The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-18 00:00:00

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No 1,299.—Y0z.. XIV.] SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1821. Paws SP.
SIR FRANCIS BURDETT.
At one one o'clock on Monday last, a meeting of the
Electors of Watinioster was held at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, Strand, for the purpose of irking into
their consideration the steps proper to he taken in con-
sequence of the sentence latelypipsed on their worthy
representative. Sir F. Burdett. iii.:
At twelve o'clock the great_ room mot entirely filled
by persons of respectability, tftti soon after one o'clock
Mr. Hobhouse entered, attended by several gentlemen
of rank in Westminster, sad was loudly cheered as he

to constitute a libel, that the matter should be false.
But in these our happier days, according to Lord Ken-
yon, it made no difference whether what was charged
as a libel was false or true. It only required it to be
disagreeable to his Majesty's Attorney-General, and
perhaps so much the worse that it should be true. Did
any man whom he addressed doubt of the Manchester
outrage? (No, no.) Could any man doubt it t (No.) '
Well, then, Sir Francis Burdett had ready to offer to the
Court, were he allowed to do so, 119 affidavit]; from
ligt,
persons who were wounded. usaulted And sabred. at
that meeting. Be was not allowed to have thew mad;
ear/ Ahey WIN 116000 i 'hi 61401110 Per quartet not -
weiglialifesittar in the halal* And he could now
assure, not only that assembly, but the people ol Eng- I
land, that whatever the opinion of the Judges or of 1
Juries might be. Sir F. Burdett has never regretted, and
never will regret, his having written that letter; and
would now write it ten thousand times over if th cir-
cumtianoes called for it. (Long and continued cheers.) 1
From the time of Lord Coke to the present day, the
opinions delivered by the Judges on the law of libels
inconsistent
had not only been with each other, but
inconsistent with themselves. Chief Justice Scrogga
had declared, that it was not only a libel to attack the
Government, but to praise it without its consent.—
(Laughter.)---There was no danger of many of the
latter description Of libels being. committed in these
times. (Laughter.) Until the time of Lord Kenyon,
falsehood had been always considered as the sole con-
stituent of a libel, and so it was defined by the Statute
ol soandoLon magnation of Edward the First, which
began with the words, " If any man shall have invented
a horrible lie." The statute of Richard the Second also
made the proof of falsehood the constituent part of a
libel. No state of society was so abominable, as that
where offences were not defined, and if no one stepped
forward in Parliament to obtain a clear definition of
what was a libel, and what was not, the Hon. Speaker
declared lie would hini.elf. They might at present say
with Dean Swift, that it was strange that a man might
be called upint to answer for in a Court of Justice, what
he would not be called upon to answer for in heaven.—
The speaker contended. that those who declared that
truth might be a libel, were not the friends of good
goacruntent, but of anarchy, and were unfit to live io_
civil state, where law, and law only was the rule of
every mares conduct. He resollieteilt" saying of she
great Lord Camden's, that bail it not been for libels, we
should not have had the glorious revolution. After
some further observations on the law of libel, the speaker
conc.uded by saying, that the sentence under which the
illustrious friend of the people was now suffering, could
not disgrace him; but, on the contrary, gave him fresh
claims to his country's gratitude; and he could confi-
deutly predict that the name of Burdett would form the
brightest page in his country's history, and his conduct
beregarded as the best example (or future patriots, when
the name of hit prosecutors, if remembered, would only
be remembered to he execrated.

The Resolution passed with acclamation.
The other Resolutions and the Address to Sir Franc*
Burdett were reed by the Chairman, and passed with
the greatest applause.
A vote of thanks was moved to Mr. Hobbouse, and
carried with applause.

