The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-17 00:00:00

MEETING OF MECHANICS.

• A most numerous Meeting of the Mechanics of
London was held on Tuesday evening, at seven, at
the theatre of the Mechanics' Institution, in South-
ampton-buildings, to consider the propriety of ad-
dressing his Majesty on the exercise of his Royal
Prerogative in appointing his own Ministers.
JOSEPH HumE, Esq. M.P. in the Chair.
The SECRETARY read the requisition for calling
the Meeting.
Mr. HUME opened the business of the evening,
and explained the object for which they had assem-
bled. He presided at the meeting because he was
anxious to accede to their request. He had been known
for many years-to promote the welfare of the work-
ing classes, and he was anxious that that important
body should be raised to that political station to
which their merits so well entitled them.—(Cheers.)
—lt was the duty of every individual amongst them
to express his unbiassed opinion on the great and
important question which they were assembled to
consider, and he had only to express his hope that
every one who might present himself to the meet-
ing should obtain a fair and candid hearing.—
(Cheers.)—They should hear all—those who oppo-
sed- them, as well as those who coincided with
them in opinion. He hoped that the meeting would
confine themselves -to the object expressed in the
requisition, and that no new matter should be. in-
troduced. Having met in the hall of the Mechanics'
Institution, it was neo2ssary for him to explain that
this was not a Meeting of the Mechanics' Institution,
but of the Mechanics of London generally. The
Mechanics' Institution had nothing to do with the
discussion of • political subjects, and he was anxious
to set the public 'right, and point out the distinction.
He requested that they should now proceed to the
business for which they were assembled.—(Cheers.)

Mr. GAST called their attention to the first Reso-
lution, which recognised the grand principle, that
his Majesty had a right to exercise his undoubted
prerogative unshackled.—(Hear, hear.)—He went
into the history of the country for several years
past, and commented upon the acts of the late Ad-
ministration, which, he said, were calculated to
reduce the country to the most abject state. He
condemned the measure recently recommended, to
induce the people to emigrate to the Colonies. It
argued the unsound state of the Constitution, to be
obliged to send out of the country the productive
classes by means of the taxes. It would be much
better to send the unproductive classes out of the
country. Every working man could produce more
than he could himself consume ; but the drones in
the country consumed without labouring for it, the
produce raised by the working classes.—(Cheers.)
He again censured-the notion of sending the people
out of the 'country, and blamed the late Administra-
tion for originating the emigration scheme, and
believed that the. greater part of the present Admi-
nistration were favourable to the same measure.—
(Hear, hear.)—He next alluded to the present
crisis in the political situation of the kingdom, and
said he had not the same confidence in the Right
Honourable. Gentleman at the head of the Govern-
ment that some people had.—(Hisses and applause.)
—He could not forget the allusion to the unfortunate
Ogden.—(Loud cries of " Question !" and ap-
plause.)—He took a view of the measures of Mr.
Huskisson and the other supporters of free trade,
which he condemned, and insisted that John Bull
could not compete with other nations, weighed down
as he was by 800,000,0001. of debt. He concluded
by moving the following resolution :

I. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Meeting,
that his Most • Gracious Majesty has entitled himself,
by the firmness and decision which he has shown in
maintaining his undoubted prerogative in appointing, his
own Ministers, to the thanks and gratitude of every loyal
subject in his dominions, and that we are fully convinced
that the country will, on all occasions, manifest its regard
for the Constitution by supporting his Majesty in the ex-
ercise of his acknowledged power, against any party which
shall attempt to dictate to, overawe, or controul him in its
just and lawful exercise.

