The National Register.
London, England, 1823-01-27 00:00:00

ISTER

Islam, consented to fix Tuesday neat for theitefuras
meeting—(loud cheering )
The Use. Mr. Cnessv et.t. proposed an amendment, the
effect of which W 45 to abolish the principal clei teal eats-
bli-liments at the Universities, the Chapters and Deaneries, I
as well as Fellowships of celibacy, which weer wily calcu-
lated to promote vice. The Rev. Gentleman encountered
many Mier' options, and was obliged to desist.
The question was then called for, and Mr. Host's
amendment was retried by an unusual majosity.
He then mused that it be signed by the High Sheriff,
on the part of the meeting.
The High Sheriff refused to sign it. The House of
C tons hail decided that a petition so signed was that
of the Slitrtffslone, and this was certainly nut his petition.
This refusal led to great confusion.
The HIGH SHERIFF repeated his determination to per-
sist im seducing to sign the peti not. It had been decided
ny the House of Commons that a petition so signed was
merely the act of the Iligh Sheriff.
Mr. HUNT insisted that the High Sheriff was, as the
public U11(411 of Ilse meeting. bound to sign the petition,
which had been carried by the majority, and his signal'', e
did nut any huffier identify
as being the Chairmen where it was adopted.
The HIGH Silent", repeated his determination not to
sign it, and asked Mr. Hunt why he could Hot move that it
be presented by some Member to Parliament.
Mr. HUNT replied, that lie coalit not move for the pre-
sentation of ass unsigned petition ; one, in fact, which
without the Chairman's formal signature would be a peti-
tion ft um nobody. The Chaismun was now the deposi-
tory of that petition. and must cleat with it as he pleased
perhaps taking it oat to his garden would be just as useful
as sending it up to the Howse of Coino 1111 l Mr. Hold
admitted that the High Shesiffhail done his dell up to
the present moment of the needing, but sliest certainly he
was betraying it now, inn termini; to authenticate the pe-
tition as the art of the ro 1111 l y.
' The HIGH SHERIFF 440, he would always perform
his duty fearlessly.
Mr. Hurl then moved a vote of censure 11110 U the High
She. if', which was inv:atitly carried b' acclamation, as
well as a vote of thinks to Mr. Hunt.

years, (a person in the crowd. • W feel it;—Hear.
hear) At the end of the reign of George 11. the money
spent doting the 70(1 years belOre that period aim 11111 l ed
to 79.560,3491. and the National Debt then :11110 ttttt ell
to 129,832.0001. During the reign of C.:tinge the Third
alone, there was expended in Great Britain the sum of
2,357,441,2621. Now. Gentlemen, in matters of this
kind it may perhaps be necessary to take snore than one
mode of explatettion. If we placed 50.000 guineas in
line on the ground, they would only extend one
whereas the stem spent in England in the reign of Geo.
111. atone, would extend twice r he whole earth, a
distance of forty-eight thousand milesl During the late
reign. the price of the laud, that is to say, Mott am: emit-
thine, inerease.l from tune million to two millMits.
which, with the addition Of taxation, made au Increase
of a million and a half in the consumer, milting a suits
of five times the rental of the whole kingooni. (Hear.
hear, hear.)—ltt the celebrated petition of my Lord
Grey, whiten was presented to the House of Coalitions
Oil tile dui of May. 1789, and which' lies upon their
table unanswered to this thy, it is stated, that the majo-
rity of Meant/els for England and Scotland were returned
by 15,01/(1 p.rsous out of a minimum) of 17 ntillio..s.
(Hear, hear, hear.)—It appears, also, from a Return
recently made, that Returns are made to the House of
Co tttttt Ems as hollows:
Peers. Members.
In Enalsnd and Wales 81 return 21S
to Scotland t ...2I .... 31
In Ireland

Total returned by 144 ZOO
'the re•oros by we C.,ouno..ers were as follows :
In England and Wiles 137 Members by Commoners.
Commoners Members
In Scotland
In Ireland 19 .... 20
Returned by Government .... 16

