The National Register.
London, England, 1819-11-21 00:00:00

MEETING AT GUILDHALL.

A Common flail was held On Thursday, pursuant to
a Requisitiu.. addressed to the,Lord Mayor by several of
t!re Liven, for the purpose of taking into cunisideration
site measures resoked on by the Court of Aldermen, for
the prosreirtion of the individuals alleged to li.tee Coll-
togeith-r, to produce a riotous ObblIM:11011 to the
election Of J 1.ur,l Mayer, on last Miellarlllias-thy, anti
lor adopting skirl] measures as might be deemed
ueccs-
aary in coosequence.
The doors were kept closed till past twelve o'clock, at
which tithe the livery were admitted. At live minutes
before one the Lord Mayor entered the Hall, attended
by his officers, amid the eireeringsand alt of the
multitude, and retired to his chamber. In about ten
minutes his Lordship, Mr. Alderman ‘Vood, Mr.Sheriti
Parkins, and Mr. Alderman Waithuran, appeared on
she hisstiogs, and severally bowed to the Livery, who
manifested the strongest signs of respect tot each indi-
vidual. Mr Sheriff Rodin ell passed on to his seat,
without presetatiog himself before the Livery. The
Common Crier then made proclamation. After which
the Lord Mayor came forward anti said,
" Gentleinen of the Livery-1 have the honour to
amounice that 1 have convened a Cominort Ilall, ill
comeq•;ence of a requisition addressed to site, very no
ustrously and respectably signed, and which von
shortly hear read by the proper officer. The only
ruqueat I have to make to you is, that you will most
nit-
>artially hear every gentleman who presents hinisch
Before you ; and that io any remarks vim may think
Koper to oiler, you will confine yonrselves 33 strictly as
passible to the subject under consideration." (Cheering.)
Mr. Ewell then presorted himself to the attention of
the Hall, a'rul was greeted with the warmest expressions
of favour. lie congratulated the Livery th it he had the
pleasure of meeting them once more in their own encl.
otit GmIJhaIL lie hoped they felt that they were once
more assembled as.free citizens in the metropolis, and
the heart of the British Empire.—(Applause )—lf cet
trio people had their wishes, the doors of th it Hall
woold rust on their hinges.—(Applause.)—lf they had
time to thy up their tears for the loss of their late Mayor
—(A laugh)—he should with great pleasure offer his
oongratulation on their good tintune its his setecesswr—
in having chosen a Chief Magistrate of the most tumid-
bed character and. honour, one who had most readily
acceded to their wishes in convening them together.—
at the same time,lie claimed it as the clear right of
his Lordship, that, in complying..with their clesiree, he
should not be held bound to give up any political sen-
timents of his own—that he should, equally with every
uitizni be allowed- to• think for hituself--and he (Mr.

