The Sun.
London, England, 1827-08-27 00:00:00

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MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM.

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Sir
Ist ;

On Friday last, a publimeeting of the inhabitants
ti Birmingham took place, to address the King in
lsrins of condolence on the,death of Mr. Canning.
There were subscribed to the requisition no less
than 125 names, amongst which we can confidently
State were very many of the most opulent and re-
4ectable of the inhabitants of Birmingham, of all
,parties.
The High Bailiff immediately complied with the
'desire of the requisition, by appointing a meeting to
he held at the Public-office on Friday last. No sooner
Was this known than a little band of the extreme
• Tory faction, who have long been accustomed to
carry every thing their own way at Birmingham, set
toothvrerork,,t‘ovedaekfeaintvtehnetoiobnjesc”t otfoth,evmhieeeh resortedytitnhge.Am
Was the circulation of anonymous letters and ad-
resses. We obtained a copy of one of those corn-
ositions, which we here insert. Its scurrility will
of fail to excite in our readers the came feelings of
on gst
isgust which it raised in the minds of most of those
:the Public Office.
oeeNtvihno mto-iitno.ar,raoswa d(
Fd tr.
iedsasye).l,
Sta---I beg to solicit your attendance at the town's
The sectarians and liberals with whom, alone, this hum-
ag address to the King on Mr. Canning's death has ori-
inated, intend to carry it their own way, if they can.
at the real Church and King party will be there to op-
ose them, and therefore I earnestly entreat you to be at
:the meeting to vote with those truly loyal men, who are
determine d not to suffer this hypocritical piece of imita-
tion-loyalty to go forth as the unanimous sentiment of the
lovvn, on the death of a turn-coat apostate Tory.
I again request your punctual attendance, and mind not
poly to go yourself, but also send or take with you to the
Meeting all the friends you can muster, whose political
%Pinions are the same as your own.
Let this humbug Presbyterian loyalty be properly ex-
"sed• Relying on your co-operation, I remain your's,
B' •
l,rmingham, Aug. 23. TRUE BLUE.
_hetrbeesutiltltras must have been deeply mortified at
(erred of the meeting, from which it may be in-
erred that their power in this town is passed away
.or ever.
• The HIGH BAILIFF took the Chair at twelve
,
, . . clock, at which time the large room of the Public-
-0 ice was completely filled, and numbers of persons
'An were anxious to be present were unable to ob-
ain admission.
The CHAIRMAN requested a fair and impartial
iearing for every person who might address the
Assembly.
ilMziert.yT,
annEDs
sorrow,'
wP, it. iceEi
their
said,
excellent
vbusiness h
had
hei. meeting appeared to him to lie within a very
arrow
date compass,
?Proved of all the measures lie had adopted since
experienced. and
Hthiesremfoarjeeshtes, swhaosuldthneoptofleietilcailt
ecessary to occupy much of their attention. All
ho were present must be aware how much trouble,
other of his people, and it was their duty to con-
°le with, him on account of the difficuties he had
/Perienced, and at the same time to assure him, if
e Might use so familiar a phrase, that they highly
.le illness of the Earl of Liverpool. To condole
Gtohdeediiecease of Mr. Canning
i as one object of the presenethmbeyettinhgesexapnrdesasnicortiheorf
Ras‘7til tohissupAploajretsLtyorodn
~," Public opinion in his favour. The Hon. Gentle-
;_'!ll concluded with moving, amidst applause, the
Mowing resolution :...._
~,:` 7hat an Address be presented to his Majesty, humbly
iiioilmg him
of our loyal and devoted attachment to his
aJZY'ts person and Government."
tm...r. TIMOTHY SMITH felt sincere pleasure in se-
_n
)° ulng the resolution submitted to so'numerous and
espectable a meeting. Whoever had observed
he
%,_Conduct of his Majesty in the trying situation in
v le" hg had recently been placed, could not fail to
Ceri ev
ea
thatnd' aapnpyl aud
potentateit .
could sssis hbaerdpllyacpeodssiinblae
stio-
t; alyt
ei °: of
friends,
n daendd
bdyis
jarringtress. elements,Bereft of
'', Ministegrrs deserted by those who called them-
emvoesrt
etxnissgteende,rwetastS, sietlfieasshy,atnodirmana-..
' 16:
:r : assailedu
1 afaction
