The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

'54

and to prove to our future Soveriegn the interest we take in what
so nearly concerns her, is a measure creditable in itself, and founded
no less in policy, than in humanity and justice. -With respect to the
importance of maintaining that great bond of society, Justice,no
ditkrence of opt ion ran be entertained, and as littler should think,
of the violation of a:I its fundamental principles and maxims in the
person other Royal H.ghness the Princess of Wales—a Lady emi-
nent in rank, eminent in virtue, but super-eminent in misfortune ;
and I trust, our opinions will be as unanimous of the propriety and
importance of this Meeting, as our determination will be to spew
every mark of respect; and afford every support in (nu power to
the meritorious, persecuted, and Most► inns object of it. The long
and cruel sufferinJ she has undergone, the many estimable qualities
she has di played thronglamt, and the destitute and forlorn condition
in which,tliNt od tog her now universally acknowledged merits,
she is left, having inst her father not long since, and her mother still
more recently ; the King, to whom alone she looked for justice in
this country, deprived of his mental faculties, and that the cup of
afflietioin might be full, the mind of his Royal Highness the Mince,
her husband, poisoned against her;—and can it be possible that
there are men, and even good men, who think this a cause unbe-
coming the people of England to espouse? one in which they ought
not to interfere, and in which they have nothing to do ? Is it not
curious to observe, that those persons whose sensibility was so alive
to the misfortunes of the Queen of France,—who thought all Eng-
land and all the world should draw the sword to avenge her injuries
—have no sensibility alive, no commisseration awake, to the iojtiries
of the innocent and calumniated Princess of Wales ? What, in tact,
has been proved with respect to her Royal Highness that her
Royal Highness is full of condescension and kindness, and of most
benevtlent ! that her charity is not of the vulgar, casual, and
eleemosynary stamp, but a well regulated principle, uniform and
active ! that her Royal Higlwess takes the trouble to think hove
her charity can be applied most beneficially for its object and for
society ! nor could benevolence, united with wisdom, direct a
course more admirably ;limited to these eularged views, than the
one which her Royal Highness is proved to have adopted.
The well-considered olkji ets of her Loyal Highness's charity
are the children of poor but I:onrst parents ; these her (loyal
Highness not only maintains but ( titivates ; not only elrates
but places in usefol and creditable callings : nor even then
does the superliner ding, ever active, aml enlightened benevolence
of her Loyal Highness cease, but the little influence her Royal
Highness posserses is ever ready to exert itself for their fair advance-
ment according to their merits ; :aid the nation his only to regret,
that this influence is not as extensive as the heneVolelice which di-
rects it. These her Royal Highness's virtues have not been dis-
played by ostentatious hypocrisy,' or the modern pharisaical rant
of those who ever stand praying in public places ; no, nor by any
friend or well-wisher to her iloyal Highness,— hut by her enemies;
by those who, like Halaam, when sent for by Dalak to curse, was
compelled to bless, and was thus reproactied " Le, 1 sent for thee
to curse mine enemies, and behold thou bast blessed them alto-
gether." Thns have her Royal Highness's enemies dispelled the
foul vapours engendered by their owl; malice, and thrown a sun-
shine titian those virtues which would, but for them, have continued
to flourish in the shade.
" And that shohld teach us
There is a Divinity that shapes our clubs,
Rough hew them how we will.'"

"'Their blind aid indiscreet malice seems literally to have con-
Fidered her virtncs as sanctified anti holy traiter4 to her,' and pre-
posterousiy imagined, that divine charity, which in others covers
multitude of sin, could be by falsehood perverted into the means of
roves ing her Royal Highness's innocence, magnanimity and virtue,
tit the appearance of col,fnsion of
" (gentlemen, the treatment her Royal Highness has received,
ing, no doubt, to the eitr of his Royal IlkAniess the Prince, Ler
husband, having been abuser!,--the severity of her Royal Highness's
lot- --a woman, a P. ince:,s, and a stranger in a toriegn land.- is of it-
self more than sufficient to ca!ist every generous feeling, every
Englishman's leelin^r, in anxiety for In-2r Royal Highness's welfare;
.and gives her Royal Highness a natural and irresistiide cairn to the
protection of evf•ry lumonrable wind.---;:ientlemen, unable uS I ant
to have the hon‘mr of attending this meeting, I think it due to the
respect 1 hear yon, t!ois shortly to lay before you my plain, midis-
guisrd sentiments on this singular and he:wit:nit occasion.
I lia‘e the honour to subscribe mystlf,
" lour most devoted very fumble servant,
" FRANCIS BeRDEF.T."
tic letter was received throngliout with the greatest applause:

APRIL 18.

