Star.
London, England, 1820-08-10 00:00:00

CUMBERLAND INDEPENDENCE.

PUBLIC DINNSit AT ROBLEY..
Monday se'nnight wps the first Annual Meet-
ing for securing the independence of. the County of
Cumberland, pursuant to public notice. Four hun-
dred and forty Gentlemen sat down, under cover, of
a large tent, to an excellent cold rePast, prepared by
Mr. Irving, of.Wigton; amongst those present were
observed, Mr. Graham, M.P.-for St.:lves, who was
called to the Chair, and supported by Mr. Curwen,
M. P. andlfr. Parker ; Mr. Blamire, of Thackwood-
nook (wlioir was appointed Chairman for the next
Meeting); Mr. Saul, of Greenrow ; Captain Back-
house, Mr. Hodge, Rev. Mr. Matthews, Rev. Mr.
Bristo, Mr. Dobinson, &c. &c. The weather was
extreanely,favourable, and the face of nature seemed
to shine upon thepure object of the Meeting.
The cloth being removed, the Chairman gave,
" The King, and the principles which placed his fa-
milk on the throne." This toast he prefaced by ac-
knowledging his inability adequately to fill the situa-
tion in which he had been placed by the partiality of
the Meeting ; he would,' however, perform his office
to the best of his humble ability.
" The health of her Majesty the Queen" was re-
ceived with that hearty applause which might be ex-
pected from sound constitutional Englishmen.
The CHAIRMAN, in giving " The health of Mr.
Curwen," was sure that the toast was in unison with
the feelings of all present. He had never before met
so numerous and respectable a body of his fellow-
countrymen with the feelings he then experienced.
lie did not hail this Meeting so much a triumph of
past efforts, as an earnest and anticipation of future
and still more glorious victories. •
The Hon. Member's health was drank with three
times three.

i\jr. CURMEN rose to return thanks for the honour
done him. HiS feelings of gratitude for the manner
in which the freeholders had drank his health would,
if possible, more than ever bind him to them. It
had been the wish of his heart to meet them, and
this on various grounds : in the first place, he was
desirous to know whether his past conduct had or
had not been approved of? He wished to put this
question to every individual, so that he might return
to l'arliament with a full knowledge of their opi-
Ili ans. In the sentiments which were lately expressed
at the princely mansion of Mr. Coke, of Holkhain,
in Norfolk, on the occasion of his annual Sheep-
shearing Meeting, he entirely coincided ; but the
sentiments he himself had uttered had been brought
before the public eye in a very garbled and mutilated
state. An individual at that Meeting observed, the
country might be extricated out of its present diffi-
culties by a little more exertion on the part of the
farmer, and a better understanding between him
and the landlord. He (Mr. Curwen) thought this
was a gross libel upon the farmers of this kingdom.
The petitions of the Agriculturists, in the last year,
were not .in the least attended to; but last Session
proper attention was paid to them. The Agricul-
turists, in these petitions,' stated that their difficulties
were great, and he, in his conscience, believed them.
He said at the Meeting at Holkham what he would
now repeat—" What were the examples of Mr.
Coke, or any other Gentleman, if they only tended
to bring the followers .inf their footsteps La .rnin ?
Would any person come to see either Mr. Coke or
him (Mr. Curwen), if, through their obtaining
princely fortunes, the labourer was not half remune-
rated ? Was he right or was he wrOIT, when he
said it.was the wish of the Agricultoriit to encourage
the labourer, and to put mouey in his pocket if it
was in his power ? Were they to remain careless and
indifferent, whilst observing the country receding
year by year, nay, day by day, from its once flou-
rishing state? No ! but when they saw it reduced
from that state of independency which it once en
joyed, to.a state of absolute poverty—a poverty be-
lo.' that of any other country in Europe—they were
called upon to step forward to its rescue. He would
put it to any individual, whether the country was in
a sound state when they saw daily fresh numbers
added to its already enormous list of paupers ? It
was not to the money alone receivel 'sy these paupers
that he looked—it was to the loss of their happiness
—to the loss of their exertions—to their loss of every
thing that was independent : nothing was to be hoped
for from a country so situated, but everything was
to be feared." Look, said the Hon. Gentleman, to
the intentions of the Agriculturist and the Manufac-
turer ; he believed they wished to join hand and
heart in rescuing the country from the degraded
state into which it had fallen. During the time
when the Radicals took the attention of the commu-
nity at large, he never entertained the Dust fear for
the safety of the empire, knowing that the people of
England were an enlightened people, and that the
noise which they made proceeded from hungry bel-
lies. The whole community must unite—must stand
gr. fall together. At Mr. Coke's last annual meet-
ing, some silly farmer observed that agriculture was
the British oak, and manufactures but the ivy Which
crept around it to its bane. He (Mr. Curwen) then
stated his opinion, that though agriculture w•as the
mainstay of the credit of this County, still it was es-
sentially necessary that both agriCulture and manu-
factures should flourish. What ! could it for a mo-
ment he conceived that any thinking person would
wish to see his customers in
.a state of starvation?
For his part, he wished to see the poor man fed
upon wheat-bread and beer, instead of whey, rota)
toes, and bailey-bread. Could it be thought that
either he or any other person could with to see the
people, who bought their meat, in a state of poverty ?
But, at the same time, they were not to see agricul-
ture so much depressed, that it should not be able to
afford to produce that quantity of food which was ne-
cessary for the consumers. Mr. Curwen said, the fo-
reign consumption of English manufactures was but as
cane-sixth part of the home consumption, and therefore
the best market for the manufacturer was at home.
There was nothing farther frOm his wish than an in-
create in the price of grain. In times of difficulty,
like the present, that was not the mode to redress
the grievances of the People; but without the sup-
port of the Agriculturist, the public credit would be
annihilated,. as the Agriculturist was its chief sup-
port, and if he were not supported, the Ministers
might as well take a sponge and rub out the national
debt. He did not wish, he repeated, to see the prices
of agricultural produce enhanced, for it was his
greatest anxiety to give activity to the shuttle and 14

