Star.
London, England, 1816-10-18 00:00:00

. .
the ditties: of trade 'was in fact undeniable—it was
to be Veen anti felt in every qoatter of the empire,
and in every class of the community; and it would
be absurd to suppose, a; tee Minister wished tofitod.
tate, that such universal calamity was the Mere fie.
suit of a transition from war to peace. No—the aid
ley deeper, and threatened a long-lived misfortiht.
Such, indeed, was the general end juit impression of
the public ; and therefore, instead ait that' mirth and
glee, and gaiety and merriment, which.might be ex-
petted on the restoration of peace, we saw nothing
but misery and despair ; the merchant without mar-
kets, the manufacturer without customers, the trades-
man and his fanffly starving, the agriculturist aban-
doning his farm to emigrete to some foreign land, if
he can contrive to eicape the horror of imprison:vent ;
a-great part of the land conseqnently left uncultivated,l
anti the labourer thrown upon the poet rates, while 1
the common, if not the exclusive topic of converse.;
tion throughout the country refers to extents, dis-
tresses, or executinns for tent and taxes—(al►/tlens),
Such were the gLaomy symptoms of the times—such
the alarming presages of some general Convulsion.-::
The questions, then, for the
,people to consider, in
order to avert the danger, were, first, whether they
should state their complaints to the Government ?
Secondly, whether, if they made the statement in the
way proposed to-day, that statement would be heard?
and, thirdly, whether, if heard, redress would becb-
tained, or any remedy applied ? But, whatever the
result, he would exhort the people to Make their case
known—to proclaim their grievances. What, said
he, shall we, in such a dire! el state of distress, alloiv
ourselves to regard those impudent hypocrites, to
whom we mainly owe that -distress, when they tell
ws that we ought to sit down in patience to enjoy the
comforts of our Holy Religion ? Do these hypocrites
/themselves ever tamely submit to any injolyabey can
redress, or to any evil they can remove ? Are they
to be found even quietly enduring any privation ?
No.—they have abundapee, while so many of you
swine; yet they recommend you to submit to wrongs,_
which, it they touched themselves, would render them
restless and indignant. But shall we attend to such
canting impostors ? Shall we pertnit ourselves to be
cajoled oat of our senses, as we have been out of our
money-o(appieure) ?—Shall we heed the assertion of
them inspobtrus, that our disteesses are merely tem-
porary Would that we could believe this declara-
tion L But it wool., be inconsistent with the honour
of the British intellect to subscribe to the sophistry
Wpon which that declaration rested. The declaration
and its authors were indeed pretty much upon a par.
Those authors have snstained the base system which
has paralysed our industry, and inundated the country
with the moat flagrant corruptions that have ever dis-
graced or afflicted any nation. Is it possible, then,
to restrain indignation, when we hear those men,
who have preyed like vultures upon the vitals of the
wintry, and Ow, even now, are revelling in every
variety of luxury, tell us to wait with patience, that
time will remove all our difficulties; that things truly
will yet taike their natural course; and that our pre-
sent distress is merely the conseqeence of peace ? Is
it possible not to fed astonishment, and something
more, when at such a crisis we reflect upon the thou-
saods distributed among sinecurists•and courtly syco-
phants—when we see such immense autos squandered
in the construction of supernumerary palaces and
superfluous streets, while thousands of those who
possess as pure and honourable blood, and feelings
quite as virtuous as ever belonged t 6 royalty, are lite-
tally starving—(load plaudits)?—But profusion and
profligacy, and insensibility to the state of the people,
stare one in the face in every direction. There :are at
present in this country four persons, one a Lord spi.
ritual, and the other three Lords temporal. who take
from the public parse, for doipg nothing, no less
thaa .1050,000 a-year I Now. Geademen, it will be
in your recollection, that according to a calculation
of Arthur Young's, which was laid before a Parlia.
atentary Committee some yeah time, 4150,000 a-
year would suffice to supply 25,000 persons with
bread, so that the four Lords to whom I have alluded,
who are literally a burthen upon the country, receive
as much for doing nothing, as would serve to support
2.5.0tf0 of the carved that are starving. Yet, those ser=
fish drones, who thus prey upon our resources, pre-
sume to insult the country by recommending charitable
contributions for the people, while they take care tce
hold tight their own purse strings, giving merely
such a trifle as serves only to offend the understand-
ing of the country— (eNdatue).—Such is the fate to
which great Britain has been degraded, after baviog
so long occupied the most eminent station, after
having so often stood forth as the liberater dilations,
as the advocate of the oppresied, and the support of
the needy. This golden mine, as all the nations of
Europe have occasionally found it, is now, atlas, so
admitted, as to he compelled ro receive an eleemosy-
nary donation, and front whom ? from a Frenchman
(hear, harasser), from a Boutbon too—from a mem-
ber of that family which is truly endeared to us by
their tederanr spirit and liberal conduct towards Pro-
testants (applause), and still more for having so ma-,
terially contributed to wrest America from the domi.
