The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-05-22 00:00:00

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without a share of illiberal abuse—l
as regards myself, I have related the caluninies
which have been attempted to be'lrevetled against
my private character---My publiehede you are.sue:'
ciently acquainted with---I concli;de, gentlemen,by
requesting you to give every perabh a fair and im.:
partial hearing...(Reit-Jrated shouts of applaese,
follorced this able and animated speech.)
Mr. K EMBL 4 violent tumult aroie
this Gentleman's first appearance, but by the '
etrortv of the Lord Mayor and the Gentlemen' on
the Hustings, it at length subsided, and he thus
proceeded:] " Gentlemen, lam dragged before
you, but not as a culptil—the Gentleman who has
just mentioned my name has done so more than
once, he has this day quoted a speech of mine in
the Common Council ; I stand before yon uncon-
nected with the Ministry; I know nothing of
them ; lam under no obligation to them I never
asked a favour of them in my life, and I can as-
sure you, as a man of honour, there is no favour
they can grant that I would receive. [Bravo,
Kemble !] What I avowed in the Common
Council I will avow now : I am willing to go all
the lengthi I can with decency and propriety, to:
put a stop to the wanton and profuse waste of the
public money ; het with respect to interfering with
the privileges of Parliament, I am not prepared to
go the lengths which other Gentlemen seem ills-
posed to go ; I may go a certain length with them,
chime' I may not be disposed to go the whole
length. Gentlemen, I did at the last Common
Ball hold up my hand against sumo of the R,esole-
than.• then proposed, and also against the Petition ;
I did so because some of the Resolutions anti the
Petition were contrary to -my feelings. I did
that which every honest man has a right to do,
and I am not ashamed of what I did. I did
it openly and fairly. [" The London Tavern,
Keerble," exclaimed several voices.] I shall
conic to the London Tavern presently—l did
not consider the last Common. Hall as express.
in the sense of the Livery, and I took measures
accordingly to ascertain what the real sense of the
Livery was. I was one of those who signed the
Counter. Declaration---[hisses void murmurs, but
plaudits from a few]. I differed upon principle
from those who agreed to the Resi.lution of the
last Common Hall, and I am not to be deterred
by any man from doing what I conceive to be my.
duty. With respect to the London Tavern, the
first intimation I gut of that Meeting was by a
letter addressed to me at the place of my resi-
dence ; I went there,_ and certainly I was touch.
surprised to find the Gentleman who has di- igged;
me before you this day standing upon the table,
and addressing the Meeting. I found a Wenn,'
Alderman in the Chair, and they were talking of
turning him out. I thought that was not very
deceilt. What would you think of this Meeting
if it was proposed to turn the Lord •!layor out of
the Chair ? I have hearil several Geetlemen say,'
they.liad received letters appointing them to ap.
pear at the Meeting. I found that slips of paper
had been distributed in this Hall, stating that there
were an hundred Liverymen summoned to meet to.
draw up a Counter-Declaration, but when we
found Gentlemen present who were souses*: to
the Declaration, we proposed—of cassetmeewe
eould not expect to carry it. [Loud and 'cite-
rated bursts of laughter.] I think the Re-
quisition might have been put in such words as
would have excluded any Gentleman fromattand:
ing who was not friendly to ow: intended Dtkla-
ration. I signed the Cooßter.beelaradon..-1
avow it ; and I think if II had not signed it, I
should net have discharged my duty to my King
and country.
Mr. DIXON--Gentlemen of the Livery, it
*as by no means my attention, to address yen on
this day. I beg leave to claim your attention only
for one moment. You come here to assert your
tights and privileges j I have rights and privileges,
as well as you, and I tell you very plainly, that if
you do not permit me to exercise the right I
ought to enjoy, verylittle do you deserve-to,en.
joy your outs ; I have only to say thus much.
Gentlemen, it is well known to you, that there
never yet wisest" Common Hall, in which I was nut.
among you. ' I have always given your Meetings
my attendance, and you hate well understood
what my sentiments are. I have never attempted
either to offend yon, or to court your favour for
the sake of popularity, nor I never will. Those
persons with whom I have acted at the London
Tavern, have my approbation, and the part I
have taken I openly and fairly avow. Every one
who hears use must know the fact, that many well
disposed Liverymen will not attend the Common
Halls, in consequence of the tumultuous manner
its which they'aro conducted. Those Gentlemen
who have attended, have, I think, oil repeated
occasions hail their views misrepresented. Very
foul epithets have been applied to them, and very
bail motives have been imputed to them for the
part they have acted. 1 have had my share of
abuse repeatedly, but I will venture to tell my
hitterestenensy, that 'tot a bit of bread has entered
this mouth (pointing to it,tohilo laughter convuls-
ed the tiall,] but what I honestly earned by the
•tiveat of my brow. It; the humble manner
in which I live, I never have, and I never need
ask any favour of any man. I live iu such a man.
err that my earnings will sepport me, and I will
not have improper motives attributed to me with-
out disavowing them. I will repeat to you that I
am an oh Liveryman, and I recollect similar
mottings to these many years ago, when Gentlemen
Lave conic forward upon the hustings, and avowed
that they had no other motive but the public good.
I remember wben Wilkes and Liberty was the
cry, as wild a cry as something else that is raial
niei. I will tell you who were the supporters of
Mr. Wilkes Et that time ; they were Mr. Woul:.1
redge, Mr. Sayer, Mr. Leigb,- Mr. Stone, Mr.
Y tatty, and other worthy patriots, some of whom
if they were not transported, deterred tote so to
my kno wlege. ("For shame, m—don't speak
el of the dead.") I will he heardY will tell you
that there is not a man more anxibeiCtflan myself
to see abuses etaminedinto mid redrehied. (" Give
u, a proof of it," exclaimed many voices.) lam
afraid and alarmed when I see men attempting to
ietaiii this desirahle object by violent measures.
Such proceedings ought to alarm every body.