Star.
London, England, 1819-11-09 00:00:00

suppressed, and the last vestiges of departing liberty
be effaced from amongst us. But I will not irritate
your feelings by dwelling longer on this painful and
melancholy subject, but proceed to lay before you
some Resolutions which I heg leave to propose for
your adoption.—Ellere Mr. Brewin read four Resolu-
tions.]—These Resolutions, said Mr. Brewin, will
now be put separately from the Chair, for your
decision upon them ; but before I sit down, I
feel it necessary to notice an objection which
the pretenders to exclusive loyalty, the Ultra
Royalists of this Kingdom, have raised against
our proceedings ; namely, that in thus expressing
our sentiments we are prejudging the question, and
doing injustice to the accused. So far, Gentlemen,
am 1 from feeling that this is the case, that I have
no hesitation in unequivocally declaring my belief,
that bad it not been for the loud and general expres-
sion of the public indignation, no juridical inquiry
would have been instituted into these disgraceful
transactions at all, but that the authors of them would
have been held up as a laudable example for the imi-
tation of others of their Ultra Royalist brethren who
might be desirous of displaying their loyalty to the
King, by the zeal with which they can trample on
the rights of his People—( Loud and continued cheers,
with cries of "we n;ght have been served so here."
Why, Gentlemen, observed Mr. Brewin, the Radical
Loyalty of our Corporation is indeed sufficiently no-
torious, but much as I disapprove of their official
conduct, I have too favourable an opinion of their
humanity, as individuals, to fear that they will fol.
low the steps of their Manchester brethren. They
have indeed intimated their approbation of them, in
a certain precious document, but it has been ob-
liquely, by a sort of side wind—(Loud laughter).—
I should, however, be glad to know how it bar pens
that we are to have two Loyal Addresses from " the
Burgesses" of Leicester? Are the worthy Gentle-
men afraid that they will not be believed upon their
word? or did they entertain apprehensions that the
present Meeting might let in some light upon the
last—that the cat, as we say, might be let out of the
bag ?—( Loud laughter)—and that the eloquent effu-
sion, designated as the act 44 of the Mayor, Bailiffs
and Burgesses- of Leicester," and which the Courier
had so successfully palmed upon the Public as the
act of this Town—( Cries of" ah, Rascal r)-might
be represented as the act of a few individuals only—
( Cries of " not fifty")—privately assembled, with-
out the participation, or even the knowledge of the
inhabitants in general ? The business was certainly
very snugly managed, but I appeal to you whether
we could in conscience let it pass as ours—whether
it was not a duty which we owed both to you and to
ourselves, to convene this Meeting, notwithstanding
the hazard with which, in the present temper of our
opponents, it might be attended ? (Cries ofcertainly).
The four first Resolutions being put from the
Chair, and seconded by Mr. W. B. MaasuaLL, were
unanimously carried.
The Rev. J. DEACON said—" I have the honour, this
day, to address an assembly of Patriots, for I am per-
suaded that nothing but genuine patriotism has
brought you hither. The love of our Country de-.
mands this public, this manly expression of our sen-
timents. If we-love our Country, we shall seek its
welfare by every means in our power ; and when its
liberties are invaded, its laws violated, its inhabitants
massacred, we cannot, as Patriots, be silent specta-
tors. No ; were we not to lift up our voice, were we
not in the stronge.t manner to express our abhor-
rence of the late outrage at Manchester, we should
be little better than accomplices in the crimes com-
mitted on that memorable day. Not only Patriotism,
but genuine Loyalty demands this public expression
of your feelings. The Throne of Britain has the
Constitution and the Laws for its base. Whosoever
undermines the Constitution endangers the Throne;
and he who violates the Constitutional Laws of his
Country is an enemy to the King. Can they be loyal,
who would deprive us of the high privilege we this
day enjoy ? Can they be truly loyal, who have signed
a Declaration of their disapprobation of this Meet-
ing? in addition to patriotism, and genuine loyalty,
sound morality has a forcible claim upon us. True
morality consists in the love of Goo and of our
neighbour. But how did this appear in the perpe•
trators of the massacre at Manchester ? Can we make
any pretensions to morality, if we do not bear our
most decided and indignant testimony against the
proceedings of that day ? Where is our morality if
we attempt to justify the indiscriminate sabreing of
men, women, and children? But Religion demands
of us thus publicly to meet, and to express our ab-
horrence of the deed. The religion of JESUS
breathes universal " good-will to man.' "He came
not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." He
would embrace the whole world in his arms.—
He, too, was a Reformer, for be struck at the root of
all corruption, and of every evil principle and prac-
tice, and was, in every view, the friend of man. As
Christians, therefore, we are bound to denounce the
authors of these crimes. We are called upon this
day, by the departed spirits of our ancestors, who
suffered and died in the cause of Liberty, to vindi-
cate our rights. As men, and as Britons, we are met
to express our sentiments, to prefer our complaints,
and, by legal means, to seek for redress. Who shall
deny us these privileges ? No ! we are men, we are
Britons, and as such let us act. Oh ! could the spirits
of our ancestors look down on this assembly, with
what emotions would they behold us ! But not only
the spirits of our departed ancestors call us forth
into action—posterity has a claim we dare not resist.
Our children, and children's children, are growing up
around us, and look to us for those blessings which
we received from our fathers. Shall they look to us
in vain ? Shall we forge cbains for them, or suffer
others to fosse them, while we stand by with stupid,
indifferences' No. We will endeavour at least, with
all our might, to transmit to our children, and the
most distant posterity, the freedom to which they are'
by nature entitled, nor draw down their curses on
our memories while we arc sleeping in the grave"
Mr.W. GARDINER then came forward and observed,-
that though he had not himself signed the Requisition
to the Mayor, yet he thought the-Thanksof the Town
were doe to hose Gentlemen who had done so, and
had called the Meeting. He should therefore move
a Resolution to that effect: Mr. Gardiner then read
the sth Resolution, and also the 6th ; both of which
were seconded by Mr. S. T. BANKART, and unani-
mously adopted by the Meeting ; as was another re-
specting the advertisement of the Resolutions.
Thanks having been moved to the e3bairmant