aim of England. Bet there is something so odious.
and contemptible in the conduct and character of this
fatnilys that an Englishman tenacious of the conse-
quence of his country, must feel peculiarly humbled'
by the circumstance to which I have alluded. Roe
who that is sensible of pride could wish to owe MY,
obligation to such a family, who are as silly in their
superstition as they are inhuman in their policy, whe
are at once cowardly and cruel, who thc moment
Bonaparte landed in France without may Army, skip.
ped away from Paris like so many grasshoppers (a
laagh, and hear, ,hear). It is possible not to compare
the circumstance of Englishmen receiving bounty
from such a family to the farcical exhibition of Bri-
tannia begging, like Belisarius, for a halfpenny (hear,
bear). But all this disgrace is owing to the oligarchy
that misgOverns England. It might be, he observed,
that although he believed most of those who heard
bins very well understood what misery meant, that
some inighereouire an esplanation.of oligarchy, and
he would therefore explain it: An oligarchy meant
supreme power in the hands of a few, and such was
the bane of Ibis country. Yet that ollgalelly
bawd. in be actuated in all its conduct by the love+.
the country, while la fact their only inipulsemas awe.,
sakrasas Aekadit or the cursed thirst ‘or power Oar,
4traa,hear)i. Among this oligatchy were to be fotind
tip prinnird 'advocates for Standing Armies, nattier,
.eviart post et that sync* of wilich the sonntry moo
-

plained. But the imoßie litany.lns were =whip
blame for the prevalence of that system, Poe they,
had looked on as if they wore spell-struck at Owl
career, of the oligarchy; without any material intoisit
terenciroeattetnpt to resist its cotrse. Hence, prekl
haps, env Stithiling Rimy hid become so ;snort:mos ate
to threaten' the security 'of what. scuains of our Conk'
stitutional liberty. It any Gentleman doubted that
the existence of a standing army_was dan4eroos to
popular liberty, he must have read history with great
inattention. For history, both ancient and modern,
both foreign and domestic, presented the most striking
examples of that danger. He should think it enough
to cite one instance. Whea a standing army was
established at Rome, Lepidus, who was a member of
the first triumvirate formed for the destruction of
Ihuman liberty, issued a proclarhatioo, promising joy
and prosperity to those who supported his measures,
and denounciog -misery and proscription against those
who opposed them. Proscription to Rome meant
thartbe name f the proscribed should be prirlaimed
and posted up in the public streets, and it eta! after:
wards lawful for any one to strike og his bead; or put
liim to death in any other manner ; 'and the terrible
denunciation of Lepidin was carried into effect. For
no less than 20,000 proscribed by the totannkal tri-
umvirate were put to death by the aid of a standing
army; and it was remarkable that the first Idea of a
Property Tax originated with this triunivirate, who
larmed the great prototype of so many succeeding
Governments (a/Ohne:el. But the fate of the proto-
type should serve as a warning to the imitators.,
This country was, he hoped, sate from the great evils
poi civil,war ; but it was impossible that things could
long remain in their present' state ; and if any such
circumstances should arise, there was too much
reason to dread, it would be idle to talk Of the Law
and the Constitution when the standing army ap-
peared. The Law was mute, and the CuAstitution a
dead letter, when opposed to that sword, which was
the usual instrument and hest ally of a tyrannicAl
Prince (andatau). Here the Honourable Gemlemao
quoted the speech of James the First to that Fatt-
ment, which, be it observed, was onnaal. ~,s;s,
speech the King said in sal:titmice, gothoiltiAirt.
ferred the good of his people to tht indulg Ilk'
own wishes, because he felt, that in attending.
good, he always best consulted his own a
. • .
adding, that the power he possessed was oraastril Or.
the good of the people, and not for his own good ;
and that those who would urge him to think other-
wise were vipers and pests to himself, as well as to
the common weal."—Had this dectrine, said Mr.
