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London, England, 1822-04-12 00:00:00

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did in one respet to atn a higher opinion
of the great tribunal Man it entertained of itself; for,
notwithstakding its a fignAthe Bill in question
upon NT OA by's a ority of votes, it did some-
how distrust its judgment too much to pass it—(Loud
and continued cheers).—He should add but one word,
and that was of himself : if he had not taken a very
distinct or active part in public affairs, he trusted be
had done nothing to forfeit their confidence or esteem
—(Loud applause).—The instant that he should be-
hold none other more able than himself to serve the
common cause, he would step forward and exert
himself to the utmost—(Loud applause).—With this
assurance, he begged leave to conclude with proposing
" The health of the Independent Freeholders, by whose exer-
tions the County of Middlesex had been emancipated from Mi-
nisterial influence."
The next toast was—" The People, the only true source of
legitimate power."
Song—" Flow, thou regal purple stream."
The CHAIRMAN then proposed to the Meeting—.
" The health of those hnst friends of the People, Sir Frauds
Burdett, and John Cam Hobhouse, Esq."—( Great endeassel.
Mr. Ho:mouse rose amid acclamations. Of all the
Gentlemen who had been honoured by the notice of
the Meeting, none had thanked the Meeting more
sincerely, though some might have expressed their
thanks more eloquently, than he did. It was an ho-
nour, he thought, not easily to be forgotten, that the
Meeting had coupled his name with the name Of Sir
Francis Burdett—a man who yielded to none in the
present " tide of times," for devotion to a grateful,
though perhaps to a sinking country—(Cheers).—He
begged, in the name of Sir Francis Burdett, to re-
turn thanks to the company : the Baronet certainly
would have been with them in person, but that he
was visiting his family during the recess of Parlia-
ment. Sir Francis Burdett had been long known to
the country ; he was known already by every act
which could dignify a public man ; be would be still
further known, if he continued to live, by the ser-
vices which he was to perform hereafter—(Applause).
During the short time that he (Mr. Hubhouse) had
been connected with public affairs, he trusted that he
had redeemed the pledge given at the commencement
of his career. He hoped that he had never forgotten
what was due to his constituents, to his country, or to
himself. Ile felt that he was placed in rather an un-
fortunate situation, addressing the Meeting after the
two Gentlemen who had last spoken—Gentlemen, one
of whom had represented the count) of Mi(' hese: long,
and who had never deserted their posts a the hour
of need ; whose lives and conduct displayed that cha-
racter which it should ever be the boast of an Eng-
lish Gentleman to maintain. He (Mr. llobhouse)
was happy to see so many persons of consequence
aad respectability before him. He rejoiced to see it,
b?cause it was a most important point at the present
moment that the Gentry of England, should in the
most marked manner, identify themselves with the
People—(Loud cheers).—And glad he was to see that
the cause of Reform was gaining supporters. Those
who had refused to learn from the experienceof others
who had gone before them, did now begin to learn a
little from experience of their own; and although
tardy comers, they must be admitted as coadjutors
in the great work. It was something, at least, for
the Reformers to have gained supporters from the
ranks of their foes; it was some matter for congratu-
lation, that there now remained no man so bold as
to say for the Constitution, " the system works well."
Indeed, as an Honourable Colleague of his had ex-
pressed himself, the system could not work well but
for those who worked ill. No man could live tinder
it, but the man who fattened upon the distresses
of his country—who rose upon the pain and upon
the ruin of his fellow-creatures—(Great applause).
Whatever, however, were the flowers of the baneful
tree, its root was to be found in Parliamentary cor-
ruption. The Hon. Member proceeded to bear testi-
mony to the important services of Mr. Hume in the
House of Commons. The fate of that Gentleman's
motions had sufficiently shewn that the cause of the
Public could not be fairly tried before the tribunal of
Parliament—(Cheers).—But the People of England
perfectly understood what the country wanted. The
People wanted a Government which would sympa-
thize with them—not abuse them ; a Government
which would give them the fair balance of King,
Lords, and Commons—not one which set up a shew,
a farce, a delusion, as to the Commons, Lords, and
King, supporting the rotten holders of a few rotten
posts and sheep-cotes—the possessors, not of ancient
power, but of ancient abuse, and treating them as the
true Lords and Governors of the nation—(Loud
cheers).—He declared that he had listened, both in
Parliament and out of it—he had heard taunts, so-
phisms, and miserable jokes, from those who knew
the corrupt character of the audience they were ad-
dressing; but he had never heard anything like an
argument against the principles of Reform. If Re-
form, then, was really necessary, in what manner
was it to be obtained ? He (Mr. Hobhouse) would
never recommend to the Meeting any course in op-
position even to that which was called law ; but he
did most earnestly recommend to them a perseverance
in all legal and constitutional endeavours. If they
themselves did not succeed, those who came after
them would reap the benefit of their endeavours—
(Cheers).—It was impossible that so much talent, so
much virtue, so much integrity, as the country pos-
sessed, could sink before an association of the meanest
adventurers that had ever conspired against the
rights of their fellow-subjects—(Great applause).—lf
such a consummation did arrive, he should indeed
say, with the ancient Roman, that virtue was but a
name ; but he did firmly believe, that if the advocates
of Reform would exert themselves, if they would only
for a short time sacrifice their individual interest and
happiness to the interests of their country, something
alright still be done for England. He begged pardon
for trespassing so long upon the attention of the
Meeting—(Applause)—but the subject was one upon
which he found it impossible to contain himself.—
It was a common argument with the opponents of
Reform, that the People, if they wanted Reform,
should begin by reforming themselves. He (Mr.
Hobhouse) certainly so tar agreed with that argument,
that he would recommend to every friend of liberty
to be, in his own private conduct, a practiser of vit..
tue. Let them imitate the example of those who had
gone before them in that which had been called a
rebellion, but which had really been a vindication of,
the rights and privileges of England—let them take
care that their own lives afforded no ground of
and they might defy the impotent malice
pponents—(Chars). The Hon. Gentleman

