Star.
London, England, 1820-12-21 00:00:00

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Con, he-would retire disappointed and humiliatid,
and would despair of being able to shew that all who
are against the Ministers are not against the Constitu-
tion, and that those who lift up their voice against the
;abuses of the Constitution are the last to call for its
subversion. He would now call their attention for a
moment to adespicable pretext which had been as-
signed for their conduct upon this occasion. It was
insinuated that the individuals who had signed the
Requisition for this Meeting, were not actuated by a
sympathy for the sufferings of the People, or love
of tile Constitution, or of any other disinterested
motive, but solely by an anxiety to get themselves
into power, place, and emolument. He felt not for
himself alone, but for the distinguished individuals
who surrounded him, on account of the falsehood,
and the utter absurdity of this charge—(Hear, hear).
In estimating the force of such an insinuation, they
had only to observe the names t. 3 the Requisition, and
to consider whether these men looked like hungry
expectants for office—greedy envious persons, who
had no chance of consideration, until they were in-
wsted with the glaring trappings of official dignity?
Who are we? and who are they? What was the
character and conduct of those who were charged
with this design? Had they not fought their way up
eo the present day? he would not • say how success-
tully ; but they had at least gone on merrily, gaily,
clicerily—( Laughter aid applause). Among those
persons were many who had spent their youth and
manhood in support of their principles in opposition
to their interests, and who had arrived at that stage
of life in which they might naturally be thought
snore desirous to secure liberty and peace to their
posterity, than to receive any office. or dignity for
themselves. For himself, he would publicly and fear-
-1,-,sly disclaim all desire fur office—he was actuated.
by no such contemptible motives—he had no office
of power or dignity in view—he would rather do
without it ; he did not like its restraint, its pomp, its
responsibility. He would let his conduct in future
life confirm this assertion, that he would newer ac-
cept of any office or distinction to which any man,
whether friend or foe, would Our acknowledge that
he hr i a fair and hdnourable claim —(Applanae).=
He would now proceed shortly to lay before the
Meeting the scope of the Resolutions he meapt to
propose. The complaints against his Majesty's Mi-
nisters, which formed the substance of these Resolu-
tions, were not of a particular, but general nature ;
for it would have been insufficient only to have found
fault with their conduct towards the Queen, which
was to be sure an enormous and flagrant example of
misconduct; but to what purpose would it be to
dismiss Ministers on this account, if the other perni-
cious measures with which they were chargeable
were persisted in? Did they animadvert only on
their conduct in this particular instance, it would be
the same as if they gave a tacit approbation to the
whole previous system of their administration. In
considering the various reasons for soliciting the dis-
missal of such persons from his Majesty's presence,
that which most naturally presented itself, was the
improvident and wasteful expenditure of which they
had been guilty, on which subject every Petition
and Remonstrance for retrenchment had been in-
iolently rejected, and treated with contempt.—
Mr. Jeffrey then adverted to the commercial restric-
tions which embarrassed the trade of the country,
and commented, in strong terms, on the stupid adhe-
rence to ancient absurdities and exploded maxims of
policy, by which commercial nations had been alien-
ated, and had been induced to retort with interest
upon out trade the restrictions we had aimed attheirs.
lie also adverted to the foreign policy of the coun-
try, by which he argued that an indelible stain had
been fixed on the name of Britain. Since the Revo-
lution no Ministers had appeared more averse to the
exercise of popular rights than those who now manage
cur affairs. He would not enter into a detail of par-
ticular instances of the display of this spirit. They
were so well known that it was unnecessary. But
among ethers there was one peculiar feature, and
that was, the employment of spies and informers—
( Hear,hear) ;—by the encouragement of whom, not
only has a blow been struck at the morals of the
community, but the freedom, and he would say the
licence of private speech has been converted into a
source of danger, which in no good and liberal
Government could be the case—( Hear, hear).—
And not only this, but it has given rise to division
and disaffection ; and it is evident, from the records
of the different Courts, that these spies have pro-
duced those very measures for which other men were
punished—(Loud approbation). He would allude
particularly to one act of the Ministers, and that was,
the persuading of his Majesty to render thanks to the
Magistrates of Manchester, at a time when all that
was known of their conduct was, that the blood of
their fellow-citizens had been shed, and when it was
unknown whether the Meeting was legal or not; and
what was peculiarly worthy of remark was, that, in
that Address, there was not a syllable of commisera-
tion for the blood which had been shed !—(Applause).
A more pernicious and terrible example was, by this
means, set to the Magistrates of other Counties, than
had ever been exhibited in any free country ; and, if
that example had had the effect it naturally should
have bad, this country would ere now have been de-
luged with blood. But for the averting of this, cer-
tainly, they had to thank the prudence and good con-
duct of the Magistrates of the country, attd he could
rot but particularly advert to the conduct of the
Magistrates of Glasgow, and to the troops em-
ployed in that district, as shewing an example of
prudence, forbearance, and moderation, well de-
serving our highest approbation—(Hear, hear).—
lie would allude to another circumstance in the con-
duct of Ministers, and that was the removing from
office of an illustrious and patriotic Nobleman, who
had always performed his duty to his Sovereign in
the most upright and conscientious manner, merely
because he had given countenance to a Meeting like
the present. And who was the, individual who had
'been thus removed—an individual who was the early
friend of his Sovereign, and who bad arrived at the
last stave of his life without having been in the smal-
lest degree distinguished by an inclination towards
violent courses—(Hear, heat).—The last subject he
would allude to was, the late proceedings against
the Queen, and the sudden and unexampled proro-
ation of Parliament; and here he might possibly
surprise the Meeting by observing, That he had not
read the whole of the evidence in this case. He was
nut willing to defile his mind with that mass of
perjury, übsceuity, and filth, 'hick had be so