'the plough ; but he thonght•that tieo low a price tor'
bread rui d both the farmer and the manufacturer,
as it gi-My reduced the home consumption of ma-
nufactures. It was better,
.in his idea, for the la-
bourer, to earn one shilling per day, when the loaf
was ten-pence, than for trim to earn six-pence when
the loaf was four-pence. He here stated, that the
poor-rates at present were. £lO,OOOOO, which sum
was paid by the Landholder,,whWao paid the pub-
lici creditor, whose de ds,were.i.3B,ooo,ooo an-
nually; and he wished Master Manufacturer and
the Fundholder likewi to share in the defraying of
those demands. The tionourable Gentleman then
dwelt on the mischibrous effects of the great burden
of taxation. It was the duty of the Legislature to
remove the taxes in mass, and not by petty and inef-
ficacious curtailments; and thus not only would the
country be benefited by the amount struck off the
expenditure, but.a great saving would accrue in the
collection of those enormous taxes that overwhelmed
the industry and enterprise of the country, which had
already brought it to the verge, and threatened to
drag it into the abyss, of ruin: moreover, the com-
munity would be in a great measure freed from the
frequently harassing visitation of the tax-gatherers,
&c. which in too many instances trenched upon the
privileges of Englishmen, who formerly could boast
that their house was their castle. He hoped both
the farmer and manufacturer would unite their en-

