Star.
London, England, 1822-02-05 00:00:00

that she Wintry could uot enjoy iirosperky--(Leud
and universal applaiss). Seven millions WON men-
tioned as a sum which might be reduced. If redac-
tion was not carried at least to that client, this coun-
try could not know improvement or prosperity. They
complained that they had not remuneration; but the,
question was in what manner they were to obtain it.
RReduce the tales.") He quite agreed with them.
eduction was the only means—(Appkitee). A Corn
Bill had been tried, and found delusory. If ever he
felt proud of a vote, it was of the vote he had given
against that measure. Let them not hope relief from
that ; he was very glad that it was not recommended
by any Meeting in the country. He derived great
consolation, he must say, from the preseat state of
things.—(Continued applause).
Mr. LEECH said, that if Parliamentary Reform was
not included in their Petition, they blinked the ques-
tion—(Applause}.—He was very sorry Lord King bad
thought it not regular to move such a Resolution.—
If they looked to the distress of the county, he could
say that he was a considerable occupier of land, and,
without calculating one farthing for feat, he was a
loser—(lieae, hear).—Though be had not raised his
' rents for the last forty years--(4, That's true, you haws
not")—his tenants did not gain sufficient to pay him
the old rent. Mr. Leech then read the following
Resolution, which he wished to incorporate with the
Petition :

" Resolved, That it appears to this Meeting that Mr. Hume
produced documents in the last Session of Parliament clearly
proving that the public expenditure, both foreign and domestic.
admitted of retrenchments to a very large amount, in despite of
which, all the propositions submitted by him to effect this de-
sirable object were negatived by great majorities of the Houssof
Commons, thereby making stiU more manifest, that the corrupt
state of the Representation of the People is the real cause of all
our distress. It is, therefore, our decided conviction' that until
the People are fully and fairly, represented in the Commons
House of Parliament, no permanent and general relief from the
pressure of our burdcns can reasonably be expected."
Mr. TOWNSHEND supported the motion.
The HIGH SIICRIFF said, he would suffer his right
hand to be cut off, before he would allow that Reso-
lution to be put. He could not do it, in justice to the
absent Freeholders. If they were se desirous of having
Reform discussed at a County Meeting, and if they
presented a Requisition to that effect, respeet:ibly and
numerously signed, he would give it his best consi-
deration; and on a future occasion the question might
be regularly discussed.
Mr. MABERLY was ready to sign a Requisition for
a Meeting for Parliamentary Reform ; but be would
not destroy the unanimity of the Agricultural Meet-
ing. If the High Sheriff should refuse, as a Magis-
trate of the County he would join in calling a Meet-
ing--(Applause).---He hoped, therefore, that the
Agricultural Interests would not be injured by cabal
or speaking. Though Parliamentary Reform was the
most desirable thing.they could have, it was inexpe-
dient to connect it with the present Petition. He con-
jured them, therefore, not to do what would be un-
reasonable, and would injure themselves.
Mr. TitEcwata. said, the motion was quite regular.

Mr. Lowxnes opposed the Amendment, and ob-
jected to the introduction of any matter which was
not comprehended in the Requisition.
The Hon. H. G. BENNEr next addressed the Meet-
ing, and was received with loud cheering. In allu-
sion to the distresses which now tprevaileJ in the
country, the first word he was disposed to pronoun
was—Reform. The last word was also—Reform.—
The want of it was the source of all the misfortunes
under which the country now lab anred ; it was the
cause of the excessive taxation and of all the other
mi•eties of which we had to complain—(llear, lerar).
The question was now brought forward without a spe-
cific notice. '1 he Reformers of the County were not
present, and, instead of having the question carried
by a large majority, as he had no doubt it would have
been, it a due notice had been given, it might per-
haps be negatived altogether—(Cries of " Noi no;
from several parts of the Meeting). He was folly
aware of the feelings of the county of Surrey on the
subject. But then the Itefortners present must be
aware that the subject was not mentiosed in the Re-
quisition which had called the county together, and
the Sheriff felt it his duty, and this was one of the
blessed effects of the Six Acts to refuse to put any
question not directly noticed in the Requisition.—
By one of those blessed Acts the High Sheriff was
bound to adhere to the strict letter of the Requisition
—(Cries ef" No, nor).—Now the remedy which he
(Mr. H. G. Rennet) would propose would be this—
that
a Requisition should be then drawn up and
signed, calling on the Sheriff to call the County im-
mediately, for the purpose of considering the question
of Reform ; hut if he should refuse to comply, why
then, after the business for which they had assembled
was ended; they might go into the room opposite (the
Assembly-room at the Spread Eagle), and there the
power of the Sheriff would, notwithstanding the Six
Acts, be at an end—(acers). They might there call
a Chair, and agree to any Resolutions or Petitions
on the subject of Reform which they might think
proper. But while they had the opportunity of doing
this, they ought not, he submitted, to neglect the one
just then before them, of agreeing to a Petition to
Parliament on the cause of, and the remedy for, the
distresses of which they complained. The Petition
before them complained of the excessive weight of f
taxation, and of the exorbitant and unnecessary ex-
penditure of the public money, and it prayed for
economy and retrenohment. Now he implored of the
Meeting not to forego the opportunity of sending that
Petition to Parliament, as it would not at all interfere
with any Resolution to which they might afterwards
come on the subject of Reform. That economy and
retrenchment were necessary, no one would deny...
The country was just in that state when such measures
must be pressed, if it was intended to save it from
destruction. We were lite a man whose estate was
burdened with debts : he must, if he intends to act
honestly, dismiss those servants whom he cannot
afford to keep—he must have a smaller retinue ; and
if he cannot afford even one servant, must learn to
wait upon himself—(Hear, hear).—On the present
occasion, he sincerely hoped the Meeting would not
throw away the opportunity which they had of ex-
pressing -their sentiments. He trusted they would
first agree to the Petition which they had heard read.
and after that they might assemble on the subject of
Deform without (ear of the slightest disturbance,
Mr. Coaam, spoke at tome length in favour of
the motion for Deform.
Mr. Liactt again presented himself; but the She-
riff' was still peremptory: he said he was not to be

