The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-14 00:00:00

efnold%ti
,refit
je P !h.' it is
telso waist
does not mean Waging.
vantsito whom you used I
-a day—and, upon my se
duct one shilling, end eleven-pence from -.
two shillings, the'remailider will be enough foelitothdern
member.' Let us 'nose heir What our ancesteßthotight
of Petitioning;—ln Magna Charts, clause 70 -erg, John
states that " lirieyances sball be laid open to hie by pe-
tition for redress without delay, and if not rdressed
'within 4edays, the Herons shall distrain, anti distress
him." In the Bill of Rights—" Our ancestor claim,
demand end iosist upon this their undoubted rkirt."—
sge Doddridge.says, " Public Proclamation a to be
snide, that all ineu by a certain day bring in tbir peti-
tions; and if no answer be made, it is intended hat all
see satisfied."—Sir R. Sadler says, " that Paiament
gill not lie dissolved till ill petitions were diseased and
answered."—The Mottos Tenendi states, 0 Pediment
shall not dissolve as long as any petition made threunto
hangeth undiseassed; or undecided ; the King bog de-
sirous to give his subjects redress of any intuy; awl
not to stiffer his people to go unsatisfied."—Lor Coke'
—" One d the principal ends of calling. Pediments
is for redress of mischiefs and grievances, for the Co-
mmons are the general Ingssissitors of the realm."-Stat.
36, Edward 111. confirms this, and enacts, " that sr the
redress of grievancils, a Parliament should be Maim
evert year." And Sir M. Hale " gives his approation
of this good act." Slat. Prov. 25, Edw. 3—mtes,
" that upon the mischiefs that happen, the King pght,
and is bound by his oath, with the accord of his fople
in Parliament, thereof to make remedy." Lord‘hin-
celloe Forteacue--And here, tientlemen, the only Alan-
tage which I envy our noble Chairman is, that se has
the blood of this patriotic Chancellor iowingin his
veins. Well, lard Chancellor Forteseue says, that 'Os
King is appointed to protect his subjects in their Ives
properties, and laws' for this very end and putpou hr
has the delegation of his power (tom the people—fo the
first thing which lives anti moves is the intention ti the
people." Why! this Chancellor is guile a radicl!—
You will nut then beg and tray to those who, &cord
ing to the Poet—
" One half the people by their arts bewitch,
" And starve the other half to make them rich;
" And when they have undone ten thousand scot,
"Ara humbly prayed to ruin thousands more."
Here th• worthy Gentleman went into an exatuinatin of
some points urged by Mr. Stewart Wortley at the met •
ing of the county of York, end then proceeded a fol-
lows:-1 will conclude with a proposal to the Wigs !
and I earnestly implore those Whigsi who real! and
conscientiously wish well to the cause of Refound lis-
ten to me with Munition, before it be too late. 1 wl ad-
dress myself to those two noblemen of the Whig ply,
who rank high in character—l mean the Duke of Biford
and the Duke of Norfolk; the former has acknowilged
(in a late letter) the principle " that the people (mkt to
be restored tatheir undoubted right of being fully epre-
sented in Parliament ;" and the latter was a hither
member with me of the Hampden Club, and of ears.
has put his signature to a moldier principle. Mt Old-
field stater, that these two Noblemen possess the nosioa-
tion of, or idfiuence, over fifteen Members in Parlitnent.
Now, if they will snake ov. r to me only six seats fr one
twelvemonth, I will take the whole trouble of Worm
off their hands. If their Braces accept this of*, the
people will thank them; if they refuse this offer, tb peo-
ple will know them. (cheers.)
Mr. Roan expressed his regret awl indignation the
conduct of the Sheriff.
Mr. HAMLYN said, that the present commt tate of
our representation, add demoralized state of soder, were
the principal cause of all our evils. Ile was glai to see
that the county of Devon, by petitioning for Atom,
had shown the wise determination of going to th source
of the evil, instead of attaccking it in detail. Thgtier-
ance and complaints of the people were not atteded to,
The corrupt system of representation spread its iduence
far and wide—it destroyed the best feelings of th elect-.
ors and the elected. Men entered inso life with le de.
termination of Ihnestly performing their duty; be they
soon found how the system worked, and they cosoled
themselves with the ft;shionahle notion that politial in-
tegrity was only a joke. Some, however, there wet, the
ornaments of their country, who would not bend i the
storm, but who, like the oak, could only be tornip by
the root. It was said by sonic shameless persons that
corruption was necessary, but be had too good an option
of human nature to suppose that many en-ertained doc-
trine so disgrarefol. Others imputed to the Reforwrs a
disposition to i rift inge on private property; if by prate
property was me int the right of property which Bo-
ronglimongers assumed in selling seats, he certainiswas
for investing that property; he did not feel roue for
the hardships of those Cientlemen. With respect ► his
brother Agriculturist', he deeply felt for their diress,
be was himself one of the sufferers—he felt for the Fern-
ers, but he owned lie did not feel for the Landlord, at
least not for a great many of them ; for lie was conviced
that if the cosmtry gentlemen had done their duty,
ng-
land would not now be distressed at home, and dims-
pected abroad.—(Applause.) He wished to see a sytein
of policy pursued which would be beneficial to the mole
country, and therefole lie was a friend to Reform ;—:ap-
plaose)—he would also wish to see a corium:oaths' of
tithes;—(continued applause)—a diminution of the one-
dens of tne people was most desirable, was must nees-
sary, end he hoped would soon take place.
The Rev. Mr. Jorszs strongly condemned the con uct
of the High Sheriff. The people of Devon felt the aces-
sity of Reform, and they met to demand it. Tbeirop-
ponents had not the manliness to come forward—heir
absence was a strong proof of the weakness of heir
cause. He regretted also that he did not see at the met-
ing any of their County Members ; in other counties the
Members met their constituents, and fairly stated heir
opinions. Snch was the case with respect to Mr.Stetrut
Wortley, at York, with respect to Mr. Lamb and Finny
others. The Rev. Oentleqtan uext adverted to the *le-
heated, speech of Mr. Canning at Liverpool, and reput-
ed arguments which had been already urged at piblic
meetings in answer tojthat speech. He then proceodes:
to say that we had neither happiness at home, nor idlu-
ence ahroa.l. We were not able, notwithstanding allour
victories anti all our efforts, to prevent au unholy stack
against the rising liberties of Spain.--(Applause.)
Mr. Rutroee said, that there was no hope of redress'
without a reform in Parliament, and every man who did
not profit by corruption, must be a friend to that Peas
sure.
The Petition was then put and carried unanimously.
Dr. Tuciert next came forward, and moved the Mow-
ing resolution:— .
."L' That the unwarrantable refusal of the High Sleriff
to convene &County Meeting, at tits request of 626 free-
holders, was highly unconstitutional, and reflected dis-
credit on his conduct, which it would be difficult fothim
to remove."
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
A Vote of Censure on the County Members wasnext
about to be proposed by Mr. RUNDLE, but that tiettle-
man did not press the motion.
It was next resolved, that Lord Ebrington and Mr.
Newman should present the Petition to the Houle of
Commons.
Mr. NEWMAN returned thanks, and said he should
support the prayer of the Petition in his place.
It WAS then resolved, " Tim et the Thanks of this Pett-
ing be given to the Magistrates for convening it, aid to
Lord Ebringtun for his able and impartial condict in
the Chair.'

