The Sun.
London, England, 1830-10-25 00:00:00

NORFOLK MEETING.

In immanence of a requisition, signed by a very
numerous body of the yeoinanry of the county of
Norfolk, calling upon the High Sheriff, G. J. dills,
Esq. to assemble a public meeting of the county,
for the purpose of taking into consideration the pro-
priety of petitioning the Legislature for the repeal
ache duty on malt, a county court was held on that
subject at one o'clock on Saturday last, at the new
Sh re Hull, in the city of Norwich. Among the
persons present we observed Lord Suffield, Sir
Jacob Astley, Sir W. Folkes, General Fitzroy,
Colonel Hervey, the lion and Rev. E. Keppell,
Illesrs. B. Gordon, T. T. Gordon, J. Postle, E.
Bulwer, John Longe, and several other gentlemen
of property and respectability.
The meeting was held in the criminal court for
the county of Norfolk ; the body of the court was
filled with the aristocracy, and the gallery with the
yeomanry of the county. In the space reserved for
the ordinary mass of spectators at the assizes, the
weavers of Norwich bad contrived to introduce
themselves in great numbers.
The Hum SHERIFF opened the business of the
&ix by explaining to the meeting in the terms of
the requisition the purpose's for which it was as-
sembled.

General FITZROY rose to address the meeting,
hut before he had said more than a couple of sen-
tences, be was cut short in his speech by the voci-
ferous applause with which the arrival of Sir W.
Felkea in the Com-WU:also was welcomed, After
the deafening noise of the three enthusiastic cheers
with which Sir William was received hail sunk into
silence, General Fumy proceeded.' He informeJ
the meeting that it ldi theira honestdbeente andiiti
renitlitotenpeolfidehtiist
Honoured Friend, and
representative, Mr. Coke, to be present at their
meeting, and to move the resolutions of the day ;
but that intention had been frustrated by an unfor-
tunate accident, which had terminated in the tin-
pected death of Mr. Coke's grandson, Captain W.
Anson, a young officer of great promise, who had
distinguished himself highly at the battle of Na-
eerie. He could enter into the feelings of Mr.
Coke as a grandfather, for he was himself' a father,
and had lost a gallant son in the same action, in
which Captain Anson had so well maintained the
naval glory of his name and house. Ile would now
band up to the High Sheriff the resolutions which he
intended to move, and upon which he intended
to draw up a petition to Parliament. For his own
part, he bad a high opinion of the Duke of Welling-
ton—of his nerve—of his conduct—of his great
anxiety to do as much as man could in the reduction
of taxation.—(Cheers.)— He (General Fitzroy)
was the advocate of every kind of retenchment in
the world, and was anxious—to use the words of
his noble relative, Lord Emden, at the Bury din-
ner—to begin retrenchment in his own family, in
order that he might extend the benefits of it to all
the poor in his immediate neighbourhood.-(Cheers.)
He thanked God that at this critical moment we
had upon the throne an excellently good King, who
was anxious to confer upon the people committed to
his charge every benefit in his power.—(lmmense
cheeting.)—We were in a good situation thus far,
rind he had that confidence in the Duke of %Veiling-
ten which led him to believe, that that Noble Per-
sonage would do all that man could do to improve
our present condition. He concluded by moving
the following resolutions:—
" Resolved, 1. That this meeting feels that the time is
arrived when a long oppressed and overburdened people
are entitled to a large remission of taxation.
" 2. That the impost most obnoxious, as affecting the
comforts and moral condition of the tniddle, but more es-
pecially of the productive classes of society, is that on
malt.
" S. That the abolition of the malt-tax would mate-
rially tend to restore to Englishmen the native and social
habits of their forefathers, and enable the labouring por-
tion of the community, the constitutional and best support
of our country, again to partake and to afford to their
families the enjoyment of an unadulterated and invigorat-
ing beverage in the shape of home.brewed beer.
" 4. That the repeal of the tax would atiosulate the
best exertions of the farmer, produce a better system of
culture upon the poorer soils, and thus enable hint to give
more extended employment to those now uuhappily and
uselessly congregated on the public roads.
" h. That a petition founded on these resolutions be
prepared and sent to the different markets throughout the
county for signature, and that the following gentlemen be a
committee to prepare the same,--namely, the mover and
seconder of the resolutions, Mr. W. Burton, Mr. T.
Brower), Mr. R. Leaman, Mr. T. Leeds, and Mr.
Margarson."
During the reading of these resolutions, the
weavers, most of whom were literally " unwashed
artificers," kept vociferating " Do way with ma-
chinery" and " A free trade in corn." Thus join-
ing, in their ignorance, one of the most irrational to
one of the most rational demands that it is possible
for man to make in this free country.
J. FOSTLE, Esq. rose to second the resolutions.
He felt that if the tax should be taken off malt,
every man would be bentfitted by it, not merely the
man who brewed, but also the mail who bought
his own beer. It appeared to him a great hard-
ship that a man, no matter what' his character was
for honesty, sobriety, and good conduct, should not
be allowed to sell beer without going to the Excise-
office to obtain a licence. It was also a hardship
that before he could be permitted to hold a licence
he must also be assessed to the poor-rates of the
parish in which he had resided, lie was of opinion
that it occasioned considerable oppression, and often
much unfair play, that the Magistrates should have
the option of refusing an individual a licence, with-

