Star.
London, England, 1821-01-19 00:00:00

164TSHIRP, MEETING.

- •
Wednesday, one of the most numerous and respect-
able Meetings ever witnessed in this County was held
st the Market Cross, in the Town of Devizes. The
Meeting was called by the HIGH SHERIFF, pursuant
to a Requisition presented to him, signed by the Duke
of SOMERSET, the Mar iris of LANSDOWN, the Earl
of CARNARVON Lord HOLLAND, and the principal
Nobility and Gentry of the County, to consider the
propriety of declaring their unabated and unalterable
attachment to the Constitution, of expressing their
regret at the late unconstitutional proceedings against
the Queen, and of petitioning both Houses of Parlia-
ment to take the most effectual measures for the re-,
moval of every obstacle to a satisfactory and final
arrangement, and to prevent a recurrence te mea-
sures of a similar tendency, and the revival of discus-
sions equally mischievous to the public morals, and
dangerous to the peace of the country.
At an early hour, Country Gentlemen, with their
families, crowded into the town from all parts of the
neighbouring country. The spacious Hustings, which
had been previously erected by the Under Sheriff,
was surrounded by many thousands of the Free-
holders, long before the appointed hour of meeting.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN an ived soon after eleven
o'clock. The Duke of SOMERSET, Sir FRANCIS SUR•
[JETT, Mr. SENETT, Mr. GORDON, Mr. Hormones,
and many other public characters, made their ap-
pearance shortly after : they were repeatedly cheered
by the people. About one o'clock, those Noble Lords
and Gentlemen, accompanied by the Hie? and Sub-
Sheriff, and between one and' two hundred of the
most: leading Gentlemen of the County, proceeded
to the Hustings. At this moment the Meeting pre-
sented a most imposing spectacle :—the Hustings
was surrounded by at least ten thousand persons—
the windows of Parsons Hotel, and, indeed, of the
principal houses in the square, crowded with Ladies
of the first respectability—presented a rare and gra-
tifying assemblage of elegance and beauty—of feel-
ing involuntarily displayed, when a generous or af-
fecting sentiment occasionally fell from the lips of
the different speakers. There was not a single spe-
cial constable sworn in—a few of the ordinary She-
riff's officers, With small white wands, stood before
the Hustings ; they stood there mute and motionless,
for they had nothing to do in the way of preserving
order. Though the crowd was unprecedented, the
utmost decorum and propriety prevailed. They ap-
plauded, indeed, with the warmest enthusiasm, the
sentiments of which they approved ; but they heard
other and opposite sentiments with patience, and
without disrespect. At ten minutes past one, the
Duke of Sosienser moved that the High Sheriff do
take the Chair. The motion having been seconded
by the Marquis of LANSDOWN, was then carried.
The HIGH SHERIFF accordingly took the Chair,
aad commenced the business of the day by reading
the Requisition. lie next stated, that he had that
morning received a letter from Lord Holland, which,
with the permission of the Meeting, lie would.read
to them—(Hear, hear!)—The High Sheriff then read
the letter, which was as follows:
" Ma. Hick Sntiurr—After having signed the Requisition
which was presented to you, I regret tfrat I am prevented, by
indisposition, from attending the Countylleethig which, in com-
pliance with that Requisition, in virtue of the office you hold,
and in the spirit of our free nd popular Constitution—you, Sir,
have so readily and so properly convened. I was in hopes of
having it in nay power to explain to the Freeholders of my me-
five county of Wilts, the Motives which induced me to solicit
you to call them together at this time. If kbe not irregular, I
shall now feel obliged to you, Sir, or to any brother Freeholder,
to read the following short statement to them :
" I was persuaded first, that there never was a period in
which the conduct of public affairs required more deliberation
and wisdom. Secondly, that until the Queen was in full pos-
session, not only of her strict legal rights and dignities, but of all
those outward marks of respect, and other advantages which the
liberal and loyal People of England have been in the habit of
conferring on the consorts of their Sovereigns, the Councils of
the Nation neither would nor scold pay due attention to the va-
rious important matters, upon their decisions on which, the cha-
racter of the country abroad, and the liberty, property, peace,
and happiness of its inhabitants at home, seem to me essentially
to depend. And thirdly, I was convinced, from many observe.
Lions too minute to be detailed in a letter, that nothing but the
sense of the community, conveyed through such channels as the
late restraints on public discussion have left uninterrupted, email
extinguish 4 further proceedings on the subject of the Qom.
It was with such views that I signed a Requisition, calling es
you to convene the Freeholders of the County, and I now write
to you, in the firm hope, that regularly convened by your antb•
pliance therewith, they may do all that in them lies, to prevent
the revival of discussions which, according to the just appre-
hensions of one branch of the Legislature, have been found on
experience, to be derogatory from the honour: of the Crown,
and injurious to the best interests of the country.
