The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-05 00:00:00

CAMBRIDGE, APRIL 4.

We very much doubt whether the public will
consider it worth while to pay any attention to the proceedings
of a few Whigs and Radicals, who, in the course of their pere-
grinations, enliven Cambridge with their budget of jokes, stories
ftom Joe Miller, and declamation which are now usually ex-
hibited, and (far different from the gravity and earnestness
which characterized the proceedings of our forefathers) have
caused the designation of a Farce io be justly applied to County
Meetings. But as we took some notice of the harangued of
these Orators when they appeared on the Cambridge hustings,
a few weeks ago, we are afraid it might be considered disre-
spectful to the Duke of Bedford, who really possesses some
property in the county, if we entirely passed them over without
notice on the present occasion, when he condescended to sanc-
tion them with his presence, and animate them by his rhetoric.
Mr. ADEANE, the High Sheriff, having taken the Chair,
and given a hint to the lower faction, i. e. the Radical, to re-
strain themselves within some bounds of moderation, a youth-
ful statesman, J. Merest, Esq. jun. came forward to move the
Resolutions, which were said to have been drawn up by Coun-
sellor Pryme, for which, however, no evidence has been pro-
duced,—but, as they were exceedingly prosing and verbose,
the rumour probably originated from this internal testimony.
The young Gentleman, Mr. Merest, really delivered his de-
clamation with considerable fluency, and did no little credit to
the tutors who have recently had the care of his education.—Ne
did not seem ambitious of treating his audience with any no-
velties, but was satisfied with proving that taxation was an
evil ; and that the present Ministers exist by corruption,—
truths which seemed quite familiar to his hearers.
This slight prelude over, more weighty personages appeared
—men who for many years have been deliberating for the pub-
lic weal, and warning us of approaching ruin.—First, the Rev.
G. A. BROWNE, whom not even his sacred duties, at a season
which the Church, of which he is a Minister, has ordered to be

observed with extraordinary solemnity, could detain from
assisting his fellow-countrymen in this crisis of their affairs.
It is painful, however, to relate that his harangue was not re-
ceived with those acclamations to which such ardent patriotism
might seem to be entitled. The truth is, he had excogitated
his speech too many days beforehand, so that his eloquence did
not appear to flow spontaneously from the feelings of the mo-
ment ; it was an elaborate disquisition savouring of the mid-
night oil, and in consequence, though replete with profound
views of legislation, worthy of Montesquieu himself, it met
with little response in the hearts or the voices of the multitude.
We are extremely sorry for this failure, as Mr. Browne seems
to have it very much at heart to become a popular orator, and
actually possesses some properties which qualify him to attain
that end,—a grave deportment, a commanding voice, and a
reasonable share of confidence. Of course a trifling failure will
not discourage him : let him try again ; and in the mean time.,
for his improvement, we beg to make one suggestion ;—the great
orator of Greece, it will be remembered, insisted again, and again,
and again, on the importance of action. Then, why does Mr.
Browne, from the beginning to the end of his oration, hold his
hat as far down over the Hustings' rails as he can reach it,
making the distant spectators believe that he is begging half-
pence from the rabble ? Surely, in Demosthenes, there is no
recommendation of so awkward a posture.
The Rev. Mr. iIIaBEDLEr was again at the post of duty,—.
persevere, is his motto. As on former occasions, he divided
his subject into heads, shewing-Ist, The necessity of Re-
form ; and, 2d, That nothing else could do any good : but it
seemed to be generally agreed, that he was not so lucid as he
has been in some of his former arrangements and expositions.
—He seems to be still sadly gravelled about our late unhappy
Queen, and was manifestly very desirous to give vent to his

feelings on that tender subject ; but he was cruelly prevented
by the High Sheriff, who, however, declared, that he, the She-

riff, had as great a respect for her memory as any one present,
—a compliment somewhat ambiguous.
Majora Canantus.—The hero of the piece, the Noble Duke
of Bedford, now made his obeisance to the Sovereign People,
whom he was pleased to designate by the flattering appellation
of .Gentlemen. He lamented that no person had come forward
to meet and oppose them ; from which we presume that he has
already vanquished the antagonists who confront him in the
House of Peers. Though there was no enemy, he gave con-
vincing proofs of his valour, and forced many mighty Champions,
the Duke of Rutland, the Marquis of Salisbury, and other
porruptionists, to bite the dust. Without Reform, there was
no possibility of escape, but perish we must. For his own
part, he was pure and even magnanimous, so far as to declare
that he would sooner resign his heart's blood than take any of
the public money, without being entitled to it by his services.
This noble sentiment, being delivered with the finest theatrical
action, was received with raptures of applause.
• After such ecstacies, the mind was naturally glad to descend,
and relax itself in more ordinary speculations. Mr. Pryme
very opportunely came forward, laboured to soften the dis-
sensions which had disturbed the last Meeting, and threatened
to cause a rupture between the Whigs and Radicals. Mr.
Eagle, the Fen Farmer, and Mr. Beaks, the Corn Merchant,
contributed their exertions to the entertainment,—wit, indig-
nant remonstrance, and humorous contortions of visage, were
combined to rouse the British People to a proper sense of their
wrongs.

That we might all part in good humour, Mr. Wells was re-
served for the conc:usion, a very facetious Attorney from Hunt-
ingdon, a kind of Punch, whose drolleries caused infinite
merriment, and even seemed, for one short moment, to beguile
the distressed farmers from the recollection of their sufferings.
And now nothing remained but to return thanks to one or'
two distinguished Patriots, true friends of the People. First.
to Joseph Hume, Esq., who alone has effected more in the
cause of Reform than all its other advocates. A modest, re-
spectably dressed Yeoman, moved a vote of thanks to this great
'financier ; but, prop pudor ! it did not seem to meet with the
concurrence of the Aristocrats who were standing near the Duke
of Bedford, and after a good deal of ,whispering between the
High Sheriff and some of this knot, the good-natured man was
prevailed upon to withdraw it, although on the first proposal of
it, the whole mass of the Gentlemen on the'pavement cheered it
with loud huzzas. ' We hope that' Mr.. Hume will have the
spirit to demand some explanation of this shuffling envious aot.
In a few moments the secret of all this whispering was be-
trayed : could it be endured that the plebeian Hume was to
be honoured with public thanks, and the Duke of Bedford un-
noticed ? No, no ! Mr. Beales and Mr. Wells, though mighty
independent and disinterested Patriots, were too cunning to
forego the opportunity of sounding the praises oft the house of
Russell, " a name ever dear to Englishmen," when the Noble
Representative of that house was present to hear them. AG.,
cordingly, poor Hume was discarded, and the Noble Duke
enthroned in his place.

After one or two other petty skirmishes, the High S heal
seeing a storm likely to arise , among the Patriots themselves,
and hearing the growls of the Huntingdon Attorney, and of
Mr. Gunning, the celebrated Reformer of this town, as of wild
beasts threatening to tear each other in pieces, dissolved th 9
Meeting.

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