Star.
London, England, 1830-08-17 00:00:00

ADDRESS TO TIIE FRENCH NATIO.V.

Yesterday about one hundred and forty admirers of the lee glo-
rious struggle for freedom in France, dined at the London Tavern,
for the purpose of voting an Address of congratulation to the French,
and entering into a subscription for the relief of the sufferers.
The dinner was arranged by Mr. Cobbett, and it was expected
the attendance would hate been much more numerous.
The company in general wore tri.colonred ribbons, and the French
tricoloured flag was distended from the balcony, immediately over
the chair prepared for Mr. Cobbett.
Soon after five o'clock Gale Jones entered the room, wearing a
huge bunch of the aforesaid colours upon his breast.
Cobbett, with Sir T. Beaver, Bart. and a numerous party of
friends, came in when dinner was upon the tables. He was re-
ceived with great respect by the company.
After an excellent dinner Mr. CORBETT mounted the table and
commenced business. He observed that this was the happiest
day of his life. He was then approaching his 64th year, and
never had he been so happy excepting the days of his earliest
youth, which sometimes fell upon memory sweeter than dew
upon the cowslip. The present time renovated and almost
induced him to think he was young. Many present could re-1
member the proceedings of 1814, when the French flag, which
then waved over them, was taken from the French nation.—
Eleven millions and a half of men, according to the muster-roll laid
before the House of Commons by Lord Castlereagh, were employed
to pull it down. He should never forget the triumphant shouts
raised at the fall of the flag. It was up again, and who were they
to thank for its restoration ? The French were entitled to the praise
of all the world for their exertions and their love of liberty. (Loudl
applause.) He had the honour on this occasion to propose an ad-
dress to the people of Paris. It was important at these times that
they should send forth nothing but truth ; and he was convinced
they would consider the address he should propose true from begin-
r.ing to end. Ile should first read it, and then offer such observa-
tions as might he necessary to establish the facts. It was intended
to dispense with the forms of moving and seconding, which he con-
sidered mere stuff.
Mr:,Connxxx then read the address :