P.fRLIA MEN TAY? Y REFURAL

,Wednesday, about five Imola-11 of the Friends to Parliamentary
Re:Orin, amongst the Liverymen of the City of London, dined toge.
ther at the Old Loudon Tavern, Bishopsg de- street, to celebrate their
fifq4 anniversary.
After an excellent dinner, 1111 r. \VA Fin:WAN, the Chaikman, rose and
gave, "The King." He then gave, The Prince Regent; and May
he recollect his own &Oar mins', that he holds the Crown in trust
fir the benefit of the People." This sentiment was received with
some marks of disapprobation. —The Chairman then gave, "The-
foundation of all power—the People." This toast was received with
long and continued plaudits; as was the nest, " The Princess of Wales
and may virtue always tiiumph over malice and perseenti,m." 111 r.
Waldman then prop ,sed, " The health of Mr. Whitbread. and may
his manly elowience always be exerted in the cause of fief:dont, and
of injt,red innocence."
111 r. Wu ern-READ then came forward, and, in a speech of much
point and heeling, expressed his thanks. Ile said, he hoped there
were Gentlemen present who were entering into pulnie lite, and tt at
they would see how a reward erns attendant upon those who en-
deavoured t 4 do their duty, Mr. Whitbread, before he sat down, pro-
posed the hea'lb of the worthe Chairman
Lord A. flAairtross's he;:ltit was next drank, who addressed the Li-
very in a neat and appropriate speech.
The other toasts were, " Mr. Maide, and the Friends of Parlia-
ment Pry Ileform in Scotland"—Mr. Itvug, and the Independent Elec-
t,rs of illiddlesex"—" M.jor Cartwright, the Father of Ileforiu"--.
" Sir Francis Burdett, General Mathew," &c.
The Meetine continued till a late boor, and broke up amidst the ut-
most conviviality and harmony.

OLD BAILEY.

Monday, John Webb, alia4 John Atkinson, and Robert Brady,
were capitally indicted for iiirgery, and 'Melia:4 au order for 7001.
ti;s. purporting to be an order of Stephen Kei r on Messrs Ladbrook
and Co. bankers, with intent to tletilmd the said Messrs. Ladbrook
and Co. The principal witnesses agair;st the pvisoners were two
accomplices named Richardson and Cooke, the same as gave evi-
dence against Kennett ; but their testimony not being sufficiently
corroborated, the prisoners were acquitted.
Richard Wheeler the t Ider, and Richard Wheeler, the younger
(father and con), were capitally convicted of high trea-bu, in coining
divers pieces of money resembling tin current coin of the realm.
Tuesday, Mrs. Bowles, widow of the laic Gen. Bowles, who stood
Mdietcd for bigamy, and whose trial way put off until the present
sessions, was put to the bar ; but no evidence being adduced, she
was acquitted.
Thursday, J Northall, W. Brown, and T. Wheeler, were tried
for stOpping Mr. Newman on the King's highway, and robbing hifn
of a gold chain, seals, &c.—Northall, on being called on for his de-
fence, said, " What's the use of saying any tli, ; they have been
swearing away my life as fast as they can."--Brawn said, " I all
innocent, but you may hang me to-marrow if you like ;" and the
other prisoner protested his innocence. The Jury found all the
prisoners guilty--!lcuth ; after which, Northall told the Judge he
was guilty of the robbery, but the other two were as hinacent
any men in Court.--Northall had broken out of the Poultry Coinptee
the day before the above robbery was committed.