The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-01-13 00:00:00

IM.YTS MEETING.

Yesterday a meeting of the Noblemen, Gentlemen,
Clergy, anti Freeholders of the county of Hants, was
held at Winchester, for the purpose of considering the
expediency of presenting petitions to both Houses of
Parliament, on the subject of the late impolitic and dis-
erarefnl proceedings against the Queen ; praying them
to take such steps as to them may appear wisest and
most elfeetual to remove every obstacle to a final and sa-
tit.factory arrangement, as well as to prevent the renewal
of any measure whatever against her Majesty. The re-
quisition, in pursuance of which the High Sheriff of the
county convened this meeting, was signed by several
persons of rank. ,1t one o'clock the County Hall was
tilled by gentlemen of consideration, and the open area
in front was occupied by a very large concourse of peo-
ple. As the 11311 was inadequate to accommodate, with
convenience, the whole of the persons who attended at
the meeting, it was arranged that the speakers should-
athlreee their sentiments to the large assemblage without,
from the windows of the Grand Jury room.
The High Sheriff previously opened the business of
the meeting, by having the requisition read in the
County Hall. When that was done, he steel that he
thought it his duty to call the county together upon the
receipt of such a requisition ; and he hoped that what-
ever might be the political sentiments of individuals, no
attempt would be made to prevent any gentleman. who
might think proper, from addressing the meeting.—
( Appiattse.)
Mr. A LF.XVIDER BARIKG' M. P. then tame • forward
to the window of the Brand Jury-room, and commenced
his speeds by observing, that he could eta refrain from
returning his acknowledgments, in unison with those,
he was persuaded, of the county at large, to their worthy
and impartial High Sheriff--(cheers)—for affording
them the present opportunity of publicly and constitu-
tionallv avowing their sentiments upon the existing state
of public affairs, in conjunction with the great mass ofl
0:e people of this country.—(Hear, hear.)—He (Mr.
Paring) wanted words to express the feelings he enter-
tained of the conduct of meat who would interfere to
prevent a public meeting. But how was leis indig-
nation still further aroused, when he found that unjusti-
fiable interference carried on and promoted by some of
the Ministers of the Crown themselves, who happened
to reside in the county, end who after, by their public
arts. having violated all the hest feelings of the country
—after having sacrificed its best interests, and outraged
its derfunre and character, had the meanness to interpose
their eseleavonrs to present a meeting of the county
front being legally assembletl.—(Cheers.) He need not
expatiate upon the grossness of the attempt—he need
not develope the whole of the arts which attended it—and
partienlarly their act of disseminating wheat they termed
aeir lova I 'address throughout the, county,by making the
c'ergymen of every parish their political agent in his
orese—not, as his sacred functions required, to heal and
!tooth the jarrings of grivate life, and promote the con-
cord of his parishioners, hut to sow political dissensions
e• tong them—(tomd cries of heir.)—to get their signs-
teres to particular addresses to promote the views of po-
li.ical party.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—His indignation was
roused to the. highest pitch at seeing conduct so dis-
graceful resorted to by such men.—(Hear, hear hear.)
With respect to the loyal address of which so much
hail been said. he was one of those who yielded to co
man in a sentiment of loyalty to the throne—.(hear,
bear, hear,)—though be_ could not, as these min
hill,
dill, presume to arrogate to Tsinosett the exclusive
loyalty of the conotry,,and prOmulgate in a pnblic
I dist all who had refrained from affixing
their signatures to its adulatory declaration, were public
eitators and disturbers of the public peace.—(Hear.)