somata by the conduct 4f other antic; and bei.,
asked, would he call a Meeting for Reform that diti
said at once that be would not. be would Comply
with a Requisition, and appoint an early day.
Mr. CASE argued in favour of the Resolution.
A person now called out, 14 Let us hear our County
Members."

Mr. DIMISOK immediately came forward, and as.
mired the Meeting that the call which they had just
heard was not necessary, as far as he was concerned,
for that before it was made be was in the act of pre.
senting himself to the attention of the High SheriE
He had on every occasion been the zealous advocate
of Reform, Economy, and Retrenchment; and, with
respect to Reform, he had throughout his life slh
..
ported it as a measure which he conceived necc,
for the prosperity of the country. After the very try
manner at which the several topics introduced Tly
day to the Meeting had been discussed, he had
little to offer worthy their attention. lie si„
not, however, in the state of distress in which ,
at present existed, wish to give a silent vote.,
When they were reduced to tbar degree of miser,,
that they almost held their estates as trustees for
per ism and taxation, it was very natural that they
should look to the causes which had produced thr,
misery. An immediate one was the grossly lavit,
expenditure of public money which had been cattleC
on for so many years. What else but poverty sr;
misery could he expected from that expenditure? To
the year 1816, not less than one hundred and feur
millions were expended. When such extravagance
was committed, it was natural to expect that distm:
would be the result when the bill came to be paid. Th.'.
time was now arrived, and they were paying for
with a vengeance. He stated his opinion, that mut
might be done toward lessening the burdens of the
country, and it was his object, and would be his cl;-
ject, to-dall he could towards effecting a reducticr.,
Mr. H. Stpatita next presented himself, and said
he had come•to the Meeting with an anticipation of
the most perfect unanimity. He hoped, therefore,
that no topio would be introduced to distract or di-
vide but_ that they would confine themselves to the
simple subject before them. He never flinched frost
answering for his parliamentary conduct. He +,v,
was of opinion that no good could be done to t}..•
farmer by protecting duties. For three years we lac
the monopoly of our own market, and yet the distress
existed. He had supported the war from princip:e.
He would not say that no reduction might not be
made ; but he would maintain that a great deal had
been done in the way of retrenchment, that more was
doing, and that it was the deternarnation of Minister:
to correct excessive expenditure to the last farthing
—(Grcat disapprobation).—Much was said of the
amount of expenditure; but it was forgotten that a
great portion of this expense was a debt incurred by
the country in supporting a just war. Which of them
would refuse to give support to those who had bra.
fought for their security ? He declared, that s' ha:-
ever truth there might be in the charges of corrup-
tion and bribery against Ministers, that at least 113
hands were clean. For twenty-five years of Parli.r-
inentary service, he would defy any man to roe
that he gave an interested vote.
Mr. COBDETT being about to address the Mee:Lie
again—
! The Ilion Smarr, asked if what Mr. Cohhett was
I going to say was in explanation?
Mr. COMIETT, with a smile, "Yes, Sir."--llelb.a
proceeded. The Hon. Member had told them ;h.::
Ministers were as:lions to reduce taxation and e 7.•
penditure as low as possible. Now he (Mr. Cohhe;:i
held in his hand a pamphlet, issuing from the TrCi
sury itself; in which was this paragraph—,, Minii:e-s
will not have to apologise, when they meet Parlia3l:7%
for the smallness of the reductions which they h Ivp
effected, but to excuse the too great reductions %% Fin
they have ordered !"—(Laughter),—That came fro,
the Treasury, he was very well assured. It was az:r.•
bated to Mr. Courtenay ; and it shewed that Minis:::s
had not any intention to make further reducticr.;
but lie (Mr. Cobbett) was confident that they srcu:a
yet have to make some very considerable ones.
A Freeholder from the crowd called upon 1..,rd
Ellenborough, who was present. to account to :re
Meeting for the amount received by his family ea:
of the taxes ; and next proceeded to comment on tre
strengthening, as it was called, of the hands cf
niters, by calling in the Grenvilles, who for the its:
thirty years, he said, had been receiving from the
' public purse more than the amount of the taxes pa'll
by the three towns of Guildford, Kingston, and Cr':
doe, together.
The Ilion SnEntrtr put the question on the 13(.6•
tion, and it was negatived by an immense majority,
Mr. H. G. I3ENNET expressed a hope that the 11,-f:
ing would not separate without coming to sem r:•
solution on the subject of economy and retrenchrr.rr!
The &MIFF declared the Meeting dissolved.

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