The Sun.
London, England, 1836-03-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1836.

me in endeavouring to call forth the expression of public sen-
timent in his favour. If a sufficient sum of money could be
raised, and I see no cause why, among the many towns that
are reaping the harvest of his labour, a sufficient sum should
not be easily raised, so as to secure him an annuity for his own
and Mrs. Buckingham's life, his constituents of Sheffield, as
well as the country at large, might long enjoy the advantages
of his useful services.

Allow me, then, to cress this upon your serious attention.
Mr. Buckingham has, by his talents and extensive information,
rendered great services to his country. To that country I ven-
ture to appeal in his behalf.
It has been said by one of the advocates of the East India
Company in the House of Commons, that the people of Eng-
land were ready enough to petition, provided they had
nothing to pay. I believe such an assertion to be a calumny
on the people of England : and, in proof of it, I
would point to the Reformers of Sheffield, who have
themselves defrayed the expences of twice returning Mr.
Buckingham as their representative, because they felt grateful
to him for his patriotic efforts, in the fruits of which they,
in common with all others, are participating.
No I I will not believe that grateful feelings are confined to
Sheffield; and though I certainly look to that enlightened
town to be among the Arst in its expression of indignation at
the treatment which one of its representatives has received,
and among the first also in striving to secures for him a mode-
rate independence, I cling to the hope that the example will
be followed by many of the towns in these kingdoms, which
have been instructed by his varied information, warmed by his
eloquence, and enriched by his labours.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
CHAS. AUG. TULK.

19, Duke-street, Westminster.
TO CHARLES AUGUSTUS TULK, ESQ., M.P.
Endcliffe Hall, near Sheffield, Feb. 27, 1836.
Sir--The letter of the 25th inst., which you did me the ho-
nour to address to me, and through me to Mr. Buckingham's
friends in Sheffield, was duly received.
It is truly gratifying to us all to perceive the generous sym-
pathy which breathes through the whole of your letter, at the
loss of a Bill which you so kindly introduced, and which, if
carried, might have been the means of procuring some small
compensation for an unmerited and wanton destruction of pro
perty ; or some return for a continuous struggle, anxiety, and
suspense, of no less than thirteen years' duration.
Permit me to say, that, amidst a series of almost unexam-
pled cruelties and disappointments, Mr. Buckingham cannot
fail to derive satisfaction, on receiving such disinterested and
generous support as that which you have kindly afforded; and
,he will doubtless derive consolation from the thought that his
cause was not finally to be lost for want of an able and zealous
advocate. _

Mr. Buckingham came to this town a short time before it
was enfranchised, a stranger to every person in it.
The benevolence which beamed in his face—the enchanting
eloquence that streamed from his lips—with the wonderful ac-
counts from a far country, which he gave, of an immensely
interesting and almost unknowil people—recommended him at
once to the attention of the whole town. He was shortly after-
wards proposed as a suitable representative for Sheffield, from
the belief that no man could so ably resist the colossal power

that had so long stunted the energies of a people, almost as
numerous as the sands on the shores of those immense regions.
It may be safely asserted, that however inspiring to the
merchant and manufacturer the prospects of such an immense
and additional market as was promised by an opening to the
East might produce—however disgusting to the philanthropist
was the thraldom and degradation in which so many millions
of our fellow-subjects were barbarously held in India—however
impious in the eyes of the Christian was the fact, that men
bearing that sacred name could not only worship the god
Mammon, and fall down to golden calves, but could even enrich
themselves by the offerings presented to the gods of the Hut-
doos—however exciting these feelings were, it is quite certain
that Mr. Buckingham would never have represented Sheffield,
had not the people felt that he was a victim to an heroic pa-
triotism, as rare as it was ardent and disinterested.
Allow me, Sir, to say, we have not been deceived in the
man ; we hare found him all that he was represented to be by
those who said the most in his praise. It is well known that
we are mainly, if not entirely, indebted to Mr. Buckingham
for that awakening of the country to the abominations and in-
justice practised in India, which not only has opened that
market to British enterprise, but also given the promise of a
final emancipation to the almost numberless tribes in that
country. We are solely indebted to Mr. Buckingham for the
abolition of that un-English and degrading system of impress-
ment, which was finally abolished last Session. Mr. Bucking-
ham's efforts on behalf of the poor black slaves of the West
Indies are well known ; and we believe that he has immor-
talized his name, by his efforts to raise a large class of beings
from that most beastly and degrading vice of drunkenness,
which has been so long desolating our country.
To that country, on Mr. Buckingham's behalf, you now
appeal, and call upon them to show their gratitude, and to
prove that they- duly appreciate the services so ably rendered,
and the untiring devotion to the cause of justice and humanity,
which has characterised the public conduct of Mr. Buckingham
for so many years. Surely it is but bare justice, when a man
has nobly sacrificed his all on the altar of patriotism, and in the
cause of freedom and humanity, that a grateful country should
secure to him, not a statue to do him honour, but a moderate
competency, to rendsr him independent for the few remaining
years he may yet have to lire.
I will venture to answer for Sheffield, that they will gladly
respond to your call. It is true, Sit', that Mr. Buckingham's
friends here are chiefly persons of small means ; but they have
not only discernment to discover merit, but warm hearts to feel
for the oppressed. It is also true, Sir, as you state, that they
have returned the man of their choice triumphantly twice, in a
short period, free of expence to himself.; that they have met
two expensive and hotly-contested elections, ; but I feel as-
sured they will gladly unite with other towns in contributing,
to raise a sum that will place their Representative in circum-
standes of moderate independence. s
I must entreat pardon for the liberty which I have taken in
allowing my pen to hurry me forward to such a length.
I have the honour to be, Sir, with all respect, your most
obedient humble servant,
WILLIAM IBBOTSON.

