The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-01-19 00:00:00

lelLrsturtE MEETING.

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On Wednesday one of the most numerous and re-
epertatile Meetings ever witnessed in this county was
held at the Market-cross, in the Town of Devises.
The Meeting was called by the High Sheriff, pursuant
to a requisition presented to him, signed by the Duke
of Somerset, the Marquess of Laub(lown, the Earl of
Cartiarvon, Lord Holland, and the print ipal Nubility
and Gentry of the county, to consider the propriety of
declaring their unabated and unalterable attachment
to the Constitutioti, of expressing
.their regret at the
Lte !unconstitutional proceedings against the Queen,
and of petitioning both Houses of Parliament to take
the most egectual measures for the removal of every
obstacle to a satisfactory and final arrangement, and
to prevent a recurrence to measures of a similar ten-
det.cy, and the revival of discussions equally mischte-
von% to the public murals and dangerous to the peace
lII' the country.
At an earls- hour country Gentlemen, with their faml-
lie: crowded into the town from all part, of the
strighbourioz country. The spacious Hustings, which
hat! been previously erected by the Under-Slier:lL was
snit tionded by many thousands of the freeholders
before the appointed hour of meeting. The Mae-
as of Latisilown arrived soon after eleven o'clock.
The Duke of Somerset, Sir Fronds Burdett, Mr. Ben.
nett, Mr.Gurdun, Mr. Hobliouse, and many other pub-
lic ckaracters inatle their appearance shortly after;
they were repeatedly cheered by the peeple.
About one o'clock :base Noble Loris and (Gentle-
men, accompanied by the High and Sub-Sheriff, and
betn ern une and two hundred of the most leading
tientlionen of the ('aunty, proceeded to the hustings.
At this mouteist the meeting presented a most im-
posing spectacle ; the hustings were surrounded by at
least ten thousatel perique ; the windows of Parson's
Hotel, and indeed of the principal houses in the
square, crowded by ladies of the first respectability,
presented a rare and gratifying assemblage of ele-
gance and beauty; of feeling involuntarily displayed
when a generous or af ecting. sentiment occasionally
&II from the lips of the different speakers. There
W.Lii not a single spei ial constable sworn in ; a few of
ti.e ordinary Sheriffs ',fivers, with small w!eite wands,
stood before the hustings ; they stood there mute and
neotioteless, for they had nothing to do in the way of
preserving order. Tilting!, the crowd was unprecedent-
ed, the utmost th-cornsu and propriety prevailed. They
applauded, indeed, with the warmest enthnsiason, the
sentiments of which they approved ; but they beard
other and opposite sentiments with. patience and with-
wit disrespect. At ten minutes past one, the Duke of
Beitterset moveil that the High Shetill do take the
Chair. The motion having been seconded by the
Marines! of Lam-down. was carried unanitutinwly-
The HIGH SHERIFF accordingly took the Chair, and
eoneinenced the business of the day by reading the
requisition. He next stated, that he had that morn-
ing received a letter from Lord Holland, which, with
the perinis,ion of the meeting, he would read to thrice.
(Hear, hear.)—The High Sheriff then lead the
letter, which was as follows :
a. Mn. Htcn SHERIF/ —After having signed the Re-
quisition which was presented to von, I regret that I am
prevented, by indisposition, from attending the conn!Y
meeting, which, in c pliance with that Requisition.'"
s irtue of the office you hold, and in the spirit of our free
and popular Constitution, you, Sir, have so readily and
SO properly convened. I was in hopes of having it in Laif
power to explain to the Freeholders of my native county
of Wilts the motives which induced nie to solicit you to
call them tise.ether at this time. if it be tint irregular, I
shall now feel obliged to von,Sir, or to an v brother Free-
holder, to read the following short statement to them :
" I was persuaded first, that there never was a period
in Icicle the couiliirt of public affairs required more de-
liberation and wisdom. Secondly, that until the Queen
si as en full possession, not only of her strict legal rights
sod dignities, but of all those outward narks of respect,
and other advantages which the liberal and loyal people
of England have been in the habit of conferring on the
consorts of their Sovereigns, the Couticile of the nation
neither would nor could pay clue attention to the various
important matters upon their decisions, on which the
character of the country abroad, and the liberty, pio-
perty, peace, and happiness of its inhabitants at home,
seem to me essentially to depend. And thirdly, I uses
400Sinred. from many observations too minute to be de-
tailed in a letter, that nothing but the sense of the com-
munity, conveyed through such channels as•the late re-
straints on public discussion have kft uninterrupted,
could extinguish all further proceedings ow the subject
of the Queen. It was with such views that I signed a
Requisition, calling on you to convene the Freeholders
of the counts', and I now write to you, in the firm hope,
that regularly convened by your compliance therewith.
they may elo all that in them lies, to prevent the revival
of discussions which, according to the just apprelien-
alone of our Legislature, hare been found on experience,
to he derogatory from the honour of the Crowu, and in-
jurious to the hest interests of the country.
I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir,
'a Your obedient humble servant,
" VASS4I.I.
"Old Burlington-street, London, Jan. 16, 1521."
The sentiments contained in this letter were received
with pond cheers.
The Beau SHERIFF then sail, that leaving convened
the Meeting, he had only to hope that every Gentleman
who should address them, would receive a full and patient
hearing—(applause ;)—and further, he had to request
that Gentlemen would confine themselves to the imme-
diate subject for which the Meeting had been called.
After the High Sheriff had concluded,
Mr. Par,. METRUILIS came forward to move the Relo-
- He was received with loud cheers. He said,
that in rising to move the Resolutions, he lamented his
inability to do justice to the subject, vhich, on that oc-
casion, had called the Freeholders of the County toge-
ther—a subject, which, he would venture to say, without
the fear of contradiction, occupied the attention of every
man in this country, and he would say, that he was able

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