The Sun.
London, England, 1830-06-24 00:00:00

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY OF' COL. EVANS,

M.P., INTO RYE.

(From the Brighton Guardian of Wednesday.)

• Wednesday last, the 16th instant, was a day set
apart for a public rejoicing, intended in celebration
of the return of Colonel De Lacy Evans to serve in
Parliament for this borough. Every thing indicated
the approach of a rural fete. A spacious bpoth was
erected in the Poll-marsh, for the purpose of ac-,
commodating the dinner party, and the town pre-
sented the appearance of a grove, the greater part
of the houses being decorated with green boughs
and garlands ; and in many places, handsome flags
and banners with appropriate mottos and devices,
were exhibited. For several days previously, con-
siderable anxiety had prevailed, in consequence of
the very unpromising state of the weather—and
great fears were entertained that it would be such as
to mar the anticipated enjoyments of the day ; but,
as though by the special interference of Providence,
the dark cloud of the morning fled with i!-s gloom,
and the welcome beams of the sun throughout the
day spread their gladdening radiance upon the scene
of patriotic festivity.
About one o'clock, the Chairman, S. B. Cham-
berlayne, Esq., and the Deputy Chairman, in their
carriage, with the- Committee and Stewards and
members of the Rye Independent Association and
their friends on horseback, proceeded to the three
mile stone on the London road, to meet the Colonel
and to escort him into town. The following is the
order of the procession, which was there formed:—
The Committee'on horseback, decorated with blue favors.
The Chairman and Deputy-Chairman in their can iage.
A Champion in Armour.
Col. EVANS.

And his friends in a splendid Barouehe drawn by six beau.
tiful gr ys, mounted by Jorkies with superb new liveries.

The Stewlrds on horseback.

The Members of the Rye Independent Association on horse•

back,

Followed by a cavalcade of their friends on horse-
back and in carriages; in the latter there were a
number of elegantly attired females. On arriving at
the boundary of the liberty of the borough, the
procession halted, when Mr. Holloway, ns Chairman
of the Committee, delivered the following congra-
tulatory address to the Honourable and Independent
Member :—•' Colonel Evans,—On your left hand
stands the boundstone of the liberties of the town
of Rye, Upwards of a century has now elapsed
since the men of Rye have been represented in
Parliament. lam deputed by the Committee, the
stewards, and the men of Rye, to congratulate
you in their names on having entered within the
liberties of this ancient town, which has now the
honour of being represented by so good and worthy
a man as yourself."

Colonel EVANS replied that he felt duly sensible
of the compliment offered to him, and hoped that
his conduct would be always such as to merit the
good opinion of the inhabitants.

The procession then moved on, headed by a band
of music, playing " See the Conquering Hero
comes," and by handsome banners, until it reached
Landgate. Here a. triumphal arch was erected, un-
der the summit of which was discovered a little girl,
about thirteen years of age, seated in a chair orna-
mented with evergreens and flowers. She was
dressed in white, and sat in a desponding posture,
with manacles on her arms. On the approach of
the Colonel, as the procession passed under the arch,
,she beFame excited, shook off her lethargie.,despon-
dency, and assuming an erect position, addressed the
following lines to the Colonel :
Long we have worn these galling shackles ;
Long our rights were kept away,
Till noble Evans came amongst us,
Broke our chains and set us free.
Let the sons of slav'ry wear them,—
We disdain to put them on,
We are free—my honest townsmen,
See our fetters broke and gone.
As she spoke the last line,—" suiting the action
to the word," she rent asunder the chains by which
she was encircled, throwing them away with ener-
getic disdain. This incident was well conceived,
and had a very powerful effect.
The procession again moved on amidst the cheers
and gratulations of thousands of spectators who
thronged the streets, the windows, and the tops of
the houses, uttering the loudest and the most joyful
acclamations that ever, in the memory of the present
generation, burst o❑ the atmosphere of Rye. Having
reached the George Inn, the whole party dismounted,
and the procession, on foot, and in the same order
as before, paraded the principal streets. At three
o'clock the party repaired to the booth, where they
sat down to a substantial cold dinner, of which
about three hundred gentlemen partook. Upon
the removal of the cloth, the Chairman proposed,
" Kiag, and better health to him"—Tune,
" God save the King. " The House of Bruswick,
and may they never forget the principles which.
placed them on the throne"—Tune, 6' Glorious
Apollo." " Lord Hill and the Army"—Tune, "Fall
of Paris." 64 Lord Melville and :he Navy"—Tune,
" Rule Britannia."

