The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-23 00:00:00

MEETING of Vie COUNTY of SOMERSET.

A Meeting of the above County -was held at
the City of Wells on Tuesday, the 21st of January, to petition
the, House of Commons on the subject of Agricultural Distress
The nature of the question necessarily excited great interest in
a County so decidedly agricultural, and the Meeting was con-
sequently attended by persons from its remotest parts. There
was, notwithstanding, a large majority of that class of the No-
bility assembled, which does not comprehend the .Freeholders,
evert in theSe times of depression. Many of the leading Ma-
gistrates and Gentlemen of the County, as well as its two Re-
presentatives, Mr. DICKE.NSON and Sir T. Lyrnpntnot,
were present. At about itaif-past twelve the business of the
day commenced in the usual form.
The High Sheriff, V. STUCKEY, Esq.., addressed the Meet.
ing, and stated that the Requisitiou having bat presented to
most respectably. signed, he had thLnightTyroper to con.
vene a Meeting of the County. He trustt* that every one who
presented himself to their attention, wort be heard with can-
dour and irnpartiality.--(llear, hear !)
The Requisition being read, together with the advertisement
calling the Meeting,
Mr. !TANNING came forward, and said that being one of
those who had signed the Requisition, he was desirous of stat-

ing some of the reasons why he thought such a meeting as the
present necessary. ft was with sorrow that he saw 8i) numerous
and respectable a meeting coming forward to prove what was
undeniable, that the distress of the Agriculturist was without
parallel, and beyond enduonce., and that it consequently de-
manded the interference Mille Legislature to remove the causes
from which so much evil had *sprung. With this view it was
that he presented himself to their notice with. a Petition, calling
upon the parliament to undertake that interference. The first
point to which. he should address himself %as that of taxation,;.
and there was no nne who heard him but unfortunately kninv
the dreadful Ittorft to which that evil had extended. It pressed
upon the people with a weight too heavy to be borne, and a
portion of that weight must be removed, or the yeomanry of
the country, that class which had been in all times of public
danger and emergency. its strongest Support, would be crushed
beneath it. He did not Itteiritir relief to a return of high prices.
It was unjoat to claim that species of relief which would tranfer
their misery and deprivation to others. Nit he would say, that
as the interests of all classes were held, together by one com-
mon bond, so their burdens ought to' supported Open one
common and impartial basis. Some portions of the commu.
nity tilled the earth, and others were engaged in conducting
and improving our manufactures : but as the benefits they con-
ferred were reciprocal and general, so ought they,.when either
was distressed, to assist each other for their Mutual benefit.
The pressure of taxation upon these classes was unequal, and
-ought to undergo an adjustment appropriate to the'character of
'the-tiMes. They could all recollect well when the taxes of an
estate were not one-fourth of their present alteont ; Yet who
Would say that taxes pressing uponmanufactoriee had increased
to that extent ? It was for this reason that they should pray
in their Petition not to be taxed beyond their means, or beyond
.the proportion borne by the other parts of the community.
The Honourable Gentleman also remarked upon the nnequal
Pressure of the Poor Laws, and the expellee of the athninistra-
lion of Criminal Justice, but his voice was frequently inau-
dible. Ile concluded by reading, and then moving the follow.
ing Petition :

" TO THE' HON. THE COM.IIONS' HOUSE, &c.
" The Humble Petition of the Nobility, Clergy, Gentry,
Freeholders, &e. of the County of Somerset,
" Sheweth—That the Petitioners beg leave to represent to
your Honourable House, that the distress under *bleb the
Agricultural Interest of the Empire has laboured since the
termination of the war, has latterly increases to a degree so
alarming as to threaten annihilation to that most important
Cass of the community. And your Petitioners lament they
arc obliged to state, that the measures already adopted by
your Honourable House, appear totally inadequate to afford
the requisite relief. Your Petitionttrs„therefore, pray your
Honourable House will take their case into your immediate and
most serious considerations That you will be pleased to lighten
those burdens which more immediately press on the occupiers
of land ; and in order to effect tide, without injuring the public
credit, that you will be pleased to order such a reduction it
our establishments, both civil and military, as will bring the
expenditure of the country within its reduced income. Your
Petitioners beg also to press on the consideration of your Ho.
nourable House the extreme injustice of the Poor Laws, the
burdens of which, with a few exceptions, fall on those MM.
rested in the land alone. To these your 'Petitioners beg leave
to add the other Parochial and County Rates; the latteralinost
exclusively used for the protection of personal property, when
applied to defray the expence of maintaining the gaols, and the
administration of the criminal justice of the kingdom. Your
Petitioners, in addition, cannot refrain from stating their opi-
nion, that a commutation of tithes, on a fair principle, would
be a source of great happiness to the country at large, and a
great relief to the landed interest in particular. Your Peti-
tioners cannot conclude this humble Petition, without assuring
your Honourable House, that all they ask and pray for is to
be placed in every respect on an equal footing with other
classes of his .Ilajesty's subjects, and that in justice they should
only be compelled to contribute to the maintenance of the
Poor, to the expence of the administration of the Criminal
Justice of the country, and to the support of our establishment
' in Church and State, in the same proportion as is required by
their fellow-subjects ; and for this, the birth-right of every
Englishman, they will ever pray."
.11r. A. SANDFORD, in seconding the Petition, declared that
it was with pain, shame, and indignition, that he addressed
such a populous and respectable 'Meeting of this County, as-
sembled to discuss measures by which its ()nee powerful .and
affluent Teomanrysliould be saved from peuperism.—(Cheera.)
—He could offer many aruments to stow why this Petition
ought to be presented to the" House of Commena ; but amonget
the most convincing and unanswerable was the overgrownetate
of our establishments. It was useless th enter into detailed
proof of that which was notorious, and he shoald therefore con-
tent himself with alluding to one particular iretauce of the
profuse expenditure which was carried on. It was a fact that
our Ambassador to America received higher salery than the
President of the Government of that country—(leer, heer,
hear !)—}le considered it a shame and a disgrate that persona
tickling similar situations should receive the same stipends now
when the prier of provisions were so low,esimtibi:eynaveeeireen:tlii-
lowed when wheat sold at a guinea a bushel. With regard to
the army, it was necessarily increased by the
and the severity of the late war; and he was satisfied there
wAs not one Eriglishman who heard him that wouhl wish that
those who brought it to a victorious termination should not be
properly paid for their services..—(Applause.)—But he be-
lieved that great reduction might he made, with a due regard
to that principle, and that much might be haVed by putting
many who were now on half-pay into active service. The
/lon. Gentleman then alluded to the County Rates, and con.
tended that they required the interference of the Legislature.'
In 1766 the County liate amounted to 800/. end in 1818, fifty
years afterwards, they were 2I,8001.—( Hear, hear, hear
fie was ready to, allow that there were ninny things now
charged upon ahem which were not so formerly, but no
one could deny that. this was an enornious increase;
arid it
was certainly a point which deierved the attention of puena,,
ment. The next subject wax a commutation of the tithes, iisid