Iyotnhtakartech could be placed in a more em-
,,
art . .
to sBsing situation ?—(Applause.)—He begged to
:reet an expression which had fallen from him in
the attacks of faction would apply more properly
respect-
, attacks
Majesty's Governnient than'to his own Royal
;Non, In the situation in which his Majesty was
. • 'heed, however, how did he conduct himself?
midst all the difficulties which surrounded him
', steered an equable and majestic course.
• iS Majesty, watchful of the spirit of the
'toes, and the progress of the human mind, se-
eted for his Minister the man whose abilities best
'tialified him to fill that exalted station. It was his
41'. Smith's) opinion, that Mr. Canning was peen-
l'i), fitted for the station which his Majesty called
Pon him to occupy, by his sound judgment, the
ikprebensisress of his mind, and the decision of
4;1! character.—(Applause.) That illustrious states-
ni
e:11 was now no more, but his memory would be
I;'halmecl in the hearts of his family and friends, and
,4' e
-. gratitude of his country would render his name
Perishable.—(Cheers.) The conduct of his Ma-
t?' was above all praise.—(Cheers.) He had
t,ll, ,ed himself a fit monarch to rule over a free
iplc, and that he possessed all the qualities which
l'l i!ereed his station. Under these circumstances, he
' I,l,9,i'ght the present was a time peculiarly appro-
„.• 11114te for addressing his Majesty in the way proposed:
• " eye of the country was upon their proceedings;
.11 'il'l'll the example they would set would be speedily
ile'"wed. There would then be exhibited the great
~,,ttQCle of the King, the Parliament, and the people
Is,:ng in unison.—(Applause.) Every one must
e observed the generous sympathy which the
4th of Mr. Canning had called forth. That ex-
tizoession of feeling was not confined to this country
1404 e, but extended over the whole of the civilized
joiirld• It was impossible to look into a foreign
A teal without beholding some tribute offered to
flte worth of the departed Statesman. Thus, though
,fA,''gland was the centre of Mr. Canning's glory, it
t°,,uld be recorded of him that he had illuminated
ilourparts of the world with his liberal views. His
hey was not of an exclusive or a confined nature,
t embraced the happiness of civilized man where-
ter he might be found.—(Cheers.) If Mr. Can-
'rig had not done all that was desirable, he at
list had done all that was possible. By his death,
he King had lost a faithful and illustrious statesman,
ittunl, the people a Minister whose unceasing wish
4endeavour it was to promote the welfare of his
) tr.—Cheers.)
.4:1111n•
e resyoluti(on
He concluded by seconding
.
The resolution was then put, and carried unani-
niously. •
,Tho Rev. R. KRRNimy (of
the Established
',‘-,hurch) said, that he had been requested to move
le following resolution : ,
- " " That his Majesty be humbly requested graciously to
toiieeive our dutiful condolence on the lameuted decease of
'e late First Lord Commissioner of his Majesty's his
>t4 the Right Hon. George Ganoino-, in Whom hi;
7,[ljesty has lost a faithful, able, and zealous Minister, and
'e British empire a wise and patriotic Statesman.
The Rev. Gentleman then proceeded to say, that
~finking of Mr. Canning as he (Mr. Kennedy) did,
"-believing, as he did, that if it were possible to
Liseertain the sentiments of all unprejudiced persons
tra•oughout the empire, who were capable of thinking
i'Pon the subject, those of a large majority would be
s°,lin,,d. to correspond with his own,—believingons
~,,ul4l, that the wisdom of our gracious Monarch
' his paternal solicitude for the good of his People
teere never more conspicuous than in the act which
Placed Air. Canning at the head of his Councils, he
(Mist be strangely inconsistent, he must greatly fall
hilow his own sense of duty, if he did not express
satisfaction at the present Meeting, if he did not
W,ice that Birmingham was one of the first places
,Ziell bad adopted such a measure, and if he did not
raestly hope that the example would be followed
(nAtithe chief towns of the united kingdom.—
. e, rtraUSe.)—But it would be said, however,
ilf is ii only ageneral statement of what you think
its '4l.* Canning. Come to particulars, lied show
I -what respect be deserves the gratitude of his
ountty •
i ? and why he was fit to be placed at the head

