The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-24 00:00:00

CABINET-MAKERS' SOCIETY.

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J. HASLER, Secretary.

PURITY OF. ELECTION.

The friends of the Purity of Election in West-
minster, held their Anniversary Dinner yesterday, at
the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Strand, to celebrate
the Twentieth Anniversary of the election of Sir F.
Burdett, to represent the city of Westminster, in
Parliament.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, M.P. in the Chair,
Supported by Lords Ebrington, Nugent, and John
and William Russell ; Sir R. Wilson, Sir J. Gra-
ham, Part., M.P.; Sir R. Heron, Bart., M.P.;
Sir J. Bourke, Bart., M.P. ; the lion. H. Howard,
Mr. Coke, of Norfolk; Mr. Wood, of Preston; Mr.
Spring B ice, M.P.; Mr. Whitbread, M.P. ; C. P.
Thomson, Esq., M.P.; H. Warburton, Esq., M.P.;
A. Dawson, Esq., M.P.; J. J. Guest, Esq., M.P.,
for Honiton; Otway Cave, Esq., M.P.; Montague
Burgoyne, Esq.; Lytton Bulwar, Esq.; J. Smith,
Esq., of Liverpool ; Jones Burdett, Esq., and several
other distinguished gentlemen were present. The
company was the most numerous that we have
known to muster for several years on this occasion.

The spacious Hall of the Tavern was opened
at half-past three o'clock, when a rush took place for
gents, all of which wc.e occupied before the Chair-
man entered. A band was stationed in the gallery,
which entertained the company in the course of the
evening, with several appropriate airs.
Messrs. Hunt and Cobbett were stationed at the
head of a table, in the immediate vicinity of the
Chairman.

The cloth having been removed, the Chairman
rose and proposed " The People, the only soerce of
legitimate power."—Drunk with three times three.
The next toast was—" The King, and may he
confirm his own declaration, that the Crown is held
in trust only for the benefit of the people."—Drunk
with the usual honours.—Air, " Rule Britannia."
The CHAIRMAN then rose, and proposed, " A
full, fair, and free representation of the people in the
Commons House of Parliament, the only efficient
remedy for all our national grievances." This toast
was received with the most unbounded applause.
Tune—" Keep the rogues out." It used to be
" kick the rogues out ;" but as they have got the
coup de grace, the word keep was substituted.
• Mr. COBBETT rose, and Was received with mingled
hisses and applause, which lasted for several minutes,
—(Cries of turn him out, mingled with cries of
hear, hear)—aud a scene of confusion ensued, of
which it is impossible to give any adequate idea.
Mr. GALLOWAY, in the name 'of the Stewards,
called upon the Meeting to hear Mr. Cobbett, be-
cause the object of the Meeting would be completely
defeated by any illiberal attempt to prevent any
Gentleman delivering his sentiments. When-
ever the time arrived at which that Gentleman or
any other forgot the deportment of an independ-
ent man, he_trusted their contempt of that indivi-
dual would be sufficiently shewn by the meeting.
Mr. COBBETT then rose, but the confusion con-
tinued for a considerable time. At length we heard
him state that the meeting might take or reject, just
as they pleased, what he had to say; but he would
pledge his. existence that the acceptance or non-
acceptance of what .he had to state should be
decided by a fair show of hands. It was not against
Sir Francis Burdett he stood up, but against the im-
placable, immortal, and everlasting enemy of Reform.
—(lmmense laughter and confusion, amid cries of
" Turn him out.") •
The toast was then drunk.

Mr. STURcH then rose for the purpose of proposing
a toast, certainly not a new one; but one that had
been received in that very room for twenty succes-
sive years with every expression of cordial ap-
probation and applause. He, himself, had had the
honour, and he would add the pleasure, of proposing
the toast now put in his hand,as many who had been in
the habit of attending the anniversary of the glorious
triumph of Westminster would know. But before
he proposed the toast.—(Here there was a pause,
and a cry of " You must deliberate."—Great laugh-
ter.)—He certainly did not intend to trouble
the Meeting with any thing like an at-
tempt at a speech, yet they would allow him
to state, that when he had the honour of pro-
posing this toast at the last Anniversary, he had
no expectation then that it ever would be his lot
to propose it again. Being advanced in years,
no doubt many present would think he ought to
resign the, office to abler hands, especially as it
was the fashion on the present day for great men
to resign, thinking they had held their offices long
enough, and as others had thought much too long.
—(Great cheering.)— 1f any were of this opinion
they exactly coincided with himself. The first was;
he had intended to resign his office with all its
emoluments and toils,—(laughter) and should have
done so had it not been that he was afraid
that many who had usually heard the toast given
from his lips would have been led to have concluded
that he had deserted the man who had never deserted
the cause of public liberty—(Great eheers)—
and lie was sure who never would as long as he
lived.—(Continued applause.)—Twenty years had
rolled away marking the steady conduct, prin-
ciple, spirit, and high talents of that Hon.
Baronet, since he had called on the inhabitants of
Westminster to elect him, and since he had been
elected by an overwhelming majority. He looked
back with pleasure on those days, because he was
enabled still to see the same man in the Chair—
(Hear, hear, hear, and great confusion)—to declare
his acknowledged principles, and appear as a
standard for all the world. He, therefore, re-
joiced once more in proposing the health of. that
Honourable Baronet; he hoped it would be pro-
posed for many years to come, and that when- all
present would be removed in the course of nature, that
the inhabitants of Westminster would ever afterwards
maintain that independent spirit—that ardent and
zealous love of liberty for which the Hon. Bart. had
been so highly distinguished—(Hear, hear)—and
that they would-be able to spread that love through-
out the country till England, Scotland and Ireland
were convinced that i‘ was the only effectual secu-
rity "for having a good Government.—(Hear,
hear.)—He then proposed the health of their Re-
presentative, Sir Francis Burdett, the great and
consistent advocate of the rights and freedom
of the people, whose long and disinterested zealous
exertions in their service entitled him to the gra-
titude and esteem of the country,,---(Loud cheers,
waving of handkerchiefs, anti great confusion for
some time.)
Mr. COBBETT here mounted the table amidst great
uproar, and often attempted to speak, but could not
be heard.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT then rose with a view to
restore order, which only increased the confusion.
At last, on being permitted to speak, he said,—
if the gentlemen present would only favour him
for a short time, he hoped to be able to restore
tranquillity. When a toast was proposed, every man
present had a right either to drink that toast or to
object to it, the present was the only time at which
an objection could he made to the toast that had
been proposed, and it appeared to him (the
Honourable Chairman), that it would be for the
convenience of the Meeting, and better in every
point of view with respect to public meetings,
and to the characters of those in the eyes of
the public attending those meetings, that any
objections to be made should good-naturedly be heard.
He knew that as Chairman he had no power
except what the meeting invested him with ; that
power was to preserve regularity; if there was
any irregularity, he trusted he would have

