The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-07-10 00:00:00

Tim grATEsmAN.

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merce into her ports ; her armings, wince. from the
commencement of 1811, threatened the !evasion of
the Duchy of Warsaw ; finally, the protest respect-
ing ode" burgh, annihilated the alliance. 'lt no longer
'existed, w•ien on both sides armies were formed for
reci ;Foca I obset ration.
" .111 e whole of the year 1811 was, however, spent
imeottfereusos end aerciations yith Itustia, fu the
hope of WithdraWing, if possible, the Cabinet of Pe-
tershurgli from thu war upon which it appeared to be
tesolred, and to Obtain a knowledge of its real inten-
tions. It wined, to Plc certainty.ateridence, that
'twat 15i;%"•er proposed at the same time to depart from
the conditions of the 'Milt), of Tilsit, to place herself
in peace with England, and to menace the existence
of the Duchy of Warsaw, making use of'the pretext
of indemnities claimed for the Duke of Oldenburgh.

" lour Majesty, determined to maintain by arms,
the honour of treaties, the existence and integrity of
the States of your Allies, has felt the importance of
uniting yourself more closely to -a power, to which
you were already attached by words dear to your
heart, and the general political interests of which are
the same as those of tour Majesty ; for this purpose,
a Treaty was concluded on the 13th of this month.
With Austria. _

" Every thing promiseva Ion; duration to this al-
liance. It assures repose to the South of Europe,
and promises to France that she shall no longer be
disturbed in her eifotts for the re-establishment of a
maritime peace.
" LE DUC DE BASSANO."
" Gumbinnen, June 9.1."

By the Treaty with Austria, the latter is to fur-
nish 30,-000 men to France. The integrity of the
Turkish Territories in Europe is guaranteed, and the
principles of the Treaty of Utrecht are recognized.

•
FREEDOM OF DISCUSSION AND 7'llE
LIDERTI OF THE PRESS.

Yoiterday, there was a most respectable and nu-'
merous Meeting of the Friends to the Liberty of the
Press and Freedom of Di.cussion, at the Crown and
Anchor Tavern, pursuant to public advertisement,
to receive Mr. William Cobbett, on the termination
'of his imprisonment of two years in the gaol of
Newgate, for publishing an article on the subject of
Military Flogging. About five o'clock Mr. Cobbett
entered the Great Room, attended by Sir Francis
Burdett, Major Cartwright, Colonel Bosville, Ma-
jor James, Aldermen Wood and Goodbehere, Mr.,
Waithman, Mr. Brookes, Mr. Favel, Mr. Har,T.
vey, Mr. Fawkes, Mr. Graves, Mr. Hardy, Sir W..
Rawlins, and many other respectable Gentlemen,
preceded by the Stewards. Immediately . upon
Mr. Cobbett entering the room, he was greeted with
the most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy and con-
gratulation, which continued for several minutes
after he had taken his scat on the right of the worthy
Chairman, Sir Francis Burdett. An excellent din-
ner was then served in very good order. After
the removal of the cloth, the Chairman gave the
following toast, which was drank with approbation.

The Prince Regent—may he c.,11 tw mind the declaritinit
of the Prince of " that the Crown is held in nut fur the
lienet4 of the People I"

The CHAIRMAN then gave,

The Pcopit S of all P:mer
which was drank Kith voat applause from all part;
of the room.—Music—The Air, " Liberty Hall."

A Free Pr oil l Fret.
was then proposed, and drink with general approba-
tion. The next toast was,

Our •.. • e.e :,n the r:•le:te of Ihnt able Ad-
Part,stmeillir% Urfurnt. 3141 zeokus of the
S •tr.ll %V I LI.I A I CO It It Err ;