next .pres.,..,
w him to do butto
wed with so mash geed Deus. _
ith pride and gratification that s.
A presenting, their Petition to the
He cordially *greed io ttibbo f e>t-
fdr. rogiter, that the gleeholders
_Jgrt. Aged agaia to meet under the circuits-
Vance in which they had met that day. ft was the first
time that a Sheriff of Devon bad rAlsed to call o In'eti off-
of the con nty—he hoped it would be the last (applause). I
deed, be could not but wish that the rights of the people:
of England, in this respect, were placed on their ancient
footing; that the right of the people to meet for the re-,
dress of grievances nitglit not depend on the capriceof any
Sheriff, or the will of any Magistrate; but that the us-
constitutional laws which coerced that right might be
soon abolished and repealed (hear, hear, hear-.)
would now say a few words as an iodividnal (bear, hear.)
lie wished to make an observation with reference to
something that had taken place in the early part of the
Meetiog. A gentleman who was absent (Mr. Northmore),
had stated, that if two Noble Lords, whom he described
as sincere friends to reform, would nuke over to him six
-Seam in the House of Commons, he would answer for the
cause, without putting them to further trouble; and he
was pleased to add, that if they refused to comply with so
modest a request, the Reformers would know what to
think of them. He (Lord Ebrington) had that day re-
ceived a letter from his Noble Friend the Duke of Bedford,
the only letter which appeared in his hand-writing since the
commencement of that melancholy indisposition wider which
Ids Grace had been for some lime labouring. That letter,
I however, was not written for the purpose of being used'es a
public document, and he did not bring it with hum to the
sleeting. Ifs could however state the substance of it with
accuracy. His Noble Friend expressed the utnvest aaxiety
as to the resalt of the Meeting, end at the same time stated
his.entire concurrence in the object for which it was nailed
(hear, hear I). He added, my desire is to see a full, free.
and fair representation of the people (cheers). Alluding to
what had been said by a gentleman at the Somerset Meeting,
concerning the Borough ofTavistock, he said—" Should any
thing be said with respect to Tavistock, you know my senti-
ments; you. and all those who knew me, will readily be-
lieve that no paltry consideration of pecuniary interest
would weigh one moment with me, in giving support to a
measure which I thick so necessary to the public good as a
Reform in Parliament." Such was the substance of the let-
ter written by his Noble Friend ; and it was but justice to
his Noble Friend to state it. With respect to the proposal
of the Worthy Gentleman, he (the Duke of Bedford) might
think, as he (Lord Ebrington) certainly did, that the worthy
Gentleman rather over-rated his own strength, and that of
his friends, when he thought with the addition of six seats,
the Radical Reformers would be able to do more than all
the other Reformers had been able to do in that Assembly,
which the Radical Reformers held in such utter centempt.—
I f the Duke of Bedford thought that giving up those six
would really advance the cause of Reform., he would be the
first man in the country that would make the experiment ;
but, whilst the Representation of the country remained in
Its present state, he (Lord Ebrington) would put it to the
common sense of the Meeting, whether it would be wise in
the Duke of Bedford and others to give up the boroughs la
their lands—those boroughs which are represented by men
who always vote for Reform, and perhaps throw that int*.
once into the hands of Tories, who would send to Warns-
ment Members who would invariably oppose that measure
(hear, hear !). lie had to apologize for taking up so much
of their time, and to thank them for the patience with which
they had heard him, as well as all others who hail addressed
them. The Noble Lord concluded amid the loudest cheers.
-The Meeting than dissolved.