Mr. W. PROSSER then rose and in an appropriate
and forcible speech proposed—" A full, fair, and
free representation ;n the House of Parliament,—
the only efficient remedy for all our national griev-
ances"—Tune, " Plaudite, o Popule."
Mr. HOLLOWAY rose, and spoke as follows :
" Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—the time is now
come, when, according to the arrangements of the
day, I am called upon to rise in the performance of
the arduous, but at the same time, pleasing and
honourable duty of proposing to you the health of
our gallant friend and honoured guest, Colonel De
Lacy Evans. I certainly deem it no small honour
to be allowed to propose to you the health of the
man, out of respect to whom this numerous assem-
blage is gathered here this day; a man to whom we
are all of us directly or indirectly so deeply indebted.
We, who are men of Rye,—directly, in that he has
given us that liberty, for which for the last five years
we have so ardently sighed and so unceasingly con-
tended. And you, men of Hastings, of Winehelsea,
of Romney, and of Hythe, indirectly, inasmuch as
haying given us our liberty, he has prepared
the way in which you can the more securely walk
towards the attainment of your own. Yes ! Sir,
the gallant Colonel, like a good pioneer, has cleared
the road of many of the impediments which ob-
structed us at the commencement of that career, the
glorious termination of which we are met this day
to celebrate. He has swept away the dirt and the dust
and the cobwebs, which the gross neglect of a century
had allowed to accumulate until they had almost con-
cealed from view those charters and those records
which contained for us the seeds of life :—those
precious records which were to us, in a temporal
point of view, what, in an eternal one, the Old Tea-
tament is to the Jew,—the New is to the Christian,
—the Koran to the Mussulman, or the Shastu to
the Brahmin ; yes, they indeed contained for us the
cup of life : we drank of the cup, and we were roused
from that political death, in which for the last cen-
tury we had so silently slumbered. For five years:we
have been engaged in an arduous struggle for our
liberties. We have fought a good fight : we have
fought and conquered. And we are met here
to enjoy the fruits of .our victory. But a battle
cannot be fought without an army and without a
chief to lead that army; nor can that urmy go into
battle with any probable chance of success, unless
the individuals of whom it is composed be brave,