la Veil) pledged- himself, that any resolution which they
might adopt:on that day, should not be considered as
implicating his Lordship's opinion. They had lately
seen, but he trusted it would be long befnre they should
see it again, that the political opinions of a Lord Mayor
had been a bar to the discharge of his civic duties.—
He was proud to be able to say that this:was not now the
case. They had had Lord Mayors of every various
Ipolitical sentiments, but he recollected none except the
ast two who suffered them to•interfere with, or obstruct
the petrormanee of his duties to his fellow citizens,—
Alderman Christopher Smith, for example, had presided
user them, but he had never acted in that way. They
were now met on one of the most important questions
which cook he submitted to their consideration—a
question peculiarly interesting. to the Livery, which
comprehended one-third of the citizens of London ; a
question deeply interesting to the citizens at large; a
question, he might add, deeply interesting to all English-
men. it was not a qoestion of partial or pulsate con-
cern, hut one that intimately affected the whole body of
the Livery. They claimed the right of entering Imo
the consideration of grievances, or of questions arising
out of the peculiar circumstances of the times,. on M
stuniner clay, Ott Michaelmas day, and on every other
day, on which common halls were usually held. 11 was
a claim founded on their most ancient charters—it was
recognized in Magna Charta—it was established by Acts
el Parliament—its exigency was deliberately acknow-
ledger' by some of the highest legal authorities the an-
nals of England could produce; he might mention the
name of Serjeant Glynn—and it was confirmed by lone
and ancient usa6e—(ApplatLe.)—A.nd if this right was
seriously meant to be ealleil in question and opposed,
he knew of no alternative, but that for all power and
opportunity of entertaining such Inestions, they should
Le left to depend en the arbitrary eupriee of a Chief
:.lagistrate, and then the Livery of London wanted no
more Gagging Bills—(Great applause.)—lint if • any
doubt existed on the solve:, i, was etrtainly extraordi-
nary that Ito other modus could be found tor deciding
the question but by tile public I:rosecutian of some (11
the most re.i.ectable members of the corporation, and
>me of their o!dest and most esteemed alk'klea tes. Sin lie
a them he saw preset'', and lie doubted not but that
they would shortly defend their men conduct with abi-
lity and spirit. lie had been told there was a con.ini-
racy on foot against the peace and property of the piddle.
lie feared that a cwt.:piracy t sled—a conspiracy
to overturn the rights and liberties oldie great city of
London. Ile hoped, hors ever, for its overthrow, and
that the event would utterly disgrace the confederates.
Ile was glad to find that the charge brought against his
;tends as lull for bribery and corruntion.—(Laughter)
—They wile indeed so well kilow.n for their manly
support of the rights of the Livery, that such a character
wail ha, e gained nu belief. The head and front of their
uffendiub was, in reality, tile high and independent man-
ner ix, tvlikii tuey def.tided the p; ivileges of their brother
Liver) men—those privileges which bad been secured to
the citizens through the courage and virtue of their an-
cestors. He was about to submit sonic resolutions to them,
the spirit and character of which, he doubted nut, would
saver `with their full concurrence. lie invited those
who disapproved of them to come forward and publicly
Express their reasons for their dissent. lie would read
tie I3LSOIII61)3•••4:iVy would be sccouded by a gentle-

TIIE NATIONAL REGISTia

malt of great honour and ability. o.e of the Itesulti-
tions pledged the Livery to the 1.11111)(41 or 'how rwineut
and spirited persons will, had oroltig.lll 1110SeC 0110115 oser
their heath ut tit:lending tt.r rights ut the Litcry ; lie
ner.l wtx reiiihrd them, as lie knew 111C01 10
comply, that the assistance of their np►acs might to
their grititl wishes. lie thcu read the Kew-
s.t.re

Resolved—That the Livery of London, in Common Hail
assembled, have an undoubted right, on Midst" 11111 l er, Mi-
chatlenas,ol any other day, to discuss auy matter of pub-
' tie grievant •e.
Resoli ed —That this Common Hall have rearm with
surprise,that atitanpts are now making to deprive tlu•nt ut
this established and constitutional tight; anti that the
Conti of Aides 11/VII, without any pies.tins ititimation of
such intention, have direr Is II I. 4.* I proceedings to be
commenced against weveial Liverymen, aniong w hoin is
one of the magistrates and represeulatives in Parliament
fur this city, and also against one of its sheittis.
Itesolved,—Thas the- IL:Wilt of ALlettnen, Common
Council, and Livery of London, are separate and distort
bullies, possessed of separate and distinct posse's ; that
the Court of Aldermen have lIU authority or jut isdictiout
over the privileges of the Livery, sr Ito conceive the nand
,proceedings to be an tttttttt rant•ble attack oot only opun
their pris item.. a. Liverymen, but upon their lights as
El.gii.llllllll.ll ; and, if the same should be Callird into el-
reel, must tend to the total subvessioti of !Hell rights and
leave them without any means of discussing or l'etitio tt ill g
against public grievances, subject entirely to the cap' ice
and arbitrary n ill of a Chief Magistrate, however he may
'be unduly or rot ropily influenced; and that it is thereto' e
'the imperious duty of every Liveryman and every citizen
of Loudon to watch with it-Murray and alarm this utipre-
cedentril and niswasiaillatale attack Hoot' their rights
.and privileges, and to use their sti miaow' exertions to
resist ever) Mission thereof.
Resolved, 'floss the Court of Common Council, as re.
presentative, of London, are bound, by their oaths as
well as their duty, to protect their rights, and prevent
any misapplication of the fonds of the Cut poration, for
which purpose■ the Common Hall Jo therefore earuestly
request their co-operation and support ; and the Right
Hun. the Lord Mayor is most respectfully requested
to lay the►e Resolutions before the Coust of Common
Council.