4kftv

he thought no one present would difKr with him, when he said
it was extremely desirable that some fair arrangement of that
question ought to take place. With regard to the subject of
Reform, as lie should have the honour of presenting a requisi-
tion to the High Sheriff, deairing.him to call a meeting for the
specific purpose of considering it, he hoped that , the topic
would be avoided upon the present occasion.-( Loud cries of
" Now, now, or we shall fiver have it !")-He would pledge
his honour as a Gentleman and an Englishman, that such a
meeting should takeplace in a few days.
Mr. Hoerr then presented himself to the meeting amidst
considerable cheering from those who looked very little like
Treeholders at all, and with some slight marks of disapproba-
don-from those who looked still less like distressed pries. He
Commenced his harangue by reminding .the freeholders' that
the very subjects of grievance and of redress, which had bees
now proposed to them by Mr. Henning and Mr. Sandford, he
proposed to them in that place ten or eleven years ago. Mr.
Sandford had said very juitly, that it was with Indignation and
shame that he fouud himself to tell theni of these things,
but hi Nr. Hunt) had told them, and warned them of these
very grievances almost before Mr. Sandtieed was born.-(Ap-
plause and laughter.)--,One of the Gentlemen had told them of
the glory of the late iniquitous' war. Their glory, he believed,
was once in their pockets, and the war;; ad emptied. them- Ile
bad heard with pleiumre the Petition that was proposed to
them, but he complained that it did not go far enough-(Hear)
-it did not go to the root of the evil.--(Applauae.)-They were
met to consider the causes of theevil, and also of the best remedy
to be applied for their eradication. He had heard with great
surprise that the question of Reform was to be postponed to
another occasion. Before they had time to meet again to con-
sidereif the great remedy, hundreds of them would- be gone to
the parish-(Applause and laughing.)-He was an English.
man as well as Mr. Henning, and as well as any of them, and
it was certainly some consolation to hint that he had been
heard with so much attention.- It wes manly and honest in
them to hear him. It had not always been so. Ile remembered
the time when the whole body of the Church met in the same
place to hoot him `down. If he should state any thing to the
meeting which was absurd, ridiculous, or unjust, they were
capable of detecting hint, and they were justified in treating his
propositions aecordingly. &side, there were plenty of gentle-
men present, men of talent and character, who were able, and
he believed, quite willing, to contradict him If they could.-
That was the war in which ,he desired to be met. lie only
wished to speak the truth, and what he had to say of the Maw-
s trates present, he would say to their faces, and let them disprove
it if they could. And lie must confess his surpiise at hearing
Mr. Henning, liirsteelfe a Magistrate, talk of the pressure of
the county rates.-(l4aughter.).,:-.Mr. Henning talked of un-
just taxation, buthe would tell hint there way no tax so unjust,
so oppressive, so arbitrary, and pressing so unduly upon agri-
culture, as the existing mode of administering the county rates.
It was quite true that they musthave roads to carry their corn
to market, and their manure to their lands ; but their worthy
Representatives had also taken good care that they should have
plenty of Turnpikes-(Latmluer.)-Did the Meeting not know
that an Act had been passed in the last Session, called the (lee
neral Turnpike Act? Did they know that by this Act a poor
man's cart was made to pay more than the carriage of one of
these petty little tyrants-(Cheers.)-Where were their Repre-
sentatives when. this Act was passed? They were now pre. sent, arid let them answer for themselves. It' they were in
the House. when it imposed this tax,' then they betrayed their
trust. If they Were not in the lipase. why then they ne-
glected their duty---(Laughter and applause.)-Mr. Sandford
had stated that the County Rates bad increased to twenty-one
thonsend pounds in the year Itilft. Why did he not com-
plain
of it then ? Rut he could inform that gentlemen that
there was 28,000/. collected that year, and he: should like to
know what had become of the other thoivands, Fie was greatly
,astonished to hear Mr. 'Henning say. that England stone sufe
fered front to just anti unequal taxation. Good God ! had he
forgotten the miseries of Ireland. It was true she may not be
subjected to County Rates, but she wits cursed with the worst
of all taxation-a bad, corrupt, arid profligate Magistracy.-
This had been the source of all her evils ; and those were the
evils that England was corning to under the. present eyetein,-
He contended, that the Poor Laws were jUst and equable, if
properly administered. It was not the little paupers that die-
tressed the country, it was the great paupers, such as Lord
Grenville and Lord Arden, who received thirty or forty thou.
Rana! a year for doing nothing.-(Shanie.) -He then stated,'