" I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir,
" Your obedient humble servant,
" VASSALL HOLLAND.
" 0141 Burlington-street, London, Jan. 16, 18el."
The sentiments contained in this letter were re-
ceived with loud cheers.

The thou Slims/ then said, that having con.
vend the Meeting, he had only to hope that every
Gentleman who should address them would receive
, a full and patient hearing—(Applaese);—and fur-
, Cher, he bad tc, request that Gentlemen would con-
fine themselves to the immediate subject for which
the Meeting had been called.
, 'After the Sheriff had concluded,
Mr. PAUL MSTUURN, of Corsham House, came
forward to move the Resolutions. He was received
, with loud cheers. He said, that in rising to move
the Resolutions, he lamented his inability to do jus-
tice to the subject which, on that occasion, had called
the freeholders of the county together--a subject
which, he would venture to say without the fear of
contradiction,occupied the attention of every man in
this country ; and he would say, that he was able to
add, of every woman and child. He seized with
pleasure on that opportunity of returning thanks to
the High Sheriff of the county, not only for calling
the Meeting, but for the very handsome, liberal man-
ner in whichhe did so—(Applause).—The conduct
of that Gentleman was the more honourable--the
more deserving of public praise, when contrasted with
the conduct of Sheriffs in other counties--indeed, it
might be said that the Sheriff had shed lustre on the
county; he proved that there was no Wiltshire Gen-
tleman so lost to the sense of delicacy, and of duty,
as to refuse to his brother freeholders an opportunity,
of openly avowing their sentiraents,(Applause).—
With respect to the immediate business of the day,
be would ask, could any one doubt that her Majesty
suffered under a foul persecution?—(Cries of No one
ears dos* it)—He believed that-she was the intended
victim of a foul cons , begot in malice, engen-
dered in djrkness, supported by perjury
ilause).—The Nutistarti throughout srctucd to barc

but one object—fair or foul, foul or
said the Ministers, find her
popular Poet had said—
" Slaves cannot breathe is England; when their
Receive our air, that moment they are free; —IA
They touch our country, and their shackles fall;
' That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud
And jealous of the blessing."
(Applause). Such was the character which '
men once had—would they allow that
be stained, or reversed by an infatuated
'tion, by men who did not value the
nation, because they felt not their influence?
men commenced what might be called a war,
termination—against whom ? against one lonely,
fenceless woman—(Applanse)A—Would the
England allow that illustrious woman, the wife;
their Sovereign—the first subject in the lanas.!
man whohad a double claim on their scion's—
daughter of a hero—the mother of their
and beloved Princess Charlotte—would
such a woman to be tried without justice, and
without mercy ?—(Crts of Never, neter).—To
the language of the Honourable and patriotic
ronet near him (Sir F. Burdett), " Forbid ita
drop of blood that does not proclaim its °woe
bastard"—(Laud applause).—lt became the dory,
every honest man to speak oat, and to mark with,
probation the odious system pursued by Minitel
against her Majesty--(Applauss).—lt also war,
duty of every man to support the King, is diet
of the State; but whilst they expressed their don,
soination to support his Majesty, they week,
also to declare, that to support him or
Sovereign they would never desert the Ccmstitotic
which they loved—(Loud applause).--Of the ,
they were bound to speak respecafully—(Apphoo.,
but of the conduct of his Ministers it was -
to speak in language other than that of
They led the King, step by step, to
which could not be contemplated without horror,
(Applause).—What was the extent of
they practised towards his Majestz ? See the p,
Journals in the pay of the Government—was ern
Monarch so meanly and so grossly flattered?
ever a people so much insulted ? Was ever
even the lowest—the most profligate mail
even the female felon was not assailed with
foul abuse—such filthy, unmanly, cruel attacks I,
her Majesty was daily exposed to from the deo:.
official paper of the Treasury—(True,
He would give one instance of the manner in whirl
the King was flattered and deceived. The
of London, on a late occasion, solemnly
that the Sovereign could do no wrong—could dos
wrong, not merely as a King, but, morally, could&
no wrong as au individual !—(A laugh). In the*
Dion of that Learned Bishop, the King could do
wrong towards his wife!—he was exempted
common frailties of our common nature!,
commit no folly !—(Loud laughter.) Such was as
declaration of a Prelate of the Church of Engin&
one of GOD'S Ministers!—(Cries of " He is no ad
thing!") Such was the opinion of the Lord Bisbct
of London, that a human being was not morally*
sponsible for any act of his to his country, to tie
laws, to his conscience, Or to his Caviroa!--(flrie
of" Shame !") The Bishop of London should midi
things by halves; holding the opinion he ph..
he should have gone to the King, and said—"
you wish to get rid of your wife; your Majesty as
do no wrong, and therefore your Majesty had bee
take up a kitchen poker, and knock out her brain!