well appointed, and well disciplined. Nor is that
alone sufficient y it it els° necessary that the chief
should be brave, quick-siglitedj and sagacious;
brave—not to shrink before the face of his enemy ;
quick-sighted, to observe all the movements of his
foe; and sagacious, to take advantage of any false
step the adversary may make. Such ought to be
the character of jour thief, With such an army and
with such a chief, who fora moment could doubt of
victory ? Who then could doubt that sticeees must
eventually attend our banners, when I tell you that
our army Was eomposed of the undaunted, the
stout-hearted, the lion-hearted then of Rye.—
(Applause.)—Still less could any doubt of cur sue,
cess when I tell you that the chief who led that
army into battle was no less a soldier than the gal-
lant Colonel de Lacy Evans, a man whose brow.;
are already thickly bound with the laurels hs has
gained in the Peninsula, at Washington, and at Wa-
terloo—(Cheers)--and around whose brows we
will this day bind another laurel, there to remain an
imperishable memorial of what free men will do for
the man who dares to lead thenn on to victory.—
(Rapturous applause.)—l hate said that we have
been engaged in a war, and that we have gained a
victory. Let us consider what is the nature of that
war, and what is the character of that victory. If
there is any man who now hears me, whose views
are so contracted as to consider this as a mere war
of persons, I say that that man is incapable and un-
wortlfy of enjoying the luxury of this day. This
has not been a war of persons,—but a war of prin-
ciples.—(Cheers.)—We have not fought to pull
down this man, nor to set up that man. We have
not contended merely for the sake of rejecting Mr.
Posey from the House of Commons, that we might
put Colonel Evans in his seat. For five years we
have fought in this cause, and for five years wehave
endured privations and sufferings; but if it had been
only for the sake of pulling down one idol and of
setting up another, then, I would say, we should
have fought in vain, and in vain should we have suf-
fered. Where would have been the use of pulling
down Moloch, if it had been only to place Dagon cr
Baal or Ashtaroth on the vacant pedestal ? No,
we have not warred for an idol; we have warred
against idolatry. This, I repeat, has been a war of
principles, and not of persons. We rejoice, because
the good principle has mastered the bad. We exult,
because right has triumphed over wrong—because
equity now holds the scales which for the last cen-
tury have been in the hands of iniquity—because
justice has succeeded to injust.ce---.because the light
has dispelled the darkness—because freedom has
once more resumed her seat on that throne which
for the last century has been usurped by tyranny
and oppression.--(Cheers.)—This is why we •
triumph; this is the cause of our rejoicing. If then
I am correct in the view which I take of this ques-
tion—that this has been a victory of principles,—
then am I
justified in saying that this is a great, an
important, a solemn day. Nay, more ; that it is the
day—the great, the important day, big with the fate
of Freedom and of Rye. Yes, " now is the
time—and now is the hour." Now is the time
to wreathe the wreath and bind it round the
victor's brow. Now is the hour in which to set the
lost jewel in the crown of liberty and to place it oe
the head of him who has so nobly won and so richly
deserves to wear it. We had been lost and aban-
doned ; but this is our accepted time,—this is our
day of salvation. We were sick and sore ; but the
day-spring from on high bath visited us with healing
on its wings, and we are again restored to health.
Again the pulse beats high,—again the heart throbs
quick,—and again the purple stream of life flows
through the veins with the same wild impetuosity
as in those early days, ere time had bleached the
hairs of any of us. Heretofore we have been cast
down,—dejected; walking home like the beasts that
perish ; but now we stand upright, casting our eyes
up to Heaven, anti claiming kindred with those su-
perior beings who hold their habitations above that
deep blue arch which is at this moment so beauti-
fully spread out over our heads. We were enveloped
in darkness,—Egyptian darkness,—darkness that
might be felt. We longed,—we sighed to be deli-
vered from that darkness; we 1( oked around for a
deliverer, and at length we found him in the person
of Col. de Lacy Evans. Yes, Gentlemen, he has
done great and glorious things for us ; let us, then,
in return, endeavour to pay all due honours to him.
—(Cheers.)—And here, Sir, if I thought I should
• not intrude on your valuable time, I would gladly
enter into a recapitulation of some of the principal
events that have transpired during the five years in
which we have been engaged in this contest. It
was on the 4th of May, 1825, that we first went up
the Court Hall to demand our freedom ; we then
re-
ceived the following laconic answer, " This is not
the right time and place." This was the first stum-
bling-block that the men of Rye met with. They
never could find the 'right time and place. If they
went at the right time, they were told they were
not come to the proper place, then the time was not
fitting. We knew perfectly well that it was impos-
sible to steer our political vessel into the haven un-
less we brought these two points to bear on each.
other. We had many able seamen among us,—men
of great nautical skill,—but they were unable to
effect so desirable an object; and it is rather a curi-
ous circumstance that what no seaman in Rye could
effect,—a soldier-from the Horse Guards did accom-
plish. On the 11th of May, 1825, we again went
to the Court Hall, requesting to have the oaths of
allegiance, of supremacy, and of abjuration admi-
nistered to us, and to be admitted to the enjoyment
of all the rights and privileges of the town. The
reply was, " we are not prepared to give you an
answer." No,—gentlemen, they were not prepared
on the 11th of May, 1825 ; they were not prepared
on the Ist of March, 1830; nor were they. prepared
even on the glorious 15th of May last, when the
gallant Colonel struck the decisive blow which set us
all at liberty.- I have heard much vaunting about
the good generalship of our opponents; but I am
at a loss to know how that man can be called a good
General who is never prepared for the attack of his
enemy. All I can say upon the subject is ;—let
them keep their General,—so that we have our
Colonel.—(Applause.)—On the Ist of June, 1825,
we made our third appearance in the Court Hall,
when our opponents administered to us the various
oaths; but they declared an ignorance of any rights
and privileges which we did not enjoy. Ignorance !
gentlemen, it was a wilful ignorance; for we re-
quested them to examine the charters, the ens-
tomal and the records,—to read,—mark,—learn,—
and inwardly digest them ; and that th©n they
would be convinced that we were entitled t'o the
freedom we sought. But, no ! they rein:allied in all
the darkness of ignorance till the 14th and 15th days
of May,lB3o,when the gallant Colonel battered down
the walls, and when the roof of their fortress fell in,
admitting the full broad day light of knowledge to
shine upon them. On the 28th of August, 1825,
we assembled in the church-yard, near the spot
where the ancient cross was supposed to have stood;
and there, with the assistance of that staunch and
undeviating friend to our cause, Mr. William Pros-
ser, we elected our no less staunch and undeviating
friend, Mr. John Meryon, as Mayor. On the 29th,
we attended the Court Hall, requesting the Magistrates
to swear Mr. Meryon in as Mayor; this they refused
to do. We went several times for the same pur-
pose, but all to no effect. At length, our legal ad-
viser, tired of this skirmishing, ordered us to storm
the Court Hall ; and on the 18th day of October,
1825, we carried it by assault. On the 19th we
ascended the benches, clad in scarlet robes, offering

