The Statesman.
London, England, 1813-04-16 00:00:00

WESTMINSTER MEETthele

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A numerous assembly collected ilefbre ~.!Nirwas•
inns erected in Palace-yard, at an early Weir fester..
day, and ahont half past twelve Mr. Wishart came
forward, with Mr. Burdett Jones, Major Cartwright,
Mr. Alderman Wood, and other. Gentlemen.

Mr. WISH:UM said they were assembled to con-
gratulate the Princess of Wales on the triumph she
had obtained over malice and persecution, and the
attempts which had been made against her life, aud,
what was of still more consequence, her honour.—
A well-varnished taie might, in some cases, obtain
undeserved credit; but here there was no evidence
of guilt, but what arose from the ravings of a disor-
dered imagination, transferring its own impure sug-
gestions into the bosom of innocence. The greatest
legal authorities had been employed to examine lift°
the charges brought against the Princess of NVales, and
the result was, the most decided acquittal. In Itlo7,
the new Ministers followed the 'example of their
predecessors, and again the same conviction of the
absence of all criminality, or even of the least Im-
propriety of conduct, was declared to be the una-
nimous opinion of those Noble Persons who con-
ducted the Enquiry. The King, on this occa-
sicn, testified his complete 'satisfaction, by re-
ceiving his daughter most affectionately; and
happy would it have been if his example had been I
followed elsewhere ; there would have been no
occasion for the present meeting ; nor would the
public have been insulted with all that ribaldry and '
indecency n hich had been let loose upon it. Not-
withstanding the forbearance of the Princess of
Wales, still there was a hankering after the old
charges, and a desire to narrow still more the re-
stricted intercourse between the Princess andiser.l
daughter. The renewal of imputation made
eessary for her to appeal to the justice of Parliament.
No notice had been taken of her letter by the Houle
of Lords ; and they had seen with what stoical eirld.l
ness it was received by the House of Commone.--a!
Their feelings as men seemed to be Melted late the,
calculations of the politician. There were, indeed, I
some exceptions. The honourable and worthy 13a-
ronet who represented them had stood nobly forward
to assert the cause of innocence: and the Member for !
Bedford had exerted the whole force olbis manly elo-
quence, in claiming for the Princess that justice to
which the meanest subject was entitled: It would
doubtedly have been better if she had not been driven I
to the necessity of making that public ''appeal. But
her unparalleled situation required it. She had been
advised by a Gentleman (Mr. Brougham) of great
legal abilities, whose statesman-like talents bad been
displayed to sucb advantage, and with Such 'wen in 1
the last Parliament, and whose exclusion fromilie pre-1
sent Parliament was to be deplored as a public loss. I
It appeared that a secret enquiry had been recently
iustituted before a court or tribunal, though be did I
not know what name to give it: it was not a council, I
for it was composed of Privy Councillors sod no
Privy Councillors: it was not a consisteryr for
there were Bishops mid no Bishops belonging to it : ,
it was not a cabinet, for there were Ministers (be
did not say Statesmen) and no Ministers in it. This I
straege medley of persons had come to a conclusioe
that there was no evidence of guilt, and 'upon this
discover) they had formed the notable resolution to '
restrict the intercourse between the fond mother and
the affsctioliate child. It was impossible to &de
the motives of a proceeding for which there could
not he any motives. We knew, and admitted as a
princ;ple, that time King can do no 'wrong; and,!
therefore, whatever were the errors of the Govern-
ment, they must be attributed to Ministers'. Now
some of those persons who lied advised the Prince
Itngent, had emphatically &eland the innocence et
the Princess, and declared the evidence againWher
fa!'^ and perjured. Could Ahoy then, as men of ho- ,
Hour and as statesmen, remain le a sites its
which their conduct was not the result of 'their earn.'
convictions ; in which they Were snbjea to an. in:
buence 'which left them no choice but•that of disho:
*tour ? pooner than truckle to, lied) base
.coin.
pliances, they ought to have' left the trammels of a
court for the 'privacy of 'a dignified *retirement.-
IGrcat applumse.l-11e then proposed an Address to 1,
the Princess, ezpr. esiive•or the high satisfaction felt I
by the intiabitahta of Weitininstir at the "complete I
triumph'nf'her Royal highness oter the malice or
her `and - attacks: made uptio
Wishart concluded by
• "
undeebted Vibe of every British
tights; a immunities of tigh in-
' before a; ritimokt recognises(
alba 'p onseasipg that- glorious
"sm nod jestice,-o trial by
ith sleep regret nay ate
to the Constitution, un-
thvrefore possessing no
Meltdown: of mousses, no
evidence, or us raseisile or
greatest horror at the late nefa.
am- and the Life *Fiber itt,yal
I nod fully convlored, from .
of her Royal li ightmos's

1 hei: epemiei, and 'the hisidioas
her honour and herlife. Mr. V
'
hi
at.46lvollilltedtl:eisti7Tiao fuoliltoi7
tibenguitnd,;bEesoit!
Sebjeue to rtiaita the reputation. tight'
fattener. Datil eon, i -te4 ul guilt be&
by the taw, known to.the Pet.pkt, old
and indispoilihheeittribate of freedbal
Peers ;• and that dlill . Alc rein view' a
I, 1
teat pie to intcoduar stibnite, lalu,s4 n
eoUtasthtuirtiird:ioittyl thpielWl.aniftisoftrorettle44c.leadi*eataldtt
power to poalth persona vlag false evi
a Court of Anctige. • •
' 2". Twit t4iis Meeting feel the greate
elms, conspiracy agahat. the Ilossoar an
Iliglinos t!te- Prince*, of Wales; mad
every dacumein before the Public, of I
. ..... . .