Mr. NUTTALL seconded the resolution, and ob-
served that the country was not dissatisfied with the
choice of, his Majesty in placing Mr. Canning at the
head of the Government. There were no meetings
throughout the country to complain of his Ma-
jesty's choice, and he hoped the Ministers would not
forget the feeling of the country. It was remark-
able that the ex-Ministers had not yet received the
approbation of a single public body in the kingdom
for the manner in which they had conducted the
affairs of the country, during the great number of
years they were in office. It was too much to com-
plain of Mr. Canning for not doing more than he
could with such colleagues. The public ought to
give Mr. Canning a fair trial in his new situation.—
(Applause.)
Mr. BUTLER said, if the question was, whether
Mr. Canning ought to be Prime Minister or no, he
for one should answer in the negative. He could
not help considering him to be a "profligate Minis-
ter."—(Hisses.) He voted away the liberties of
the people to enlarge the powers of the Aristocracy
—(Hear.) He complained of Mr. Canning's de-
sertion of the Queen in the hour of danger.—(Great
cheers.) He saw nothing to admire in Mr. Can-
ning's political life. He gave him no credit for his
conduct with regard to Portugal. He was only ful-
filling the faith of treaties.—(Hear, hear.) He
complimented their Chairman, Mr. Flume, for con-
tinuing at the Opposition side of the House; and
he thought if the Whigs had remained faithful to
their principles, they would have ultimately trium-
phed.—(Great cheers.) He was of opinion that
the Revolution of 1688 was by no means service-
able to the people, because ail the power was on
that occesion thrown into the hands of the Aristo-
cracy.—(Cheers.) He believed the present mea-
sures with regard to the Ministry were not the im-
pulse of his Majesty's feelings, bat a last resource
(if he believed the reports of the day); for it was
said that Mr. Peel- told his Majesty that he could
not form a No-Popery Administration.—(Cheers.)
A mechanic could by no means join in the praise
measured out to Mr. Canning.

Dr. GILCIIRIST thought it premature to go into
the merits of the present Ministry. He was -no ad-
mirer of Mr. Canning, because he (Dr. Gilchrist)
was what was called- a Radical Reformer, and he
hoped to die so.-,-(Cheers.)—He thanked his God'
that certain persons were out of the Ministry. He
would not speak -harshly of 'them : but he prayed
that they might. never get in again.—( Great cheers).
The Learned Doctor alluded to what he called a
genteel banishment (emigration) of the people, by,
means of the taxes ; and said, he recollected the day
when it was penal for an English artisan to leave
the country. He expected to see the labouring
classes read much, and understand their condition.
They should always bear in mind, that " Knowledge
was power." He should regret it to go forth to the
public, that 'this assembly was inimical to Mr. Can-
ning. They ought to give him a fair trial, before
they condemned him.—(Great cheers.)

A MECHANIC was sure that the King had the in-
terests of the people at heart.—(Applause.)
Another Mechanic said Mr. Canning might have
sent his colleaguesrlong ago, bag and baggage, to play
" Hell and Tommy" if they pleased, with a certain
Learned Lord.—(Laughter and hisses.)—[Here the
speaker stopped a few minutes, and was frequently
called upon to go on
_; but he appeared to have for-
gotten the thread of his speech, and sat down
amidst laughter.]
Mr. PEEL, a sawyer, neither liked the late nor
present Ministry, for he could not forget that by
their measures he lost the benefit of his labour. He
hoped they would make allowance for an injured
tradesman. His understanding 'was. darkened.—
(Great laughter.)—To make short of it he should
move an amendment. He loved his King and coun-
try, but he saw no good likely to result to the coun-
try from the present Administration.—(Laughter
and hisses.)—He saw cunning at the bottom.—
(Laughter.)—lt was too much the fashion to laugh
at a man because he was not learned.—(Roars of
laughter.)—He saw designs of magic, maliCious in-
tentions, cunning artifices, and wicked
.devices—
(Uproar)—to injure the good King, George IV,

He moved an amendment to request his Majesty to
remove the present Ministers—(Laughter and hisses)
—in the same way that he removed the last, and for
the same reason.—(Cries of turn him out—with-
draw your amendment !)
Mr. HUME said Mr. Peel did not press his amend-
ment.

A Mechanic said the question did ;not relate to
the character of Mr. Canning, or any of the other
Ministers; but they were met to approve of the
firm exercise of the prerogative of the Crown by his
Majesty.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HUME then put the question on the resolu-
tion, which was carried with two dissentients (one
of them the injured man.)
Mr. GRIEVE, a shipwright, rose to propose the
second resolution, and pronounced a very severe
philippic against the Ex-Ministers, and condemned
the present factious opposition of those Ex-Mini-
sters, whose only motives were self-aggrandisement.
What could the. Marquis of Londonderry mean by
the present course he was pursuing ? He was, at
the outset of his life, a soldier of fortune, and was
now at the head of two noble families. How he
got at the head of one of them he could not say.—
(Hear.)—The mechanics owed a duty to themselves
and to their country, and he hoped they would dis-
charge it.
A Mechanic compared the late .Ministers to a set
of workmen, co-operating for. what was called
a strike: and he doubted if the late Combination
Laws were now in force, but that the Ex-Ministers
could be prosecuted for a conspiracy against their
master.—(A laugh and cheers.)—Tbese Ex-Mini-
sters owed a debt of gratitude to their present ex-
cellent Chairman, who, by his exertions in procur-
ing the repeal of those Laws saved the seven wise
men from a prosecution.—(Great laughter).
The following resolution was then carried by
acclamation

2. Resolved,—That an Address of Thanks and Congra-
tulation, founded on the preceding Resolution, be presented
to his Most Gracious Majesty.

