The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-25 00:00:00

PURITY OF ELECTION.

The Seventeenth Anniversary of the Triumph'
of Westminster was celebrated yesterday by a dinner at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern, SirF.BURDETT in the Chair. The
lion. Baronet was supported on his right by Mr. Hobhouse,
and on his left by Lord Nugent. The two Greek Deputies at-
tended the Meeting, one of whom being attired in the costume
of his country, excited a good deal of interest. After the usual
toasts were given,
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT expressed his gratitude for the very
flattering manner in which his constituents had done him the ho-
nour to drink his health. After so long a connection with them,
it showed that they still extended to him the same indulgence
for his conduct with which they had honoured him under very
different circumstances in times of great danger and public
trouble. The people were now in a state of ease and compara-
tive security, but still they met him with their accustomed
kindness. His friend Mr. Adams, in proposing his health, had
alluded to his absence from Parliament this Session, and
observed that after so long a term of service, he (Sir
Francis Burdett) was entitled to some little relaxation. But
he could assure them he claimed no relaxation from his duties
to the people and his constituents, and if he had thought
be could have served them by attending in the House of
Commons, they would always have found him at his
post. He was persuaded, however, that his attendance
there would not have been conducive to the public welfare ;
or they would have found him in his place as they
had done in more difficult times. In his opinion, un-
remitting attention in that House, so far from benefitting
the public, was calculated to do them great mischief, in-
asmuch as it had a tendency to keep up the farce, by diverting
the attention of the people from that one great object, in com-
parison with which all others were of minor importance—Par-
liamentary Reform.—(Loud applause.)—For his part he would
say that lie was inclined to consider the partial alleviations
which had been conferred upon the people rather as public evils
than public benefits. It was a question whether it would not
be better for the yoke to hang heavy on our necks, than that it
should be made light and easy to be borne.—(Hear, hear !)
The subject of Reform was one which had been so clearly and
ably elucidated, he might say, by all the great men that had
flourished for the last century, that it appeared utterly useless
for them to say any thing respecting it upon the present occa.
sion. He, however, would make a few remarks upon that
all-important cause, because the oligarchy ought to know that
the people feel interested in that great object, on the attain.
ment of which depends the constitutional liberty of England.
—(Loud applause.)—To have checks the Executive Govern-
ment was to be free ; not to have checks upon the Government
was to be enslaved—so said the Constitution of England. It
is laid down in the books, that the Constitution is a system of
'becks. Blackstone, though in his own times lie was considered
a courtier, is now looked upon, for advocating these principles,
as a Jacobin. He tells us that laws are binding only because
every free agent, either by himself or his Representative, is
supposed to have given his assent to them. Those that are free
must put a bridle upon those who govern them ; for unless a
people make their governor wear bridles, their governor will
make them wear chains.—(Applause.)—When a Government
make their own rules for the direction of their own conduct, the
people must be slaves. But in England the liberties of the
nation are destroyed in the name and through the instrumen-
tality of its sham Representatives.—(Applause.)—To see what
strides despotism had made, it was only necessary to look into
the Statute Book. The words of the great Lord Burleigh
might be there found realized, when he said that the liberty of
England could only be destroyed by the Parliament. He
alluded to the six Acts which the Minister still suffered to
remain unrepealed. Nevertheless liberty is yet cherished in
England, and notwithstanding the Alien Act, which he called
the Participation Act in the deeds of the Holy Alliance, fo-
reigners resorted to our shores as a refuge from despotism.—
(Applause.)—But it is said this odious law is continued in
tbrce to prevent foreigners, now in England, from the overthrow
of their own Governments. Now supposing this was the case,
he should like to know what Englishmen had to do with it.--
Formerly England had acted as the friend of the liberties of the
weak against the aggressions of the strong; but latterly she had
incurred a debt of eight millions for the purpose of restoring to
his throne a King, who now treated the people who had made
this great sacrifice with deserved contempt.—(Hear, hear !)_
The people of England had, however, most nobly cleared them-
selves front the guilt of their Government. He had in his eye
two illustrious natives of a country, whose name recalled to the
recollection the greatest actions that ever adorned the annals of
freedom. But it was impossible to think of Greece, without
thinking upon the name of Byron.—(Loud applause.)—That
great and mighty genius, in whom was comprehended all that
