Star.
London, England, 1819-11-11 00:00:00

STAFFORD MEETI74;I7, IVOYEkIBER 8.

A Meeting was held here to-day, the professed ob-
ject of which was to consider the means of increasing
toe armed force of the County. An Advertisement
had been some days ago published with the signa-
tures of Lords STAFFORD and DARTMOUTH. in order
to collect this Meeting. All the connections of these
Noblemen, with all the other partizans of Ministers,
were of course present.
About half after twelve o'clock, the Marquis of
..41HARSZA proposed that the Marquis of STAFFORD
should be called to the Chair, and the proposition
was agreed to. But Mr. C. W. CHRTITnrNo, who is the
Chairman of the Quarter Sessions, recognized the
Reporter of a London Newspaper in the room, and
immediately announced this discovery to the Lords
and Gentlemen present. This announcement ap-
peared to throw the company into confusion—busi-
ness was suspended f the Marquis of STarsoan did
not immediately take the Chair, but his Lordship,
with Lord ANGLESEA, and Lord GRAXVILLE, and
Mr. CHETWYND, retired from the table to consult
what was best to be done, in order to guard against
the consequences of this very unexpected and appa-
rently alarming invasion! After holding a council
of some length, the Chairman took his position,
Ranked on the right by Lord GRANFILLF4 on the
left by the Marquis of ANOLUF.A, and surrounded
by all his forces. Mr. CHRTWYND repeated his no-
tice to the company, which appealing somewhat in
hostile array, the Reporter declared that he meant
nothing offensive, and that his only object was to
publish a faithful representation of what took place.
Upon this a voice exclaimed—,4 Ate you a Free-
holder of the County ?"
REPO/MLR—Nu ; but nothing is more common,
upon a Meeting of Freeholders, than to allow other
persons to attend as auditors—and, as a mere auditor,

appear in this assembly.
The Marquis of ANGLESEA—This is a Meeting to
whi:h none but Deputy-Lieutenants and Magistrates
of the County are admissible, as the Advertisement
implies.
REPORTER—I am aware of the meaning of the
Advertisement, but I am also aware that, at similar
Meetings, Reporters have been allowed to attend ;
and surely such an assemblage of high character and
consequence, as I have now the honour to address,
cannot feel unwilling, or be at all apprehensive about
the consequences of allowing what may be said or
done here to be made known to the world. -You,
my Lord, are, I am persuaded, incapable of any act
or any expression, upon a public question, that
should not meet the light. The people meet and
discuss openly and publicly every question of a pub. I
lie nature—will you, upon a public question, delibe-
rate with closed doors?
The Marquis of ANGLESEA.-What may have been
done by other Meetings is no rule for us. We are
to be governed by our own sense of discretion and
propriety.
RISPORT.ER-.-I am anxious to make known what
the Public must be anxious to learn with regard to
your proceedings at this important crisis. But I
shall conform to your will, when that will is an-
nounced to me by' the Chairman. I must observe,
that there are several persons in the room, as well
as me, who are neither Deputy-Lieutenants nor Ma-
gisvates ; therefore I am not singular.
The Marquis of ANOLESEA—They ought not to
be here.
General DTOTT—We had better, I think, adjourn
to another room, in Order to consider this subject, and
we may let the Gentleman know the result of our
consideration.
REPORT4R-.-I beg you not to subject yourselves
to such trouble. I will retire, and Mr. Chetwynd,
or any other Gentleman, may apprise me of your
decision.
The Reporter accordingly retired, and a discus•
sion of some length took place.
• Lord ANSON, who had entered the room some
time before the retirement of the Reporter, forcibly
deprecated the idea of privacy in any deliberation
upon a public question. According to his view,
every proceeding of this nature ought to be as public
as possible, for secret discussions upon public ques •
tions were not, in his view, congenial with the spirit
of the Constitution of England. This young Noble-
man, indeed, evinced a vigour of thought, a gene-
rosity of feeling, a felicity of expression which proves
him worthy of his name and family, and promises
to render him a valuable acquisition to the public
cause at this portentous juncture.
The Noble Lord was, however, but feebly sup-
ported in his liberal views, and the exclusion of the
Reporter was determined upon. That determination
was, however, very politely communicated, and, at
the same time, Mr. CAVESDISH, the son of Lord
WATERPARK, and Mr. ELD, the brother of a Magi-
strate of the County, were directed to withdraw.
