The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-19 00:00:00

N01,299.—V0L. XIV.]

Silt FRANCIS BURDETT.

At one o'clock on Monday last, a meeting of the
Electors of Wes tttt i t ister was held at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, Strand, for the purpose of taking into
their consideration the steps proper to he taken in con
sequence of the sentence lately passed on their worthy
representative. Sir F. Burdett.
At twelve o'clock the great room was entirely filled
hy persons of respectability, and soon after one o'clock
isfr. lloblionse entered, attended by several gentlemen
of rank in NVettininster, and was loudly cheered as he
took the chair.
Mr. Iloanouse then commenced his speech to the
meeting. lie said, moat they were called together this
Clay. in conseyience of the judgment pronounced
against their worthy representative Sir Francis Burdett,
The inottient that event took place a considerable num-
ber of the Electors of Westminster a-sembled for the
purpose of. considering what steps it because them to
take upon the sentence of their member ; and it was
the opinion of these gentlemen, that a public meeting
should, without delay be con' coed, for the purpose of
deciding upon such measures as should be deemed de-
sirable upon the occasion. Tiley all felt that some step
was necessary towards a man distinguished as Sir Francis
Burdett was, by every claim upon their regard ; a Wail
eminently distinguished IM his virtues, his talents, his
Illustrious and useful character, which had secured hint
hot only the esteem of the Eleotors of (Westminster, bin
also that of the country at large...-(Loud and prolonged
cheers.)—To the sentence winch had been pronounced
upon their illustrious representative, there were es i-
deotly two parties, one, the accused—the oilier, the
accuser. Of the conduct of which did the Electors of
'Westminster approier I)id they approve of the prose-
cutor? (Cries ot No.) '(lieu lie hail only to ask them,
did they approve of the accused? (Lout; cheers, and cries
of Yes.) Had Sir F Burdett committed in fact any
crime? (Cries of No ) liad lie from first to last in the
mutter, which terminated in his late sentence, done a
motile act which compromised the greatness of his
character, or diseilittled 111111 it) a CW1111111311(.1 of that
regard and attaonitietit which the Electors had co long
and so justly cherished for him? (Cries of No, and
renewed clieers.)--lie (Nlr. Ilobhouse) esteemed it the
pride of his life to be honoured with the friendship of
snot a man, (Applause.) He would not ads ert at any
length to the circumstances out of which the late pro-
secution arose; the people or England were but too
well acquainted with thel/l. 'file lamentable event at
Manchester would long be remembered by them—it
could neter lie eliaced from their memory. It was the
outrage that had hen, enitinntleil on that oily which had
roused Sir F. Burdett's—ewhich had roused their feel-
ings
of honest ilidignalloll. And it was a clans...a deep
And indelible stain upon the country—aye, upou the
whole people of the country...to k now that the sad
sweitts which occurred at Manchester remained unre-
drested. (Hear ) It was this which was calculated to
arouse their feelings—it was the sentence pronounced
against Sir Eraticts Burdett for expressing his hinicA
indignation at the occurrences at Nlanchester, which
must fill their 1111114 with the deep tiecessity tit testify-
ing the seitse they entertained of the conduct of their
long-tried and illustrious represeittative. lie Ilan
already said that the occturetices at Manchester left
upon the people of England a deep stain. Alter soffit. •
of the humbler vicuna were seized, their illustrious
friend, Sir Francis, was marked out. Several important
rights of the people Vicki IlitriligeLl by the manner iii
which the prosecution was got up. In the first place.
{bey had a right to complain of the prosecution being
made by his Alajesty's Attorney-General, inasmuch as
it dilo.keil the idosirtuti• defendant of that Joni, to
which he would have otherwise been inittiled, "Ex-
Itiforitialwila were lio part of the aticietirlaw of
1; iglaud, awl at the IteVolillloll. When Ole right was
taken front the Master of the Crown °thee, it was also
the intention to take it the Attorney General but,
sutiortiiiiriely, dust inilnlraut Matter hail heel' ii,gleCted.
Another piece of injustice of which lie had to
was. that Sir Francis Burdett was tiot tried by those by
whom he ought to hate 6euti: 'Flow had heard 01 V.ll
(yve, stud lati;thler ) Melt, Sir Francis
litordett was tried by ottlith:rs of the Pit Ciiib, lor an
offence against the intlie.V.tei of Mr. Pdt, (Shaun.)
Every man who heard him hail a respect for the eeriitei
Of Juries but it should out be forgotten that Ituntll
and Sydney lost their heads by the verdict oh iiiriv9.
The permits who assenthled a large meeting, to petition
for a irco reloreseination in Patllalltrlll, k%ele CM].
Vietell by the serdict it: a Jury. litlet•cl, lusts %sere
many verdicts eis int by Jiffies, from which, with all
respect to their gilivral molity, men might and thoilltt
uce4l.loll.llly dilOvitl. Al all newt. he was sure fife
greatest admirer of Junes (and, priyerly cimaituted,
they were anintrable) it mild mill lord' Np a Pill Cunu 111,
the ttlelllhOr% Wit.) were mtl Coiliouse it. I, was decided
by the Jury, that Sir Frallett Burdett bad published a
libel in Leicesterslore, where lit OW and then.
ac they all kiwis, the lailit.etS Cattle 10 %%70111111141er
11.11. K.r 11is gait lie Me lit In speak %/th tvtrS
felielettce of the Judges, of else he might proaabh .-e
Ike tacit called up. In tartnet tastes it WAS IUC-ostlry,