The National Register.
London, England, 1823-03-03 00:00:00

•


THE NATIONAL

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY MEETING.

SATURDAY, :11ARC11 I.—A must, nuniterous and re-
spectable huily of Freeholders, 11„,aittl Owners, and Occu—
piers, assembled on the, Cade' Hall, Winchester, lor
the purpose of agreeing to a Petition to Parliament on
the pr, seut Agrictiltural Distress. The High Sheriff
havingzefused to convene a Meeting. Sir Thos. Baring,
in cutottoction with seven other Magistrates; acceded to
the wishes of till reguittionists, which circumstance 'gave
a more titan ordmaty.-interest to the occasion.
The Bei. Robert Wright proposed that Sir Thomas
Barium should preside, which received the unanimous
consent and applause of the meeting.
Sir T. Barnig.siod, that after the flattering manner in
which the proposition of his worthy friend had been re-•
ceired, he felt that he had no oPtioo, and must, in con-,
mortice; feel Monet( boom' to obey the commands of
I the Meeting, and should swilionsly endeavour to!dis-
charms the arduous and Important duty entrusted to him,
without fear, favour, or impartiality, of any kind, to the
utmost of his humid:: ability--:-(Cries of " Bravo r) and
if he should receive the co-operation and assistance of
the numerous and respecialile assembly he wat now ad-
dre:,sity.„ he should nut only esiev ill it us il il'gill privilege,
but as a great personal pratilicatiiin, ilk ilaVisig been
Called to till the sisitation.an Willett he was 110411 pl Celli. '
A requiaition wa, ',resented to the Sheriff, signed by up-
Muds of .f.. 01) loaners and occupiers of laud, requesting
bins to convene this Meeting, awl in refuse a coiliphance
with their wishes was a violation of the rights ofildriglish-
men. Sir Thomas, in conclusion, said—'• Gentlemen,
the present nigh Sheriff is, now here, and I have autho-
rity 11010 him to say, that, had the application been
made to him, he should itave costreued the Alerting.-
1 was nut aware that he was in office at the tittle, and
this is solely the cause of your seeing me here."
'Die itaplisiiimi was 'heti read.
Mr. Marsh expressed the 6ratiticallon which he felt
that the exertions made by the late Sheriff tit prevent the
fueling, had been counteracted. Mr. M. then_etnered
into a variety of statements sliewing the ~rice of corn in
1790, comparing them with ihose obtained at present,
and concluded by moving a petition, which was seconded
by Mr. Neal. ,
The petition embraced many of the topics urged in
other county petitions on the subject of agricultural dis-
tress. Among other causes of duress it -urged, an im-
mense standing army in time of peace—tilittecessary or
overpaid taxes—unmerited . pensions---eOrrupt sinecure
grants and set ersions—and last, though nut least, an
enormous civil list. The petition pointed out the rape:
dieney for the benefit of the ',oldie of ilislir )) i)) g in some
way of a large portion of the Crown lands, and prayed
tiLlt it S4IICIIIII enquiry should be instituted into the sub.
jeet of tithes, and prat hug for Parliamentary reform.
slr. C:olibeit said, the petition proposed by that gen.
tleinan appeared to be a doe ttttt mit not calerilated to
answer the purpose on the present occasion ; he should
therefore propose title winch he ,thysight snore clear—
more Oeinteit--and inure applicable so, the present cir-
cumstances, of witich. that gentleman (\lr. Marsh)
c.ottlil not be so will aware as himself. lf they gave.
r their sanction KJ the paper winch, Ile was about to sub-
m4 to them, they would go tome satisfied that th.y
had done something towards •prontining that desirable
chauge which tiny all sought. Ile slim moverr hist
petition, which was seconded by J. V. Earle, E,q.
It pesyed die House to adopt, while jet there was time,
the menus necessary to prevent the ruin of the landlord, the
clerical itientidient, arid 145 filflatef, and ilio niisery and utter
degredatittn of lilt' labourer ;Ail, on the I 611sday of Firbruaryt.
in that par of events so little honourable to EnKlatni, your
Honourable House received from this county a Petition, in
which we prayed for a large .. reduction in the standing only
"• —for a reform in your horouiratile llonsc—for tin klbUtiiiOn
" of all sinecures, pensions, rind crams, not merited, by well
, " known publics serf ices—a redaction of all salaries paid out
. " of the publiehumey—and fur a reduction of the interest of
" thepublin debt, so that those salaries and the interest of that
" debt might be lowered in proportion to the reduced state of
, " tbe wages of labour, and of the profits of tradesmen and
, " farmers." .

Mr. Hunt then came forward, and said—Here I am
once more, my lriends, after two years and a half in-
carceration in a dungeon, neither altered in spirit Or
principles.—(Applause.) Mr. Hunt then said, perhaps
at had come to the knowledge of a great number of
them, that since that time a climate had taken place
between hint and Mr. Cohhett, but he hoped he should
convince them that no private fueling—nu perweal ani-
tinnily shout.' induce hint to betray the great public
cause which had always advocated' since he could dia.'
tinguish right from wrong.—(Applause.) He was pre-
pared 16 support the amendment proposed by Mr. C.
although he differed from it in some minor points. He
concluded bre:pressing a hope that his countrymen
would soon recuver those rights which they had lost.
Mr. Fleming (M. P. for the county) addressed the
meeting at great ler.gth, sincerely lamenting the present
agricultural depression, and' escrowing au anxiety to
lend his exertions to elect its alleviation, which had
done by reducing his reins, or giving his tenants 'an
opportunity of throwing tip their Mimi before their
• leases were expired.—(Applause.) in Parliament he
had alwa)s adsocated every measure that had their
interest fur its object. Mr. Fleming concluded bymov.
Mg the resolutions adopted On the recommendation 01
Sir J. Sinclair at the general committee of the counties
iii Scotland. •
The Rev. It. Wright seconded the resolutioai. Mr.
Flemi ug's tesolutunis were first submitted, but only two
or three hands were 'hewn in favour of them. Mr.
Cobbeit's were then put. when several appeared in
support of them. Mr. Matir,'s resolutions were then
submitted, and the chairman decided that they were
carried by 3 majority. This announcement was received
with marks of approbation.
IL solutions sts-re then proposed, seconded, and adopt.
ed 1..), the nieetili.!, censuring the eunihici the [light
Sheriff, and for voting thanks to the chairman.
Soon after four o'clock the ine.ttitig bloke up.

Alt