Mr. W. VICKERS said he little thought that on the presen-
tation of Mr. Buckingham's Bill before the House of Coin-
mons, it would have been strangled in the manner it bad been
done. He had no idea that the East India Directors would
have the power, in the whole House of Commons, to strangle
the Bill. His conviction was that this would be done in a Com-
mittee, and not in the whole house. It was a matter of re-
gret to him—a matter of deep regret—that the India
Com-
pany had such influence in the House of Commons. It was
well known that several Members of the House who had sup.
ported the Bill on other occasions had shrunk from their duty
when the division took place ; among others he might mention
Lord J. Russell, who had given it as his opinion that,
compen-
sation was due to Mr. Buckingham. A Committee composed
of various political parties, nicely balanced, had also decided
in the same manner. The principle of Compensation was
thus decided by a fair tribunal, and it was only the amount of
this, that the House of Commons had to discuss and affix.
The meeting would, however, show by their spirit this day,
that their Member should still maintain fhe situation he was
in ; as he believed him to be a most excellent and truly honest
man.—( Applause.) If there was a man who possessed the
principles of honour and honesty, he believed James Silk
Buckingham to be that man.—( Immense applause.) lie was
always aware that he (Mr. Buckingham) did not possess that
extent of property which was desirable for a Member of the
House of Commons, but he knew that he possessed extraor-
dinary talent, and had the stamina of an honest man. Mr.
Buckingham had not sacrificed his principles for the sake of
profit, he therefore bad supported him. Most of them were
aware that on one occasion, Mr. Buckingham could have had
a large sum if he would have convoyed slave ships, which he
would not accept.—( Applause.) He would ask whether a
man brought up in the seafaring life from childhood, could have
withstood this offer, unless he possessed a large share of good
principles ? When no other means were offered for obtaining a
•
livelihood, he would ask whether it was not a strong test to show
the virtuous man ? Other circumstances with which he was
acquainted led him to the• same conclusion ; he would not
dilate upon them there ; he would only mention one ; at one
time, Mr. Buckingham was placed in such a position with re-
spect to a large sum of money claimed from him, that he could
have made the law of non effect to it ; he could have put him_
self without the pale of the law. What did be do ? He put
himself immediately within the pale of the law ; and thus
became liable to the consequences thereof. Lord William
Bentinck, who had lately taken his scat in the House, had
stated distinctly, that the measures which Mr. Buckingham
advocated, and for which he was banished from India, were
the measures that have since been adopted. He had heard
taunting remarks as to what had been the result of the open-
ing of the India trade, on which so much had been predicted
by Mr. Buckingham ; be, in return, would say, with confi-
btennce,
detainedthat
therefro
i wn• acso a m largethere
e re increaseearli e irn
btilrt
bate
ntrade
c: ho
ia
examining a debenture connected with that trade, and he be-
lieved there had been more orders received that day from
India in Sheffield, than on any day during the last twenty
years.—(Cheers.) What Mr. Buckingham had stated wou
take place, had taken place, and he believed that Sheffield was
upedhidn
increasing in her India trade at a great rate. Gentlemen in
other parts of the country might say they were going back to
the days of Andrew Marvel ; and we, in our turn, will say, if
we cannot have our Representative without it, we will pay
hid for his services.—( Applause.) Mr. Buckingham might
have stood higher in the favour of the House had be d been less
independent, but be had always voted for measures, an not
with a party ; there was nothing on which they ought to value
him so much as hit perfect independence. He then moved
the first resolution.
Mr. EBENEZER ELLIOT seconded the resolution in an ani-

mated speech.
Mr. A. C. BRANSON then said,—The instances aro rare in
which I have presented myself to a public asselubly ; but the
object of this meeting presents so irresistible an incentive that
I have been unable to withstand it. I presume that we are
asr•mbled here not only to express our sentiments on the in-
justice that has been done to the claims of our Member, Mr.
Buckingham, but to devise other means of obtaining that
yhich has been denied him by the House of Commons. I
cannot flatter it on its humanity :—it may be said that justice
should be insensible to the feelings of humanity alone ; ad-
mitted :—but should she seek, as Mr. Lawson did, in opposing
the second reading of Mr. Buckingham's Compensation Bill,
excuses for granting compensation, when he prefaced his
speech by stating that. Mr. Buckingham had deviated from the
rules of propriety in sending circulars to the different mem-
bers of the House of Commons, asking them to come down
and vote in favour of the Bill. This was no argument against
the justice of his claims :--perhaps Mr. Lawson may be an
example of propriety ; but were we to see him in the same
situation in which Mr.• Buckingham is placed, I think we
I should forgive him deviating from the strict rules of propriety