The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-10-24 00:00:00

THE STATES!

OUTRAGES IN IRELAND.
[nom TIM CORRIBSPONDENTI

DISSENSION SHERIFF SMYTHiI DINNER.

"It is usual, on the 'Quarter Assembly-day of the
Corporation of Dublin, for one of the Sheriffs to en-

tertain the Members of the Common Connell at din-

ner. The dinner on yesterday was given by Mr.
Sheriff Smyth, and the greatest harmony prevailed,

until he was requested, in the course of the evening,
to propose from the Chair, as a toast, the Memory of
King William Ill." Sheriff Smyth refused to do so;
bat the majority of his company, on the occasion, be-
ing determined to drink it, they forced the gentleman
out of the Chair, and placed Sir Nicholas William
Brady in it, who immediately complied with their
wishes."

[PROM THE DUBLIN SVENING POST.]
DUBLIN, OCT. 20.—The intolerant party has ob-
tained another recruit in Dublin in the person of Be-
Sheriff Brady, a man knighted by the King himself,
as one of the supporters of his system of conciliation,
and who we did not expect to find it deserter from the
regiment so soon after be had received the bounty.—
At the breaking up of the Quarter Assembly on Fri-
day evening, Sheriff Smyth invited the whole Corpo-
ration to dine with him at Morrisson's, where he had
ordered dinner, and as the candidates for Aldermen
were there to declare themselves, a snore than usually
numerous attendance took place, consisting of between
90 and 100 members, when Messrs. Foot, Archer,
Whitford, and Brady, declared themselves aspirants
for the Al lermanic gown. On the health of the wor-
thy Sheriff being drank, he availed himself of the
opportunity of stating, that when last he bad the
honour of presiding in the chair, he appeared, by the
line of conduct he bad adopted, to have given off: ace
to some Members of the Corporation, by not giving a
particular toast; but he must arsine the gentlemen
the line of conduct he had then pursued be would
still fearlessly follow, and not be biassed by any one ;
he could not be in that chair as a puppet, by pulling
this string or that; Itr was not to dance or sing, or
make a speech, at any 'man's pleasure. He did
conceive from his heart that In obeying the mandate
of his Sovereign, he was best supporting the interest
and independence of the Corporation of Dublin, and
be did, therefore, hope no one would dictate to him
what line of conduct he was to pursue. Things were
going on so far so well, when a gentleman got np and
declared he wortld drink the.' Glorions Memory," in spite
of the Sheriff; on which Sheriff Smyth most manfully
stood up, and declared he would either be supported
in the Chair or leave it, which, we regret to find, was
the case. Sheriff Brady was then voted to the chair, sod
the toast was accordingly given by those who were op-
posed to Sheriff Smyth. At the Quarter Assembly on
Friday the vote of thanks to Sir A. B. King and the
Mansion-house Committee, for their conduct on the
occasion of the King's visit, was carried only by a
majority of 10, the numbers bring—Ayes, 50—Noes,
40. The member of the Corporation who brought
forward the motion said he was induced to propose it,
in hopes that it would he negatived, a rumour having
gone abroad that within the last six months the poli-
tics of the city bail been much changed.
[FROM THE torni.rx MORNINO POST.]
At a Meeting of the Common Council, on Friday,
when the Lord Mayor came down to dissolve the as-
sembly, Sir Abraham B. King, in returning thanks for
the approbation bestowed upon his conduct, spoke to
the following effect:—
He stated, that having been elected, under peculiar
circumstances. by that House, it afforded hint parti-
cular gratification on his retirement from the arduous
duties of his Office, to have received the unanimous
approbation of the Body who elected him. It was
also a source of satisfaction and pride to find, that his
brethren of the &Ward who did not participate its
that election, now came forward unanimously to join
in the compliment so handsomely voted to hint this
day--" 1 have, said Sir Abraham King, to return
thanks to the Gentlemen who brought under discus-
sion my political conduct, as Chairman of the ,Man-
sion-house Committee, as the result of it bas proved,
that the good sense and good feeling of that house
was in perfect unison with his Majesty's most gracious
recommendation, to forbear and conciliate ; and which
happy moderation and conciliation, I trust, will con-
tinue for ever."
When Sir Abraham thus expressed himself, he did
not anticipate the scene that was to follow at the
Dinner. _