power enough to""subduerit, but SO far nothing
appeared to him irregular, and therefore he trusted
the gentleman, who attempted to oppose the drink-
ing of the weal:would be heard at this his only
opportunity.—(Applause.) -
Mr. COBBETT then said, if the meeting would
observe the same silence -while he addressed
it that had been paid to Sir Francis Burdett,
he would pledge himself to.take up as-little time as
the Hon. Baronet had done. He .was bold to eayi
that there were persons, and-especially when he poked
at his left hand (alluding to the great body of the
meeting), that there were persone present, and
he believed the majority of the meeting, who
were anxious to object to the toast, as well
as himself, unless they got an explanation of some
very extraordinary circumstances which had made
their appearance in public within the last three weeks.
The electors of Westminster had expressed as much
to him, and he would put it to the vote of the
meeting by and by, if the Honourable Chairman
would allow him, who were for, and who against
his proposition.—(Great applause and confusion.)
Every man had a right to be at this meet-
ing who had paid for his card,—every man
who was an elector of Westminster especially, and
surely he had some right to be here above children
not, born then, he Navin taken an active part in the
very first eleetion.—(Very great confusion:)--The
meeting would get nothing by their clamour. He
would pledge himself that they did not go off with-
out punishment one way or other for their clamour.
—(Much laughter and continued applause.)—
The gentlemen present might drink the health Of a
fellow with a pot of beer in his hand, and care
not a farthing whether the devil had that fellow
or not in three minutes afterwards ; but when a
toast like the present was given, it was to go forth
to the public as the solemn opinion, and the decided
declaration of those who constituted the Meeting, and
in short to stamp their characters and the characters
of the electors of Westminster. By the toast
Mr. Sturch had proposed, the meeting approved
of the principles of the present Governwer t,
as far as they could learn those princi--
plea, and the too apparent principles of Sir
Francis Burdett—(Hear, hear, and great uproar.)—
For his own part, he totally disapproved of
those principles. He totally disapproved of
the conduct of their Representative, and it
Mr. Starch would only permit him to make
a slight addition to the toast, he would not trou-
ble the meeting a moment longer. The toast
in plain English, expressed approbation of the
long tried conduct of Sir Francis Burdett, as a
friend of Parliamentary Reform—nay, and as a con-
sistent man.—(Much confusion.)--He called upon
the meeting to be manly in their conduct, and to dare
the world with the just and true addition which he
should propose to the toast respecting their Repre-
sentative who now sat behind a man who all
life long, as well as his family, according to his own
declaration, had been sapping the public.—(Great
applause and confusion.)—lt was true that that
individual had had a sinecure for the last five and,
thirty years. Sir Francis, he avowed, sat at the
back of that man—countenanced that man—had
pledged himself to support that man.--(Hear,)—He
maintained that that was the English of the toast.
The family of that man had received seventeen o-
eighteen thousand pounds of the public money i
pensions. He himself had received 18,0001. of the
public money, and he was the implacable—the
abusive—the scandalous—the villainous—the ca-
lumnious, and the external enemy of Reform.—(Con-
fusion and applause, which lasted several minutes.)
Add this to the toast, and he (Mr. Colsbett)
have no objection to its passing.—(Much lauf-Iter.)
Sir Francis Burdett, whose conduct heck 'been
present day
ap-
plauded,himself atnamtieiley,
backdownof tro...,anthniniy
had now gone across the lir:use and placed
the abuser
—the mortal enemy of Parliamentary Re-
form ;—and yet Mr. Sturch applauded him for be-
ing consistent ! At the very last Anniversnry,
Sir Francis Burdett called the House of Commons
a political Sodom.—(Cheers and confusion.)—Sir
Francis now sat and said nothing, but he (Mr. C.)
would repeat, that on this very day twelve months
their Representative declared, in the very room in
which they were now assembled, that the House of
Commons were overwhelmed by a scnm, such as
was never before found on the face of the earth.--
(Hissing and clapping.)—The reason he added
of this scum was, because so little of the public
voice of the people was heard in that House,
and because so few good men were found there
—the House of Commons was a political Sodom.
He (Mr. C.) said, therefore, that the meetin could
not, according to the cherished principle!. of West-
minster, drink the present toast, unl'ss they com-
promised those principles. Sir Francis Burdett had
said, in allusion to Catholic Eovincipation, that all the
Catholics were a parcel bi rogues, and that they
wished for Emancipation, merely because they
wanted to get into office, bnt he now slipt out from
those declarations in the hope that he might get a
Peerage,and walk up to the other House.—(Uproar.)
He begged the Meeting would not make a noise, or
by G—, they would frighten their Representative.—
( Laughter.)—ln spite of the roaring of the Meeting—
in spite of their high obstreperous voices—before the
face of the said Sir Francis Burdett, he would put
his amendment to the meeting. Sir Francis
Burdett himself had frequently declared him-
self to be the enemy of that House, which he
considered to be a house of corruption, and the
meeting might swallow that for their comfort.—
(Immense laughter, and cheers.)
The toast was again put, and was received with
enthusiastic applause; Cobbett all the time exhiLit.
ing most extravagant gestures. He exclaimed, Ev 4
loud as he could bawl, " You have disgraced ys:ur-
selves for ever. I believe I could take my oat:o that
not one in ten have held up their hands in favour of
the toast." He then called on Sir F. Burdett to
have the amendment put, and to )_et the votes of
those present decide the question..

In the course of one of the interruptions which
took place, Cobbett said., "By way of interlude, as
I see Mr. Wood, tho Member for Preston, at the
table, I shall say a word to him. He declared that
he would pull Mr. Canning by the beard: I suppose
that he meant as a barber, for that is the only way
in which he could do it."
An Elector handed 'Cobbett a glass of wine.,
which drew forth an observation from a person near
him, as to the arch-radicals having entirely forsnvorn
the use of that article; Cobbett answered,, 4, I did
not forswear it as a medicine, nor to Vrevent me
from fainting." He was very ind;.gUant at Sir
Francis Burdett for having accuse's:l him of having
written nonsense. " A pretty pair of fellows," said
he, as Sir Francis Burdett, and his colleague, to
judge of what he had written.
The Toast-Master--" Gentlemen, I have a toast
to read, after which. I shall have an amendment,
penned by Mr. Cobbett, to propose. Gentlemen, it
is quite impossible that I can perform my duty with
satisfaction to you, or credit to myself, unless yop,
take your seats and condescend to hear me."