A short pause ensued. A weaver endeavoured to en-
liven it by calling for" three groans for the Duke of
• Wellington." This created considerable confusion in
the meeting. When it bad hardly subsided, the
High Sheriff began to declare the resolutions carried.
He was stopped in his declaration by
Colonel HERVEY, who requested his permission
to address Cie meeting. "My good friends," said
he, " have the great kindness to hear what I have
got to say before you venture to condemn it. I will
give you my reasons why I stand upon the present
occasion against these resolutions, and believe me,
your interests have never been lost sight of in my
mind. (A weaver in the crowd, "That's false."
As Colonel Hervey is an old man, between seventy
and eighty years of age, and of very venerable ap-
pearance, this asseveration caosed great indignation
in the meeting, and cries of " Shame," arose from
all parts of it excepting that from which the- cry
originated.) I thought that ere this you had known
my temper and dispo•ition better, than to think that
I should be terrified by this base outery-r.believe me,
1 am not the man to be put down by clamour and
noise. (Great hooting, and considerable applause.)
—I rise upon this occasion to make to you the same
statement which I addressed some months ago to
many of those who are now present. Nothing can
be more desirable than—

here the outcry against the Colonel became so
obstreperous, that though we were not more than
five yards from him, we could not hear a single syl-
lable that he uttered. At the same time a written
placard was posted on the wall by some of the
weavers, directly in front of the High Sheriff, which
excited the most violent indignation in all the re-
spectable part of the meeting. It contained these
words, " Englishmen, remember the bloody and ex-
pensive reign of George III." As soon as it caught
the eye of the High Sheriff, he insisted that it
should be taken down tilt ectly. No attention was
paid to this intimation. Wishing to try the effects
of persuasion before he had recourse to force, he
appealed to the good sense and loyalty of the
weavers'as men of Norfolk, to take it down. Some
of the weavers declared that it should not be..re-
moved, and one of them shook a tri-coloured riband
at the gentry around the High Sheriff, exclaiming,
at the same time, " Look this way, you tyrants."

The 111G1I-SIIERIFF—Once more I declare, most
positively, that I will not allow that placard to exist
them. Officers, do your duty, and remove it.

The javelin-men were proceeding to force their
way through the crowd to accomplish that object,
when their ►ncerference was rendered unnecessary
by the resolute conduct of the Under-Sheriff, 11Ir.
A. Taylor, who, during the discussion, had moved
unnoticed through the crowd to the spot where the
placard was exhibited, and who, on coining within
reach of it, tore it down, in spite of some paltry
radicals who surrounded it. Its fall was hailed by a
loud shout of exultation from the aristocracy end
yeomanry, and by a deep groan from the weavers.
One of them endeavoured to console the disappoint-
ment of his fellows by shaking a tri-coloured riband
ut the High-Sheriff, and by shouting, " You lovers
of despotism, look here."
The 1116,11-SHERIFF, when comparative silence
was again obtained, asked the meeting► whether it
was its pleasure that the resolutions read to them
should be adapted as the resolutions of the meeting.
Before an answer could be given to that question,
Colonel thavEv placed himself under the pro-
tection of the Nigh-Sheriff, and demanded to be
heard. -

The Htrat-StainwE insisted on silence being pre-
served in the Court whilst Colonel Hervey ad-
dressed it.
Colonel Mum- was a film and decided friend
of economy, and should be always ready to support
the reduction of taxes, when it wits clear to him
that the reduction was properly called for, and that
the taxes which it was sought to repeal would, if
repealed, tend to the benefit of the operative classes.
lie had on a former occasion supported in that Court
the reduction of the duties on beer; and he was
glad that he had done so—for the benefit of that
reduction had been felt by the class which best de-
served and which most wanted it.—(Cheers, and a
cry of, " What we want is very different ;" also of,
"No Corn Laws," and, " Reform.") Ho was as
decidedly averse to taking off the duty on malt as
he had been friendly to taking it off beer. One
relief he should be most happy to afford the county
of Norfolk,and that was by taking off the poor-rates.
He would tell them how lie would diminish those
rites. He would cut down the wicked, nefarious,
and abominable practice of paying wages out of the
poor-nttes.—(A great outcry.)
The limn SHERIFF—TiIia is a topic which has
nothing to do with the question more immediately
before this meeting.
Colonel ['Bum, with all deference to the High
Sheriff, thought that no subject could have a closer
affinity to It.---((treat outcry.)
The Hunt StmatFE-1 request a fair and impar-
tial hearing for Colonel Het vey so long as he con-
fines himself trithe object for which this meeting is
called. That is the repeal of the malt tax, and no-
thing else.

