The Sun.
London, England, 1821-02-09 00:00:00

-that die expression fell from his Lordship in the
heat of debate. The Hon. Member observed,
that the right' of petitioning for redress of griev-
ances was one of the most Sacred rirlits of the
People, and ought never to be treated with dis-
respect, or even with levity.
• Lord ALTITORP stated that he could vouch for
the good order and respectability of the Meet-
ing- it question ; but- as he conceived that the
.PeLitioners were not likely to influence the de-
Fberations of the House any more than those who
had preceded them, he did riot take any active
part.in recommending the Freeholders to peti-
tion If-he thought petitiens of the people
•were likely to meet attention' itOial- House he
shoo hi join in recommending 'them to petition.
Slr. MATTER LY, jun. in supporting- the prayer
of the petition, took occasion to express his dis-
approbation of the conduct of Ministers, and said
that- though it might be imagined by some that
the sweets and emoluments of power were no re-
isompense for its cares and anxieties*, still he
-thOtight that his Majesty's Ministers displayed
a'n'auxiety for their offices, which did not by any
metres illustrate that opinion.
NV ria.t.tm de CRESPIGNY said, he deplored
the taunts which had lately been thrown out
against County Meetings ' but the reason of those
PI; Cl):'141 be collected from the circunktance
't:these ineoing.s not sUpporting the Ministers.
"Ire deeply 'deplored that a system.. should he
f.l-c)nted which had for its object the treating
t't, people With contempt ; and he hoped to see
;'sterri more congenial to the spirit of the Con-
,- sLitetion,` and the best adapted for the general
good. The right of petitioning was, he-feared,
a solitary remnant Of our liberties ; and he re-
,7,retted to find its exerciseshould 'meet with such
a reception.
•• 'Mr: CHARLES CALVERT said that a Noble
Lord, a Member of the other House (Ellenbo,
rough), had admitted that he never witnessed a
re orderly respectable meeting than that of the
of Surrey The freeholders were una-
mnious in their opinions, with _the exception of
•411:,0ut half a dozen dissentients; and why the
7opi-sesersof the freeholders did not attend in great
•ilarnbers he
,knew net, unless it was that they
were satisfied of the badness of their cause.
Mr. Hor.mc SUMNER said, that as he consider-
. ell- himself alluded to by the last Speaker, he
could riot refrain from making a4very few Obser.-
vations upon the subject before the HouSe. That
the Meeting in question was respectable, quiet,
-snd orderly, he- did not deny; but the number of
k'reehelders'ipresent'he was confident did not ex-
izved 400; and he should be glad to know wile-
fher they could be considered as expressing the
-bpinien of the county ? He did not interfere
with the Meeting, because he saw the requisi-
tion was worded with temper..
.I.le,raw that the
• requisition was to call the Freeholders together,
:with the view to consider the propriety of ad-
dressing the House, praying that no further pro-
•Ceedings might be taken against the- Queen ; in
-order that the attention of Parliament might not
he diverted from the distresses of the country.—
Ife had then heard that no further proceedings
were intended against her Majesty; and with re-
spect to. the distresses of the country, he thought
it unnecessary, if not insulting, tcrexhort the
Honk, to do its duty and consider -the distresses
,Of the country. .The Hon. Member complained
'of. an attack made upon him by the Hon. Gentle-
Man opposite
,(Mr. Macdonald) at the Meeting
in question; That Gentleman had waited until
the Meeting had nearly_ dispersed, and had then
proposed an implied censure upon him. He (Mr.
'Sumner) -was prepared to defend his political
conduct ; and with respect to the motion in ques-
tion; which at that, Meeting was' proposed by the
Hon. Gentleman, he could only observe that
Whenoster his constituents adopted a Petition,
with the. sentiments of which he had the misfor-
tune to differ, it-was a relief rather than an of-
fence to hirrtto be sparedthe duty of presenting
if. He trusted all that were present on that oc-
tasion WOulde:bear Witness that he had met the
athick "fairly. ;and 'manfully ; and if the Hon.
Gentleman felt: any triumph at the 'result- of the
Meeting, he (i lt: Sumner). en'iried'hith not tha
friniriph.--(Hear, hear !)

Mr,.M.AcnosAi.o rose to explain the circum-
stances alluded to by an Hon.-Member (Mr.
Sumner), and -to justify his conduct at the-Meet-
ing in question. lle thought it was not too much
to assert, that the conduct •of the Representatives
of a. County was open to fair criticism at a
oourity.lkleeting.—(llear, -hear !)-The conduct
of the lion. Member opposite, on a late occasion,
had expbsed him to the severest reprehension ;.
for• 6o one could deny• that ,there was an egre-
gious want, of generosity in attacking those who
were ,pot, able to defend themselves.--(Cheers.)
(Mr. Macdonald) had made the motion in
question in the lion. Member-s own presence,
and ,that rxrotion was Carried,with enthusiasm.—
With respect to the time oi.making that motion,
it .W 41.5 obvious, that it must afw-ays.- be necessary
tit ti.l:4! Mevtings, to Move the .resolutions pre-
vious to the Consideration of who should present
their!. The freeholders were-anxious for an op-
Itirtunity.l4 diSi•laim. the s'entiments• of the- lion.
Gehtl6F.an, ..and'lie (Mr. 11.) was hapPy iii haV-
Ini-ilebti iostrtiMental in •enabling: thern to do so.
--If.4.4tlmeiNed!that the; lion. Gentleman had met
th&,attltvk.,tdirly and manfulFy iii .& he therefore
-4-ra's,siirpv•lid.thatthat If On. Member should•row
stitnti 411. his-place in that house and cornplain
of. it: .• HO' could state with confidence that the
conduct of "his Hon, Colleague;' with respect to
tileCourityMeeting, had exciteftirimniriaous, dis-
ap'prObatiori: The . principal "point iii the Peti-
tion :was': tire prayer for- the restoration of her
Majdstrs'ilar'ne to,'":theliitnr,cy ;- and if ever the.
serftin*ntS -(-:,-otinty 'were' expressed with-
to:rAT4ef-k. it -oh this ilcrasiOn.--- :Upon a fair
the pntilic meetiiias which had been
htlid;tlrratighbut the 'country'were four to orfeT"
tonderrination eif-- the: 'proceedings- against- the
Qize,4l3.- Thi;peoPle of the country were dissa=
fished-athetliaving been degraded before trial.
lint-what' was' done with -114:1; since the trial and
lit gaittai 2:.4:-.4f-ad Ministers put her name into the
.Lititqyl-';Tlftrati.ort ssas told that it was a -mit-
ter ',Of litefogiiion 'attached to the trown ; • titit•
had, tris-M,ajil-stl's4linisters advised it ?