Star.
London, England, 1803-07-27 00:00:00

MIMS OP rift caltsmr,

Yetterday, purruant to public notice, there was a
numerous meeting of the Merchants and Traders of
the City of London, at the Royal Exchange Mr.
Bosatictorr was called to the Chair prtcifely at one
o'clock; and the requifition for calling the attemblf,
as refolved on at the Meeting at the London Ta vern,
having been read by Mr. DALMSIDA, Mr. Bosan-
ay iv role, and addrelTed the Meeting as follows:
" Gentlemen, when I look around me on thole
walls that have fo often wintered the public fpirit, the
honour, and good faith of the Merchants of the City
of London; when I eat my eyes towards the edigies
of thole Kings under whom this country has liou-
rithed for fo many centuries, and been railed to a
pitch of fplestdour, power, and happinefs, which has
rendered it the envy and admiration of the world ;
when I fee myfelf furrounded by fo refpettable an of
of that virtuous, loyal, and patriotic people,
amongft whom I was born, and with whom I have al-
ways lived, whofe principles I know, and have fo long
experienced; I can have no doubt that the refolution
I have this day to propofe for your adoption,.will meet
your firm and unanimous approbation; becaufe I
know I addrefs myfelf to that clafs of men; whole vir-
tue, whole induttry. and whole public fpirit, have ftip-
ported that national ty Item of wealth, power, and good
faith. which has carried the honour of the Britith
name from pole to pole. The topic to which I hate
this day to call your attention is, that an enemy, a
powerful, a fierce, a cruel and rapacious enemy—is
at your door; an enemy, who after meeting with fire,
(word and rapine, the reit of Europe, kritiws that
this Country Rands almoft the foie exceptiori to his
Gusguinary conqueßs, and the Only barrier to his uni-
verTal dominion. I need not add, that this ferociout
enemy pants to realife in this Country fimilar (eerie,
to thole which he has aged in every other part of
Europe; and amulet he ever be tliccefsful in his de-
figns, you would fee your wives and daughters vio-
Isted before your eyes in the open flreets (murmur:
itui,eireriviv,), and your lons and brethren roalTacred
td your highways; while the place where we now
affenible, would become the (laughter-houfe of your
fellow Citizens. Milroy will tell you, that when
Confialitiouple and Rome were attacked and Rormcd,
the One Fit the Saracens, and the other by the barba-
rian invadeet of the North, every thing within them
appeared iranaitii, while every thing without was
wet. The enemy Torpriaed them: inapprehenlive of
danger, and mpofing on a falfe and fatal fecurity,
their Nobles were funk in luxurious apathy. their
Merchants were attend ng their bufinefs in their ware-
boufes, and their money-changers were fitting quietly
in their places. What was the confequence ? they
became an eafy prey to their ferocious invaders.
The two greeted cities in the wield were thus lacked,
their inhabitants maffacred. and their wealth became
the prey of their barbarous *jam. Had they in time
attended to the dangers of their fituation ; had they
refolved to appropriate a part of their wealth lor the
defence of the whole ; had they themtelves taken up
arms. and not trt.fitel to the carelefs, becaufe unin
levelled defence of others, they might have avoided
that ruin which they f iw too late for remedy. Goo
fend this may never be our fate ! Gon fend the fero-
cious enemy, who ni.w menaces our deßrudion, may
never fo far fucceel in his hops of finding us off our
guard, as to be able to reduce us to the mifery in
which he has already involved fo many other coon.
tries of Europe. But if he does. I true in GOD that
I and my children will be amongft the fiat to fall,
that we may never furvive to fee the ruin and defola-
tion that would then be (bed upon this now happy and
profperous Country. But. my fellow-citizens, now
when we are fully apprized of the intentions of the
bold, daring, and rapacious enemy, who is ready to
rick any thing in the hope of our deftrudion. I trial
they will not find us difpnfed tamely to futinit under
their attack ; I mill the free and brave inhabitants of
this happy land, will never fo fax difgrace themeelves,
their anceßors. and their country, as not rather to
die, to the IA man, in defence of their liberties and
their =ion. than fubmit, on their own foil, to
become the naves of a Foreign Ufurper. (Porde/
heft.) It is yet in our own power to fay. no Na-
tion on earth, no. nor the world united, Shall conquer
as ! The binary of the world affords no inftance of a
country, united and determined to maintain its free-
dom, that ever was conquered. Let us then. Coun-
trymen and Fellow-Citizens. refolve to unite firmly
fur oar common defence, and reedve to conquer or
to die. Let every man, when be departs from this
affembly. go to his proper place, and determine t..
do his duty, by conducing with his heart and hand
to fupport the public cattle, and render that portion
of duty which every individual in the State owes to
the common welfare of the whole. Shall a fangui-
nary banditti, who have no interea to fight for, but
that of rapine and murder, be prodigal of their
lives, and readily rifle every thing in parfu;t of
their bate objects—and &all we be (paring of our
exertions fur coensnon fecurity ? Difgracefuf, indeed,
would it be for us to incur the jut; approach of the
plunderers. in being lets prompt to rine our lives in
our country's defence, than they are to accomplili
its dettruSion. I with sot to trelpafs unnecelfrt-
rily upon the time and attention of this affens-
bly ; (lad ahearafi, Hoar ! bier I hear !) but I hope
before we feparate this day, we Gall come to an
unanimous refulatioo, bravely to Rand, or nobly
to fall with our country. (Trek of azolaafi.)—We
mull feel that we have done nothing. until we have
placed that country in a Rate of ablnlute fccurity.—
Gentlemen, I fay nothing to you tibia I do not feel
in the bottom of my heart; I call upon my fellow.
citizens to stake no 'unions. in which I will not
cheerfully join to the left fartbipg of my fortune, and
the laR drop of my blvd. IE will be my pride to
nail forward to the forensoß ranks of my country-
men for oar common defence. and my glory to Stand
and fall with my country. (Load dad roigeraoro pat
V.fil—Be
dread oar common feeling, and we
haventhing to er= the threats of the enemy.
nu* the united attacks of the world. Cattlemen. I
have nothing more to add. but that a Refolutina
will be read to you, which I Shall move. and have no
doubt of your unanimous concurrence."
Mr. Desolate*. of the India Houk. them read, is
ao audible. drain& and impretfive manner, the /4-
Inlgition which being finithed, was unanimoolly
adopted, at containing die lentinzents of the meeting,
A Committee having been appointed to give effea to
the (Ned of it. Mr. Forraa, the Daubs, attar mak.
nig Cam fisigits4 obiaratioos, is w.bieii be Ctegra.

tulatei the numerous company prefcnt on the warmill
of their patrionfm--ntoved. the thanks of the meet-
ing to the wcrthy Chairman, and proporedlhat. for
tLe honour of Old England. three times three cheer►
fhould be given, which {hook the walls of the Royal
Exchange like a peal of thunder, and the meeting
broke up.—A more numerous or relpeciablc meeting
never was before wintered in this country. The Ex-
change was nearly full ; to the eye from the Huft-
ings it teemed quite crowded in ,awry part ; about
four or five thoufand perfons were prefent. all well
drcifed and rcfpeetable Getitlemen,,cupprehending
the great body of the commercial mch of this me-
tropolis.