long serried np his regale the delicate palates of the
Upper House of Leg islatu re--( Laughter),—wh ile the:l
crumbs which fell from their table had furnished a I
plentiful repast to all Without doors who were fond
of such entertainment—(Lovid and continued laughter).
He would not say much of that measure which, after
advancing to maturity, was abandoned bit by bit.
Every man knew it was not a measure for the public
interest, but a measure which was pressed against
the disapproving vote of the House of Commons,
and the long-contimied, incessant, and clamorous
opposition of the country. Will any man say, that
the small body of Ministers should have taken it
upon them to oppose the decision of the Comrrions
House of Parliament, and the unanimous voice of
the People, in maintaining a measure which not
only this countsy but the whole world reprobated as
,ridiculous and unprofitable? No sane man could
possibly see for what ends such a measure was
brought forward. As to the argument of state po-
licy, never was there a pretext so shallow, des-
picable, and ludicrous. The whole proceeding was
repugnant to the feelings of the People ; and it was
persisted in day after day, month after month, under
all this violent reprobation of an enlightened people.
Addresses had been pouring in from all quarters, ex-
pressing abhorrence of the measure; and it was re-
markable that not one of the many Addresses sent
up by the opposite party, not even one, from any
close Corporation, had acknowledged in the slightest
degree its propriety or necesssity—( Hear, hear!).—
Never was there a snore unanimous verdict, pro-
nouncing the unequivocal condemnation of any great
public-transaction ; which was brought forward, too,
at a time of great public distress; when we were
threatened with commotion and tumult, partly by
the effect of spies and agitators, and partly from
other causes; when it was thought necessary to enact
severe laws against libel and sedition ; while the ob-
vious tendency of such a proceeding was to give in-
creased effect to all those causes of discontent. The
conduct of Ministers in this question was more like
Asiatic servility than English compliance. They be-
trayed such an utter indifference to the voice of the
People—there was such bullying and threatening—
such wavering and inconsistency—such mean-and.
trifling evasions ; the whole proceedings, in short.
exhibited such signal stupidity, and such an utter
incapacity and indecision, as, independent altogether
of the merits of the measure, afforded sufficient
grounds for pronouncing them totally unfit for car-
rying on the affairs of a great Nation—(Applause).
They had made themselves objects of public con-
tempt; which was, of itself, a sufficient disqualifica-
tion for holding office. They had been beaten at
every stage of the encounter; at every set-to they had
come off with the worst; at every new round, in
every rally, they had been defeated ; and having
beenjloored so often, they had nothing to do but to
carry them out of the ring !—(Loudlaughter and ap,
plause).—Next came the prorogation of Parliament..
After all public business had been interrupted—the
whole time of the Session monopolized for a single in-
quiry—they had prorogued the Parliament without
a Speeck—without even so much as a Court Circu-
lar: they had, in fact, turned tail, and shuffled off in
the dark, and not even a place of rendezvous had
been appointed!—(Laughter).—Never was a more
ludicrous, pitiable, and disgusting spectacle exhi-
bited by a routed mob, and not one of them could
give any rational account of the matter t Those who
are bound to say something, all contradict each
other-..a1l of them declare, that nothing is decided.
They know not what to do, nor can they say, what
is to happen. There was at present, in fact, no Go-
vernment, and it was high time he thought that they
should take steps for getting up one. It was appa-
rent to all thinking men that the present system
could not be continued without either the destruction
of the public peace or of public liberty. The means
of coercion so liberally resorted to by Government,
only tended to exasperate. It was only by lenity
that the discontents could be allayed. They could
not bully the British People. New coercive laws
could only add bathe general-exasperation. By such
measures they would only compress the mischief till
it burst. Their only security lay in healing mea-
sures, which would guide them safely through the
conflicting extremes of hostile factions. This would
serve as a landmark to direct thveir course, and would
afford a position round which they might rally and
take their stand. Mr. Jeffrey having enforced these'
arguments for uniting the country by conciliatory'
measures, concluded by reading a series of ltesolu-
tions, which he proposed, if seconded, should be se-
parately submitted by the Chairman to the consi-
deration of the Meeting.
Mr. LEONARD HORNER shortly seconded•the Re-
' solutions.

