The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-15 00:00:00

GRECIAN INDEPENDENCE.

MEETING AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR TAVERN,
(THIS DAT.)
A very numerous Meeting of the Noblemen and Gen-
tlemen, took place this day st the ehoee place, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the present state of
the Greek nation, and certain propositions for affording
them Relief in their arduous contest against their op-
pressors.
Shortly before one o'clock, Lord Milton, accompanied
hy the Committee, entered the great room, which by
this time was more titan half filled. His Lordship was
immediately nominated to the chair, and after a short
pause addressed the Meeting, in the course of which lie
observed, it was impossible that the state of Greece
should not excite the most lively feelings. That
Country had long been suffering under one of
thelmost degrading oppressions that a barbarous nation could
inflict. It had been said, that if Turks were barbarous,
the Greeks were barbarous also. This he woeld wholly
deny. The principle of the Turks was to remain, in the
litth century, in the same state of darkness as they were in
the 15th century. HOW was the case of the Greeks ? Were
they harbarians 1 Were they barbarians in the Ibth century
lie would appeal to his Noble Friend on the right, and to
the Hon. Moliber for Oxford ; he would appeal to men of
sense, and ask whether they were ever barbarians, and
if there were among them some persons who might have
gone farther than others, was it not caused by the oppr•si-
tion under which they had been tortured. There was a pe-
culiarity, which on the present occasion, imperatively called
on this county to come forward; it might not be gene-
rally known, but it was the fact, that there was not except
this, scarcely any country that had not come forward in
their behalf.
His Lordship here referred to various acts of oppression on
the part of the Turks towards the Greeks. lie would not
assert that violence had, not been committed by the Greeks,
but the very nature of the contest warranted it on the one part,
as it had been commenced on the other. if ever there was a
case in which every man who values the extension of civil-
ization who values the extension of religion, it was the
present, which imperatively c tiled on this and surround-
ing
naticns now to come forward and prevent the exter-
mination of the Greeks. The Noble Lord then lead
apologies from Lord Erskine and Mr. Wilberforce,
each of whom professed their approbation of the
pnrpom of the Meeting, the latter directing his name to
be placed in the hat of subscriptions. The Noble Lord
sat down amidst general applause.
Mr. T. SMITH add d the Meeting at some length,
in the course of which he was freqnently cheered. After
having made a forcible appeal to the feelings of the
Meeting, he said, it might hereafter, be the
duty of some gentlemen to inform them that on the
proceedings in this very room depended the fate
of Greece, and that by the as.iistanre now afforded
them, the Greeks had not only defeated their enemies, but
had saved their country.
Sir J. MACKINTOSH rose amidst a numerous burst of
applause. After what had fallen from his Noble Friend
and the Gentleman who had followed him, and after the
expression of his sentiments inlanother place, he had but lit-
tle left to say. lie would even put it that the contest Was
between two barbarous nations, but as his Noble Friend had
said, who was it that had made the Greeks barbarians, who
bot their merciless tyrants, the Turks? [The lion. Member
proceeded at very considerable length, in the course of
which he was frequently and loudly cheered, but which,
for want of room, and the lateness of the hour, we are pre-
cluded from giving this day.] The laws of the Turks
warranted every abuse, for their laws were unalterable.—
If the war against Spain on the part of France. should be
successful, then Europe might be termed the empire
of the holy alliance. He concluded by quoting a pas-
sage of the late poem of Mr. Moore in favour of Greece
and sat flown amidst the loudest applause.
It WAS then moved that a Subscription in aid of the
Greeks, be entered into, which was then carried unani-
mously.
Lord JOHN RussaLz, after the speech of his Hon. Friend,
which had warmed all their hearts, had but little left to per-
form. He joined to the fullest extent in what had fallen from
those who bad preceded him, and called the attention of
the Meeting to the dangerous situation in which Europe
would be placed ifthe Greeks were not assisted, and con-
, (teamed the Holy Alliance for their conduct to
wards that suffering people. The question was no-
11 now whether they should reject the Greeks in rais-
ing the standard of insurrection ; or whether they
should subvert the Government, but whether
they should preserve that which they had derived
from their ancestors. The Noble Lord concluded with
saying that the success of the cause of the Greeks would
tend t., further Christianity and Civilization.
Lord WM. lizauctewx seconded the motion which
was cat rigid without a dissentient voice.
Mr. HOEHOUSE rose to move Lie third resolution.
(Left Speaking.)

OLD BAlLEY.—{filis MORNING.)

Before the RECORDER and the Middlesex Jury.