Resolved,—That the Chamberlain of this City be di-
rected nut to pay oily expences that may have been, ur
may he incurred, in such pi ostentions ; and that the Au-
ditors be directed not to allow any sorb expenses.
Rm.)lved,—That a Committee, consisting of 26 Live-
rymen, be now appointed to watch over the rights of the
Livery, n kit power to add 10 their numbers, and to take
such measures as they shall be advised.
Resolved,—That the thaisks of this Common Hall be
given to Mr. Sheriff Parkin., for his manly, independent,
and impartial conduct at the Common Hail, on Michael-
mas-day last.
Resolved—That John Atkins, Esq., late Lord Mayor,
by refusing to summon Common Halls, on three several
occasions, when required so to do by respectable mem-
bets of the Livery; by abruptly dissolving tau COlUaioll
Halls, when Liverymen were shout to exeress their opi-
nion. on subjects of great public. lance ; and by
now attempting to deprive throat of their ancient rights
of incethig to discuss and petition against public gi ter-
itUCCA, has skuwit a disitgard to the constitutional Notts
of Euglislinsen, and a marked contempt for the feelings
and uptmuua of his ltilon citizens, and Cali 110 longer be
entitled to their ontidrnee and esteem.

Resolved,—That the mauls of this Hall he given to
Sa ttttt el Fayell, Esq., the Move*, and Mitts Perring, Lsq ,
the Seconder ; for the able end judicious throne' in
which brought tot wand the Resolutions agreed to
this day.
Resolved unanimously—That the thanksof this Hail be
given to the Right Hun. the Lord Mayor, for
in calling this Hall, and for his uptight and iiiipartiai
conduct iu the Chair this dab.
Mr. PER I G advanced. flaying on the .29111 !sepleiii-
her list, expressed his W:1110 and cordial appun.al iii ol
the Resolutions from which die present procet twigs nail
arisen, it was not surprising that he shown leel great
pleasure in seconding those helm,: them ; ttiey were,
;pan, the same, having alike for their object the suppoi
of the rights and liberties of the Livery.
Mr. IVaithinan stood forward as the first resolution
was about to be pin, and was received w itii very I I
applause. He at. oil, he said, in a peculiar condition,
as the question before them W3S in a great measure per-
sonal' to him. He felt more difficulty than usual nn
addressing them, not from the scantiness, but the ton
great abundance of topics. He might, liowet er, very
truly say, hat lie was not more interested than the other
Liverymen. lloweier harassed and oppressed he might
be by the proceedings which had been nistituted aphis%
him, he could not but be gratified at the proud and
elevated posilino in which those proceedings had waved
him, not to defend his own rights, but those of it e- Li-
s ery. They (the Livery) laid placed limi high in the
etuoyinent of Cn is honours; if lie cool feel fur a 1110•
talent that lie had forfeited their confidence and former
good opinion. lie would inmiediaiely lay those honours
again at their feet; but as lie had sill the saute estima-
tion with thew,. lie was determined lii .1t.%01e all Ins
time and. energies, and all those advant.igts which their
has our had placed within his reach, for iheir te.e auei
service. 'They ought to allow something for the ircitati d
feelings of their oHionents. when the Liter, chose him
as the instrument for destroying the abuses of the Cor-
poration, a was to lie supposed thin the defeat would
rankle ill the hearts of their ettemits. Hence, as he
supposed, the present prosecutions, which were directed
equally against him, and to quash the rights of the City
' together. They (the Livery) ought to extend pay in
this tiot to say humble, but de6ratliil siaialiuti ul
adversaries. As those persons were not present, lie
would forbear as much as possible to coninent on their
conduct. He had differed iron moss 111 the Corp n...two
its to the duties of the Magnuracy lie had proiesteii su
Alderman Combe's case against ...iy IK 'meal ixidusion
from the civic chair ; he had I 000000 114 e moue t 01
opposition to that principle, done all in bts ; owes in
secure thetlection of that exee.lerii man. H.sad al-
ways, as far as he could, assisted in maintaining th
dignity of tin Chicf.Magistrate, and lied ior that purpose