The Irish Government, rays a Ministerial paper.
aro indefatigable in their labours to investigate the
causes of the outrages in the county of Limerick, and
to apply an efficient remedy. His Excellency the Lord
Lieutenant, we are assured, spends several hours
daily at the Castle, devoting his personal exertions to
these objects. The whole of Friday and Saturday
morning, his Excellency was thus engaged. Mr. Se-
cretary Grant, who had arrived from his seat in Scot-
Ike& Mr. Secretary Gregory, and his Majesty's Law
Officers, were in consultation with the Lord Lieutenant
till a late hour on Saturday evening. Major War-
burton, who is the Chief Magistrate of Police in the
county of Limerick, and who wrs summoned to Dub-
lin to afford, personally, information regarding the
outrages which disgrace that county, was examined
some hours on the subject ; after which, he immedi-
ately left the Castle to resume his functions. There is
reason to believe that Government have such measures
in contemplation as will effectually reduce the dis-
turbed district to order and obedience ; and we hope,
devoutly, in a short time. The other parts of the
kingdom are in a state of perfect tranquillity.
The Limerick disturbances are deemed of sufficient
consequence to require the attendacee of Sir David
Baird, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland. Government
has directed barracks to be engaged at ShanagaWen,
Ballingarry, Rathkeale. Drunscalloher, and Askeatoo,
all in the county Limerick.
We have beard from a person on whose• authority
we can implicitly rely, that on Thursday night a
policeman was' shot near Asiare.—(Correepondear.)

The most awful tornado ever witnessed in New Eng-
land occurred on the evening of the 9th of Sept., ex-
tending from Croydon south easterly through the
towns of Wendell, New London, Sutton, and Warner.
Though the sun was above the horizon, it was is dark
as midnight. Many buildings were in a moment de-
molished, and several persons burled in the ruin,. A
wood of forty acres was entirely prostrated ; not a whole
tree *as left standing.

,N.

TO THE EDITOR- OF THE STATESMAN.

"The Liberty of the Press. It le like the air we breathe;
If we have it not we die."—.lona HORNE Toone.

SIR—On every side, and from all parties, we hear
reiterated protestations of an ardent attachment to
the Liberty of the Press. A very little consideration,
however, founded upon actual experience, will con-
vince us that it is but a vox et prteterea nihil—a
hollow and an empty sound So far from the Press re-
ceiving, at the present moment, the support and pro-
tection, to which, from its acknowledged utility and
importance, it is so justly entitled, it is, on the con-
trary, treated, both by its professed advocates, and its
inveterate enemies, with unmerited obloquy and un-

feeling neglect. Scarcely an independent writer, or
an intrepid defender of popular tights for above these
last fifty years, who has not had ample cause to rue
the fatal day when he first raised either his pen or bis
tongue against Ministerial Corruption, and in behalf

of the abused Liberties of his fellow countrymen.—

That I may not be thought splenetic or prejudiced in
my opinion, I will descend to particulars is proof of