sat, " armed with a little brief authority, playing
such antics before the town as made the corporation
weep." We continued to sit upon the benches in
perfect confidence, little dreaming of the danger
which surrounded us; little thinking that at the very
moment that able officer, the Town Clerk of Rye,
assisted by that great engineer in Chancery-lane,
was sapping and mining us. The mine was already
dug; the Attorney-General shortly afterwards laity
the train, arid the Chief-Justice fired it. We were
blown from the benches, we fell from our high estate,
and thus ended the cant/Align of 1825. That of
1826 opened with an application to the Court of
King's Bench for a mandamus to admit all the men
born in Rye to their freedom. We were very un-
!ceremoniously kicked out of this Court,—the Chief
Justice merely asking the Attorney-General where
was the inchorstivt right ? The Attorney-General
replied, " In the Mayor and Jurats, for the Iwq 70
years." And so the matter ended. The Mayne
and Jurats had usurped the rights of the people:
and they were allowed to enjoy the fruits of their
usurpation; and that usurpation was made superior
to law and justice. The year 1826 was remarkable
for one other event, which must not be overlooked,
as it has tended greatly to the furtherance of thii
glorious cause. I allude to the formation of the
" Rye Independent Association." Knowing how
valuable this Association has been, I should be
guilty of a great injustice, if I did not mention the
name of the man who laid its foundation. To Mr.
John Blundell we are indebted for the formation of
the " Rye Independent Association," which has
done as much for the men of Rye, as the Catholic
Association did for the flaholies. In the year IS2B,
another application was made to the Court of King's
Bench for mandamuses to adn:it Mr. Barry's three
sorts, born after their father was In this at-
tempt we also failed. And now time rolled on, and
in its revolution brought round the present eventful
year. It was an the lust day of February that Co-
lonel Evgig entered Rye,--it was by moonlight
that he first surveyed the towers of her citadel
On the first of March he sat down before it; from

that day he gradualkr made his approaches, carrying
outwork after outwork, until, on the 26th April, Ca
had completed the investmeb:.• On the following
day the bombardment began, an; with very little
intermission was kept up until the :pth of ALY,
when the breach was made in the wall, through
which the gallant Colonel marched at the heat; of

the men born in Rye; and on the 15th the brettelt
was sufficiently widened to admit all the men of
Rye, paying scot and lot.—(Enthusiastic applause.)
Thus, gentlemen, have I endeavoured to give you
a brief sketch of the principal events of the Inn
five years. It was in May, 1825, that the mett of
Rye first commenced the work ; it Wag in May
1830, that Colonel Evans completed it. If vrti
in May, 1825, that the men of Rye first demanded
their freedom; it was in May, 1830, that Colonel
Evans gave them their freedom. It was in May,
1825, that the men of Rye first raised the pedes-
tal; the shaft rose by slow degrees; and in May,
1830, Colonel Evans crowned the work by putting
on its beautiful corinthian capital; and thereit now
stands before you, that beautiful pillar of Liberty, an
which shall be inscribed the names of the men of
Rye and that of the gallant Colonel de Lacy Evartx
at the head of them.—(Continued cheers.)—You
all acknowledge that you have incurred a debt of
gratitude towards our gallant friend ; but are you
aware of the magnitude of that debt? Let me en-
deavour to make you sensible of its extent. Ima-
gine (and unfortunately, such is the sad lot of huma-
nity, there are but few who are not acquainted Pith
the reality)—but imagine, I say, that you are
stretched on a bed of sickness, suffering under
painful, a lingering and loathsome disease; suppose
that you have called in the aid of all the physician;
in your neighbourhood, and still your disease baffles
all their skill. Hope has almost forsaken you; and