Cobbett was prevailed upon, with much difF.culty-,
to sit down. The original toast was again. put, and
was carried by acclamation; but no amendment was
read, Sir F. Burdett haring declared that which had
been handed up to be nonsense,
Sir F. BURDETT then came forward, and ' ad-
dressed the meeting. He nad never come befbre
the Electors of Westminster with more gratification
and confidence, for he never came before them with
a more sincere conviction that he had not swerved
one iota from the principles which he had ever
maintained.—(Cheers and hisses.)
Mr. CoßßETl'_.Lot my amendment be put.—
(Great tumult.)
Sir FeANcts resumed. It was his anxious
P. of his
that every person should have an explana,t,id to those
o
conduct. An indulgence had been allow
who had addressed the Meeting...- an indulgence
tin
c!.
greater than he had ever conceuc
to those mos
union with the feelings bt a meeting. I' a
had begged for this
indulgence, in ore: r
that there might be nothirg to have a cavil c n.
For it bitti been rep
""9:04 that this meeting was

a miserable junta, or, as it was called in derision, a
" rump ;" but if this meeting was to be taken for
the rump, the meeting might conceive of what
magnitude the body was.—(Hear, and laughter.)—
The amendment had been handed to him, a most
unusual course at a meeting.—(Hear, hear.) He
could not put it to the meeting, because it was rank
nonsense ;—(Hear, hear)—and if such amendments
were allowed, there was an end to all regularity in
public meetings. The object of this amendment, or
more properly all that it conveyed was, that he (Sir
F. Burdett.) sat at the back of Mr. Canning. Of
this fact there could be no doubt, and he thought
there had been great public benefit derived from that
act. That act, he believed, would finally advance the
great object of refoam. By doing so, he had endea-
voured to exclude the worst part of the worst Admi-
nistration (Hear.) This Administration sat like an
incubus on the country, and prevented any attempt at
public improvement. And wherefore did he (Sir
Francis) sit at the back of Mr. Canning ? Because
an Administration with more talent, and with less
bigotted prejudices now sought to keep
out that worst of Administrations—those
unclean birds who had only just glutted their
prey, and would be happy to have returned
again, and have fixed their talons in the vitals of the
country. God forbid that any thing he now said
should be considered an answer to what had fallen
from persons that night. He was ready to give an
explanation of his conduct to the humblest
man in that assembly who was honest and
independent; but if he was expected to answer
attacks from the quarter from which attacks came
this night, their confidence was not worth hay-
ing.—(Hear, hear, and hisses.)—He was yet
to learn that boasting was a virtue, but he
now repeated what he had always asserted, that
he was ever ready to support the cause of the
people, and would never shrink from supporting
any measures that would lead to the advance-
ment of public liberty. Those brighter spirits
had shaken off their grosser parts, and he supported
them.—(Hear, hear.)—What he had done was
only to drive from power as far as he was able
" Those baneful unclean birds,
" Those lazy owls, who, perched near fortune's top, -
" Sit only watchful with their heavy wings,
" To cuff down new-fledged virtues."
He should be ever ready to support the liberties
of the country, and to shake that well-coMpacted
system of corruption which had received a fatal
blow by the overweening confidence in their
own power of those who were connected with
that system. Upon ail questions of practi-
cal advancement he was the same.—(Hear, hear.)
With respect to Parliamentary reform, he would say
that when he appeared in Parliainent 30 years ago,
he strongly felt the necessity of that measure. If,
then, he pursued that course so early in his public
life, and in times of no common danger, if he had
fought under the banners of public liberty when it
was not such child's play as it was at present,—why
should he now be suspected of an intention to give-
up those great principles by which he had so long
been guided ? For 20 years he had had the honour
of representing the electors of Westminster, and
during that time he had never uttered a word with
respect to his own conduct. It was not now merely
a question of Parliamentary Reform, but liberal prin-
cipies, foreign and domestic, were effected by the
late change. As 'those principles gained ground,
they must feel that they were advancing greatly to-
wards the attainment of Parliamentary reform. It
wag owing to a long chain of causes connected to-
gether, one leading on and linking itself to ano-
ther, that they could hope to attain that end ;
and every liberal principle, be it what it might,
commercial, civil, or religious, all advance to one
and the same end; and the time, he hoped, would
soon come, when the rest of the electors of England
would be as enlightened as those of Westminster, and
glory in pursuing the same march of independence.
—As to reform, he would ask could Mr. Can-
ning be a Minister" if he declared for Reform ? and
if he made such a declaration could he hope to
have the support of the boroughmongers, whom he
always would and should designate the bane of the
Country.---(Cheers.)—Nevertheless, he considered
the appointment of Mr. Canning as a boon to the
country.—(Hear, hear, hear.)---His (Sir Francis
Burdett's) principles he would maintain, whether
lee should slip into a Peerage or not; for, by main-
Seining them, he would secure more than he could
gel, byby any Peerage, namely the confidence and
affection of his country.—(Loud cheering.)—
It was ti 7 the public of England setting forth good
principles, and promulgating sound doctrines through
the country it was this alone that could give them
any hope of obtftining that which is the foundation
of liberty in all cdientries.—(Cheers.)—Then he
contended that he never' did, arid he never would
abandon such principles.—(Cobbett—" Do you only
believe ?")—Some might think that recent events,
instead of advancing, retarded the progress of re-
form; but he should for himself say, that any act
Jie should ever do, or any step he should ever take,
would not, he thought, have any other direction but
the ultimate view of obtaining reforrn.—(Cobbett—
" Do you only think ?")—He would at all times be
actuated by a feeling of what was proper. They
had seen many great- and able public men who had
been induced to change particular opinions, there-
fore he had addressed them temperately, because he
was sure he could not please them by vaunting;
and he did so likewise with a view to the weak-
ness of humanity, to which they were all liable,
Still, however, when they saw him deserting the
cause of his country, whether connected with reform
or with any other question, it would be time enough
for ti'iem to desert him. He could not believe, as he
was confident he did not feel, that he had shrunk
from his dirty in acting as he had done, or had exer-
cised any other than a, correct judgment. He had
taken the line vs,hich he had done on this occasion,
because decision of esinduct was absolutely necessary.
It was not a question ti; Nether they should have re-
form or not : it was absurd to put it in that way.
He never should abandon his principles, but he ex-
pected that when he deserted the cause of the
people, they would desert him—(Hear).—The ques-
tion was, whether the enlightened part of the Admi-
nistration should be supported against that which
had weighed heavy, and was an affliction to the
couory.--(Hear, hear, hear.)—The fact was, that
a portiem of the late Administration, and even their
children, began to consider office as a kind of here-
ditary right. Lord Liverpool was said to have had
an hereditary aptitude for office—(laughter)—and
all the seceders, end even their children, had the
same hereditary
..apeieside. He had endeavoured
to support the party, opposed to those sece-
ders, and it was the unexpented support which
Mr. Canning had received, that enabled him
to undo the manoeuvres of the other party. He
(Sir Francis Burdett) was no Particular advo-
sate for the Catholics, but he was an advo-
cate for all men's civil and religious rights.
Upon: this principle he conceived that no man
should be excluded from any situation in the state,
because of his religious opinions. In the pre-
sent instance, if we had not a Minister who
we knew was aZele to carry the question of Eman-
cipation—at least we knew that we had a Mi-
nister that was not adverse to it.---(Cries of
hear)—for his own part he should never refuse
to lend himself to any thing that eves for the gocd of
the public. Though in times of danger and of
political animosity, men might oppose each other
with severity, still he thought that there was
nothing dishonourable in subduing those feelings,
and merging them in grace considerations con-
nected with the public interests. Until the con-
trary could be shown, he should be perfectly sa-
tisfied with the course he had taken. He con-
ceived that no blame could attach to those who
thus allowed public principle to swallow up every
feeling of a
peleate orpersonal
hear.) On these nature.—(Hear,
principles he •
therefore claimed the confidence had Acted • he
'Westminster, bein dence of the electors of
had never found LP during convinced that they
years, to refuse his eseenslg Al"Pefic4k.of t
thing
wenty
!WWII' of any
which seemed likely to . ad
rune tke public good.