The first Resolution was carried unanimously, bat
after the second was read, and the Chairman had put
the question, whether it was the will of the Meeting
that it should pass ?
Dr. AITON, of Stockbridge, begged to express his
dissent from the Resolution now read. A more com-
plete farce was never acted on the stage of the world
—( Hisses, and cries of " Put him out").—They had
got, he said, a Harlequin and a Merryman, and the.
only thing necessary to complete the farce was a
Columbine. (Here the speaker's vdice was drowned
in a tumultuous clamour of disapprobation.) How-
ever much the speech now delivered might have been
disguised, it was delivered for a damnable purpose.
(Here the confusion became greater than ever, and
nothing was heard but violent hisses, and loud and
incessant cries of " Out with him !")
After order was restored, Mr. J. A. MURRAY stated,
that it was unquestionably proper that every indivi-
dual should be allowed fairly and freely to express
his sentiments, so long as he observed the rules of,
order and of good sense ; but when any man went
the length of saying that the speech lately heard was
for a damnable purpose, he ought not to be heard—
(Loud applause).
- Dr. AITON said, he was very sorry he had offended
the feelings of the Meeting by the expressions he had
used. He had little more to say, and would only
add, that the speech of the Learned Gentleman might
be all comprehended in a few words—

" Up with Sacchl, down with Flynn,
" Turn out the Tories, and let the Whigs in!"

(Much laughter and disci pprobation).-- The second
and third Resolutions were then carried.
On the fourth Resolution, which adverted to our
foreign policy, being send,
J. A. MASAI/ Esq. said, he hoped he. would

