Star.
London, England, 1822-06-19 00:00:00

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of the labbarias classes, now sympathized. with the,
People in- those sufferings, and. fek necesseri .to •
joie with the iteniralintezest of the. etiantryom-manY
who, a few months since, wciald.hairathaught it pro-
fanation to speak of Reform; began to see that Reform
was the only remedy that could be 'applied to the
evils of the country.' Not a few persons thought that
this penitence depended on circarastances, that these
were but the-proselytes of the day,; -and, to use a
homely phrase, that, if the_shoe which now pinched
were removed, they would be the first to recur to the
old system. But, whether that were the"fact or not,
great changeos were undoubtedly, in progress, a great
political crisis was at hand. It was impossible that
those' clouds which lad been so long gathering over
the land could disperse and melt away without an
elemental war. Reform would be the conductor of
the lightning—the most harmless, and the safest, and
the quickest conductor. There was no man more
disposed than he was to sympathize in the sufferings
of the country gentlemen, whatever might havtonieen
the original errors of that part of them to whom. be
had alluded ; but when he considered that that di'.
tress might be the means of accelerating and pro-
curing Reform—when he thought upon that question,
which embraced every other, and comprised all that
was valuable to the country'—when he reflected on
the hope of carrying that great measure, which he
looked upon to be a sovereign good- in politics, as
much as health was in physics, and integrity in
morals, he felt some consolation in believing that
those sufferings would lead to some redress of the
People's wrongs. He had attended on all occasions
to the arguments that had been urged by the enemies
of Reform. He had found them to be very much
condensed ; he had found them to consist of a very
few axioms, supported by a very few arguments.
The enemies of Reform stated that virtual, not real

by the sacrifice.of a certain portion of their capital,
to relieve
.the country from the burden of debt by
which it was, oppressed. He, however, would never
consent to such .a sacrifice—he would never consent
that the People should come forwird to pay a debt
which they had never incurred—except.on one con-
dition, namely, that they should be secured from a
recurrence of an evil similar to that which now
ground and pressed them to the dust; and how could
they possibly be secured from it, except hy a full,
free, and fair representation of the People in Parlia-'
'meat? The Hon. Gentleman concluded by ob.'
serving, that he had voted for. every plan proposed
for Reform in Parliament. He had voted for every:
thing that gave the People the least chance of being
better represented than they were at present; fo♦ of
this he was certain, that as far as the majority of are
House was coacerned, it was quite impossible that
they could be represented more inefficiently.
Sir Roamer WILSON, after a few observations,
then proposed
" The health of J. G. Lambton, Esq. the zealous friend of
Reform," which was received With loud applause.

Mr LAMBTON owned that he seized with pleasure
the opportunity of meeting the Electors. of South:l
wark, not only because few such occasions occurred,
to him, but because he owed it to his gallant ,friend;
for he thought that those who approved of the'line
of conduct he adopted in Parliament, ought to avow
that sentiment whenever it was in their power. Find
his gallant friend swerved from the principles which
first brought him into notice, or had he suffered any
political feeling to prevent that cordial so-operation
in Parliament which could alone render the efforts of