in your anguish you are ready to exclaim " Is theie
no balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician here ?"
At this critical moment a physician who by chance
heard of your case, calls in, examines it, pours wine
and oil into your wounds, and restores you again to
health and to life. How great would be the debt of
gratitude, that you would feel you bud incurred to-
wards this physician ! and yet, great as it would be,
you have incurred a greater one to Colonel Evans.
Again, suppose you were about to enter into a
battle. The trumpet has already sounded to Ow
charge; the dreadful onslaught has begun. In the
first shock you are thrown on the ground; your op-
ponent has already raised his sabre, threatening the
next moment to close your mortal career. Suppose
now some brother soldier should interpose his
friendly arm, turn aside the enemy's sword, raise you
from the ground, and restore you to the battle again.
How much would you feel you owed to that man
who had thus saved you ? and yet more do you owe
the gallant Colonel de Lacy Evans. Again, sup-
pose you are a mariner, and that on some dark day
in November you have launched your little balk cut
to sea. The stormy clouds gather thick, and the
moon sheds not one ray of light, nor does one star ap-
pear to guide you in your course. You drift towards the
shore—your vessel strikes—she parts, and your only
chance of life is to lash yourself to a fragment of the
wreck, and throw yourself on the mercy of the
waves. The last ray of hope has died upon your
heart, when, behold, some friendly hand launches
the life-boat and brings you safe to land. What
feelings of gratitude would arise in your breast to-
wards your deliverer ? but stronger feelings of grati-
tude ought to arise in your hearts when you con-
sider what the gallant Colonel has done for you.
And here, methinks, I hear some one exclaim
" what can we have given us more dear than life ?"
Do you not know that he has given you something
more dear than life. During the five years that you
have Leen engaged in this struggle, have you not en-
dured many sufferings and privations ? Have you not
sacrificed your pecuniary interests and your friends ?
And if need had been, would you not also have
sacrificed your lives ? And what is this great object
for which we have sacrificed so much, and would
have sacrificed even much more ? It is liberty.—

(Loud cheering.)—Aye, liberty ! It is for li-
berty that we have contended for the last five
years. It is liberty that Colonel Evans has given us,
and it is for this invaluable gift that we have to thank
him; and I trust that you will show by the manner
in which you drink this toast, that you are fully sen-
sible of all the great good he has done for you. I
propose " Evans and Liberty"—four times four.
Tune, " Scots wha' ha' w•i Wallace bled."
Col. EVANS—I rise to express my sense of deep
gratitude for the honour you have done me; I
assure you that I feel more powerfully at the present
moment than I can express. My friend, Mr. Hollo-
way, has put the question on the right footing ; we
have contended for a great principle, and for that
oily. To have been the means of effecting that
great object is to me a source of infinite pride, far
beyond any consideration of personal success. O►t
that ground Ido triumph. That feeling► alone has
animated me throughout the contest. Indeed, but
for that feeling, I might have abandoned the cause
in its progress. But to abandon a principle was im-
possible--(Cheers)—and knowing that law Hi
well as justice was on our side, I never for a moment
doubted of success. My worthy friend afterwards
diverged and lauded me really beyond my poor
merits.--(Cries of no, no.)—•All that I can pretend
to is that I fought with vigour and made every exer-
tion,—but not one effort more than you and your
cause deserved. You must be aware that the pr 0-
fession I have pursued through life has not been
favourable to the acquirement of the talent of public
speaking; but eloquence is fortun aely rendered less
necessary on my part on the present occasion, in
consequence of the historic sketch which Mr.
Holloway has laid before you. From that sketch
you may gather what I here assert to be the fact,—
namely, that the meed of praise is due to the men
of Rye, who have evinced throughout their ardent
and arduous struggle a manly, independent, and he-
roic spirit. To their perseverance is attributable
the attainment of liberty. Without the qualities

which they displayed, no talent would have sufficed;
and although I Lave no claim to similar merits, yet
I do take a pride in having been associated with
them in that well-fought battle, which has termi-
nated in the restitution of their liberties. In con-
clusion, I hope that the noble example set by the
borough of Rye may find numerous worthy imitators,
and that the result of our contest may lead to similar
contests with similar results throughout the country.
Mr. BARRY briefly introduced the following toast :
" Lord Palmerston and the upright and independent
members of the Rye Election Committee."—Tune
" Britons strike home."