was stupendous in intellect, all that was sublime in poetry, and
all that was daring in patriotism, was now, alas, no more ! The
lion. Baronet, after some further remarks on the death of Lord
Byron, the cause of Greece, and the conduct of England in suf-
fering the subjugation of Italy and Spain, said, that he was
not able to keep pace with the feelings of the times, which i
seemed to flow n one stream of panegyric upon the present
Ministers. It would be recollected, that if they had repealed
taxes, it was they who had first unnecessarily imposed
them. But the people, he trusted, would, notwithstanding
their apparent apathy, petition for a Reform in Parliament,
upon the principle cf his Hon. Friend Mr. Lambton. He (Sir
Francis Burdett) had once brought forward a motion upon
what he should ever consider irrefutable principle—namely,
those of universal suffrage and annual Parliaments. He thought
however, that it would be good policy to ask for less, and agree
to petition for household suffrage and triennial Parliaments.—'
The Hon. Baronet then alluded to the County Courts Bill, the
principal objection to which was its throwing into the hands of
Ministers the power of tempting the integrity of the Bar. He
saw around him nine members of that prpfession, and he was
glad to say, that notwithstanding individual instances of cor-
ruption, he believed there never was time in which the Bar of
England could present more striking instances of virtue, of pa- I
triotisen, and of brilliant commanding talents. The Hon. Ba-
ronet concluded an eloquent speech, by observing that he was '
convinced the electors of Westminster would not be backward
in demanding that Reform which could alone secure to the peo-
ple of England a free Government--a Government which
should not possess the power of raising taxes to put' down
liberty both at home and abroad.—(Loud and continued ap-
probation.)
Mr. LA3IIITON said he had to propose the health of a man
of whom he should only say, that he was worthy to be the friend
of Sir Francis Burdett and the Representative of the City of
'Westminster. He, of course, alluded to John Cam Hobhouse,
Esq.—(Loud applause.)
Mr. liwmousE returned thanks in a very able and elo-
quent speech. lie said that what his Honourable Colleague
said was so true, that it was unnecessary for him to take up
their time with many remarks. There was in human nature
something which rendered them less capable to bear prosperity
than adversity. But how foolish would it be in the husband-
man to neglect to cultivate his soil, because he had bad a fa-
vourable season and a good crop. The people of England were
mistaken if they saw now nothing to call forth their exertions.
They had still something to contend for, and always would have
till the House of Commons was reformed. It was impossible
that a Government should never do good, but what was wanted
was the power of preventing them from ever doing ill. But lie
had no doubt that they should still find the people of England
as earliest as ever in the good cause. Though they had wit-
nessed the fall of Spain, there was no cause to despair. Li-
berty had taken root in Greece ; and though a great misfortune
had befallen that country in the death of Lord Byron—a
topic his feelings would scarcely permit him to advert to,
yet he trusted that melancholy occurrence would lead them
to show to the world that they could profit by his glorious
example—(Great applause.)--He had no fears for Greece,
though there appeared a fatality attendant upon the efforts of
the friends of liberty in all parts of Europe. To the cause of
liberty he, however, should always remain attached under all
circumstances. He had no interest in any other cause; and if
he had, the praise and glory which ever attended the persever-
ing advocate of freedom would be amply sufficient to over-
balance it.--(Loud applause.)
Lord NUGENT then proposed the health of the Greek De-
puties, Messrs. Orlando and Lauriottis ; and independence to
their country.
The DErunEs returned thanks in a Greek speech, which
was thus translated by Mr. Hohhouse :—" Gentlemen, we
cannot sufficiently testify to you the joy and gratitude which
we feel in seeing the sympathy which a nation so great as yours
has evincsd in behalf of the regeneration of our countrymen,
who have for so many ages been the slaves of a barbarous and
unbelieving nation. We were certain, at the beginning of our
struggle, that every generous and Christian mind would be in-
terested in our favour. Accept then, Gentlemen, in the name
of Greece—accept our most lively thanks, and continue, we
pray you, all your efforts in our favour."
Sir Film cis By RDETT proposed the immortal memory of
a man (Lord Byron), who, in the words of the great bard, was
"as open as day to melting charity." The Hon. Baronet
rpareotne
ro uonfc
od ar
cni lßyo
rgouuetn tw ando pha
et h edtei ul
sc
geua o m t
egdi uas upon
the s a tvhi
oe chur oa- f
Greece.

The toast was drank in solemn silence.
On the healths of Mr. Lambton, Lord Nugent, and Sir
Robert Wilson being drank, they severally addressed the meet-
ing in able speeches.
The next toast was—" Mr. Honywood, and the Reformers
of Kent."
Colonel Johnson and the Reformers of Boston was then
drank, when
Colonel JOHNSON, after thanking the Meeting for the
hononr-they had done him, expressed his surprise that the men
of Westminster should quietly permit a barracks W be built in