Nal. er

---..-
made a point ol nut notteritg any enure or dintrences of
opinion as to polities, Lut when he saw an attemptspringing out trons politicalfeeling, to crush the liberties
of the City, he felt hiaireell bound to stand knit:nil in
their detract. . (Applause.). By some extratodostary
'strain, Walt sulitinlatwal agency, the Keret pOseeet:illtif
Or a Court of Aldermen hail been divulged. . 11e would-
leave it avith the Nleisthera to settle %% heater the facts
were rightly stated or no, and-if truly stated, whether
their proceedings were or were not proper.' lie had to
opittion to give; but throughout the mho, of them he
had not beets allowed :my opportunity of defence. Ile
ca lie to the COLIO, alit! 11011 to answer to ChStrgrs w liteli
he could not prey twisty hones ; the Aidernien them-
selt es evete equally iu the dark; aid hi the exp.:mite
proceedings which had been instituted, they actually did
nut kiluW 011 what charge their case shout(' be loutided.
lu the ease ol the meanest offu•er of tile Coon, etch if
they had a complaint against their •111itslial, they could
ion proceed wit hoot calling on lihn for his deli:lice, and
every N iliclt lie Colliti u.7.e for himself.
Hut It ttasuut so with him; lie ee as allowed 1.1) defence,
nor even an injwatioll of WA; ail the proceeentas %%cr.;
conducted ill the dark, and u huh: they knew that he nos
lyiuoon a SI. k Led. (Shame, shame.) lie w sold tell
inert' the cause of all this haste and injustice; the pro-
secutiott against Morsel: aim ;Abell, was consmeneed on
the tith day of November; he said against others, but in
fact, it was against all of them; they were all impli-
cated—(Cries. of )fts, we are all iii it—all, all.) lie.
was, as he before sail, ab.;eiis ; now it was so late ,ens-
Friday, below the legal opinions could no; be procured
for that purpose, that the summoning officer was
knocked up out of his bed, at eleven o'clock at night, to
receive instructions for calling the Committee at ten
• tire next morning, they having. toquake their report byt-
one o'clock the next day. Ihe reason for it was Litii:
Alderman Atkins inthight the ellarge—Groatis)—Al-
deritiati Curtis seconded ii—((;roans and hisses)—atiel
Alderman Cox supported al d losses again).
if they had waned till the 9 ii of No%rinber, Atkins.,
according to custom, must hate been snuck off the
Committee, and the seutor Aldermen must hare made
way fot others. Then !tow would the plot have gone
utii They had no less titan mite legal °dicers of their
whose s lanes were tiolible the alUUlnlll ttlileh Lid
been enjoyed by their ablest reduces:ors, and yet they
thouglit tit to go out of the usual road to engage the
Attorney and itticitor-Cierteral, and several others, to
conduct three proceedings. 'twits odd that the persona'
who. toad thus undertake') to charge him with prennoting .
disorder, were among the WWI turbulent its the proceed- •
togs of that .day. He would, however, ask any mats
then watts' to ea), if ever a Cootnum Hall was seen in ••
which the subject of debate was contested, uheie there
was less riot or Olintlit. For himself, no MAO ever
heard him illss or groats ; it was his pride to come for-
ward amid declare his optimum, and it he could notineet
his oppottente its the held 01 argument, be was always.
ready give up the cuntest.-..Alter sonic fualter re- •
marks, be rreumitucuded the Livery to he firm and tem-
perate w support. of their hurries, and promised his
humble co-operation w elidea‘ouring to support them.
Atter Alt. Titumsnat had apoken at great length, the
seeerat Resolutions were put and ca.rted al at mend.
thete being tout 'our !semis in the tutee assent'.
lily 'telt! up J&AlLIIIL thesu.
Nlr. Caustic Allen taint forward to propose three Re-
solutions....

