Star.
London, England, 1822-04-22 00:00:00

" 'l'h.it dreadful sound to ears polite!"

Aud why was he a friend to it? Because he used
.he word, and wished it to be used and understood,
according to the plain meanhis which it bore in the

English language.
go to the root of
nuzions disease ut
WAS now and had
he had before observi
proposition he woul
which he had heat,

celebrity, whose fame, - -ast, .
them all. He alluded to Sir William Curtis. The
worthy Baronet was some time ago unfortunately la-
bouring under a fit of illness. He sent for a physician,
who interrogated him
.with respect to the symptoms
of his disorder, felt his pulse, and prescribed.—
" You will," said the Doctor, " receive the greatest
benefit from my prescription; it is a radical cure for
your disorder."—" A radical cure r exclaimed the
astonished Baronet, " I will have nothing to do with
it; I will not take your medicine; I thank Gon I ate
no radical, and I hate everything connected with the
word radical !"—(Much laughter).—The Doctor was
going away in despair, but as be was leaving the
room, he thought of an expedient which was likely to
induce the worthy Baronet to adopt his prescription.-
"I am very anxious, Sir William," said be, "that you
should take the medicine ; it is a sovereign remedy."
" A sovereign remedy r ejaculated Sir William, " send
it to me by all means. I will take a sovereign remedy
without besitation"--.(Much laughter). The sovereign
remedy was sent—it was swallowed by the worthy
Baronet—and, as they would all be,glad to hear, he
recovered. That which he hated under the title of
" a radical cure," did him essential service when ad-
ministered as " a sovereign remedy." Now, whethei
the full and fair Representation of the People was
effected by " a radical cure," or by " a sovereign re-
medy," he cared not—(Cheering).—Let the thing be
done, and he was satisfied. He heeded not terms or
epithets—they were of no consequence. His Grace
concluded by reading the Petition which he meant
to propose for the adoption of the Meeting. It was
couched in very energetic language, and embraced
all the topics to which he had adverted in the course
of his speech. Ile then moved, " That the Meeting
do adopt the said Petition."
W. lI.WFUTBREAD, Esq. M.P. stood forward to se..
cond the motion, and was received with loud plaudit,.
The momentous subject of Parliamentary Reform
had; he observed, been brought under their notice on
this occasion, in so able and so beautiful a manner,
by the noble person who had just addressed them,
that it would well become-him simply to second this,
motion, without further comment. But as this was,
the first public opportunity that had been afforded
him to express his sentiments on the subject of Re-
form, he trusted that the Meeting would ind►►lge him
with their attention fora few minutes. He considered
that Parliamentary Reform was absolutely necessary,
for the purpose of alleviating the present great and
almost intolerable distress of the country. They had
looked daily to Parliament for measures of relief, and
Ministers had declared that something would be done
to alleviate the distresses of the people. The Noble
Duke who moved the Petition had described, in ap-
propriate terms, what had been effected in consequence
of the pledge of Ministers; and he had also, in his
usual ingenuous way, pointed out the manner in
which the name of " Radical" was held up to public
scorn and insult. But if to be an advocate of that
r.tugh Parliamentary Reform was to be a Radical, he,
for his own part; would feel proud to be called " a
thorough Radical." They must all be perfectly aware
that it was useless to expect anything beneficial from
a Parliament that did not represent the People of
England. Such a House of Commons as they now
possessed did not represent the People ; and therefore
he conceived that they ought to make every practi-1
cable effort for the introduction of Reform. He
trusted none of them would be disheartened by the
way in which their former Petitions had been re-
ceived, and in which, perhaps, the present Petition
would be received ; but that they would boldly pert-
severe, until the word " Reform" was echoed from
one end of the country to the other—(Applause).—
Let them hope that the present profuse expenditure
of the country would work its own remedy. This it
assuredly would do. Ministers would no longer be
able to keep up the system, when the sources of that
extravagant expenditure were exhausted. They must
all surely feel with him, that it would make any ho-
nest man's heart ache to see the hard earnings of the
industrious poor converted to the use of a profligate
Administration—(Applause).—He believed that none
of them could doubt, although Ministers might think
fit to assert the contrary, that excessive taxation was
the great cause of the present distress. Though Mi-
nisters had the impudence to deny this fact, they
would ultimately find, to theircost, that nothing was
more true. He had only to add, that he supported
the Petition with heartfelt pleasure—in its allegations
he cordially concurred, and in its prayer he most
heartily joined—(Applause).
The Resolution was then agreed to, only one per-
son, the Rev. Mr. Williamson, holding up his hand
against it.
The Duke of BEDFORD then moved—" That the
Petition be signed by the High Sheriff, in the name
and on behalf of the Meeting.'
Mr. Payne said, they had all heard the Petition
proposed by the Noble Duke, and in fact they had
all concurred in it. He had lived rather a long life,
and had made some observations on the conduct of
Parliament ; and he could most truly affirm, that
those observations were in perfect conformity with
what was alleged in that Petition. He had never,
it was true, had the honour of a seat in Parliament.
Whether it was or was not an honour, he would, at
present, leave the Meeting to decide; but, for him-
self, he must say, that, until the system was altered,
be co►►ld not consider it an honour at all—(Lattghter).
The Gentlemen whom he now addressed were repre-
sented by independent men ; he wished the whole
body of the People of England s ere so represented;
but if they hoped for independent Representatives, it
was necessary that they should be independent them-
selves—(Apidause).—As an instance correborative of
what the Noble Duke had said relative to the sub-
serviency of Parliament, he begged leave to direct
their attention to the abolition of the slave ttade.—
Year after year that measure was proposed, but the
House of Commons had no ear for it. At lepgth
the Minister spoke, conviction entered the minds of
the ,Members, and humanity triumphed—(Applause).
Were they to suppose that those Gentlemen had no
humanity before that period? Quite the contrary :
they had humanity, hut, like all their other virtues,
it was in the custody of the Minister—(.aretthier)--

