The Sun.
London, England, 1823-01-04 00:00:00

The Resolutions were then read. They were as follow :—.:

" That it appears to this Meeting that the system upon which
our national concerns has been hitherto conducted, has at length
led to a state of Agricultural I)istress unprecedented and 'un-
bearable. That it teaming no longer an evil to be anticipated,
but has now arrived, and in its progress reduced thousands of
agriculturists to abject poverty, and threatens all .with a simi-
lar fate:*

" That notwithstanding numerous and explicit representa-
tions have been made to the Legislature from this county and
many other counties of the United Kingdom, and forcible
appeals have been urged for speedy and' effectual relief, it
appears to this Meeting that no disposition has been shown by
his Majesty's Ministers to diminish the pressure of calamity,
except by so partial a reduction of taxation as bears no pro-
portion:to the cause of complaint, and that the apathy which
has thus been developed demonstrates either ignorance of the
facts, or an indisposition to apply an effectual remedy.
" That this Meeting 'fa convinced the time is now arrived
when his duty to himself, to his family, to his country, and to
his King, should impel every man boldly, yet respectfully, to
declare, not only that taxation is the leading cause of all our
national distresses, but that a burden so overwhelming cannot
be borne, and ought not to have been imposed.
" That from the failure of all the measures recommended by
the Agricultural CoMmittee of the House of Commons, this
Meeting is furnished.witth additional reasons for believing that
the desirable transition from our present state of distress to fu-
ture Prosperity, cannot result without an abolition of all need-
le", and therefore useless places, pensions, and sinecures, and

such a reduction of the National Debt as is required by the
present circumstances of the country, and the imperative
claims of public justice.
" That the total repeal of the Malt and Beer Tax could not
fail to operate botlyas a relief from a heavy burden, and as an
encouragement to the consumption of. Barley—an object of
greatimpertance to the Agriculturist; and would also enable
the *labouring classes to partake of a wholesome beverage at a
much cheaper rate.
" That Petitions, founded on the foregoing Resolutions, be
addressed to both Houses of Parliament early in the next Ses-
sion, and that the Earl of Albemarle and Lord Suffield be re-
quested to present, one to the llouse of Peers, and the County
Members the other to the house of Commons, and to support
the prityer of the Petitioners."

Mr. WATSON seconded the Resolutions. lie said it would
ill become the Oendemen of. the County to see their tenants sunk
into beggary without coming forward to attempt procuring their
relief. He trusted they wou,hl unite on this.occasion to demand
that redress to which they were intitled, like men who knew
their rights, and were determined to assert them.

Mr. Cora: expressed satisfaction at the example now set by
the County of Norfolk, which he hoped would be followed
throughout the kingdom. The Resolutions condemned the
system which had so long been acted upon, in such strong
terms, that he could hardly have expected more from the most
-determined opponents of Ministers. He described the sintation
to which the County had been reduced, and expressed an opi-
nion.that it reduction in. the National Debt must be effected,
together with a reduction of the army, and retrenchment in all
departments of the Goxernment.
Mr. WODEHOUSE came forward amidst the cheers of the
spectators. Mr. COBBETT at the same time presented him.
self. The former Gentleman obtained a partial hearing. Ile
was anxious to concur in any measure that promised. relief to
the Agricultural classes, provided it were nut inconsistent with
the general interests of the country. He wished for a reduction
of taxation, but at the same time he felt that it' this were done
to the extent which Mr. Brougham and Lord Althorpe had
proposed, the effect must prove fatal to public credit, by de-
stroying that which those great Statesmen, Mr. Pitt and Mr.
Fox, had concurred to respect. The resolutions called for the
reduction of the national debt, so far as present circumstances
required. To this, he had some objection, as who was to be
the judge of what present eircumitrinces did require ? Sdme,
might think the Whole ought to be-. done away—others a part
senly,--and these ideas acted upon, Aught produce a state
of things, under which he should never care to enter the
House of Commons again. Whatever • might be thought
necessary to be done in this Aspect at a. thture period, he
thought they owed it to the Public Credity, in common ho-
miny, nut to touch his property till 'everY-'possible expedient
had been resorted to, in order to avert the necessity of taking,
such a course. He considered much of the present distress to
arise front the operation of Mr. Peel's Bill. FOr that Right
HOn. Gentleman he had the highest possible respect, but he,
believed that neither he nor these with whom he acted, had had
a just conception of what 'would be the con se qu en ces of that
measure which had brought misery- on one 'and all of those who
were connected with the Agriculture of the country.
These were part of' the sentimerns expressed by Mr. Wode-.
house amidst frequent interruptions and contingee uproar,
which made it impossible to hear with tolerable distinctness
;him or any of the speakers of the day. When Mr. Virodehouse
had concluded; ' .