The following Address was then carried :
TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
May it please your Majesty,
We, your Majesty's flilthful and loyal subjects, the Me-
chanics of London, believing it to be our duty and -undoubted
privilege, as Members of a free State, to express :to your
Majesty our real sentiments on any occasion of national im-
portance, beg leave, most respectfully, to approach your
Majesty at the present moment, and to offer our sincere
thanks and congratulations, for the firmness and decision
which your Majesty has lately evinced in the formation of a
new Ministry. We have learned that certain persons, who
were formerly Members of your Majesty's Most Honourable
Council, did, by suddenly withdrawing themselves from
your Majesty's Councils, place your Majesty in difficulties
which might have operated to prevent your Majesty
from exercising, freely, independently, and usefully,
the undoubted prerogative of appointing your own Minis-
ters—which, equally with the liberties and privileges of the
people, is secured to your Majesty by the Constitution, and
enjoyed for the public good ; and we beg leave, most re-
spectfully, to assure your Majesty that, while we have deeply
sympathised with your Majesty in the very difficult and
trying situation in which your Majesty has been placed, we
have seen With the utmost pleasure and satisfaction that
your Majesty has resisted, -what appears to us to have been
a most unconstitutional attempt to dictate to your Majesty,
with that firmness and decision, which became the head of
&great empire, and was no lets necessary for maintaining
the dignity of the Crown than for securing the true interest
of your Majesty's subjects. Your Majesty may rest
assured that we shall be ready and willing at all times
to uphold the honour, dignity, and privileges of the Crown
and Constitution, against any set of men,of whatever princi-
ples, opinions, views, or influence,who shall, in any way, at-
tempt to prevent your Majesty from availing yourself of the
services of such of your-Majesty's subjects as your Majesty
may deem most fit to promote the best interests of the
people. We are fully convinced that a free, unbiassed,
and independent choice of Ministers is absolutely neces-
sary, at all times, and more especially at present, when
calamity, distress, and want, pervade the whole empire, to
secure the welfare of your subjects; and while, in conclu-
sion, we most respectfully assure your Majesty of our high
esteem, regard, and affection, and of our sincere wish that
your Majesty may long reign over a fr,s, happy, and loyal
people; we beg leave, at the same time, to express our
ardent hopes that your Majesty will, regardless of family,,,
wealth, or Parliamentary influence, always select for admi-
nistering the Government of your Majesty's dominions,
-men whose talents, integrity, and liberal principles point
them out as most fit to • enjoy your Majesty's and the
people's confidence, and thereby secure the welfare, hap-
piness, and content of your Majesty's loyal and suffering
subjects.

Mr. EDDING'F ON moved the next resolution. He
was desirous- that the great friend of the working
classes (Mr. Hume) should present the
.address to
his Majesty, the. first opportimity:—(Cheers.)—He
contended that the working classes. of the people
had many grievances to be redressed, and if the new
Ministry did not effectually afford this portion of
the people the redress they so much expected, it
would be better if the people bad no Ministry at
all.—(Cheers.)—He disapproved of free trade in this
shipping, and said it would tend to destroy the in-
dustry of the people.—(Applause.)---He read the
following resolution.
S._ Resolved.—That the. Address now read be adopted
by this Meeting, and that Joseph Home,. E;q., M.P., be
appointed to present the same to his Majesty in person', as
soon as convenient.

Dr. GILCHRIST supported the AddreSs, and en-
:rested the country to give the Ministry a fair trial.
Cheers.)

Mr. LAWRENCE, a brass-founder, was glad
.to per-
ceive the meeting so favoerable to the, uneontrouled
exercise of the prerogative. of the Crown in the pre-
sent instance; but the people of England shoeld not
wish to see the prerogatives. of the Crown exercised
too frequently. His Majesty had cut off many heads
of the Hydra of Intelerance, but Majeity, it was
well known, took every • opportunity of encroaching
on the privileges of the Constitution. He 'hoped
the working classes would pause before they lauded
too much the exercise of the Royal prerogatives.—
(Cheers.)
It was then put that the addiess be presented to
his Majesty by Mr. Hume...
A Mechanic inquifed how-the address should be
presented? _ • • • • :
Mr. HUME said the usual course was ,to present
the address to his Majesty at a Levee. It was for-
merly Jhe.practice for any person, however humble,
to present an Address to the King, wherever he
could be approaChed, bet that course was now altered.

