The Sun.
London, England, 1816-12-18 00:00:00

LORD COCHRANZ.

The High Bailiffhaving declined to calla Meet'
ing of the Electors of Westminster to take into '
consideration the case of Lord Cambrene, the
Gentlemen who signed. the requisition met yes-
terday at the Crown aodAtiOor Tavern.
Major CARTWRIGHT wisa called to the Chair.
He opened,the busioeta of the day by lamenting
the absence of their very good friend the Hip
Bailiff, and concluded b yeallitig for the impartial,'
attention of the Assembly to all the Speakers who
might appear before them.
Mr. IVALKER, in rising to submit to the Meet.:.
ing certainAlsolutioni, which bed met with the '
approbation of the Committee,, could net but
lameritthe absence of Sir Francis 'Burdett; who
was stilt detained in painful suspwse at the sick"•
bed of his son. He (Mr. Welke.° proceeded to
take a view of the proceedings against Lord,
Cochrane, and tieelar,,,d it to be his opioion,t hat
itting In the Holm?: of commons as the .1.47e0c03
futilfrondoster did in the persoas of the ii rcasre-
sentatives,.the course which had been takrn with-
one of them struck through him, at the. honour.
of the first city in Europe. Animated ns he was
by the presence of such a body of Electors us he
then addressed, and encouraged as he had. bred
by their support and applause on former oceaSintts,
'he would now speak out, and. express his senti-
ments with that freedom which God and the-
Constitution of the country gave to all. kl
x ►roniti
not 'be deterred by the dread of any new-gagging
hills, or Habeas Corpus Suspension Acts, Foolish
as Ministers had proved themselves on many
occasions, he did not believe their fully would
venture to go so far, now that we were at peace
with all the world, as to add such measure,
to their, regular Peace Establishment. If this
were done, the effect of it would be to
.weakets
poblie.ctedit to its
,centre--,-to shake it in such a
degree, that the Government might as well•at
once destroy the National Bank, and burn all its
books. He did not suppose they 'would think of
resorting to measures like those' which he bed
mentioned, but they might possibly have 'recourse
to a plot. " A plot ! What do you think of it 1."
They might 'raise a plot, and a learned accusers
might• raise a figure like that of Dc i3erenger, " in,
the costume of his crime." This mentioned by
the accuser, might be taken lip by the Judge and
given to the Jury as 4r.vidence, end by these
means.the innocent might be' made to appear
guilty. He need not now detain the. Meeting on
the subject of the innocence ot'Lord Cochrane,
aimn this point alt were eatisfied. The real 0110.0
of the persecution to wtiicli Lord Cochrane had
been sobjected, Was riot the charges publicly'.
brought forward. His.' crimes were
.these
had .aapaaoasad,to. get 'fi*ir play in the. Prite.,
Courts; betted sought to get the Admiralty Droits„
restored to their right owne;!, the coptors ;
he hail come forward to eiplaln the cusses of the.
glory acquired. by the operations in the Basque'.
Roads. (the plan of whiCh he .had bonuer to"
furnish) being incomplete. It was these things,
and not those with which he bad been, openly
charged, that bad caused him to be pursued with,
unrelenting hate. Of these offences, he was cer-,
mainly guilty and above all, he had mined for,
and obtained .to he published, that memorable
ist•af
,sinecure 'daces which
.caused the tax-ga-
'ier to tap 4o often at, the door of all of theme

nd in SOITIe instances, to snatch the bed of the

widotv from under her and her orphan chil-
dren. The tyranny of Judges. had caused two
bloody revolutions in this country : one was that
which closed the reign of Charles the First, It
wit.; while he sat on the Throne that the proceed-
ing of that. illegal- iuquisition,' the Star Cho*.
ber had become intolerable. At the hear! of •that
Court was - • found that villain, that notorious
rotlian, Archbishop Laud. It was there that that
infernal blood-stained monster presided. A Mr.
Prynne, who had published a hook against the
atrocities committed by this tribunal, was in con.,
sequence sentenced by it to pay a fine of SOM.,
to stand in the pillory in various parts of the
town, to have his ears cropped in that place•where
.the Electors of Westminster most .commonly held
their meetings (Palace-yard), and finally to be
sent to a distant jail. He was accordingly sent
to confinement in Jersey, but when at laSt such a
Parliament Was obtained as the people liked, one
of the tiriit things they raid was to order Mr:
Prynne to be released. This was done--thousands
Met him on the Coast--they brought hint haCk in'
tetampli to Lombin,. and strewed his path with
flowers. Shortly after, hebeeame a Member of that
Parliament, and had the satisfaction of bringing that
monster Laud to trial, and afterwards to the Welt.
Nor did the, Parliament stop here., for the King
himself shortly after paid the forfeit of his life al. a,
on a sdaffold, atWhitehall.---;.(Applause.)—(;rotn-
welt followed-44nd had his son Richard., whO
eeetlea him, possessed one spoilt of his father's
spirit, Chalks 11. would never have been restored
to the Throne. The reign of Janes folloWed
that of Charles, and it wicultir now he anticipated
that noticing the horrors of this reigo he had
Judge Jefferies ip his mind. " Ile also tell under
the blows of an incensed people, and 'James hint-
self was forced to abdicate. Judge Jefferiei, he
thought it right to remark, was the first Who ll'ad
ever been called to an account for oll,ttilicting the
right of petitioning'. In consequence of his licfing
this part when be was only Recorder of Lnuilop
and Chief Justice of Chester, an Address lardbeen voted, though witboot effect, by, the
of Commons to the Ging for his rem Oval. The
sentence passed on Sir Thonsat'ffolt by.the'nove,
of Commons, Oct. 29, 1680, When he was con).
Pelled to reeeive. their censate on his knees,
,arm
ftvcau'r ebiet esides
teixlepierlpieedtittihoensH,o;7tes txl;!*e7iVel. ;b ,
a
also the proceedings ininittliately alter the