. eavours, and by this means give greater weight to
eir respective demands. Let them take warning
from the past, and, firmly adhering to that Consti-
tution which had been so nobly supported by their
ancestors, evince to their starving countrymen that
they felt for their distresses. Never during his long
political life had he given his vote for war, because
he was convinced that peace tended snore to the in-
terests of the country, as well as to.the happiness of
mankind ; yet he still felt, as a matter of justice, since
the nation had given consent to it, that the national
faith should be most scrupulously observed with the
public creditor. He had, in the present Session of
Parliament, told Mr. flail, that he (Mr. Curwen)
could not consent to raise, by legislative enactments,
the price of grain hillier than it then was. He had
refused to sit on the 'Committee that was then chosen
to examine into the agricultural complaints, because
he thought the manufacturing class was not snffi-
cientiy represented in it. This was his idea on the
subject, and these were the reasons which induced
him not to be associated 'in the Committee. It had
been stated, respecting him, that after having for
thirty-five years represented a manufacturing town,
his sentiments now as to trade, since he was elected
to represent an agricultural class, must have changed.
In answer, he had only to repeat what he had ever
averred, that on any particular point on which his
Constituents wished him to vote, they had only to
instruct him ; and if these instructions were contrary
to his own judgment, he would decline voting. He
then pointed out some errors in the mode of striking
the averages of grain in the County of Cumberland.
He would again say that he was no friend to an in-
crease in the price of grain : he wished for a reduc-
tion of taxation : a poor man, his wife, and three
children, paid (on an average) 2s. 6d. per week in
taxes—take this burden from them, and the country
would again be seen flourishing in its wonted pros-
perity. He had spoken of Norfolk ; and he would
say that the landed interest in that county had acted
very wrong in not paying the labourer a sufficiency
of wages : they would not, if they couldhelp it, take
into their service a married man; and they gave very
little wages to a single one; they would rather pay
to the married man a shilling a week per head for
his children, as paupers, than allow the father a rea-
sonable recompense for his labour. Was not this
cruel ? He hoped they would all unite and petition
the Legislature to examine into the state of the coun-
try, and thereby secure to themselves and their suc-
cessors that happiness which ought to be the lot of
every honest man.—(Loud applause).
Several toasts were then drank, and the worthy
Member, after a few prefatory „words, gave Mr.
Graham's health with three times three.
Mr. GRAHAM returned thanks. It was not his wish
to provoke or pr:-long political discussion, but he
must take the liberty of making a few observations
upon a small part of the Honourable Gentleman's
able speech. He cordially agreed with almost every
,thing that had fallen from his Honourable Friend,
with the exception of the Agricultural question ; there
were also some shades of difference between them in
respect to the averages ; but these were of no mo-
ment, and he should not mention them. He certainly
did give a vote on Mr. Sumner's motion, contrary to
that of the Honourable Member for Cumberland ; for'
be did think, that to pursue any measure which would
have the effect of raising the price of corn (and this
was certainly the object of the Petitions, under what-
ever denomination they might be brought into the
House of Commons), at a moment of general pres-
sure, was the height of impolicy. He did not con-
ceive it would be at all the interest of the Agricultu-
rist, properly understood, to enhance the price, when
the root of the evil was his customers' want of means
to purchase. It was the labourer and the manufac-
turer, the customers of the farmer, who wanted relief
in the first instance; but this certainly could not 'be
gives' by rendering thtonecessaries 'of life more diffi-
cult of attainment. Those were his sentiments :.he
had the misfortune to differ somewhat in these few
points from his Honourable friend, but that differ-
ence, closely examined, was not very material. The
'reason why he objected fo the discussion of the ave-
rages, was, not because he thought the present the
best possible system, but because he Considered it an
indirect road to an increased price of grain. The an-
cient mode might be imperfect ; but to change it just
now would lead to the inference that the farmer was
anxious only to get rid Of his difficulties, careless upon
whom they fell, and that, too, when the change, in
his estimation, would be of no advantage' to him : he
fully concurred, however, in all that had been said on
'the subject of making more careful returns. It had
been observed, that hitherto, for want of union, the
farmer of Cumberland had been totally ignorant of
what his brethren in Cornwall had been doing.—
How that might be, be (Mr. Graham) knew not; -but
be had lately been in Cornwall (though for that he
was threatened with Newgate !)—(A taugh)—and he
found the same sentiment pervading that- county
which prevailed in other parts of the kingdom, namely,
that it was not agriculture that stra're, it was
not commerce or manufactures that suffered, but the
whole country :—it had been brought to the yew of

