The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-12-11 00:00:00

PIAILIC MEETING AT EGHAM.

On Friday last, in pursuance of an invitation
circulated through the district, a 'post numerous
and respectable meeting of Nobility, Magistrates,
''Gentlensen, Clergy, and Householders in the neigh-
Inuirhood of Egham, Staines, and Chertsey, was
held in the Red Lion Assembly Rooms at Egham.
Sir JOHN Gismos hoeing been unanimously
called to the Chair. eiplained the objects of the
meeting. They were assembled "to take into Con.
sideration the terms of an Address to the King. hum-
bly expressing their loyalty stud affection to his Person,
and their attachment end devotion to our glorious
Constitution." It was scarcely necessary for him to
remark. that the cause of their thus meeting toge-
ther involved no party feeling. nor coiled for any
opinion upon the political questions which agitated
the cannery. Their sole object was. at a time when
the Throne and the Lows were equally thrrotened
by violent and seditious doctrines, to proclaim their
attachment to their Sovereign, rind declare their de-
?promotion to uphold his constitutional power
amorist every assault.
NIT. Fatataturtat moved the Address. Fie began
tiv assuring the Gentlemen be would confine the
terms of the Address to that which had been ass-
nouns-est in the mince for the meeting--mainely, a
loyal and dutiful expression of our allegiance to the
King, and a tam decisi to maintain the Consii-
ttif under which we lived. lie thought it quite
tinnecess4.y to touch upon. or even advert to. the
state of politics, or the cor.duct of the Government.
The great object of those Gentlemen who were
assembled on the present occasion, he conceived
to toe to express their sentiments of attachment
'to the Monarchy under which we lived. and unfit:,
which this great country had prospered, and which
A was their determination to maintain unimpaired ;
—a Monarchy limited to its powers, but invested
with all the attributes which could contribute to its
lustre and dignity, and its constitutional Nile-
t OM% possessing the means of gratifying stud reward-
-lig the subject. while at the same tune all exer-
t ise of despotism was so gitard4 as to render the
interference of the Crown impracticable to the pre-
udice of the rights, the lilwrties, or lives of the
peunle. It was minecessary for him to.enter at length
lino any discussion on these points ; and having
promised that he would not touch on the recent
calamitous event which hat: intereitied and occupied
the public attention for the last four months, he
would only refer to the 'subject. abstaining (*tom all
opinion either on its emiediesicy or result, to show
r•tiat roust be obvioous to every Ins al titan in the
; namely. the advantage which had been
taken of it by a vestal. corrupt, and prostituted
;.ro.i, to disseminate doctrines hostile to the feelings
of every well-regulated mind. nod subversive of all
that has heretofore been considered as sacred in the
institutions of this country. It was to meet those
dangers, to show that we were alive to them.
:h .t Oita meeting was convened; and lie was
persuaded it would be the object of the Address to
show to the Crown that we were determined to
',contain iis rights, and to resist the effect of doe-
tillers hostile to the character slid honour of Eno-
lishasets, degrading, and earl) polluting our sacred
and holy iostientions, defaming the person and lune-
tains of the King, and libelling the Legislot tore;
doctrines at variance with those glorious institutions
which have existed with advantage and benefit for
centuries past —which were framed by the wisdom
mod energy'of our ancestors—which were bequeathed
t.i us as • 'rust, which we tire ho lin honour and in
(reline to leave unimpaired, uniujured, to our po-te-
city. It weitild be unnecessary for hull to occupy their
prne by any eulogium on the pre-eminent blessings
ii.trierli from our Constitution, 114 established in law
wad in practice; but if he could believe that a
doubt existed in any rational man's mind on this
subject, se that ii question could he raised upon
it. he would beg them to look to the situation of
other countries. fie would ask in what country,
at this moment, could the Government be said to
to secure. or the people satisfied with their Covertl-
y:trot ? In what country did the poison of French Re-
volution not rankle and disturb the public feeling?
But he would say, that in all countries, the object
of envy and admiration was the British Constitu-
tion ; the object of attainment was this Constitu-
tion, where the Government is maintained and re-
spected, and the rights and liberties of the people
secured. Shill we then, he added, at this moment,
surrender tamely, unresisted, these blessings ? No:
we are assembled, in common with a great propor-
tion of the people of England, to express, and we
said boldly express, our determination to maintain
them. It is not easy to rouse the people of Eng-
land : they are accustomed to discuss sod examine
the politieul measures of the Government ; such
discussion corrects those measures and secures our
liberties. Its the birthright of Englishmen, boldly
and manfully to exercise this privilege ; and he was
fat maintaining a free and liberal press fur this ob-
ject ; but when these privileges were abused, when,
under the pretence of discussion, the most treasons-
Isle and seditious doctrines were propagated, then
the-good sense, the feeling, the character of Eng-
lishmen were pourtrayed : then they intanably
stepped forwent to rescue the country. Such is the
situation of England at this moment. The Lion
is roused, and it will be 'hewn, not only in every
part of the empire, but in every quarter of the
world. that England, now and ever, will be true to
kerself.—(Great applause.)—Mr. Fremantle, in
conclusion, moved the Address, which he read.
Should it appear to the meeting that any alteration
was PeCeSgary, it would be desirable to appoint a
Committee, of which he would willingly form one,
in the trust that the most complete freedom would
be exercised in its improvement.
The meeting having expressed their warmest.aps
probation of the Address,
Mr. WOOD ruse to second the Address, to which
he gave his oust hearty assent. At • time when
they were suet to express. their attachment to their
King, and to that Constitution which was the ad-
miration of the whole world, he would call to their
recollection the words •of a celebrated national
air. "Ride Brirarenia,w with the intention of ex-
pressing his conviction. that Brownout:mould cease
to rule whenever the people of England failed to
support their King.
Mr. PowELL, after paying a tribute to the able
and eloquent speech of the borer of the Address,
stated mum he did not rise to object to that Ad-
dress; but it appeared to him', imperfectly hearing

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