lat. A Vito ef Thisaiss to Mr. Sheriff Perkins, for his
manly and independent Conduct on Michaelmas-day.
2d. A Vote Censure, nu the tale Lord Mayor.
3.1. A Vote of Thorans so me present Load Mayor, for
his mono, and issitepes.deut euudaet ae • Chief Magis- -
trate, ...id sue assembling the pressor eirrasooss Hail.
Mr.°Liv am seconded 'nese Resolutions. The two
hist ssere edified by acclamation.
Mr. Suerill Parkins stood forward to return thanks.
lie ,'aid he 11.111110 wish to trouble the Meeting with any -
observant/us of would rather wait until he saw
witJt Ins antagonists bad to say against him. Was it a
crime to du fun duty honestly and independently? In.
their eyes was. But it ‘l/311 a crime they could not
Cli,rges were lomight against bias by a certain
fict.on. Ile was called a Radical: it was 311 ambiguous
tern,. (I..aud,hter.) A 111311 may be radically good or ra-
Jiwhy
oad. He believed that that laction were Radicals
in the latter WNW. He was a Radical reformer of ab-
uses—lie was a Radical supporter of the Constitution
he was a Radical friend to the chartered rights of the
citizens of London—he was, in short, a Radical Eng-
Isthman, who loved liberty and hated oppression. (Ap-
plause.) He thanked them from his heart for the sole
they had bestowed on him ;. he fek honoured and happy,
and every hour of his life should be des oted to the holiest
and independent discharge of his duly.
Mr. HUIII.IIOW came forward, and perAsted for a long
time in addressing she Livery amid tremendous hissing,
mingled with partial applause. He was proceediug at 41
great length to censure sonic observations made in the
rally part of the proceedings, and which seemed to be
ton orderly, too psoper, and not Radical enough for his
taste, vs lien the increased tumult obliged him to desist.
Tile vote of thanks to the Lord .Mayor was then car-
ried wish acclamation.

l'he Lord Mayor, in returning thanks, said he
did not conceive himself entitled to their thanks,:
because he felt. he only discharged his duty—that
duty he should be always most happy and most
reauy to discharge. Ai the commencement of the
proceedings lie entreated Gentlemen to confine
diemselves to the business of the day—and not, as the
lawyers say, to travel out of record. lie was sorry that
gentlemen did not observe that. Ile was sorry pant-
cuiasly to see his friend Alderman Atkins, censored.—
(A laugh.)—He assured the Livery he was serious—
Alderman Atkins was his friend, and he regarded bum.
(App.aus..)—As a Alrgistrate, the A14%1111311 might
.1011 k at least lilat tie was acting right, and he was sorry
0 btC htu► crown:l.l.-0 ies 01 " But we are trey gladm
of it, though we should be very sorry to censure you.
lle had opinions perhaps different in some respect (rurally

Nov. ti.

thors,hut whatever may be tits t news, ne hoped he uould
be always found ready to do his duty—(Applause,) and
and the great uuty whi-.11 he should always discharge
it h pride and with zeal, was to stawl forward to defend
as far as he civil(' defend, the right, of his fellow citi-
zens. (Loud cheers.
Mr. 'rhocrosou now moved the thanks of the meet-
tiniz tn autl-Mr. Pertitig.
Mr. Elvell returned thanks.
Here Mr. Thomp.on proposed three huzzas, which
were given throughout the Hall, and the meeting
separated iii the iitino,t good order and good hthhour.
The conduct of the Lord .Mayor met with %Ink rrsal
-approbation ; he was loudly cheerol by the populace.