(A laugh). That would be an easy way to get ride
her, and not criminal, as morally the King could de
no wrong. It was_ lamentable, it was disgusting,
see how Ilinisters treated the country. What! vs
it to be endured that the property, the liberty, tie
very morals of the People were to be put in jeopardy
because domestic broils existed between the Kies
and the Queen ?—or, to speak in plainer langur,
because two old people hate each other—(Aiiiiena
and laughter)—was all that was dear to the cowry
to be put in danger? Was England to be cored
with blood, or degraded by immorality, madly
enable the King-to try his luck a second time kir
lottery of wedlock, and probably to draw a Waal?

a:
IRO
11011

irn
rni
sin

" Scilicet at Tura° coatingat *lea eosin,
" Nos anima 'lles inhonata ianctalus nubs
" Stet-Kumar =apts."
No, he hoped the people of England would do their
duty—doing so, they would prevail over evil al.
visers ; they would not cease in their efforts ad
they saw ample justice done to her Majesty—isd
they saw her name restored to the Liturgy, Radii
she was put in possession of her rights and dipilr
A-(Ape&use).—The People would not desert di •
Queen—guilty or innocent, her Majesty had 16.1°
treated infamously--(dpplause),--aad the
had been treated worse—(Contiased apple
the Queen were zt,seher. husband might
himself for it—( ).-.-ffis letter was a let*
of license ; he said you may do what you please*
go where you please,. so that you do not coati
trouble me. The Bishop of London, if his Lora*
were acquainted with the Scriptures, might hi
written in that sacred volume, se He that wad
away his wife, except for fornication, ceuseth bola
commit adultery"—(App/ause).—git wae, holm% •
but an act of justice towards her Majesey-,ad act
which, in his opinion, every hOtiontable and oril
mind would perform—to declare that the whole
her Majesty's conduct bore the appearance of km-
cence. WAS ever magnanimity like' tier's motor-
nied by guilt ? No. She was the only metalled
the Royal Family who ever had the magnaninfitY to
restore one farthing of the large sums which were 20'
=ally taken out of the pockets of a distressed PeoEla
(Applause).—Never did any one of the Royal t,tl
restore one shilling to the People, except her Ja'al
jetty ; but she generously restored a sum of 4.140ffl '
a-year—(Loud cad continued etivlanse),He would
say to those Royal Dukes, who on the late trial Id
not only as Judges, but as Jurors—not only as Jw
rocs, but Accusers—not only as Accusers, bat
_s!
Counsel against her—he would say to them, am'
particularly to the Duke of York, who took ielOpl:
a-year from the People, for what ?—for 4ping frost'
London to Windsor in a one-horse charse, ow.
month, to see his poor old father I—(Cries‘ismillg?'“
To hi m'and to another Royal Duke, who distinguisam
himself on the late trial, he would point to the gene-
rout conduct of her Majesty, and say, “ Go and do
thou likewise"—(Applause). The people of Fogiastt
were bound to condemn the proceedings against ISt
Majesty, not only on her account, but on their dwn.
She to be dic victim of to-day: but it was 42'

Or fair, see t,
ity—(Appion)
.. 1,0"
I; when their 1„.._ • cal
e
are free; -"I feii
3 proud
ralwschactutiaerthntclhafltleteleiwuedtendhtifcaiancArtnetcbehatilr?rmatactitlig:;::::: 11.1"Itt:11:
ainst one lonely, "'nit
Would the people irgri
t
nd
t
),'rtlj—:ill:villitorcihtiruaeoein,iresdibauiarinPtirtiainsilteevi.epery-411alif:411 thei3°r":lltl:7:°lsl.l
d
e and patriotic
3er, never).-,TodIN •
oclaim its owner •
became the Thtty
Ind to mark nithraid
irsued by Minister at c
.),—!t also was di,
e ling, is the kV
and
pressed their ilea,
nioi
y, they were bosi cliff
him or any*
ert the Cortstit* evi
use).--01 the Kit the
afu I I y..-( Applater4„.
ers it was irept*,
that of abluvreic ' Eni
ep, to an emote! ' i;
ttcl without horror- Nit
o( deceptionsahibT
Icy ? See the pubh on a
refiament—teas eon poi
ly flattered? Wee alas
Was ever ecen;; of
-
gue and licentious. snot
t assailed with sea a 3
ly, cruel attacks al -occ
to from the dee:. quc
True, True).- thei
he manner in %hid rho'
tived. The Risky foul
solemnly dechni, offe
wrong—could dote effe
t, morally, coulda Rej
laugh). In the citi• Pee
e King could do a QUT
s exempted front& dec
ra nature—he mid dec
ter.) Such was the owe
hurch of England- woi
of 44 He is Re ad saw
of the Lord Bid" was
was not morally* . Mu
his country, to the ing
I C REA des
nation should site to f
inion he pronounci4 hoc'
and said—a fee,
your Majesty al • she
Majesty had bete me
ock out her brains!' fro

, .