baPkruPtcYll the prodigal expenditate tit du public
money, kept up in the time cif peace by the unneces-
sary augmentation of the Military force. It was this
that l ted our ruin ; and it was the Cornish senti-
ment, the Cumberland sentiment, and, he would add,
the general sentiment, that wail the necessity of eco-
nomy was impressed upon Government, we should
approach it nearer and nearer. A real change of sys-
tem was wanted. Anything short of that would be
of no-avail; and until that took place, the agricul-
turist would be disappointed, the manufacturer would
be disappointed, and the labourer would look for re-
lief in vain. He would not say, that it was yet too
late to turn about and pursue another and a contrary
course ; but he would assert, that it must be speedily
done to be effectual. When the agriculture of the
country was brought to the dust, the remainder of
the fabric must soon give way; unless a change took
place, he could not take upon himself to say, that
such an event was far distant ; but that it might be
far distant was the most earnest prayer of his heart.
He would give them a sentiment, " The Agricul-
tural Interest of England, and may it ever prosper !"
Mr. CURWEN said, that having drank the agricul-
tural interest, he would propose a similar sentiment
in respect to the commercial interest, which was
equally dear to his heart. The prosperity of com-
merce was essential to the prosperity of agriculture,
and therefore every farmer was as much interested
in it as the merchant or manufacturer himself. His
Honourable Friend had spoken well, but he thought
he laid more stress upon the difference which existed
between them than it deserved.- It was, in fact, very
trivial—merely as .to the mode, for they precisely
agreed as to the result. His Honourable Friend ob-
jected to an increase of the price of grain, because it
would be injurious to the manufacturer and the la-
bourer. Why, so did he from his soul, for the very
same reason. All that he contended for was inquiry
into the means of affording relief, because he was
convinced the complaints of the farmer were well
founded. This inquiry, however, he wished not to
be partial ; he would have it general, that relief might,
if possible, be extended to all. And now let the com-
pany, heart and hand,drink the manufacturing in-
terest. Let them drink it with energy, to shew that
they. had no party objects ; let them give that testi-
mony which should defy the possibility of misrepre-
sentation :—" The Manufacturing Interest, with three
times three."

The health of Mr. Saul, and some other Gentle-
men present, were then drank, and they respectively
returned thanks.

M. GRAWAM again rose, to propose the health of,
one whose public duty and private friendship every
Englishman who was acquainted with him was proud
to acknowledge. Whether to manufacturers, agri-
culturists, Englishmen, foreigners, freemen, or slaves,
the name of Mr. Brougham was ever dear—(Loud
acclamations).—lt made him the more anxious to
drink that Gentleman's good health, as he was a
Cumberland man, and he (Mr. Graham) believed
that nothing in this world would have given Mr.
Brougham more pleasure than to have attended this
festival of his countrymen; but v. hen his present
avocations were taken into consideration, it would be
found that it was impossible. He was the champion
for the independent cause in Westmoreland against
the same family which threatened this County.—
He concluded by proposing " The health of Mr.'
Brougham, and the independence of Westmoreland."-
This toast was received with loud acclamations, and
amid repeated cries of " The Queen I—The Queen !"
Mr. GRAHAM soon after left the Chair, which was
taken by Mr..lVlLsox, who gave" The Independerit
Yeomanry of the County of Cumberland, and may
their efforts at length be crowned by success."
After some other toasts had been drank, the com-
pany separated; highly delighted with their enter-
tainment, and the effusion of public spirit which had
been that day shewn.