took the chair.
Mr. Hosnoves then aosesseoced ppeeeh to the
meeting. He said, that they were called together this
day, in consequence of the judgment. ptotiouneed
against their worthy representative Sir Francis Burdett,
The inotnent that event took place a considerable num-
ber of the Electors of Westminster assembled for the
purpose of considering what steps it became them to
take upon the sentence of their member; and it was
the opinion of these gentlemen, that a public meeting
should, without delay be convened, for the purpose of
deciding upon such measures as should be deemed de-
sirable upon the occasion. They all felt that some step
was necessary towards& man distinguished as Sir Francis
Burdett was, by every claim upon their regard ; a man
eminently distinguished for his virtues, his talents, his
illustrious and useful character, which had secured him
not only the esteem of the Electors of Westminster, but
also that of the country at huge.—(Loud and prolonged
cheers.)—To the sentence which had been pronounced
upon their illustrious representative, there were mi.
dently two parties, one, the accused—the ether, the
accuser. Of the conduct of which did the Electors of
Westminster approver Did they approve of the ;nose-
rotor? (Crier of No.) Then he had only to ask them,
did they approve of the accused? (Loud cheers, and cries
of Yes.) Had Sir F. Burdett committed in fact any
crime 2 (Cries of No.) Had he from first to last in the
matter, which terminated in his late sentence, done a
single act which compromised the greatness of his
character, or disentitled him to a contiuuance of that
regard and attachment which the Electors had so long
end so justly cherished for him? (Cries of No, and
.renewed cheers.)—He (Mr. Hothouse) esteemed it the
pride of his life to be honoured with the friendship of
ow* sjian. Ctifflasree.) He would not advert as
length to the circumstances out of which the late pro.
secution arose the people of England were but toe
well acquainted with them. The lamentable event at
Manchester would long be remembered by them—it
could never he effaced from their memory. It was the
outrage that had been committed on that day which had
roused Sir F. Burdett's—..which had roused their feel-
ings of honest indignation. And it was a stain—a deep
and indelible stain upon the country—aye, upon the
whole pen& of the country—to know that the sail
events which occurred at Manchester remained mire- •
drested. (Hear ) It was this which was calculated to
arouse their feelings—it was the sentence pronounced
against Sir Erancis Burdett 'Or expressing his honest
indignation at the occurrences at Manchester, which
Inuit fill their minds with the deep necessity of testify-
ing the sense they entertained of the conduct of their
long-tried and illustrious representative. He had
already said that the occurrences at Manchester left
upon the people of England a deep stain. Alter some
of the humbler victims were seized, their illustrious
friend, Sir Francis, was marked out. Several important
rights of the people were infringed by the manner in
which the prosecution was got up, In the first place,
tney had a right to complain of the prosecution being
made by his Majesty's Attorney-General, inasmuch as
it deprived the illustrious defendant of that Jury to
which he would have otherwise been entitled. Ex-
officio informations were no part of the ancient law of
England, and at the Revolution, when the right was
cskeu from the Master of the Crown Office. it was also
the intention to take it front the Attorney General; but,
uwortuttately, that important matter had been neglected.
Another piece of injustice of which he had to complain
was, that Sir Francis Burdett was not tried by those by
whom he ought to have been. They had heard of Put
Clubs. (Yes, and laughter ) Welt, then; Sir Francis
Burdett was tried by members of the Putt Club, for an
offence against the principles of Mr. Pitt, (Shame.)
Every mall who heard him had a respect for the verdict
of Juries; but it should not be forgotten that Russell
and Sydney lost their heads by the verdict of Juries.
The persons who assembled a large meeting, to petition
fora tree representation in Parliament, were almcon-
victed by the verdict of a Jury. Indeed, there were
Many verdicts given by Junts, from which, With all
respect to their general utility, men might amid should
occasiostatly thssetti. At all gems, he was sure the
greatest admirer of Juries (and, properly constituted,
they were admirable) would nut look to a PHI Cillti lur
Stiti members who were to compose it. It was decided
by the Jury, that Sir Francis Burdett had published a
lipped in Leicestershire, where lie did nothing; and then,
as they all knew, the business came to Westminster
Hall. For his part he tne2tst to speak with every
reference of the Judges, or else lie inlet rte
the next called up. Iu former tittles it w as dec. siary,

The CHAI*I4 AM then read a letter which he had re-
ceived Irons Alderman Wood, stating, that his attend-
ance ou her Majesiy, to-day, at Brandenburgh.house,
where numerous addresses were to be presented, pre-
vented'his attending at the meeting.
Mr.Grasox read the Resolutions and Address to Sir
F. Burdett, which were all received with the greatest
applause.
The Address_ embraced the chief topics so forcibly
alluded to in the speech of the Chaittitan. It com-
menced by noticing the Worthy Baronet's former com-
mittal to the Tower—it expressed in pointed terms the
indignation of the Meeting in seeing him now sutler for
having bloomed to reform the abuses of the Leg;slaloreii
and alluded to the re%olting proceedings at Nlatiehesier.
Ile then moved the first Resolution, which was se-
conded and carried unanimously.
Mr. BEECHAM then moved the second Resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. SKELTON, after a few observations, moved a
Resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Parkin>, who
said Sir Pi 311Clii Burdett most be supported by every
Englishman who loved himself.

The Resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. BEKCHER said, he never felt more satisfaction
than in proposing a Resolution decljratiov of Cie 4111111i°11
of that Meeting. of the necessity of Parliamentary
Retort., of which their illustrious friend was the per•
severing and distinguished advocate, 411E1 111 NIII/1011.1 Of
which he could quote Mr. Ft:x, Luca Grey,
Lord Erskine, Lord Julio and a tr"lle nut lc"
erect than the greatest in the Ili,tory of the Cuil•itry—
tie meant the hallowed name of halite:id. (Hear.)
God forbid the Friends of Reform shoold not be 0;ouAli.
the Friends of the 4111 g—they were indeed his
friends. and his M.kiesty could never have any io
fear, when lie renosed on the affections of his people.
(fle,r, hear.)
11.. oNe seconded the Resolution, which was car-
ried inianittioosly.
11.. H. SKELTON said, he had great pleasure in
proposing a Itt'SdiOtioU to raise the tine tu,posed on Sir
Francis H!tri:e.tt, by subscription attiot.e,
(hear, hear )

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