was afraid that dw holitaaitt of the 9reiert
Commons
uncmnilesosndsveouPeoldpele°,ntibty"lehlieetn thinegssrike ICI:.:
contrived to extricate it from such a state of
r_(4l rue).
—. F. -PALsege, M:l2. came forward amidst
cheers.—He said, he had complained, atiothen
many years ago, that the Representatioa
of the People was inadequate, and that the mearis of
seduction in the hands of Ministers were too power.
fill. It was long since stated, he believed by Air,
Burke, that every third man you met in the street,
either held a place himself under Government, ore?,
pected one, or had a friend who looked forward too
situation; and the inference was, that the person thus
circumstanced could not act, in electing a Reprow,
tative, as a free and unbiassed agent. If that asser-
tion was true before the war, then he had a right to
say, looking at the enormous increase of influence:
which the war produced, that two out of every three
you encountered were influenced by Government._
The Noble Duke had alluded in his speech to a fart. ;y
which had been very conspicuous for maqy
namely, to the family of the Grenville:. Their coi.
;duct with respect to the Salt Tax was worthy
remark. The original price of a bushel of salt was
2s. •
6d but the tax raked it to 18.. The Greirvi:',:!
,party were at one time most anxious to get rid of this
tax. They said it bore too heavily on the people,
and ought to be repealed; hut some .neeocirtion,
knew not what, took place ; an I suddenly, instea I of
sitting on that side of the House where he (tlr. PO-
mei ) sat, the Grenviiles went over to the otltero- here
he did not sit. A motion afterwards came on fot
gradual abolition of the Salt Tax, and the votes of
the Gi enville party were required ; but, in the con
of six months, they had changel their opinion ; they
then did not thiiik that the Salt Tax bore /laid ou the
people, nor did they see the slightest nece,sity tor is
repeal —( Applause).—That men might change the r
places hecould understand—but how they could, at .
same time, change their feelings, he could not conceive.
One of these Gentlemen received L:5000 a year, as
head of the Board of Controul. a .1 aaorher Lord
£lOOO a-year. What situati n the lat e- held he dOl
nut know, but the Red Book would teli in a
All that party procured honours or em.luments, I
they all changed their places. It was alleed,
the Reformers sr ere- not agreed as to the tootle :col
manner in which Reform ought to beeffected,
the extent to which it ought to be carried. `re-
lieved almost every man had his particular no,tru,):--
(he knew of.n-ne, however, who had a completep:-
nacea for all the evils •of which they complaiired);
and, in his opinion, those who had paid attention to
the subject ought to come forward with their respec-
tive plans, leaving it to the Legislature to adopt that
which appeared to be the best.—The motion was Elko
agreed to.
On the motion for leaving the Petition to receive
the signatures of freeholders,
The. Rev. Mr. Wtooramsote said, it was net sl
much on the subject of Reform that he disagrt,t,
but he thought that the Petition was couched in some-
what too severe terms. He certainly thought that
Reform was wanted to a certain deg, ee—(Appifrool
and laughter—" What, you're corning round, are pa?)
He did not wholly agree with the measures of his Ma.
jesty's Ministers, because !rethought they had in many
instances disgraced themsel es—(Applartse).—But,
the other hand, their con •uct bad on various occa-
sions reflected the highest honour on their characters.
He did not wish to be a violent Ministerial man, nor
an Anti-ministerial man; he was desirous to take the
middle course, and to act Impartially. He th nlght
when Ministers gave £lO,OOO a-year to the Duke of
Yolk for visiting a'sick hither at Winds's!, they en-
tailed eternal disgrace on themselves—(Brirco!).—
With regard to the Queen, they did man, thins
which were not right. In the first instance; they tteated
her in a manner which ought not to have been adopted
towards the meanest woman in the country—(../..:-
plause). But • hen a majority of the House of Lo: os
gave their opinion on the Queen's case, the circum-
stances were entirely changed, and Ministers, he
thought, were right in not allowing her to be crowned
—(Much disapprobation). Rotten Boroughs were
very dangerous things ; but it could not he denied
that some Members who represented rotten Boroughs
were put in by the Whigs as well as by the Mios-
tet ial party. He saw on the list of Bedfordshire Re-
formats some whose names he confessed he did not
expect to see there. One of those Gentlemen he migl t
denominate " a pensioned Reformer." Now if he
would give up his pension, he would give him crelt
for sincerity ; but if not, he could place but little cor-
fidence in his words and professions—(Vane', sa-ne).
Mr. Charles Fyslie Palmer, he believed, received a
pension of £2OO a-year. He had, at least, been in-
formed so by many people.
Mr. C.' F. PALMER conceived it to be his tight to
vindicate himself against the charges brought for-
ward by the Rev. Gentleman. He was told by the
Rev. Gentleman, that he put his name to the Requi-
sition as a pensioner. How was that charge proved'
The question had come before a Committee of the
House of Commons, and lS out of 17 of the indivi-
duals composing that ComMittee declared that he
(Mr. Palmer) had nothing to do with that pension,
and that he was therefore eligible to sit in the House
as a Member fur the Borough of Reading. If it had
been proved that he received such a pension, the
laws of England would have prevented him hoes
taking his seat in Parliament. He therefore app.o:eJ
to the Meeting whether this charge was not settle.!?
The Rev. Mr. Wtootastsos; came forward, arlii
considerable disapprobation.—" Gentlemen," said he.
Mr. Palmer has contradicted my assertions ; and 1
do not think that he would have contradicted them
had they not been false. I said before, that it I sea
misinformed, I had nothing to do but to apologiac to
Mr. Palmer. I now say, in the presence of the
County at large, that as I appear to have been miss.:-
formed, I ant sorry for what I have stated."
The Marquis of Tavisvoca could assure the Meet-
ing. that he should he proud and happy to present
their petition to Parliament, but lie must at tile saw:
time confess, that so long as the 1-louse of Commons
remained constituted as it was, he feare.i that he
could hold out to them very little prospect of their
wishes being attended to. He might say the snare,
he thought, with respect to every other petitiot
having for its object the security of public properto
or the establishment of popular rights (Applauu).—
So long as the Minister of the day, soother he
were big or Toil, had tho power of commandinS