The Report of the Committee of the House of
Commons, on the Petitions relating to Agricultural
Distress, has been printed. According to the instruc-
tions of the House, the Committee have confined
themselves to an inquiry with respect to the mode of
taking the averages of the price of grain. After an
enumeration of the provisions of the existing laws,
they state their opinion, that, with some few excep-
tions, they are well constructed to accomplish the
object of the Legislature, but that the execution of
them has been very imperfect, for that gs with-the
exception of the returns taken at the Corn Exchange,.
the greatest neglect and inattention have universally
prevailed." The Committee mention several instances
of fraud, and propose, that instead of the present
mode, " the total quantity of corn sold in the 139
towns of the twelve districts should, by the -Receiver
of Corn Returns, be thrown together and cast up,
also the total amount of the money for which the
same was sok1„ and the money divided by the num-
ber of quarters." In order to ensure the due execu-
tion of the law, the Committee recommend some fur-
ther enactments, among which are the investing-of
the Board of Trade with a greater power of general
superintendence and direction, and the allowance of
an adequate salary to inspectors.
Lord COMBERWIERE has brought home with him
a great variety of curious birds and beasts from the
%lest Indies, which are now at his seat of Comber-
'mere Abbey, in Cheshire; amongst the collection ars
some scarce and beautiful specimens of the monkey
and hawk species.
A handsome portico, of the lonic order, is now
erected in the front of the Court House at Kirkdale,
near Liverpool, and which forms the central com-
partment of the new and extensive House of Correc-
tion erecting there. •
Smatum.—Harry Harmer had a benefit at the Fives' Court
on Tuesdays but bums not so well attended as his merit deserves.
Harmer is blind of an eye, and can see but half way with the
other, and is, therefore, entitled to the greater support, from
his anhood in the prize ring, from the patrons of the art, and
from the exertions of the fighting men of the day. Those who
did attend were disappointed. Randall ind Tamer were in the
Court, and leftit without exhibiting., Tom Cribb, with spirits
exhilarated by the Tuscan grape, told much truth with more
energy than eioquenee. He said the big ones were good for
nothing, and he could nip them all now after the cihts he had
had ; and as Neate was the hest of the bad ones, he would fight
him for from £5OO t 0.61,000. .Tlsie was a substitute for setting-
to, and anothkr such discourse followed on Belasco challenging
to spy with the three creektparrer*, Belcher, Randall, and. Balm,
and to which there was no answer. Scroggins knocked a novice
named Butke about, and excited some merriment. The Gip-
sey (whir beat Wese•Conntri Dick) and Harris, made aiptrited
sema, and bet.* et each :ether without fear of dainagieg the
vepee
Harmer set-to with T. Lancaster, and again with
li vhiciewesike saly sac* of wiructihownis the occasion.
•

Miritole-Hdtlial-Ysiterday Madinat On. d( Rfa/cal rencwn,.
appeared at the 'palm and, having wilted very respect.
fully till a convenfetil oulsity prese4sted Itself, addresseefihe
LoßD.Meroe fr.* tino blittom (44hS table.
1,02414. Waddington then over is placard to The Loan Ma vort
and begged bit Mild read' it previously to heariegr
the charge. .• ' et : .1. .
The placard Coutained atstatement, that the Delegates front
the Mechanics of Lcindim, appolltted to wait upon her most gra-
cious Majesty the Qneemosf England. bad, in consequence of
the lamented death of the chess pf Tork, postponed the time
of waiting upon her Misty with' their Address, which had
been carried unanimously at Gicswen-street.
The Loan MAYOII said lie had seen the placard before, and
was mare of its conieat." The wads' certainly were by no
means offensive, nor were they caLculated.to excite any twin:
lent feeling amongst the people. But still the conduct of the
,
person who exhibited it, and his character, might cause uctler
any circumstances a disposition to disorder:-
, Waddington then said, that he bad, for the purpose of pre;
venting anything like disorder, taken a board with that placard
upon it to Ilolborn-bars, and held it up, that all might see wh4:.
was written thereupon. His object was favourable to the public
peace; but, notwithstanding that, the Peace Officers, as the.:
were called, had set their faces against his endeavour, and or:-
dered him to take down the placard. Not thinking it reason-
able to do so, he refused, and the Officers, particularly Drink-
water and Matthews rushed upon him, and having torn his
coat, and deprived him of his placard, bore him away by force
to the watch-house of St. Anirew'r, from which place it was
their intention to bring him off to another place called the •
Compter. A humane Gentleman, however, interposed, and
they thought proper to let him go. Under these circumstances
he trusted the Lord Mayor would see justice done; for it was
known to hundreds that the sacred goddess with the balance and
scales had been violated in his person.
The Loan Ma TOIL then stated, that from the account be had
heard, he bad every reason to suppose that the present applicant
had been doing, at the time of the interference of the Officers,
an act in breach of the public pease.
Mr. Wootner, the Marshal, said. that Waddington had v-
sembled round him a very large collection of the lower orders,
and was, as it were, the very point round which pickpockets
and thieves of a more formidable description would raily wills
the greatest probability of success. The crowd was increasing
every moment, and the officers would have subjected themselves
to a charge of neglect of duty if they had rot requested Mr.
Waddington to put down his standard : when they did so, they
were insulted most grossly. They, however, persevered and
took the placard, and poll from the bearer by force ; but in the
effort endangered their lives. Mr. Waddington then went to the
watch-house, and, without reason, called himself a prisoner there.
The interference of the Gentleman alluded to bad been the sub-
ject of surprise and censure amongst the parish-officers. of St.
Andrew's, who, he understood, intended to bring a charge
against him before the Lord Mayor: with that Gentleman Lei-
titer the witness nor his officers had Interfered. _ •