not ise-theitight int/1444,0n ibe .4eeting if he alluded
rshOrily to-the Circumstances which, had occisilined
that Resolutions , I/anything could give- them 0441
it would be to think chat hopes and promises had been
held out by this codittry to European Nations, which
had not-been realized---iffeari. hear)—lt was well'
known that ai She close of the struggle in 1814, it
was a part of our pOlicy to hold out promises of pro;
tection to the free States of Italy; and to revive the
ancient glory of the Italian name. - He would only
refer to the Prciclamation of Lord W. Bentinck to
the Genoese for evidence of these promises. Would
.it he believed, after this, that Genoa, in place of
being allowed to retain its rights; had been given
over to the King of Sardinia, its most inveterate
e'fiemy ? If any man in this Meeting could contra-
dict this, be would certainly be entitled to a much
more favourable hearing than he (Mr. Murray) was,
and it would be with the greatest Pleasure that he
would hear any one stand up, and, in this instance,
vindicate the honour of the British Empire—(Hear)
On the sixth Resolution being read and carried,
HENRY COCKBURN, Esq. in the observations he
would make on this Resolution, assured the Meeting
that be would not occupy their attention at any great
length. The time was, when the nations of Europe
all agreed in saying, with regard to England,, that
amid all their quarrels and dissensions, the different
orders of her People were attached to each other,
and were devoted friends of the Constitution for
which their fathers died—(Applause).—But these
days were gone. A chasm now exists, not between
the higher and the rower classes, but between the
Government and the People, which, if' not done
away, would swallow them both up in one common
ruin. He thought that the remedy which Govern-
ment ought to apply to this, should
..not be to
make the breach wider, but to heal it ; and that
Government surely might have effected this, which
rescued Europe from the thraldom of a military
despotism, and which has been the setter-up of Kings
and almost the puller down of Kings--(Applause).—
He would ask %hat had been done by the present
Administration to rectify what was wrong? What
had been done to redress the grievances of the People,'
to rectify the almost admitted defect in the repre-
sentation of the People, or to extend the rights and
liberties of the immortal Press ?—(Applause).—Why
was such a Meeting as this not held under the auspices
of public authority, signed as the Requisition was by
such respectable names?—(Hear, hear!). Why did'
they not enjoy this popular privilege as they ought
to enjoy it ? And where lay the remedy for all the
abuses ? Why, it lay in the exercise of their popular
rights, as they were doing at present. If such Meet-
ings were attended by the mere rabble, little good
might be expected from them ; but if men of respect-
ability, rack, and influence, took part in them, their
beneficial effects could not be counteracted. That
man must, indeed, be of a stupid understanding, and
of a cold heart, who did not exult in the spectacle
which such a Meeting afforded—(Hear, hear!).:—
It was deeply to be regretted, that in Scotland, where
the inhabitants are so enlightened • and patriotic,
Meetings of this kind should have been so rare; and
he exulted chiefly in the thought that the example
here set would be quickly followed throughout the'
rest of Scotland.' Then they might allow Councils,
Burgesses; and Cosporations to meet as.they.may,
for the snaugglina of 'secret Addresses, which the'
Burgesses, whom they represented, never saw (Hear).
The irresistible voice of the great body of the People
would soon prevail; and he hoped that they who,
were thus met to-day Would shew, by the order and'
moderation displayed in the exercise of their great
popular privileges, that they were worthy to enjoy
them—(Applause).—These privileges were enjoyed
to all their extent before the domination of the pre-
sent Ministry, and would never be enjoyed, as they
formerly were, till that domination was overturned—
(Loud applause).
JAMES Gummi, Esq. congratulated the citizens of
Edinburgh on the respectability of their present
Meeting, and expressed his strong conviction that
the system pursued by Ministers, if obstinately per-
severed in as Wiled been, would infallibly involve the
country in the calamities of a Restolution—(Applause).
After a few words from Mr. SCOTT, the remain-
ing Resolution, and the following Address founded
thereon were unanimously carried :

TO THE XING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
THE HL ULE ADDERS.; AND PETITION OF TEE lINDEASIOIDED mum-

TANTS OF

MAY It PLUM VMS MAJESTY,
" We, your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the un- '
dersigned Inhabitants of Edinburgh, convened by public adver-
tisement, beg leave to approach your Majesty's Throne with the
assurances of our sincere and unalterable attachment to your Ma-
jesty's Person and Government, and to the principles of that
happy Constitution which placed your Illustrious Family en the
Throne of these Realms; and also to express our determination