The first proceeding connected with the business
of the Meeting was, the reading of a letter from Sir
CHARLES WOLSELEY, addressed to the Marquis of
STAFFORD and Lord DARTMOUTH, of which letter
the following is a copy :
MY Loans--I have had the honour to receive your Lord-
ships Requisition to attend a General Meeting of the Lieutenancy
and Magistracy of the County of Stafford, at the Shire Hall,
on Monday nom, in order to take into consideration the state of
the armed force of the County, and the expediency and best
means of Increasing the bailie.
" In reply thereto, I must, in the first instance, express my
surprise at the object which you profess to have in view. The
County is in a state of profound peace, while the People are suf-
' feting allthe privations consequent upon comparatively stagnant
trade, and extremely severe taxation. Yet we are scarcely dis-
turbed even by the complaints of the sufferers. For what pur-
pose then do you propose the augmentation of our military force,
which is already so enormous as to aggravate, by the exuenw
essure of its expense, the amount of tbe public burdens,
while the existence of such an establishment must gall the feel-
ings of Englishmeo,• from its incongeniality with the nature of
the English Constitution? If you propose to augment the Yea-
musty Corps, I should say that you have already quite enoul
fg el
h
of that body, regularly disciplined and organized, while e
confident that every man in the County is toll), disposed to co-
neerate with thorn for the only legitimate purpose of force,
namely, for the preservation of the peace, and the enforcement
of the laws. But, I ask, in the name of common sense, where
is the peace disturbed in Staffordshire? Where are the laws
violated, that we should contribute to create alarm? I can
easily conceive the motives which would prompt such a pro.
eseding. The Magistrates of Manchester have committed a
most outrageous violation of the laws, by employing a military
force to disperse a Meeting legally convened, and peaceably con-
ducted, for the purpose of exercising that right of petitiuo.ng,
which is the must sacred privilege of Englishmen, and murder
and felony have been the consequence. Yet the Ministers of the
Government have sanctioned and applauded that extraordinary
eondu at. The voice of all the rood men a England has &cid eillp
condemned both the Magintstes sad Pdinisterol as arrears from

the proceedings at York, Durham, Cambattaaa, Westmoreland, obserrNl, that, as a 11Tagistrate, he should be verT
Norfolk, &c. &c. unwilling to employ infantry in preference to cavalry
" Those Ministers and those Magistrates are therefore alarmed in the suppression of riot, the latter being mach bet-
-they are afraid of the censure and punishment which their 1
.
conduct deserves, and they are therefore endeavouring to create ter ca culated for the purpose. Nk ithout using any
a diversion in their favour by raising a groundless cry about dangerous weapon.
' treasonous designs,' or disaffected sentiments. Do you mean ! The Rev. Mr. HADow thought elat a corns of
to sanction their artifices, and to shelter them from punishment? Volunteer Infantry would be very useful at Wo:ver-
If you do, I will not he a perty to your purpose, for, according
hampton.
to my principle, which is the professed principle of the British •
Constitution, equal justice should be dealt out to all his Majesty's The Rev. Mr. CLARE bore testimony to the loyalty
subjects; and I cannot see why impunity should be granted to the of the people of Wolverhampton.
authors and abettors of murder, whatever rank they may hold Messrs. TwEmcow and RICKETS made some obser.
in society, whether Ministers, Magistrates, s
istrates, or Yeomen—or that , ations upon the state of the people in the Potteries.
the law which condemns alike the accessories before and after
the fact, as well as the principals, should be set at nought, be-
The proptsition for raising an Infantry Corps, was,
cause those accessories and principals happen to be men of after a long 'and desultory conversation, unanimdusly
wealth arcs rank. The idea must be peculiarly revolting to any rejected, and the following Resolutions were adopted:
man who has imbibed the spirit, and has been instructed in the
princip!es of the Constitution, which is the pride of my country, the country highly expedient that the utmost exertions sho. hi
That in the opinion of this Meeting it is in the ptesent ,ti-.7.e
because it is the protection of my countrymen. That protec-
ys of
non, indeed, it would effectually prove, if it were administered be sued to render effectual aid to the Civil Power, in case of the
disturbance of the peace.
in its purity. But, alas ! the most unworthy expedients are ens- •
played to pervert the Constitution from its purpose, and its That an augmentation a the Yeomanry Cavalry of the
Co
hallowed name is only used to palliate the abuses, and to shelter County be recommended to the Colonel of that Regiment, reed
powers of that the respectable householders end farmers in the sever.: crimes of those who arc appointed to exercise the.