A Mechanic insisted that every Englishman had a
ccnstitutional right, to approach his Majesty.—
(Cheers.)

- • -.
Some dis-cuSsion here took, place respecting the
propriety of having the Address presented by Mr.
Hume, accompanied by some
.other Member of Par-
liament. It was, however, the general feeling of
the :Meeting, that the. Address should be presented
by Mr. Hume, solely, 'as a mark of the affectionate
regard which. he Mechanics bore towards that Gen.
tleinan, for his uncompromising fidelity to their in-
terests, .and his zeal in defending their rights on
every occasion. All opposition to this resolution
Was ultimately withdrawn, and it was carried by
loud continued cheers.

MI% ADAMS, a carpenter, in proposing the next
resolution, complained of the hostility of the greater
partof the press to their body.
Mr. LOMAX, a shipwright, proposed a vote of
thanks to Mr. Hume, and said they were mainly in-
debted to that Gentleman for preventing the re-
enactment of the Combination Laws. Mr:Hume's
exertions were highly honourable and disinterested,
though the Mechanics could not offer him place or
emolument of any kind. Among the twenty-one
Members of the Committee, Mr. Hume was the
only man who was the friend of the working classes.
He admired Mr. Hume, because he was neither
Whig nor Tory.—(Cheers.)—The House of Com-
mons was first instituted to give the Crown a check
on the overgrown power of the Barons, the haughty
aristocracy. Some of these patricians were proud
of tracing their descent from William the Contlue-
ror,—a bastard, a thief, a reptile.—(Cheers.)—
Those were the great people who despised the work-
ing classes, and would fain trample on their necks;
but the people would not be put down at this hour
of the duy.—(Cheers.) The patricians were what
an old spectator reminded him of, as being " cram-

med with learned lore," but who had no more sense
than children.

A Mechanicaddressed the Meetingat great length,
and launched out into a most eloquent strain on the
great advantages to be derived from the improve-
ment of the minds of the working classes. He
hailed the assemblage of so large a body of the
Mechanics of this great metropolis with feelings of
pride. !They (he observed) exhibited a spirit of
inquiry very creditable to them, and which would
shed great lustre on their proceedings. He wished
to-substitute a resolution more worthy of the Meet-
ing, and more expressive of the feeling of the
country at large, than the one before them. It was
as follows :

4. That the thanks of the British people are due to
Joseph Hume, Esq. M.P., for his bold, patriotic, and per-
4evering exertions in the cause of civil, political, and reli-
gious liberty; for his undaunted defence of national eco-
nomy ; and for his constant opposition to tyranny, oppres-
sion, and corruption, in every shape.
The following was also proposed :

5. Resolved—that the cordial- Thanks of this Meeting
be given to Joseph Hume, Esq. M.P., for his conduct in
the chair on the present occasion.
Dr. GILCHRIST moved the next resolutions, which
were carried by deafening shouts of applatise. The
cheering continued for several minutes.
Mr. ilustE returned thanks. He assured the
Meeting that he highly valued the manner in which
the Resolutions were carried. He felt rejoiced that
his exertions met with their approbation; he should
unremittingly continue them. He consideredthe
talents displayed here this night to be very impor-
tant to the great interests of the nation. He thought
the strength and power of the country could not be
more improved than by the diffusion of knowledge
among the people. He considered that the work-
ing classes did not possess all their rights, and he
was proud to see-the march of mind which he hail
that night witnessed. He regretted that he did not
caution the Meeting at the commencement not to
make personal allusions to any individuals connected
with the present extraordinary .crisis. He was cer-
tain the present change would be very beneficial
to the interests of the country. They . ought
to forgive any misdeeds of which those individuals
were guilty, and to look forward to better things.
He had little hopes of the party that left office, an d great
hopes of the party that had taken office. He hoped
neither of the coalescing party would adhere strictly
to their professions, but, by a coalition of good in-
tentions, produce something effectual for the coun-
try. The sentiments of the people would have great
weight with the Government. For his own part he
looked to measures, and not to men. He never
voted for a Minister because he was a Minister, and
never voted against a Minister because he was a
Minister, but according to his own views of the pro-
priety of the measures proposed. It would be un-
charitable prematurely to blame the present Minis-
ters. They were very unsettled at present, and
this Meeting would not act wisely by throwing ob-
stacles in their way. He next alluded to the rela-
tive situation of the mechanics, and believed that
'master and journeyman never were before on better
terms than. now. To the last day of his life he
;hould rejoice at having been instrumental in pro-
.lucing such a change. He adverted to the manner
:n which the, address should be presented to his Ma-
jesty, and observed that he should take the first op-
portunity of complying with the wishes of the
Meeting, and concludid amidst the loud greetings of
the assembly..

