Star.
London, England, 1820-12-09 00:00:00

NIDDLES4X LUIEETING.

Yesterday, a Meeting of Freeholders of the County
of Middlesex took place at the Mermaid Tavern,
Hackney, pursuant to Requisition, to take into con-
sideration the propriety of a Petition to the King to
dismiss his Ministers, and an Address to the Queen,
congratulating her on the defeat of the Biil. By oae
o'clock, the Grand Assembly form was crowded
with most respectable Freeholders; and the crowd
presented that peculiarity which has frequently cha-
racterized recent Public Meetings, of many females
appearing amongst and struggling with the throng,
to listen to the proceedings of the day. Some side
benches were also crowded with most respectably
dressed females. On the platform at the upper end of
the loom, appeared many of the leading Freeholders
ef the County, the Members for the County, &c.
Mr. Sheriff WA ITIIMAN having taken the Chair,
andist the most flattering- marks of respect, he pro-
ceeded to account for the delay that had iccurred in
the assembling of the Meetine. The Sheriffs had, in
reality, had a good deed to Vo since they had been
in office; and he had named yesterday se'nnighte
thinking they would be anxious to meet as early as
possible. Some Freeholders wished more time to be
given, and -he sent round notices to the Newspapers
of the postponement, which, however, did not get
inserted in time to prevent considerable disappoint-
ment. It was his wish, and that of his colleague, to
meet the desires of the Freeholders, and they should
always hold themselves bound to attend to them.—
He then read the Requisition, and afterward re-
marked, that though he had no right to take part in
the proceedings, he doubted not that he should have
reason to approve of what they resolved. In conclu-
sion, he hoped that they would give every Gentle-
man who might present hithself a fair hearing.
Mr. PETER Moons observed, that he was one of
those who had been instrumental in calling the Meet-
_ ing co address the King, to change that system which
had been so ruinous to the People. Ile was glad to
see their worthy Magistrate in the Chair, for he was
one who had done much to enlighten the public mind,
he had been greatly instrumental in making the sen-
timents of the City of London almost wholly in fa-
vour of the People—(C/seers).—He (Mr. Moore) had
recently had an opportunity of speaking to them
largely respecting Green Bags. Those filthy bags
had been blown into air ; not a vestige remained ;
but, he repeated, all had been done by the voice of
the People—(Applause).—The Country saw what had
been done by attacking the Green Bags; but what
might have been the result had the Cato-street Con-
spiracy, which was " a Green Bag out of doors," or
the Manchester Green Bag, been exposed ?—(Hear,
hear/)—These, and :he thousand other Green Bags,
the stinking Green Bags, were of a like character—
but they had now been pretty well exposed—(Ap-
plause).—He lamented, however, that no reference
was made in the Requisition to the present system
carried on, which produced gambling in the Funds.
The-Consolidated Fund had been broken in upon—
the Country had been deceived out of 350 million's ;
and while that system lasted, there was no hope of
redemption—(Cheers).—lle concluded with moving
a kesolutioo for an Address to the King to dismiss
his Ministers, who had sought to bring into contempt
the dignity of the Crown.
Mr. illteee said, he should move an Amendment—
to require any new Ministers to give a pledge that
they would do their utmost to give the People Par-
liamentary Reform--(Loud applause).--Except the
Country had some such pledge from Lord Grey, or
whoever else might be Minister, they would be lend-
ing themselves to a delusion—(Continued applause).
The time was come when they ought to speak out :
they ought to declare that they would no longer en-
dure to be governed by such men. He was proceed-
ing to advert to an Address of his own ; when
-Mr. Sheriff WAITIIMAN called him to order, as
there was no Address before the Meeting.
Mr. Mees admitted that he was wrong in speak-
ing of any Address—he would confine himself to the
Amendment—(Coninsion continued).•
Some individual in the centre of the room attempted
to speak, but uproar continued.
Mr. Sheriff Werru AI es entreated that order might
be preserved—confusion could only degrade their
sentiments—( I icor, hear).
The Gentleman resumed:—He said his name was
Williams.--ESome persons called out " Williams, the
Parish Clerk 13—TheResolvaion was to censure Mi-
nisters ; now as to " them meu"—•—(Mach laugker
and uproar).
Mr. Sheriff WAMMAN said, as the Gentleman
was going to defend Ministers, he had a double claim
on their indulgerice—(Cheers).
Mr. Williams further observed, as for " them men"
—(Laughter).—he hoped they would have a better
defender : but he was not a defender of green bags
" at all times"—(Fresh laughter and uproar).
Mr. Sheriff \VAITIIMAN begged the Room to hear
the Gentleman ; no doubt he would be answered ;
they need not fear—(Cheers).
Mr. Williams.—lf I am wrong, they " may easily
stst me at rest f'—(Resumed laughter. Great colfu-
;jou now prevailed):
Mr. Sheriff WAITHMAN said, he was bound to hear
all parties : the Gentleman was doing them all the
good he could—(Cheers).
Mr.Williams.—There wass-a false impression going
oad respecting the nature of Green Bags—(Loud
laughter).—He was much surprised at " them men"
who were so reisinformed—(Continued laughter and'
vproar).--Mr. W. retired from the contest—and
The Resoletion was put and agreed to, Mr. Wil-
liams holding up his hand against it.
Mr. PETER Moore then read the Address proposed
for the adoption of the Meeting. It was very long,
and was drawn up with very great force and ability.
Mr. Moore thought this Address came home to the
feelings of every man, and he hoped that something
would be done to relieve the country from such Mi-
nisters— (Applause).
Mr. Mites next appeared, to propose another Ad-
dress by way of amendment, the foundation of which
was to urge the necessity of Parliamentary Reform.
If some such Address as he proposed were not
adopted, their Address, like other Addresses, would
be thrown under Lord Sidmoeth's table. This Ad-
dress denied that the Hotiegief Commons was the
Commons House of the Pimple ; and to shew the
etFect of theirxontreul, it assetteJ, that in thirty years
the expeadittue of ile•nation was greater than it had

