Star.
London, England, 1821-01-25 00:00:00

tend with anything like comfort to themselves, and
he should therefore occupy a much shorter portion
of their time than he should otherwise have done, in
stating the reasons which induced him to sign the
Requisition for calling the present Meeting—(.Hear).
—They all knew that the Country was at this time
placed in a most extraordinary position. The Gentle-
man who last addressed there had talked of a torrent
coming down,. to which it was necessary to oppose a
dam of loyalty! Now,. what they were peculiarly
called upon to consider at this moment was, whence
the torrent came, and who it was that had opened
the sluices ?—(Loud applause)—He feared that if the
sluices continued to be opened as they had been, all
the dams which these loyal Gentlemen might erect
for our protection, would be found to fail. This was
precisely the question at issue between the Gentle-
men who had signed the Loyal Declaration and them-
selves, who felt it their duty to call the present Meet-
ing. Before making any observation upon that De-
claration, he trusted the Meeting would permit him
to state his entire concurrence in the observation of
his Honourable Friend (Mr. J. Smith), as to the
respectability of the Gentlemen who signed it. Un-
doubtedly a more honourable and respectable set of
names, to the extent to which it went, was never
annexed to any public Declaration. He trusted that
no Gentlemen had met here with the desire of ca-
lumniating or throwing aspersions upon the inten-
tions or motives of each other, but that all were de-
sirous either of lending their assistance, or giving
a patient attention to others, while a calm appeal
was made, if calm appeal they would permit, from
the declaration of a few respectable individuals as
the sentiments and opinions of the great body of
the Merchants and Traders of this Metropolis.—
He apprehended that the position in which the Gen-
tlemen stood who signed that Declaration, was pre-
cisely the position of all the Loyal Addressers
throughout the United Kingdom. The Loyal Ad-
dresses and Declarations, as they were called, arose
from the same motives in all parts of the country.
They had been met in different Counties by Public
Meetings, and he must say, that wherever they had
been so met, they had been uniformly defeated—
(Loud applause, '
mingled tvith cries of " No, no !")
lle hoped that a Meeting of the Merchants and
Traders of the City of London would not be found
to present a humiliating contrast to the calm, manly,
and deliberate character of the proceedings at most
of our great Public Meetings, and that their sense
of justice would prevent them from coming to a
decision without hearing the arguments which might
be urged on both sides—(Applause, with some hisses).
—The question between the Declarers and them-
selves was precisely by whom, and by what
means the country had been brought into its present
extraordinary situation ?" The beclarers affirmed
that a spirit of irreligion, sedition, and disloyalty,
prevailed throughout the country, which rendered it
necessary for loyal men to come forward, and express
their affection for existing institutions. We say, on the
other hand, said Mr. B. that the country was compa-
ratively in a state of tranquillity; comparatively,
because undoubtedly, amidst the aggravated cala-
mities produced by a long and protracted war, it
was naturally to be expected that muck distress
would prevail, and some degree of disorder was
almost the inevitable consequence of that distress.—
But this state of disorder and dissatisfaction had
nearly subsiJed, and the country was beginning to
enjoy a state of comparative tranquillity, when cer-
tain persons brought forward a proceeding which
roused the indignation and outraged the feelings of
the country front one end of it to the other.
Here the Honourable Gentleman was interrupted
by renewed vocilerations. The undulations of the
immense crowd which filled the body of the Hall,
had for some time indicated an approaching storm,
and a scene of riot and confusion shortly ensued, of
which it would be vain to attempt to convey an ade-
quate idea to our Readers. Shouts of applause and
disapprobat'on, mingled yells, plaudits, hisses, and
vociferations, set all attempts at renewing discussion,
or restoring order to the Meeting, at defiance.
After reperted ineffectual attempts to resume his
speech, Mr. BARING at length retired.
Mr. T. WILSON was equally unsuccessful in his en-
deavours to obtain a hearing, as was Mr. MARTINEAU.
The LORD MAYOR came forward, and expressed
his regret at the inconvenience sustained by the Gen-
tlemen in the body of the Hall, and entreated an im-
partial hearing for every Gentleman who presented
himself to address them.

Mr. BARING main came forward, and was re-
ceived with loud enthusiastic cheers. The great majo-
rity of the Meeting was evidently desirous that he
should proceed; but the efforts of the Faction were
renewed with increased violence, confusion became
" worse confounded," and the Honourable Gentleman
was again compelled to retire.
The LORD MAYoR said, that as there appeared to
be no disposition to hear any Gentleman who came
forward to deliver his sentiments—a circumstance
which he was willing to ascribe to the inconveniencies
of their situation, for he could scarcely believe it pos-
sible that any Gentleman could come there with the
intention of creating disorder—he should now pro-
ceed to take the sense of the Meeting upon the Reso-
lutions and the Petition.

Mr. J. HALL (the individual who sent the Circu-
lar, requesting the Gentlemen to whom it was ad-
dressed to attend an hour before the time appointedfor
the Public Meeting) protested against any Resolutions
being put, unless they were distinctly heard by the
whole Meeting.
The Loan MAvon now put the question, whether
the Resolutions should be put, which was carried in
the affirmative by an immense majority.
The Resolutions, and the Petition founded upon
them, were then put and carried by a majority of at
east four to one. The shew orhands upon the nega-
hive Ix; tg putt was very scanty.
Sir W. CURTIS declared, with his characteristic good
humour, that his friends were completely beaten.
Mr. P. Gnarryzia. moved the Thanks of the Meet-
ing to the Lord Mayor, for his honourable and im-
partial conduct in the Chair.
Immediately after his Lordship had returned thanks,
and retired from the front of the hustings, a Gentle-
man stepped forward, and called out, " The Queen!—
The Queen r The cry was received with enthusiasm,
and was followed by three distinct and loud cheers,
in which at least five-sixths of the company joined.—
The Meeting then began to disperse, and in a few mi-
nutes afterwards the Hall was cleared.