A vote of thanks to Dr. GILCIIRIiT then passed,
and the Meeting separated at. eleven o'clock.

We underitand it-is the intention of the Duke
)f Clarence to visit Newhaven shortly, for the
purpose of inspecting the Hyperion frigate, and
%lso the harbour.—Brighton Paper.

FAMILY GUIDE.—We understand that a
new edition of Dr. Graham's Modern Domestic
Medicine, has just been published. Of this
work, we before observed, that it is very highly
recommended to the attention of the clergy,
Tainilies, and invalids, by several of the most re-
zeutable periodicals, being considered as " not
only incomparably superior to Buchan's, but
also to every similar work in our language."
The " Imperial Magazine," for April, -also states,
" it will be found a very valUable acquisition to
the family library, and no medicine-chest, at
home or abroad, ought to be considered complete
without it." Perspicuous detail is said to be a
prominent feature in this book, which is likely to
become very popular among the more enlightened
part of the community.

An affair of honour took place on Thursda'y
afternoon, between Capt. E— and Capt.
D—, of this Garrison, when after an ex-
change of shots, without injury, tine seconds
interfered.; and we understand amost satisfactory
explanation was offered by the former, upon
which the belligerents shook hands. and were
reconciled.— South African Advertiser, March 6.

A LADY'S VA VAR', Es.—i-When the Duchess
of Kingston wished to be- received at the court
of Berlin, she got the Russian Minister there to
mention her intentions to his Prussian majesty ;
and to tell him at the same time, that her fortune
Was at Rome, her bank at Venice, but that her
heart was at Berlin. Immediately on hearing
this, the king sarcastically replied, " I beg, sir,
you will give-my compliments to: her Grace, and
inform her, that I am sorry we are only intrusted
with the very Itiorstpart of her property."
. ECONOMY.--A friend complained :to his,
neighbour the other day, of the heavy amount,
of his bill for meat ; " but," added he, " I ani.
determined to have no more butcher's meat
my house this year at any rate." " Not this
year !" said his neighbour, " why the year is but
just begun." " True," rejoined the other, " but
I mean to pay ready money for it in future, and
then it will be my noi4,,and not the butcher:s."
—Brighton .'apes..
A HINT- TaTARMERS.—ON A NEw CHEAP.
AND EFFECTUAL METHOD or PROCURING
iVIANURE a'OR EVER.—When a Lea Field is
broken up, instead of practising the old labori-
ous work of harrowing and burning the sods,.
collect them into banks, placed at the distance
of twenty paces asunder, by which no car Work
will be necessary, as they are removed with ease.
by boys and girls, who are. .employed for that.
purpose. By so doing, you take completely all:
rp;ttrieng themin fo in
weeds and dirt out of the way ' • you then plough
thethespace
usual
mannerbetween
forth drill
e banks andpe
potatoes, putting
the only time any manure you may happen to
have. This will also give you one or two crops of
corn, when your sods will come into play And be
sufficiently rotted for any purpose you please.—
When your heaps are formed, that they may
not be unproductive, you are to plant them with
potatoes in the Munster manner ; that is, at the
back of the spade, moulding thin by a furrow
cut with the plough adjoining them. To save
expence, mind that you leave unploughed the
,round on which the -bank stands which ought
to be 12. feet abroad. The three grand objects
which are acquired by this invention are as fol-
lows :—You haVe an inexhaustible store of the
best of all manures, vegetable mould—your sur-
face, though ever so dirty before, becomes com-
pletely Clean, and by the removal of the sod the
main earth is brought into action. The person
with whom this plan originated is now enjoying
the benefit of it ;- and as he resides within 'less
than 100 miles of Vinegar Hill, will be happy
to shoW any.curious person how successfully it
operates in every way.— Wexford Paper.