The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-06-02 00:00:00

SITURD4Y,

2. May those principles which• Mr. Pitt supporttiduad main-
Wised hi early life be adopted and become the Creed of
the Uuiversal British eraiiire.Great applause. (3 tiuses3.)
Song-Iteigu bright Freedom.
3. Parliamentary Reform, s' without Which." Mr. Pitt do-
dared. 44, that no honest loan could be Minister of Eng-
land." (1 times 3.) Great applause.
Song-The Pilot that weatbercd the Storm. Parody. .1
4. Sir Francis Burdett and the Electors of Westminster.
(3 times 3.) Uubotinded applause.
3. Success to the Friends of Reform. ('3 times 3.) Great
applause.
6. The voice of the People, and may. the Rouse of Com-
mons never put a negative on the wishes. of the People,
when those wishes tend to Reform. [Pitts Speeches. Mt-,
led by Hathaway, page 10.1 (4 times :1.) Great applause.
7. Doctor Coinptun mad the Independent Electors of Notting-
ham. (3 times 3.) Great applause..
It. May the (;ommons of the United Kingdom never impli-
citly pin their faith on the sleeve of a Minister. [Pitt's
Speeches, edited, 4v. pegs 15.) (Mimes 3.) Great ap-
plause.
S. The glorious iith of November. 1805, and the Independent
.Electors of Liverpool. (3. times 3.) Great applause.
10. The Land we live in. (31ins-s 3.)
Song-Rule Britanuia.
11. Mr. Roscoe, and all absent Friends. (3 times 3.) En-
thusiastic applause.
14. May Government be supported by measures more Wl-
nnurable than corruption. [Pitt's Speeches, edited by
Hathaway, page 2i.] (3 times 9.) Great ipplause.
13. The Rev. Wdliaai Shepherd. (3 times 3.) Great ap-
plause.
14. The Chnirosan, Mr. Rawson. (3 times 3.)
15. r. Thomas Green. (:times 3.)
16. No imiovationfliut a recovery of the Constitution. [Pitts
Speeches, edited by Hathaway, page id.] (3 (hues S.)
Great applause.
17. Mr. Cseorge Walker. •
18. May the house of Commons never degenerate into a
mere engine of Ty ranuy and Oppression. Elsitt's Speeches,
edited by Hathaway, page 76. (3 times 3.) Great ap-
plause.
19. Lord Erskine, anal the Dominion of the Law.
20. Lord Cochrane, 51r. Whitbread, Colonel Wardle, Mr.
Arinid.and all the Friends of the People.
11. May the Rights of Electors never become the hereditary
property of individuals. [Pitt's Speeches, edited by Hath-
away, page 29.] (3 times J.) fireat applause.

When the company had drunk the third toast,
the Rev. Mr. SHEPHERD arose,• and after making
a- few preliminary remarks on the displeasure
evinced against that Aleeting by the adherents of
Ministry in the town of Liverpool, proceeded in
the following terms :
Gill% up, in despair, Gentlemen, the idea of pleasing our
fellow-townsmen, who are now assembled in Castle-street,
let us endeavour to please ourselves.—(Applauser.] Let us
satisfy our own hearts and conscieoces—[.lppfauser t] and
that, I ma persuaded, we can only effect by a Mau adherence.
to the principles of the British Constitution; byes bold asser-
tion of those principlet• of freedom which, I am sorry to ob-
serve, it is too much the fashion of the present times IN revile
and to impugn.—[ Apple/an.] With this view, we avail our-
selves of the recurrence of Mr. Pitt's birth-day. to celebrate
Cie early principles of tharStatesman---pcinciples to which, if
he had adhered, and which, if he bad supported by the_powee
of his extraordiamy abilities, be would have vslidereff=amlf
the blessing and ornameut, instead of what he ultimately
proved to be—the curse and rain of his country.—[Loud
.Ipplauses.] Gentlemen, in order to refresh- your memory
with regard to such of those principles, its at this time Caine
most home to our feelings, 1 will, with your permission, rend
from the volume which I 'hold in my hand. (Pitt's 'Speeches,
edited by Hathaway) a few short extracts from Mr. Pitt's
early speeches in Parliament. Mr. Shepherd then pro-
ceeded to read the extracts in question, which were re-
ceived by the Meetiag. with loud plaudits, especially the last,
which was conceived in the futloo ing terms :
". Toe. House itself had discovered that is secret inditence of
" the Crown was sapping the very fiimidat of liberty by
" eorniptiou. The influence of the Crown had beetsfelt
4', within those walls, and had often been found strong enough
" to Aide tbe sense sif duty-, and to overrule the propasitions
" made to satisfy the wishes and desires of the people."