that some petition which he originated bi Beth, drove the Mar.
quis of' Camden to the abandonment of hie sinecure. There
were some knaves who; to favottr their own deeigns, acciteed him of wishing fora division of property and measures of that
character. It was false ! he never asked for any such thing.-
But even if he had done that, he believed there were many of' then, present who a few years ago had but a ftw pounds in their
pockets, that would be sorry now to change places with some of the great landed proprietors.-..(A littigh.),-The-'3lagistratta
bed had him under their care for some time in the Ilehester
Beadle, but he forgave them from hie heart. He had no vin.
dictive feelings, and he would never say any thing behind their
backs, that he would riot repeat to their &eels. With regard to
their worthy Representative, Sir Thomas Lethbridge, he had
voted fur every tax, for every grievance of which they Were:
now aseetubled to complain. lie was present, aed -let him
answer these thinge. The worthy Baronet had as touch
voice as lie had, end as much of what was called mod&tt
assurance. -- (Hear ! anti a laugh. )-Nay, he would say, that if
he had voted as the Honourable Baronet had done wittiest the
interests and wishes of his constituents, he declared he should
neither have had courage nor impudence enough to meet them
upon the present (mecum. As to their other Representative,
when hie party was in Power, he supported the increased sale-
ries to the Royal Dukes, from 12,11u0/. to 18,000/. a-year, be
cause corn and provisions were dear; but since the reduction
of priees, had either of their Representatives voted for a reduc-
tion of the salaries ? . It was not likely that Sir T. Lethbridge
should have done this, they could not expect it of hint, be-
cause he had always voted with the Ministers. But there was
Mr. Dickenson ? Ile had no sly bit for hiontelf, had lie?-(A
laugh..)-7110 did not, to be, sure, sit on the other side of the
House, just to go over to Ministers when they wanted him
It was said that a constituent of his applied to M r. Dickenson,
to use his influence to procure a place for his son in the Excise.
His reply was, that he could not, because if be asked favours of
the Government, the Government would ask favotirs of hint.
Now this wait a very proper reply; but he thought a more ape
propriate one would have been, tliat lie received eo many fit-
VOWS for himself, he could not ask them for others._( Laugh-
ter.)--He found, in a Report of a Committee of the House of
Commons, 4lr. Dickeneon's name in large letter, as receiving
1,500 L a year as Colonel of the West Somerset Ve.ontanry
Cavalry. The stun of 6,097/, was allowed fur the regiment, but
he never heard of any body who knew any thing about it..-..
(Applause and dieapprobation.)--Mr. Ilunt then alluded to
the Flat Heinle Light-house, as beifig pent front the Crown
in possession of Mr. Divkenaon, who was the lessee, at 101. a
year rent ; wherciehhe had heard a Gentleman say, he should
be glad to give 2001. a year for it, and ilea he slued(' then
gain 2or 3,0001. a-year profit.
The HIGH SnEttxrr here interfered, and exprcseed his re-
gret at being obliged to interrupt the Gentleman who was
speaking. but the fact was, that the interest, in question
was private property, purchased by Mr. Dickenson's grand-
father foe a valuable consideratiou.- (Mae, bear!) - The
private property of an individual could have no bearing upon
the business of the Meeting, either directly or indireedy,...-
lie believed that the property wee not a grant from the
crown.
Mr. Dicta:erecter entreated that:,lr. Hunt might be heard to
the cad, as the insinuations which had been thrown out, riot
only affected his public, but his private character.-((,heers !)-
Be was tettisfied that the property was huneetly his own ; and
that property, as an INglishrnan, he would not forfeit. 'When
his turn came, he had no doubt hitt that he cook! explain the
business to the satiefaction of every one.
The /Ito ti Sunni's'- stated, that after whitt had fallen from
Mr.. Dickenson, he could have no objection to Mr. Hunt's
proceeding. Ile.thought that private conceram hid been, tine
warrantably introduced, and that It was his duty to prevent
it.._.((fear, hear !)
Mr. Mier then proceeded. Ile enumerated the. varioLms
remedieit proposed in his Petition, which we give helot!, and
argued for their necessity. He was, one who wished to ate part of the lands of the Chard) brought tai the liatnrras r, end sot.. plied to the liquidation of the National Debt. lie '4,44 Nil_ 40
alteration in the Constitution, bet i; there 'was not a reform,'
there would be a Woody revolution. If there was retinue than
would be arevelution, but it would be bloodlees. If tVleete
ing suffered the queation of reform to lie ptit off that day, they
would not have another'opportunity of expreseing their opinion
upon it.
The' Htcsi SHE Kiri, here stated that it was not his intention,
under any eireumetancem, to put the qUestioreof Reform that
day. if the Gentlettaeo of the County wished to have: a Reform
":4

