Star.
London, England, 1824-04-01 00:00:00

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tzzasix7•l:jaifil

ALUM BIM
• A Special Meeting of the Common Council was held
yesterday, in pursuance of a requisition, very nume-
rously and respectably signed, to petition against the
Alien Bill. as arbitrary, impolitic, and leading to con-
sequences dangerous to our liberties at borne and repu-
tation abroad. The Lord Mayor (Waithman) took the
Chair very soon after twelve o'clock, when the minutes
of the last Meeting were read.
The LORD MAYOR rose and stated, that the Lord'
Mayor of Dublin, Sir Edward Stanley, and two other,
Gentleinen, were in the adjoining room, and he was
sure the Meeting would have no objection to their being
invited to be present—(Cheers).
The Lord Mayor of Dublin (Smith), Sir Edward
Stanley, and two other Gentlemen entered, shook hands
with the Lord Mayor Of London, .and took their seats
on his right hand. '
The LORD MAYOR, after some Tontine business, rose
and-read the Requisition for this Meeting to Petition
against the Alien Bill.
Mr. 'Forum began by apologising for maiviiig on a
subject of a degree of importance far beyond his abi-
lity to do justice to. He proceeded to state and refute
the various objections to the frequent exercise of the
right of petitioning by the Corporation. The pre-sent
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object of their petitioning had no connexion with party ;
it did not arise from popular effervescence, and he could
not be charged either with being influenced by popular,
feeling,. or with endeavouring to excite it. He hoped
to have credit for acting purely from conscientious feel-
ingsof the impolicy of the Alien Bill. The present aspect
of the times did not holdout any prospect of a change
of Ministers, and he for one was happy to bear his tes-
timony to the unproved principles and proceedings of
the present Ministry. The impolicy and injustice of the
Alien Bill was proved, as had been well remarked by
an .Hon. Member, whose eloquence could only be sur-
passed by his candour and sincerity in the case of free-
dom and humanity; he meant Sir James Mackintosh—'
(Hear,
hear.) By the very important alterations made
In 'the 13111 now before Parliament, it was admitted,
even by the Right Hon. Secretary for the Home Depart.
ment, that the principle of the Bill was to be justified
only by necessity. But all the reasons ever offered to
prove a necessity had long ceased to exist. Why then
should we net raise our voice and call upon Ministers,
who seemed half inclined to be defeated, at once to drop
the measure? He.was happy that they were preceded
by the liberal Coiporation of Nottingham. lie thought
it auspicious too,, that the second reading of the Alien
Bill was postponed. He anticipated confidently, there-
fore, 60011 success of their Petition to abandon the
' odious and illiberal Alien Act. Front the Jibe; al prin-
ciples and measures of the present Ministry, he even
entertained sanguine hopes of their repealing the infa-
monk Six Acts—(Hear, hear). Foreigners had been en-
couriged to come to this country by the excellence of
our institutions. They had principally introduced the
silk trade. Under the truly English reign of Elizabeth,
many foreigners, who fled from the cruel persecutions
of the Spanish Goiernment in the Low Countries, had
settled in Norwich and Canterbury. Many of the respect-
able inhabitants of those places were descendants of
those refugees. The very respectable strangers who
were present, knew that ninny most respectable per ton.
in Dublin were similarly descended. Need he remind
• them that Jortiri and Romilly, the first orn.:ments of
the Church and. Bar of, England, were descended from
foreign refugees? On every consideration of humanity,
as well tt policy, this odious measure aught to be re-
nounced. To its influence abroad must be ascribed such

