The National Register.
London, England, 1818-01-05 00:00:00

14111: NATIONAL RTAITSTEIL

testants, though the Protestants of England restored
hem.
Those several resolutions were carried with accla-
mations.
The Rev. Matthew Wilks moved the 16th resolu-
tion, expressing thanks to the Royal Chairman, and
amused the assembly with his very eccentric and an-
tithetical mode of representing the merits of his Royal
Highness.
Mr. Frend, in seconding the motion, said, his Royal
Highness studied the Scriptures in the original He-
brew, and thus by his example encouraged the know-
ledge of them.
The motion was carried with rapturous applause.
The Duke of Sussex expressed his gratification at the
honour which had been done him, though for what-
ever had been done, the meeting had to thank them
selves, not him : for he always considered it his duty
to attend wherever it appeared his presence would be
advantageous to the public interest. When he was
applied to by the Committee, his first object was to
examine the resolutions, for he felt that when one of
the Royal Family came forward and presided on such
an occasion as this, it gave a certain sanction to the pro-
ceedings. He had accordingly well weighed the re-
solutions, and he could declare that he heartily approv-
ed them. If, therefore, any persons wished to raise
alarm, and to excite a fear of anarchy and confusion,
he should tell them to come there, and witness what
passed. If in any discussion which might arise the
proceedings of that meeting should be blamed, he would
treat the censure with contempt. Fair investigation
was, however, always to be desired ; for, if the press
was not free, there was an end to all civil liberty, and
consequently to all religious liberty. If any one should
take up a contrary principle, and argue against that
liberty, such a person could be no friend to the coun-
try, and, if possible, still less a friend to the Royal
Family. It had been well said, that the bill of settle-
ment was a part of the principles of the Reformation.
By that Act his family had been called to the throne,
he said, called, not put upon it ; for it was upon the
ground of mutual advantage they came to this country,
and upon that basis the compact between the Sovereign
and the Sabject rests. When he wa *called upon to
give his opinion on such an occasion as this, it was
always his wish to state that opinion freely and openly.
lie would ask, could there have been that feeling of
independence, that practical freedom which now exist-
ed, had it not beer. for the Reformation ? There had
been, it was true, opposition to Sovereigns in Catholic
times, but the true princiale of resistance, founded on
the
.just rights of the people never acquired any con-
sistency until after the Reformation. That great event
awakened men's minds, and the institution which in-
terposed a shield for the protection of the innocent, was
the great security of civil and religious liberty. The
people of this country had been charged with disloy-
alty ; but recent events had proved them to be as well
informed respecting their rights, as firm in support of
them. It would be recollected, that when his Sovereign
ascended the Throne, in the first speech he addressed
to the Parliament, he declared that, having been born
a Briton, he was proud of the name of a Briton.
And he was justly proud of that name, for with it
was connected his own, as Sovereign of a great, a
free, and independent people To be called the King
of such a nation, is far more glorious than to be called
Autocrat, Emperor, or any other title assumed by man.
Through life his Majesty had preserved those princi-
ples which he avowed on ascending the throne ; and
he had, in return, been rewarded by the constitutional
support of a loyal people. He had, through a long
reign, been beloved, venerated, nay, he might even
say, adored ; as a King who reigned by law and in the
' hearts of his people deserved to be. In his attendance
on the present meeting, he had been highly pleased and
gratified: he had also received much information : in-
deed he might say, with a reverend gentleman, that he
had been electrified ; for he had heard many truths in
that place which did not easily find their way to a
Court. if any attempt should be made to spread the
idea, that in consequence of this ineeting the Church
was in danger, that any confusion was likely to take
place, their answer would be, that they were met in
the cause of truth. However different their opinions
might be, they were all united in the conviction of the
great benefits this country and mankind had derived
from the Reformation, and to declare their opinion of
those advantages was the object of their meeting. If
any attack on the proceedings of their meeting should
conic from any dissatisfied individual, he for his part,
would disregard it. tie trusted that any such attack
would only animate them to greater exertions in sup-
port of the principles they had that day avowed. All
unjust insinuations he should despise, anti leave to time
to prove their falsehood. While lie supported the
rights of the people, he should-always at the same time
resist all undue encroachments on the throne ; for the
rights of the Sovereign anti the People wore insepara-
able, and ought to be held equally sacred. He was not
to be deterred ;rum what lie considered his duty, by
any fear of consequences. They were contending for
the rights of conscience ; and when a mau considered
himself following its dictates, he might despise the

greatest tortures No one would be found to suppor
more firmly than he Would, the constitutional principles
which had placed this fetidly on the throne of these
realms. They had heard of an Lssociation of Sove•
reigns called the Holy Alliance; but if there was to
be such a unicn of Courts, he trusted there would also
be a holy alliance of nations, which was more likely to
(rove favourable to the peace and happiness of the hu.
man race ; and. he, being a peaceably disposed man,
would wish to give all the supporthe could to the latter
alliance. There were still two or three resolutions re-
lative to the publication of the proceedings of the day,
and after he had put them he would take his leave of
the meeting.
Mr. Marsden moved resolutions for defraying the ex.
pence of publishing the resolutions, ikc. and thanks
were voted to Mr. Cox, after which the 'meeting broke
up about five o'clock.

THE DRAMA.