The National Register.
London, England, 1811-03-24 00:00:00

IVESTMINSTLR MEETINC.

A General Meeting of the lohabitants, House-holders of the
City and Liberties of Westminster, was held on Monday in Pa-
lace-yard, pursuant to a Requisition signed by severiii respecta-
ble Freeholders.
At one o'clock Arthur Morris, Esq. the High Bailiff of the
City, took the Chair, and atter having read the Rerisition,
Major CA irrwaiori r came forward, and said, that the
task had devolved upon him of stating more fully the objects and
the necessity of the Meeting. In the first place, it'was thought
right that a City' of such importance in the empire as Westmin-•
ster should address the, Prince Reg( nt ou his accession to that
high office and important trust. It was not, however, possible.
that address should congratulate the Prince, either on the
causes which had placed him in that situation, or on the treat- h
ment which he had received from the two Houses of Parlia-
ment. If there Nvas any 10.0111 for congratulation, it niust be to
congratulate therniviVes and the country that access was again
open from petitioners to the Throne, and that they had to pre-
sent their petition', to a Prince, whom they hoped and believed
to be favourable to a redress of the grievances of the people of
this country. It had been stated with confidence, that the King
was likelyt to re-assume his Royal functions; if so, there were
hopes that he would listen to no advice more readily than that
which a retiring Regent might give. The Prince might there-
fore render the most important services to the country, even if
he should shortly resign the rams of Government. The grand -
object of this petition was, as all petitions calculated to produce
great good to the people must be, for a Parliamentary Reform.
It was obviously necessary to petition for it; fOr the people
did not express their sentiments on the subject, there would,'
without doubt, be plenty of visitors at Carlton-house, ready to
whisper into the ear of his Royal Highness, that the people were j
indifferent ITO the subject, and that nobody agitated the ques-
doh except factiousmen, such as air Francis Burdett for example.
—( Load cries of bravo ! bravo 1 )—There was no calculating
what effects such whispers might prodtice, if dr: Prince was not
to be informed by the people themselves of their wants and their
grievances. It would contribute no less to his own peace of mind
than to the interest of the nation, that his Royal Highness should
learn the real sentiments of. the people. A most dangerous and
unconstitutional power had been assumed by two branches of
the Legislature in making the Great Seal of the Empire an
humble instrument at their disposal. While they professed to
give ilfe and actiyilyto this-seal, they produced effects such as had
never beim heard of from seal, except at the opening of the
fourth seal in the Revelations, when death and hell followed.—
laugh;.—The Major thelidrvw a contrast between the state
of the country now, and its situation in 1788; and dwelt at con-
sith.rable length on the necessity of Parliamentary Reform. He
concluded by shortly stating. the substance of the Address which
he proposed, and moving some Resolutions.
Mr. 4VALKEK seconded the Resolutions, which were then
read and carried unanimously.
Mr. \Visite RT moved a resolution of thanks to Sir Francis
Burdett, which was carried unanimously.