The National Register.
London, England, 1818-06-21 00:00:00

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THF. NA TTONAI.

AIDDLESEX MEETING.
-ow-

Friday a meeting of the Middlesex freeholders was
he'd at the Mermaid Tavern, Hackney, to consider of
the hest means of procuring Representatives for that
county in the ensuing Parliament.
Mr. Stutfield proposed Kr. Byng as a fit man to-re-
present the county of Middlesex in the ensuiug Parlia-
menti n it's great applause.
Mr. Weod said he had taken the object of the meet-
ing into most serious consideration, and he was of
opition that Mr. Mellish was a fit person to represent
the county in Parliament. lie therefore
.proposed that
gentleman.
Mr. John Bigg said, he came forward because no
person had been tbund to offer himself of any treat
political importance ; he said that, not because he con-
sidered hi niself of any considerable political consequence,
but under the supposition that the county might he much
better represented than it was, he came torward to pro-
pose a gentleman in opposition to Mr. Mellish. If they
took a view of Mr. Nlellish's political conduct, be hail
no doubt that they would find it highly honourable :
but when persons were to be rutin nomination, it was
required that they should do their ditty unbiassed by
ministerial threats and persuitsi,,ns. If they looked .to
the votes, they would find that there was in Mr. Mel-
lish's conduct a consistency somewhat amazing. fir in
every question he appeared to have taken a line of con-
duct in opposition and hostility to the people. He
had voted in favour of the Suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act—a measure on which the public opinion
was so strongly expressed, that Ministers themselves
had found that they had acted in an improper and un-
constitutional manner. (applause.) He had voted in
favour of every obnoxious measure, and-had finteited
the . good opinion of the majority of the gentlemen
,present, as well as of the electors. On all great ques-
tions of -economy, such as affected their pockets, 1.4 well
as others, he had always acted in a manner contrary to
their interests. Under all considerations he was pre-
pared to submit to them a series of resolutions, which
they would adopt, if they should appear to convey the
sensed the meeting, and in theconclusion of the series
•thc.gentlentan would be named whom he had in view
to propose. -(Here there was a loud and general cry of
Name, Name f and Mr. •Big,,,s, in consequence, pro-
ceeded to name the gentleman whom he had meationea.)
'f he name of the gentleman he meant to propose was
T. %V. Clarke, Esq. of. Swaithley-house near Enfield.
The resolutions were then read.. Their substauce is
as follows:

ilat Middlesex should be represented by men who
were avowed enemies to encroachments on the rights
and liberties of the people, and determined friends of
retrenchment and.reform ; that the misuse. of public
money, and the abuses of
.public liberty, had been oc-
casioned by persons falsely calling themselves represen-
tatives of the people , that it was the.imperious duty of
the electors of Middlesex to return to Parliament men
whose
,past conduct gave security fur their futur," ex-
ertions, er whose principles had amyl; been those of
general and constitutional liberty.; that the thanks of
the meeting were due to the indepea.ent political con-
duct of Mc. Brig; that Jr.. Mellish, from his un-
varied support of the measures of Ministers—from his
voting for Vat. most inquisitorial impost the income tax,
and from his agreeing to the suspension of the Habeas
Corpus Act, the Indemnity Bill, and the Corn Bill, had
forfeited his claims to reprement .so enlightened and po-
pulous a ?minty as Nliessilesex, and was unworthy to do
so in future ; that it was the opinion of that meeting
that T. V‘. Clarice, Esq. of Swaithley-house, was e fit
and proper person to elect as a .iepresentative fur the?
ensuing Parliameut ; that district committees should.
be appointed to canvas the county in Mr. Clarke's fa-
vour, and.that a unbseeiptien should be opened thr. de-
fraying the expenecs eon:meted with Lis election.
Mr. Sweetly seconded the.resolutions. The iirse.re-
saltation was then pat to the vote, and carried tienui-
moualy. On the second tiiereAtiemed such an equality
of opinion that it was thought .expedient to divide. the
meeting. There was so much contbsiou, however, that
it was difficult to say how the question avas carried.—
We understood it to be decided in the negative. The
third and thurth were carried. Oa the finis, (that re-'
lacing. to Mr. Mellish), censiderable noise ensucel
tic room,. and the sacriff, after some time, deelatrad the
resoletion to be neeatived. The confusion 'still cane-
tinned hotvever, in Vie course of which the sheriff's de-
eieien was questioned. The sheriff then sr tin put. the
resolution, after which it was declared that it had been
carried by a vcry mall majority. The remainder of the
resolutions were then agreed to. •
After a short addrese from Mr. Byng and Mr. Mel-
Nish, exhorting their friends to use their utmost exer-
, tams 'et their behalf on the flay of election, the meeting
broke up.

It as-pcar, that a:t 'Expedition, though on a limited
scale, has at !etigth (b.p.:ited from Cadiz for Smith
Aron r'- Tic! three till, itched on. this occasion does
not exceed ?MO() men, who were embarked oa hoard
13 transport vessek, and convoyed by a single frigate.
Lima is the conjectured destination of the troops.