of her affairs." This demand he would endeavour
to meet; but before he claimed for Mr. Canning
the praise that was due to him, he would just pre-
mise, that-a-part of that praise was reflected upon
Lord Liverpool, of whom Mr. Canning was the
chosen coadjutor, and for whom on many accounts he
entertained the highest respect. He hoped to be
allowed, then, first to speak a word or two of Mr.
Canning's principles, for those were the fountains
from which actions proceeded, and from which we
estimate the character of a moral or political
agent. He began with mentioning his principles,
chiefly to obviate the jealousy which different parties
in the State had harboured against Mr. Canning, in
regard to some of the objects of his policy. While
he approved of the tenour of Mr. Canning's. political
life in its later stage, lie
.was not one of those who
agreed with all the opinions he advanced, and all the
measures he advocated, in its earlier periods, though
he did coincide with the general principles on which
Mr. Canning's opinions were founded. They were
the principles of a man who was a friend to the
civil and ecclesiastical institutions of his country,—
of a man, who had sound, correct, and safe views of
her constitution in all its parts, the monarchical, the
aristocratical, and the democratical,—who wished
each of them to be maintained entire, unshackled,
and unimpeded in their respective spheres, of opera-
tion,—of a man who was decidedly hostile to jaco-
binical licentiousness, but the lover of a rational,
legal, and well-regulated liberty; and who hated the
former, because he justly deemed it the worst and
most baneful enemy of the latter.—(Cheers.)—The
sentiments of Mr. Canning on these points were
beautifully developed in a speech delivered at Liver-
pool in 1820, in which, as on other occasions, he
showed himself scrupulously fearful of any sweeping
plan ofreform in the House of Commons, as endanger-
ing the safety of the monarchy, which he rightly con-
sidered to be the root and the trunk of that system of
government under the protecting and benignant shade
of which it was our happiness to live.--(Applause.)
He made this last remark, in order to convince one
des'cription of men, that in advocating so zealously,
as Mr. Canning did, the Catholic claims, he had in
view not merely the welfare of Ireland, but the pre-
servation of the unity of the empire—(Cheers)—the
preservation of the Protestant Throne and the Pro--
testant Establishment; and that in this he only
agreed with his great friend and patron, Mr. Pitt,
and with all the men most distinguished for enlarged
and exalted minds who haVe acted a part in public
life.—(Loud cheers)—He (Mr. Kennedy) would
not give any opinion of his own on this subject, ex-
cept to observe, that the majority of moderate and
dispassionate men appear more and more inclined to
think, that there will be either no safety or quiet to the
kingdom, until some plan is devised (if that ever can
be done) by which the reasonable claims of the Ca-
tholics might be conceded, with such safeguards as
would allay the existing apprehensions of the Pro-
testants. What Mr. Canning supposed to be the
truth, and the whole truth, on this momentous ques-
tion, it was his duty to declare to his master and to
Parliament; but it was very certain, that as a man
of honour, he would rigidly have abided by the;
pledge he had given, not to make it a Cabinet ques-
tion, but to leave it to its unbiassed effect on the
public mind. He had thus endeavoured to shew to
one clasp of men, that Mr. Canning, by principle,
was not a speculative theorist, but a sober, wary,
practical statesman. He would now state to ano-
ther descripticni of men, that Mr. Canning was, at
the same time, and might very consistently be, the
advocate and supporter of liberal sentiments, and
that, in connexion with a few other men like him-
self, he did great good by modifying the features
of former administrations, in which he bore a
part, as be adapted their policy to the pro-
gress Of opinion and the increasing illuminations
which science, experience, and events were throwing
around him.—(Applause.)—He should at pre-
sent only advert to the principle of free trade,
which Mr. Canning's colleagues and himself
bad to a great extent encouraged, and the ad-
vantages of which were, he believed, beginning mere