Colonel lintyEv continued, amid repeated inter-
ruptions, to object to the reduction of this tax, con-
tending thut the reduction of other taxes would con-
tribute more to the relief of the community. The
reduction of the coal tax, fur instance.--( here the
gallant officer was interrupted by cries of " No ma-
chinery I No steam-engines I"
Th. 1111411 SHERIFF—An impartial hearing is the
right of every Englishtnati, and 1 trust you will ex-
tend it to Colonel Hervey. (A weaver here shook
a red herring at the Colonel, and said, "Down with
your pension, old Hervey.")
Colonel ITERVNY concluded by declaring that he
should oppose the resolutions praying for the reduc-
tion of this tax, because he did not consider it to be
one which it would be proper to take off at present.
He declared at the same time that though he should
not move an atneminient, lie should call fur a show
of hands to negative these resolutions.
1111'. SALMON' complained that this meeting had
been concocted in one particular corner of the
wombs—Orin-I)mm outcry from the yeonitffill iu

,he gallery.) The agriculturists, who had sew the
requisition to the High Sheriff, had taken that step,
not for the benefit of the public, but for the .benefit
of themselves.—(Uutery continued.) They were
going to Parliament with his humble and. canting
prayer, ° We, your petitionerA, not being able, un-
der the law as at.present established, to make more
than 365. or :38g. a quarter for our barley, humbly
.toppbeate pier Honourable Houses to take off the
duty on malt, in order that we may make by it 465.
► qjitio ter." That wri4 the expectation which the
tericulturists entertained.; but in that expectation
they would certainly be- foiled rfor if their scheme
succeeded, their rents would most inevitably be
raised. Contd they be foe,+ enough to think that
their landlords would see them ceiling barley at 465.
quarter, and yet allow them to pay only the same
rents' as when they sold it only for 30s. a quarter
—(lmmense outcry and disturbance.) The farmers
had already received a . great boon in the reduction
of the dutiei on beer; and they were not entitled to
look for inure, until the coal ditties and several other
taxes were taken off the rest of the community. lie
had 119 Objeetifili to the reduction.of the malt id at a
rqpoitStisnitt 4t the tittles' -were 'not yet ipe for
it. The agriculturists seemed to fancy that If the
malt tax were.taken off, they would have beer for
nothing. Now the striking off the present duty
would not be productive of • much advantage. if
men drank light washy beer, like the London porter.,
the malt duty on such beverage would not amount
to more than a farthing a pint, and if they drank the
strongest berr, such us he should be sorry to drink
pint of, the duty would not amount to more titan a
halfpenny a pint. As the minimum of duty was a
fiu thing, and the maximum a halfpenny a pint, it
was quite clear that little would be gained to the
community by taldng off the duty altogether. He
should-most certainly oppose the passing of these
resolutions.

Mr. B. Gunnos gave his unqualified approbation
to these resolutions.
Mr. HUNTER contended that there could be but
one opinion us to the propriety of repealing the Malt-
tax, inasmuch as it was tt tax which affected the
comforts and impaired the moral condition of the
lower classes more than any other with which he
was acquainted. It bad been thought, but in his
opinion very erroneously, that if the duty on molt
were repealed, the poor man would not be benefited
by it. Now the labourer would at least derive this
advantage front it—he would get his quart of beer
for 3d. instead of the 411. which he now paid for it.
Ile was, however, too feat ful that unless something
emanated froM the head of the State, nothing would
be effected for the relief of the people. Ti cy must
not, however, despair because they had once been
unsuccessful, but mint use their united efforts to get
rid of this obnoxious, odious, and oppressive tax.
—(A cry of " Better fight for it.") They were
that day called upon to put their shoulders to the
wheel; and he had no hesitation in saying that,
coupled with the exertions of their present honest,
able, and independent representatives, they must ulti-
mately come off victorious.---(Mingled cheers and
disapprobation attended this and nearly every other
speech` from the commencement to the conclusion
of the meeting. Indeed, we never saw a more un-
ruly and disordetly assembly : it formed a striking
contrast to the regularity and decorum which have
in general distinguished the county meetings in Nor-
folk which we have attended.)
The HIGH SHERIFF then put the resolutions to
the vote. A majority of-the-meeting appeared to us
to take no pert in the decision either one way or the
other. Only two or three hands were held up
against the resolutions, and the consequence was
that the High Sheriff declared the resolutions to be
carried, and in the same breath dissolved the meeting.
Sir W. Fouas proposed that the thanks of the.
meeting be given to the high Sheriff fur his manly
and independent conduct in the chair that day.
Lord SuFPIELD seconded the motion.

h was carried unanimously, b►tt I►efore that
formality haul been accomplished, the High Sheriff
had left the Court, and so got rid of the necessity
of returning thanks.
The meeting then broke up.