Possible to say who arotlld be toiriedotit as the Wie-
- to or to-
,,,onow—(Areese):--Her case was the
~,s.e of the country— e thing came home to the
{?dings of Englishmen ; if the flames of persecution
*are once raised, it would be impossible to. say what
they might not consume, or how they could be ex-
aggnished—ffpp/ause). The Palace of the Sovereign
"odd not be mom secure than the cottage of the
. tomcat subject. The Honourable Gentleman next
statidrerted on an Address got up at the Borough
of TrOwbridge, which was called a Loyal Address.
flit said that that Address conveyed an indirect in-
. ok on the county of Wilts ; and he could not but
an indignant regret, that two Magistrates
:weld be found in the county to put their names to'
met Address. Vain and indecent was it to impute
tratoyalty to the People. He should expect from a
*Me Lord (Sidmouth), who annually treated the
tion with lively turtle and dull speeches, that
,lieu least would bear testimony to the loyalty of
the Munty. The Honourable Gentleman concluded,
:by expressing an expectation that the Resolutions
Would be unanimously agreed to.
The Duke of Someeser next came forward, and
ins received with great applause. He appeared, he
said, with pleasure to second the Resolutions—(4-
iaam).-aHe thought they were peculiarly necessary
. at the present time--(Great applause).—Never was it
mote necessary for the truly loyal, the disinterested,
.and the free, to express their sentiments, than at a
moment when the Throne itself was put in a state of
difficulty by the bad Counsellors who surrounded it
--(Applaust).—The People would not suppert those
evil Connsellors, though they would gladly support
'the Throne itself—(Applause).—With regard to her
Majesty the Queen, she had for years past been little
talked of: in consequence of a long absence from
England, she had almost become what she originally
was—a foreign Princess ; but the first measure of the
?diaisters, at:er the accession of his Majesty to the
.Throne, was one which necessarily forced her back
on the country. Degraded by the very first act of
power, her Majesty arrived in England in a state of
alarm and of hostility. Before she touched on the
shores of England, the Ministers attempted to dis-
suade her from coming over. They had but one
way of prevailing, hut it was one which, on many
bCcasions, they found successful. It was not elo-
quence—it was not manliness. No—bribery was
their common mode of doing business, and they
thought it would never fail—(Laughter). —They
found, however, that on her Majesty it did fail ; the
offer nut only failed, but produced a quite contrary
effect from what they expected—(Applause).—
Rejected be her Majesty, they next called on the
Peers to decide a question between the King and the
Queen, which perhaps it was impossible for them to
decide impartially ; which certainly they could not
decide without in one way or the other injuring their
own dignity, and weakening the Throne. It was no
wonder that the country became alarmed, when they
saw the scales of Justice suspended--(Applause).—lt
was no wonder to see the country indignant, when
Ministers threatened a recurrence to those proceed-
ings which were so universally deplored'; when those
desperate men, uninstructed by the past, threatened
to force upon the country the danger from which it
bad so recently and so happily escaped—(Applause).
—h became absolutely necessary that the People
should raise their voices against those disgraceful
measures—that the voice of the Country should echo
from the north to the south—from the remotest point
of the country to the other—(Applause).—The Noble
Date concluded by expressing a hope that the result
of the Meeting would be aseneficial to the whole
country, as it would be honourable to the public
spirit and independence of Wiltshire. He felt ghat
Inaketion in seconding the Resolutions.
The Resolutions were then put, and carried with
a thee dissentient voice.—( flea. Gentleman who
did Sleet is his opposition was Mr. MALLET?, the
mei Sir DEARLES MALLET?. He appeared to be
very yew*. Several Gentlemen expressed a wish to
provide a place for him on the platform, so that he
night state to the Meeting the grounds of his oppo-
sition. He did not, however, avail himself of the
invitation. He remained in the middle of the crowd,
onmoleaei by a single individual).
The Hon. Captain BOUVERIE, of the Royal Navy,
next came forward. He said, he cordially agreed to
may word contained in the Resolutions which had
been just passed. They justly condemned the late
proceedings against her Majesty ; a measure more
annecessary or more impolitic, it was impossible for
any Ministers to enter on. Nothing could justify
them in commencing such a proceeding, but the
- clearest and the most undisputed evidence of the
spilt of. her Majesty ; nothing was more clear than
do they had no such proofs—(Applause). It became
the country to address the Throne against the recur-
rence to such proceedings ; the sense of the country
Dace expressed, would be attended to (Applause). The
treation was not the guilt or innocence of the Queen ;
hit even if it were, the proceedings against her hay-
* been abated, she must be presumed innocent.—
With respect to the polacca, the part of the case so
much relied on, his firm opinion was, that no guilt
whatever could be attached to her Majesty, with re-.