PRICE SiArtN PENCE

. ;
Meeting, he should not dexter them ; but it watt his littee deter.
minatiort not to allow the tiubject to be. mixed up with the Imei-
HOS for which they hadasseotbled- Many
,Gentleuten .had eh-
stained from attending the illeeting, upoe the undetetanding
that. Reform wits nor to be .part business, and' if would be ,
unfair to them, now to allow of its introdutaion.—(fleare heir
and cries of "'Reform" front the crowd:)' • ,
After sortie further 'observatione, 111 r. 114 V N T called upon the e-
Meeting not to vote any Petition at all, If they ctuid eot have
one with Reform. Ile then moved the fre3lowingtki).-'
"To the Han. the CO.3IIItONS of the 1;1;1'1'1'. IC.INGIXIM
of (TREAT BRITAfrel. and IRELAND, iu Parlianient
assembled.
" The PETITIO)C.of the NhototTen Ote;rtue, CLERGY,
FREEHOLDERS, AM .Inetanyreetere of the CoiteeTie of
So ME RSE artsembled in Public Alerting convened by the
high Sheriff, io the City of Wells, iii, thesaid County, this
21st day of January, 1823 ;
" Sheweth—Ther 'your Petietiltintieri °thee rfully made
the greatest sacrifices at all timel-for the defence of. flteie cowl.*
try, and to promote the honotir and safety of the. thvone. That
to relate the sufferings of ytotr Petitioners weed& be in vain s
they arc now well !melte; arele:are At lttlgth become }oast
durance. That their calamities have been brought upen your
Petitioners by excessive notation witielteltaaarieese .aahly, from
the want of a fair and equal representation of the people in the
Conunons House -of Perliarnent. Your Petitioners therefore
~ •
pray—
" let, ror a grea# reduction of the,Standag Army, tnclud- 6F"
big Staff, Barrack*, and Colleges.
" 2d. A total abolition of all Sinecures anti uselesiterleces,
and of all Pensions, Grants, and Egroluniente, rot merited by
well known public service s
" 3d. A great reduction in the Civil Lien and of all the Sa-laries of the Royal Family, and Cermet-hilly Of the German'
Prince of Saxe Cobourg, which your PetSjunerit handily pray
be reduced at least 6,0001- a year, the sum 'paid to the Presi-
dent of the United States of America. • • .
" 4th. A correspondink eeeluction of the- salariet'of eirthe
Officers of State—the Judges, and every other • pawn paid out
of the Taxes.
" sth. An immediate repeal of the Taxein Salt, Malt, Hops,
Leather, Soap, and Candles, Fenners'.ltiding Horses, and
Tradeemens Draught Horses.
" tith. A repeal of the odious and tyrannical Genie Laws,
and for a clause to be passed to authorise every farmer and his
friends to kill game on the land:, he occupieat
7th. For a law to be paseul •clude all Clergymen from
holding Commissions in the Peace 'or acting as Conimittsionees
of Taxes, Sewers, or Turnpikes.
tfth. A repeal of the General Turnpike Act, passed daring
the last Session of Parliament, which Act authorise*. the
Commissioners to levy a heavier toll on a poor man's cart then
on a gentleman's carriage.
" Your Petitioners further play that your Honourable gouee
will be pleased forthwith to pass an Act to ensure such an in:-
mediate-Reform in the House of Parliament as will give to
every Englishman a vote for the Representatives who are to sit
'there ; so that such equably and constitutionally chostit Parlia-
ment may without loss of time adopt such uteasuree with re-
gard to Church and State as would ensure the freedom and hap.
piness of the people, the security of the Throne, and the pro-,
sperity of the country.
66 And your Petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, &c."
The Rev. Mr. Crtesweter. supported Mr. Hunt's Peeitien,
and in such a strain, that great disapprobation was frequently
manifested by the Aleeting. •
Mr. Drcitersoie nextaddreesed the Illetting. Ile heti to re.. ply not to the accuaatione, but to the ineinuetions which had
been thrown out as to his cou.neetion with the Government, end •
the receiving of money from the taxes. It was Stated that
large.surne of money, on account of the Yeomanry Cavalry,
had come into his hands` without being accounted tor. Now,
es he had made it a rule of his life to keep all monietecomiug
into his possession on trusts eeperate front hie own, he could . state upon Ins honour that neither directly nor mdieectly had
one farthing of inheen appropriated to any other than Its in-
tended purpose, lie could state that hirnt6elf, as well as his-
officers, had always incurred private expend when they had
been out on permanent duty, With respect to the other inei-
!lllation, lie should soon convince the meeting that it was
equally unfounded. The property which he posse eel inthe. •
leghtshouse was composed of two distinct lands. The land
had come to him thorn quite a different soltrce, unconnected
with the Government. - Lighe.house was purchased "of 4
person named Grippe, by his ifrantifether, anti the grant from.