Mr. HICKS had the honour of introduring the
health of Benjamin Smith, E5q,..,-(Applause.)
He was a man noted for his philanthropy; he was
ever engaged in the good tati,e, and he had on all
occasions shew•n a marked anxiety for the prosperity
of Rye and for the happiness and welfare of its
people. He was in truth a man of general benevo-
lence. Such was the universal feeling at Rye to-
wards Mr. Benjamin Smith; and when restored
health permitted him again to -visit that now happy,
because emancipated borough, the same good feel-
ing would doubtless be again displayed. Though
fully disposed to acquiesce in all that had proceeded
from Mr. Holloway, with respect to the deservings
of the Gallant Cokinel, he, Mr. Hicks, would not
consent to concede to the Hon. Member a greater
merit than %eat possessed by Mr. Smith,—who had
not been, backward in fighting the battle for the
eh I:iors of Rye. On a former occasion, he, Mr.
ttcks, had marked his sense of Mr. Smith's merits,
by voting for him as a representative; and when
the opportunity was again afforded, he should so
exercise his elective franchise. Mr. Smith knew
the people of Rye and their wants; and knowing
their sentiments, he was a very proper person to re-
present them in Parliament. He had great pleasure
in proposing his health with three times three,—
Tone, " Auld Lang Syne."

Mr. ADAM SMITII—I beg leave to return you
sny warmest thanks for the honour you have done
my brother. I regret his absence, in common with
many of you who have been kind enough to ex-
press a similar feeling. I can truly assure you that
nothing but the illness and exhaustion consequent
upon a long voyage across the Atlantic could have
prevented his being present at this celebration ; but
though absent in person, he is with you in heart and
spirit. I cannot but congratulate you on his part,
as well as on my own, upon the triumph which you
have at last gained, and which my brother, conjointly
with yourselves, has been for years labouring to at-
tain. Gentlemen, I know of nothing more injuri-
ous, both in its political and moral effects, than that
thing which is commonly called a "rotten borough."
I know of nothing more important or useful than its
ermnsipation. Let any man call to mind the actual
condition of most of the rotten boroughs which it
may have been his lot to have visited. He will
there have found tenantless and dilapidated houses,
—a decaying trade,—and a sluggish and spiritless
population, wandering about its noiseless streets;—
no signs of activity, life or animation are there. I
do not assert, however, that this is invariably the
case in all boroughs, local situation, and other favour-
able circumstances; a few spirited individuals may
sometimes retard the progress of that deterioration
and decline, which must ultimately work their way ;
but I speak of the generality of cases, riot of the
exception; and how can it be otherwise than as
I have ventured to assert ? The borough-monger,
—to retain any efficient controul over his borough,
--must necessarily keep all around him in a state of
dependence and servility;—poverty and ignorance
are his instruments and his agents. A real borough-
monger, who works well to his end, must throw
obstacles in the way of every commercial, pc-
litieal, and moral improvement. He will as much
us possible retard the diffusion of knowledge ; for
for knowledge is power and power is resistance. He
will discourage the spirit of industry; for industry
induces to independence, and from independence of
eircurnatances frequently arises manly and energetic
actions. He will even do his best to check a grow-
.4ig population ; for an intelligent, enlightened, and
independent community, joined by one common in-
terest, united by one common bond and goaded on
by one common oppression, are as irresistible when
thundering at the gates of the Constitution demand-
ing admission to their rights, as is the rushing of
mighty waters. Gentlemen,—a borough-monger is
like a Upas Tree ;—flourishing itself, but blasting
and withering all beneath its shade.----(Applause.)--
I congratulate you that you have laid the axe to the
root of this tree. To your spirit and energy is it
IM tug that you have not perished beneath its influ-
ence. I anticipate from your efforts the most pros-
FR410119 results. Up to a late period, you had no re-
presentative to assist your rights or to redress your
ssrougs; but the moment the man of your own
choice was returned to Parliament, you found him
at his post, powerfully and strenuously contending
for your interests.—(Cheers.)—Hitherto your chat-
tered rights have been bartered away like so many
cattle at a fair; but now that the nightmare is re-
moved from your bosoms, I see a brighter prospect
opening to our view. How many natural and arti-
ficial advantages does your town possess, which by
proper aid may be turned to a profitable and useful
account ? I know no reason why that river which
11,ws at your feet should not be covered with ships
and merchandise. Under free institutions, the foun-
dation and corner-stone of which is a pure represer-
ta. ion, there is, there can be, no limit to the progress
of individual and national prosperity. Gentlemen,
to destroy every petty nuisance, and every local
oppression under which you may hitherto have
laboured, and to improve every national and arti-
ficial advantage which you may possess, as far as
may be consistent with the most enlarged and
liberal views of the general interest, my brother
will (as he has always hitherto done) lend his utmost
aid. I can assure you he will duly appreciate
the kindness and honour you have done him this
day. Ido not affect to deny that he will be a can-
didate for your favours—(Cheers.)—When the
proper time shall arrive, he will most assuredly offer
himself as an independent candidate to free electors.
Ile has no selfish objects to attain,—no low am-
bition to gratify,—his only end will be to serve you
and our common country ;—and I will pledge my
existence, that should you think fit to repose con-
fidence in him, he will never abandon or betray the
trust.—(Cheers.)—Gentlemen, I have the honour
to propose the following toast •.—" The freemen of
Rye,—and may they never become the instruments
of tyranny, nor the tools of faction."—Tune," No,
my love, no."