e. He desired a reform thit would qiad
the evil, and would eradicate the Rouse of (
inaer which the English Constitution of custody,
long been labouring. But terms. as present, cc
serveda were of no importance. This jeopnrdy—
oild elucidate by refbrring ma story Mr. C.
ud °f it wQrthy Baronet of teat civic loud cheeri
fame, at least, was well known to haddone,

t~. .

a mjority in the House of Commons—so long as he
had the means not Noy of corrupt Borough influence,
hut of that influence v hich the enormous patronage
connected with the colleCtion of the Revenue gave
him, at his disposal, he feared that the Petitions of'
the People, if disagreeable to his views, would be to.
tally disregarde!. So hopeless was it to attempt an
orposition to Ministerial majorities, that he ceased to
gi.e a constant attendlnce in the House, since it was
only a waste of health and time, but that only on all
great questions he felt it his duty to appear in his
place. The Noble Marquis concluded by saying, that
it had succeeded in obtaining the confidence of
liis con•tiotents, he had received what was to him
the proudest distinction that could he bestowed on
him, and which to !vs mind was far more valuable
than all the hon. urs and dignities which kings or
Princes could be- to ( Great applause).
Mr. PYNI, son of one of the County Members, apo-
logised fot the absence of his father on unavoidable
business, but expressed his concurrence in the objects
of the Meeting.—The Resolution was then carried.
Mr. Hiotings censured the object and proceedings
of the Alerting. :l'he Reform which they sought to
procu'e was, in his opinion, calculated to produce
disorder and to unsettle property.
Mr. IVILTSIIIRE defended the object; and stated
that it was impossible to conceive that the Duke of
Bedford and the other respectable Gentlemen who
were pre,ent would countenance any project which
was edicn ated to unsettle property and produce dis-
turbance.— The motion was then'cartied.

The t•arik, of the Meeting were then voted to the
Duke of .11enfottp, who returned thanks in an appro.
pliate speech, in the course of which he explained his
conaexion with the Borough of Tavistock, and as-
t•med the two Gentlemen who opposed the proceed-
ings of the day, that the moment the representation
cf:hat Bort,ul.o'. was thrown open to the town, and
every inhabitant pa) ing scot and lot was entitled to
vote, would be the happiest moment of his life.

Thanks were voted to the Hum Stumm and the
bin of the day concluded by an address from
Mr. l'osrLit, in which he inculcated the necessity and
expethency of Parliamentary Reform.