Government. Such, I find to have been the object of the several towns and parishes be invited to enrol themselves therein, and
to offi:r their services to the Officers commanding troops in their
Meetings which have taken place throughout the Country,
respective neighbourhoods.
with views similar to those which you profess. If this be your
That the Gentlemen of property and influence in the
view, as I must be allowed to say I strongly suspect, I ant not be Ceerty.l-
disposed to co-operate with you, for I cannot approve of proles- likewise requested to use their. utmost exertions in forwa:
ing the object of the above Resolution.
,ions of loyalty, connected with the approbation of illegal acts ; That, insomuch es the original fund for raising the Yeome'ley
Loyalty being, in my judgment, tantamount to an observance of
the law, which has been grossly outraged by the Magistrates has been long since exhausted, in order to keep up ti e t stabli.'.-
and Yeomanry of Manchester, whose conduct is most unac- ment, and to effect the proposed augmentation of the Regiment,
countably applauded by the Ministers, with whom you are so a Subscription be entered into, and for that purpose books te
particularly connected. It has, lam aware, been declared by opened with the Bankers in the different towns, who are re-
name of those professed loyalists, whose example you appear
vestige- quested to receive and remit the money subscribed to Mese....
posed to Imitate, that they truly are anxious fur a fair investiga- Stevenson, Webb, Salt, and Webb, in Statierd, to be at the ellt-
posal of the colonel of the Regiment.
Lion of the extraordinary proceedings at Manchester. But how That it be earnestly recommended to the inhabitants of the
is such an investigation to be obtained? A Grand Jury rejects
bills of indictment, sustained by the strongest testimony. A different Towns in the Ch r
onnt7 to enrol temselves for the
Coroner's Inquest is suspended or evaded, after the disclosure pose of forming Armed Associations, for the preservation of the
public peace, and in aid of the Civil Power.
of a mass of extraordinary facts; and Magistrates refuse war-
That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to the Custor P.o-
rants, although the most satisfactory evidence is tendered.— tutterum and Vice-Lieutenant, for calling the same, and to the
Where, thee, are the sufferers, or their advocates, to look for re.
dress? .A great deal is no doubt expected from the Judges, and Marquis of Stafford, for his conduct its the Chair.
That the above Resol.itions be advertised in the Peblic Pe-
we shall soon see how far that expectation will be realized. But pets, and copies thereof printed and distributed throughout tie
even from a Parliamentary inquiry. for which many seem so County. ST AF FO RD, Chairman.
anxious, I cannot look for much, constituted as Parliamentary
Committees usually are, and are likely to be, if public opinion be A Subscription, pursuant to the above Resolutions,
not strongly excited, and exclusively directed to that subject. I was immediately entered into, and the collowias
will not, then, concur in any endeavour to divert that opinion sums subscribed :—.-
from such an important object, and, therefore, I cannot concur Stafford 42500 0 Richard Leectt sC3O 0
with what appears to he the purpose of your Meeting. Dartmouth
300 0 T. Levett 21 0
" It is said, no doubt, that the law of England is open to Anglesey 500 0 Edward Sneyd .21 0
every man who is aggrieved, and so, as Mr. Horne Tooke oh- Begot 200 0 Thumis Lister 21 0
served, 'is the London Tavern, to those who can afford to pay ; Dudley and Ward 500 0 I Edward Grove 21 0
but what is to become of those who have not the means of pay- Gower
200 0 1 ienr: Case 21 0
ment? They are excluded from redress—while any individual Granville stoo o Wi'iiam Greavct, M.D. 21 0
of competent means, who attempts to seek that redress for Waterpark 50 0 Joseph Lane 21 0
them, is insulted and abused, nay, is put in peril of his life. I Newport 50 0 M. Waihouse 21 0
myself recently endeavoured to procure warrants at Warring- Thn. Clifford 70 0 William Sneyd 21 0
ton, against some of the Manchester Yeomanry, charged uptei J. Watts RussellCl 0
the most satisfactory evidence, of cutting and maiming on the , Sheriff 'z,oo 0 Jansen James Caldwell
Charles Begot et) 0 Thomas H. Parker Cl 0
16th of August : and I was assaulted Ly the very instruments EJ. Littleton eOO 0 Thomas llawkes Cl 0
of the law to which I felt it my duty to appeal, in favour of my .
