prerogat:ve
possessed by the King was fur the benefit of the people;
4110 had lilt: InefOgaillie on the present occasion been
exerted for the benefit of the people ?-111acksione and
Locke told them to the contrary. If these things were
permitted, let the country recollect what an engine had
been obtained by the ministers—l2,ooo half-pay military, .
and between seven and eight thousand half-pay navy
officers. In August last, had not the military, instead
of remaining under the civil power, acted fur themselves?
If Sir It. %% ilson was to be put down—hencelo. tit every
halt-pay officer must be considered as a " slave depen-
dent." Ile hoped, in conclusion, that the poor relatives
of Hurley and Francis would not be forgutien.

Dr. lAISHINGTON also returned his acknowledgments
for the manner in which his name hail been mentioned.
'The case at issue had been well stated; and lie had no
hesitation in gWing it as his opinion, that the cotidtwt
towards Sir It. Wil,on, on the part of Ministers, partook
of the character of "unmixed despotism." There was in
trial—there was no statement to justify the dismission ;
and it therefore became the cause of the people. They
were bound in justice to themselves to place Sir R. Wil-
son in as indertulent a situation as he would have been
hail hie (.onstutition been sound ; for then, lie thoualit,
he would still enjoy the pay of a general officer—The
conduct of that individual, 011 all occasions, reflected
great honour to hinisel!, and was of adiantage to the
country. In the senate, he had done his duty; when
the Queen was to be prosecuted, that gallant man
threw himalf into the breach:—aks! all would have
pardoned him but that. (Loud applause.) It was that
conduct that aroweil the dark spirit of malignity; hut
the ministers would find that the contrary etlect had
been produced—an effect very different front what might
have been wished. Ile looked forward with earnest-
ness to the period whets all the circumstances of August
14 would be sifted and branded at they ought to be. lle
would not advert to them now, because he had no op-
ponent to expose and defeat.
Mr. ELLICE likewise returned thanks, stating that
Sir It. \V ikon was travelliil with hint from Paris till
the evening before the Qii :en's funeral :—so much for
the lying statements and affidavits antlOillieing that Sir
If. Wilson had been present at meetings at Deus tigtim
and elsewhere to plan the obstruction of the civil and
military authonties.—(fiear, hear, and applause.)
Thanks were voted to Mr. Pavel' and other gentlemen;
after which the meeting was dissolved, Nlr. Lanibtoit
having stated that subscriptions would lie received in au
adjoining room.

Major General Sir John Lambert, K.C.B. has
been directed to fix hi, head quarters at Newcastle,
in the county of Limerick, and to draw thither as
many troops as he shall think necessary to put a
total stop to the outrages. The 43d are reported
to be on their march to Limerick, and it is also stated,
that the II th and 42th regiments are ordered for
the Limerick district. The 42d Highlanders, which
moved from Kilkenny to aterford, were to march
to Limerick, to arrive there on Sunday.