Mr. COBBETt again came forward, and was received with
shouts of applause, mingled with hisses. Many minutes elapsed
without enabling him to utter one word with the slightest chance
of being heard. The Iligh Sheriff made repeated appeals to
the Meeting in behalf of Mr.Cobbett, but without success. Mr.
Cobbett' stood his ground, and manifested no intention of with.
drawing, however long the tumult might continue. Many called
on him to proceed, while others demanded that he should retire.
Groans and plaudits combined to deny him an audience, while
he invited munoderately, and. seemed to enjoy the uproar of
which he was the cause. He replied to his opponents by dis•
playing a paper containing an Amendment, which he gave them
to understand he was determined` to tihne.
Mr. W our noun: came forward to entuat silence, but was
not listened to. •

Mr; COBRETT "spoke;. but his voice was drowned in the
clamour which prevailed. Ile seemed to indulge in good-hu-
moured expostulations. After ineKctually labouring.for more
than a quarter of hour to make himself heard, he Was still
striving against the storm, when part of the hustings. gave way.
This varied, but did not diminish the tumult. h 1 speaker
went on, and answered the taunts he received by brandishing
his amendment. - Ile seemed at last indignant at the Opposition
he experienced, but continued to press his point, and presented
to the !life' Sheriff a Petition, which he wished to lit preset)*
as that of the County,"instead olthe.'Petition'contemplated by
those who had called the meeting. -
The limit SHERIFF objected to receive the Petition, as to
do so would, in his judgment, be irregular, seeing it was not
founded on the Resolutions which had been moved.
Mr. ConBETT pressed the reading of his Petition, and con-
tended that the Resolutions • which bad been brought forward
were not fit for this occasion.

The tumult still 'continued. The HighSheriif consented to
the reading of Mr. Cobbett's Petition. It was accoplingly read
by the Under Sheriff.
While this was doing, Mr. Conn E T T called out that it would
relieve the Farmers of England immediately. This remark
produced a renewal of the former varieties of discord, to which
he replied with a laugh.
The Petition of Mr. ConnET T set forth, in strong terms, the
existing distress, and the causes of the distress. It prayed the
Legislature to repeal the malt, salt, soap,' and other taxes.--to
pass a law to suspend all distraints for rent and tithes for one
year ; and it especially called for a Reform in the Commons
House of Parliament.
' The question was then put on this Petition. A considerable
show ofbande appeared in its favour, and .but few were raised
against it. The majority of the persons in the Hall did not
vote either for it or against it.
From the strong opposition which Mr. Cobbeit had experi-
enced, this result was not expected ; and it was the opinion of
many of the Gentlemen on the hustings that the question sub-
mitted to the Meeting had not been understood; and it was
therefore proposed, to put it again.
Mr. ConsETT saitthis Petition had already been carried by
a great majority, and it would therefore be preposterous to put
it again.
The Rev. Groficit GLOVED. addressed the Meeting, anti
was occasionally heard for a few moments. He thought it
would be a most disgraceful circumstance if the Petition of an
individual were carried who had never shewn his face among
them before, and the labours of the Gentlemen of Norfolk put
down by a side-wind. He strongly called upon theni not to
make ineffectual the exertions of the Yeomanry of this County,
who seeking justice for themselves, sought Justice for those
whom he then addressed.

The Rev. Gentleman. then read the original resolutions.
When he had finished these, he was called upon to rem' the
petition which had been offered as an amendment. lie replied
Mr. Cobbcu would not permit it, subsequently the- petition
was handed to him, but he declined read►ng it. It was then
read again by the Under-Slieriff.
Mr. COKE was of opinion the question which4id been sub.
mitted to the meeting was not understood. Ile had highly ap.
proved of the original resolutions, and these he again recom-
mended to them. _

Mr. COUBETT insisted that his Petition had been fairly car.
tied ; but consented, from respect for Mr. Coke, 'to let the
question he put again.
The question being put again, was carried as before.
Sir T. BEEvon called for the decision of the High Sheriff:
The Mott Situ ntil, declared the Petition of Mr. Cobbett
to have been carried.
Mr. CouuF.TT declared the present to be the proudest day
of his life, and congratulated the county on the glorious triumph
which they had achieved.
Thanks were then voted to the High Sheriff, for his impartial
conduct, and to the Requisitionists for their exertions .in the
cause, after which the Meeting broke up,
Towards the close of the Meeting, a table on the hustings on
which ten or twelve persons had elevated themselves, gave way
with a sudden crasli. The noise and confusion thus-created
were considerable, but nothing more serious occurred than the
crushing a few hats which had been placed.beneath for safety.