The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-07 00:00:00

[From the Norwich Mercury of Saturday.]
At 12 o'clock on Friday, this Meeting, consisting of not less
than 7,000 persona, of whom the Owners and Occupiers of
Land constituted more than a moiety, had assembled at the
Hall in St. Andrew's. 31r. COKE and Mr. WODEIIOVSE.
the County Members, on their coming forward, were received
with the most flattering marks of respect. Mr. Coke first ap-
peared, and Mr. Wrodebouse, on his arrival, cordially shook
hands with his worthy colleague—this interchange of respect
was greeted by loud cheering. Soon after Mr COBBETT
Mounted the hustings, but his coming created no sensation.
The 111011 &TERME, having previously adjourned the
meeting from the Castle-Hill, opened the business nearly as
follows :

Gentlemen—By the obliging sanction of the Mayor of Norwich,
who has granted the use of the Hall, and having adjourned
from the Castle Hill, this meeting is now convened for the pur.
pose of taking into consideration the distress of the Agricul-
tural Interest of this County, in consequence of a requisition
signed most numerously, and by almost all the principal
owners and occupiers of the boil from every part of this once
most opulent and most flourishing county, and, as I consider,
by those who constitute the most useful link in the state of so.
ciety—to take into consideration the best means of effectually
relieving a distress which daily continues to increase, and under
which the landed interest has so long continued to labour. As
it is a distress concerning which there is but one opinion, and as
it affects equally the merchant, the manufacturer, and agri-
cultitrist, whose interests are interwoven one with another,
it is one consolation to perceive that, as the requisition for
a meeting on this important occasion, whereas the appearance
of the greatest unanimity mini alfparties, so in the discus.
sion of the question, it is to be trusted, the object of the requisi-
tionists will be most particularly complied with, as far as their
nature and circumstances will, admit. lam sure it is unne-
cessary for me to impress upon your minds that this will be a
sure means of receiving a fair and impartial hearing, and of ob.
taining a fair and impartial discussion of the causes which have
brought the agriculturists to this state. The cultivation of the
soil, in my opinion, is the basis of wealth.—(Hear!)—That the
county of Norfolk has a right to take the lead on this occasion
there cannot be a question, considering the rank it holds as an
agricultural county, considering the urgent state of distress to
which it is reduced—considering the property sunk, nay even
annihilated in the cultivation of the soil—a distress which has
reached the proprietor equally with the tenant—a distress more
than commensurate with its former prosperity, as it appeared
by the evidence of the Reports of the Committees of the House
of Commons. To this distress no alleviation has been afforded
by the House of Commons, and constituted as that House now
is, it neither had nor could have much sympathy with this class
of persons. I cannot conclude without expressing my hope
that your petition will be couched in respecttul terms, hut still
in a tone you have a right to assume, in asking for that pro-
tection which your distress requires and the magnitude of the
subject demands. Before I concludes if you will allow me, I
will read a letter which I received at the moment I entered the
Hall, from a Noble Lord who will not he present at the meet-
, ing. The High Sheriff then read the following letter from Lord
Albemarle :
Quiddenham Jan. 3, Iftl3.
SIR-I know not how far Tam warmntedin intruding the
explanation of the conduct of an individual, but if you
have the opportunity I should feel myself much obliged if you
would state to the meeting, that however much
may ap-
prove, and have frequently shewn that I approved, the expres-
sion of popular opinion, yet I felt unwilling to attend on this
day, being fully persuaded that any meeting of the people to
attempt any tlunglfor the relief of the agricultural distress, or
of any other grievance, must be ineffectual and useless, and
worse than useless, because a delusion, unless its tint object
be that which I Understand to be omitted in the resolutions to
be moved—a Reform in Parliament; and agreeing generally
in the spirit of the resolutions, lam unwilling to interfere,
thinking moreover that the great question of reform should not
he brought in incidentally, but thould itself form the main and
substantial object of every meeting.
I have the honour to he, Sir,
Your most obedient very humble Servant,
A
Mr. TRUILTELL then said that it had Afallen to hisRLE lot. to
again discharge the duty of addressing them at a County Meet-
ing. It is usual for gentlemen to lament their inability in do-
ing justice to the subject, but in the present instance he should
Alo no such thing. (Here there was a considerable noise, and Mr.