lotion against Sir Robert Wright, Chief lustie
of the Court of King's Bench ; Sir Richard Hol-
loway and Justice 'Powell, for having over-ruled
the Earl of Devonshire's plea of privilege its the
prevcflitig reign, on an action brought by Mr.
Culpepper, atid imps isonecl his
.person while Par-
iiemeot was sitting, or during the time of Twirl-
. lege, betides imposing a fitie of 30,0001. The fine
loved -was excessive and exorbitant, contrary to
Magna Charta., the eannuon rights of the people,
and he I,ov of the land ; and the House of Lords
resolved, that nariog the sitting of Parliament,
and tinting the time at privilege, no Peer of Parlia-
meat could be imprisoned tor non-payment of a
fine to file King, without a manifest breath of the
privileges of Parliament. He read the answers
of the Judges to certain interrtigatories put to
them oo she subject of the fine they had seu-
ten, ed him to pay, as aho ott the imprisonment of
his person. They severally expressed an opinion
tkat a smaller fine niiglit have been sufficient and
endeavoured to remove front themselves all re-
proach oilier than that of spocurringin it. They
said they had consulted books they had con-
sidered as anthorities , and had taut been misled.
Mr. Jos;ice Powell had said, he for himself had
thought a fine of 30001. would have been sufficieut.
Asked if theylool consulted on this suhject, two of
them replies( that they had only done so in Court.
Juatice Powell said, they had. conversed on it a
week before at the Lord-Chancellor's. This they
said they did not remember ; hut after they had
withdrawn, Powell, stated the subject to have
been brought tip at the time and place lie had
mentioned; Aefien a fine of 20,000/. was first
named, but the Lord Chancellor afterwards said
30,0001. would he better, and then the King
could remit 10,0001. of it. From the proceedings
to which he had•referred, it would be seen that
it was decided by the laws, that to imprison a Peer
of Parliament for a mere misdemeanor, or for any
cause, ex( ept " tt yawn, felony, or refusiog to
give security for the peace," was contrary to
law, and a breach of the privileges of Parlia-
ment. This was the decisiotrof she Lords ; it
would he seen Whethey thy Commons were equally
tenacious of their pi ivileges. He took notice at
the progress which the cause of Reform was melt-
ing, and read over a list of unrepresented places
which had petitioned on the subject. A petition
lied even heemi sent up front the rotten borough, of
Wigan. The Weavers there had acted a great
part. They had not tasted animal food for mouths,
yet they had refused proffered aid by subscription,
and demanded to be restored to their tights as
Englishmen. In speaking of the contributions
for the release ot Lord Cochrane, he stated 360
Renee. to have been seta op front Lewes: An Elec-
tor had wished that Is tiro they presented the copper
subscribed to 14ord Cochrane, it could he carried up
on a bundle of sti ;..s. In expectation of a Palace-
yard Meeting they had in preparation their fasces
at oal. They bad to boast of baying in aid of
their Andertaking the names of all the counties in
Eitglatid, Scotland, and Ireland. 'lie Gentlemen
who suggested the presenting the subscriptions on
a bundle ot sticks, had it morestionably in con-
templation to give an idea that with onanimity tlicy
could never be broken. He strongly telt this, and
be felt that the whole legitimate power of the
country could only be fairly exerted by the uni-
versal that spirit, which, lik• the sap of
our native oak ascending front die root, should
pervade and invigorate all the branches of the
State. He concluded by reading 3 series of Re-
gulations declaratory of the innocence of Lord
'Cochrane of the Stock Exchange Fraud--of the
illegality of the late proceedings against
the breach of privilege of Parliament involved
therein—of the consequent invasion of the righti
of the Electors of Westmloster..-of the couviction
of the Meeting that,the vengeance with which Lord
Cochrane had been pursued Was entirely Owing to
Isis public %ditties, and of the propriety of express-
ing thesesentimenteto his Lordship in an Address,
to be carried ep by the Committee. -
Mr. J, W. PAILKINS seconded the Resolutions,
and enforced the necessity of a Reform in Parlia-
ment. He had been absent from this country 20
years, but he had been taught to feel warmly on
this subject before he left It, though tho)c who.
were then its advocates did the cause more harm
than it had ever sustained from its avowed ene-
mies. He enlarged on the corruption of the pre-
sent system, and described the public burdens to
be d—d oppressive. He himself felt the effect of
this d---d taxatiou immediately on his return. He
eecounted 3 scene which nadpassed between him
sod a tax-gatherer, ,in which he informed the