Mr. MERYON begged to propose the health of
Mr. Samuel Miller,—the gentleman by whose judi-
cious exertions they had been led to ♦ictory. It
had been observed by the learned and eminent
Counsel employed, as well as by the Committee of
the House of Commons, that a better case, and one
so ably drawn, had never been brought forward.
Colonel EVANS feared that he might be consi-
dered a little out of order in rising to speak before
the toast was receivrd; but his feelings and a sense
of justice compelled him to offer one word of hearty
concurrence. However well the men of Rye knew
Mr. Miller, they certainly had not had the opportu-
=•v of seeing him under those trying circumstances.
had arisen in the progress of the business

health was given from the Chair.—Tune, " Tyro-
lese Air."
Mr. SAMUEL MILLER rose to return thanks. The
kindness of the men of Rye added materially to the
gratification which he felt on the recent triumph.
As an individual, observed Mr. Miller, I am un-
worthy of the distinction; and it is only as having
been associated with you in the glorious struggle
that I have merited notice. Although, gentlemen,
the kindness of Colonel Evans has attributed much
to me, yet it wet the goodness of your case which
commanded success. Ours has been the triumph,
not of individual merit, but of right and justice. It
was that right and that justice which urged cur
cause forward to a prosperous issue; mine was
simply the task of the humble pioneer, to clear away
the obstructing rubbish. I claim no distinction, but
beg to take my station in your ranks. Gentlemen,
when I came to reside among you, and reflected
that all the capabilities of Rye, both of nature and
of art, were paralyzed and in danger of being anni-
hilated by an insolent borough-mongering faction,
my very nature revolted ; and although called away
to another scene of action, I made a vow, which I
have religiously observed, never to rest till the
despots, whose rule blighted all industry and enter-
prise, were put to the rout. That vow, gentlemen,
was reiterated by your meeting, and the rumour of
it shook the partizans of your Reverend opponent
and made their impure citadel totter in its corrupt
foundation. The result of our late efforts has out-
stript my most sanguine expectations. Instead of
a second siege of Troy, which I anticipated they
would sustain, the strong hold was surrendered after
a two years' siege ; and it cannot be doubted but
that a complete triumph must be the speedy result.
There arc those, I urn aware, who would frustrate
the victory; these are the mere tools of the faction,
—the poor mites that crawl about the cheese. To-
day it is rumoured, for the first time, that your
Reverend enemy will lodge an appeal. In making
the announcement at this particular moment,—on
the dawning of the day we had fixed for celebrating
the triumph of justice over iniquity, perhaps the
Reverend Gentleman was actuated by a religious
feeling--(Laughter)—he probably desired to repress
the noisy ebullition of public feeling. The profane
shouts of joyous hilarity are doubtless not musical
in his Reverend ears, and he seeks to protect us
from the consequence of indulging in profanation.
But if he should be so ill-advised as to appeal
against the decision of the Rye Election Committee,
he will compel us to rip up and expose to the view
of Parliament the grossest and blackest corruption
that ever challenged inquiry. Well knowing, as
these men do, what scenes of iniquity have been
acted, it is astonishing to me that. any should be
found to cling to the Reverend Borough-monger;
they must know thet if some of their proceedings
were laid before Parliament, they would be distin-
guished and extinguished at the same moment.
When we made a breach into their Corporation, they
attempted to foist upon us as Mayor a person who
came out of Lincolnshire; his recommendation being
that he held three fat livings there.—(Cheers.)—
When we applied, we were told that the records
were of no use to us; but were they not withheld
because the Corporators knew they would let the
light in upon us ? Having obtained possession of
them, we found that oar rights were therein ac-
knoseledged ; those records sheaved that we were
entitled to those privileges for which we were con-
tending; and moreover, when produced, they nega-