representation, was necessary, and that the House of
Commons must be filled by men who either repre-
sented themselves or their gold: in short, that it
ought to be a self-electing, seat-purchasingt stipen-
diary representation—(Applause).—And they main-
tained these axioms by saying that a majority of,
Members of this description was necessary for con-
ducting the ordinary measures of Government.--1
They argued that if there were no rotten boroughs,
men of talent, whose eloquence had adorned that
House, would have been excluded from within its
walls ; and they also argued, that an election by the
suffrages of the People would be too democratic for
our regal establishment. He thought the answer of
the Reformers might be as much condensed as the
assertions of their opponents, because they were
foanded, not on supposition or hypothesis, but en
reason and on truth—(Cheers).--The Reformers said,
that the body politic, like individuals, always sought
its own good ; that self-interest was constantly its
aim ; and that it was not in the nature of things • to
imagine that the People, having the opportunity of
electing their own Representatives,would select those
who were unwot thy of the situation—(Cheers).—
Beyond this, the Reformers argued that a frequent
return of the period of election would enable the
People to change those Representatives who had either
acted against their wishes or neglected their duty—
( Applause ).—With regard to the charge that, if Par-
liament were reformed men of talent would be ex-
cluded, ;heir answer was no less simple,, and indeed
he thought it incontrovertible. They might appeal
to all histOry, to the annals of every other country as
well as their own, and challenge any proof to be ad-
duced that the People, when they had the power of
electing great officers, whether Consuls or Prefects,
Mayors or Sheriffs, had, at any period, chosen those
whom they did not think properly qualified? (Hear).
—lt was the observation of one of the severest critics
of ancient times—of one who had deeply studied
human nature—that the People,when the opportunity
was given them, never made a vicious choice.—
" What Roman," asks he, " is there so base, as to
prefer a Nero to a Seneca ?" He would ask a similar
question on behalf of the People of England. He
must, however, say, that if men had no other quali-
fication than talents, they ought not to be admitted
to the House of Commons. It was infinitely more
essential that they should possess integrity, in order
that they might faithfully fulfil the engagements they
had entered into as, Representatives—( Applause ).
With regard to the assertion that a Houie of Com-
mons, emanating from a full, fair, and free election
of the People, would be too democratic to support
our regal establishment, he wholly denied it. Was it
not too much to tell the People they should be go-
verned by a system of which they did not approve?
—But the Reformers would go further, they would
appeal to the eyes of their calumniators to prove that
the people of this country were loyally and royally
disposed. They might say that the King of England
need only be a Republican in his acts, to ensure, on the
part of the People, the most perfect devotion—(Hear).
The gallant Officer proceeded to give an animated
picture of the happiness enjoyed by America, under
her Republican form of Government. They had
never heard of any Minister of that Governtnent
' coming down to Congress, as the English Ministers
had to the House of Commons, and declaring that
corrupt influence was necessary for the purposes of
Government (applause), and that a standing army-
was required for the safety of the country in time of
peace—(Applause). The gallant Officer concluded
t by pledging himself never to depart from those prin-
ciples which he had heretcfcire supported in Parliaments
After a short pause, Sir It. WiLsort proposed the
health of his colleague, Mr. Calvert.
Sir R. WiLsox then introduced, by a short speech,
the healths of " Sir T. Burdett' and J. C. Ilobhouse,
Esq. the undaunted, faithful, and 'distinguished ad-
vocates of the rights and liberties of their country,"
which was received with cheers.
Mr. Howtousz said, he was not vain enough to
attribute the kindness with which the Meeting had
received the last toast to anything else but the asso-
ciation of his name with that of his distinguish 4 col-1
league. 1-le was quite confident that- it was to the
recollection of the long time that his Hon. Colleague
had been a faithful servant of the Public, that he
must attribute the manner in which the toast had
been received. Were it otherwise, lie saw around
him a greater number of individuals who were much
longer known as public men than he was, whose vir-
tues he was humbly, but zealously, andlg hoped sin-
cerely, endeavouring to imitate, who oTght on this
occasion to have taken precedence of him. Amongst.
those who attended the Meeting, and who must be
reckoned amongst the true friends or Englaild, were

the friends of the people successful, he (Mr. Limbtoti)
would not have been there that day (Applause).—lt
had long been the plan of their enemies to sow dii-
sensions amongst them. They found their strength
lay in creating divisions; and they had themselves
confessed, that if the friends of the people were united
their system must inevitably fall to the ground.' •He
was glad, therefore, to see that " unanimity" was be-
coming the motto of the friends of Reform, and that
they were directing their efforts to one great and pa-
ramount object—the destruction of that system which I
threatened to overwhelm their most venerable in-
stitutions, their best rights, and their dearest inte-
rests, in one common and irretrievable ruin. He (Mr.
Lambton) did not mean to describe that system.
.He was sure it must be evident, from their own ob-
servation, that a worse system •never existed in any
country in the world. They found .a system of GO-
vernment which was contrary to the feelings and in-
terests, and consequently to the will of the People—a
'Government whose chief engine war corruption; they
saw a Representation, which was the heart and core
Of that corruption—(Cheers)—a House of Commons,
which was the chosen temple where, sessionally, like
the Indian Priests, the votaries of .corrupt practices
assembled to celebrate their unhallowed sacrifices,
amidst the tears and cries of their wretched victims—
(Cheers).—Ss to the People, what state were they in ?
In one part of the empire they were suffering all the
horrors of famine, and endeavouring to preserve ex-
istence by the application of private charity-r—an exist-
ence not prized by their. Governors, and
.hateful to
themselves, in ctnsequence of the horrors by which it
was surrounded—(Cheers).—ln another pail of the
empire the feelings of the People were raised to such
.a pitch of desperation, that they-attempted to destroy
that superabundance of provisions which PROVIDENCE
had sent' as the greatest blessing, but whiCh it- was
fashionable to describe as the greatest curse (Applause).
In other.places they were leaving their farms, giving
a melancholy picture 'of that Highland emigration
'which had been so often and so feelingly described.
They were leaving their farms to the Tax-gatherer,
that new landlord—that substitute for the feudal Ba-
ton of ancient days, but far exceeding him in cruelty,
oppression, and rapacity—(Cheering).—Ought such a
state of things, he asked, to be endured ? Was it not
the duty of every man to exert himself to the utmost
to remove these stupendous evils ? But there was a
fatal bar in the way—he meant the want of an effi-
cient House of Commons. After what had already
been said on that subject, he would do no More than
merely state the fact, that except on questions with
respect to which Ministers were themselves divided,
such, for instance, as the Catholic question, there
was not a semblance of difference between the majo-
rity of the House of Commons and the Government.
He was not to be told that they had voted for the re-
duction of one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and of
one of the joint Postmasters-General, as proofs of
their independence... The fact was, that such con-
duct was looked upon as a species of . absolution,
which quieted their consciences, and enabled them
to riot in fresh sins and vices—(Laughter).—And
he appealed to the Gentlemen present whether,. when
any trifling measure, was carried against Ministers,
and was followed by a motion 'on some. question
connected with the rights, privileges, and hippi-
ness of the People, the latter was not uniformly
negatived by an immense Majority ?—(Applaiise.)—
As those majorities were as much under the contrcul
of Ministers as a pack,of hounds was -uncier..the
cipline of the huntsman, it was in. vain to expect any
thing from that quarter. Therefore, to Reform albne
could they look tor effectuarrelief and security from
the recurrence of so gross a systeM of Misgovern-
meat. Could anything be more impudently disgust-
ing than the conduct of the. House of Commons, or
rather of Ministers, for they were identified in feeling,
and diSided the plunder of the peciple bet Ween them,
in the treatment his gallant friend had received after
his incontrovertible siatezent ? Criuld anything be
more clear than their ignorance of the state of the
country,when, a few weeks ago, they proposed a plan
which, had it been corried into effect;. would have
rendered 'it necessary that an application should be
made to the Herald's Office fOr the ptirpose of quar-
tering the pawnbrokers balls with the Royal arms—
(A laugh).---Their decision that the state of our repre-
sentation was so perfect that it requiredAieracion.
—their protection of the Switzerland jp6—thei:i re
enactment of the Alien Bill—proved that the 'pres-ent
Hume of Commons was unfit fur the country. It was