The. Leven 100 0 John Pidcock 21 0
-poor injured countrymen. Yet we are told by the agents and waiter Sneyd 100 0 I John Lan? 100 0
advocates of Government, that the case of the Manchester Suf- Edward Monckton 00 0 Thomas lioney'eorne 21 0
ferers will undergo a just inquiry before the legal Tribunals of Richard Begot 30 0 I George Chet wynd 21 0
the Country; but how is that inquiry to originate, while the N. Hiude 30 0 linger Gresley - 50 0
=fail &TIMMS to those Tribunals are closed; nay, while any P. Hussey 30 0 Walter 11. Ceyney 20 0
man, who attempts to approach those avenues, is repelled. with J. E. Heathcote leo 0 E. J. llickitts 20 0
insult and outrage? The idea is a mockery; and the language W. Dyott 21 10 John Leigh ki 0
employed upon the subject appears, and, I really believe, is Josiah Spode 50 0 r. Twemlowt 21 0
meant to be a mere imposture. I will not, then, aegaiesce in Joseh Scott 50 0 I Thomas Fiteherbert ao 0
any measure calculated to sanction such an imposture; and I '.'he Meeting broke up about four o'clock.
hope and trust, that all real Englishmen, some of whom may •
perhaps attend your proposed Meeting, will agree with me in
thinking, that instead of a ResolUtion to augment our military
force, you should adopt a Petition to the Regent, for the insti-
tution of a due inquiry into the causes and consequences of the
late atrocities at Manchester, as well as for the consideration of
the means by which the grievous distresses of the Country may
be relieved, and the Constitutional Right of the People restored.
Sure I am, that such would be the decision of a Mectisg of the
Freeholders of the County, duly convened and fairly consulted.
But I am sorry to perceive, that your Lordehips do not appear
disposed to refer to such a .t!ecting, upon a question so mate- I
daily concerning the delfts and feelings of the People.
" If your Lordships, and those with whom you may happen'
to meet, are, on Monday next, not influenced by the considera-
tions which I have stated, and which I beg you to communicate
to them, I cannot hope to snake any impression by personal
appeal ; and therefore I think it proper, with ail deference, to
abstain from your proposed .Meeting. But, whatever may be
the decision of others, I cannot, particularly at this portentotts
period, allow myself to become the ally or instrument of any
faction. When mess of rank and station, forgetful, as I con-
ceive, of the respect and regard which they owe to the vital
principles of the Constitution, and the best intereAs of their
Countrymen, seem willing to extend the already overgrown
power of the Government, I feel it to be my peculiar duty to
stand by the People, who must, ere long, obtain that Reform
in the House of Commons to which they are justly entitled, if
they will trust, as I firmly believe them disposed, to the force
of argument, which is the only force I :lan ever recommend
them to employ. But I will not contribute to deceive either
the Prince or the People, upon both of whom too much delu-
sion has been practised, through the scandalous artifices of his
Majesty's Ministers, and their hireling writers, who are daily
propagating statements which I know to befulse.
4' I have the honour to be, my Lords,
" Your Lordships' most obedient servant,
" C. WOLSELEY."
After this letter was read, the Marquis of STAT..
FORD observed, that as it appeared to him necessary,
in these feverish times, to augment the military force
of the County, with a view to the preservation of
the peace, he had felt it his duty, in conjunction
with Lord Dartmouth, to publish the advertisement,
that had convened this Meeting.
Lord DARTMOUTH stated the number of the Yeo-
manry Cavalry originally raised at 500, and that
there were at
.present wanting about 100 to complete
that number.
The Honourable Mr. MONCKTON followed the No-
ble Lord with a minute statement of the precise
nusiber of each of the Yeomanry Corps, with the
amount of the funds in hand for defraying the ex-
pense of their existence. The Honourable Gentle-
man, as Colenel of the Yeomanry Corps, requested
Gentlemen to urge their tenantry to join those Corps,
in order to complete their numbers, but by no means
to command that junction. .
Mr. CurrslyND then proposed several Resolutions,
which, after being seconded by Colonel SNEYD, were
submitted for consideration.
Lord ANSON argued against the statement, that I
the times were such as to call for any additional mi-
litary force. For himself; he must say, that he felt_
no alarm for the safety of the Constitution, or the
Fpreservation of the peace of the Counts y, unless
r:Those who were professedly the most ardent ad-
vocates for both.