and more to be felt. Above all, consider not only
what new marts and what new sources of trade he
opened in the New South American States, but,
by their means, from what a mortifying situation to
what a glorious and exalted one be raised Great
Britain I He did not call these states into
existence ! If the copy of his speech which he
(Mr. Kennedy) had just read were correct, he never
asserted that he (lid. Under God, they did that
for themselves. But while they were struggling for
existence, he prevented them from being crushed by
a meditated confederacy at the instigation of the
Holy Alliance.—(Cheers.)—ln the name. of his
country be declared, that no European power would
be allowed to move against the Spanish colonies,
except Spain herself. The consequence was, they
dared not move a step, and the new States were
established. In this way he avenged the insult
offered to England by the members of that same
Alliance, when they virtually said to her, " Not-
withstanding the treasure you have spent, the blood
you have shed, and the glory you have acquired, you
shall have no more influence in Europe except at our
pleasure"—(Cheers)—and when they enforced this
language by causing France, in opposition to the
declared wishes of England, to take military pos-
session of Spain, it was then that Mr. Canning
placed Great Britain in a commanding attitude be-
tween Europe and another hemisphere. " It was
then that he called in the New World (for that is
she corrected expression) to redress the balance of
the Old!" It was a prompt and decisive act of
policy, worthy of Lord Chatham, whom Mr. Can-
ning resembled in many points, and whom (if cir-
cumstances had required it), he would more
especially have resembled, 7iin his pre-eminent
character as a War Minister. —(Applause.)—
He might allude to what under Mi. Canning's
auspices (but not before) had begun to be done for
Greece, what the Noble Lord who has succeeded
him as Foreign Secretary, and than whorl no other
man was more qualified to succeed him, Would no
doubt be instrumental, if possible, in accomplishing.
He would only touch on two more topics. To prove
that Mr. Canning's Administration would not have
been one
.of mere temporary expedients and fair ap-
pearances, they had only to observe that he no
sooner entered upon it than he began immediately
to grapple with the difficulties under which the na-
tion laboured. In addition to his Bill on the Corn
Laws, believing the interest of our enormous national
debt to be one of those difficulties, he projected, as
we were assured, by a scheme of economy, the re-
duction of one million in the national expenditure;
and he pledged himself to bring forward in the next
Session of Parliament a Committee of Finance, in
order to show, in that disguise, the real situation of
'the country.—(Applause.)—He mentioned, as the
last claim of Mr. Canning to public gratitude, the
Ministry which he contributed to form, and that
which, as it appeared, he would have caused to suc-
ceed him. He (Mr. Kennedy) intended not The
shadow of disrespect to those members of the former
Administration who had seceded; but while he
deeply regretted that the country had no longer the
services of one or two of them, he had only to say
that the secession of all of those Ministers was their
own act and deed. What, then, did Mr. Canning
at this crisis.? Ile took down the partition-wall
between Whig and Tory. He acted upon the prin-
ciple avowed by his Majesty when he came to . the
serve, Regency,
who w inviting to the aid of his codntry, without
party predilection,
all who were qualified and in-
clined to ser wio might differ on minor points, but
were agreed in their main object. He formed
a phalanx of the ablest and worthiest men, at a time
when in the eyes of
done for her face of things,
inte-
grity her leaders the
those who look beyond the sur-
face e country needed all that could be
combination of talent and inte-
atniii unanimity in the people.--
(Cheers.)—He ha-d
was a sound friend to theNlC'
stated principles and hisus shown from Mr. Canning's
ell-known actions, that he
, roonstitution, a liberal and
enlightened Statesman
nister, an honest and arcrentinkttriot.ad energetic Mi-
nister,
of these characters. It' was the
h gave to his
eloquence its greatest charm, for elocluergice was al-
ways niost,interesting when it reflected the mind ,

