The National Register.
London, England, 1814-01-30 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL 'MONTER.

RELIEF of the SUFFEREicV at LEIPSIC.

77

Thorsday a meeting 1001: place at the City of London Tavern'
for the purpose O taking into consideration the most effectual
means of affording relief to .the startling, inbahitauts of Germany,
during the late campaign on the' Coutioent. H. Violation, Esq.
took the Chair in the room of the Duke Of Sussex, who was pre-
vented from indisposition. The Chairman Bull proceeded to state
the object of the meeting to be, to afford such relief to the sufferers
of Germany, as British benevolence might afford, The committee
had already of themselves sent. the sum of 40:Yl1. to those districts
where the distress was most pressing ; where famine and epidemical
diseases had already begun to appear, as would be esident from a
memorial that would be read by the Secoetaiy.
Mr. Martin then read the memorial, which was addressed by the
City of Leipsic to the independent and benevolent British Nation,
in behalt of' the sufferers. This document gave an interesting detail
of' the events of last October, and of the consequent distresses. It
was listened to with notch attention, and the concluding paragraph
m Lie a very strong impression on the whole assembly. It was
couched in these words:—" All the countries of our Continent have
been more or less drained by this destructive war. Whither theae
are these poor people, who have such need of assistance, whither
arc they to look for relief? Ye free, ye beneficent, ye happy Bri-
tons, whose generosity is attested by every page of the annals 4+l
starving humanity —whose soil has been trodden by no hostile foot
—who know not the fillings of him that beholds a foreign master
revelling in his habitation—of you the City of Leipsic implores relief
for the inhabitants of the. cireumjacent villages and hamlets, ruined
by the military events in the past month of October. We therefore
entreat our patrons and friends in England to open a subscription iii
their behalf. The boon of charity shall be punctually acknowledged
in the public papers, and conscientiously distributed, agreeably to
the object for which it was designed, by a Committee appointed
for the purpose. Those who partake of it will bless their bene-
factors, and their gratefol payers-for them will aseeod to Ikaven."
Mr. Wilberforce addressed the meeting in an eloquent speech,
which he concluded by moving.,
" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that the distress in Ger-
many is inconceivably great, and calls loudly on the British oathat
for the exercise of its accustomed benevolence; that we ought to
feel grateful that we had the means in ourpower and that the meet-
ing had no dafibt, that all would feel it to be their duty to contribute
areording to their means, to so laudable an object."
This motion was seconded, and carried unanimously.
Mr. John Thornton moved a resolution, approving the conduct
of a former Committee, appointed in thini, for a similar object ; and
11 r. R. Thornton moved, that the present Committee be empowered
to receive subscriptions. Mr. Butterworth, in seconding this resc-
hnion, said, that before the invasion of Germany by the French, the
country was like the Garden of Eden, but now it resembled the de-
solate wilderness. Never had any country been so cruelly oppressed.
A friend of imis, when traveli;n. thyough East Suable, wished to p:v
his respects to the Queen of IVortemberg, foemerly Princess Roy:+l
of England ; lint it .vas requested by a message from the Queenly,
omit waiting mnin her, lest 'lt should offend the French Ambas-
sador.
Mr. Luke Howard said, that the Society of Friends would 'join in•
the object of the meeting, because its basis was Christian compassion
I and benevolence. This was the ground of his accepting the ofhet:
of Assistant Secretary. He trusted that they would feel and act
like the good Samaritan, who said to the host of the wounded tra-
veler, take care of him till I come again. He moved (whiek was
seconded and carried), that it lie lecommended to the Committee
to observe time strictest impartiality in the distribution of the foods.
Time Bev. Mr. Clayton, Mr. Kuper, and Mr. Steinkopoff, severally
addiessed the meeting,.
The Bev. Rowland Hill was of opinion, that the sword had never
been taken up in a more necessary cause, than against that wanton
cruelty, by which mankind had been harassed for the last twenty
years. It might even be termed a t ighteons cause ; but for the bat.
• ' tic of Lei psie, instead of ten per cent. we most have.paid twenty.
" I have," said the Rev. Gentleman, " a worthy nephew,
name is well recorded for homaitity and same ity of mannem
not less for valour and heroism in time field of battle, amid who.
vices have, with others. relieved a whole people from the ef
of human miseries. The mode which Boonaparte pursued
• was, of all others, most 'Oust and degrading, and the syst
kidnappingikings is only fit fir marte, inspired by the D•
(Applause and laughing)—Now he begins to squeak, but tl.
reason why we sleinld be'in to pity."—(Lauglung)—ln.l+
towards individuals of the Corporation of Loudon, he recoDectt

, whose
and
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reatest
there,
tent of
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