,‘ The Reformers of London assembled at the London Tavern, the
16th of August, 1830— t, Ominous is the time,' said Mr. Cobbett,
the day on which Reformers bled at .Manchester')—speaking the
voice of millions of Englishmen, present to you out congratulations
on the victory that your valour has obtained for yourselves, and our
best thanks for the good that must arise from your noble exemple.—
We, who, and whose fathers have been for fifty years striving in
vain to recover our right of choosing Representatives; we, who, dur.
ing that struggle. have sometimes seen the champions of our cause
crammed in'o jails and dungeons, and sometimes reduced to si-
lence by military force ; we, who have heard it declared in the
Howe of Commons itself, that the sale or barter of scats in
that House was as notorious as the sun at noon-day ; we, who
know that that House has, for thirty-seven years, had on its
table an offer to prove, that a majority of the Members are put in it
by the sole will of 154 Peers and rich men, the truth of which state.
ment has never been questioned ; we, who have a press held in heavy
bonds, beset with perilous traps, and so loaded with taxes that the
Government receives four-pence and the quarter of another penny,
out of every sixpence, for which a newspaper is sold by the proprie-
tor. We who behold the industrious and laborious classes, of whom
we form a part, brought down to ruin, and in great numbers reduced
to the lowest stage of human degradation, clad in miserable rags,
deprived of a sufficiency of food fur man, and in many cases actually
starved to death, while those who receive the fruits of our labour wal-
low in wealth and splendour. We, who well know, that this shame.
ful and hateful state of things arises entirely from our not being
permitted freely to choose our representatives. We, who thus
suffer, and thus know the cause of our suffering. We, who have so
long been bereft even of hope, now feel, in contemplating your glo-
rious achievement, that hope once more revive in our bosoms, and
bid us look forward to happier days. When we saw the tri.coloured
flag torn from you • by combined Europe, with a million of men in
arms, we mourned from the bottom of our hearts. In that flag we
saw the symbol of the valour and patriotism of freemen ; the prin-
ciple of the sovereignty of the people ; and, above all things, the as-
sertion of that most precious of all rights, the rights of the people
freely to choose those who make the laws ; and we had the sad fore-
boding, that, along with this glorious flag, under which freedom
had won her thousand battles, these sacred principles and rights
would be trampled under foot.
" It is, then, with joy unbounded, that we again see this immor-
tal flag in the air. In it we behold the fall of tyranny decreed ; in
it we behold the humiliation of insolent and rapacious aristocracy ;
in it we behold a sure guarantee for the real freedom of the press
and for the right of representation ; in it we behold the pledge of
peace and friendship between the people of England and the people
of France; and, while this ensign of virtue and of justice waves
over our heads, to an expression of our admiration of the valour
and the wisdom of those who have again raised it aloft, we add our
fervent prayer that the survivors of the combat may enjoy through
life Gon's choicest blessings, and that every fairest and sweetest
flower may bloom on the graves of the slain."
Such was the substance of the Address he had to propose for
their adoption. All must be grateful to France, by the gloomy
boroughrnongers. Whilst they rejoiced at the victory in France,
they ought to advert to their own affairs. It was but natural to ex-
ult when the French destroyed an oppressive monarchy ; but they
should rejoice also on their own account. It was impossible the
French flag could continue aloft, and this country remain in its pre-
sent degraded state. (Loud applause.) They were denied the
right of choosing their own representatives. They had petitioned
during 36 years to be fairly represented, but their petitions had
been rejected. His hope was that, during the next Parliament,
they might have digested some mode of laying their thoughts be-
fore Parliament. The time would come when the Reformers
would not be sent to gaols and dungeons. (Loud applause.)
Nothing equalled the insolence of the proud Aristocracy when the
French flag was pulled down by the 11,100,000 men. They all re-
membered how the enemies of freedom exulted with the white cock.
cede, and also the orange boven, for that thing over the water, who,
he understood, had likewise endeavoured to injure the press. He
never felt so much as he did when they pulled down the French
imperial flag, and hoisted the white cockade. He thought at that
time there was no hope for the world. The case was now different.
There was a communion of liberal sentiments between French and
Englishmen. Hitherto that had been kept divided by govern.
ments and tax-eaters. (Considerable applause.) Mr. Cobbett then
stated that the Bourbons would never suffer his Register to go
through France. They permitted any other journal but the Register
to be received. He did not injure the French Government, yet they
said—Oh, Cobbett attacks his own Government, and this man
will tell them the truth in France. They all felt for the brave
men who had fallen, but he could not avoid pointing out to
them that the working men of Paris had rendered the most es.
sential service. The young men of the Polytechnique schools
ought also to be pledged by every nation in Europe. The French
Government had endeavoured to deprive the people of a free Parlia-
ment, and he might ask whether they had a fair representation in
England ?—(A cry of No! no !) Why did he pay fourpence
farthing out of sixpence received for his Register t Why, be.
cause they had not the free choice of their representatives.
Why should Mr. Henke' mother and sister be kept like ladies by
the people ? Why did they not go to the parish ?
tifirrsons in had poor relations, they were obli to go to
the middle classes
the parish for relief ; but the aristocracy quartered eir poor re-
lations on the public. What reason was there for keeping the
mother and sister of Mr. Herries at the expense of the public ?
(Applause.) What man present at that meeting would suffer his
mother or sister to be kept in the same manner ? He called them
splendid paupers.— (Applause.) Adverting again to the subject of
reform, he said it was probable the boroughtnongers would think no
more of money as an inducement to do away their rotten boroughs,
but give them up unconditionally. Very few were disposed to
give them the fee simple of their boroughs, as it was called, and if
next year they did not propose to give up those sources of cor-
ruption, next winter the people would call for something more than
a surrender. (Applause.) On the subject of taxation, he was not
for violent measures, bast he thought many were disposed to say,
let us take the church property and support the starving population.
It was public property, and if it were given up, there might not be
any convulsion. But his opinion was, that if some such measure
was not resorted to, no politician could suppose things could go on
in the same course for the next six years.
The opinion of the meeting was then taken upon the address,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. COBBETT then moved, that the address be signed by the
Chairman (himself), which was agreed to by a show of hands.
He then moved that Sir Thomas Beaver, But. be requested by
this meeting to present the address to the people of Paris as early
as he may think proper, and that he be further requested to set 4'
for Paris without delay. (Loud applause.) Be believed they would
have the consent of the worthy Baronet. They would have no
boroughmonger, but an independent country gentleman, who was an
honour to his country.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Sir T. Beaysn laid the events which had taken place in Paris
was a subject of just exultation to every Englishman and radical
reformer. Having eulogised the conduct of the Parisians, be re-
commended a subscription for the ettliwers, and concluded by say-
ing he was ready to obey the call of the meeting. (Loud applaaes.)
It was gratifyhig to hint to be selected by the meeting for the bo-
nousable Ake, and bo time should be lost in the discharge of ft,
To-morrow morning (thisda) be should set out. (Loud cheering.)
COBBETT then announced that Sir T. Beaver had subscribed SOI

for the relief of the sufferers. He also moved that Sir T. Beaver be
Treasurer of subscriptions, and that the same be paid to Messrs.
Barclay. his banker.
Carried unanimously.
Sir T. BEAVER then suggested that books be kept at Mr. Cob.
beta's, and Mr. Ackertnan's in the Strand, for entering subscriptions,
and that receipts he given to subscribers.
The arrangement was accordingly agreed to.
The business being concluded, Mr. COBIETT proposed a toast—
" The French Nation."—Drank with three times three.
The next toast was, " The King of the French ;" which was also
drank with three times three.
Several ladies in the balcony displayed their handkerchiefs, and
joined in the toast.