from which it emanated; and it certainly was then
only valuable when it was made the instrument of
wisdom and yirtue. In the hands of Mr. Canning
how powerful was this instrument ! His eloquence
partook, in greater or less degrees, of the oracular
and truth-speaking manliness of Chatham, the dignity
of Pitt, the force and ardour of Fox, the richness of
Burke, the brilliancy of Sheridan, combined with a
grace, a classical elegance,
.a pointedness of wit, a
playfulness and a fascination, peculiarly his own.—
(Loud applause.)—lf he were alive he would re-
quire no one to speak for him. He would do that
for himself, except where he chose to meet his ene-
mies with the silent magnanimity of. scorn. But
his- lips were closed in death, and his countrymen
were called up to speak for him, especially as there
were many who spoke falsely and maliciously against
him. If those who think of Mr. Canning as he
thought of him did not come forward to do him jus-
tice, the very stones of the land they trod upon might
be expected to cry out against them. The Rev.
Gentleman concluded by moving the resolution which
lie read at the commencement of his speech.
The Rev. JOHN CORRIE (a Dissenting Minister)
felt sincere pleasure in seconding the resolution
which had been moved by his reverend friend.,
. Mr. BIRD felt considerable anxiety in presenting
himself to the meeting, because he should feel it his
duty to utter'sentiments which he was aware would
not be agreeable to the majority of those present.--.
He wished not to attack the memory of the dead,
and would not have come forwardat all; had he net
thought he perceived an intention on the part of
those who had been instrumental in calling the
meeting, not so much to offer a tribute of honour
to the late Mr. Canning, as to give support to a
Ministry with which, with some exceptions, he had
neverat all been allied.—(A laugh.) He was likewise
opposed to the professed object of the meeting, be-
cause he considered it an innovation in practice.—
He had never heard of a meeting in Birmingham to
address the King on the death of a minister, however
able and virtuous. The Rev. Mr. Kennedy had
bestowed on Lord Chatham the greatest praise by
saying, that if Mr. Canning had lived, he would have
equalled that nobleman. He would ask, whether
any addregs had been carried up to the King on the
death of Lord Chatham ? Was such a proceeding
adopted on the death of Mr. Pitt or Mr. Fox ?
When that great and good man Mr. Perceval fell
by the hand of an assassin, did they address his
Majesty ? (" Yes.") He could undertake to
say that no address proceeded from the. town of
Birmingham on that occasion, whatever might have
been the case in other places. Under these circum-
stances, he was unwilling to establish a precedent of
this nature, particularly when he saw the object of
it was to set an example which might be followed'
throughout the country, in order to keep the pre-
sent Administration in power. After expressing his
satisfaction that Lord Lyndhurst was retained in the
Ministry because he. was opposed to the Catholic
claims, the Learned Gentleman alluded to the asser-
tion of Mr. Kennedy, that the ex-Ministers had de-
serted the King, and Mr. Canning had formed a
new'Administration. It was, he said, as notorious
as the sun at noon-day, that Mr. Canning did not
form the Cabinet. It was formed by a great lumi-
nary in the law.—(Disapprobation.)—lt was Mr.
Brougham, who left the law to become a Cabinet-
maker, that formed the Administration. Then why
should it be said that the late Ministers deserted the
Sovereign ? Knowing that. they could not agree
with the Premier on the subject of the Catholic
question, they felt themselves bound to retire from
the Administration.—(A person in the crowd called
out " A good thing they did," which excited a roar
of laughter.)—ln consequence of this proceeding the
country had been deprived of the services of Mr.
Peel, a statesman whom it greatly respected, and in
whom it placed unlimited confidence.--(Hear.)—
He concluded by saying, that for the reasons which
he had before assigned, he would move as an amend-
ment to the motion already submitted, r That this
meeting do now adjourn."
Mr. EDMONDS said he would second the amend-
ment, not because he approved of it (for he hoped
it would be negatived), but because it should not be
said that the motion fell to the ground for want of a
seconder.

