The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-21 00:00:00

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1822.

system of representation. He was of opinion that the number
of representatives for counties ought to be increased, and those
for boroughs to be diminished. But, Gentlemen, whatever
might be the bias of that illustrious Statesman's opinion in
favour of moderate Reform, he never can be said to have given
the least encouragement to the proposed system of Radic,al
Reform. On the contrary, we know that his political life ex-
hibited one continued series of opposition to the dangerous
projects of revolutionary innovators, and of resistance to
their attempts. And hut for that noble resistance, our Con-
stitution would have been undermined and subverted. Gen-

tlemen, if we allow ourselves to suppose that those revolutionary
principles are no longer cherished by any body in this county,
we shall err very egregiously. My Arm conviction is, that those
demoralizing and perilous sentiments were never more stu-
diously kept alive than at present. I would not be under-
stood to assert 'that the disseminators of such principles
are formidable, as composing any considerable portion
of the . people of England ; no—l know that their num-
bers, compared with the great mass of our population,
are as contemptible as their intentions are mischievous.—
But the profligacy of their political system, and the activity with
which they seek to make proselytes to it, render them proper
objects-of vigilance and caution. And as long as they hesitate
not to avow the utmost hostility to the established institutions
of the country, it becomes the duty of every good and loyal
man to oppose their baneful progress. Now, Gentlemen, is it
not, in this state of things, most melancholy to see individuals
of the highest consideration in point of rank, character, and
possessions, sanctioning and coalescing with politicians of so
objectionable a description ?—(dear, bear !)--1‘ am very far
from imputing to the Whigs a propensity for going all lengths
with these who call themselves Radital Reformers. The object
of the fornieil party is too palpably evident. They only aim at
driving. Ministers from their situations, and bringing them-
selves into power. But the disappointed Whigs will not find
it so easy a matter to shake off their Radical auxiliaries, as they
did to form their present close association with them."—The
Hon. Gentleman then proceeded to notice the meetings lately
held with the professed object of takinsi into consideration the
distreised state of agriculture. He adverted to the numerous
assemblages of the farming interest, by which these invitations
to discussion had been complied with, expecting to find the
principal, if not the sole subject of debate would be their own
peculiar difficulties, and the means of relieving them. What
then had been their disappointment, when the theme which
came most home to them, was scarcely touched upon to all;
when they heard much of " Parliamentary Reform," much of
" the Manchester Massacre," and " the Murdered Queen ;"
but while such hackneyed topics, and a hundred times contra-
dicted misrepresentations were rung in the ears of the farmer,
his distresses were neglected, or artfully made subservient to
factious purposes. He valued the constitutional right of 'the
subject to petition as highly as any man, though he did not
talk so much about it as the Whigs or Radicals. He denied,
however, that the real political opinion of the county was to be
ascertained at popular meetings ; and referred to the memor-
able Address of the sth of April, 1817, a short-lived triumph,
followed by the counter declaration, and succeeded on the 24th
of May of the same year, by the election of his Honourable
relative now in the chair, after a contest, not a severe kind, for
their Representative had been returned by an overwhelming
majority.—( Loud applause.)—This at once completely proved
how fallacious were the inferences drawn from the acclamations
and resolutions at County Meetings ; it incontestibly shewed
that a poll of the county was the only decisive mode of ascer-
taining the real state of public opinion ; and he trusted, what-
ever the discontented Whigs and factious Radicals might wish
and assert, that the memory of Mr. Pitt would ever be revered
by a majority of the county of Norfolk, as that of a Statesman
who saved the country from anarchical revolutiOn, and whose
principles persevered in, eventually led to the overthrow of the
most formidable tyranny that ever oppressed a civilized world.—
(Long continued plaudits.)
Mr. IHARSHAT4I Etwisr then rose to propose the health of
" His Majesty's Ministers." He observed, that he felt diffi-
culty in the task which had devolved to him-.-a difficulty, how-
ever, in no degree arising from the names of any of those dis-
tinguished individuals referred to in the toast ; of their-just
claim to this manifestation of respect he was far from entertain-
ing.the least doubt ; he only doubted his own competency to
do Justice to that claim ; but he had the satisfaction of reflcting
that the present Ministers had been in the service of the State
sufficiently long to enable those whom he had then the honour
of addressing to judge of their merits. Those who at present