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es be seen that . 48 County MemMemberToted in favourof
Paam—atiberty r theabohu
concluded by qt a PAW' kin' Theo*
on of that tax, whilst only 12 Members of
Weis corshiplivit first ae)lee the Ode the are description voted against it ; but then the lat-
;. • And guardian vigour of the free bcesrsesd, ter were backed by a close phalanx, composed of 62
The crude attempts of violence are vein;
For firm widths, and while at heart untouch'd, placemen—(Applause).—When this state of things
New yet by force was freedom overcomer lighted, it was not to be wondered at that Ministers
--He apologized once more for having so long occa- should say that the Government could not pi on
pied the time of the Meeting. In him the cause of without the possession of interest in the House of
liberty should ever find an advocate. If he proved a 'Commons. The Salt Tax, it appeared, could not
weak one, the failure was not of his good intent, but go on without this influence; but the question was,
of his capacity—( Loud cheers). whether the country could not go on better without
Mr..-" Scots wha ha 'e wi' Wallace bled." the Salt Tax ?—(A laugh, and applause.)—All persons
The CHAIRMAN next gave—" The health of Mr. who wished to keep the long arm of the Chancellor
H. G. Bennet," which was drank with three times of the Exchequer out of their pockets, should endea-
three and great applause. your to procure a Reform in the Representation of
Mr. BENNET expressed his thanks for the honour the People. This fact should never be forgotten—
which had been conferred upon him. To receive the that with a reformed House of Commons, we might
approbation of the People was, he could mettle the have a cheap Government ; but, with the House of
company, in his opinion, the best reward an honest Commons as at present composed, only an expensive
man could desire. That was the only reward he Government could exist. He believed that, while the
wished to obtain for any exertions that he might be present system of influence continued, it would be im-
able to make in the cause of the People of England. possible to induce Members oftheHouse of Commons to
After the speeches which the Meeting had that day vote in accordance with the wishes of their constituents.
heard, he felt at a loss to know upon what topic to • If the country Gentlemen did upon any occasion vote
address them. -He found another difficulty in the for the reduction af one or two thousand pounds, they
circumstance of his opinions being in consonance with immediately afterwards appeared to repent of the step
their own on almost every point; for he was so ac- they had taken, and continued for the future to give
customed to meet opponents, that now he found he Ministers their steady support. He thanked the Mee:-
hid only friends around him, he hardly knew what ing for the attention and kindness with which they
to say. He begged leave to congratulate the Meet- had listened to him. He felt great satisfaction in
ing upon the speech which had been delivered by making acquaintance with them : this was the first
the junior Member for the County. The principles time he had met them, but he hoped it would not be
which had been advanced in that speech, and the ac- the last. He would be always ready and willing to
cents of the voice which had uttered it, reminded him serve them in any way consistent with his character
of an individual now no more, but who had left be- and honour, and he was sure they would ask him to do
hind him a great name, and who would never be for- nothing that would derogate horn either (Applause).
gotten as long as the People remembered aught that The health of" Joseph Ilume, Esq. and thanks for his cow-
was honest or honourable. (The Hon. Gentleman dons in the cause of Retrenchment," was next drank with three
was understood to make allusion to the late Mr. times three.
Whitbread). In the dearth of topics upon which to The health of the CHAIRMAN was then drank with
address the Meeting, arising from the circumstances
similar marks of approbation. The worthy Gentle-
ma.n returned thanks in a neat speech, after which he
which he had before stated, he might be excused for
retiredcompany. (at nine o clock), accompanied by a large pm,
adverting to some strange doctrines which he had
heard promulgated out of doors, and in another place. n
The most absurd and startling of these doctrines was, •
that the plenty which a bountiful PROVIDENCE had
provided was a curse, and that the abundance which