It might he asked what objection could there be to an
attires, merely conveying an expression of ditty and
loyalty ? Certainly none in the abstract. Ent why was
an adres% necesfuory at this time ? Who had callid the
loyalty of the county in question ?—(Hear.)—hint why
equixorate ? Did not every man of candour know, that
duese addresses were not intended so much as a declare-
, lion of loyalty as an indirect tender of support to the
system and conduct of his Majesty's ministers'—(Hear,
hear.)—They had addressed die King upon his at-
ee‘siou to the throne : he had concurred in that address,
licrwtse be thought the time was appropriate for its pro-
iluetion. Why did not the gentlemen who promoted
the loyal atitlress take the sense of the rowdy upon their
proceZeling in the first instance, instead of going into
}so:es and corners ? Then their course would at least
have been direct and open: instead of which, however,
d•ey hail taken a course most objectionable in its nature.
tier hail circulated a private address as being that of
t'.i. county—(hear, hear o—and for aught he knew their
I 'toter Sheriff (Mr. Hollis,) whose conduct upon this °e-
vasion lie must reprobate, had transmitted it as such to
Lord Sillosouth—(hear, hear ;)—and he was much mis-
taken if the address had not got into the Gazette under
4 designation. When such an act had been committed,
t'.e county. however averse to express any opinion
'mon a subject which most be very delicate for the Sove-
reign to have brought under his notice, had no other al-
ternative than either to concur in the address so framed
in their behalf, or dissenting from it, to express that dis-
sent at a hnblic meeting called under the auspices of the
.High Sheriff. The proceedings of these loyal addressers he
repeated, left the county no other alternative. There
never hail been a time more ill chosen fur such an address
to the crown, like that which haul been transmitted to
Lord Sitimonth. Why did these men come forward to
tender their lives and • fortunes to his Majesty? Who
were the agitators that alarmed them ? Who were the
authors of the sedition and blasphemy at which they
expressed so natural an abhorrence ? (Cries of hear!)
But this alarm was a bugbear; their apprehension was'
visionary ; the cry of jacobinism was ridiculous ; the
it hole thing was intended to prop up ministers, and for
nothing else.—(Hear, hear!) The ministers of the
crown having got themselves and the country into the
deepest mire of disgrace, hoped by sending forth a cry
of alarm, to stifle the voice of the people, by indiscrimi-
nately branding every man with being an abettor of se-
dition and blasphemy, merely because he saw through
their acts and the meanness which dictated them. The
whole of the loyal addresses were intended to prop up
these inietiatryt, and to attempt to justify their late dis-
graceful measures; that, and nothing else, was the drift
and tendency of the loyal address.—(llear, hear.) if,
then, 114 county of Hants was of opinion that ministers
deserved the confidence of the people—if they Homiest
their late proceedings against her Majesty were dic-
tated by wisdom and good policy—then, and then only,
could the freeholders sign the loyal address—then, and
then only, could they hold up their hands against that
which be had to propose, or one of a similar nature.—
(Cheers).—lf, however, they thought with hint, that
ministers had violated their duty to the King, had com-
promised the public honour of the country, and grossly
violated the best principles of the constitution, then they
most see that they bad no other course, after the loyal
addresses which had been clandestinely sent op in their
name, than to come krword and publicly speak out their
sentiments.—(Chwen.)—He should oil the presritt occa-
sion rather propose a petition to Parliament than an ad-
dress to the drown. The gleation was one nnfartn-
:lately of great deli mey to the crown. and he who had
been always reared up in the plait and blunt expressims
of M s senftments could net CellienT is idle adAllatiou t
al-
thesgb., at the is doe, he wises willing as ems man
cenld te pay
sitar Are to thei throw, with all
that loyal duty sea rap* whish beams as English-

s.. • L
THE VI A'
. • .

IN.

assn.—(Hear, brat.)—Under all the circumstance*, how- a few of them (the counter requisitionists) had saved '
ever, he thought it more befitting the occasion that I the County the trouble by convening in some obscure , 1
the county should address Parliament. Parliament,
which was constituted to be the will and orgen of the . .
, corner. They arrogated to themselves the right of de-
!midi/. sentiment, should also he the depository oe the crtling for the whole County ; and having made that ~
High
peonle's complaints.---(Hear.)—He was not an ad- 'audacious assumption, they represented to the
vocete for any violent or sudden reform; bet, on (Sheriff that it was not reslit to calf a Meeting of the
the contrary, rather what was called a moderate • Freeholders. It was decided by their pens, for mouths
reform. IVlten .he said this. •it was also right ' they had none, that there should he a Meeting, and
for him to add, that when the. House of Cons- .
yet they forbade the Sheriff to assemble the County.