the Crown was made to that intlividual.--( The .11onourable
Gentleman's observations werc very imperfectly heard, ()term;
to the great noise which prevaileelin the crowd.)-Ife held
this property by the same right whicti wet the title to all
property, and he had the sante claim upon it. re-
gard to the Petition of :Mr. Harming, he rejoiced that there
was nothing in it which asked for the raising or prices.
All classes deserved alike the consideration of Parliament,
and he should do all he could to take oil' the taxes, except
those which would in, nie public ciedit. Ile trusted thet
the county of Sometset would not lend itself to a robbery
of the public creditor. If honour and honesty were not to be
found in the count), of Kent, it they were sought in vain in
the county of Norfolk, ho trusted at least that they would be
found here. There was one topic, the commutation of tithe*.
upon which be could not agree with the Petition. .Ile bad
given the, subject a most minute investigation, and he was con-
vinced that no equitable and fair arrangement could be mrle.
The property of the Church (teat
that held by the same pritittipeatea
that of every other men.-4Disapprobation:).--While he could
have men of such probity, learning, and piety, 413 man whom ig
lie knew, to adorn die Church, he would y- not give up the pro.
peaty whielesupported them for the sake of ideal advantages,
tar the ensuranc.e of which they could have no security what-
ever.
Sir T. levreteatnat expressed his approbattort of the present
Itleetittg. He -tad perceived for it length of time that the great
body of the labourtn_g industry of the country had been op.
pressed to a dreadful degree by some means or other.--(" By
you.") lie was glad to meet them there, and to see theft' op.
aeons, mo as to be able to reflect them, as much as possible, before
the Parliament; and he was alweysraost happy when his own
conscience would allow him to support those opinions. TW
Lion. Bart. then coraplimen ted the moderate opeech of Mr. I 1 urie„
and said, that although the first Resolutions were those which lie
shohld go along with, he saw nothing in the others, except Re-
form, but what he should in a great metteure approv --(Cheers,
and " How long have you been e Radical ?") AR the quesiton of
Reform was not now to come tin, he slutuld have to anether
time the discussion of that tope:. In the liouse, for the least
two Sessions, he had done all he could to reduce taxes, end the
Salt 'nix had been repealed. lie thought that might bear:leo as an earnest of what they should do hereatter. Ilium time stub-
ject of a coemoutation of Tythee, he sluiatkl nut go the length .
of his Honourable C'olleague. He did riot know that it was
impossible to find a just and fair commutation, althototte at pre.
sent he confessed he could not see hie way up to the queetton.
When he could, he would
_ant boldly up to it, as an Ettgliehmati
ought to do. The lion. Bart, then proceeded to defend his pile
littera win duct, and declared that neither the frowns of the great,
nor the munnurs of the many, should ?relent hin: doing his duty
as he thought honestly became hint a, their repreaentauve, atilt
acting for the general interests of the county—t Hear 0-alleswas
one who would never consent to infiinge upon therope.rty of
one dale to relieve that of aouther but ;0 the MOW • rime he
would not let one go scot-free when the other wee unfairly op.
pressed. Ile was proud in the consclowinefts of never having
yet given a vote at he did not think for the beet interests of
the country at large. He should continue the same mese
whether lie sat in the present or in a refortneti ,Parboment. .
was always painful for him to differ from them; and he was
now strongly fortified in the hope that his opinion agreed raft.
terially with those of the country at large.
Mr. Hale Newt replied shareljh
A eonventation thin: etineed tut to the day on which a Reforne
meetieg should be A Requisition having hero pre-.
eentedeo the Sherite, he fixed Tuesday next tbr that puresc.—,
Mr. Ilunt then withdeete his clause upon Reform, am(let bib; Petition stand without it. .
wu a—
Oeneral BATHURST spoke in ,favoter of the original Pets . itUt!.;:.
After some fßrtheT desultory remarks the two i etitione were
read, and Mr.' Bunt's Petition, as the arneruirnenn put firer to
the, meeting, When there appeeeed a lave roterotitY la its fa-
Vour. For Mr. liannirtg's Petitiott that; were ALVa; Pe '
fifty hats held up.
gulrau'mt.Pl:elivtteutelhilt)yaigettthi,sit,lB'swhat)eitliTlilfrldietrehaliefi6a:tb:c:ilti.")ovcseri: 11:0!htteei 71:f4tiet nhi
'1:4111°11 the
hOXIII
Sheriff. the
Mr. linxwoon 'moved the thanks of the meeting to Mr.
hunt. In •the initlet of these proceedings the Sheriff distelved
the meeting,