fiance to her conduct on board the polacca—(Grent
abeeting). The most that could oe made of it was,
what the Noble Marquis (Lansdown) observed in an-
Am place, that the case, as far as it regarded the
Pam; allowed the presumption of guilt from the
hum risibility of its commission; but if there was
a bete presumption of guilt on the one hand, how
stagag, in other respects, was the presumption, nay,
disproof of her innocence? The greatest injury had
beat done to her Majesty—the idea had been most
limply conveyed to the minds of thousands, that
the polacca afforded comfort and security—now, he
could speak as a sailor—he could say, that the cover-
ing was a mere awning, made, even in the best of
his MaiistY'l ships, of old worn canvasv—he could
hive little doubt that the awning, on board such a
paltry vessel as the polacca, was must imperfect, and
I Probably full of holes. At any rate, such awning,
could not prevent the crew from ascertaining whether
must an adulterous intercourse had takeis place. NO
!flan would say, that the crew might not have ascer° a
tained it, if their curiosity were once excited, and that
c
otiosity would have bees excited if that interc •
• s had bees carried on, not for six weeks, but much less
common sit
days.
Majesty ln justice, therefore, and, indeed, in
m eon sense, it was but fair to conclude that her
was guiltless ; for if she had committed a
guilty au on boars: the eolacca, the fact would have

Padmitted of an easy, clear, and satisfactory proof at
the Bar of the House of Lords—(Applause). He''
concluded by hoping, that the Meeting would unani-
mouslr_adopt the Petitions which he was about to read.'
Sir EDWARD POER, Bart. rose to second the Peti-
tions to both Houses of Parliament. Whatever were
the reasons which had induced Ministers to bring
forward proceedings which deluged the country with
a mass of abominable evidence—evidence which, un-
happily had an extensive circulation, and tended to
contaminate the minds of the rising generation;
whatever might have been their reasons, it was im-
possible for the People to fathom them, but they
were bound to unite in reprobating the temerity
which dared to bring the second individual in the
State to a trial, even after that proceeding was de.
scribed, by one branch of the Legislature, " to be
derogatory to the honour of the Crown, and injurious
to the best interests of the nation--(Loud applause).
He would not yield to any person in loyalty to his
King and attachment to the Constitution of his coun-
try, but at the same time he considered that it was
the duty of every man to raise his voice against mea-
sures which were hostile alike to the morals of the
country, to its best interests, and its fundamental
liberties—(Applause).
The Petitions were carried unanimously.
The Duke of SOMERSET moved, that the Marquis
of LANSDOWN be requested to present the Petition to
the House of Lords.

The motion was seconded by the Rev. Mr. GOD-
DARD, and carried unanimously.
Mr. CALLEY, in moving that the two Members for
the County be requested to present the Petition to
the House of Commons, could not refrain from of-
fering a few observations to the Meeting. As to the
guilt or innocence of the Queen, that was not now
the question, for it had already been decided by the
House of Peers that she was not guilty. The whole
system pursued by Ministers was out of paltry and
desperate expedients, and as long its they could find
men to lend them money upon the credit of the coun-
try, so long they were determined to spend it. There,
could be no pretence for suffering these men to go on
sucking the blood of the country, for it was abso-
lutely impossible that they could be succeeded by a
worse Administration, and there was every rational
ground for supposing that their successors would en-
deavour to relieve the country from its distresses, by
pursuing an honest and upright system, instead of that
corrupt and profligate system, which had brought the
country to the verge of ruin.
Mr. JOY seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. BENETT, M.P. for Wilts, said, he rose under
very- strong emotions on the present occasion, because
he felt it his duty to speak sentiments which were
perfectly at variance with those of many of his
friends, for whom he entertained the highest regard,
and to whom he was under obligations, which be
should continue to acknowledge till the latest hour
of his life. The duty which he owed to his consti-
tuents and to his country was, however, paramount
to all other considerations, and he could not for a
moment hesitate between the strict performance of
that duty and any feelings which he might entertain
for his friends. If he did not stand forward on such
an occasion as the present, and express his opinions,
boldly and unequivocally, to the large body of the
freeholders who were now assembled, he might justly
be regarded as a Man of dark and ambiguous cha-
racter, and unworthy of that confidence which they
bad reposed in him. From the very commencement
of the late unfortunate proceedings, no man had felt
more hostility to them than himself, or looked for-
ward with more dread to the inevitable consequences
of
those proceedings. He agreed with every syl-
lable of the Petition, and he thought the late pro-
ceedings in the highest degree unconstitutional, un-
just, and cruel. He should, indeed, occupy their
time to very little purpose, if he were to urge
any arguments against them, and he should ad-
vert, therefore, to another topic, upon which he
was anxious to express his opinion. There was
a party of Ultra-Royalists in this country, who
were desirous of arrogating to themselves all the
loyalty of the country, and who stigmatised with the
name of Radicals all who presumed to differ from
them on a subject of vital importance to the country.