mons met for the despttrh of business, if they slid
not stigmatize, as the people haul done, these horrible
He should beg to say a word or two about this weighty
and disgusting proceedings, of which his Majesty's mi.. counter-requisition, under which the whole connty
nisters were the authors, fie would be the first to say was to sink. At the head of the list of noble names,
that the House of Consition%, by not participating in the he found the Marquis of Buckingham and the Bishop
public feeling, would have done more to incur disgrace of Winchester.----(Cries of " shame !")—Whether the
and disrespect than was done by any House of Commons Bishop of Winchester had ever visited that county, he
in the annals of British history.--(Cheers.) He called knew not (" No, never!"); bbt this he would venture
on the people to watch the conduct of the House of Com-
e to say. that, whatever benefit the Right Rev. Prelate
mons at its meeting, as the test of its character and
, .•
claim to public support. Let that be the true test for i might himself have derived from his new see, be bad
ascertaining whether Parliament sympathizes with the , no opportunity of knowing the sentiments of the coun-
Cie
at large, without which sympathy it was impossi- ty of Hants, and, therefore, it would have been just as 1
ble there could be any representarlott —(Donil cries of decorous--•-for surely decorum was expected in the
bear) What he therefore proposea was a petition to the conduct of .a clergyman—if -he bad not placed his
House of Co ttttt ions, expressing the sentiments of the I name at the head' of such a list.—(Applause.)--
county upon the nature of the late preceedings of his „,„ , , .. . .
Majesty a ministers, which were by that house itself
I
proclaimed "to be derogatory from the honour and dig- s nose nob counter-requisitionists seemed afraid of
• bc..ing soiled by the dust of the present meeting : they
city of the:crown, and injurious to thehest interests of the were, no. doubt, • straid lest their new stars and ;
people. After supporting the proeriety of this petition ribbands should be dirtied by coming into
at some length by the reference to the particulars of her I contact with the free and independent free-
-51 aiestv's case, he concluded by repeating that the holders of the county----(Reiterated applause).—
country was reduced to the alternative of either sub. After setting his opinion of the character of the late pro-
:scribing to the Loyal Address, or to that which he ceedings against the Queen, he was anxious to say a few
words before lie retiree on the subject of the loyal
now submitted as a petition to the Utilise of Commons.
address, that address which was said to be so numerously
The lion. Member, amid loud cheers, read his petition signed, anti that be persons so much more respectable
to the House of Commons, which embodied the grin- I than the other freeholders of Hampshire. tie should be
,cipal sentiment' of his speech. • very glad to know how this snug address had got into
Sir CHARLES MILL Clime forward and seconded the I circulation.—[Cries of .• Ask the Under Sheriff.")—He
motion for adopting this petition, in every "nemesia I held in his hand a letter, addreseril by the Under Sheriff
of which he declared his fall concurrenee, to a clergyman, requesting him to procure signatures to
•
Sir W K CIO/ W. C. DRPIGNY M , M. P. next addressed they the address among his parishioners; and it was to be
hoped that Mr. Hollis would explain his conduct in this
meeting, declaring his hearty approval of the Peti- I matter. The letter to which he had referred commenced
tion. lie had throughout opposed the conduct of ; with the following words: —e Reverend Sir, lam di-
Ministers in their prosecution of the queen. Their, rected to send you a copy of the count address;" but
Bill of Pains and Penaltii s had met the unqualified be load the authority of the High Sheriff for saving that
condemnation of the e4nistry as a most odious and un- I that gentleman never gave the Under Sheriff directions
constitutional measure. elle Ministers for such a
Ito send the address in gusation. He hoped, therefore,
'
' that Mr. Hollis would state te, the meeting who it was
course of proceeding had shown themselves utterly I that directed him to set the clergy on Ilse task of pro-
unworthy the confidence of their Sovereign. The; curing signatures, and also expleat bow he presumed to
people had altogether disowned them. De thanked I call this the address of the county. lie could only state
God that although they must still be called the Minis-, his rotiviction that if county meetings were to fie put
tens of the King, no man could call them the Minis- I down, the constitution of -England would not survive
tern of the people.—(l'lseers.)—What, he would ask, m them one twelvemonth.—(APPlenee-)—His Lordship
;added, that he understood Mr. Hollis wished to address
had ever been considered by Englishmen, as the great. the meeting on the subject of the letter which had been
est blessing of their once free country ? A free triaL mentioned, and it would be but justice to hear with pa-
What as the greatest safeguard of public liberty? A tience what lie had to say in explanation.