Waddington said, there were 20 or 30 respectable men ready
to come forward to prove the fact that be had bfen illegally
dragged about and deprived of his ELward.
The Loan MATO'. said, that any City. Magistrate would wil-
lingly inquire into the circunutancea, but that inquiry might in-
volve the applicant in a disagreeable blamer. Toe officers had,
no doubt, acted properly ; but if Mr. 'W'addlogtoo continued to
be dissatisfied with them, he might go before some other Magis-
trate with the story of his disaster.
Waddington then bowed, and quitted the Jostice:coum.

Tut Quasar ererennaa Jzevsactsr.—We have seen a very
curious picture consigned to this country lay a mercantile house
at Genoa, and representing the eqtrance of the Queen into Jeru-
salem. This singular painting (so extremely interesting at this
moment, and, considering the important .circumstances with.
which her Majesty's situation connects itself, so historically re-
markable), is the production of a distinguished foreign artist, the
Sig. Carloni, of Milan. It is a fine specimen of Italian art ;
but its principal attraction is undoubtedly the subject. Carloni
was, we understand, employed by the Queen to paint this
striking event in her life, and was engaged upon it for no let
than four months,-during all which.time. he resided in her Pa-
lace' and had numberless sittings for all the particular portraits.
We know not through what accideat it has happened, that the
picture has found its way ioto strange hands. Certain it is, thzt
-for composition and effect we Kaye hardly ever beheld a per-
formance, on the same scale, superior to it. The scene is highly
picturesque. Moving down one of the precipitous hills in the
vicinity of the Holy City, is seen a. cavalcade of Syrians and
Turks and a -scarlet litter; in which are some of the Qute-t's
female-attendants. In the fore-ground the principal grotT .•t!'
about a dozen persons appear, having descended from the
height, arid wound round an abrupt precipice on iteleft. Stce-
hard's.Canterbury Pilgrims will furnish a good idea of this
party; in froni, at sortie distance, and near one of the gates of
Jerusalem (which is dispOsed in amphi-theatric form on the
right) rides the "misery, who has the firman and charge of the
travellers.. Foretiost of-these is the Queen, in a Turkish dress,
and riding upon an ass, according to the fashion of that coun-
try. Her loose trowsers are jest visible under the red robe, and
her appearance is lusty and healthful. Leaning on the high
pummel of her saddle, she is turning towards Bergami, who is
mourned on a white charger dose behind her. Bergand's por-
trait is that of a very good-looking man ; florid for an Italian,
and with more of a German countenance. His eyes are light
and pleasing; his nose well shaped ; and his cheeks, lip, and
chin, covered with hair approaching to auburn in its colour. He
wears a blue riding dress, and has three Orders hanging on his
breast. On the left of Bergami is another cavalier, adorned
with an order of merit, and we presume, from a likeness be-
tween them, brother to Bergami. Immedirgely behind are two
other horsemen of the suite, and between them the Countess
_Oldi, also on horseback, sad dressed something like the Queen.
In the rear of these are other followers, and near she front a
black boy and a white boy ; the latter is handsomely dressed
and mounted on an ass. He is about eight years old, and a son,
it is said, of Bergansi, die black being his servant. Behind them
again is the much-talked of Billy Austin, on a black charger;
well disposed for variety in the group, and looking pale and
sickly. Several attendants brinit up the userve..--Such is this
extraordinary painting. The likenesses can hardly be other-
wise than excellent, for they possess much character, and are
very carefully finished. The execution is that of capital minia-
tures; and the whole affords a perfect notion of the scene and
Its actors.—Literary Gamete. •