treatment as Mr. I.3lwring erpei kneed, who wa. con-
fined in a dungeon for no cause io the world, until Mr.
canning's spirited interposition released him-,-( Cheers).
could not trust hirnself with any observatiOns on;
the Gentlemen. of the Holy Alliance, for fear of using,
language which would by some he considered internee;
rate. By their conduct, men of distisiction for science,
patriotism, and every public and private virtue, were'
. driven from Italy, Spain, Gefinany, and almost every
cauntry in Europe. Io this country they were deterred
from cap essing sympathy for their oppressed country,
.from feat of this Alien Act being called into operation
against them. It was not the *vt holom or moderation of
. Ministers, hut the positive power of the law, w hich any
. foreign& of spii it and sensibility would choose to rely
. upon, or indeed could seem ely trust co—('(fear, hear).
.He hoped all parties would unite in removing such a
disgracoto our country. Ile concluded by moving a
Petition in termspf the above observations.
Mr. Pdtveci. contended, that the :epeal of this Net
was necessary for the promotion of a more liberal inter-
=course with foreign States. lie said he had himself felt
the inconveniences of such a system, for when he went
over to Paris, he and his friends found themselves
marched from office to office, like so many deserters.—
In short, at every step he was made to feel that he was
not in England, and how annoying similar regtela.Kns
made in this country must be to foreigners. He cer-
tainly must admit that a beneficial change had taken
place in the policy of Ministers ; it was shewn in the
appointment of a'Committee for the examination of the
Criminal Laws, and he hoped it would be sti:l I urther
Manifested in the surrender of this disgraceful Act, for
which there was some kind of pretence at the net iod of
its enactment, but there-could be none now for its con-
tinuance. They were now honoured with the presence
of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, with some Members of
the Corporation of that City, and he would beg to re-
mind them, that they were indebted to our former hos-
pitality and freedom given to refugees for Bishop Saurin,,,
the grandfather of the present Attorney-General of Ire.t
land. After some lengthened observations, he concluded
by seconding the motion made by Mr. Taylor.
Mr. Wti.cif said, he was not for taking up the time
of the. Court, that being unnecessary after so inucli had
bees raid to the purpose; but he woli:d take the it2e: ty of
reading a few verses upon the subject—(Laughter).
'Mr. JAZIEB spoke to order, anti said, they cruie there
to discuis a question, and not read, or hear read, verses
npUn the subject.
know many Gentlemen of ability that
have quoted and read the verses of others in this Court,
fon *ate I intend to read are my own—(Laughter).
'the LORD MAtOR said, it was not customary for
GesatleMen to read written speeches in that Court, un-
less it was to make a defence against some charge, and
they were . totally unaccustomed to public speaking,
which was nor the case of the worthy Member ; still
less was it custoiney to hear read speeches in verse. He
.• pat it to the Court, .whether the proposal of the worthy
Member was consistentwith itt dignity? If verse might
iy tdme one mists chdose to sing it, and after to
trallg vitherd—(Ltraghtlfr).
Mr. Wawa desisted front readhig his verse, but pro-

