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

to his going out of office, male a freeman, and such
freeman's eldest son was a freeman by birthiight ;
but that freemen might not increase too rapidly,
these Mayors had fixed their choice on antiquated
bachelors, or on old men worn out in the service.—
(Laughter.)—Nay, and so judicious was the selec-
dm], that the worthies were only deceived three times
out of thirty-six,—these three freemen, having the
hick to lose their wives, got fre-h ones, Whg gave
birth to sons.—(Tumultuous applause, and laughter.)
—Mr. Chatterton regretted that Dr. Edwards was
prevented from participating in their triumph that
day; and he concluded,—having proposed the
Worthy Doctor's health,—by expressing a hope
that as the'men of Rye had borne disappointment
with great fortitude, they would now sustain their
victory with a corresponding prudence. lie also
hoped that their neighbours would follow the ex-
ample Rye had set, and that he and his fellow
townsmen would speedily be invited to all the
rotten boroughs to jcin in their triumph on the
rearing of the standard of liberty.
Col. EVANS said that he could not abstain from
expressing his unbounded esteem fur the gentleman
whose health was proposed. Proud indeed he was
to call Dr. Edwards his private friend. The gallant
Colonel &poke in terms of the warmest eulogy, at-
tributing to the Doctor the possession of the most
splendid private viitues and moral worth ; and as
a constitutional lawyer no one was more talented.
11l health alone prevented his being present ; but
his soul, he was sure, and his best wishes were with
' them. " Were he here, then indeed were our table
full." The health was drunk, and was followed by
enthusiastic applause.
Mr. Join BLUNDELL regretted that the valuable
sentiment he was about to propose had not been
confided to abler hands. The theme in favour of
which he wished to engage their thoughts was
this,—" The cause for which Hampden died in the
field, and Russell and Sydney bled on the scaffold."
—(Long continued cheering.)—" I will not," said
Mr. Blundell, " insult you by supposing that you
do not know what liberty is; but there is one point
on which I may be permitted to remark ;—its
value. We should know its valve,—or we cannot
duly appreciate it. No period of history is free
from remarkable events in the cause of liberty ; men
have bled and died for it. Nor is this generous
feeling confined to any one country or to any par-
ticular age; it has existed in all countries and in all
ages, its seeds being implanted by our beneficent
Creator in the mind of man. In ancient history,
man divided against his friend to give liberty to the
people; and in later times, immense struggles had
arisen to attain that greatest of blessings. Look to
America and there behold, at one view, one half the
world successful in upraising the beautiful pillar of
liberty. And " though last, not least," in our own
country, we have no lack of brave men, ever ready
to encounter the host of tyrants. The natural
sire of every man is to be free;—and Englishmen
feel that, without liberty, they are as cyphers in the
world. Liberty is a thing of immense value; it
raises the moral character of man in society, and
also raises the importance of that place in which it
is bravely asserted and freely enjoyed, -since all are
now willing to admit that the qualities of the mind
are preferable to riches. Whenever a prosperous
population enters the lists against faction, the latter
slinks away appalled. That Rye is raised in moral
worth is most clear; if proof were required, I would
say that it is to be found in this highly respectable
and numerous assembly. All the-factions that ever
existed in this borough could not have united so
much worth and intelligence.—(Applause.)—With
our example before them, other towns must follow.
No man who sees this day can after live contented
in a rotten borough. Despite of all considerations,
he must stand up for freedom. I call upon every
man to do so,—not only for his own prosperity,—
but if he would see his children happy, let him pull
down tyranny and despotism, and set up liberty in
its stead. Our forefathers have bled in the cause,
—and with their dying accents they bequeathed to
us our liberty. Shall we disregard cur inheritance ?
No. Like our forefathers, we have had oppressors,
—but we have resisted them, and are crowned with
success. Let other towns do as we have done, and
the principle will not rest there ; all rotten boroughs
will be destroyed, and a pleasant odour will go
through the country. If the people will but do their
duty, and renounce allegiance to despotism, the time
will not be long ere every man will be represented
and no one taxed without his consent.—(Cheers.)—
This, gentlemen, is another illustration of the Value
of liberty. Mr. Blundell closed a very ahlrhated
appeal by declaring that he would rather die in a
workhouse and be called a friend of liberty, than live
in a palace and be painted at as a despot.-4 Cheers.)
—The toast was now given from the chair. Tune—
" Britons strike home."

Mr. WO,LiAst ELLENIAN begged to propose the
health of three individuals, to whom they were tinder
great obligations. They had long trodden the wine,
press alone; and they proved that something good
could come out of Galilee. They Were formerly
members of the corrupt body, which they had left
and became with others the instruments of our suc-
cess. To them, they were indebted that now as-
sembled as freemen and therefore •to them sincere
thanks were due. He proposed the health of
Messrs. Meryon, Prosser, and Barry.
Col. EVANS felt it unnecessary to add a single
syllable as regarded their merits; but he begged to
combine his personcl thanks; When ish others of
the Corpordtion would give assistance, those gentle-
men readily came forward.
Mr. MERYON, in returning thanks, said that al-
though bOrn a member of the Old corporation;, he
never spoke or his being a i"reemaii without a feeling
of shame ; but now he gloried in proclaiming him-
self a man of Rye, and he gloried still more in
having assisted in iftwartitirr freedom to his neighbours.
Mr. PROSSER followed; and hoped they would
long enjoy the privileges they had so recently gained.
Mr.Bnitut was also thankful for the compliment.
He trusted that the anticipations of the electors of
other towns would be realized as were those which
the men of Rye had entertained when they first en-
tered into the contest. He had been said to be
free for 65 years; but he never felt so till the present
day.--(Cheers.)—For that freedom he was thankful
to the Colonel. Freedom was necessary to the
prosperity of this country. Formerly England was
respected and feared by all the world ; now she is
despised and sneered at ; and to what was this la-
mentable change owing but to the existence of a
Parliament returned by corrupt influence ? Foreign
writers,—who could not be suspected of flattery or
partiality,—had all agreed in lauding our Constitu-
tion ; that that Constitution was abused by a borough-
mongering system was no longer a matter of specu-
lation ; and he trusted that the sprig of the tree of
• liberty which had been planted in Rye would spread
its branches over all the Cinque Ports.
Mr. HOLLOWAY next introduced the health of
Messrs. Harrison, Adam, and Merewether, the
Learned Counsel engaged in the late successful
contest. He spoke of the merits of each of the
Learned Gentlemen, dilating upon the talent and
ardour they had displayed.
Colonel EVANS begged to refer to a point of law
the principle of which having been established by
the Committee of the Commons, could not be too
generally known. It was the generally received
opinion that possession for a certain number of

gave a right. This opinion bPd '
fusion in public M'•

ctsTS

led to great con-
.„,„ters. The rule held in private
-perty—and public property had been supposed to
r.l be governed by the same principle. But it was now
L'iy the Committee that a public right, once
dec,— .• could never be abrogated by disuse, or
posses(l' n asserting it. The recognition of this
by neglect iuciplc' was the foundation stone of their
,important
is
established, every obstacle was re-
succes
moved. i tLLENDEN acknowledged the gallant
1,, a !strong pillar in the building their in-
-1.. honed shortly to

Pro"