MIP

~~ "'

"

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

PARIS, JAN. 20.

:1

SPAIN.

IV! A I-41'D, JAN. 113.

On Saturday the most contradictory reports
mere circulated in Paris, after the meeting of the
•
Council of Ministers. It was said that it had
-been determined upon to recall the French Am-
,bassador from Madrid, and that three Ministers
had tendered their resignations. Their successors
were even pointed out in the persons of MM. de
Polignac, de la Bourdonnaye, and Hyde de
Neuville.. -About an hoar !Afterwards it was as-
.serted, en the other hand, that the Ministers who
bad tendered their resignations were to be re-
tained, and those Who opposed them were to go
out. All theil reports appear: very improbable,
berattiiihe Spanish Ambassador has not yet offi.
daily received the ansfVer of his Government to
the Note of M. de Villele. There is no doubt,
'howeve!, that all minds are greatly agitated, and
-that the citizens of Paris almost universally
lament the prospect of war, which wisdom sug-
gests that it would be for the interest of the
-throne and the country to avoid.
We are given to understand that aftfr to-morrow
'the fanatical journals will cease to attack the Mi-
utsters. Peace is concluded, and-it is not neces-
Sary to say who has paid the expences of the
war. It would appear fly this, that the fanatics
have felt all the force of ibe phrase which is attri-
buted to rt political personage, who is, possessed
of great influence and power :—" I only ask,"
said he, " I only ask that a little credit should
be given to the Royalists."
The Ministerial paper of yesterday announces
that " lately there has been a meeting of French-
men and Spaniards in Paris, the object of which
was to destroy the Government of the Regency,
and to appoint another." " Conspiracies," sayi
the same-paper, " are the fruit of the intrigues of
the republican or liberal sect. We shall, pro-
bably, soon learn tbat the Regency of Urgel has
been organized by Aie Carbonari."
. The same number of the Eloile imputes to us
tbe error of having called the French Govern-
mem a Constitutional Government. If the fa-
natics are allowed to have their own way, the
.ckfrter will be instantly put in tire catalogue of
books forbidden to be sold by the Intel:Sellers.
It has been confidently stated for -some days
past that -Sir Charles Stuart, the English Am
-
1)60(10 at. Paris, has been appointed to another
diplomatic post.: His successor is not yet named.
Constitutionll;s4 '
Yesterddy, after mass, the King received tire
Ministers, Prinee Talleynind, the Chancellor,
*4ite•Martinis tic Semonville, Grant) Referendiary
oaf the Chamber of Peers, a great trataber °fowl!).
tiers of that. Climber, and` many deputies, the
militay of all ranks, and Prince Castelcirala, (Lie
politan Ambassador.
his Excellency the -Minister for Foreign,
Affair's gave yesterday a grand dinner to his
Royal. Highness the Prince of. Sallo-Cohurg.
T Were we to present the greatPflieers of tho
Crown, the English Ambassador; several Mar-
n is, Delalot, 1V1.4 de V aublanc,, Getieral
Pormadiets,
'Fite Martinis' de V,lice, Marechande,,,Camp,
who commanded a brigade of tho army of, ob-
.Evation, arrived yeatertlay in Paris, to ni4le,
it is said, an Important communication reTeCting
the army which:he had goittini.
A nievt-nieg Paper mentions the formation of a
trey w Ictinistry,
,cer?tposed as- follows
( r'site Vaublt►nc, lnterior; M. the Count de
la 13onrclitienaye,, Fiounces,; M.'Clausel tie Coos-
se rgoes*, to'tice ;M. the Duke tiol,3lacas, Foreign
Ad' irs ; and the Count Hyde .de Nextville, Ma-
' eine. :The same Paper adds, that' ' the first pro-
''..ject of- law presented' to the. Chambers will be
T:Otitive to an extraordinary levy, and. that.. Majo-
r the Marquis de Vence is arrived from
the frontiers, to make an importaut,refiort.onthe
rnay of observa Lion .—(Draper'', ,11 lane.)
The Journal de laforetle confirms What we
! cspectiog the disorders in linignitn, oc-

ea,iont rl by the egtablishtnent of a new tax upon
.the grinding of wheat. Assemblages of persons
inok place in some villages of the Gran 1 Duchy
a Luxemburg.) and some officers belonging to the
Customs were ill-treated, many families trop
the environs or Arton and Virton have ,ionght att
un in the villages of the Department of
OW borderi:!: on the Low' Coputries.—
,
..*(Quo (")

BBBEif; TO TliE ICING, YOTIW BY TBE coaTER U
TILL SI'I"EING 04' THE 111:11. JANUARY.

" Sire-7 The Extraordinary Cortes,after hearing
thf notes--orttilo Cabinets of 1' iris Viontla, Der-

ruo
lin, aod retersrborgb, wfarh your Majesty or-
(l..red to be cotrunutticatel t) your Alinisters to
t':eln, have untininnouily resohTd to direct their
voice towards the august throne or your Majesty,
to f-x press of the feelings by which they are aril.

tinted.
" The Cortes would fail in ttu fust duty—
they would inadequately express the wishes of
the peoph3 whom they reprosout—if they did not
declare the surprise and indiAnation Which they
felt at the strange docttinec,, the manifest false-
hoods, the calumnious imputations, which these,
documents contain, particularly the three latter,
as vicinug in their substance as contrary in their
form to the principles established among civilized
dl itions; monstrously insulting to the Spanish
nation,- to its most distinguished children, to its
Cortes, to its Government, and oven to the
throw- of your Majesty, which, supported by
the Constitution, suffer sequally from the at-
lacks directed ogaioq tine, to your sa-
cred person, who ,e good faith, anti:whose love