He had pursued an upright, straightforward course,
such. as they were fully capable of estimating and
appreciating. He should here conclude, as he did
not think it necessary to introduce any other
topics which might present themselves under the
present situation of the country and the world at
large. He should content himself with thanking
them for the honour which had been conferred
on him, and he assured them that he should
at all times be happy to give his constituents the
most unreserved explanation of any part of his
public conduct.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. HUNT then proceeded to address the meet-
inv. He was pleased to hear the candid observa-
tions which had fallen from their Chairman (Sir F.
Burdett.) He himself had, in fact ever advocated
his principles to a certain extent, and he now coin-
cided in that part of there which rejoiced
at the removal of those Ministers, whose removal
Sir Francis rejoiced at, and he believed nine-
tenths of the people of England rejoiced at the
same.—(Hear, hear.)—lf, however, upon any ques-
tion,, any persons or assemblage of persons differed,
the only way to decide was to hear the question on
both sides, and, as Englishmen, to give each party
a fair opportunity of stating their reasons for
so differing. He (Mr. H.) had known the
electors of Westminster a long time : he had
always been on good terms with them, and he hoped
always to remain so. He had taken a part in the
first election of their present Representative, and had
been invited to attend their meetings for 11 years.
From this intimacy he believed that he could
depend on them for a fair hearing, if he should
differ with any of them in opinion, if he were to
deport himself as a gentleman and a man.—
(Cheers.)—With respect to Sir F. Burdett, he
would not, unless goaded in the extreme, suffer an
abrupt observation to escape him, however, he might
differ from him in opinion. Some might thank him for
having gone over to the side of Mr. Canning, when
the latterwas one of the most decided enemies of Re-
, form. On such an occasion as that to which he had
alluded it was right for any man to differ from a body
if he thought that their representative had compro-
mised his own dignity and his duty to them. He
was 'sorry that what Sir F. Burdett now said rela-
tive' to Mr. Canning, he had not said to his
teeth in another place.—(Great disapprobation.)
Wh was it that Sir Francis Burdett was now sup-
port!ng ? Who, but the eloquent, the invariable, and
powerful opponent of every measure favourable to the
libeOes of the subject, which was agitated in the
Hotise of Common's for the last thirty years ?
(Cries of " No, no," and " Catholic Question,
and' great uproar.")—He (Mr. Hunt) would appeal
to the Stewards of this Meeting, who witnessed his
conduct,-whether he had interrupted any one, and
if, after they should hear him, they would all ap-
prove of Sir' Francis Burdett's conduct up to this
time.—(Cries of " All, all," and hisses.)—After
order was restored, Mr. Hunt proceeded to observe
that; it had been said that if time was given to
Mr.' Canning, he would bring about some of those
good things which the people so earnestly desired.
—(Hissings.)—By all means, continued he, give
him time; but before we pledge ourselves to sup-
port the man who has all his life been our opponent.—
(Cries of " No, no.")—The King we are told, en-
deaVoured to make an Administration without Mr.C.
an Administration unfavourable to the Catholic
Qu6stion, but did not succeed. Could Mr. Canning
forni an Administration which could last - for even
one week, if he had not been joined by Sir F. B.
and his party?—(Uproar.)—Did they believe that that
part of the late Administration could form a Govern-
ment that would last for one week without Mr.
Carining ? Nor could Mr. Canning now carry on
an 'Administration without Sir F. Burdett. He
believed Sir Francis Burdett and his party could
ma* what terms they pleased with Mr.. Canning
befdre they joined him. They could have com-
pelled him to have promised his support to Parlia-
mentary Reform, if they had pleased. All he had
to say about Sir F. Burdett was, that when Mr.
Canning had the other day, in the House of
CoMmons, declared his hostility to Parliamentary
RefOrra, Sir Francis ought to have risen, and stre-
nuously opposed the Honourable Gentleman. Mr.
Brougham and Lord John Russell took upon them
to say, that the country had been so well govern-
ed for the last few years, that the, people
did :not want a Parliamentary Reform ; but here
was'that answered by the three or fonr thousand
inhabitants of Westminster, who met the other
day.= (Great confusion.)— Sir Francis joining
Mr.' Canning, was mere stuf—(Hissing.)—He
begged the meeting to recollect that they were
not now to drink the health of the Honoura-
ble 'Baronet as the mere Chairman of a public
Meeting, but to recollect that a great public ques-
tion' was involved in the result of the Meeting.—
(Confusion.)—Let them decide as they pleased re-
garding Sir Francis's conduct, be begged to thank
them for the opportunity he had had of declaring his
sentiments, and whatever might be the case, his
consolation would be under an Impression of having
dont his duty. Mr. Hunt then proceeded to say,
that they were not then drinking the health of Sir
Francis Burdett as the c'eair of a festive and convi-
vial meeting : if they had been so doing, the toast
would have been drank not merely without opposi-
tion, but even by acclamation. They were celebrat-
ing under that toast the triumph of a great public
question, on the merits of which the present Meet-
ing could alone decide. What he had said might
not, perhaps, meet with their approbation ; bat it
was the genuine sentiments of his heart, and was,
therefore, entitled to their serious consideration.—
(Hear.)
Lord War. RUSSELL then ascended the table, he con-
gratulated the good feeling and unanimity which had
been restored, principally through the judicious and
prudent conduct of their respected Chaieman.—
The object of meetings of this nature was to cele-
brate humourously and convivially the good cause in
which they all concurred, the cause of public liberty.
For that purpose, and not for angry and acrimonious
discussion .and debate they were now assembled.—
(Applause and hisses.)—God forbid that he
should preclude any ',assemblage of English-
men from the most scrutinizing inquiry into the
conduct and measures of all public men.—(Aps
plause.)—But there were proper times and seasons
for this. Let them, in Heaven's name, convene a
meeting of the electors or of the people at
large who were not electors, and these before the
assembled people ; let public men be called
upon to answer any charges fairly brought
against them, and he was sure there was
no one who felt more respect for the
people, or would bow to what in one of their toasts
was most properly called the only legitimate source
of all government, than the gentleman whose health
he intended to propose.—(Applause.)—Hc per-
ceived that their feelings went before him—
that they anticipated a toast, which if they
admired consistency of principle and integrity of
purpose, they must hail with the most enthusiastic
applause. He was happy in bearing testimony
to the services of the gentleman in question, in
promoting the cause which they all admired. He
assured the meeting that his conduct was no less
remarkable for his assiduity and diligence than
for its sincerity.—(Hear, hear, and applause.)—
He should therefore propose " the health of John
Cam Hobhouse, Esq., their other faithful and able
representative, and the steady supporter of Parlia-
mentary reform."—(Cheers.)
As soon as the applause and partial disapprobation
which follesved this toast had in some measure sub-
sided, Mr. Hoblionse ascended the table, and had
scarcely presented himself to the Meeting when
Mr. Cobbett appeared upon another table, and
was seen to -gesticulate most violently, but not
50 loudly as to overcome the tremendous hisses
which assailed him. Mr. H. continued to await with
calmness and patience the subsiding of the storm ;
but there being no probability of the speedy
restoration of tranquillity, Mr. Hobliouse gave
way to Sir Francis Burdett, who deprecated
in the strongest terms any interruption, no matter
who - the speaker was. He generally found
that less time was lost by giving way than by a per-