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*bier' brbfiglits theM together', it!,tiriaild be the ap- •
Plause of the body he was addressing. He held it •
to be the dirty of every indivhltial,' hoWever humble;
to come forward, and by anion and co-operation give
strength to a eau* so vitally impartant•to the ince. •
rests of the country. Te•prove the valbe of public
opinion, he needed Only to refer to a recent fact,
which could never be forgotten by them. It the!'
person of their gallant' Representative, they beheld
the devoted victim of Ministerial vengeance ; but, •
at the same time, they witnessed nn•exaMpli of the -
powerful effects'of public opinion, at least with Out
the walls of Parliament; far they saw the most en-
venomed shafts of persectition 'drop powerless when •
directed against the will of the People.
The CHAIRMAN then propoied the healths of
" Aldermen Wood, Waldman, and Thorp, and the Re-
formers of the City of London."
Mr. Alderman WOOD, in returning thanks, ex-
pressed the satisfaction he felt at hearing his name_
coupled with those of • his two worthy friends and
the Reformers of London, many of whom he saw.
present. They knew him (Alderman Wood) to be
no orator; he would not, therefore, attempt to dwell
on subjects which they had already heard so ably;
discuited that evening ; but he could assure them,
that no man was more ready to sacrifice hii time, and'
if necessary, his life, in their service. The worthy.
Alderman, after eulogizing the conduct of the gal-,
lant Chairman, said it would be necessary to calf on
the Liiery of London to. rouse themieTies *a. little •
more; and he-hoped that what had passed in the pre.;
sent Session would induce them to send somebody
into Parliament, upon the next occasion, who would
really represent them ; for he tould not help saying,
that the City of 'London was not adequately repre-
sented at present—(Cheers). . • •
Mr. AldermanWarrnxias next rose, and addressed
theAssetnisly„in along and able speecb. After glancing
at his past life, he said it was now too late to calcu-
late on the Livery of honclen doing anything with;
respect to.himself—(Cries of " No, no!").-He was'
now too much advanced in life to be led away by any
feelings of personal ambition or vanity ; but he would,
be always ready whey called upon to contribute his
humble talents to the public cause. If he had ever
rendered his country any service, it' was when, at the
breaking out of the late disastrous war, became for-'
ward in the Common Council to raise his voice
against the pernicious systeM of-Ministers, in which,
unfortunately for the country, they had since perst-•
verea, and, standing up almost alone, he kept the'
spark of liberty alive. If, when he was dead, the re- •
collection of any act of his should survive him, it would
be his having—when he found the Common Council
a'sink of corruption, like another.Aissembir which be
should not name, composed of Churchwardens and
jobbing Aldermen completely under the thumb of the
Minister, for whom they were-ready to do any dirty
work—been fortunate enough to throw open its doors
and let the Citizens see what was going forward within.
The worthy Alderman then alluded to the conduct
of the Livery, in sending men into Parliament who:
trampled on their petitions, and rejecting those who.
lad suppotted them. He next urged ,some argu-.
'meats in faiour of Reform, and invited tie Electors
to sacrifice all minor interests,. find co-operate. corn
dially with each ether. ; in endeavoraing to obtain this -
desirable object. -TM himself, it mastered little wheie •
he was again plaZeck -ther:eor in The libuSe of Coins- •
mons; but it tvasi of the last importance to thew 1, •
whom they se!ected to,represent them. "Men perish,:
but 'measures never." When one man .40, the
wouid.be sure always to find another of independeiree*
and talent to fill his place. When men of talent em -r •
played their abilities for their country's good, those
talents were a blessing;-but when they directed theta
against it, he would say of them, as had been said of;
Cwsar, " Curse on. their talents, they have undone
their country"—(Much cheering).
The CHAIRMAN next•gaire the health of
" H. G. Reiinet, Esq. and the Reformers of Ahrevisbury.r •
Mr. BENNET returned thanks, for the honour done
him by a body
•Of men whose good opinion he could
not be indifferent to, when they had evinced their
inclination to reward merit by electinglisHon.Friend!
He considered that success, the commemoration of
which they were then celebrating,, not their success
alone, but that of. the friends of the general cause;
for he looked upqn that as a practical reform in the
Borough of Southwark. The -Hon. Geinleman then
proceeded to' animadvert, at some length, on the
grievances of the People and the necessity of Reform.
The next toast proposed was— .
" Joseph Hume ,Esq. the active and Persevering friend of
economy; and the Reformers of Scotland.
Mr. Hintz, in returning thanks, observed, that with
the resources which this country possessed, it ought
to be thebappiest on the face of the earth; and, there..
fore, it was the more lamentable to see her Fiserablf
and oppressed by a system of Misrule, the tendency
of which went to destroy her energies. -The Hod.
Member proceeded to point out various acts of extra-
vagance on the part of the Government, which, he
said, never would have heensanctieeed by tke House
9f Commons, had.they listened., to the ygiCe Of the
People ; after several Other oblervationt•
con-
cluded by assuring the Electors of Southviark, that
he should be always ready to afford them any services
in his power, independently of the general cause, in
which they all acted as brothers.
" The health of C. H. Hutchinion; Eq." was the next toast.
Mr. Hurciirasow, in retuinhig-thanks, • took .a
review of Sir Robert Wilson'slife. 4f they looked at
the conduct of,his gallant friend for imp years, during
which he bad been their Representative, ihey,woulA
find,him Worthy Of •their thanks, ann their support—
( Applatts4).2-He had ktiow,dhlaT lOtiket,' their '
him in Ireland; sofghenthevi.e.ry:ir.ofihyisiinmHif
mkt, •ire:ichs.eciinnge26o4.'
his
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retVgaiskler.-,
a y
It an
,nd frit Vek
iii•terte-diUSIP • •

