Star.
London, England, 1821-12-22 00:00:00

DOWGATE

The preliminary business having been disposed of,
Mr. Comers addressed the Chair. He in advert-
ing to the duties which the officers they were about
to elect had to perform, advised them to examine the
pretensions of those whir-had filled the office in pre-
ceding years with a view to ascertain how far they
were qualified to be elected again. A circumstance
which had taken place with respect to a right of way
or thoroughfare along the River from London-bridge-
foot, through the wharfs to Allhallow's-lane, and
Thames-street, would serve to shew how far their late
officers had consulted the interests of their consti-
tuents in i • mitting their convenience to be sacrificed,
and this very useful foot-way to be circumscribed
and interrupted by ap. Honourable Member of Par-
liament, whose property the adjacent ground was.
Some of these verx Gentlemen who tamely submit-
ted to this infringement of the rights of their fellow-
citizens, had, until they bad partaken of , that Hon.
Member of Parliament's bounty and trAnsaried his
law business for him, been tbe most SIMI** as.i

setters of all rights, either in the community or en-
joyed by individuals. He spoke in particular of Mr.
Vandercom, the foremost attorney of Mr. Charles Cal-
vert. A similar attempt to infringe the right which
the Citizens claimed of a free right of way had been
made by Mr. Price, the proprietor of the Steel-yard,
on the bank of the Thames ; and a Bill had been in-
troduced into Parliament by Mr. Calvert to authorise
;these attempts to infringe the public tights. The con-
duct of the Hnn. Member upon the occasion of the
introduction of that Bill, he thought was not altoge-
ther fair—exerting himself to the utmost, sitting. in
the Committee himself, and silencing every objection
made, or overruling the evidence given. Indeed so
far did be forget himself, that when the Bill was sub-
mitted to the Committee of the House of Commons,
he publicly stated in the Committee-room, that he had
no interest in supporting the Bill then before them.
Mr. CALVERT rose and said that was a falsehood, as
it was totally impossible he could ever have stated it..
Mr. PEMBERTON rose, and stated that he had heard
Mr. Calvert use the precise words quoted, and in this
statement he was also confirmed by another person
(Mr. Turner), who rose to state he heard those words
made use of by the Hon. Member—(Hear, and some
confusion).
Mr. COOMBES resumed, and said it would be bet-
ter for the Hon. Member to confine himself to state-
ment than make use of language which could only
reflect disgrace on himself. He disclaimed any per-
sonal motives in bringing forward this subject ; he
did it purely from a wish to defend the rights of his
fellow-citizens; nor did he think the conduct of Mr.
Price was touch less objectionable than that of the
Hon. Member alluded to.
Mr..C. CALVERT said, that although he charged
the Gentleman who last addressed them with having
stated what was not fact, he did not mean to say that
he had corruptly, but inadvertently, mis-stated cer-
tain facts.
Mr. Wnyourt begged the Ward might proceed to
the business of the day.
Mr.'CaLvEnT said he was desirous that all wha
were not Freemen should leave the place of Mxting,
as their interference by holding up their hands or
otherwise, must excite a prejudice against some of
the candidates. There, however, could be no doubt
of their proceeding to a poll.
A shew of hands took place and a poll was de-
manded, and at the close of the poll, the numbers
stood as follows :
Mr. J. E. Saunders - 2.2
Mr. Saints Saunders - 19
Mr. Bennett' - - 16
Mr. Mortimer' - - 16

- - 14

- 14
- - 15
- 10
- 8

Mr. D. Price
Mr. Wm. WriOtt*
Mr. Nesbitt•
Mr. Forster

VAndercom .