The term Radical, in its just and natural sense, was
not only an innocent, but an honourable appellation.
Every good man would be a Radical Reformer, both
with reference to his own faults and.those of others ;
but as these Gentlemen applied the term Radical, it
signified a miscreant, who, hiving nothing of his
own, having no regard for religion or morality, or
for the existing institutions of the country, endeavours
to pull down what he cannot build up, and to destroy
everything, in the hope of obtaining something in
the general wreck. Such was their definition of a
Radical. For his own part. he despised the idea of
rebutting any charge of disloyalty ; he did not be-
lieve in the existence of Radicalism, in their sense of
the term; and he was so far from doubting the loyalty
of the people of England, that he believed a more loyal
people did not exist on the face of the earth. He did
not mean to say that there might not be some disaf-
fected and seditious persons in the country ; them
were also some housebreakers, highwaymen, and pick.,
pockets in the country, and he firmly believed there_
were as many of one description as of the other.—
The Civil Power was in both cases strong enough to
coerce and punish them whenever they were met with.
If there were any disloyalty in the country, it was
attributable only to the conduct of his Majesty's Mi-
nisters. Let them turn their attention to the distresses
of the country; let them not merely investigate the
causes of those distresses, but apply the best remedy
to them—a retrenchment of the public expenditure,
and the People would soon chew their attachment to
the GOvernment. The King might then disband his
Army, and find himself safer in the affections of a
happy and contented People, than . if he were sur-
rounded by all the Armies of the Holy Alliance. As.
to the various Addresses, *hit li he scarcely knew,
how to designate, but which he would call the ful.
some Addresses, it was evident that they meant mart
than they expreised, Kir they were intended to bolster
up a weak and tottering Administration; The Ad-
dresses professed loyalty, but they meant nothing but.
attachment to the King's MiniXters. They declaimed
against the licentiousness of the Press, and the immo-
rality of the present age. He denied that the present
age Was immoral, and that the Press was more licen-
tious now than at any former period. But, whether
the Presi veis.liecatlOus or not, Goo forbid that

any restraints should be imposed upon it--(Cfseees).
The moment the Press was.shackled, England would
he in danger of that worst of all tyrannies—the ty-'ranny of a mob ; for the smallest restraint upon the
Press would lead to secret combinations, of which
the probable consequence would be the establish-
ment of a democratic tyranny in the country. In
speaking of the Press, he could not help regretting
that the names of the King and Queen had been so
much bandied about. But who were to be blamed
for this P—Not the Press, but the Ministers, who had
done all they could to lower the dignity of royalty
in the estimation of the people, forgetting that they
could not attempt to-degrade the daughter and sister
of a hero, and the cousin and wife of the King, with-
out degrading the King himself. Ile trusted the
voice of the people would be so raised throughout
the country, as to compel Ministers to put a top tp
the odious inquiry into the conduct of the Queen,
that the names of King and Queen might once more
become respectable and respected in the country,
and such unconstitutional proceedings, as Bills of
Pains and Penalties, be no more heard of. He con-
cluded by declaring that he should have the greatest
Iplensure in presenting the Petition to the House of
rAmmons, and that he felt it to be his duty, as
strongly as it was his inclination, to give it all the sup.
port in his power.
Major ASTLEY (the other County Member) said,
that after the eloquent speech they had just heard, he
felt it unnecessary to occupy any portion of their time.
In declaring his readiness to present the Petition in
concert with his colleague, he hoped he should be ex-
cused for not passing any opinion upon it. He could
assure them, that upon that, and all other occasions,
his conduct would be strictly regulated by the adop-
tion of those measures, which he conceived to be
most beneficial to the country at large.
Mr. GORDON, M. P. arraigned the whole proceed-
ings of Ministers towards the Queen as arising out of
a foul conspiracy, got up by means alike hateful to
(ion and man— (Cheers).—He was sorry that the cir-
cumstance of a woman being the object of so much
persecution, did not shame, at least into neutrality,
some of the Dignitaries of the Law and the Church.