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eieded to et:biked* edientric strain.
ille.said be had shewn; himielf to be a Briton. The
foreign despot's, he said, were Rhin for John with
along line, and if they only' caught him by the gills,
iheY would throw him overboard. It was disgraceful
to continue suck a measure as this.
• Mr. lutes opposed the motion.—They had been told
by the Mover, that they ought to confine themselves
closely to the subject before them, but it was a pity he
had not set them the example. What had the Sii-Acti
to do with the question before them ? What right had
'alley to eater into a discussion of the conduct of the
loly Alliance?—They were told to be on their guard
against using strong and intemperate language; but na
language, he conceived, could be stronger, or more in-
temperate, than to talk of nations being under the
4. fangs of despots." Such language, •as had-been ob-
served elsewhere, was extremely dangerous and un-
becoming.—They were not warranted in giving such
descriptions of the conduct of Foreign Potentates. The
entrance of the French into Spain. for instance, which
had been alluded to, he must in his conscience say had
done a great deal of good, in preventing the extension
of very dangerous principles.—(Hear). He denied the
statements made in the requisition, as well as those
made in the resolutions. It was said the Act was in-
consistent with the commercial policy of the country.
Now he denied that the Alien Act had anything to do
with the commercial policy of the kingdom ; he de•
vied that it was repugnant to the feelings of the people,
or to the general opinion. NO expression had been
made of a public opinion on the subject, except from
Nottingham; but he denied that :o be a criterion. Ile,
for one, was ready to-as,ert that Ce only true mode of
ascertaining the public opinion, was to collect the opi-
nions in the House of Commons. It was asserted that
the Act was prejudicial to the best interests of the coun-
try, but he held that no persons were better judges of
the intense.; of the -country than the preseiq Nlinivers,
who had resolved upon its continhante. The opposers'
of the measure had entirely lost sight of one circum-
stance, which WAS extremely material. We were ilk
yet in profound peace—We had' enemies to our prOspe-
rity who might have agents ,in this country, whom it
might be necessary to remove, and attic)) could onTybe'
done under the authority of such an Act as that in'qUei-
tion. If there were no other reasons fur thi Continu-
ance of the .Act, this he contended was amply suNcient.
If a violent exercise of the authority given by this Act
had-been made, there would be some. reason for petit
tinning, but there hadbeen'tiohe. This Moderate anti
temperate exercise of Act was indeed objeOted to by
pertains who aoul.l object against erferything, and selfo
actually contender] :that it formed a strong gationd for
its discontinuance. He concluded by expressing a hope
that the Corpotation would not uselessly Petition, and
that they would rely on the sound discretion of those
Ministers in a hose praise so much had been said.
.Mt. PA TUN,. Mr. Shear, and Alderman VEN A ISLES,
replied to. Mr. .fittletts.
Mr. Burisawirefh and Mr. CRACKER were against•
_the Motion. It was,• hewever, ultimately carried by a
tinge majority.
A Petition'to Parliament accordingly was-agreed to,
and ordered to be aimed by the. Town Clerk, stud pre.
seined in the usual form by the Sheriffs,'attended by the
Itemembrancer. _
The Court requested the Representatives for the City,
and such other Members as hare seats iii Parliament,
to support the said Petition.-
The Resolution was ordered to be advettised.—(l'ide
Advertisement in front of our. . Paper).;
The Thames Navigation Cornmitteq presented a Re-
volt, hr which they recommeqedithe Court not-to.
pose the Bill for making D.,Fks,. titt.ist St. Catherine S.
Thessame Committee also made a, Report oa the subject
of the Bill 'la Parliament, tin making. a suspension
bridge over the Thames, from St., Catherine's' to the
posite shore, its 411 e: County of Stirrek, in which they
recommended ifte,Churt to Petition the House of Corn-,
!nobs against the same, as likely to cause great danger'
and inconvenience to the navigation. 1
The Report was agreed to, as also a Petition founded
then eon; which was ordered to be presented to the House.
of Commons for thwi tli.--The Meeting then separated.
INQUEST ON twirl". SCHULENZIOURO. ' :
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Yesterday afternoon, athalflrast two o'clock, a most •
respectable Jury assenibled at die. One 'tol* Intil Ch a it.
dos-street, Cos/oat-garden, before T. Hians,;Es4. f)e-•
Duty Coroner,, to inquire into the cause. of the death of
the abovenained clistitignisheci Hanoverian. 'On the
Jury 'being swoeti; they repititeti to the count's nal t-
alents to view the body. On their return the following
evidence was entered into:
Mr. James Wilcox, Wine-merchant, of Bishopsgate-
street Without,. stated, that het abotttAtee weeks since,.
at about four o'clock in the afteineonp, was passing.
through Chandos-street; whea:he. -perceixed a Gentle.
man's carriage coming-in.the direction from St. Mar.i
tin's-lane, and nearly at the' sante moinent the deCeestif
attempted, and indeed was crossing the road, and aqis.
knocked down by either the pole or horses, which Weise
over hurls, as did the• first wheels. Witness called 'out,
and the coachman imn:ediately pulled up"; there were
some ladies in tire coach. On the witness seeing him
down, the hind wheels were Very near his head; he was
instantly released, and 'was found to he insensible; he
was carried into the shop of Mr. Morris. The witness
is-of opinion no blame is. attached to the coachman.
Juror—Did you desire him to drive on ?
Witness—Merely to release the body ; the man
seemed inclined to remain; he optioned shocked at the
accident; on giving his master's address- he was suf.,
fered to proceed.,
• .1t appeared from the evidence of Mr. Morris, that
the de'ceased lingered until the TuesditY folloatinto
is hen he died.
After the examination of several witnesei,-the In.
quest was adjourned, in order to obtain tht artindance
ofalie foritnian who was with the carriage: - • '

A meeting took place at the •{ Iriih Chalk Farm"
(Sandyrnount) on Saturday morning last, between two.
Gentlemen, accompanied by their friends, when, after
an exchange of shots, one of the p.arties received his ad-,
versary's hall in the leg, when they retired, one to par-
take of coffee, and the other a less agreeable deune-a.
the assistance of a surgeon.—lris/ 1 hues.
Saturday se-innight, a person engaged in building a
house neat the Caledonian Canal, employed four men frtirn Clach-
naharry to convey stones front the lledcastlellitarry.. The boat
employed cn this occasion was old and insecure, and on her return
from the quarry, deeply laden, sunk at alistanee of about 200 yards
front the Retie:lstle Pier, when the employer and the whole of the
crew perished.
A woman, named Susannah Turin, has been com-
mitted to the gaol of 11u11, on the verdict of a Coroner's. Inquest,
charged with the murder of Ann Turpin, her husband's mother,
by sending her a poisoned cake, whi.ch the old woman ate, and
whitli caused her death.