tenacious opposition. He should, however, take
the sense of the meeting as to who should be
heard.

Here the most conflicting calls were made for
Mr. Hobhouse and Cobbett —those for the latter made
up in violence, what they wanted in number. A
very desperate rush was made towar..lo Mr. Cob-
bett, and several gentlemen attempted to turn him
out by force. Their attempt was, however, frustra-
ted by the phalanx of retainers whom Cobbett called
around him. Intrenched im the midst of them, he
appeared to enjoy the storm which he had excited,
and giggled most outrageously at the blows which
were showered upon his friends to the right and
left of him. The glasses were swept off the table
with an appalling crash ; and several chairs were
broken by the blows given and received on them
during the temporary scuffle. During its continu-
nnce, which lasted for a quarter of an hour, all eyes
were turned on the Bone-grubber. The gentlemen
at the cross-tables left their seats, mounted the table,
and viewed from it the struggle which was taking
place between the stewards and the Cobbettites.—
Mr. Hobhouse, at this period, walked from the
centre of the table to that eud of it which was
nearest Cobbett, and addressed that " fine animal"
on the impropriety of his conduct. We were told
that he took a wand from one of the stewards with the
intention of inflicting a blow upon Cobbett, but that
Cobbett, wishing to avoid so public an insult, told Mr.
H., whilst the blow was hanging over him, that his op-
position to him was not of a personal but of a political
character. Mr. Hobhouse told him in the most
contemptuous terms that language affords, that he
held him unworthy of any gentleman's chastisement,
and that nothing would induce him to look upon
such a miscreant as he was, in the light of a politi-
cal opponent. Cobbett replied in terms with which
we shall not sully our columns, but which will not be
out of character in the pages of, his next week's
Register. He succeeded, however, in retaining his
seat, amidst the cheers of his partisans and the cla-
mour of his antagonists. The only moment during
which he appeared disturbed, was when a gentleman
advised the stewards not to pollute. themselves by
touching him, but to send forthwith for a constable
to take him into custody for a breach of the peace.
Mr. HOBHOU§E again attempted to address the
meeting, but was prevented by the obstinate clamour
of a few voices in one corner of the room.

Sir F. BURDETT then came forward, and said
that he wished to know whether the meeting were
inclined to hear Mr. Hobhouse or not ?—(Hear,
hear.)
Mr. WooLER called upon every elector of West-
minster then present, who had a head on his shoul-
ders, and reason in his head, to exert his endeavours
to prevent this Meeting from being turned into a
mere bear-garden. After declaring his reluctance to
address the present Meeting, and his reasons for
feeling it, he stated that in his opinion the great
error of the present Meeting, and that which had
led to all its disgusting and disgraceful scenes, was
the unfortunate circumstance that the individual who
tilled the Chair was the individual attacked, and that
his duty as Chairman prevented his performing his
duty to Sir Francis Burdett. He contended that
the opposition of Cobbett to Sir Francis Burdett's
health, before he had entered into an explanation of
his conduct, was mean, cowardly, and disgraceful.
He maintained that it was most unfair to condemn
Mr. Hobhouse, and that the wish to do so pro-
ceeded from the basest motives.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HOBROUSE then spoke, amidst considerable
confusion, which prevents us from giving a detailed
report of his speech. He should really have been
happy to have heard the charge which that person
(pointing to Cobbett) had to bring against him. He
was not conscious of having deserved any charge,
nor had he heard from any respectable individual
that any charge was intended to be brought against
him by the electors of Westminster. It was well
known that it was possible for two or three dis-
orderly individuals to disturb the quiet of as many
hundred peaceable persons : and the prime mover
of these disturbances well knew, that as the electors
of Westminster scorned to interfere as they might,
against him, he might still disturb them with impu-
nity. He appealed, however, to the. meeting wile=
ther, having done his duty in eight Sessions of Par-
liament, he deserved to he robbed of the confidence
of his constituents by the trickery of an individual
with whom he could have no controversy, since no
honest man could have a controversy with Cob-
bett.—(Cheers.)—lf any honest individual had a
charge to bring against him, let him make it publicly,
and he would answer it. After some further obser-
vations, imperfectly heard, he concluded with de-
claring his readiness to serve his constituents with
the same fidelity as he had hitherto done.--(Cheers.)
The next toast was, " Lord Nugent, and the elec-
tors ofAylesbury."