The persecutors of the Queen forgot what might be
accomplished by the constancy of Innocence, and the
honest integrity of the people—(Cheers)—who, in
fighting the Queen's battle, were also fighting their
own—(howl cheers).—He also touched upon the topic
of Parliamentary Reform, without which he thought
there-was no prospect of benefit_ to the country.—
The Honourable Member then described the tricks
of Ministers to manage, as it was termed, the House
of Commons; and described, in so humorous a man-
ner as to keep the Meeting in a constant roar of
laughter, the duties of the Ministerial whipper-in,
who had to keep the voters together. Fatal to the
pay of the whipper-in was a good hunting week or a
Newmarket Meeting; for it was on these occasions
alone, and not on any-virtue in the House of Com-
mons, that occasionally a beneficial measure passed,
or a bad one was defeated. It was ludicrous, he said,
to see the Ministers silently watching the door of the
House of Commons, while the whipper-in was muster-
ing the votes. On such occasions, the Ministers sat
like " timid hawks, that tamely sit, and hear the very
whispers curious r--(A laugh). The Hon. Member
thee took a rapid glance at the principal personages
who attended the late County Meetings, and pointed
out their sentiments on the question of Reiorrn.—
He particularly dwelt upon the following passage in
Eati Grey's speech at Morpeth, as expressive of that
statesman's sentiments upon that topic :—" To the
principles of Reform, as detailed in the speech I
made in 1810, on the State of the Nation, I still
adhere. A change in the system of Government is
absolutely necessity to preserve the Constitution from
destruction ; and though a Reform in Parliament
would be a most powerful means of effecting that
change, yet, whether that Reform should be pressed
in the first instance, is a consideration which, like
every other public question, must be influenced by
considerations of State expediency, lest by a too
hasty attempt to carry it into execution, the probable
success of that Reform itself be endangerech"—To
such a declaration, from such a man, he attached
great importance ; it was a light in the present dark-
ened state of the political horizon, from which, he
hoped, the People would derive a cheering comfort
—(Hear).—He liked it the more, for of late he had
rather got jealous with his Whig friends—(Heor).-
-He quarrelled with their coalition with the Grenville
party, and thought they had got tired of being so
long nailed to the north wall of Opposition; that
cold, that chilly atmosphere had, however, he hoped,
sufficiently braced their nerves against the relaxing
atmosphere of courtly interest. He was delighted to
find them now coming forward, detecting and ex-
posing the life and fortune hole and corner men—
(Lauglder).—lle repelled the charge-of sedition and
blasphemy from the public Press, and said that the
only blasphemy and treason of hich he knew was
in the impious acts of the Holy .Alliance, and their
treason against the people ; for he was one of those
whb thought a Sovereign could commit an act of
treason against a people, as well as a people against
a Sovereign—(Chesrs).
Mr. H. HALL JOY, of Hartam Park.. in an able
and eloquent speech, enforced arguments similar to
those of the last speaker. He contended that there
were but two parties at present in the State. In the
one were all the adherents of Ministers, and in the
other all the spirit and patriotism of the nation—
(4pplartae).—Hs ridiculed the Ultra-Loyalists, who,
like the proprietors of rotten boroughs, made their'
loyalty a marketable commodity. • They now made
their piety alike a monopoly—(Laughter). He
concluded by moving the Thanks of the Meeting to
the Lord Lieutenant of the County, to the Marquesses
of Lansdown and Bath, to the Earls of Suffolk and
Carnarvon, to Lords Bolingbroke and Holland, and
the other Noble and Independent Persons who op-
posed the Bill of Pains and Penalties.
Mr. LOCKE seconded the Resolution.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN next came forward.
His Lordship was received with the most gratifying
marks of respect and public affection. He bowed
repeatedly, but some time elapsed before the enthu-
siastic cheers of the Meeting allowed him to proceed.
He said, that he felt it would ill become him to re-
main silent after the motion which had been just
made, and which had been so kindly received by the
Meeting—it would ill betaitelim to stand still with-
out returniogfiis sincere thanks, as well for himself
as au individual, as on behalf of his fellow Peers al-

laded to isa itesoaittion; witiv gab wilthiviis

was connected by the nearest ties of friendship; and
for all of whom be entertained the most sincere re.;.
spect. He could not, therefore, but erptess the deep
sense he felt of the approbation of the Meeting ; be
valued it highly the kindness and respect of his coun-
try was the best and dearest reward of his public
conduct—(Loud applause). There Were persons near
him who knew, that he went to the Meeting more de-
sirous to hear he sentiments of others than to state
his own. Yet, perhaps, the Meeting, As he was be:
fore them, would allow him to 'state the motives
which. induced him to sign the Requisition.—
Whatever doubt or hesitation he might have had,
whether arising from indolence or from other and
better motives, with respect to signing the Requiii-
don for bringing the County together, all doubts va-
nished, and indisposition was subdued, Whin he per=
ceived the unworthy use which was attempted to be
made of what were called Loyal Addresses--(4-
plause). He believed that the motives of many per-
sons who signed those Addresses, were pure and ho-
nest—but it was not to be concealed that the use
which Ministers intended to make of those Loyal Ati=
dresses was to infer, before Parliament and elsewhere; •
that the very small proportion of the People of Eng=
land, who signed them, approved of the proceedings
against the Queen (Applause), approved of the Bill of
Pains and Penalties (Applause), approved of the con-
duct of an Administration who wantonly aimed a
blow at the liberties and the morals of the People—
(Applause). The friends of Ministers might have
succeeded, by influence and imposition, to get some
names to those Addresses, but never would the Peo-
ple of England be brought to sanction such me:v.
