Star.
London, England, 1821-12-07 00:00:00

Sir Robert was not dismissed for being guilty orstts-
pected of crime—unless it was a crime to attend the
funeral of the Queen; for it was this act of his that
caused his dismissal. That the Ministers in attempt-
ing to defend the dismissal of Sir Robert Wilson with-
out hcs. ing. would endeavour to shelter themselves
under the plea of prerogative, he (Mr. Lambton) bad
no doubt. Ilut he would tell them that the preroe
gatives of the Crown were given for the benefit, and
not for the oppression, of the People—s(Loird cheers).
—The advisers of the act •••ould have to meet afears
ful responsibility ; and they ought to be known and
responsible to Parliament. They may now, indeed,
say, as their tools have said, that Sir Robert Wilson
being no longer an Officer, is not amenable to trial
by Court Martial, as no precedent exists of an Officer
of the Army being tried after his dismissal. But, nn-
fortunately for this argument, a precedent can be
found—such a trial had been gtanted. He alluded
to the case of Lord George Sackville, who, for al-
leged misconduct at the battle of Minden, was
cashiered without trial. lie (Lord George Sackville)
protested his innocence, and demanded a trial. The
opinion of the Judges was taken, amt. six months
after his services had been rii.peased with he received
the benefit of ti ial by Court Martial, as he had de-
manded, and underwent its sentence. This case went
directly to prove that, according to precedent as well
as to justice, Sir Robert Wilson was still in a situation
to demand trial by Court Martial —( tippleuse).—s
But the time was not come for the full discussion of
this subject. In the meanwhile, the tools of power
—those worthies who slander alike the living and the
dead—deal in r.miling and falsehood, aid seek by the
basest means, to excite prejudice ag-tiast his gallant
friend. When Parliament met the case should be
fully discussed, and though Sir Robert Wilson might
himself at present refrain I rom noticing the calumnies
published against him, because he despised them—
and having judged it most advisable, at present, to
defer stating his case, because it might be premature
and afford his enemies a handle—it did not plena
him (Mr. Lambton) from saying that no ground
whatever existed for charging his gallant friend with
any other offence than that of yielding to the dictates
of humanity, and a wish to spare the wanton effusion
of blood—( Loud applause).—lt was remarkable, if
we looked through the world, to see in almost every
part of it, the progress of liberal opinions, particu-
larly in South America, under the auspices of our
gallant countryman Lord Cochrane ; and he hoped,
that although that glorious cause had met with an
adverse issue in Italy, to see it again burst foith there
with renewed vigour, increased strength, and better
prospects of success—(Checrs).—We had seen it
triumph in Spain and Portugal, in which countries it
was fast dispelling the clouds of superstition and ig-
norance ; and it was now piogiessisely advancing in
a country above all others dear to tl.e classical mind
—Greece, fa:ned for its warriors, its port, its philo-
sophers, and its statesmen ; and we beheld a • etimant
of that glorious race endeavouring to en.amipitte
themselves from the bondage of their Turkish op-
pressors; and he trusted that, among Englishmen.
they would not want that encouragement and assist-
ance which the People of this country could afford
—( Applause).—While other countries sere thus
rousing horn their languor, it was cei tainly singular
that, in England, there should appear to be so much
apathy ; for although we possess more freedom, per-
haps, than most other countries, and stand foremost
in the rank of nations, it was yet impossible that we
could poss ss any real or true liberty without a Reform
in Parliament( Loud cheers ).—The only effectual
means of securing the benefits of good Government,
was to provide an honest and independent Parliament.,
Without such ri.Reform, the People could never enjoy
the advantages contemplated by our ancestors at the
Revolution of 1688—a Reform embiacing a wide
extension of the elective suffrage. With regard to
himself, he had given a pledge of his wishes to obtain
such a Reform; and he trusted they knew him too
well to suspect that he would desert that pledge.—
He certainly had submitted a plan to that effect ; but
he was not bigotted to it, and he should be most
ready and willing to aid any other which he deemed
preferable. Having introduced a motion in favour
of Reform, he thought himself tv-,und to bring for-
ward a plan for the purpose of obviating the objec-
tion, that the Reformers had nei distinct or practicable
plan. From the way in which the House uniformly
treated that question, he considered it fiitile to expect
that it would ever reform itself ; and, if it were to be
reformed, it cc old only be by the power and opera-
tion of public opinion acting, he might almost say,
on the fears of that Assembly. That such might be
the result was his fervent_ prayer ; and he concluded
by observing, that if his services could ever be of
any advantage to the City or *County of York, it
would afford him the inmost pleasure to devote them
on such occasions.—(The applause at the close of this
speech was literally deafening.)
The health of Lord Normanby and the other visitors
of the Club was then drank with enthusiasm.
Lord NORMANEY rose, amidst loud and enthusias-
tic cheering. When the applause had subsided, his
Lordship observed, that if lie were to take the ho-
nour that had been conferred upon him as a mere
compliment to himself, lie should best express his
gratitude by thanking them as concisely as he did
sincerely ; but he felt that an expectation was coupled
with the introduction of his name, that he would sup-
port the cause which they were then met t, promote;
arid he pledged himself to further, as far as lay in
his power, the objects, and maintain the principles,
of that Association—(Lard cheering). Were his
feelings lukewarm, there might be reason to induce
him to adopt a different line of. conduct. But he felt
it to be a paramount duty te.support those measures
which could alone check the progress of that corrup.
tion which was preying upon- the very vitals of the
State, and threatened the total extinction of the
berties of the counti•y—(Appiartse).—With these feel-
ings, he trusted that the principles of that Club would