Mr. RICHARD SPOONER deplored the loss of the
illustrious deceased statesman as one of the greatest'
calamities that had for a long time befallen the coun-
try. He hoped he should be excused for addressing
a word of caution on the present occasion to the friends
of civil and religious liberty. He entreated thein to
wait patiently ; if they did not press the present Mi-
nisters to proceed too hastily, their cause must suc-
ceed. It would be carried, not by conipulsion, nor
artifice, but through the conviction of the majority
of the people of its necessity. If, • however, they
presSed forward too eagerly to obtain their object, the
recoil would be upon themselves.—(Applause.)—
His Learned Friend had said, that the recent Admi-
nistration was not formed by Mr. Canning, but by a
great luminary of the law. 'He imagined it must be
the natural partiality of bis Learned Friend for his
own profesSion which caused him to attribute_to the
eminent individual alluded to the whole merit of
having formed the Administration. At the same
time he should not feel the less inclined to place con-
fidence in an Administration of which Mr. Brougham
approied, or of which he even fanned a part. He
Concurred with his Learned Friend in thinking that
the retirement of Mr. Peel was a great loss to the
country. He lamented exceedingly that the address
recently carried up to that 'Right Honourable
Gentleman from* Birmingham had not been pro-
posed at an open meeting like the present.—
(Hear.)—Those who suggested the address to
the King on the death of -Mr. Canning were
not afraid of having the propriety of their pro-
ceedings' openly canvassed. The address to Mr.
Peel purported to proceed from the magistrates,
clergy, and inhabitants of Birmingham. Now seve-
ral of the magistrates had informed him that they
had never seen it, and to none of them he believed
was it Submitted in their magisterial character. That,
he thought, was extremely improper. For his own
part, he never would sign an address purporting to
come from the magistrates of Birmingham, unless it
were previously submitted to a general meeting of
the magistracy, in order that if it contained any
thing objectionable it might be altered.—(Hear.)—
Heregretted that the address to Mr. Peel had not been
publicly proposed, fcr he was sure it would receive
the support of the majority of the people. His exer-
tions in the office of Secretary for the Home De-
partment bad been productive of great benefit to the
country. Too 'much praise could not be given to
his attempts to give something like form and 'cha-
racter to the statute law. He lamented that he
differed from the Right Hon. Gentleman on the
great question of Catholic Emancipation; but it
was some consolation -to him to know, that the
Right Hon. Gentleman on that point also differed
from his great prototype Pitt, and Fox, and Burke,
and Sheridan. Believing Mr. Peel to be an up-
right man, and that from his connections he would
be always anxious to support the manufactnring
interest, he thought the town of Birmingham had
cause to regret that he no longer took a part in the
councils of, the King.—(Hear, hear.)—ln conclu-
sion, the Hon. Gentleman expressed a hope that the
address to the King would have some influence on
the formation of the Ministry, and convince Mr.
Canning's successors,.. that so long as they continued
to pursue his policy, they would receive the support
of the country.—(Applause.)
Mr. BIRD begged to state, in consequence of
what had fallen from his Hon. Friend, that the
address to Mr. Peel • received the signatures of four
Magistrates of Birmingham.
Mr. OSLER urged Mr. Bird to withdraw his
amendment. It would be extremely inconsistent,
after having agreed to a resolution declaring the
propriety of voting an address to his Majesty, to se-
parate without doing so.
Mr. T. PRICE also requested his Learned Friend
to withdraw his amendment,in order that unanimity
might be preserved.
Mr. BIRD, however, said he would take the.sense
of the Meeting upon it.