- -
and
reJ•Meet=

BRECONSHI RE MEETING.

AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

On Friday last, a meeting of this county. was con-
vened at the Shire-hall, Brecon, by John Christie, Esq.
the High Sheriff, in com:lianae with the following re-
quisition, signed by about sixty freeholders:—
'• Sta,—lo consequence of the distressed and ruinous
s'a'e of the a4riculturists, we, the undersigned gentry,
clergy, and freeholders of the county of Brecon, request
that you willrappoint an early day for convening a
county meeting to investigate our tlistresses, and to pe-
tition Parliament fur relief."
At half-past twelve on Friday, the ibis Sumer, ac
companierl by several of the gentlemen who signed the
requisition, entered the Shire-hall. The assemblage at
this time was not very numerous, but the parties present
were highly respectable.
The Htou.SIICRIFF being called to the chair, opened
the business of the day by reading the requisition. He
observed, that in compliance with this request, which
reached him in a distant part of the country, he lost no
time io repairing to Brecon, and, consulting with seve-
ral gentlemen who had signed it, as to the most conve-
nient time for convening time county, he tent off the next
day to Swansea, to have notice given as early as possible
of the meeting. He mentioned this, because he under-
stood that the requisition was on foot a considerable
time back ; but had he had an earlier notice, be would
have called them together sooner.—(Hear, bear.) Feel-
ing as he did, that the High Sheriff, in complying with
a requisition of this kind, acted in a ministerial charac-
ter, he thought he should not have discharged his duty
if lie allowed any impediment to oppose the expression
of their sentiments on so important a subject by so large
and respectable a baly as the freeholders of the county
of Brecon. 'Else expression of their opinions upon all
public questions was the inherent right of the freeholders
of every county, and he trusted the day was very far dis-
tant when that right would become obsolete or un-
fashionable, or he looked upon with apathy by those
whose duty it was to give it a constitutional form.—
(Hear.) ')'he subject which they had now met to consi-
der was a grave one—one which had occupied the atten-
tion of the greatest statesmen of the country. It was
unnecessary for him to offer any opinion upon it. In-
deed, sitting there as he did, it was rather his wish to be
an auditor than a speaker. The discuision of this day
would, he hoped, be conducted with time greatest candour
and forbearance on all sides ; and lie trusted that those
' gentlemen who delivered their opinions, would confine
themselves as closely as possible to the subject of the re-
qnisition. He did not mean that any gentleman should
sacrifice his own opinion of truth to unanimity, but he
begged to impress on the assembly, that it was of the
utmost importance to the object for which they had
met that they should confine 'themselves to that alone.
—(Hear, hear.) He concluded by again reading the
requisition.
Jonw GwYNNE, Esq. said, that in the absence of the
gentleman who was at the head of the list of requision-
ists, be intended briefly to call the attention of the meet-
ing to the question on which they had assembled ; bat,
first he must congratulate them un being thus constitu-
tionally convened by the representative ofMajestyto seek
from the Ministers of the Crown and from Parliament,
that redress of their grievances which their situation de.
winded, and which they had s right to expect from the
wisdom of the Legislature. He was sorry that the con-
duct of high Sheriffs of other counties had not been si-
milar to that of the gentleman who now presided. They
had seen that in other places Sheriffs had so :ar neglected
the duties of their high station as to refuse to the inha-
bitants the means of coining together arid complaining of
the grievances under which they laboured. lle trusted,
however, that the example of this day would teach some
of those public officers a little better understanding of
their daty. As he had been en some degree instrumental
in bringing about this meeting, it would of course be ex-
pected that lie should state his opinions of the present
divtresses, and of the means by which they might be re•
medied. These would be best otters by. the resolutions
and petition which he intended to submit, and which he
would now read. He would first observe, that us the re-

TITO STAT ' •
in rums* -flint. a pie o) aiNaTON
ni
Lift rightlitat s ItiJkaci e remained for
it by word:—Palitio g,"-th ink le.lpieb,was cdoduct
No in in begs- of .04n pitipnety. It was with
d to pay wages, vit. two shilliags eccepted the trust of
soul, f think, *you webs to de, House ofeommons.
thwin-pence halfpeany from the irmseii by kis friend. A
;.1.a.. !IA painugh fora Modein might not be obliged a