sures, until they should lose all respect for the Con-
stitution—all veneration for the virtues which their
ancestors cherished. It was impossible that a delu-
sion so gross could exist ; and therefore it was, that
he felt it essential to the honour and character of the
County of Wilts, that the Freeholders should come
forward, in the open day, to speak cut their senti-
ments, their genuine sentiments, free from all influ-
ence and from all fear—(Applause). Much as he re-
spected loyalty, he respected it most in open day.=
He knew that good men might, from the-very best
motives, occasionally come forward to address the
Sovereign, but though he had often heard merit
ascribed to those who preserved secrecy in council,
secrecy in the conduct and direction of fleets and
armies, yet he never heard, until lately, of the merit
of secret loyalty--(Laughter and applause).—He
wished to hear the opinions of men openly declared,
and manfully avowed; the honest expression of public
opinion he would always wish to witness ; he would
always feel happy to give his assistance to the County
on such occasions--(Loud applause).—He could have
wished, if there were persons in the County of Wilts
who did not concur in the present proceedings, that
they had come manfully forward to state their opi-
nions—(Applause).—He was persuaded that those
Gentlemen, though they did not, would yet scorn
to imitate the digraceful example set by some neigh=
bouring Counties—he alluded to the County of Hants.
In that County some persons, amongst whom might
be found some of his Majesty's Ministers themselves,
had the audacity to send a Requisition to the Sheriff,
calling upon him not to allow any persons in the
County to express their opinions except themselves:
and why ? because, forsooth, they having expressed
their opinions, that alone was a sufficient manifesta-
tion of the opinions of the County at large—(A laugh;
and cries of 't Shame r)—They would express their
views--they would forward the designs of their party,
but they would, at the same time, call upon the Shea
riff to seal the lips of the Freeholders--to prevent
those who did not think with them from publicly ex-
pressing their sentiments—(Ap/Anse). Such conduct
he hoped was confined to the County of Hants. It
was but an act of justice to the Gentlemen of Wilt-
shire, to say that they were incapable of such mean
and unjustifiable—such dark and mysterious proceed-
ings---(Applause). He trusted-that the present Meet:
ing would manifest to the Country, to the King, and
to the Parliament, what the real sentiments of the
County were respecting the Bill of Pains and Penal-
ties. He could not, however, indulge the flattering
hope, that if they adopted a Loyal Address, though
it might be honourable to the Torone, that it would
find its way into the London CourtGazette--(A lategh)
It was not necessary, perhaps, to inform the Meeting,
that amongst the other acts of just and impartial con-
duct, which distinguished Minister's throughout the
proceedings against the Queen, they only inserted in'
the Court Gazette such Addresses as favoured them-
selves and their opinions. The object of the Ministeri
was to shut out the light from the country and from
the King, and even from themselves.--(Applause).—
They wished to conceal the truth, and hy keeping
the really independent Addresses out of the Gazettes
they vainly hoped that they could be read nowhere
else—(Applause).—Their conduct in that respect was'
curious and characteristic ; they reminded him of
what Naturalists related of a certain animal, thd.
ostrich, which, it would seem, though the largest;
was not thewisest of birds ; when the wstrich is pur=
sued, he runs his head into the sand, and then list
thinks that, becaute he can see nothing, nothing can.
see him !—(Laughter).—On the immediate question
before the Meeting, it would not he necessary for him
to say much ; but, whatever might be their opinions
respecting her Majesty,. whether she was guilty or in-
nocent, he (Lord Lansdown) would defy any man to
say that her Majesty was treated with anything even
like the appearance of justice—(Applause).—Her
Majesty suffered under persecution, too, which was
inconsistent with itself. They persecuted her Majesty'
abroad until she found it impossible, at least until it.
became intolerable for her to live there. She then
approached the shores of England, and then they dis-
covered that they could not allow her to live in Ent-
land. They then offered her out of the public money
sum off:50,000a year, if she would but cement to go
back. This offer, it should never be forgotten 11
People, her Majesty had declined to accept of, hem:l/-
she could not accept it without dishonour—(C, eerx).—
Finding that the Queen would not accept of the pub.
lic money, the Ministers went another step, and they
offered an Address to her Majesty from the two
Houses of Parliathent; they offered to take up the.
two Houses of Parliament-like speech with an Ad-
dress to her Majesty; if
.she would only acquiesce in'
their views, renounce her rights, and go abroad again
(Applause). lint the Queen rejected their Addresses,
and refused their money; and then they turned round'
upon her and said thay would try her—that they