The tunendinek wag Chen put, and negatived by

an overwhelming majority, and the original resolu.
tion was unanimously-agreedto.

Mr. S. J. GALTON said, that conceiving the en-
lightened policy which had for some year's been
pursued -by Government was mainly attributable to
Mr. Canning, his death could not but be deplored as
a great loss to the country. He hoped that the
new Administration would be formed of the most
moderate , men of both parties, to the exclusion
equally of those whose antiquated prejudices made
them the enemies of all reforms, and of those whose
rash and inconsiderate attempts at improvement
would- defeat the end they had in ,view.—(Cheers.)
He then moved the following resolution :

" That deeply sympathising with his Majesty in all the
difficulties and anxieties which he has lately experienced,
we greatly. acknowledge the wisdom and paternal care' dis-
played in the recent official appointments, by which his
Majesty has given a confident assurance to his people of
continuing the same just, liberal, and enlightened policy,
which has lately directed the councils and exalted the cha-
racter of this country."

Mr. GEORGE Nlcnous rose to second the re-
solution just read by Mr. S. J. Galton,—a duty
that he felt the greatest pleasure in performing.
He would yield to no man in admiration of Mr.
Canning's transcendent talents, and in affectionate
respect for his character and memory. If ever there
was an honest man that man was George Canning.—
He was too frank, open, uncompromising, to stoop
to any thing mean or simulating. The greatest fault
of his character was perhaps that of being too open,
too ardent, too reckless of consequences; for from
this cause
,proceeded many of the difficulties which
he had to encounter in his late arduous struggle.
Had he been less honest, he might have been longer
!fired: A more timid or less ardent pilot might pos-
sibly have reached the haven less rapidly and majes-
tically, it is true, but with less hazard and a smaller
expenditure of mind and means. Nearly all of what
he had intended to say on this interesting subject
had, however, been so ably, so admirably antici-
pated, in the brilliant speech delivered by the Rev.
Mr. Kennedy, that he felt it would be almost an in-
sult to the meeting to attempt to recur to it. He
thought the Rev. Gentleman's speech was one of
the most eloquent, profound, and effective addresses
that he had ever heard delivered on any occasion
he felt the full scope and importance of his subject,
and he graced it with a depth of colouring, a glow-
ing warmth of imagination, and with a power of ar- '
gument and illustration, that reminded him of the
sublime efforts of the great man who was the object
of his eulogy.—(Applause.)—One point, however,
had hitherto been left unnoticed, on which he would
beg to offer a few remarks. Mr. Canning had been
assailed, vituperated, on the supposed sacrifice
of principle, on the asserted " profligacy" of
his conduct, in uniting himself with the
Whigs. He (Mr. Nicholls) was prepared to
show, by distinct reference to every Administration
formed in this country since the accession of Queen
Anne, that there never was a strong, an able, Or an
efficient administration, which was not formed'of
such an union ; and the reason was obvious : with
a party, the most violent generally obtain the ascen-
dancy, and a government constituted of such mate-
rials was necessarily violent and partial in its opera-
tions;' but in a combined or associated adMinistration,
such as the one recently formed, and now happily
continued, it was not so : here the more moderate and
rational of each party Unite, to the exclusion of the
more violent; each side. is influenced by a spirit of
conciliation, and gives up a little; and a government
is thus formed of all, and for all, and securing the
confidence of all.—(Applause.)—Such had been, or
rather such would have been, the result of Mr.
Canning's' Administration, combining within itself
elements so admirably adapted, men the most emi-
nent for sound sense and high and patriotic princi-
ple.—(Hear, hear.)—Yet it , Vt'lS for uniting with
such men, with whom a series of circumstances had
brought him into close approximation, that Mr. Can-
ning had been reviled and calumniated; as if the
uniting himself with the Duke of Portland, the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Dudley, and the Duke
of Devonshire, could be disgraceful to any man—
(applause)—men than whom England had not any
more conspicuous for all the virtues that dignify, em-
bellish, and enlighten s6ciety. Of the Duke of Portland
he might be permitted to speak, having resided 56.•
veral years in his neighbourhood in Nottinghamshire,
where he was loved, admired, and respected. Of
Lord Dudley he need not speak there=he was
their neighbour, and was so deserVedly popular
among all ranks,—he was so well known as a man
of ability and great acquirenient, that it was needless
to speak further in his praise to this meeting, which
was so well able to appreciate his character. Of
my Lord Lansdowne, he would only remark, that if
Lord Liverpool had been asked ,who was the ablest
man in the Upper House of Parliament, and the
best fitted by his talents, character, and acquire-
ments, to guide the helm of State in that assembly,
he would unhesitatingly have replied, that the Mar-
quis of Lansdowne was that man. Could Mr. Can-
ning be justly reproached, then; for uniting such men
as these and his Grace of Devonshire, who inherits,
as it were, by'hereditary descent, the public virtues
of his race ?—for associating in his Government my
Lord Goderich and Mr. Huskisson, to whom the na-
tion owes so much, and their debt to wliom was
daily, hourly increasing ? Surely not : they must
praise the measure, and revere the motive, now that
the great author of the union, which promised so
much of good to the country, was removed from
them by the inscrutable decrees of Providence ! Yet
it was consolatory to reflect under this heavy priva-
tion, that the machine so constituted for their be-
nefit was not destroyed—the mantle of its great
author had fallen on it. His spirit would remain
with it, and combine, vivify, strengthen, and confirm
it, to the honour of their gracious Sovereign, and for
the happiness and prosperity of , the country.—
(Cheers.)
Mr, OSLER moved that the word " lately" be
substituted for the word " hitherto." His object
was to -confine the approbation of the meeting to the
policy introduced into the administration of public
affairs by Mr. Canning. '
Mr. BIRD said, that if the amendment were agreed
to, it would imply that his Majesty had not always
displayed his_wisdom in the choice of his Ministers.
A desultory conversation ensued upon this point.
At length the amendment was agreed to; and the
resolution 'so amended, passed unanimously.

Mr. LAWRENCE (the Low Bailiff), after express-
ing, in a few words, his admiration of the policy of
Mr. Canning, moved the following address :

TO THE ICING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.