been in the thousand preceding years—(Near, hear).
It also condemned the proceedings instituted igainst
the Queen, and the refusal of a Palace, her Majesty
being as much entitled to a Palace as his Majesty,
(Cheas).—lt likewise implored his Majesty to take
to his Councils men who would adiise safe and salu-
tary Reform ; • which was the best, indeed the only
means of averting .dangerous convulsions.—When
the Address was concluded, there were some cries
of " Too long !"
Major CARTWRIGHT seconded the Amendment,
because it adverted to that which could alone save
the country. A change of men would do nothing ;
for Ministers were but the tools of, the Borough-
mongers—(Applause).
Sir GERARD NOEL spoke strongly in favour of the
amended Address.

Mr. BY ac said, he could net advise his Constituents
to adopt Mr. Mills's Address, for it denied that the
House of Commons constituted the " legal" Repre-
sentatives of the People—(Mzs h dissentio::).—The
King could do no wrong—( Much laughter).—The
Ministers were responsible—(Cheers)—and he could
not agree to any Address that contained what was
personally offensive to the Monarch.
Mr. Hume said, the country had come to that cri-
sis, when the truth ought to be spokea—(C4ecrs).—
What was the state of the Throne and of the Coun-
try ? Was not a change wanted ? It was ; but a
change of system only would serve the country. He
went all the length of the first Address ; but; circum-
stanced as was the country, he did not think it went
half far enough--(Cheers).-11e lamented that Mr.
Byeg had not been more fully heard. In the second
Address, there were some words only to which he
objected ; such as calling the House of Commons an
44 illegal assembly"—( Hear, hear 1)—It was idle to
talk of change, unless the Representation was re-
formed. That alone,would pacify and benefit the
nation. In that view of the subject, the second Ad-
dress had the preference, because it went to the root
of the evil. The present Representation was not
44 illegal," but he deemed it' to be unconstitutional ;
that was the opinion he thought of Mr. Mills; and
was there a man, even the defender of Green Rigs,-
' who would say that the country was fully and
fairly represented ?—(Loud and repeated cheering).—
Could any one say that the representation was what
it ought to be, and what he hoped to see it before he
died ?—(Loud cheers). Now representation and secret
enquiries went together. Let the country remember
that fact; and let the country recollect, if there had
been a full, a fair representation, that the nation
would not have been so overwhelmed with difficul-
ties, debt, taxes, and armies. He deemed it their
duty to tell the King the truth, for he could not know
it; and Mr. Hume, therefore, hoped that the second
Address would be adopted. He suggested some ver-
bal alterations. With those amendments he should
express the opinion, that the second Address did not
contain one sentiment but what was warranted by
truth. As they ought to speak the truth, he hoped
the second Address would be adopted. A change of
system would put an end to that time-serving set. of
expedients, which had of late afflicted the country. A
change of measures—not of men only—would sa-
tisfy the country--(Cheers).
Mr. Brno observed, from what Mr. Hume had
said, that he was more convinced than ever of the
impropriety of the second Address—(Cries of " No,
no"). He was not stating their opinions, he was only
expressing his own ; but as to the second Address, he
had no hesitation in asserting, that it contained what
was very little short of treason —(A laugh and cries
of " No"). He also thought the introduction of the
Reform Quektion was inj:trious ;, why not let that
question stand alone, instead of bringing it in on all
occasions?—(Diseprobation).
Mr. WHITBREAD was of opinion that Mr. Moore's
Address did not go far enough—( Cheers) ;—and,
on the other hand, he disapproved of many expres-
siont in the second Address. It would be better to
refer Mr. Mills's Address to a Committee to curtail,
it. He was not of opinion with the Bishop of Lon-
don, that on a moral question the King could do no
wrong ; but he could not agree to an Address that
contained expressioni personally offensive to the
Monarch. If such exceptions were made, he should
approve of the second Address. He was of opinion
that Reform was the ground-work of the whole. He
thought that nothing but Reform would satisfy the
country, and the late treatment of the Commons
had made many Reformers even in that House—
( Cheers ).—He thought that the country would be
justified in instructing their Representatives not to
consent to any supplies till a redress of grievances
was granted.
Mr. Mfrs.' was ready to agree to the suggested
alterations ; but he denied that there was anything
in his Address treasonable, or personally offensive
to the King.
Mr. Moons said, be would leave his Address to
the Meeting. Without Reform, certainry'there was
no hope! The House of Commons had been treated
" like a pack of hounds." Without Reform, the
country was not safe.
A Committee was appointed, at the suggestion of
Mr. Wutranuart ; asd they retired to settle the Pe-
tition to the King.