The proposition for completing the Yeomanry
Corps up to their original amount, was carried, and,
it was further agreed, that these corps should be
further augmented, according to the discretion of Mr.
IMonckton, their Colonel, as he might be enabled to,
make such augmentation from the Funds subscribed.
A proposition was made to raise a Volunteer Corps
of Ini'antry. . . ~.
This proposition was opposed by Lord ANSON. s,
The Marquis of A NOLESKA thought that Volunteer
Infantry might be rendered effective in certain cases.
Mr. CHETWYND concurrea with Lord ANSON in
objecting to the establishment of Infantry Corps, and

The Grand Jury of Middlesex were impanneled
to•day. The first Bill presented to them was from
Mr. HUNT, against the Magistrates of Manchester,
but on the Jury referring to Justice BAYLEY to know
whether Manchester was within their jurisdictio'i,
his Lordship decided that•it was not, on which they
threw out the Bill.

Wednesday sennight, according to public notice,
:t fleeting of the County of Bute was held at RothesaN ,
when an Address to his Royal Highness the l'at:sca
REGENT was unanimously voted, declaring the Reso-
lution of the Meeting to defend the Throne and the
Constitution of the Kingdom, and ablorrence of the
unprincipled system on which they are now assailei,
the Marquis of ROTE, Lord Lieutenant, in the Chair.
On the same occasion, a great number of the nioq
respectable Merchants, Traders, and Farmers; were
enrolled and qualified as Special Constables.
At the desire of the LORD LIEUTENANT and several
respectable Gentlemel of the County of Roxburgh,
the CONVENER has appointed a Mecing of the County,
to be held on Monday, the 15th inst. for the purpose
of " taking into consideration the propriety of ad-
dressing the PRINCE ri.E.OEST. and expressing their
sentiments on the seditious attempts now ranking in
some distriits to 'disturb the peace of the Country,
and to convey to his Royal Highness their solemn
assurance of their loyalty to the King and Constitu-
tion, as established by law."
The receipts of Drury-Lane Theatre, on l'ilonday
evening, when KEAN made his first appearance for
the season, in Richard, exceeded 1360
• ThtuaY-LANE..—Rickard 111. was repeated yester-
day evening. KEAN'S genius, with its wonted
vi-
gour, bore him triumphantly through the leading
scenes. ELL ISTON again appeared in the part er
Richmond, and improved on the performance ef
Monday evening : his declamation was just, ser-
; ous, and dignified. The Theatre was well filled.
COVENT-GARDEN.—VANBURGH'S Comedy of Tile
Confec(eracy was acted last night; and the revival
was completely successful. We have not yet seen
the comic strength of the Company brought to bear
with more effect on any Drama restored to the Public.
—FAR REX, in Moneytrap, depie:ed the sordid pas-
sion of the miser with the depravity of the anti-
quated libertine, in a manner that provoked incessant
laughter ; and the meanness of Gripe was hardly less
successfully pourtrayed by EMERY. The gay rascality
of Dick, and the unblushing impudence of L3tas3, were
equally effective in the hands of JON ES and Fary-
CgTT ; and these, combined with the rich raillery of
Mrs. DAvtsoN, as Clarissa, and the exquisite intrigue
of Mrs. Gums, as Flippanta, formed a constellation
of excellente. Araminta,Corinna,andMrs.Amlet,were
well sustained by Mrs. Faucer, Miss FOOTE, and Mrs.
DAVENPORT ; and the Comedy altogether went of
in most excellent style.
BONING.—SDELTON AND OLIVE:it. _ _

The Fancy have felt so disappointed, in consequence of the
battle being " thr" between Solna and Larkin, that anothet
fight is determined upon; and last night, at Randall's, some
amateurs offered to back Oliver against Steelton, for int;gs.
The latter being present, and always ready for a autt.oter, wick.
out the slightest hesitation accepted' the challetiLe. A depOSiS
was made accordingly, And articles were drawn up to the fel.
lowing effect :—To be a fair stand-itp fight, in a 24 feet ring ;
the money to be. placed in the hands of .111 r. JAMISON ; and the
battle to take place within twenty miles of London, on the atti
of December.:
-There is a competition now among the 1
bakers, who shall bake the largest shilling
is an excellent spirit of rivalry. One of these
announces, that his loaf shall weigh twelvf
I more than the Corporation Assize.

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