Making lB7
Add returned by Peers SOO
And you make a total 0f.......4.4 4BT
The whole number of Menitiess is the
House of Commons in 658
So that only 171 are revisor,' try one tiny of the people.
—(Cries ot " Sitaitie.")—Mr. Canning s next position
was, that whatever might be the corruption existing in
c. own ilt lts, it would he au act of najostice to the
proprietors to ilmshancluse them. I should like to know
what.i..justwe it would bet Before 1 can be brought
to lieliese it an act of injustice, 1
which gives to a private individual as ;peat an iufluesice
hi the House of Commons as is possessed by the inha-
taws to Westminster, alba the IrernoldertsM the county
mil York put tolettier. lint 1 altogether iltokthet there
ram., ady such law, and 101 course Ileily alsiith alleged
iiijitsoce. Distratielose a Coffllin Of a mitten Ottgli.
and you still leave :lo- lentil trial' his vote for the wilily.
which is all twit lie rioter ought lib 11.1.1/e, or has a right
to el. • .—(Citeets.)-1:, however, the safety of time
country i. so be sacrificed to private interests amid vestid
risms, it tms is 10 he dime, what are we to think oh she
'Milne:. in which our ancestors treated James the Seconii?
lie possessed a " ves.cd tight" to the twist exaltetitAce
Mice in this kitivt• hum ; he was au hereditary itldwarch
also, and yet we expelted him. (Cheers.) 1 all) a too
old to think of active life, amid therefore shall c lode
with expiessing my most ardent hope that the pia rof
your ue ti tt mii may he heard and attended to, amid that I
may never have an omit ttttt tiny of addressing you again."
The hot ttttt rattle gentleman concluded from the front of
the hustings amidst k.utl and general cheering I—He then
read the following resolutions:—
Resolved, 1. That the Constitution of this Country is a Go-
vernment consisting of Three Independent States, a Limited
Monarchy, a Limited Aristocracy, and a Limited Democracy.
That each has its distinct and peculiar functions, and privi-
leges, and that one of these estates cannot unduly influence the
functions of either of the others without disturbing that ba-
lance which is essential to secure and perpetuate the various
advantages which may be derived to the people from a Go-
vernment so constituted.

2. That the House of Commons, as et present composed,
does not express Use National will ; on the contrary, it has ton
generally proved its readiness to comply with the dictates or
whatsoever Minister may have dispensed the favours of the
Crown.

3. That the effects of the present state of the House of
Commons have been the wanton and profligate expenditure of
the public money, and the unprincipled creation and continu-
ance of useless place► Ind unmerited pensions, in defuince of
the load and general expression of the public feeling.
4. That the heavy pressure or load of taxes imposed, for the
purpose of supporting an extravagant Civil List, and of main-
taining a ruinously large Military and Colonial Establishment,
is totally incompatible with • state of profound peace and ac-
knowledged security.
6. That the only measure which can remedy these evils, and
preset ve the country from the dangers that may be anticipated
from • continuance of them. is a speedy and eff...rtnal reform
in the Commons House of Parliament.

6. That a Petition, founded upon the above Resolutions, be
prepared and presented to the House of Commons.
The Hon. Mr. PETItli, m secondiog the resolutions,
expressed his decided conviction that nothiiii. but reform
could save the country f the evils with which they
were surroomied. He confessed tha► he had lormerly
advocated different doctrines, and was but a reconvert to
nis present opinions ; but he felt that when despotism
was abroad, and when an undue influence was exercised
at home, it became the duty of every Wall to exert I ' -
self lor the welfare of his country.
On the question that the resolutions he put,
Mr. WORTLEY said—" Gentlemen, if I speak at all I
must speak boldly ; I must speak too with a confidence
of being heard, or else, with every respect I say it, it
it were better I should not speak at all. My hon. friend,
Mr. Fawkes, has put his argument iu the fairest possible
inamier.—(lear, hear.)—l am free to admit also, that if
my bout. friend's premises arenas*, I fully agree with his
conclusion, (heat, firer,) that it would he right to call
upon the House of Commons to reform itst If—But I
deny his premises, and beg to add, that Noll you and he
have taken a wrong sitw of the suttject. 1 deny that