-----
Mardonald was indicted for stealing a waist-
coat, value We. the property of John Burgess.
John Burgess. the prosecutor, stated that lie kept a
tailor's shop, in Little Queen-street. On the 23d April,
the property was in his window, which was closed. Did
not see the prisoner take it, but saw it taken from his
person.
A Gentleman who had bees on the opposite side of the
way, stated that he saw the prisoner open the window
and take out the waistcoat. when he immediately can off
with two other lads. Witness pursued and took the pri-
soner into custody, and found the waistcoat concealed
under his coat. Prisoner in his defence, said the win-
dow was open when, be went to it. The Jury returned
a verdict of Guilty.
The Recorder addressing him said that he was a very
wicked fellaw. who was training up others younger then
himself in evil habits, and sentenced him to be publicly
and severely whipped, and confined for one year in the
House of Correction, and there kept to hard labour.
On a former trial it was stated by a person with tiara in
his eyes, that his son had unfortunately associated with
the prisoner, and had consequently became almost as de-
praved as himself. An officer also stated that time prisoner
had twice before appeared at that bar, and was a most
incorrigible thief.
-
Before Mr. Justice BAYLEv and Mr. Baron HULLOCK.
John Brown, area was in listed for burglarinusly
breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Wm. Wells,
with intent to steal.
The prosecutor stated, that be was a coal-merchant,
residing in Paddington-street ; be had also a house. 47
Upper Berkeley-street, which he sometimes slept in, and
occasionally let. On the 29th of April last, he was at
his house in Upper Berkeley-street, and about five in the
evening, the prisoner knocked at the door and enquired
for a Mr. Gurney. He inforiasql prisoner, where Mr.
Gurney lived, and he went away. About a quarter after
seven he fastened the house, and went to his residence in
Paddington-street ; when about nine o'clock, he was sent
for, and informed that some one had broken into the
house be had quitted. Beset off immediately, and on his
arrival in Upper Berkeley-street, discovered a great
crowd of persons about the door. He went in and found
the back door,
.which lie had previously fastened, wide
open. In the.yard a pair of steps had been placed against
the wall, which wasmuch damaged, apparently by some
person having endeavoured to climb over. He then
went into the kitchen for a light, and found on the table
a tinder box, and some matches partly burnt. Ile after-
wards proceeded up stairs, and found things in such a di--
ordered stale, as left no doubt on his mind that 'Jule
persons had entered for the purpose of plunder.

.

William Hatt, a brother-in-law of the prcs•enter's was
'Passing through Upper Berkeley-street, in company %ink
his wife, on the evening is question, when his wife observed
that she thoehht some one hid just catered Mr. Wel;s'
house. Witness said lie thought so ton. lie desired om
wife to remain where she was, and watch The windows.
while he went over to the house. He peeped through tio
key-hole and listened for a time, when his wife said she
observed a light moving about. He then knocked v.•
!truly at the door, and the light immediately disappeared..l
tall man, who was IMlking backwards and forwards ai'e
they were making their observations. and observing !:
knock at the door, gave two or three loud ka loos.
and shortly after disappeared. ‘Vitoess desired his wif'e to
go off for Mr. Wells, while he guarded the door. Afier re.
maining there a few minutes the door opened. and the p-!-:
sonar came out, when he immediately seized him by the cal.
lar, and asked whet he had bten doing in the house. Pri-
soner replied he had found the door open. and hid walked 71
a great crowd of persons soon collected, and he gave the rtiz
sonar in charge to the watchman. Prisoner's clothes pp:
peered all over lime, as if he had been cndeavonring to get
over the wall at the back of the house, which led into aMews.
James Brewer, a watchman, saw the last witres
standing near the house of the prosecutor about half-pal
eight. The prisoner was given into his euktoly, and I,e
conveyed him to the watch-house. On searching he
found a latch key, about en inch of wax candle, a c
watch and three gold seals, a duplicate of a ring and 2
halfpence.
. _ _

The prisoner in his defence, denied lining been in the
how e at all.

Mr. Jnstice BAILEY rerapitatat-il the evidence, and its
a very clear manner explained the law on the ea••, as
necessary to constitute the aim.. of burglary, and the
Jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a verd ct
of Guilty—Death.

Samuel IVe ley, who was yesterday the prosecwor
Wm. Morland, and who was committed by Mr. Joster.s.
Ilmuttr,for appearing in Court in a state dintoxicatio",
was this morning. br‘mg,ltt up and informed by ti.e
Learned Judge that, in consequenre of Isis haci-re
pressed himself siseerely sorry for his conduct, he 5i50...!,1
no longer detain him.