for your people, they endeavour, by an impious'
temerity, to call in question.
" The Cortes, Sire, have heard, with singular
satisfaction, the frank, honourable, and ener-
getic answer which your Minister has transmitted
to those notes, and w hich you have communicated
to the Cortes, They cannot but approve of the
noble disdain with which your Government,
without descending to refute assertions notoriously
false, (and which, had they been otherwise, those
Cabinets had no right to prefer against it), con-
fined itself to a stateumt•of the principles which
direct it,—principles which the legislative body
loudly proclaims, which all Spaniards repeat, and
which they will support with the constancy of
a people faithful to their promises, and which
nothing can shake while they defend their honour
and independence.
" It does not belong to the Cortes to inquire
into the real motives of the conduct observed to-
wards Spain by the Cabinets of Paris, Vienna,
Berlin, and Petersburgh, any more than to antici-
pate the results of the answers returned by the
Government of your Majesty ; but, whatever
may be these motives or results, the road which
the Legislative Body must follow, is marked out
for them by the Constitution itself—by the
avowed and unanimous opinion of their constitu-
ents, and by the sentiments of national honour,
which, being felt so strongly by all Spaniards,
must more particularly animate the assembly of
their representatives.
" The Cortes, in a crisis so memorable, are
called upon to exert themselves, and are in fact
exerting themselves to draw closer the ties which
unite them to the Royal power, and to proclaim,
as they do now proclaim afresh, in the face of the
nation, of the world, and of posterity, their de-
teruained resolution to sustain the glory and the
independence of the throne of your Majesty, and
of your Constitutional authority, the sovereignty
and the rights of the heroic nation w hich they
represent, and the Constitution by which they
exist.

" The Cortes are bouneto assure your Majesty,
and they do assure your Majesty, that to attain
so sacred an object, they are ready to decree
every species of sacrifice, certain that the Spanish
people will hear them with joy—with enthusiasm ;
amid that they will resign themselves to all possi-
ble evils, rather than enter into terms with those
who would pretend to taint their honour, or to
attack their liberties.

" Such is the declaration of the Cortes; and
they hope that the national power, thus fortified
by the union which exists• between the Throne,
the Cortes, and the people, will be sufficient to
impose respect on the enemies of Spanish inde,
pendence and liberty, to secure, perhaps peace,
'end certainly the glory of the nation, and to cons°.
lidate its future-welfare under the empire of tho
Constitution which governs us, the salutary
principles of which promise to our coutory the
most flattering destinies,"

Tho Universal of the 13th inst., after stating
that the Ambassadors. of Austria, Russia, and
Prussia, had received their passpors, adds—
" The thing is over ; good bye, gentlemen •' God
grant good to either, and safe roads to the diplo,
matie trinity. May you be protected from the
hands of the Defenders of the Faith, for if they
scent your money, and know that two of you are
not Catholics, I tremble to predict your fate.—
Rut what is.,a consolation for so sensible a loss
is, till hourly expected arrival of Loyd So.
'll,rsetc.at„Madrid, without speaking 'of the.
,En Roche, who.arrived three
ilsou :44t day will come when Europe, and,
partlciflat#Spanct, will speak out ..nd censure
the foolish' aniKrirninal conduct of the Govern..
merits which have obliged Spain to draw closer
the ties which unite her to England."

POItTUGAtt.

LISBON, JAN. 3.

rn the Sitting of the Cortes on the 31St ok December, • the
linister of State for Foreign Ailitirs presented a report on
the state of the relations of the Portuguese MonanhY with fo-
reign natitins. in this very long report, the Minister first gives
a view of the commercial policy of Portugal: Fre recapitu.
lates the discussions with Great Britain reladie to the imposi-
tion of an additional duty on British woollen manufactures,
The affair was suinnitted to the Extraordinary Cortes, which
could not decide it, on account of the accumulation of business
with- which they were engaged ; and it is therefore tlry neeett.
sary that the present Cortes should take it, into consideration,
since on their resolution depends not only the maintenhnce of
the friendship and good understanding happily subsisting ht,-
tween the two countries, but also the beginning of negociations
for a new treaty more favourable to the interests of Portugal
than that of 1810, which it is intended to amend. .

'When his Majesty's Gvernment proposer; commercial
rangements with Great Britain, it not only has in vie* to pro-
mote the national industry, but; considering a well-understood
interest to be the most solid basis of every allinee, the 60..
vernment hoped that the mote intimately the interests of Pot.
tugal were united with those of "eat Britain, the more ready
that Power would be to declare against every project of ag-
gression manifested by other Powers, on uceount of ouiinvsent
political institutions—a project, altich it was impossible not to
see was meditated against the Peninsula by Franc,lwt the
head of the holy llliancc,
. So long, says the report, as these demonstrations had not
become so eyident, that it was impossible to deny them, the Bri.
tish Cabinet refused to allow that any such project of inva-
sion existed; and thought it needless to give any assurances tii
allay our fears, which it conceived to. be chimerical, beyond
what were contained in the declaration, by-which his Dritaa_,
nic Majesty publicly and 'solemnly proteited al..;ainst the Iteiae
lotions of the Congresses of. Troppau and Laybach. The Per-
taguese Government, however, seeing the armies on the Py,,
renees increase (evidently directed against the political inati..
nations of the Peninsula), urged the. necessity of a niore ex pit.
cit declaration, considering how unequivocal those of the Holy
Alliance were. The British Ministry, whether it perceived
that the time was arrived to show its opposition to the prcijects
which could not now be denied, or whether the chamys in that
Ministry had Caused a change in its view of the projects of the
Holy Alliance, declared to our Charge d'Affaires, that if ever,
contrary to expectationa, the independence of Portugal should
be mated, his Britannic Majc-sty would be an indiffe-
rent -
spectator of so important an event., but it t. iii to this
kingdom all the assistance witich it had t right to expLct from
Great Britain, h) virtoe'of its ancient cortm•xions. These clear