Lord NUGENT began by contrasting the manly
conduct of Hunt, which he said was worthy Of sn
English gentleman, with the disgraceful behaviour
of Cobbett, in his attack on Sir F. Burdett, which
he said must make his conscience smart to the latest
hour of his existence. If his (Lord Nugent's) cha-
racter had been attacked from the same quarter, he
should have congratulated himself to the skies that
he was the person impeached, and not the degraded
impeacher. The Noble Lord then justified his own
motive for joining the Government, because it had
turned out a party whose object was to stifle public
opinion, to shackle the press, to waste the public
money, to oppcse reform, and indeed every - other
species of rational amelioration. He knew that Mr.
Canning was an enemy of reform ; but had he
(Lord Nugent) ever shrunk from telling Mr. Can-
hing to his teeth, that to reform, to civil and reli-
gious liberty, he was, heart and soul, attached ? and
whenever he abandoned those principles, he prayed
to God that he might forfeit the attachment of all
those friends whose esteem he valued. One word
with regard to his constituents. The last time that
he had addressed them was just before the general
election. He had then told them, that if he had the
"means, he had not the inclination, to obtain his seat
by bribery and corruption ; he had likewise told his
constituents that he would neither pay nor canvass for a
single vote. Their answer was, that if he would
pledge himself to support reform and the cause of
civil and religious liberty, they would return him
free of expence. On that condition he stood for-
ward and was elected ; on his return, they pre-
sented him with the receipted bills of his election
expences, which amounted to 321. some odd shillings
and sixpence.—(Great cheering.)
Mr. WELLS proposed the health of Earl Grey,
the steady and consistent friend of reform.
Sir F. BURDETT said he had no objection to the
toast, but it was not usual to give the health of
gentlemen who were not present.
The next toast was—" Lord Ebrington and the
Reformers of Devonshire."
Lord EBRINGTOS said, that it he were asked
whether the present Administration was altogether
such as he could have wished to have seen in power,
he should be 'obliged to answer that it was not.
But what option was there left to himself and his
friends ? It was either to support a Government
which he believed in the main to be anxious to give
effect to liberal principles, and which had cer-
tainly already advanced them in some degree, or to
assist in maintaining in power a party which had
been well called by a Noble Friend of his, Toryism
in its most hideous deformity.—(Cheers.)--They
had been asked whether they still stood by the cause
of reform and of civil and religious liberty. He
would declare for his own part, that his opinions
had undergone no change; and that if he had con-
ceived that he `should advance that cause by remain-
ing on that side of the House where ha had usually
sat, he would still have remained there. But if he
could not gain all he wished, was he therefore to be
precluded from accepting all that he could? Such
v.-ere the grounds on which he acted : such were
the principles on which he would give a trial to the
present Administration. The trial might succeed,
or it might not : if it succeeded, something would
be gained ; indeed something had been gained al-
ready, by showing to the public that the Tory fac-
tion which had so long fastened, like an incubus, on
the bosom of the country, was not omnipotent either

in Court faVoto. or in public opinion.—(Cheers
But should the trial fail—should he find that i the
next Session of Parliament nothing was gained for
the cause of civil and religious liberty by the sup-
port which was now given to the Government on
the most honourable and disinterested principles, he
should return—disappointed, certainly, in his ex-
pectations, but with a clear conscience that he had
done his duty to his country and himself—to that
course of direct and manly opposition in which he
had persisted for the last twenty years.
The next toast was, " Lord John Russell, and
thanks to him for his efforts in the cause of reform."

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in returning thanks, said,
that it was a perversion of terms to say that any
man who supported the present against the late
Administration, which had been for so many years
the curse of the country, had abandoned the cause of
Parliamentary Reform. He had always considered
that there was no security for good government
without Parliamentary Reform ; but whenever he
had brought forward that question, he had always
stated that reform not being carried, did not pre-
vent the existence of a good Minister, but that it
left the House of Commons equally ready to support
a good or bad Minister. He therefore was quite
consistent in saying that the existence of a good
Ministry would be advantageous to the country,
even though it were adverse to the cause of reform.
With regard to the old Ministry, they resembled an
old French gentleman with whom he had formerly
been in habits of intimacy. He was a staunch ad-
vocate of the old regime, and when he was asked
whether he would have it re-established in its for-
mer condition, he declared, " Yes, I am for the old
monarchy with all its abuses." Such were exactly
the sentiments of the expelled Members of the late
Administration. They were attached to the 0-.ises
of the Monarchy, and to nothing else; and there-
fore it was that be was glad to see their fall, which
if it was not productive of entire good, would still
be productive of considerable advantage to the
country.—(Cheers.)
The next toast was, " Mr. P.- Thomson and the
Reformers of Dover."

Mr. P. Trteitstiitrifitrned thanks. He said that :
" To gild refined geld; to paint the lily,
" To throw a perfume on the violet,"
was admitted on all_ hands to be a work of supere-
rogation. Now it appeared ..to him that to throw
stink-pots on the individual who had caused the
disturbance of that evening, was equally a work of
supererogation ; for lower than that person was at
present, it was impossible for him to fall.—(Hear.)
However, as there might be some individuals weak
enough to attend to the flow of nonsense which
issued weekly from his pen, he rejoiced that the
proceedings of that day would go before the public,
and so tend to destroy the little weight which was
still left to him.—(Cheers.)
Sir. F. BL'RDETT said, that there was one obser-
nation which had fallen from Mr. Hunt to which he
wished to give an answer. Mr. Hunt had said that
he should like to have heard him (Sir F. Burdett)
utter the same sentiments in the House of Commons
before Mr. Canning, as he had that night uttered
in that room. If Mr. Hunt had been present in the
House on the occasion to which he had referred, he
would have found that he did make there the very
same declarations which he had made to the meet-
ing that evening. He mentioned this circumstance
that Mr. Hunt might not suppose that he had ever
shrunk from the avowal of his principles. The toast
with which he concluded was—" The liberty of the
Press?'