which was drank with three times three, amidst the
universal cheerio,' the company.
Mr. Comma then rose to address the assembly.
The app: tme immediately upon Mr. C. intimating
his intention of speaking, was so great as to oblige
I him to wait serval minutes before silence could bu
t obtaiwed. At length Mr. Cobbett proceeded as fol.
• lows t--4;elitlemon, unused as I am to speak in pub-
lie, I should have almost contented septet(' with re-
turning you • y si:teere and grateful thanks for this
warm expression of our apprnhation of those prin.'
. ciples, for advocating which I have suffered so vigour-
ously ; but, Gentlemen, it would seism that after
being so severely punished, I am still to be accused
of bad actions. This minting, on my return from
the country, the Nen simper called the nmes, which'
I now hold in my hand, was delivered to me, and
t in this Paper I am charged with the most gross mis.
• conduct. Since I came into this room, a Handbill,
!which You have all seen, has been industriously cir-
related., with an intention to injure me. Altai Suffer-
ling two years imprisonment in a felon's gaol after
I paying a fine of a thousand pounds to the King;
and after entering into sureties in five thousand
'pounds to keep the peace for seven years, surely
they might have alloned me to receive your congra-
tulations, and to have spared attacking me for this one.,
Iday. Tlw source of these attacks all of you are ac.'
! quainted with, and I need not ask you to reflect, even
fora moment, to enable you to censure them—f 4p-
p/ause.l--Ahent ten years ago, 1 had the bohlue:s,
I say, boldness, Gentlemen, for it was very bold to
comment on the conduct of that man who now
sits in the Chair, and to use harsh 'expressions to-
nards him. I have since discovered that I Wil,
wrong, and have acknowledged my error. Where
is the man who at some time or other has not done
wrong? Our opinions are the result of reflection,
observation, and discussion, and these opinions are
produced and settled by time. I have candidly con-
fessed, that I have done wrong ; hut, Gentlemen,
r have 1 changed my opinion for interest ? No alter-
ation of sentiment cau be charged against any man as
a demerit, unless k proceeds fyom some interested
motive lurking in his breast.—[Loud cries of " No,.
no /1 Indeed, Gentlemen, you are right, for you ne-
ver will suspect me of changing my opinion of the Hon.
Baronet for interest !—[ Long continued applause."
,No man, I ism certain, can deny, that In changing
my opinion as to the lion. Bart.'s political principles,
I did not consult my interest. A Bill I have noticed,
which has beer circulated respecting me, pretty
generally ; most of you have probably seen, and-
many read its contents. A. great steal of trouble
has been used in circulating' this, paper, and who
knows, Gentleiseie,-"but It is all at our expense !
[Jingo) bran !3 how enraged fault they be to


see me here with the Honourable Baronet! Gentle-
men; • 1 come not to support the man, but the pH's!•
eftple-.-it is the principle to which we ill hold fast
[Great applause.] Referring, Gentlemen(
to the
ortkle in the Times Newspaper, l solemnly declare
the whole, in so far as it charges me with slavish of
corrupt motives, to be a tissue of falsehoods!
—prat.° n—Gent!emen, it is 'true that hefere
I was sent to prison, I (lid send a notice to the
, Regittcr, and which was aisn to have been inserted
in the Morning Papers, intimating. my intention of
causing to publish it any more. It wag not because I re-
potted of what I bad den., but because I would not
dig-
grace the Press by lowering the toue of the Register
—[Applause.]—Now, Gentlemen, I will explainthis
business to you :—Mr. Finnerty was with me at
Botley (which is seventy miles from London), on
the Wednesday preceding. 1 beg you to keep the
dates in mind. It was sent off on that day ; after
which, I and Mr. Finnerty consulted, and we thought
! it would he better not to publish such a declaration
at that time, as it might be held an abaudonment of
the cause ; but that it would be more prudent to
wait, at least, till tTnterice was pronnunced on me
by the King's Retch ; and Mr. l' innerly actually
! set off that night in a post-chaise to London, -to
prevent its publicalieee—These circumstances ran
(be vouched by that Gehtlentait. So much for this
accusation !--[Great approbation.]
1 As lamon my legs, and see many Gentlemen here
I from the country, -1 shall state some circumstances
!respecting the nature of the punishment inflicted on
me, which I bed not at first hatended. My impri-
sonment was for two years ; hut this was not mere
confinement in a house, it was with the most degraded
felons, from whose society l could not escape, unless
on payment of an enormous ransom. On the State
Side, Where I was first taken, the yard is about
thirty-6ve feet one way, and twenty-five the other.
On each side there are a number of rooms, which
not oily appear, but are in reality cells. Some of
these convert as many as live beds, in each of which
may ie put as man, as it would hold. This prison
is uo: confined to persons guilty of libels, but there
are felons, swindlers, and others convicted of urine-
' tura: ci imps. Here also, was to be found Aslett;
end from the room where Major Cartwright found
me, a man was transported the next day, and where
this man lodged was to be my apartment. Ilad I
not, therefore, redeemed myself from this dreadful
association by my pnise, I se•eild have remniued for
too years locked np with the most depraved wretches.
It is not therefore to a bed of roses that a man is
acid when.lie is committed to Newgate by Govern-
pent! And now, Gliittlemen, having gone so far,
iet:me say a faw words in favour of Mr. Eaton. Ile
was pronounced guilty of a and is to suffer
twenty-two months intrisonment, and stand mire in
the pillory ; although a man, who was cou,victed of
an attempt to commit an unnatural crime, Was or-
ekred to he imprisoned twelvemonths, and stand once
is the pillory. I mention this that your attention may
be attracted to the case of Mr. Eaton. Gentlemen,
I have now done. 1 thank you for your liberal ex-
pression of kindness, and the approbation you evince
of my public conduct. If I wanted a stimulant, I
should find it in that gratitude which I feel for the
honour you have done me this day !—[Loud and re-
iterated applause.]
The Cnetumem then proposed the following,
which was received and drank with the most lively
expressions of respect :

The Memory of William Prynn, a ho, after being punished
as a Seditious Libeller, for esposing the Corruption of the
Cour , lived to bring his Persecutor and unjust Judge to the
Block.