and *k. itive expreselons soon resounded on the banks of the '
Seine, and the Government of hie Most Christian Majesty
protested that it had never conceived any hostile intention
tnevards Portugal; that as a Constitutional Government, it not
only coneideredas unjust, but would be ashamed to maintain
so absurd a doctrine as the interference of one Power in the
internal political organization of any other ; and •thate not-
withstanding the feare which the army of. the Pyrenees
might naturally excite, it would never pass the frontier line
unless it were first violated by the Spanish troops which en.
gaged in the horrors of a civil war in the provinces adjoining
to France, obliged the latter. to take every precaution against
the evils of all kinds'which such a neighbourhood gave room
to apprehend. The Minister proceeds to state the further ne-
gotiations with Fiance, whose declarations seemed contradicted
by the increasing armaments, and by the aid lent by the French
authorities on the frontiers to the factious ; in consequence of
which his Majesty thought fit frankly .to declare to France, that
its preparations seemed manifestly to be intended for an aggres-
sion on Spain, and, therefore Portugal must unite with the lat-
ter, their cause being one. France seemed offended that its sin-
cerity was doubted, and repeated Its assertions; but his Ma-
jesty, seeing that the movements of the army on the Pyrenees
continued, thought it necessary to negotiate an alliance with
Spain, which is now nearly concluded, to prevent the factious
from disturbing our frontier provinces. His Majesty hopes,
also, that when the alliances are concluded, a treaty of commerce
may be agreed upon between the two nations, by which the pro-
hibitory system may be relaxed. Ilis Majesty has also reason
to hope that more liberal commercial arrangements may
be Made .with other Powers, especially- with Sweden ; . and
even France has shown a disposition to make a special treaty
with Portugal.
The report proceeds to state the communications made to the
King of Great Britain, in consequence of the principles de-
clared at Troppau and Laybach and the necessity of an union
with Spain, in case it should be attacked. lint this invasion,
partly against the most faithful and ancient ally of Great lid-
tam, would never take place if Great P.ritain would declare be-
forehand that it never would •suffev it to be etfected, ' Portugal
having in no matinee. provoked such an aggression. .
It was therefore a consequence of the ancient and so often
' avowed friendship of Great Britain to. make .this previops de-
claration in the most explicit manner, that the Powers united
against the internal institutions of the Peninsula, being aware of
the real intentions of. Great Britain, might understand that
the independence of the Portuguese nation, inseparable from
the free choice of the ConstitutiOnal eystem which it .might
choose' to adopt, was supported by the alliance of Great Bri-
tain. His 110 st Faithful Majesty, aelcingfrom the friendship of
Great Britain such a declaration, did not hesitate to asume that
it would dispense. Portugal from the necessity of entering into
other alliances; but that if his Britannic Majesty should not
find it conformable to the principles of his actual policy to make
such a declaration, or if, by his arrangement with other
Powers, be found it impossible to give to Portugal this new
testimony of friendship, and to the- world an instance of his
respect for the natural independence of nations, his Majesty
would not therefore consider the ancient relations of commerce
and harmony between the two nations to be lenpaired ; only
he .should find himself obliged, not without regret, to seek, in
new alliances the support which the Peninsula requires, when it
sees itself threatened by the powerful league of the four great
Powers Who pretendeo divide:among them the Government of
envie
, . .
To this frank,-sincere, and amicable. *nest on the part of
hie Majeetr'sGtlvernment, the British Ministry has just re-
plied "That,the British Government having solemnly de.
• tiered r the -fa.C.diof Europe that it does not presume to attribute
to itself a right Co interfere in theinternel affairs of other States,
considers itself bennilies give, to this kingdom every succour
of which it may stand in need, yhoul4.l.it4 independence appear
to be threatened, in any mode or by any Power Whatever.—
But this promise, which is .nothing more than 4 repetition of
thosa which have in other times and at different epochs been
Made to us, has no rlirenee, nor cant, be understood to have
any, to our politknl. institutions, as they have, in no way al-
tered the relations wl'lich previously subsisted between the two
countries."
Such, SenhOro, is the-f47Thfratuni of Great Britain. BY it we
art, infortned-zall. Europe-is infomied—whet we have to expect
from that Power in the great:ollll4a 011 tr.iicli we .aeapeeleans
about to enter. , •
The GoVernment of his Most Faithful Majesty, though' sa.
• tisfietl as to the views of the British Cabinet by this distinct ex-
phin'utien of its antecedent andi.citerated protestations, never-
theless will not hare sight of, any measurer which it maybe ne-
cessary to irdopt for securing the independence of the Portu.
guese name, and which will be stibuntted in succession to the
pi/Probation. of. this. Sovereign Congress, in, preportion as the
negotiations op which they depend shall be-concluded;
(iolgrtedl SILVESTRE PINIIEIRO FERREIRA.
Office Of air Foreign Department, Dec. '2B •
The Report • was tfrtlt!rAl to be ref real to the Diplomatic.
Connitittee.