Such, Gentlemen, said Mr. S. were the early principles
of Mr. Pfft—principles, for the desertion of whiCh his me-
mory will this day receive a tribute of respect from our
fellow-tostuanwu assembled in Castle-street—priaciples, for
adhering to which Mr. Pitt, in after life, doomed many an
honest man to pine in the gloom of a prison. or to wear away
the remnant of a wretched being on the bleak and inhovitable
shores of New Holland—principles, fora he :Lamaism of which
hewer made a daring and wicked attempt to shed the l,lood
of his former associates in the anise of lteforiu.—[ Viitfrat
agitation.] Fur the animetiance of these principles, Geode-
men, we are at this day vilified and calumniated; but in spite
of all opposition, Gentlemen, we will maintain them to our
latest breath, as the .*rue safeguard of the Comtitation, and
the means of the salvation of oar count ry.—( Loud applause.]
For, tientleaten, let us take warning by what is passed; let us
trace the consequences of Mr. Pitt's dereliction of these prin:
ciplev; let as, on this subject, appeal to Mr. Pith's favourite
criterion, " exoerience and the evidence of facts." When
Mr. Pitt sauce into office, the national debt amounted to up-
wards of too hundred millions of money. Wham lie died, he
left as a legacy that debt, increased to the amount of up-
wards of six hutidred millions. When he assumed the reuts
of Government, the hand of titration pressed comparatively
lightly oil the people; but, in consequence of. his measures,
how are we circumstanced now ? 1 appeal. Gentlemen, to
your recolleetion— I appeal to your feelings. Are we mit
taxed from the crown ut the head to the sole of the font Do
we not bend beneath the pressures of imposts of every dimem-
sion anal Have we not, bpides the ordinary
course of taxation, such as Customs, Ercise, told assessed
taxes—have we not that ravenous financial monster the In-
come or Plover's. Tax ? (greet egiialioo.l Yet, Gesoleram,
we have lived to see inquisitions established in every district
of the kingdom. We have lived to see the day when any man,
however honest, is liable to be simmioned before authority
under the imputai • of roguery—when the pi irate affairs of
every inditridual are subject to scrutiny, and when those who,
while struggling with poverty, have still contrived to make
a decent appearance in the eyes of their neighbours. are com-
pelled, either to submit to he short to the quick by the slwen
of taxation, or to wake the most niortifs log discloser. s.—
( Fioknt agitation.) Gentlemen, we are in AUCU a situation,
tnat agree( fiutuicicr, Mr. Huskissont has lately asserted in the
/louse of C as, that taxation is united at its ultimate
point ; but, Gentlemen," lay not this nattering enction to your
soul-," that this is true, Humes the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer seemed to assent to the propositiou. On ibis subject
Mr. Perce.al has lately let out a little secret, which we shall
-do well to attend to. Yoa well know, fientleitum, that when
a soldier is sentenced to a very severe punishaseut, and cannot
safely receive the whole at ow time, his soresare healed be-
fore he is brifik;lll. a Second time to the haltietts; for military
disciplinarians tire a walvo that if they did not take the precau-
tion, the sufferer wonld either die, or be driven to despair, and
denroy himself or his tormentors. Just so, Gentleeten, is this
station doomed to be treated; for Mr. Perceval has lately
stated, that we ate in such a condifites, that it is not prudent
to lay upon us a fresh taxation answer than wee is three years.
iriolent. merman.) And, Gentlemen, by what less this
enormous expend i titre been occasioned, and to what has it been
devoted? It has been principally occasioned by a war,of which,
snpportod by the high authority of Mr. Fox. I will not he-
sitate to saS that it was wicked.in its original principle,
hod most unfortunate in its conduct. The professed object
9r this war was, as it is es pressed in the Petition which we
lately sent up to the House of Commons, " to circumscribe
the limits of France, and to restrain her power." We all
know how far these objects have been talented. I will nut,
Gentlemen, ovary you with a histury of the war. I will nut,
repeat to you the vexations story.of a series of ineifective
victories told fatal defeats. Suffice it to say,' that Mr. Pin
lived to tee the territory of France'alanniugly extended, amid
her power consolidated. That by the levertloo,• or the. sun-
, juention of one ally after another? be saw his policy baled
his ;lam fretteated, till at, lest the letelligebee of the cap-
. '"-- age of tee Boyle Of

- - _
stride, broke hes proud heart; and be died, lamenting the
evils whlch his permeinses crawls bad brought upon his
country. [Loud applaxses.] Ciendeutes, it is a matter not
only of carious, but of useful' too, to consider by is-haf
wear Mr. Pitt was sup , during sohong a series of ca-
bonito's disappointmeias. tor these ineale.l rgfer' you to •
the. Reports of the Commissiorls of Naval and Military In-
quiry—to the Record of the traametioes of such men as Mr.