the People were instructed to pray for, night and
morning, ought not to be invoked as a blessing,
but should be deprecated as a great evil—(Applause).
If this proposition were true, the country, instead of
being thankful to PROVIDENCE for the mild and ge-
nial winter which they had passed, ought to have
prayed for rugged and stormy weather, in the hope
that is the present year famine might succeed to the
plenty of last year. He could view such an extra-,
ordinary and absurd doctrine in no other light than
as a pretence advanced by persons who were inte-
rested in supporting the destructive system of taxa-
tion which bore down the whole country (Applause).
He remembered, that upon the last day upon which
Parliament sat this Session, the Marquis of London-
derry said, in answer to some observations from him
(Mr. Bennet), that if all the existing taxes were re-
pealed, the People would still be no better off than
they now were—(Laughter).—The Noble Marquis
was so much accustomed to deal in sophisms, that
this was applauded by the House of Commons—yes,
in that Assembly there were persons found to cheer
such a declaration; but he would take upon himself
to say, that there was no other assemblage of human
beings in the whole world, except the House of Com-
mons, in which it would not have been hooted at.
The Noble Marquis and his disciples appeared to have
got one lesson by heart, which they had borrowed
from an old legitimate Sovereign of former times,
who, in giving instructions to his Ministers, said—
" You know what course I would hare you take; let
nobody have anything left"--(A laugh).—This was
precisely the line of conduct pursued by the Noble
Marquis; for the Meeting well knew, that when the
King got his taxes, the Church its tithes, and the
Poor their rates, nobody had anything left—(Ap-
plause).—The Honourable Member then censured the
House of Commons for the conduct which it had held
during the present Session. He stated, that they bad
reduced no expense—remedied no grievance—
scarcely listened to any petitions (some they had alto-
gether discarded)—attended to the prayer of none;
and all that they had done, was to vote all the main
estimates of the year, without, in some cases, reducing
a single shilling, and only in one instance making a
retrenchment to the extent of a few thousands, which
it was afterwards admitted had been asked for by
mistake. To conclude the whole, the Agricultural
Committee had produced a Report, which, from
its perplexed language, he defied any man clearly
to understand. By a close inspection of this docu-
ment, however, he thought he could perceive the
a cloven foot," ac a rise of the prices of agricultural
produce was contemplated; in other words, it was
desired to increase the price of the quartern loaf,
He pledged himself to resist any measure of this kind,
regardless whether by so doing he should please or
displease the agriculturists. lie himself belonged to
the landed interest ; he derived his whole income
from the land, but would deserve to be considered
the most wicked of human beings if, from any in-
terested motives, he should do anything that might
tend to prevent the people from obtaining cheap food
—(Applause).. The only way in which the agricul-
turists could be relieved was, by reducing the cost of
production; and that might be done by repealing the
taxes upon soap, .tallow, salt, leather, and light, in
the shape of window-tax, which were all necessaries
of life, and had the effect of increasing the price of
labour. The country, however, could expect a re-
duction of taxation only from a Reformed House of
Commons. Upon the question of Reform he differed
altogether from a Learned Judge who had lately, at
Carlow, thought fit to indulge in some very severe
reflections against any kind of reformation. He (Mr.
Bennet) was of opinion that it was impossible for this
country to exist as a free nation if the present system
continued, under which a few persons got possession
of the means of returning Members to the House oil
Commons. It was said, as a general proposition, gi By
the fruit shall you know the tree." Now n hat had
been the result of the present Session of Parliament?
The House of Commons had, at length, after repeated
struggles, got rid of two Lords of the Admiralty ; but
it had refused to consent to the repeal of the salt tax
If, however, the question of the repeal of the Salt Tax
had depended upon the votes of County Members,• it
would have been carried ; for, upon examining the
lists of those who voted upon the occasion, it would