to repel and resist; to the utmost of our power, any attempt that
may be made tie invade that Constitution, or to impair, in any
degree, the respect that Is due to all and each of its branches.
" Under the influence of these sentiments, and considering the
circumstances in which this country is now plved, we feel it,to
be our indispensable duty, most respectfully to represent to your
Majesty, that it is our arm conviction and belief, that your Ma-
jesty's present Ministers have entirely lost the confidence of the
great body of your People, and by a series of injudicious and
reprehensible measures have deservedly, become the objects of
such general.distrust and aversion, as to be no longer capable of
conducting the affairs of the Nation with safety or advantage.
" That they have, for many years, persisted in a cootie of
most improvident and wasteful expense, and, in times of unex-
ampled distre►s, have obstinately rejected every proposition for
effective retrenchment or economy.
" That they have, in like manner, pursued an ignorant and_
illiberal system of policy, as to the laws and regulations of trade,
by which the national distresses have been aggravated, or the
means of relieving them withheld or intercepted.
" That, at the close of a war, the professed object of which
was to vindicate and restore the independence of the European
communities, and which had been brought to a successful ter-
mination chiefly by the distinguished valour of our free British
soldiery, they lent themselves to i policy inconsistent with the
best principles of national liberty, and so conducted themselves
towards various Independent States, as not only to tarnish the
honour of the nation in the eyes of the 'world, but to bring snch
suspicion on our good faith as must be productive of great prac-
Itical embarrassments in our foreign relations, both political and

commercial.
4, That they have manifested, at all times, an unconsdtutional
and distemperkl aversion to aU popular rights and privileges, and

..-._.;

ra-saiy occasions, Unitised uniecetsasy rest/knobs Cul
their (...iercise and enjOinient.
.• • .• •
" That, in order to effect this of feet, and to maintain, if•pos:
• ..
Ale, their Mon power and influence in the countti; they have
.thicribed the diaciintents,*hich Grote chid), from theit own /ids:
ipsverntitent, to the prevalence o a ipirit of disloyalty and db.;
,tilliection which kai had do natural to imitate eiliteitto among
the Peepie.
.• .
" That they itiVe struck an alarMitig blow at the morals of
tie PeOpie,.and have invaded the private security of every class
of your Majesty's tiubjeets, by eMpii3ying, encouraging, ind pro.;
tecting an unprecedented number of spies and inforMers, who
are proved, in many cases, to have been thetnieb;es thelnstigo;
tors of those disorder* for ithial Otheri have been elipueed to
prOsecntien and. punishineni.
" Thati in pursuance Of the saffie objects, they hartltaketi
advantage Of the peacefur and loyil dispositions, whickrevail
generally in this Country, to persuade many Well-p'ettipg pet::
sons of the troth of their ctlumninus raisrepresentwimp, and
have thus excited among them grievous anti von iititaaa alarmy
while, at the same time, the severe me,slercp ttbiksoppsachful
language 4,hiCh Were consequently adopted,. Steve .oseaeioned-
much fear and irritation among ;hots who sfellethe objects of •
their calumnies, and•disposed the, liselnstfucted. among Aeln to
listen more readily to the reductions of the few Wicked and do.;
'Signing persons who were hciftiler to our free Constitution. or
Who expected to mike prat/ of it roam of tumult and dipordei.
" That with a view to deter persons of rank and condition
from concurring in the ileasonable coMplaints of the People, they
have advised'the adoption of the otost harsh and !Malting atm.;
sures towards individuals of the highest station, the most un-;
questioned loyalty, and the most approved public service*, whose
presence at Public Meetiup *as at once the surest pledge of the
:tnoderation of the meatures to be adopted, and the best meani
of repretaing any tendendy to extols or intemperance that might
otherwise have been apprehended.
" That, by these and other means, dug hue diffused a spirit
of discord through the body of our population, and Ultimately
produced a most alarming disunion between those chases of the
community, without whose cordial co-operation theft can nd
longer be peace and prosperity for the country.
" That, by the late proceedings against her Majesty the
Queen, of which they have been the avowed and respossilia
advisers, they have not only manifested such an utter disregard
for the sense and wishes of the Nation, the dignity of the Crown]
the honour and interests of the House of Brunswick, and the
peace and safety of the Country, as to have subjected them to
general contempt arid reprobation* but have, at the same time,
displayed such a signal incapacity and Indecisien, at must be
alone sufficient to demonstrate their unfitness for administering
the affairs of a distressed and divided People.
" That they have finally advised the Prerogatidv of Parlia.
ment at a period when the agitated state of the public mind, the
recent issue of the extraordinary discussions sboie allUded to,
and the unusual pressure of business occasioned by the lope de-
pendence of these discussions, required, more than at any other
time, the vigilant and unremitted attentiors.of the Great Coun-
.
ell of the Nation.
14 We consider it, therefore, to be a duty irresistibly imposed
span as, in this conjuncture of affairs, most humbly, but most
asenestly, to entreat of your Majesty,"that your Majesty may be
graciously pleased forthwith to remove from your Majesty's
Presence and Councils those Individuals by whose snuestiona
your, Majesty, and the great body of your Majesty's subjects{
lime been involved in so many calamities.—And your Pell--
040 TM sever Pray, ate."
401111 Crux, Esq. moved that the Thanks of the
Meeting be giSen to the Chairman, for his very able
iamoduct in the Chair. The motion was secondra, by
J.P.GIANT, Esq. and carried by acclamgion.
-4 Me. Metionterr returned thanks
.for,-* honour'
conferred npim bim. • • . •
;The Meeting tlien dispersed. The- number of
perking present has been calculated. at• 4,000. • The
crowd 'ol.people around the house, -who could -not
taltrAccess, was very great.