tived the willing eviderce of the Town Clerk of
Rye before the Committee of the House. But al-
though I am aware that the scorn of the town has
been expressed towards the despoilers of their neigh-
bours' rights, yet I am convinced that the men of
Rye, having regained their station, are ready to bury
the past in oblivion, and to act in union with their
late opponents; and I trust that the good sense and
proper feeling which they have manifested will lead
to an arrangement in which all former strife and dif-
ferences may he buried.—(Applause.) And I fur-
ther cherish the hope that a similar disposition exists
in the breasts of their late opponents. Ball are in-
tent on making homey, the combined efforts must
succeed. But if the Corporators arc still deter-
mined to oppose the participation of common rights
by all the men of Rye, then will the latter be found
to have acquired fresh energies, their former efforts
being encouraged by past success. The records
opened the Pandora's box of the Corporation ; we
turned out its contents and found Hope at the bot-
tom—but Hope without Truth is like Faith with-
out Charity. We found Hope combined with
Truth. The records recognised no exclusive privi-
leges ; by the Royal Charter, all were entitled.—
(Cheers.) Your pleasure, gentlemen, is double—
you may contemplate it both retrospectively and
prospectively. Your success is not the result of
compromise—(Cheers)—you contended for the
emancipation of all, and were satisfied with nothing
short of that. The struggle was severe, and you
have very properly expressed your gratitude to the
gallant Colonel and to Mr. Benjamin Smith for their
co-operation ; but, gentlemen, while 1 re-echo the
praises you have bestowed on these deserving indi,-
viduals, I must beg to claim for a gentleman, at least
equally deserving, the expression of your warmest
thanks and gratitude. To Dr. Edwards may prin-
cipally be attributed our success.---(Applause.)
To that worthy man—(Cheers)—we owe a debt of
gratitude we can never repay. In health and in
"sickness, have his mental powers been constantly
exerted in our cause ; and I have great satisfaction
in thus publicly acknowledging that to his talented
advice and legal experience I owe tottch.,—very
much. His learning was the beacon that directed
my steps—his assurance cheered me in the rough-
ness of the path—his perseverance led us on, ever
pointing to victory. The principle, which by his
aid we succeeded in establishing, is of the utmost
importance. It is a principle which will work the
emancipation of Hastings, of Romney, of Winchilsea,
and of Hythe. Before that principle all corruption
must disappear, and all obstacles to the attainment
of liberty will moulder away. Before it, despotism
will crumble into dust, and freedom erect its majestic
form. What man who partakes of the enthusiasm
of this day will hereafter succumb to a corporation of
despots ? Will not the other Cinque Ports, guided
by the conduct of Rye, and animated and roused into
action by this day's splendid proceedings—will they
not, I say, all enter the same path and pursue that
path to a similar result ? No man, lam sure, of those
towns,—and I rejoice to see very many of them here
—but will receive an impetus from this (lay's com-
munion with the emancipated freemen of Rye; and
that they may act as vigorously as we have done—
and that our success may be the harbinger of their
prosperity, is my hearty wish and fervent prayer.—
Mr. Miller resumed his seat amid deafening applause.
Mi. JAMES MILLER. then proposed,—prefaced by
a few words which were inaudible at our end of the
table,—" May civil and religious liberty flourish all
over the world." Tune—lsabel.

Mr. WILLIAM CIIATTERTON begged leave to pro-
pose the health of their staunch friend,Dr.Edwards.
—(Cheers.)—No man had been more firm anti per-
severing than he. Whenever their political horizon
was overcast with clouds, and the work of their
emancipation lingered in its course, they always had
recourse to their telegraph,—as they called Dr. Ed-
wards,—and he always cheered their hopes. lie al-
ways said,—" You need not fear,—your cause is
--• —;,,slice and right 4e with you and you must
—you are in the hands of gentle-
-(l—they will work out
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