Mr. CoaBETT next gave, "The memory of the brave people of
Paris who fell in resisting ie attempt to deprive their country of the
right of choosing representatives ; and health and happiness to the
survivors of the glorious combat."—The toast was drank with every
demonstration of feeling.
Mr. CORBETT, betore proposing the next toast, said he felt
it was right to mention that Mr. O'Connell had been written
to to attend the present Meeting, and he had sent a reply,
which proved that he was a sincere reformer, and well deserved
the hate of the Boroughinongers, which it was very evident
he fully possessed. They had lately made six Catholic Law-
yers King's Counsel in Ireland. Mr. O'Connell was not one of the
number ; but the whole six were not only his juniors in standing,
but as inferior to him in ability as a sparrow to an eagle. The bo-
roughmongers, however, hated him, because he had compelled them
to grant Catholic emancipation, and they hated him still more be.
cause he was incorruptible.—(Loud cheers.) Mr. O'Connell now
bore the hand of the Borouglimongers on his forehead.—this is an
incorruptible ratan.—(lmmense cheering.) Mr. Cobbett, when the
applause had subsided, proposed the toast, " General La Fayette
and the National Guard of France, and the speedy arrival of some
of those Champions of Liberty in London."
The toast was drunk with enthusiastic applause.
Mr. CORCETT, in proposing the next toast, said he had, in the
course of his life, neglected many duties; but there was one duty
lie had never neglected—he had never neglected, by every means in
his power, to endeavour to better the condition of the working man.
(Loud cheers ) Lord Grey, about two years ago, said in Pallas
mutt, that he'd stick by his order; that order was now the aris-
tocracy : he (Mr. Cobbett) was of the order of the working classes,
or, as they arc called in England, the lower orders ; and to obtain
justice for that order had ever been his endeavour, in which he never
should relax. He then gave, "The unwashed artisans of Paris who
nobly resisted the tyrannical acts of their oppressors." (Drunk with
great applause.)
A gentleman after the toast was drunk, said he wished to mention,
that in France the working people arc never spoken of in the con.
temptuous terms used in this country. They are never called the
lower orders, nor the lower classes. The distinction there is the
poor classes. He wished to observe, that some discussion was now
going on, whether the Duke of Wellington had encouraged Polig.
nac •. he thought he had, and that the people were entitled to be
satisfied on that point.
Mr. CORBETT, after expressing his concurrence In those opi-
nions, said, the next toast was an expression of their feeling to-
wards those young men of France whose glorious deeds should ex-
cite the emulation of the young men of England. It was—" The
Students of the Polytechnic and other Schools pf Paris, who so
nobly joined-the working people."
The toast was drunk with the same expression of rapturous ap-
proval that had accompanied all the rest.
Mr. GALE Josms was loudly called on by the company, and,
after the call had continued tin. sonic time, addressed the meeting.
He said, that day, in which they had assembled to express their
feelings of admiration and delight at the glorious triumph of the
people of Paris, in resistance to the oppression of their tyrannic
rulers, was the anniversary of the massacre of the people of Eng.
land, men, women, and children, peaceably assembled to ex-
press their opinions and feelings under their sufferings at Man-
chester. (Cheers.) The petitions of the people for redress were
sent up to the House of Commons in waggon loads ; they
were entirely disregarded, and were actually thrown into the
Thames.—From that moment he came to the conclusion that it
was utterly useless to petition the House of Commons as at present
constituted, and that the people must take the great question of
Reform into their own hands. Every day's experience had con-
vinced him of the justness of that opinion. He was accused of being
revolutionary ; but was not " The Glorious Revolution" the stand-
ing toast—the applauded sentiment of all the Aristocrats? Now,
indeed, they would cry " Stand still ;" but nature and freedom cries
"Go on," and their voice would be obeyed.—(Great applause.)
The CHAIRMAN next gave—" May the sufferings which Eng.
land has long endured, and which she still endures from the 80.
roughmonering villainy, be a warning to France.' The toast was
drunk with the usual applause.
The next toast was—" May the soil of England never be dis.
graced by being made a place of retreat for tyrant Rings or Minis-
ters, who have been expelled from their native land."—This toast
was drunk with applause, which could only be exceeded by that be-
stowed on the next and last given from the Chair.
" The soldiers of France who refused to shed the blood of the
People"—which was drank with indescribable applause.
Mr. CORBETT then proposed a vote of thanks to Sir Thos. Bea.
vor, for his offer to take their Address to Paris.
The vote was carried by acclamation.
Sir T. BEassoa returned thanks, and said the subscription of the
evening amounted to 981.
Sir T. BEAVOR then proposed the health of their excellent Chair.
man—which was drunk with loud and long continued applause.
Mr. CORBETT returned thanks--after which the Meeting se-
parated before ten o'clock.