Schultze, been acted upon by the tuccessors of James
the First, one Monarch would not have lost bis head,
and another would not have been dismissed from the
Throne (aNdassie). But the fact was, that the doc-
trine of James I. seemed to have been Altogether
forgotten in =Silent times. Prioces might, however,
yet lament that they had been so forgetful of their
duties (aNtlaun).—With respect to Parliamentary
ltoform, the Honourable Gentleman said, that he
should add nothing to what had been already Ob-
served upon that interesting subject. ACcording to
his judgment, a Meeting should be convened distinctly
for the-purpose of preparing a Petition or Petitions,
with a view to the attainment of ltelorni ; and at stick
a Meeting he should take occasion to deliver his sen-
timents. He was firmly convinced, that unless a
radical and effectual Reform took place, some
alarming convulsion was to be apprehended. The
dauber of the country was most menacing ; a dread-
ful storm was collected, which, unless speedily
averted, would burst with unheard-of fury. A
reformation could securely protect us ; and in ap-
proaching the Throne to petition for the attainment
of that desirable rceasure, be should advise the ap-
proach to be made with dignity and determination :
that the people should approach the 'Mon. with
Magna Cbarta in their hands and firmness in their
hearts, to tell the Prince Regent that they come, not
to implore, but to demand their rights—to ten him,
whatever parasites or sycophants may say. that your
complainu are reasonable and well founded, and that
they ought to meet immediate consideration—to tell
him also, that your grievances must be remedied, and
that the delay of your redress may involve in eternal
destruction all those by whom you are opposed.—
(Loo i and repented Istordits.)
Mr. Wacui recommended the propriety of cond..
dering the mein: by which emploOment might be
provided for the supthers who were now idle. Great
good might, la his opinion. be done by giving more
encouragement to the fisheries, which formed a com-
paratively untried source of wealth. The public
distress was admitted on all hands ; and if the people
were not employed, how was that distress to be to-
lieved, or how were the talcs to be paid ? And the
taxes must be paid. or how was the country to keep
faith with the public creditor by paying that debt
which it was bound to discharge. (Mims, and" No,
whit is not tiss debt Oise country.' ) •
Mr. CALVanr presented himself..-He wished, he
said, to know what debt the Plonourable Gentleman
meant the country was bound to pay. If he meant
the debt of 1784, that was already paid off, through
the operation of the Sinking Fund, but still the coun-
Wy was compelled to pay the interest upou that debt.
This he could by ae oseans eonsidier fair, of reason-
U *ay men Vahl off, his bend, he would natu-
rally &Adder, that *son disithargiog dm. principle
the interest eras no longer payable ; and upon what
principle of justice, he would ask, did it happen not
tone the carne case with respect to the public debt ?
, But the fact was, that Idinisten wished to preserve
the Sinking. Fund, because it enabled them to make.
war, and ratse money whenever they. thought proper,
b! keeping up an artificial price iti the stocks. He
would, however, think it much more equitable that
the people should at oace be relieved frostt the 16
millions a year, paid to the Commissioners for ma-
naging the Sinking Fund. The whole of the taxes,
amounted to about S 6 millions, and 15 millions out
of that would afford to the sountry a most material
relief. Therafore,in the appropriation of the Sinking
Fund to the relief of tilt public, tender the,,preseat
exigency, ha fully 'grad with Mr: Kournsidt. It
was preposterous to maiatain, that this land' should be
Allowed togo on accumulating, to -reducgthe tra-
tional debt for the benefit of posterity. , For the pre-
,oent generation haleutiered, aad ware*iling ro
much, that it ought to be relieved, and posiietity lofts
en its Own resources.:Ma 'WC twejliqiifA;
Ids* clsosrs)-.7. the Iteptupul.t
11:114;r1 Irr: 4
. e • crisseax. Wm"
. •

sax!. a friend to the Established Church, **.....
which a conspiracy seemed to be formed among the
Dissenters. The dissenters were not, he maintained,
entitled
.to the regard et ony.poptilae Meeting, for
there• was no act of Ministetiarprofligacy, oppressions
tiiihjustice, which they were oot willing,to aid and
.abet. The country knew a ell what had been the
Conduct, of Wilberforce, and Thornton, and such
Dissenters. But as to tythes, every man knew that he
Was by law subject to them when 11: hired or purchased.
Where then was the injustice of continuing this, the
legitimate profit of the clergy ? The fact was, that
the landlords being unwilling to reduce their high
I rents, which formed the great grievance of the far.
I lasers—had coetrived to raise an outcry against the
I property of the Church. (That speech war iaterrepted
by
_frequent nark of efteapprolfratiots.) •
Mr. WeLLs, adverting to the distressed elate of the
country, said, that the Agiiceltural Report, which 1
it had vainly been attempted, to step, spoke volumes.
It wits useless to think of Presenting a petition to toe
Prince Regent, surrounded as he was, unless they
wen;
.in a body.
MT. CALVIRT was OW", 'that, if they went up in
a body, their career might be stopped by some of
those lanisiaries Of which his friend had spoken, and
observed, whether the Deputation was large or small
which might 'be 'appointed to present the Address, he
trusted he should not be excluded.
Mr. HOLMES informed the Meeting, that a Peti•
don had been put into his h► lals. which, if it out
their approbation, he would read. The petition was
accordingly read.
