The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-06-19 00:00:00

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how likelylt was to teed to Reform, he Mt some wawa.
!Mies that out oldie pessekt writ might stpriag lasting
and incalculable good.-Thillosoitrahle Gentleman next
briefly adverted to the arguments of those who opposed
' form, Which admitted of an easy asswer—the body
politic would always seek its *We good--thtapeople. if
they had the !tower, would select those best calculated
to promote the public, that is, the people's good.—What
said a celebrated Roman ? What Romeo wits ever se
base as to prefer a Nero to a Seneca?—(Hear, hear.)—
As to the argument that the people wield make the
house of Commons too democratic for regal establish-,
ments, it was false—the people of England were a wily
loyal people.—(Applause.) It *as profoundly observed
that the King of England, acting like • Fepublizan,
would always ensure the faithful devotion of his %objects.
(Applause.) It was his opision that the pepple would.
have a Reform. On the last debate on Reform 174 voted
for the measure—amongst those were 8 Members who
held themselves under the influence of a noble Lard, and
that Noble Lord was heard to express his eatisfaction at
the votes they gave. Looking at these things at home—
and looking at the progress which liberty bad made
abroad—the triumph of South American I odepandesce—
the proud examples of Spain and Portugal—who, not-
withstanding the provocations they bad received. did
not shed the blood of the wicked, nor bad recourse to
an infamous Alien Bill. He hoped they would maintain
the liberties they had so nobly achieved. Adverting to
the cause of the Greeks, he hoped that glorious days to
come will compensate them for ages of sufftwieg and of
shame.—(Loud Applause.) The Hon. Gentleasau next
said it was scarcely necessary for him to renew to his
coestituentstbe pledges which be bad formerly made; he
Would persevere, satisfied they would not requird'of him
any thing which he could not conscientiously de—satle-
bed that in acceding to their wishes he would be'butlith.
rooting the cause of public right and of public virtue.—
(Applause.)
After a short pause, Sir Wtherom proposed the health
of his colleague, Mr. Calvert, which was norvery warmly
received.
Sir It. Wrasore then introduced, by a short speech, I
the health, of "Sir F. Burdett and J. C. Holthouse,
Esq. the undaunted, faithful, and distinguished advocates
of the rights and liberties of their country," which was
received with cheers.
Mr. Hoanouss, after thanking the company for the
kindness with which his name had been received, aid
expatiating on the necessity of reform, called the
attention of the meeting to the opinion of Mr. Ri-
cardo, who wished the people, by the sacrifice of
a certain portion of their capital, to relieve the
country from the burden of debt by which it was op-
pressed. He, however. would never consent that the
people should come forward to pays debt which they
had never incurred, except on one condition, namely,
that they should be secured from a recurrence of an
evil, similar to that which now friend and pressed
them to the dust ; and bow could they possibly be
secured from it, except by a full, free, and fair repro.
.sentation of the people in Parliament?—(Cheers.)—The
Hon. Gentleman concluded by observing, that be had
voted for every plac proposed for reform in Parliament.
--(Cheep.)—He had voted for every thing that gave
the people the least chases of being 'setter represented
that theywere at present.
Sir R. Watson then proposed the health of "J. G.
Lambton, Esq., the zealous friend of reform," which was
received with' lend applause.
Mr. LAIIIIITON, from the state iu which the country
wu, sheaved the urgent ormantlty of reform. In
one quarter of the kingdom dm people were aetualry
suffering from famine, aid living on the bounty of jori-
vats charity ; and, in seedier part, they were so bltad
to their mellowest, sato destroy that superabundance
of produce it bad pleased H to give us—bat ac-
cording toosr modern governmints, they were taught
to view it as a curse: and another class had deserted
itheir leads in eider to save their property from tbe hogs
of the tax-gathenr. Ought such a state of things, be
asked, continue?. Was it not the duty of every man to
exert himself to remove these stupendous evils? There
was, however, a fatal bar in the way, the state of repro-
sentation in the House of Commons. The Hon. Gentle.

as thee appealedn the peotoodinp of the House, and
concluded with observing. dist the present state of the
representation was very fit indeed for the Ministers, but
very trait for the people.
Sir R. VirLsort then proposed the health of "S. C.
Whitbread, Esq., and the glorious victory of the county
of Middlesex over corruption.
Mr. WEITRRSAD said if any thing could give a fresh.
impulse to his exertions in the cause which brought
them together, it would be the applause of the body be
was addressing. He held it to be the dirty of every in+
divides!, however humble, to come forward and b
union and co-operation give strength to a cause so vital-
ly important to the interests of the country. To prove
the value of public opinion, he needed only to refer to a
recent fact, which could be forgotten by them. In
the person of their gallant representative, they beheld
the devoted victim Of Ministerial vengeance; bat at the
same time, they witnessed an example of the powerfol
effects of public opinion, at least without the walls of
Parliament ; for they saw the most envenomed shafts of
persecution drop powerless when directed against the
will of the people. Within the walls of Parliament, he
he was sorry to say, the case was very different. This
proved the necessity of reform in their representation.
The next toast was, "The Health of Aldermen Wood,
Tborp, and Waithman, and the Reformers of London.
[applause."
Mr. Alderman WOOD returned thanks. No man than
himself was more ready to sacrifice his time, and even
his life, if necessary, to the common good (applause.)
He had been long in public life—not so long in Parlia-
ment at Westminster, but in the little Parliament in the
City, where they considered themselves very great (a
laugh), as to render any professions on his part neces-
sary. He would only say that he would endeavour to
behave n well as he bad done there before `applause.)
He was glad at that crisis to meet so many Honatable
and Independent Friends surrounding and Mappordrig
his Gallant Friend, who was marked out as a victim by
the violence of power, but who was eres.rved by the'
virtue of the people. There was not in the House of
Common • more vigilant and independent Member, or
one menrjestly or more generally respected. He wen
thankful to his constituents; and he hoped they would
rouse themselves a little, and send into Parliament real
and independent Members.
Mr. Alderman WAITHMAN said that it was on the
breaking out of the war ha 1793 that be first stepped
forward as • public individual, and since that thus be
bad raised his voice against the pernicious system adligs•
ed by tioverument. He found the Court of (A' MINIOD
Council a sink of corruption, and he had ever exerted
himself to throw open the door and divest it of its
trammels; The benefit arising from this was evident, as
appeared by the late election of Mr. Demean. He
thought there would be no security for the country till
the present mode of Representation was reformed; sad
he considered, by the present practice of sending what
was termed Representatives to Parliament, that it was
like giving them leases for seven years to misrepresent
the country.
The Hon. H. G. BINNST, in a long and luminous
speech, entered into the causes which he considered as
nesting the present distresses. He compared the pro-
greis that Reform had made to the dropping of water
on a stone, which in the course of time made an im-
pression. So it was, he said, with Reform; that had
gone on from time to time, till at last its importance bad
made a very forcible impression on all, and bad con