Star.
London, England, 1818-07-02 00:00:00

SIR WILZI4M CURTIS,

Yesterday a Meeting of the Friends of Sir \I'ILLf A M
CURTI* was held a: the City of London Tavern.
Mr. MANNINO was called to the Chair, and read the
requisition for calling the Meeting. Ile wi.hed them
to keep in view, that their object was merely to ei•
prey their respect for Sir WILLIAM Cunt's, and,
their regret for the result of his late effort to be re-
elected. To these topics they were to :unikne them-
selves, as a wider range might occasion disagree-
inent--(eppla use.)
%Vitirstonit said, he rose to move the firstre-
solution from pure motives of-friendship to Sir Wt..,
Curtis. He had been intimately acquainted with
him•for many yens. The kindness and ccetrte.y he
had rxperienced from him made him feel the deepest
regret th.it 1"! was not now placed .in the situation
which he had he:d for co many years. In that situa-
tion his attention to the n”rtantile and trading is-.
terests deserved the warmest than'a of that nwting.
(Kear, hear.)
The Resolution was then read.—(See Alverfse-
?heal.) It expresses the highest esteem for Sir Wile.
LeAM CURTIS, the greatest gratitude for his services,
and the sincerest regret tor the result of his late cau-
didateship.
Mr. litssenr felt great pleasure in seconding the
Resolution. Were he possessed of the arts of persua-
sion—as he was not, it would be useless to exert them
for a purpose which was already in their hearts and
minds; or it could not be obtained (Applause.) Any
Gentleman who should have represented them in six
Parliaments, and for eight and twenty itrs, must
have been deserving of a tribute of applause from his
fellow-citizens. Sir William Curtis was five times,
relelected by large majorities; he was therefore en-
titled to the tribute of their regard—Pp/gamy-1—
la offering, that tribute, they would confine them-
selves to that part of his public conduct which re-
lated immediately to their interests; for on this point
their opinion would have most weight,-(applause.)
In attending to, the commercial interests of the City,
he had attended to the commercial interests of the
• kingdom at large. When they happened to go abroad,
and it was asked, Whence arose our pre-eminence ?
The answer was,. From our commerce. It was our
commerce that had enabled us to sustain the loag
and difficult contest in which we were engage!, and
to came out of it with honour and glory. had
beet reproached as " tine nation de. boutiquiers,"—a
nation of shopkeepers—but we had produced war-
riors who had maintained our glory in arms; one
sailors had sustained our naval superiority; wherever
we had Colonies our soldiers were able to Protect
them—(appkx36.) They were now assembled, after
a period of twenty-eight years, during which Sir
William Curtis had served them in Pal lament, to
consider those services which he had rendere I Ind
he would ask, whether ally one of them could with.
hold from him the sincere tribute of his approbation ?
Ile had been always accessible to them ; he had‘not
only been easy of access, but he had been prompt in
attention to the subject of application—(hear, hear).
Had he ever failed to attend in die House of Commons
when their interests required his attendance ?—or
could they name any question interesting to the City
ani to the Kingdom at large, on which his conduct
was nufaithfuloegligent,oraneffective?—(heer, hear)
note was one great question which, although gene:
Tilly considered as a political question he considered
u a commercial one—that was the Property
It was in the City of London and in the Mansion-
House that the Merchants and Traders of London had

held-the first Meeting on this subject ;it was there
they bad expressed their readiness to submit to the
Tax when it was thought necessary ; it was in the
same place that they bad said with manly and united
voice-." war is over, the Tax should cease."—
Hs had seen Efir.Willilun Curtis, in the House of
Commons, unfold that great and important Petition,'
whose weight and volume had dissipated that o.lious
tat-.-(apress.)—lngratitude was not a British vice.
They, were not more prompt to resent injuries than to
chew their gratitude for faithful services—(applause.)

Mr. Baown said, there was but one feeling among
them of gratitude to Sir William Curtis, for his s.-r-
-vices to the City, to the Empire, he might say to the
world at large. The only differense ifght be respec-
ting the mode of testifying that gratitude. Sir Wil-
liam might, perhaps, be gratified with the bare ex-
pression of gratitude but lie for one hoped they
would follow hp this by presenting something worthy
of being handed down to posterity—a handsome
piece of plate, which might he jointed out, centuries
hence, as a memorial of his merits and their gratitude
Voser.—lt was far from his intention to disturb the
harmony of the Meeting. He was not himself pre-
pared to submit a motion on the subject. London
was the first city in the world, the first in commerce,
it. was the emporium of commerce. They had one
Representative similar to one of their late Represen-
tatives, and similar to the roan whom they now re-
gretted to be out of the Representation ; but the City
was disgraced by its present Itepresentation.—(Hear,
hour, hear.)
Mr. S. DIXON rose to order. Any new proposition
should not be made till all the resolutions were read.
The CHAIRMAN wished to remind the Gentleman,
that they were cautiously to abstain from any politi-
es! topic. If any question arose, Gentlemen would
have the kindness not to travel beyond that, or create
any disagreement of opinion—(applawe).
The several resolutions were then put, and carried
nem. con.
Mr. Bnowsr resumed.—He was not quite aware of
the precise object of the Meeting before he entered
the room, and he was therefore unprepared with any
resolution, but he would in a few mornents draw up
one, and submit it to the consideration of the Gen-
tlemen present.
Mr. S. Dtxort asked Mr. Brown if he had consi-
dered of what size the plate must he, to be adequate
to-the merits of Sir William Curtis voice from
the crowd called out, 4. About the size of yourself,
Sem, would do, I think."—( Loud larigh;er.)
The CHAIRMAN suggested to Mr. Brown, whether
it would not be better to defer his motion to a future
period T.—After some conversation, Mr. BROWN ac-
ceded to the propriety of the Chairman's suggestion,
and the plate question fell to the ground.
Thanks were voted to the Chah-man by Sir C.
PLowne, and carried with loud applause. After
which, the Meeting separated.