Mr. !JAM' moved, that the petition be presented
by the two Members of the Borough. Mr. Calvert and
Mr. Barclay. (ilt the mention of the hut Geallensetes
Raw. much confuses" ensued.)
Mr. CALVIIDT proposed, that the petition should
lie at the TO= Han for signature% instead•of heir*
signedby twelve Electon ; and explained, that a pe-
tition to the House of Commons was considered only
to dist from those persons whose names appeared on ,
4,.. it..."
.-trped to. 1
. . ~ FAST 'again CUM- forward to propose, that
, ' Calvert end Barclay should present the fi Ad-
` `,Wr:.% (Here loud cries If Strike kin oat 1 and a vote of
t. mei plate : the lair Genthwag's same was as.
ear' jwaig 'Stench nal.)
' MrTHanr moved that the thanks of the Meeting
lb, give% to Mr. Calvert. -
i Mr. CALVIIRT returned thanks. He laid it was his
duty to obey his Constituents, and he hoped that no
I, act of his had given them cause to regret their choice
'of him. He had been hissed when he came into the
room, but it was created by an individual with whom
he had a private disagreement, and lie thought it un-
necessary to take any notice of it in his public capa-
city. He said, that in the late Gloucester Election
Ihe had requested two frieads of his to vote for Mr.
Webb, who, he had beard, was a very upright man,
but they told him that they must have a post chaise
and four, and that their wives and children must also
go down with them.—( Much laughter.) After ob-
serving, that would all Electors choose their Repre•
sentatives as they had chosen him, there woull be to
1 occasion to petition Parliament, he retired araidst
' applause.
Mr. KEMP4ISH cone forward to propose a vote of
censure'on Mr. Barclay, which, atter some explana-
tion between Mr. Calvert and others, WaS carried,
with tluee cheers.
The usual votes of Thanks were then given to the
respective persons, and thenssemblage broke up.
Futs.—Yesterday a ire broke out in the house
No. 50, Great Russell.sueet, Bloomsbury. It ap-
peared to bate proceeded from a flue of a copper, and
communicated to some of the bond timber in the
wall, which from the smell of firei appeared to have
been burning for two days, until the wainscot took
fire. The timely arrival of the firemen prevented the
fire from spceading, or doing any very serious injury.
MARLDOROUGH4TRZET...-Af UT many weeks labo-
rious investigation, a case of burglary, of no common
kind, has been discovered, aad the evidence to bear
against it has been rendered complete. It was stated
two months since, that a burglary had been commit.
ted in the house of Mn. Ashworth, in Berner's.stteer
and which was stripped of plate to the value of 4400,
together with apparel, dn. The persons in custody
are four is number, one of them the house mai
charged as au accessary before the fact, who it a
pears on the night preceding the robbery made .
excuse to go below, to give access to one of the rob-
bers. They are all committed foe trial.
BOW-STRZDT..-USING OLD Soesirs.—Yesterda)
lifr.Funnor, the Collector of the Property and Income
Tax for the parish of Mile End, was brought to •
office, and underwent, a second examination, charged
with using and uttering false stamps to the receil
which he gave on receiving payment of thi.aba
Taxes. Although there are a number of. chafe
against him, yet none .were gone into except that
Mr. Syer, the particulars of which were stated on I
first examination. /dr. Syer attended, and prate
a receipt which he had received= from the prisoner
long since as the year 1812, on which was pasted
stamp in a clumsy manner. which, on holding to
light, it was evident had been used before, arwriee
veas visible on it. I'he Prisoner did not deny
charge, although he was cautioned he was criminat-
iag himself ; and said that when he was short
stamps, he was in the habit of cutting off stamp
from other papers, and pasting them on printed
blank forms, for the Property and income 'rev
—Mr. HANBON. the Solicitor to the Stamp Offii
attended to conduct the prosecution for thatero,
against the Prisoner ; he stated that he was in
session of the particulars of, a number of charges
oagainst the prisoner, of considerabw magnitude, h
he did not think fit to proceed in them .01 he '
,consulted with the Commissioners of the Stamp 1.
flee, the Ataorney General, and the Solicitor General.
He should therefore only pray that the prisoner
, might be committed on Mr. Syer's case' , which •
only a simple felony, the case coming under the cl
of tk.e Act of Parliament.which made the trausposin
of stamps a transportable offence, and it would
with the Law Officers whether he should indict for
capital offence or not. Mr. Anos.rdus attended '
the primer, and offered bail to any amount.
Haveon,,lo reply, said the prisoner would not "
quitted to bail with his canoeist, although he should
lot object, and lett it to the Magistrate. . Mr. BIDDY'
Observed, that be thought the charge against the
"pie of goo serious a nature to admit him to bait.
Wend therefacs billy committed foe. trial. ,:

CORONEA'S INQUIV.