The following was also drank is the same man-
ner: --

Mr. I)rakard, and the other Victims of Er-Officio Infor-
mations.

Mr% Diplom was then solicited to sing a Song,
when he gave the following, written for the occa-
sion :

LIBERTY OF THE PRESS AND FREE DISCUSSION.

Discunion is the life of truth,
And Reason's hest support ;
And honest Sense, howe'er uncouth,
Will reach the proudest Court,
Opinion, quick as light, can dy.
hen Freedom is our hue and cry.

Blest Freedom ! of this boasted land
The cultivated root;
Thro' thee, with honest heart and hand,
We reap the sweetest fruit.
Opinion, quick, &c. &c.
111.
Corruption, for a time, may rise,
And darken Reason's light;
But Free Di.elmion, strong and wise,
Will stop it in its Right.
Opinion, &c. &c.
Iv.
The Lash, more cruel than the Rack,
Which Tyrants call their own,
No More shall mark the Soldier's back,
And break his spirit down.
Dix•ue>ioo a ill conviction It

/

prge,
And By tto Err rend the knotted scourge.
V.
For who, that ever heard of foe,
fly slid, valour storocd,
Could heir to see that valour show
A frame by eats deform'd ?
Diacusbion will conviction urge,
And Buttorrr, &c.
A Friend to good Order and Discipline; but an Enemy,
from experience, to Flogging and Degradation.
Mr. GRAVES then rose, and addressed the comm..
ay. Ile was about to propose a toast to which he
was sure, so•far from hating any objection to drink,
they would jolts him •in hearty concurrence. Ile
would not detain them hy,making observations when.
none were required. Ile would content himself with
stating; that be was about to propose the health of
the man who was just now so admirably described
by Mr. Cobbett. [Applause.j—Mr..c raves then gave
the following : • ,
May the Servants of the People be prevented from becoming
their Mask, by that Radical Reform, Pr•Pcned by that arm i
Opposer of Uodelined Privilege—Sir rHANCIS• RIURDF.Tirt
Immediately. on the announcenreat of. this toast, I
there was a most unbounded mark of approbatims,
many of the company waving their hats itiAd haudkwi
chiefs for several minutes. •