•
• •
•

COURT OF ALDERMEN.

We have already stated that Mr. KNOWLYS, the
Common Serjeant, was on Wednesday elected Re-
corder for the City of London, by the Court of Alder-
men. The Court was numerous, there being only
three out of the 26 Aldermen absent. Sir WILLIAM
CURTIS proposed Mr. Knowlys, as Recorder ; which
was seconded by Sir RICHARD CARR GLYNN.,
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN proposed Sir James
Mackintosh ; and stated, that although Sir James
thought it would be degrading in him to canvass for
the office, yet he should feel his appointment to it as
a distinguished honour, and would readily and zeal-
ously devote himself to the performance of its im-
portant duties.
Sir JAMES SHAW allowed that no one could be
better qualified for such a situation than Sir James
Mackintosh ; but he thought the Common Serjeant
possessed great claims upon the Court, and he trusted
he would therefore receive their support.
Mr. Alderman BIRCH considered the Court had an
important duty to perform, and that it was due to
the Public, whose eyes were upon them, as well as
to those Gentlemen who might feel inclined to offer
themselves for the situation, that proper time and
opportunity should be afforded ; and he therefore
moved, that the Election of a Recorder be postponed
to a future day.

Mr. Aldernian WAITIMAN seconded the motion

Mr. Alderman C. SMITH thought the delay pro-
posed was wholly unnecessary, as he believed most
of the Members had made up their minds.
Mr. Alderman BRIDGES eulogized the conduct and
talents of the Common Serjeant, and was against
any adjournment.
Mr. Sheriff GARRATT thought that due time should
have been allowed for deliberation ; but, as the Court
had decided against it, he thought it would be esta-
blishing a bad precedent not now to proceed, and
might appear to reflect on the Common Serjeant.
Mr. Alderman Thonp said, that as so many Gen-
tlemen had promised their votes to Mr. Common Ser-
jeant, the result would most probably be the same;
the adjournment, therefore, would answer no purpose.
Mr. Alderman HEYGATE deprecated the haste with
which the Election had been hurried on, and thought
unanimity of sentiment upon the subject was de-
sirable, which would be best effected by an adjourn-
ment of the Election.

Sir W. CURTIS observed, that although Gentle-
men said they had no object in the postponement, he
paid little regard to such professions. lie thought
they had an object, and he should use his endeavours
to defeat that object.
Mr. Alderman BIRCH rose with some warmth to
repel the insinuation of the Hon. Baronet. He de-
clared he had no object in view but the honour of
that Court and the interest of the Public ; and he
must say, that in coming to a hasty decision, they
might have cause to rue the precedent they were esta-
blishing. He should persist in his motion though he
might stand alone.
Mr. Alderman WAITIIMAN thought all such insi-
nuations unworthy of notice. Every one must allow
that the worthy Alderman (Birch) had acted with the
greatest candour and sincerity.
Sir W. CURTIS.—I am very sorry. I did not mean
to cast any reflections.
Mr. Alderman littow)r regretted that the motion
for delay had not bee.; carried at the last• Court ; but
as he now learnt that many Gentlemen had promised
their votes, he felt great difficulty in supporting the
motion of Alderman Birch.

Mr. Alderman WOOD said, as it appeared Gentle-
men had engaged their rotes, and it was obvious that
it would not alter the decision, he recommended both
the worthy Aldermen (Birch and Waithmall) to with-
draw their motions.

Mr. Alderman VENADLES was of opinion, that more
time should have been taken, before coming to an ul-
timate decision upon so very important a subject.
Several of the AldeinNit expressing their wishes
that the motions should be withdrawn,
Mr. Alderman 13tacir said, though he would not
shrink from the proposition he had made, he felt no
inclination obstinately to persevere against the wishes
of the majority.
Mr. Alderman WAITIIMAN said the Court was
summoned for the purpose of advising together as to
a fit person to be elected Recorder ; but of what use

*as their advising together, if Gentlemen bad per.
viously made up their minds? This mode of ad-
vising together reminded him of the conduct of the
old man in the poem, who being about to marry a
young wife, called his friends together to advise with
them upon so important and dan s a speculaticio,
O But Bed before, and well 'd was he,
O As men who ask advice are wont to be V'
Under such circumstances he felt it hopeless to peps
sist in his proposition of Sir James Mackintosh.
The motions of Aldermen Biwa and Warangal
being thus withdrawn, it Was considered unnecessary
to proceed to a ballot, and NawMAW KNOWLII4 Est.
was accordingly elected, withbut opposition, topes
the chew of hands.

• complaint,
bi emir op