Star.
London, England, 1827-05-24 00:00:00

most in nnion with the feelings of a Meeting. He had
begged for this indulgence, in order that there might
be nothing to hang a cavil on; for it had been repre-
seined that this Meeting was a miserable junto, or, ns it
Was called in derision, a " rump ;" but if this Meeting
seas to be taken for the lump, Gentlemen might con;
ceive of what magnitude the body was—(Hear, and
laughter). An amendment to a toast bad been handed
io him, a most unusual course at a Meeting—(Hear). At
first he intended to put it, but he could not, because it
was rank nonsense—(Hear)—and if such amendments
were allowed, there was an end to all regularity in pub-
lic meetings. The charge contained in this amendment
was, that he (Sir F. B.) sat at the back of Mr. Canning,'
who was a decided enemy to the great question on which
they were all agre:d. Of this fact there could be no'
doubt, and he thought there had been great public be-
nefit derived from it. By doing so he had endeavoured
to exclude the worst part of the worst Administration
—(Hear, hear.) That Administration sat like an incubus
on the country, and prevented any attempt at public
improvement. And wherefore did he (Sir F.) sit at the
back of Mr. Canning ? Because an Administration with
more talent, and with less bigotted prejudices,uow sought
to keep cut that worst of Administrations, which might
be likened to unclean birds, who, unsated with the blood
of thecountry they had already sucked,wished again, and
would, had it not been for the part taken by himself and
friends, to return to their prey, again to fix their talons in
the vitals of their conntry--(Cheers, with a few hisses).
If the Electors of Westminster deemed it necessary for
him at that time of day to defend himself against such
charges as they had that night heard, and coming from
such a quarter—if that was the only means of preserving
their confidence, he should say it was not worth pre-
serving. If, however, any Englishman, and an honest
man, however humble his situation might be, whether
or not an Elector of Westminster, should, at any time,
desire an explanation of any part of his public conduct,
he must be most happy to afford it—(Loud cheers, with
cries of—" An honest man—mind that Cobbett r)—
Was it at this time of day that the Electors of West-
minster were to decide whether be was or was nit
a firm and consistent advocate of public liberty ?
Did he not deprecate the boasting tone which he so
much despised in ethers, he should remind them that
he entered into public life as an advocate of the
principles he had supported up to that hour, at a period
of no common nature, when, to fight under the banners
of public liberty was not, as now, a child's play, but
was attended, every hour, with risk of life—(Loud and
long cheering). Sir Francis then proceeded, at consi-
derable length, to defend his support of the Adminis-
Watioa of Mr. Canning, on the broad principle which
he had avowed in the House of Commons, that, al-
though differing, from that Gentleman ip many im-
portant particulars, he yet considered his Ministry as
infinitely better calculated to benefit the country, from
the liberal principles on which it was likely to be con-
ducted, than any Ministry formed out of those who
were now in opposition to him.—(The Hon. Baronet
sat down, amidst very loud, and nearly unanimous,
cheering).
Mr. HUNT then proceeded to address the Meeting.—
He was pleased to hear the candid observations which
had fallen from their Chairman (Sir F. Burdeu). He
himself had, in fact, ever advocated his principles to a
certain extent; and he now coincided in that part of
them which rejoiced at the removal of those Ministers,
whose removal Sir Francis rejoiced at, and he believed
nine tenths of the people of England rejoiced at the
same—(Hear, bear). lf, however, upon any question,
any persons or assemblage of persons differed, the only
way to decide was, to hear the question on both sides,
and, as Englishmen, to give each party a fair opportu-
nity of stattag their reasons for so differing. He (Mr.
Hunt) had known the Electors of Westminster a long
time: he had always been on good terms with them, and
,he hoped always to remain so. He had taken a part in the
first election of their present Representative, and had
been invited to attend their meetings for eleven years.
From this intimacy, he believed, he could depend upon
them for a fair bearing, even should- he differ from
some of them, if he should deport himself as a Gentle-
man and a man—(Cheers.) With respect to ques-
tion of the health of Sir Francis Burdett, be would not
suffer a rude observation to escape him. Some might
thank him (Sir Francis) for having gone over to the
side of Mr. Canning, although the latter was one of the
most decided enemies of reform. But the question to
be decided was whether Sir Francis, in thus giving
kis support to Mr. Canning, had not compromised the
great principles which they all advocated—(Cries of
" bear, hear," " yes, yes," " no, no.") He WAS sorry
that what Sir Francis had said of Mr. Canning to
night, he had not said to his teeth in the House of
Commons; if he had, the scene, which they had just
witnessed, would never have been exhibited—(Hear.)
Who was it that Sir Francis Burdett was now support-
ing ? Who, but the eloquent, the invariable, and power-
ful opponent of every measure favourable to the liber-
ties of the subject, which had been agitated in the H.:use
of Commons for the last thirty years ?—(eries of " No,
no," and " Catholic Question, and great uproar.")—
After order was restored, Mr. Hunt proceeded to ob.
serve, that it had been said, that if time was given to
Mr. Canning, he would bring about some of those good
things which the people so earnestly desired—(Hissings.)
.By all means, give him time ; but, before they pledged
themselves to suppoit the man who has all his life been
their opponent ,(Cries of NoAo,") let them see what he
intended to do. (Cries of" Look to his foreign policy.."/
The King, they were told, had endeavoured to make as
Administration without Mr. C. an Administratiqn unfa•
vourable to the Catholic QUestion, but failed. Cduld
Mr. Canning have formed an Administration which
could last for even one week if he had not been joined
by Sir Francis Burdett and his friends?—(Uproar )
Did they believe that that part of the late Adminis-
tration could forni a Government that would last for
one week without Mr. Canning ?—(No, no.) He be-
lieved, therefore, Sir Francis Burdett and his friends

might have made what terms they pleased with Mr.
Canning. They could have compelled him to promise
his support to Parliamentatyßeform if they bad pleased.
All be had to say about S r Francis Burdett was, that
when Mr. Canning had, the other day, in the House
of Commons, declared his hostility to Parliamentary
Reform. Su Francis ought to have rise s and strenu•
ously opposed that Hon. Gentleman. Mr. Brougham
and Lord John Russell took upon them to say, that the
country had boen'so well governs] for the last few years,
that the people did not want Parliamentary Reform;
but bow was that answered by the three or four thou-
sand inhabitants of Westminster, who met the other day?
—(Great confusion).. They were of a different opinion,
and said that the sountry could never cnide to any good if
t had not a full and.effecival reform in the Cumurons
H use of Parliaments "I think that they were right ; and