THEATR:CALS.
Drury-lane.—On Friday night, Mr. Kean per-
fbrmed at this theatre the part of Brutus, in the
tragedy of that name, with his usual distinguished
eclat. His reception was flattering, and his acting
justified the enthusiasm of the audience. "The tra-
gedy ushered in u new claimant for public putro-
eage, in the person of a young gentleman named
(we understand) Mude who pertbrmed Friday night
for the first time on the London beards the charac-
ter of Titus. To a•• pleasing • and prepoesesing
countenance, and a aware tall and well proportioned,
Mr. Made unites an easy and unembarrassed man-
•ner.—llis voice is clear and harmonious, and his
enunciation distinct, and we have no doubt that
when he shall have acquired by practice a further
acqnaintsnce•with the mode of managing his .nice
in so large a theatre, it will denote more compass
than it exhibited on this first trial. He received
-the wannest plaudits throughout the play, and a
very cordial and general greeting.hailed his ants
•in the conclnding scene. We have no doubt that
this actor will be fiend most useful and efficient at
this theatre. Mrs. Glover's Tullia, and Mrs. West's
-Tarquinia, were excellently sustained by those dis-
• tinguished actresses. The other chief parts were
-cast with judgment, and sustained with spirit and
ability. Thus much is due to the performers: but
it would be illiberal and unjust to overlook the
merits of the Proprietor and Manager, in the splen-
•dour of the scenery, dresses, and precessions, which
abound in this tragedy. The architectural scenes
are admirable, and show every thine in proportirm,
character, and beauty, that can be required on
such occasions. The machinery and whole ar-
rangement of the demolition in the great gate
and conflagration which follows, cannot be too
highly praised—it is, for effect, the best display of
such an event we remember to have seen on the
stage. Costume is observed with a clasical precision.
The musk between the acts, is creditable to Mr. T.
• Cooke's skill.
The pit was crowded le-excess soon after the
-opening of' the theatre last night, and the dress cir-
cle in the boxes presented a rich assemblage of the
rank and beauty now stationed in the metropolis.
Tee theatre is admirably lighted, and its ornamen-
tal appearance brilliant and striking.
Ovvent-Gartien.—Last night was produced a pe-
tite comedy- in two acts (founded on un historical
anecdote,) called A Mart Reign and a Merry One.
Stanislaus is in France at the tune that be is a.ected
to the vacant throne of Poland. The French Mini-
ster, apprehensive that obstructions would be thrown
in the way of the new Monarch on his journey to
his dominions, through the jealousy of the neigh-
bouring powers, employs a young French• Nobleman,
the Chevalier de Moranges, to counterfik his name
and rank—the stratagem sueeceslisomid while the
fictitious potentate is reposing and enjoying himself
in Brittany, the true Munarch escapes the vigilance
.of his enemies, arrives in Warsaw, and is crowned.
This is the basis on which the structure is reared,
of which the-following-is an outline. The Baron
de Husterville (Mr. Blanchard), at whose chateau
the Chevalier de Moranges (Mr. Charles Kemble)
is entertained, ls.s a lovely daughter (Miss Foote)
passionately attached•-to.. a youth, named Savalle
(Mr. Abbott), nephew of a griping usurer, who is
Treasurer of Brittany (Mr. Liston), and un old ac-
quaintance of the Chevalier's. The Baron destines
his daughter's • bawl fur the Treasurer, and Savalle
is abandoned by 'the latter, and rejected by the thr-
nier. Husterville has a sister also, who unexpect-
edly arrives at the .castle, and turns out to be the
Countess de z Roakere (Mrs. Davison), a lady be-,
tween.whom and the Chevalier a mutual and ar-
dent passion had been felt, but who is pressed by
her brother to marry the Count de Lausanne (Mr.
Connor), Governor of Brest, and 4he officer
ap-
pointed to conduct the false Prince on his feigned
journey. This Lady instantly perceives the strik-
ing resemblance between her lover and the pseudo
'King, and has her suspicion of their identity con- ,
firmed by dam veiling a scar on the right hand of
the latter, exactly similar to one on that o 1 Mn-
ranges.
Meantime, the Chevalier, touched with the un-
fortunate situation of Savalle, had interested himself
warmly iu his affairs, procuring him a reconciliation
• with izis uncle, and the means of access to the ob-