Trotter, Mr. Valentine Jews. 'Att. Revs, General De Lancev,
Kr. Alexander Davison ,Mr. Commissioner Bonk* life. ,
Hunt. .31r. Villiers. the Hies. Thomas Steele, and a loog list
of et cetera:. I refer yea also to the amazing extent of our
naval nod military establishments; and I think you alb. and ,
the result to he, that he was butinly.sapoorted by the "dark
system of h fioence" (these;Gesitleenen, are his own words—
Words wheels he toed la, hii better days)—" the'dark Ryder I
of iollossitte, which ix ilarnidous kind. and has at
alt tier Ur- *mile source of all our 'ad.
series.. [Lord moshoirl, lenten, the mantle of Mr.
Pitt has descended -span his favourite disciples, his Majesty's
present Ministers. They have trod• h, his steps.-they have':
pursued his schemes, without pumice lag a tythe. of his
abilities. Their success has been correspondent. We behold
almost the whole of Europe prostrate at the feet of Boni-
;mile; and Erigliad is fighting. not iss she was wont to de; fat'
fame, for territory, or to redress the wrongs of oppressed nos
eions—she is fighting for her existence. I will not &smut yolip'
Gentlemen, with a detail of the miserable policy of these Mi-,,
inners. I will say *Meg of their is inlonanugeniaa of
the glorious cause of the Spanish 'eating. (Loud applause.]
I will pass ovec-Ciutra and Corona; nor will I dwell upon
the Battle, or as it is styled is Parliamentary language, the 1,
Victory of Talavera. [d IsiagA.] A more atrocious subject
calls for oar consideraisoo. You are well aware that I al-1
lude to the Expedition to the Scheidt. On looking into the 1
Minutes of Evideor relat to this Expedition, it appears.
Gentlemen, that it was ' is. teakettle:dos inhe
opinions of three out of OW Of 'lllteGiendfd'ollkees whom
Ministers carolled on its arganizadass—that blighters were 1
ignorant of the Ewell which was.likely JO. be apposed to it,
and of the streogth of the places against which it war to act.
'l'he main older aril Expeditloo was to carry away, or to.
destroy, the ships and stare :lyimt is 'the dock-yard of Aet-
werp; and, In I the Ministriad know where that dock.
yard was to be found. 'Varier looking Joie Lord Cluitalgi
arountal, I find bine, after he had her six days in W -
ren, makig the follow hew
_retry t " Every lafornuttion.
stated, Ghats the naval orlahments and duck * Antwerp
were between the citadel aid the town, which had not hero
so understood." 01 Laugh. 3 Gentlemen, such ignorance is
in itself highly ridiculous; I am not, therefore, surprised at
your present emotion. But. alas! truly melancholy were its
consequences. The Expedition returned, bodied and disap-
pointed of all its objects. The hers of our gallant troops
were most seriously diminished—nor was that diminution
atteuded with euiy circumstances of consolation. With segard
to the Battle of 'ralavera, the seine of the loss which we
there sustained is sebum bed in the bright beam of glory which
blazes tumid the heroes who fell Ins a hard-fought field iar de-
fence of an injured and insulted nation. [Loud plaudits:3
Rut no .glory awaited the unhappy soldier who perished in
the fens of Walcheren I There he lay vtretched Oa his bed cf
straw, alternately shivering with ague and parched with
fever, without an assisting hand to raise his aching head, stud
in a manner destitute of toe comfint of medical aid. For,
with horror I relate it, while the poor fellows were dying
on every side, though the most urgent letters were dispatched
for aid, the Members of the Medical Board were quarrelliug
with each other, each striving to fix upene his colleague the
peril of repairing to Walcheren. When,. at last, the higher,
Leowers detenoeued that this duty wits incumbent upon the
PhYlifisio-Lleaersd, Abe INsysiesunoGeuend protested that
s! he knew nothing of die investigation of camp ;tad conta-
gious diseases;" and, la point of fact, a whole month elapsed
before the requisite medical aid arrived. [Loud crier of ex-
eeralium.] Scandalized by these transactions, tit, whole na-
tion called aloud for inquiry. It was soon found, however,
that his Majesty, that is his blajesty's Ministers, did not think
inquiry necessary. In these ,circumstances the eyes of O.!
public were anxiously directed to the House of Comusons.
