The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-24 00:00:00

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committed, namely, the using all their eftorls to coua.
terart the system of the boroughmongering faction,
which had coined the distresa of the country, and wottl.l.

if not preventeJ, completely effect the ruin of the peo;•le.
Whatever were th- misconduct and demerits of 3lr.
Hunt, and certainly no man had more ressun to rum-

plain of him than he (Sir F. Burdett), still he won'd
be ashamed of himself were he to sacrifice to personal
considerations the great interests of freedom, and, in
the present state of the country, suffer himself to lie
biassed by any feelings of a private nature, when every
thought was demanded by the exigencies of the public.
(Applause.)—The state of the country was truly alarm-
ing. Even the self•rlected House was assailed on all
hands by great public bodies, who hid been always
content to let things take their course—even these
were assailing those whom they formerly adin;red and
applauded with their ceaseless and reuiediless coin•
plaints. Every• class of the people was plunged into
the deepest despair. The agriailturists declared it
was impossible to save them, nnless something, as they
called it, was done. But speak to them of the remelt,
and they startled at it as at a ghost ; speak of the real
source of all their miseries, and they have not courage
enough to look at it. The commercial men—they who,
when the war brolo out, received the news, as lie wed
remembered, at the Royal Exchange, with three cheer*,
they were ;Ow iu a state of deep distress. The mani-
facturing classes also, who had thriten so well dor*
the war, were astonished to discover, that a conatry
, which looked so florid in the face should be so rotten
in the heart. But none were so miserable as the
' labouring classes. In short, the only party ;bat
throve, was that which fed on the vitals of the
country. As the country sunk till. rose. Among
the remedies adopted for the benefit of the coun-
try, the alteration in the currency was considered
as a most wise measure. Yet it increased the bu:-
den of the taxes 45 per cent., and enhanced the
salaries to Government men in the same proportion.
The Government went on like a spendthrift, borrowing
and spending, and was compelled at last to mortgage
all the property and industry of the country. It was
difficult to say what might to be done. Yet it was
some comfort for a man to know that he had no hand in

bringing about these things. Unless a Reform is
the House of Commons was a !opted. it would Le
childish to expect relief. This was the conviction of
the Electors of Westminster. This feeling was rapidly
gaining ground. It began where it should end,
amidst the inferior classes. If livwerer, th- principle
of reform was always to be resisted, it would be ku.
possible to say to what it should lead. The people
of England surely would not witness the efforts made
in France for the restitution of liberty, and those in
Spain also, without end. arniring to keep upon a
level, at least, with those Countries. 'I he claims of
the legitimates to govern were ridiculous, when
compared with the claims of the people to liberty.
He trusted, that though there were appearances
of a disposition to erect a system of military'
Government in the country, the people of England,
Scotland, and Ireland would unite and support a Ra-
dical Parliainewary Reform, which would give to all
equal rights, and civil and religious freedom. In cos-
elusion, he assured the electors, he never felt ow
pride and satisfaction in his life than he experiseced
upon receiving the present which the electors bedew
him the honour to present to him.—(Loud applause.)
Tune—" Whilst happy in my native land."
Toast—" Our brother Reformer:in Scotland sad Ireland,
sod may religious differeness cease to be a /rotted of civil
inespeelty."—(Orrat applause.)
•• Erin go braes."
Toast—" The able and intrepid opposer of the Itoreesh-
liongetleo oligarchy, J.C. Clubhouse, Esq."
Mr. Manor's then mounted the table, and address-
ed the company at much length. He declared himself
ready to go env lengths in the furtherance of thetas's..
to support which they had placed him in Parliainest.
The Hon. Gentleman then adverted to the motion which
was made fur a new trial on the part of Sir F. Burdett,
and animadverted, in strong terms, on the doctrine
which was laid down by the Bench on that °maim
and which, he said, if it was carried into effect, would
produce the extinction of the liberties of the people. Xe
man, however, could say, that the present system geoid
last long. As every remedy had failed, let the eastraw
of the Reformers be tried. Whenever it was
to support any order of things, besetting one partirst
people against the other, there he did not hesitMelossy.
the King wisest tyrant and the Governmeot a
This might be the language of revolution, el:rtrona
not his, it WAS the language of Bolingbroke, asl4
to the system of liovernme it carried on by Sir L IV-
pole. lie did not mean to apply these terms to der-
sent time—car from it; lie trusted, indeed, that lhe
people would have spirit enough to prevent the ell►
blisliment of a state of things to which ssch is ON.
could apply. There was more exertion in the peefielbo
their rulers were willing to suppose. They relented few
more instances of the resolution to govern by force, is er•
der to show their determination not to he pursed ity
force. With respect to II r. Hunt and the other defrocks%
he believed the Jury who found them guilty never lotted•
ed that they sl•ould be subjected to such a measure of pm.
nighttime as that to which they were subjected. &hell
it to he the duty of every Englishman to come hewed,
and by his purse, or otherwise, to declare hie 4
nion of the sentence passed on those iediehldelo"
The sultscriptiens, it appeared to him, weehl Met
the opinion of the subscribers. He did iloppsos
Mr. Hunt's conduct in general—bat he th
conduct from his present seffering. A paWs;b—ildflP
Lion was no farce—it showed that they were Is WM"
—As is Reform, be said be was ready le NOP
whatever be could get. He believed that a
OP
of advantage would be gained from Mr.
Iowa(
ownoniltd ha vehisonvotthee. coslirt:andoir
so:
lion,
h Isethewoneffldetslupipt
*46 utilien a few words. by
It would be oppsetet ill_
House; lent, eventually, it was se sew!!
rissole the sea was sure to return in the moral*.
.L.I.
opposer
sir all obstacles it would ascend at last, sad et ou.,
opposer of the greet principle he would say, is de low
page of the English Pinder—
" Fend, impious tows ibiukst thou you saursios sheik
ailed by II" biesll6 loth quenched the orb Oil;
To4BefflN/ be seem= his prides toed.
Ad mew dos Mimes with redoubled ray." _A
Yee, he wee esseleeed the principle would fltr. IP"
shine with redoubled ray upon this unhappy allioll"
(Applause.) h
Tenet—" lteuoveSed Sputa ! May every Wag
himself above law, be. like Ferdinand. eoelpeded to
aims hy the people!"-'This toast was drank with tine loom'
three, sad great applause.
The eNalialiall said he had a toast to girt. libleik!
it respected liberty, would be peculiarly leterediolf w'
the Electors of Westminster.
" Lord emelease and South Americas IsAersitit
Misty sad lieppiaeas to its brave memo as! OM"
three, sad loud applause.