Star.
London, England, 1819-03-17 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER. ELECTION.

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Yesterday a numerous and respectable body of the
Electon of' Westminsten, dined- in the Crown and
Anchor, T. D. CLARKS, Esq. (of Midd)eeex;) in the
Chair. About sit o'clock, Sir FRANCIS Bunnm,
Mr. Hansoms; with the Chairman,. and a number
of other Gentlemen, entered the great room. There
were upwards of three hundred persons sat down to
an excellent dinner; a band attended in the Orchestra,
and the 'whole affair was conducted with much more
decorum than on a former similar occasion.

Immediately on the cloth being. withdrawn,
The CHAIRMAN rotund said, since they bad dote
him the honour to place him in the Chair, he would
endeavour to say a few words on the subject for
which they had met. It was a subject of peculiar
gratification to him, though he would admit, that at
the outset of the late contest, he was one of those who
thought it the duty of the people of Westminster to
oppose- Mr. Hobhouse in favour of Major Cart-
wright. The people of Westminster, however, had
thought differently, and to their opinion, he had
bowed most implicitly, As they had nut thought
proper to elect that "good old man," (Major Cart-
wright) he thouht they had acted most wisely in
iupporting Mr. Ilobbouse. He did not know a man
snore competent in 'every respect—so wise, so
dent, or or so firm—(Appletsse.) He had observed his
conduct particularly throughout the whole of the
late contest, and he must say, be was at a loss which
to admire most, his understanding or his heart—
(Applause's.) Ile had conducted himself with admi-
table temper, skill, and firmness, and though two,
most finattidable batteries were opened against him,
on either side, beibre he quitted the field he had com-
pletely silenced them—(Lassiter end applause.)—
With respect to their worthy Representative (Sir F.
Burdett),he was above his praise; calumny had done
its worst towards him, and had, as usual, recoiled on
the heads of his opponents--(Applause.) As to him-
self; whatever. obloquy it might subject him to, he
would declare, that he was the most decided advo-
cate Of Annual Parliaments, and what was popularly
called Universal Suffrage, because he believed that
plan to be the most just f any. If people would
gat by heart that great moral lesson—,, Do as you
would be one by!" they would all become radical re-
formers. He thought, upon the whole, the Whigs
were favourable to. progres;ive Reform; but on the
other tand, they were very willing to adjourn that
great and vital question rine die—(Laughte.) They
(the Electors) would tell them, however, that they were
determined to have yet, and that ere long, a full, fair,
and free Representation of the People in Parliament.
After some further remarks he gave as a toast—
" The source of all legitimate power, the People," which was
drank with three dates three.
• The Cal/LIMAN again rose and snid, it had been
remarked that great wits had little memories ; he
should, however, give them
" The Prince Regent, and may he remember his own decla-
ration, ghat the Crown is held in trust for the benefit of the
• Peoplc."—risir, " Hope told a flattering tale."
Song, Mr. Maass.
" May the exposition of the Boroughmnngers not be conflned
to Pearjs, and may the Puritans of Parliament be taught to
*labor guilt more than detection."—Air, 'l, Kick the Rogues out."
" Sir Francis Burdett, and thanks to him for his powerful
assistance given to his brother Eittetors, in their endeavours to
return to Parliament another man of their choir."—Three
times Woe.

Sir FRANCIS BURDETT returned thanks. He said
it was always matter of satisfaction to hint to meet
the independent Electors of Westminster, and he
certainly had never met them with greater satisfac-
•tion than on the present occasion. The Honourable
• Baronet then went into a very long disquisition on
the subject of Reform, and the alleged defalcation
of the Whigs with respect to it. The extraordinary
exertions made at the late contest by the friends of
ReforM, were the presage of future triumph. He
then paid some high compliments to the Chairman
(Mr. Clarke), and expressed a hope that he would, at
sonic future period, be looked up to as a Represen-
tative by the great Metropolitan County, when West-
minster, Middlesex, London, and probably Surrey,'
would form an important body of Reformers in the
House, even as it was at present constituted (Cheers);
The cause of Reforin, he said, would have made
'.considerable progress, when the distinctions of Whig I
alAi Tory should be done away, and we should hear
•of no other distinction than Reformers and Non-rye=
formets. He then alluded to a letter which had ap-
peered the public papers from Mr. Sturch, in which
that Gentleman declared himself to have been always
a Whir, and accused him (Sir Francis) of denoun-
cing him f-nm the hustings; but with respect to Mr.
Starch's Whigrism, he really did not know what it
• meant. He (Sir Francis) might be a Whig without
homier it.(4 larel.)—As to the denunciation corn-
planed 14 he appeal to all present whether
the mania of his name (on the hustings) had not
originated with other persons--(4 Yes, yes," and ate.l
Isiesure)--and that mention gave him occasion to ob-
serve. that he unqpestionably.had deserted that party
with whom he had alwayt acted, or rather that class,
of Reformers as contra-distinguished from the Whigs.
—The lionourabk Baronet, after some further re-
marks on the Whigs, said, he understood a para-
graph had appeared in that paper, which, during
the Election, WAS called 41 The Lying Chronicle,.
which seemed to bt a kind of Manifesto, banishing
him (Sir Francis). not only from every Whiggery in
London, but from the whole kingdom of Wienzgism
—( bursts of I(meter) dreadful as this might
appear, he had m the course of his exertions in the'
cause of Reform endured greater sacrifices even than
that. This paragraphic Anathema had described
Lim as personally objectionable. Now, he had al-
ways thought that it was his principles which had'
been a stumbling-block to the Whigs ; but he was
now accused of being courteous towards them in
private society, whilst in public he censured them.—
.If, however, the contrary had been his conduct, he
might have merited the complaint ; if, whilst sup-
porting them in public, he had privately calumniated
them, they would have had just cause of complaint;
and he thought their organ should hereafter have its
title altered to .4 The Foolish Chronicle." The Whigs
looksdixthemselves as a sainted and Consecrated
whom not a syllable must be breathed:,
itoorTlbing that is not within the boundary of
designate as wild and visi
omry—
• ent ).—The r had affected to !se-
ems to. Revert of the Westminster Committee
421 a wawa attack upon them, forgetting, or