latter that he would pay all he had a right to pay,
but no more than he could help for the support of
ainecurists and corruption. Ile concluded by ad-
monishing the Meeting to pursue their object in a
constitutional way, cud to abstain horn rioting.
The Resolutions were then severally read, arid
after a few remarks on some of them from Major
Cartwright, they were agreed to unanimously.
An' Address, embodying the sentiments of the
Resolutions, was read, anti adopte.l by the M4pet-
log.
The following Resolution, moved by Mr. Wm.-
Kan, was also carried by acclamation :
" That the warmest Thanks of this Meeting arc
slue and hereby cordially given to those numerous
public spirited individuals who so promptly came
forward with their patriotic. mites 'of One Peony
-each, to discharge the said fine of 1001."

Thanks were about to be moved to Major Cart-
wright, when
Mr. W. CLARK (the Chair;tnan of the Spa-fields
Meeting) moved that the Thanks of the Meeting
(in colytideration of Mr. Cobbetri admirable 'de-
fence of Lord Cochrane, Mr. C. Johnstone,
&c.) should be given to Mr. Cobbett for hits efforts
to enlighten his tel ,
Mr l'kutzes rose to address the Meeting, and
}tart boom to speak; when—
Mr. P4NDHILL jumped on the table, and 3C.
conded the motion.
Mr. PARKES rose again, but expetienced much
opposition, and could nut proceed.
The Resolution having been read by the Chair-
man—
M.. GALE JONES offered to address the Meeting.
K
Mr. PARES again in:csel'ltedhituself.—(llibses.)
He was 1111X101IS that nothiiiiisliould occur to dis-
turb OW brunitloy tinabinuty of the ineetin!,
and therefore objected to mixing any new 611hiCei

. .
with that for the consideration Of wb!ch they had
been called together. • •
Mr. G. JONES spoke to the same effect. I lie
reminded the Assent*. flat.. within the 'last. six
weeks -or two Months, Mr. Cobbet had 'objected
to the return of Lorti Cochrane.; but why should
he 'notice Cobtiert's 'change.. of opinion with re-
spect to him, when he might aski.Who was there,
front the arch imposter Pitt down, to Lord Coch-
rane (if it were not profanation to 03812 two such
characters in the same sentence), whom he (Cob-
bett) had not oltertwcty eulogized and vilified ?
lie-wished the proceedings of the day-to be con-
fined to what concerned Lord Cochrane, and
hoped they %would not .be contaminated by being
connected with a Resolution of the (Wore of that
last proposed.
Mr. V. CLARK spoke in reprobation of the con-
duct of Mr. Parkes. Called to order by the Clt:tir-
man after several violent but unsuccessful efforts
to nitwit) a hearing, he at last was permitted to
defend his Resolution.
Ml'. 6.I:SKY proposed to amend the Resolution,
and moved accordingly to add to the general rote
of tbariks, an expression of admiration of, his de-
tepee of Lord Cochrane: . •

Mt' PA Olt BE opposed, and ,Ir. Walker supported
the itesidution OS amended.'
Mr. G. JONES said, the" Resolution as amended
was ten limes %vorse than it wasbefure.

After much violent altercation, the motion ns
amended was put, and negatived by a vast majority.
Major CAUTwRIGHT said the Resolution was 'e-
jected as ill-timed and unnecessary.
Mr. ‘VALKER observed, it was admittall these
were the reasons under which it was lost.---(flisses
and vehement cries of " No, no! ")

Air. PARKINS Wall of opinion that many, if it
were in their power, would do as meta in the
cause as ever Mr. Cobbett had done, without be-
ing paid for it as he vast.—(Applause and hisses.)
Mr. ADAMS moved the following Resolution.

Resolved—That we cannot better express our
gratitude to our venerable Chairman and Cham-
pion of our Rights, Major Cartwr;ght, than by
taking this opportunity to congratulate him most
heartily on the near and morally certain prospect
of that measure of radical Pailiatnentaty Returns
which he has so long and so ably advocated.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Major CARTWKIGHT, its returning thanks,
as-
sured them that the cause of Reform was now
cording on, like the tides of the ocean, .with
force which he was confident would prove irre-
sistible. Within the last fortnight he had issued
out 200 forms of Petitions to different Gentlemen
who Were active in promoting the object in viv'w.
lie was informed these would soon receive 60,000
signatures ; and fit:Hoer that three times as many
Petitions would tools be wanted.
It was resolved that Lord Cochrane should be
immediately waited upon with the Address, and
the Mettinng was adjourned.