- "r: ?t;

Yesterday, at three o'clock, the Duchies 4t
the Princesses VICTORIA and FRODORt and suite,
returned to her Royal Highness's apartments in the
King's Palace, Kensington, from a visit of some weeks
to Prince LEOPOLD, at Claremont, and 'which was
prolonged on account of the extreme mildness of the
season. The Royal Duchess, soon after her arrival at
the Palace, hastened to pay an affectionate visit to'
the Duchess of CLARENCE. Her Royal Highness was'
accompanied by her daughter, the Princess FEODORE..
The Duchess had the pleasure to find the Duchess of
CLARENCE and the infant Princess ELIZABETH goini
on as well as possible. The Duchess of KENT an
tie Princess FM:WORE returned to Kensington be-
tween dive and six o'clock. The Princess Sotnta
called in the morning.
Yesterday, the Earl of DONOUGHMORE, and his.
nephew, Captain HUTCHINSON, late of the Ist Foot
Guards, left town for Milford, on their way to Lord
Dorrononsiones seal at Khocklofty, near Clonmell.
By the Lady Popham, we have received letters
and papers from Jamaica to the 10th instant. The
Kingston Chroride, in.speaking of the affairs of slid.
Spanish Main, says, that orders had been received
from Panama by the Jamaicahonses, to countermand
the purchases of goods intended for the Perummarket;
in consequence of advices having been received there'
of Lord CociIRANa having landed troops on the coast
of Pises, about 35 leagues S.E. of Lime. This id
the place the Chili Admiral ?risked in his late excur-
sion down the Pacific, where he, irritated the inhabi.;
tants so much by wantonly destroyinga large quan-
tity of private property. The Jamaica merchants •
regret this temporary intetruption,, though- they dd
not apprehend any fatal consequences, as k was
dent Cociraatre was unaware, at the time he landed;
of the enthusiasm that had been excitedin Peril by thd
Proclamation of the Constitution. The VICEROY wad
prepared with a force of 8,000 Moth and the whole
of the country was arming to repel the aggression.
Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, an alarm.:
ing fire broke out in one of the houses adjacent to
Kensington Palace, adjoining to that in which Mr.
SICARD resides, which caused great confusion in the
Palace. There lino accountingfor the origin of, the
fire ; it was discOvered in one of the upper apart.:
ments shortly after it commenced, when the parish
engine arrived and rendered every assistance. The
military were soon called out, and proceeded to the
Palace, and continued until the tire was at an end,
which lasted several hours, but the flames were gee
under by the arrival of the engines from London.
During the time the fire continued it burned with
great fury ; every exertion was made to save the pm.
• r"' which proved successful r but the roofs of t'*u
louses, that of Mr. SWARD and the one adjoining
were distroyelle