TEN o' CLocr.—A THIRD EDITION of the SUN
NEWSPAPER Teas hero handed to Sir Francis* contain-
ing upwards of FOUR COLUMNS of the SPEECHES. This
circumstance produced an extraordinary sensation in the
room—all wondering at the despatch used in so short,a
period-020:Y TWO HOURS having elapsed since the com-
mencement of speaking, till-the Paper was put into the
Chairman's. hand--. 4 Gentleman present, observing that
it was an extraordinary illustration of " the Liberty of
the Press."

Mr. WooLER being loudly called for, came for-
ward to addreas.the-Meeting. lie said that had he
been in the situation of their Hon.. Chairman, he
should in all probability have given his support to
the administration of Mr. Canning. He looked
upon Mr. Canning as something in the situation of
an eel which had escaped from a reservoir : when it
once got into the current, it was obliged to go, not
where its will directed, but wheresoever the current
took it. He looked upon the old Administration as
an upas-tree, which had long blighted and blasted all
the energies of the country ; and he had no doubt
that now it had got rid of that noxious influence, it
would soon be restored to its .pristine health and
vivacity.--(Cheers.)
Sir F. Burdett then left the Chair, amid the
cheers of the company. Another Chairman was
immediately appointed; and when we left the room,
three speakers were simultaneously on their legs.
During several of the latter speeches, Cobbett's
appearance was ludicrously singular. He had wrap-
ped round his head a white pocket handkerchief,
which, as hii face was much flushed, gave him the
look of a drunken old woman, enveloped in her
nightcap. His gesticulations were as extraordinary
as his looks; and the curves, which his arms kept
describing in the air, were so eccentric, that no ma-
thematician could define them. Once or twice he
got upon the table, bellowing, like a mad bull, the
words " Oh ! oh ! oh ! oh !" beginning in a low
key, and gradually rising to a very high key on the
fourth " oh. He once or twice shook his fist with
great indignation at the cross table, but dropped it
immediately, as if he was afraid that such a gesture
might promote attack. The general motion of his
hands resembled that of a sawyer busily engaged in
a saw-pit. He seemed to be perfectly impressed
with the idea that the first, second, and third points
of eloquence consist of action ; for, during the whole
of last night's discussion, he was never quiescent for
a single moment.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, MAY 23.

Sir J. LEACH, as Deputy Speaker, took his seat on
the Woolsack, at Five o'Clock.

The Duke of AIONTROSE presented a petition from
the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr against Catholic Eman-
cipation.
Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from the
owners and occupiers of land in the county of Kent,
against the proposed attentions in the Corn Laws. The Noble
Lord presented a petition from an individual in the same
county against the importation of foreign wool. The
Noble Lord, in moving that the petition be laid on the table,
said that the profits of the wool-grower were considerably
reduced, if not wholly extinguished, as the value of the
wool had fallen 50 per cent., and it was well known that
many persons had three years growth on hand. The peti-
tioners also prayed that in the event of the proposed Bill for
the introduction of Foreign Corn passing into a law, their
Lordships would also make a law permitting all farmers to
vacate their leases, and to compel their landlords to give
them an adequate remuneration for such permanent im-
provements as they may have made upon their premises.
The Earl of MALMESBURY presented a petition from
Ralph Gadesby, an agriculturist in the county of York.
The petitioner purchased some years since, under an enclo-
sure act, nine acres of land, by the produce of which he
since supported himself, his wife, and six children;
he now feels that he will become a material
sufferer by the proposed law—that he would be deprived
of the means of support, and be obliged to depend on
casual assistance, or on the labour of his hands for sub-
sistence. The Noble Lord had some difficulty in moving
that the petition be read, as it mentioned two of their
Lordships by name. He had also another difficulty which
applied to himself personally, as the petitioner had
accompanied the Petition with a request that he (Lord
Malmsbury) should read the whole of it in an audible voice
to the House.—(A laugh.)--Vnder these circumstances,
perhaps, the Noble Lord would consult the interests of the
petitioner by calling on the clerk. The petition was then
read, and from its great simplicity, and the extraordinary
demands contained therein, created considerable merri-
ment. He prayed that they would not rob him of
his all, which, though it was small, would, he was sure,
be protected equally with the all of any great landlord or
nobleman. He hoped that their Lordships would send some
person down to him to see how Ithe matter stood, He

prayed that God might bless their Lordships, and declared
that he would wish very much to be a tenant to the Earl of
Harewood, who lived near him, -because his Lordship was
a good landlord, and bad better land than the petitioner ;
and lastly he prayedthat their Lordships would stand up for
him, as the Members of the other House had given the
Agriculturists up, although in their hearts they favoured
them. If their Lordships did not do this, the petitioner
was, in fact, a ruined man.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said, he never saw a petition
which was more northy of their Lordships' attention, or
more respectfully worded. Although it did allude by
name to some Mcmbers of their Lordships' House, yet
that allusion was not connected with anything that occur-
red in Parliament.

Earl MALAIESBURY was glad was glad that the pe-
tition had been presented, as it clearly showed that other
persons besides the landlords would be sufferers. It was
evident that the little agriculturists would first go.
Lord GAGE presented a similar petition from the hun-
dred of Lin&ld, in Sussex.

The petitions were laid on the table.
The Fraudulent Bankruptcies of Scotland Bill was read
a third time and passed.
Sir EDWARD KNATCHBULL and others brought up
several Bills from the Commons.
GAME LAWS.

The Marquis of SALISBURY, in moving that a Bill
for legalizing the sale of game under certain restrictions be
read a first time, said that the Bill did not profess to remedy
the theoretical defects of the present system. He thought
it well worthy the consideration of their Lordships, whe-
ther some trifling alterations might not be introduced which,
without interfering with the principles of the Game Laws,
would prevent the rapid increase of poaching. The beat
measure he thought would be to give an extensive
power of selling game. He proposed to give the power of
selling game to such persons as were now qualified to kill
it, upon taking out a licence from the Commissioner
of Taxes. There were many persons now who could em-
ploy qualified persons to kill game, although they were not
author iced to kill it themse:,:_s. To these he also proposed
to give the power of killing and selling game. He wished
to encourage the owners of large tracts of land
to raise game, by giving them the power of selling it.
The proposed measure to be in operation for three years;
at the expiration of which further measures might be
adopted.
Lords CAERNARVON and LIMERICK supported the
principle of the Bill, which was read a first time.
The House then adjourned to Friday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, WEDNESDAY, MAY SS.