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battle.
wounded

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• a Abet •' vadrakislood for the 44Boliters, Wail/sic:4(l.o4y •
thtifoOttembeii reirDdAam, efriewiberr. on - • , no& fin; thepeo 1.7(fit,474
... • „„. i .:.. 1 .
del"' :711` thria4eilibtr the* its" "rig' ike: Sir iliseir Vlrli,sox. then PhiOnlea -the lii.kit °r
cadetrili htd: sitivhit.eocoplimoots to tholkleut‘ne• '
~ s. c. Whltbreid. Req. ad the 10,114of.elet..y.'hi the .
regretUnt 14 ißgbility from severe illile.ssitp attend. tonnty of Nflatioierover ti 044006.)! • A.. • . ' . f" ,
He then procteded to expatiate On the r.-ecesty of Mr.WiwriSittAtrcOtild only
Reform without which, he 'observed,li'vhs imPos- • with which thR teilitt.Wm. ieeeived to the (Mktg, en.
Bible f4rthe ebontry to be relieved from the pressme : tA-tained tbiiardsUMlts.:Member fur Middlesex, and
ettribliti day applause
of distress. He called the•attantion ofthe Meeting to; not to an iSNOttei Metit of hi,; If :anything amid . • .
the opinion of Mr. Ricardo, te.ho•whhed the People, g
ive a tear' imptilse to hit exertions-10'6m came'
a ll
by the sacrifice.of a eertein nnrtinn thpir e nital_ a_ t.. -

then feeble voice in the cause of his part 1t
oppresio4 and'sufferiagl'ountsf Refl.-7,64pp
kie was inc44R4* At tile treatment Irishmin
and the best andsnrest men, in Ireland' elt
prei6eif dieliqraßintle'to his gillinffeiini
generetti%siiitpattsrishkh be had alfiwn bi-
ofinjusetikelabd-a(iotakippiause).....iiii
him fom that tojhe (field of Inutle, deep
pozsible, more activity in comforting the

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