held the reins of Government were nor new men ; but had con-
ducted the public affairs during a period of years the most event-
ful and important that ever were recorded in any age or nation.
Under their system of administration the country, though it had
not yet emerged from all its difficulties, he trusted he might say
had been rescued from all its its dangers.--(Applause.)—ln es-
timating the character of an Administration it was necessary to
look to general results. And if in times of difficulty the coun-
cils of a state had been only such as to keep it on a level in
point of security and consequence with the position of neigh-
bouring States, the men from whom these councils emanated
were surely entitled to a large share of public gratitude. If I
then we proceeded to judge the Ministers of Great Britain by
those criteria which all judicious historians have pointed out as
the indications of a wise and efficient Government, the indivi.
duals now at the helm were, he considered, as fully deserving
the gratitude of Englishmen as any Administration to whose
acts reference could possibly be made. If since the period from
which the principles of Mr. Pitt have prevailed in the Councils
of Great Britain, it should be found (as it would be found) that
the country had risen in the scale of nations; that it had ad-
vanced in civilization ; that it had increased in wealth and re-
sources ; that new springs had been given to its manufactures,
trade, and commerce, which made them flourish beyond all for-
mer precedent—that in arts and in arms the character of the
country had been elevated to a pitch which rendered it the
wonder and admiration of the world—that whatever may be af-
firmed respecting those occasional measures of domestic policy
which some have designated as infringements upon liberty the
real principles of our Constitution and the free spirit of the peo-
ple were never more closely adhered to or more respected than
since epocha of Mr. Pitt's coming into office : if, in a fair and
dispassionate review of the events of the last forty years it should
be found, as he was confident would be the case, that the gene-
ral interests of the country, so far froth suffiring, had flourished
in the hands of Mr. Pitt, and in those of the successors to his
principles and power, the very fact of so great and rapid an ex-
tension of our advantages, moral, civil, and political, was de-
monstrative of the pure and liberal principles on which the Go-
vernment was conducted. For had the Administration of the
country been justly chargeable with corruption or imbecility, it
could not so long have stood in the face of a high-spirited, free,
and enlightened people.:--(Hear, hear !)--" But (continued
Mr. Elwin) as I may boldly challenge contradiction to the facts
to which I have just ventured to draw your attention, as it is
impossible to deny that we have improved in arts, extended our
commercial connection, increased our manufacturing employ.
menus, and advanced in political importance and in military
character to the highest pitch of reputation ; as it is equally im-
possible that results of this description could accrue under a go.
vernment of tyranny and oppression, of inefficiency and corrup-
tion, we may proceed to the more rational conclusion, that they
could only be obtained under a system of administration wisely
adapted to the genius of the people, and eminently calculated
for the promotion of their interest and happiness.—(Great ap-
plause.)--I am, however, Gentlemen, too well aware that there
is at present a very.material exception to the general feature of
public prosperity, in the state of agriculture. It is to be recol-
lected, however, that in the complicated frame of a social fabric,
such as ours, respective interests must be liable to rise or fall.
This will necessarily he the case in the affairs of any great na-
tion, and especially of one of so enterprising a spirit and so
free a character as our own. Far am I from depreciating the
importance of Agriculture, and from underating the depression
under which it now labours. But to me it appcare that the
evils, which so heavily press upon that great division of the
community, belongs not so much to the Legislature to cure,
as to the natural working of events. On a careful considera-
tion of the conduct of Ministers in reference to this highly im-
portant subject, I confess, I do not think it was in their power
to prevent the distress, nor that there are any means to which
they can properly resort for immediately removing it. Yet 1
do not doubt but in time, at a period not remote, through the
wisdom of measures already applied and others which may
hereafter be adopted, that prosperity will be restored toagrieul-
culture also." The. Honourable Gent. then alluded to the san-
, guine anticipations which have been expressed by the Whigs
and Radical. Reformers, that times so unfavourable to agricul.
ture would cause a great diminution in the number of those who
espouse the principles of Mr. Pitt. " But this (said he) arises
from their mistaking the motives which induce us to support
those principles. I hold that to a perseverance in the system of
general policy established by that Illustrious Statesman,
if our
co, wne
.
are indebted for all which we now possess as a free, great, and
independent nation.—(Applause.)—l consider, that