MrMI"

LENT ASSIZES. '
YORK, MARCH 29.
CIVIL SIDE.—WHITAUR AND ANOTHER V. VIALLINSQN.
This was an action for recovery of a small debt. The
particulars were not bf any public interest.
Mr. SCASIXTT Will for the defendtnt, and an cross-examining one
ortbe plaintiff's witnesses, he asked him—Have you a good memory?
lave not.
Are you alive ?—I believe I am.
Why do you say you believe. Have you any doubt about it ?
Weff, I don't know, lam sure. lam alive to all appearance--
(Loyd laughter).
Mr. SCA RLETT then addressed the Jury, and said—
" Before I proceed upon the circumstances of thi'sdefence,
allow me to say a word or two for myself-yes you might,
be alarmed at my appearance here. Permit me to asH
sure you; I did not die on Thursday night last—(Losol
laughter) ; or if I did die on that night, and if indeed on
the two following days I appeared in this Court on the
part of my clients as an apparition, permit me now to
assure you, I revived yesterday—(Laughter); and that
I now address you in better health than I have been
'tor the last week." The Learned Gentleman then con-
tended against the plaintiff's demand.—Verdict for
the plaintiff.

LIBEL.—WATTS V. BAINES.
Mr. SCARLET r stated the case.—The plaintiff,-Mr.
-Watts, is the Editor of the Intdligencer ; the defendant
is the Editor of the Nerear4, both rival Newspapers
published in Leed.:. This' action originated in the fol-
lowing circumstance : A Mr. Swire, an ovetseer of the,
roads in the township of Skipton, sent an advertisement
to the Leeds lute/lige:wen addressed " to road-makers,"
and desired it should have five insertions; it was ac-
cordingly inserted, and previous to the third or fourth
insertion, a person of the name of Merryweather (an
auctioneer at Skipton, and an agent for the defendant's
Paper, the Mercury, there); sent another and different
A dvertiserr.eat for insertion, lizy directions of Mr. Swire,
bat did not direct the first to be Withdrawn. Both were
'consequently inserted together?' and this provoked the
anger of Mr. Verryweather,• who addressed a private i
letter t' Mr. NV.atts on the subject. This letter, how-
ever, was of such a nature as to induce Mr. Watts .to
' reply to it Ilia oila the medium of his paper, which he
did in the foilcAting terms : " A person of the name
of Merryweather, who is agent to the Leeds Mercury,
has addressed a very insolent letter to our office, re-
specting
an Ntivettiseasenti headed 4 to toad-makers,
which has appeared several times in. the Leeds bitelli- '
gencer4 it isAisie to the Gentleman by whose orders the
'Tdiettisetrient was handed to us,. to Mentibh., that after
4 had been inserted three times, another Advertisement
ptder, for two insertions, was forwarded from the afot e-
said Mr. Merryweather, without any instructions to dis-
:continue the one originally sent, which we had been de-
sired td insert in cur five succeeding Newspapers) anti
yet laehas, in no gentle terms, charged our office with
neglect for attending to, this: request.: had the error
really rested with us, this errant might have written in a
more' tem pirate Manner rit appears, howevet„ to have
arisen entirely. froth . hit ensn inadvettenee? and he
wishes to excuse himself with the gentletrian Who em-
ployed him by blaming es. This is not the first, time
we haVe.had to endure insolence equally unprovoked
frornilifsn person." This was the onty'provocation which
gave rise to the libel, the cause of the present act-0144nd '
which the defendant, M. Baines,:inietted as an &leer-
sisement in the Airreurg, viz; • .
. ; . f. To the Pr4rierori of the Dal lirtefti,legeer.
" CirtvimAixteol) Tuesilayl teeeived ah insoltift *liner koill a
person in yolk employ, with :;gee himself • EdWard'Wood,' and this'
day T observe ih your P.mer a lane to earreipantlents;calumniating
rile for Writing: tottiur o'llide to'rectiry an error which originated
with yourselves; your Biltltigsgateltditor is so habitdited to !yin%
that r lie:ieve lie ciiiinot ' sprat truth' if' he-would : he says of Mr,
'lt pears to haye ailsen entirely from his own inadieitreee, and
