The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-03-01 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN:

TO THE EDITOR OF THE srArts.vd,v.

ESTEEM D Fuca o—l can readily forgive thee the
non-insertion of my letter to Nicholas Vansittart, under
date the 14th of last Bth month, as it was omitted through
a pressure of matter from the unfortunate slaughter of
our neighbours at Manchester. But the present mo-
ment, s. big with the affairs of our country, demands an
equal vigilance on thy part as well as on every indivi-
dual who respects our laws, our rights, and Cowan-
tion. The succession of political events in this country
and on the continent, forces reflections on our minds
not wore honourable to the rulers than alarming to the
ruled. Plots, conspiracies, and assassinations, art said
to have taken place in Germany, Spain, France, and
even in England, and so palpably base has been the
conduct of the hireling press, that were we to accredit
the farrago in its disgraceful columns, we should be
led involuntarily to suppose the Holy Alliance were
surrounded by pistols, blanderinteses, and stilettos.
As to the transactions on the continent, they cannot sur-
prise a calculating mind, when he takes into consideration
the promise-breaking, ungrateful, and detestable conduct
of that faithless crew ; but when we see England involv-
ed in the drama, we are reluctantly forced to forbade an
unfortunate catastrophe. It has long bees the fashion
to force German customs and French frivolity into this
country, and instead of its inefficiency operating as a cau-
tion to out rulers, it appears to be reviewed with tfitigeace
and avidity. Indeed the clumsy manner in which the last
hominess has been got up, appears to be a rase de gwerra
for electioneering purposes, as well as to fasten move-
ables, who were supposed in a tottering situation. That
a human life should be sacrificed to such a purpose is a
sad reflection, although it is but a grain of sand in the
scale of political calculation. That the hungry wretches
in Cato-street were not surrounded and all taken is to be
regretted, as it could be effected without danger.
The military and civil force were fully adequate to the
purpose ; and though I may consider 'Richard Birnis a
man of strong common sense, and an active Magistrate,
yet I doubt that him or his military coadjutor were
adequate to what a judicious corporal-could have elect-
ed on the occasion, without loss of life or limb. That
such a set of half-starved wretches could effect the mur-
der of the King's Ministers, when the whole had not the
price of a loaf between them, and, under such circum-
stances, to force their way into the dining-room of Lord
Harrowby, is a plot worthy of a Rerro/de, • casileo.
an Oliver, or any such worthies, particularly if it
were in the power of the watchmen to arrest th;ir pro-
gress, and give the alarm. That there is a variety of
miserable creatures in this country ready for any enter-
prise that might give them bread, is certain ; but
inflation is execrated by all, unless imported from those
regions where the press is shackled, and the people kept
in political ignorance.
Verily, friend, the prospects are deplorable, if such
doings are necessary to prevent Britons from enjoying
the benefit of theireiecti ye franchise, and that indivitioals
are to be branded by the dictum of a briefless Barrister
of any party. The punishment of a high literary
character has already disgusted the Independent Eke-
tors of the united Kingdom, to whom he is become en-
deared, not only by his public virtue and integrity, but
by a manly sympathy that Britons ever feel for the victim
otoppression. Already the name of Hotfoot:se resounds
through Westminster—that man who was punished un-
lawfully, and denied the privileges of Magna Marta
and the Conslitation, which should have protected his
person from unlawful fine and arbitrary imprisonment.
Stich apiece of burlesque privilege, coming from a body,
ack by tbeinseli es, as corrupt at die sale end
purchase of seats could make them, is base in the ex-
trriue. This traffic was stated in the Noose to be
as clear as the sun at noon day, against two of the
King's Ministers, one of whom since fell • lamented
victim to the pistol of Bellingham ; and the' other con-
sidered as the prime mover of British thraldom at the
present moment. After such a measure, what must the
people feel? Notwithstanding which, an anxious wish
for arbitrary power incenses to an alarming extent, and
the late five Bills, shuffled through with such rapidity,
appears.to be framed for the purpose of creating a false
alarm in the breasts of the Monarch, and the timid por-
tion of his subjects, as well as a protection to those san-
guine tools of power and corruption who have already
disgraced the arms placed in their hands for the sup-
port and prot.. lion of the people.
I therefore implore the Electors of Westminster to
congregate with active industry, and by 'hewing nut the
tree spirit of honest Britons, give a tone to the Electors
of the United Kingdom. If they Pend John Hobhouse
with Francis Willett, nu doubt Henry Brougham
will have reason to applaud the speech of the former, as
be has done that of the latter ; and if the Constitution
is to be undermined by any party, it cannot he effected
without their loud appeal to the protection of the King
and the people. The man William Shakespeare said—

. .
" There was a tide in the affairs of sato, attlea taken a
the ebb led on to fortune."

The tide now flows, and will shortly ebb ; bow happy
for the nation if lienrge the Foorth would profit by the
past, and take the tide of political affairs at the next
ebb—then nimbi lie become the happiest and most en-
vied Monarch in the universe—then might he drive
through every street and lane in the metropolis, %Wa-
wa parch, without doable-plate glass, or 6al! proof
carriage—then would he meet the greetings of the
people with sympathetic pleasure, and those Mimirierial
booths's be turned into shouts of joy—then would he
become what a King of England ought to be, and whet
I sincerely hope he will be, looked upon as a kind
father to his affectionate rhildren.
Such advice coming from an humble individual is not
thereby lessened in its operative value. should it meet
the eye or the ear it is intended to serve. I feel satisfied
it cannot do any harm, but may eventually answer the
desired purpose. Therefore let thy columns cheer the
falling fortunes of the people; and as they have been
unlawfully deprived of their right of voting, and re-
duced to the degree of slaves, from inability to pay their
poor-rates, let it he now published aloud that no Briton
can be deprived of his franchises unless he is receiving
pariah support as a pauper, or in prison order sentence
of felony; that law has been acknowledged and acted i
upon iu a late decision, and it thereby appears, had it
not been for the ignorance and indiseretion of the Re-
turning Officer, Joists Honnorse would have been the
sitting Member at the late Election. So great has been
the value set upon Magna Cheese by one ancestors, that
in the 35th year of Edward the First, the Archbishops,
Bishop., and Clergy, pronounced sentence of excom-
munication against all those who, by thought, word,
deed, or council, should break any part thereof; a hich
curse was to be twice a year pronounced in all churches
and chapels throughout England; and that no future
law should exonerate persons so offending from the
said curse, aad the aforesaid law of 1255 has hen since
looked upon as the first and last guard of the people
against arbitrary power.
These are animating reflections to Britons—these are
rights that should not he frilled away for a loess of
jrurl ; sad though the present form of rotten boroughs
may. on most occasion*, give a corrupt majority to Mi-
nisters, yet Britons slionW recollect they are bought and
said as sheep or oven, by their own consent. as long as
they enuntenanre those eandidates who are set np to op-
press them ; therefore let every individual, poor or ncls,

do his duty. as wilt done in the case of Lord Cochrane,
and they way say. a House composed of such men mast
become the real Representatives of the People.
CAmberwell, 28th 2d Mouth, 1820. US DIAL.