The National Register.
London, England, 1821-01-28 00:00:00

CS

AIEEUNG OF M MIGRANTS, BANKERS, tic.
AT THE EGYPTIAN HALL.

One of the most extraordinary meetings we have ever
witnessed took place on%Vcditesday in the Egyptian
Mall, which the Lord Mayor consented to lend to the
respectable body of Merchants and Bankers who signed
the late regnisitim for calling a meeting upon the sub-
ject of the Declaration which lately issued from a few
persons denominating themselves loyal.
Long before the gates of the Mansion House were
open, a great multitude of the friends of the snug party
blocked up the way, and at twelve the rush into all. the
avenues was most overpowering. The Hall was Idled
in half an hour. There seas every appearance of conflict
long previously to the entrance of the Lord Mayor.
At a quarter before one Sir 1,4 .Curtis appeared on the
hustings, and immediately a numb, r of hats waved in
the air, and a powerful opposition was set up.
At one precisely the Lord Mayor entered amorist loud
cheers. Ile was followed by Alexander Baring, Esq.
.1. Smith, Esq. (brother to Lord Carrington), Aldermen
‘VOOd and Vk aiihman, and a great number of respectable
persons.
The LORD MAYOR stated to the inteting the occasion
upon which the requisition, signed by several of the most
respectable men in the City of London, had beets pre-
sented. Amongst such a multitude there most necessa-
rily be difference of opinion, and he therefore entreated
that au impartial hearing would be given to any gentle•
man who presented himself.
JOHN Smits+, Esq. stood forward and said, that it
fell to him to have the honour of introducing to the
notice of the meeting certain resolutions, and to
state the reasons that induced him and the gentlemen
with whom he was acting to submit them to their con-
sideration. The first resolution, which asserted the
custom of Merchants, &C. to hold public meetiogs on
questions of importance, was of great mo.aent. A de-
claration front Etch a body, by public advertisement,
must always be considered of great weight in Parliament.
Discussion was ever favourable to the interests of truth,
and he maintained that discussion could not be held in
any close assembly unconvened by public advertisement.
The second resolution expressed that there could of course
be no objection to—loyalty to the King—abhorrence of
blasphemy and sedition, and love of the Constitution, on
the pore administration of which the interests of society
depended.—(Cheera.)—The third resolution alluded to
the fact, that notwithstanding the great agitations of the
times, the prevailing disposition of the people was attach-
ment to the Constitution, and that whatever instances
of disaffection had appeared, or were likely to appear,
the laws were quite sufficient to pot them down. He
had heard with great concern that the laws had not been
put in effect against certain individuals who hail publicly
stated opinions inconsistent with the nature of civil soci-
ety, who had advised, that after a certain day no taxes
'mould be paid, and no laws should be obeyed, and who
had promoted the melancholy scenes that had taken
place at Mat chester.—(Here there were roars of disap-
probation from the Ultra Loyalists, and great applause
and waving of hats from the great bony of the Hall.)—
Those who voted with hint (Mr. Smith) were friends to
law and order, and were most anxious that the laws
should be judiciously administered for the benefit of all.
(Hisses and groans [Mottled with applause.)—The fourth
resolution had reference to the Press, the freedom of
which was inseparable from the very existence of the
British Constitution. He regretted much to see any
attempts further to restrain that invaluable liberty.—
England owed the reformation of her religion, the esta-
blishment of civil liberty, and her most valuable insti-
tutions, to the rhinos of a free press. (Glee's and hisses.)
—The filth resolution was also one of great importance
to a nation so much interested in the maintenance of
th public credit, and treated of the existence of di&
twines and grievances which were aggravated by the pro-
ceedings adopted against her Majesty.—(Loud cheers
and great tumult for some minutes.)—As soon as the
noise subsided, Mr. S. said, the ianguage of the resolu-
tion was no other than that which was adopted by the
House of Commons, a body who had declared that those
proceedings were derogatory to the principles of the
Crown and injoriona to the best interests of the people.
Toe last resolution included a petition to the House of
Commons, praying that that House would adopt some
immediate measures to restore the nation to a state of
l'he Hall was in a complete thaws
when the last resolittl was read, and Mr. Smith's en-
deavours to be heard were all inetketual.)—The lion.
Gentleman then moved the first resolution.
Bonouscrost, Esq. seconded the resolution.
He said lie would not wok& the illeeling with any
observations, as if he were to address them he should
merely repeat the observations of his worthy tricod who
had just sat down.
Sir W. Cu K IS stood forward, and was received with
the mutt bOiiiefoll% applause by a number of the Ultra
1{0) alists who were in frOla Of the hustings. The worthy
A Idermais said lie had die utmost respect for many of
tile gentlemen who segued the requisition, and in many
things he completely agreed with them, but he differed
Ilona them in aerially upon the subject of politics, as
is)latic. were connected with the name of the Queen.
I le concluded by moving the previous question].
The LORD MAYOR bad ititerposed to procure a lie ,r-
-ini4 for Sir William, but the appkuse ss as of so tumul-
tuous it nature, that all hopes is Cfe given up Of any
further quietness during the day.
Mr. B oANQUET stood forward to second the amend-
Went.

A. linatao,Esq. then stood fo ssard, and • ediately
the Ultra Loyal party set tip a yell, which the itsterie-
aetwe of the Lord Nlayor coldd but fora moment repress.
—Mr. B. said he hoped the persons who were thus pre-
senting freedom of discu4sion, would MSC to offend the
itwethig by conduct calculated to throw disgrace upon a
Sp.&tlds Assembly. A meeting of the Merchants of
me City of London should be conducted with some
cutlet and Solc amity, and imploted those around him to