trial.by Jury. Had her Majesty had that fair trial ? Mr. Howe then (*Mlle forward, and met with no very "
Who were her prosecutors? His Majesty's Minicere, gracious reception. He denied that the loyal address
Who were the Grand Jury that found the Bill? His professed to speak the sentiments of the county, for it
began with the worsts e We the undersigned noblemen,
Majesty's Ministers. Wild were her Judges ? His
, gentry, and clergy, of the county of I lants,&c." and, there-
Majesty's Ministers. Who svere her Jury ? His' I fore, Could only fie fairly considered the address of those
Majesty's Ministers. " Gomel Good defend me '." ex- . that signed it. He also denied that the clergy had been 1
claimed Sir William, " was that a fair trial ?"--(Loud , improperly applied to on this occasion, for no clergyman I
applause, and cries of No.)—Could that be called a or any other person had been asked to procure signs- I
trial, when all the distinctions which were the safe-
i__
tures. And said that the obvious towelling of sending I
guards of the subject were utterly bruken loop.--,""eadateN to the minister of the parish was, that he was i
(Hear, hear.)—The Queen was equally left is Winne ' the only person sore to lie reselent.—(Cries efu *tv I
f not the churchwardens :)—liail he meant to send this I
I the field of challenging any one of her powerful letter sacially, he wouldhave added " Under Sheriff"
1 enemies who were to sit in judgment upon her. to his address : but, though lie Lehi that Mike. he did
How could Ministers venture to take out of the not consider himself precluded from exercising the rights
pockets of an impoverished people the expense• of this of a private man.
scandalous proceeding ?---((tear, hear.)--(low testa- m A voice in the crowd exclaimed—" You say you were
nate it would be for the country if the Royal ear could • desired to send this letter: who desirtel you :.'
his
. Mr. ilinees then stated that he sent it out in i cha-
he opened to a sense of the iniquity of such Ministers,
if sonic patriot could approach the Kingl ratter of secretar -to the Hampshire Pitt Club.—(Vio-
issing.)-14 was pisetd of bolding an office in a
" Sire, your confidence loan been abused, your country j club instituted in memory of a man to whom his country
and say : lent b' • -
has been betrayed, by the vile and odious acts of your ' owed much.
Ministers: listen to the voice of a loyal and affection- A voice.—Don't let us talk of the debt now.—(Great
ate people, who will in the end be your best etrength, , late/liter.)
for-
whose hearts are a safer protection to your Throne and Mr. FLEMING, one of the county members, came
character than the bayonets of millions of armed men 11:•ar.1, and was received with strong marks of dissappro-
:llion. lir had conic forward to receive the instructions
under despotic Ministers.--(Cheers.)--The lion. Bart. :of his constituents ; but was sorry to say, that though
stated that his voice began to fail him, but perhaps •he shriek! feel it his duty to present time petition, he
the meeting would fill up the parse by giving three , owthl not conscientionsly promise to support its prayer
cheers fur her Majesty. The Worthy Harts. sag- :is his place, because he conceived its object was to pro-
gestion was hardly made when it was obeyed with en- ' rare the dismissal of the present ministers for their con-
; duct with respect to the Queen. No man could lament
thusiasin by the people.
: more titan lie slid that proceedings hail ever been insti-
Mr. 31artsu came ferwaril, and was received with tnted against her Majesty, or feel more deeply the stigma
great applause. Ile expressed the great pleasure he m which they had fixed 011 the cuuntry. At the same time
felt at seeing so numerous and respectable a Meeting I inln'aters could not justly be blamed for the coulee
assembled on this occasion, under the auspices of them eener* of that investigation which was forced upon
constitutional officer of time Cmilintte—(Applause.)--- • them by the arrival of the Queen.—{Violent hisses.)