Most Gracious Sovereign,—We, your Majesty's loyal
subjects, the inhabitants of Birmingham and its vicinity,
in public meeting assembled, humbly beg permission to
approach your Majesty, with assurances of our devoted at•
tacbment to your Majesty's person and Government.
We also beg your Majesty's gracious
permissiol humbly
to otfor your dutiful condolence on the lamented decease of
the late. First Lord Commissioner of your Majesty's Trea-
sury, the Right Tion George Canning, by which afflict-
ing event your Majesty has been deprived of an able,
zealous, and faithful Minister, and the Britisit,empire of a
wise and patriotic statesman.
Deeply regretting this unhappy event, and sympathising
with your Majesty in all the difficulties and anxieties which
your Majesty has lately experienced, we further be per-
mission humbly to express our grateful a,chnowledgments,
for the wisdom and paternal care displayed by your Ma-
jesty in your Majesty's recent official appointments, which
affords us the most confident assurance, that the same
just, enlightened, and beneficent policy, will be continued
by your Majesty's present Government, which has lately
conduced so greatly .to your Majesty's honour, and so
eminently benefitted your Majesty's dominions, and the
whole civilized world. .

.• _
We fervently pray that your Majesty may long reign
'over a free, loyal, and united people.

He then moved—" That the Address now read
be approved and. adopted : and that it be signed by
the High Bailiff, on behalf of this meeting."
Mr. T. E. LEE seconded the motion.
Mr. T. PRICE thought that the introduction of
the word " lately" into the address, made it apply
too exclusively to Mr. Canning's administration. He
thought that the policy pursued by Lord Liverpool,
which had carried us in
.triumph through the late
war, was likewise deserving of prmse, ide time-

fore moved that the word " hitherto be substituted
for that of •" lately." -
Mr. BIRD supported the amendment.
Mr. JOSEPH PARKES entreated the meeting not to
agree to the amendment.
The amendment was then put and negatived, and
the address was carried unanimously.

The publication of the resolutions having been
ordered, and thanks voted to the High Bailiff, the
meeting dispersed.

EXECUTION-(THIS DAY.)

At eight o'clock this morning, the last sentence of the
law was carried into effect in the front of Newgate, on
Thomas Norton, 28 years of age, who was capitally con-
victed, at the last Old Bailey Sessions, of being a principal
in the robbery and outrage committed on Mr. Fuller, sur-
geon, of Bethnal-green, for which three young men have
previously been convicted. When first taken, he expressed
his regret that he had so long evaded pursuit, adding, "If
I had been nibbled at first, 'twould have been all over
now." Since his conviction, he has prepared himself for
the worst; but all along, and particularly since the war-
rant arrived for his execution, he has betrayed a hardihood
and effrontery that did not forsake him till almost the last
hour, he having, no longer since than yesterday afternoon,
in answer to an observation from one of the turnkeys, told
him to "go be —.” At a quarter before eight the
Sheriffs arrived, and immediately proceeded to the Press-
' room, where they were joined by Dr. Cotton, the Rev. '
Mr. Baker, and other gentlemen ; and, in a few seconds,
Norton was ushered to the same apartment. On arriving
at the door, he bowed respectfully. to all around, and ad-
vanced with a quick and firm step to the table on which
lay the rope by which his arms were to be pinioned. While
that part of the ceremony, was performing, he kept his eyes
fixed on the ground, and did not utter a syllable. He was
afterwards addressed by Dr. Cotton and Mr. Sheriff Win-
chester, to each of whom he gave very slight answers, ex-
pressing himself quite comfortable, and fully prepared. As
the clock of St. Sepulchre commenced striking eight, the
melancholy procession ascended in the usual way to the
platform, the Rev. Ordinary reciting a portion of the burial
service. On arriving at the steps leading to the drop,
Norton paused an instant, and shook hands with those near
him, after which he ascended the platform with a firm and
easy step, and placed himself beneath the fatal beam.—
While the executioner was performing the last sad office of
adjusting the rope, Norton did not betray the slightest emo-
tion, and, when the preparations were all complete, begged
that his neckerchief might be faitened over his eyes. This
was accordingly done, and the fatal bolt being withdrawn,
his eyes were closed en this world for ever. For two or
three minutes his frame appeared slightly convulsed; after
which no motion was perceptible. Comparatively speak-
ing, very few persons were present at this execution.