Witco that House met. the Ministry there attempted to evade
inquiry. For °ace, however/they were over-ruled ; and it was
determined to proceed to the examination of evideuce. But to I
an individual was found who had the courage to enforce a
Standing Order of the House, by which the public were ex-
cluded (ram marking the progress of an enquiry, in which I
will maintain that they had a insist derided laterest.—[Lcid
applause.]—Evidence, however, was heard—debates en.
sued ; and the issue of the business is, that the conduct and
plan of the Scheldt Espeditioa stand vindicated au the Jour-
nab of the House of Commons; and according to the doc-
trines which have been lately insisted upon in that House,
for the animadversions which I have made upon it this even-
ing, I am liable to be seat a prisoner to Newgate, as being
guilty of a breach of its privileges.—[Lead cries.]—We
have been itsformed,•tbat is true debates Mr. Perceval was,
towards the cod of his speech. in which lie touched 'wreathe
subject of the mortality tapiswaigg the troops, interrupted by re-
peated cheering', Oh, I what rust have been
the se onions sit the twelve thousand sulTerers who were at
that moment stretched kipoi hospital beds. had these cheer-
hies reached their ears? Haw must the agonies of the dying
have been pointed, had they bees; npprized, that the author
of their calamities, instead of being hunted down by execra-
tions,. was greeted with applause!—When, Gemlemen, on
examining the list of the majority on, this occasion, it was
found muffed with ;A.-icemen, peusianers, and every species of
dependrato milieu the Ministry, a large portion of the public
recurred to toe first principles of Mr. Pitt, which we re
this day celebrating—[fipplauses.)--The case of Pa-
nientary Reform, wilier. had heed materially aided by Olie
tension's of the Duke of York and Lord Castlereagh, Ob-
tained numerous converts. Vlie voice of the People was .
heard in the House of Consumes. 'that this voice should
have been opposed by Ministers is not a matter of wonder.
And as to a certain political adventurer, olio, sire few years
ages repaired to the metropolis, with his &Wilkie. sluog ha a
badmen 044 Ms back, to be ulfeied to sale to the best bidder-,
( 4-luagh.) —we were eut astionelled to Lid line unwilling to
amend use system by which he bud risen to opulence and
power.r-(4olasses.)—But it was with mingled. sensentiOns of
WHIM mod surprize, that M , a period when riudionmatiry
Reform is more than ever istreessaty, we found .lsarl Grey
throwing cold water upon Ars eausetaest attributing dark
mod dangerous designs to its most rabies advocates. You
are aware, Gentlemen, that I allude to the case of Sir Emu-
cis Burdett.-r-[Lood appfnewec] —At that same, thatlemen,
let me pause. 1 will nut, however, attempt to ponegyrixe
the we thy Hammett: a theme sosupluss• is beyond my. hum-
ble abilities. 1 way, however, be permitted to say, an the
words of our great Port, that ,
•• Ills life i. gentle, and. the elements
So mixed in him. that Nature eery stand up
And say to ale the wand, ' this is a rut.'
(Lead and reilerared appfauser.)--Wbra a personage of this
aescrisitiori had appealed to the laws of his country, to as-
, certain the.privileges 'of the House of Commoirs, tor " the
veryhead and from of bisofeuding had this extent, sio more,"
Earl Grey was pleased ai fondamie great peril to the general
state, mid to declare it to be his determination to •• rally
round the Parliament." Rally round the Parliament ! these
are grueling words; hot what I. their meaning ? The House
of Commune is a constitocut. part of the radiamept. Does
Earl urey mean to rally mond the House of t:onimotes as it I
is? Dom he intend, after the example of. Mr. Pitt, to forego
all the inogsetos sod withmiplim of his former life ? if so
while we lament his derelictiosaf .our cause, we may :is;
perinittetto assure Mint that is erne of his political views
shall he receive lurPortritmoms. [Applause] Well wilt it
be for b:ari Grey, ifureman of joining loan outcry against
Sir Francis, he derives 4astroction trot passing occurrences.
He may Ire*. that every iserotking day aocretwes the mem-
ber of.thoss who: on lower bedis,toporty. but to priociple.
[Applause. .He learn, thatard the systeal of abuse is
to be c.oo(kuwed, I.4o#NYtliretkell, auti• Wilkins part. of tbp
public care little bleed Le the question of istioarell odshl-
edger it. LLosil_appissil). Nay, that they had rather It
sbtiuld &1) be 'r:tiered krytheir,encialea, than by those whole
they -would fain coarse, to enrotainoog thenneober of 4
friends., [Applomes.] - let-Earl Grey be apprized Or .•
Dchigif
Hiss instance Isis interest and his duty meat strictly ca•
Office is* doubt en object of his fair and legitimatemob -'
don. But he may rest roared, that if he deserts the peo- IA
lAN he wit bow Poissias of cis* kaki placii. eicgi :Jr
an humiliate* et Myself 'Attie mystithum power hear t
thrune.....ool4,grettsgace.er.a roarciatisis ea eh:mien)* as
that of the WOW", .kiiii fkliclkies ties priiiliii of
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