Sir Fnemcis Buiterre then rose, amidst the uni.
versa! cheers of the company, and delivered his sen.
timents nearly in the following terms:—
- Gentlemen, It falls to my lot very often to address
the 'Assembly alluded to in the last toast, by the Gen.
tleman who has done me the honour to think my
health. it is, indeed, too true, that those who ought
!to be the servants of the people, freqereety erect
themselvts into their masters. 'Sills sort of scene f
cc figh Life belovvSta irs,"l have not ietel very freqeeot-
ly, but I never did or will witness such an exlsibidon
without expressing my sentiments against that shame.
; less usurritioe of powerand autherity,which pretends
that the rights of Englisemen are requisite to the into.
rest s oltlef Crown. Gentlemen, we meet tills day
au occasion, wherein it is particuterly grateful to
i •
congratulete 114 Gentleman, whose abilities anti
whose pen is too powerful an instrument not to have
its weight end its influence upon the public mied
and it is imeossible to reflect, without recollectie:
how much the great cause of freedom has been hem
feted by the Imidalee, exertious of this Gentleman.-
I am confident lima every Englishman would rather
reward him with a civic crown, in consideration of
the sufferings which lie hr., I will not soy ;I:needle
edlv, but so Meritoriously, undergone. Lskifterte.l
Au allusion was made in the song to this leuasksi
laud ; but, Gentlemen, I hope this /mediae land
will soon be put upncc a better footing. The inurie-
i diate abroga len of that system which has trampled
; (you us so many years, is more than we can expect.
[Hear, hear !] If, however, things arc ete altered
the honest Englishman will soon express an opinion
which will shake corruption to its very basis! one
of two things must happen. [Long continued
pal:adj
, , ,
• s. do not know whether env tiling will hap.
pen from the Report of the Secret Committee which
is made this day,
,or whether we shall see any more
of those prolific monsters, which frequently issse
from green Bags and srated Boxes. It seems that
there is something wonderful in those:roceedings—
it would appear that it requires a team of horses to
drag out this great secret.—[A laugh.]—The great.
I est enemy to free discussion is what is technically
Icalled an ex-officio Information, contrary to law,
and contrary to common sense, to put every man
they please into Prison, under all the anxiety. and
! expense of a trial. They have daringly and uncoil.
stitutionally assumed this illegal power, and may
• rein any man, if ewer so innoeent,- and not even
t bring him to trial ! I recollect reading of a King,
I believe King James, who, when informed that he
bad the. nomination of the Bishops and the Judges,
, declared he would have such in: and such Gospel
; as he pleased.—[ii laugh.3—Our forefathers had the
good sense to guard, against this innovation; and to
say, that an Englishman's life and property should ue
taken by the Country alone, and they took great
care to chuse such men es would maintain and protect
this right.—[Grout applause.]=As things were now
arranged, both with respectto the King's Attorney.
General and the Master-of the Crown Office, it would
be better if persons should be subject to be overpower-
ed by a direct exercise of power, than undergo this sys.
! tem of oppression under't he forms of law. ril,,plause.l
The defence of those who so acteals very contempti-
‘ ble. They go to Sir Wm. Beeceeroec, who was
once considered a Court tool, or la%vyler, but has
since written doctrines which are termed jacebinical.
lie lied attempted to justify the Wantons system of
. filing Ex-qtfisee leformations, by stating, that " in
those eases, where tise crime is of that nature that
• the esistenee of the• Executive Power would be
at stake, unless such a proceeding be adopted,
the wisdom of the law has provided that the
I Attorney - General shall file an Er-officio In.
' formation to prevent the datiger. But, Gentle-
' men, I know that the wisdom of the law has
provided that thq shall not so act! The pretext
upon which they ground their conduct, is too con.
temptible to need any further remark. To be able
to commit injury, and to he able to stifle complaints,
is dreadful indeed to the oppressed. [bola amid-
?nations.] lucked, Gentlemen, I should wish far
no other test to judge the state of freedom by,. ha
any country, than to know the state of its discussion.
The mode of stifling discussion seems to he a refine-
ment upon the worst of cruelty I I have read of
tyrants of matey descriptions :—One had an etisine
made of brass, in the shape of a bull, and when it
was heated, the unhappy victim enclosed in it was
sure to roar, which was very pleasing to the tyrant,
as he liked to hear it ! Another had a bed of iron,
an which an offender was stretched : if 'lie was 100
short, he was stretched out to the full extent of the
bed ; if too long, his legs were cut oil to tit it ! So
the enemies to free discussion attempt t, compel every
, man to think with them !—[../eplause.] A tem rdi ties
and barbarity in thk enlightened age are carried
further than even in the time of Dionysius. Eviry
man must admit, that.sucbet state of things ought to
be immediately abolished. Mr. Cobbett' has truly.
stated, that he had constitiitiotiallg a right to express
his opinion upon any pubic topic, and in the just ex-
ercise ofthat hestheught proper to blame ,
nut. • Irtic found that' lid hdd reason •to change
his opinion, it was a duty incumbent'. on him to
avow such a fact. I • perfectly agree with
Mr. Cobbett, that he has a right to' deliver his
opinion upon every man, and every mettinrei as he
thinks proper ; and there is no aloubt but that Geo.
Amen will continue so to do, with the great-abilities
of which he is so eminently possessed.—lle as is
but the plain English demand, ," Muir Stage and'nei
Natio. It was that regard to frektohs and_ the free
principles -ef tottimon taw, which ,decided 'that no •
'Oates person or liberty should be touched e and
at one .period a law existed 'to the effect, that
...hoover 'could pay with his
.purse, should bee
excused in his person. In --the case or. Mr.
Cobbett, both modes had been
,resorted
It is in vain to search for precedents for such tows
duct, unless, indeed., we go back to the Court of Star
Chamber; and it is %veil kuown that that Court rem.
tlered itself infamous on account of the number or'
ex officio informations on e hick tteey acted. [Jpe
,/cruse.] .If cur Courts should ever act on such a
they .Will•eloso lose all claim to our re.
street.. While the' laws are adMinistered in the spi-
rit of the Constitution they will gain favour and re.
epeet ; but it will be the duty of every man to hold
there up to contempt, when they become the tools of
oppressors. All we want is freedom of discussion—
Joith•litecur checks,.which the law of the land has pro-
; freedele: of dlicussion is, in every country,
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