'ii . ii) excuse himself nil/ tatitinihir Mr.' bloii,•be it *meat-
y; eent'yod die -Merida' advirdsertient f eitljitt Milli' Mi..
th
wade, any eti.:o4l;t4 31,1 ii. Alitit t Ili eMitinit."appeartilf-ht the lost&
7/4i.eaktfrit X tint you lar.'Swirrit letter, and ow Whitt' I-tienee riry
own; 0041114 out the Winkler. trow, tlitln; in thename of ..
te, calt.arty inadvertency tie suritniteti Wine? !Vista • • • I,
d root deteCted the Mistake, I never islaarld; ibr-yours fief • 1
-cation dO'nOt condescend to' read. I awe* tlikolgist iltP/riai-:
*weir an imbecile jourrial? big &Sheik has Weenie yonrisfulpieffiti
:is worse-it is now worse that eoistinigtitile: ' IrOdr Editor hid; bt
lila iMpiidence, iecluteif irtif 'the bier stage Of i gillnping eonsauttn-
Aim k and in a very abOrt.ilnie, I hate ri6 &Mit, It will be tom,- Ily
,extinct. I very much &Mt the sanity of 060ns-1(44-ping a stretch;
to fatten on your bocinty, and who to weekly s • x atria your In-
terest and reputation.. Paretrell fdr ever.
' 6 gElpion, Oct. 5t,•1112.7. " J ()ITN' NiEleft VENTHIfit.w
Mr. Watts, immediately on the publication of thiiiin?
ter, asked who was the author.? Mr. Baines, (the *de,
feedant) said, the period who sisPed it. Mr. Wattrthitni
de ni a nded The'oiigiial etlan u script, whiC ti
,w ai• eft,*
Hence the..sicalst was brought against laid),ancritott
Mr. Merryweather; and by doing so, the defendant hid
an oppnriiidyrity of bridging Pot ward Mr. frfeiryweather,
'and it t4r4'as one Avoid in the llbel'eap4Mi'af being
justified, they had thereby. in npliortianitYgiVeri theni.
The. defendant has not, however, iliaaifght proper to plead
njustification. The question for- You, Gentlemen of the
Jars, then is—fist, was the libel published by him P
The next question was of damages. He.(Mt. Scarlett) .
'iiiiiltlitUT their, it Was not the object of his client to put
lisdneyin his pocket by this -action; but it was of im-
portance that Newspaper Editors, who' take so great a
lead (and, as he, Mr. Scarlett thought, too greit a lead)
in forming public opinion, should be taught they are
notao attack any man's character with impunity.
Thrill:as Ray stated that he bought the :newspaper
containing the libel on the 4th of ; lie accom-
panied Mr. Watts to the 111eicury Office next morning,
when Mr. Baines refused to give up the original MS. •
Witness was crots•essinieed by Mr. Wryttams, and he admitted
thr parties had always been engaged in newspaper warfare.
"The libel and notice were then read by the Prothonotary.
The case for the plaintiff closed.
''' - Mr... 1. W;tztams addressed thejdry for the defen.
tOtatit,' whOnf he admitted to be Editor and Proprietor of
:the. Leeds Atencury. • _ That Gentleman stood to-dap in
it.'nbeet situation;' for although .he had been engaged,
for 67e,andqieenttlears in the. duties. of a newspaper,
This Wait thi grit ltifitiltathe wits concerned' in 'art ao-
datt'of,this description.. In the many politiCal ccititio-
.Tersies in which ht had been engaged during that time,
he, always thought it• the most becoming in any man %fhb
.had in any degree the guidance of public opinion, to
.
resist craw attack made upon him through. the: name
shann4 4y• which they; were made, if he, thought
them at all worthy of reply. Mr.' Williams Conipli-
ented his ~Learned Friend for identifying his feelings
dd interests to.iday.with those of the Leas bitelligarcet,
and
upon. sacrificing the remembrance of' Icurtner ani-
nsadversions • to the exercise of his pEofessiliiil day..
With respect to the libel, Mr. Baines had not Mote to
do with_ it than. any. one of the Jr4i ; it 'found its
way into the paper as an advertisement; add 'When
applied to, he shelved the original manuscript' of the
• We understood Mr:Williains to allude to attacks that Weremade
on Mr. Starlett in The Leas Atiliftieitcer, when be ftiledirt his elec-
tion for Cambridge; and in whisk it was:statiOd, that though• he bad
been foressoot to running' dowel does boroughs., he had, fled to one
of that description as kis defeat titers.

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