The SPEAKER took the chair at the usual hour.
Mr. J. W. CROXER being returned for the Dublin Uni.
varsity took the oaths and his seat.
Mr. EGERTON presented several petitions from Pro.
teetant Dissenters, praying for the repeal of the Corpora.
tion and Test Acts.

Mr. Alderman WOOD presented a similar petition from
Woodbridge, Suffolk; and Mr. SYKES, a similar petition
from Hull.

Col. SIBTHORPE presented a petition from the prinsi-
pal tradesmen of Lincoln, in favour of the Bill for the
Recovery of Small Debts.
Mr. SEYMOUR presented petitions from Salisbury,
praying that a duty might be put on Foreign Weol.
Lord BELFAST presented a petition from Belfast, pray-
ing the House to put a stop to the Burning of Hindoo
Widows.

Mr. A. CAMPBELL presented a petition from the
Synod of Ayr, against any further concessions to the Ro-
man Catholics.

Mt. J. WOOD presented a petition from the Dissenters
of Stockport, for the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts.

Lord MILTON presented a similar petition from the
inhabitants of Pocklington in the county of York, and also
from Ripon.
Mr. THOMPSON presented a petition from Kinlock,
praying that no further concessions should be made to the
Roman Catholics.

Lord G. CAVENDISH presented a petition from Bel-
par, Derbyshire, praying the House to put an end to the
Burning of Widows in the East Indies.
Mr. C. GRANT brought in a Bill for regulating the
averages of Corn, which was read a first time, and or-
dered to be read a second time on Friday next.
Mr. VESEY FITZGERALD presented a Petition
from the inhabitants of the County of Clare, praying the
House to consider the propriety of changing the mode by
which money was levied under Grand Jury Presentments
in Ireland.

After some conversation, in which Mr. Morris Fitz-
gerald, the new Secretary for Ireland, and several other
Members took a part, the-petition WAIS ordered to be printed.

SMALL DEBTS BILL.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL moved for leave to
bring in a Bill for preventing arrests on mesne process,
where the debt is under twenty pounds. The Learned
Member observed, that a temporary Aet was passed inlBll,
to the same effect, but the sum was limited to 151. That
Act, however, had been, through inadvertency, allowed to
expire in 1824, since which the law stood on the same
footing'as before that Act was passed. In that Act, how-
ever; debts secured by bills or promissory notes, were
exempted from the operation of the law, but in the present
bill every kind of debt in whatever way secured was on the
frame footing. Another alteration in the present Bill was
that the principality of Wales and the counties Palatine of
England were to be subject to the law, whereas, they
were exempted by the Act of 1811. He concluded by
moving for leave to bring in his Bill.
Lord ALTHORP approved most cordially of the pro-
-posed Bill, and-only doubted whether the sum was carried
quite far enough. He strongly condemned the present de-
lusive and expensive practice of recovering small debts,
which cost so much money as to amount to a denial of
justice, and indeed to make one almost wish that debts under
10/. should be reckoned debts of honour, and their pay-
ment left to the breast of the debtor.
Mr. PEEL was anxious to state, that he had fulfilled
his pledge of directing his best attention to this subject, in
which the Noble Lord (Althorp) had been so long engaged
with so much credit to himself and advantage to the coun-
try. It had become absolutely necessary to raise the sum
for arrest ; for really the inordinate incidental expenses for
arresting persons for small sums, had made the legal power
of recovery almost a mere mockery. He had placed the
Noble Lord's Bill, as he had promised he should do, in the
hands of two eminent gentlemen, with a desire that they
would examine closely into all its details, and make the
necessary inquiries as to the probable effect of its operation,
while engaged on the circuits. These gentlemen had com-
plied with. his desire, and prepared a Bill accordingly,
which he should have introduced while in office, had he
not been so much engaged upon the general subject of the
criminal law. Possibly that Bill would still be introduced,
were not the Session too far advanced to admit of its being
fully attended to.
Mr. HEATHCOTE wished to know whether any mea-
sure 'was in contemplation for the abolition of those unjust
fees which were at present payable upon acquittals in the
Sessions Court. In a recent instance, he knew a most
respectable farmer who had to pay 265. for an acquittal
upon a most unfounded charge of assault. He hoped the
Right Hon. Gentleman, though out of office, would pursue
the 'same excellent principles for ameliorating the law,
which had gained him so much credit while he was a
Member of the Government.—(Hear,)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said, that the question
put by the Hon. Member who had spoken last was very
well deserving of consideration, but it related to a topic
which was unconnected with the question then before
them. He was afraid to give an opinion upon his Noble
Friend's proposal, that small debts should be made debts
of honour.—(A laugh.)—lf it were possible to devise any
plan or expedient to induce creditors to distinguish between
those who ought to he trusted and those who ought not, it
would be a very beneficial alteration in the present system,
which often, in the heedlessness of giving credit, even-
tually involved the creditor in as much ruin as it certainly
did the debtor.—(Hear.)—Besides this effect of the too
easy disposition of tradesmen, there was another—namely,
that those who did 'regularly and honestly pay, were un-
justly taxed some 101. or 15/. or 201. per cent., perhaps,
for those who did not.—(Hear, hear.)--He saw no possi-
ble mode of arranging a process for the recovery of small
debts which was not likely to be attended with a most in-
jurious expence. There was an evil in the cheap process
of the Court of Requests ; for there, where the tradesman
had ready means of getting at the person of the creditor,
the poor family who were obliged to get a weekly or
monthly credit, were always obliged to stick to the same
tradesman's shop, which was often found very inconve-
nient. It had often struck him, that if there were more
difficulties in the way of obtaining this small credit, the
'poor tradesman would be found less at the public-house
spending, perhaps, half his wages, because he knew that
his family could trust to the credit of the butcher'S or ba-
ker's shop, for subsistence during the ensuing week. The
subject, he admitted, was entitled to much consideration.
Mr. PEEL remarked, that the remedy was simple in
the case of those scandalous fees-upon acquittal,—namely,
to abolish them at once—(Hear, hear) ;—for he was quite
sure not a word could he said in their favour. Their ex-
istence was one of the greatest blots upon the administra-
tion of justice, and led to the crying evil of an innocent
man's petitioning to be found guilty, and fined le., rather

than his acquittal, to whiCh•he was justly entitled, with
the addition of these scandalous and oppressive fees. The
only question was, to ascertain ont of what fund the of-
ficers should be requited, who were at present remunerated
out of there acquittal fees. He bad applied for the parts"
clear accounts, and he believed that abundant information
would be found respecting them in the Secretary of States
office.
After a few words from Mr. CRESSETT PELHAM, the.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL obtained leave to bring in his Bill.