lie most earnestly coneurreil, however, in the v ish ex-
They slimed it there this day in the reception they
• pressed in this preition, that some method rimieht be
gave a cinistitutional Sheriff who presented a fide m Nana of putting the question About the Querii to rest.
contrast to the Sheriff of Dublin, who met his fel- and sit' preventing all further discussion and of nation of
low-subjects at the point of the bayonet, %viten it.—(general applause.) The lion. Member concluded
they were assembled at a regularly convened Meet- with sonic observations on the subject of the loyal
address, which he said he wasewond totters, signed.
ing under his own auspices —(ilear, hear, hear.)—
Mr..leuvotsr, the other member for the county, then
The Hon. Gentleman proceeded in a strain of fine ha-
resp. lie said lie lwarml the petition with grat califs',
mom. to ridicule the pretensions of the ultra-royalists,
ties, alai should only beg them to believe elis honest
and to expose the • t machinations by which they I declaration that he was really and willing to receive
endeavoured to prop a falling Ministry. And then ob- • their instructions to present Asti t this or any
served that as the Meeting were about to petition Par- ()WIT petition that 'eight be agree) to at a county were-'
!lament for the restoration of her Majesty's name to ieg•—•(feeel cheer's.)
i
the Liturgy ; anti this naturally led his to inquire Mr. 11`"%m' in allusion to what had Iroppeil from
how the House df Commons and his Majestfs Minits Mr. Fleming as to putting a stop to al i proceedings
. arum the Wren, asked if he would st report
rs might a mu-
teieht stand affected to each other ? H ewthe hum fur the restoration of her Majesty s name in the
conduct of the House would please the Ministers be Liturgy ?
should not venture to anticipate; but, whether fir- The limn SHERIFF thought the quest', in not relevant,
'lament did its duty or not, Ise was sure that the free- anti it was not pressed.
holders of tlampshire would do their's. Mr. Marsh cow Mr. litecnsatte spoke at eonselw :able length in
eluded a very ingenious and humour-um speech, to farms/. of the petition : unfurtisnately 1 aye have not room
which our limits have net allowed us to do justice, by to report.
Mr. Itenteo then replied. lie insi tied that, notwith-
thanking the meeting for the patienee with which they standing the explanation of Mr. Huh cis, it 'vas evident
had heard bins, and assuring them that he gave his that the aildresa had been issued as the address of the
hearty consent to the petitions which bad been moved. Pitt Club: and it was important I o consider whether
—(Great applause.) . that club slionhl represent the roan ry, lie compliment-
Aed Mr. Fleming for manfully ramie The Eel of CARN HVON then presented himself-* forward, but con-
and was received with the most enthusiastic expres- sidered him as perfectly unique in bus admiration of the
conduct of ministers in their pro ceedings against the
sions of approlestion. lie said he had waited thus Queen : all the other friends c f minister, even the
long before he addressed the meeting, in the expec- warmest, with whom he (Mr. 0 .) had communicateil,
tation that, after the able, manly, and constitutional had expressed their regret that s uch an inquiry had ever
speeches which they had heard, some one among the' been commenced.
thousands who, according to the counter requisition, The Hunt SHElttfr then put Ihe question on the peti-
were hostile to the meeting, might even by accident lion, which was carried eosin! n mealy, and amidst the
hare found his way among them, and have said some- !Molest cheers: it was directed a I be •presented by the
eenoty Members.
thing rational hefore the assembled county, in defence A sum •.1
ar petition to the lion. • of Lords was amani-
ta the principles on which the present meeting had i Piously and
a enthusiastically caret ed, and directed to be
been attempted to be suppressed. That they did de- ;presented by Lord Carnarven.
seise the comity; sad bate its iadepeadresee, was sal- i Thanks were then, at the moil In of We Marsh, Total
custody apparent from their hating desired .she HO ,he Lord, ,Ceemeee°6 for his exert, ins in resisting the at-
Sheriff to abtaito from calling the aaosting. hrforis —r"" ' a Wall to dictate to.. the lemehetelen of the
Wang:
they knew what the object of it VMS. They Add fe 1 'llls tardship sisoreak, ed thaoks, sari moved a
was Ratiecesaary to aseetablo the Freeholders, became tots of thanks to tho 4 Shre 111, for his upright anti