my assertion. Above twelve years ago, an attempt
wasmade by a few enlightened individuals, to establish
a Society for the Protection of such Writers as might
become the objects of Political Persecution. A pub-
lic meeting was convened by advertisement at the
Crown nod Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, at which se-
veral energetic and spirited Resolutions were unani-
mously voted. The project, however, failed ; partly
fur want of sufficient union and co-operation among
its promoters, but chide from the apathy of the pub-
lic mind. Nut long afer this, a printer (George
Beaumont) was sentenced to two years imprisonment
in Newgate, and a fine of Fifty Pounds, for a Political
libel on the late King. Strange as it may appear,
this unfortunate printer, underwent another year's
imprisonment in consequence of his inability to raise
the required ruin, and eas at length liberated nut by
any public aid, but by the remission of his fine. The
fate of the patriotic and public-spirited proprietor of
the hedepeadent 11%g, who, for his ardent and able ex-
ertions in the cause of humanity, was doomed to a
three years incarceration in Dorchester (laol, is but
too-well known. This Gentleman, who, by his bold
and energetic writings gave a tone and spirit to the
public feeling, notwithstanding his long and unwearied
exertions in the cause of rational freedom and consti-
tutional reform, was, nevertheless, after all his fai►h-
ful services, left to pine and languish in chilling neglect.
till he was brought to the verge of cola ; his Paper sold
to defray the exactions of Ministerial oppression, and
himsell in the decline of life, and bowed down with en-
creasing infirmities, which nearly brought him to the
grave! If an additional instance be wanting to till up
the gloomy picture, it may be furnished by the case of
poor Lovell, who, after several years strenuous exertions
in the cause of Freedom and Reform, and much sacri-
' lice of health and pecuniary comfort, ended his days,
overwhelmed with the weight of Government prosecu-
tions, broken-hearted, deserted , and forlorn!
Stricken with these and other dreadful mementos of
Ministerial vengeance and popular ingratitude, a few
sincere and foteilligent friends of freedom again stepped
forward to rally t&ptfislic feelitig in support of oppressed
patriotism, and rescue their Country from the odious
stigma of basely abandoning to contempt and poverty,
those who had bravely combated in her cause.—A meet-
ing was convened at the Paul's Head Tavern, Cateaton-
street, which was numerously attended, and several ex-
cellent Resolutions in furtherance of this laudable Ob-
ject were unanimously passed. Yet, notwithstanding a
Committee was appoidted to carry their Resolutions
into effect, and to recnive subscriptions on behalf of the
numerous victims of political persecution, then linger.
ing in painful and long-protracted imprisonment in dis-
tant dungeons throughout the kingdom ; this project,
like that of its predecessor, for want of public encourage-
ment, proved abortive, and fell completely to the ground!
Another attempt, and that but recently, has been made,
to institute a fund, under the denomination of the Bene-
volent Patriotic Fund, for the relief of all those who are
suffering under imprisonment, for publishing their reli-
gious or political opinions: But the reader will, no
►lonbt, be surprised to learn, (and I confess it is with pain-
ful reluctance, 1 state the fact,) that although repeated
applications were made to most of the professed and opt-
lent Leaders of Reform, by the Committee of this Fund,
with the exception of Major Cartwright, and two or three
other worthy individuals, not one of them has afforded
it the slightest aid! In mentioning the name of this
truly excellent and persevering Veteran, who, for above
fifty years, has so ably and consistently supported the
cause of Parliamentary Reform, I cannot forbear ad-
verting to the late proceedings in the Court of King's
Bench. Your Readers, Sir, will remember that when
Major Cartwright was brought up fur judgment, he was
sentenced to a fine of one hundred pounds. How will
they be surprised to learn, that this formed but the
smallest part of his loss; to say nothing of the sacrifice
of time, health, and the mental anxiety, naturally conse-
quent on those harrassing and litigious proceedings. I
have it from undoubted authority, that this sincere and
virtuous Patriot, whose whole life has been one uninter-
rupted career of active exertion and unostentatious bene-
volence, has incurred an ',Tenet of nearly One Thou-
sand Pounds in defending himself and others. This is
a delicate subject, but I believe I may he allowed to say,
that, although the venerable Major has, hitherto, de-
cently and honourably supported himself and his family
from his own income, yet, these and other heavy ex-
peaces, must have sensibly abridged his domestic cont-
forts; npon this topic I could write volumes, but, for
obvious reasons 1 forfear, Mr. Wooler, in addressing
the Court, requested that whatever might be the extent
of punishment they might think proper to inflict upon
him, it might he limited to imprisonment only ; assign-
ing as a reason that, upon winding up his accounts,
he found himself, after all his publications, but barely
teen with the world. The case of Mr. George Edmonds,
of Birmingham, who, together with Mr. Wooler, is
im-
prisoned in Warwick Gaol, as detailed to the Court,
was, as your readers may remember, affecting in the ex-
treme. These and many other eases of &similar nature,
.which ydur circumscribed -limits will not permit me to
mention;sulficiently demonstrate the unprotected state of
the independent portion. of the press. It is, indeed, a
' lamentable filet, that, while all other classes of the cont-
inuity live their various Benefit Societies and I nstitu-
ions, knotted expressly fur their safeguard and protec-