The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-01-25 00:00:00

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COMMON HALL.
A meeting of the Livery was yesterday con.•
voted, for the purpose of receiving and taking
into consideration the Report of the Sheriffs rela-
tive to their late ahlication at the Secretary of
State's Office, to ascertain when it would be con.
venient for his Majesty to receive the Resolu-
tions of the Common Hell, held on the gth lost.
The LORD MAYOR took the Chair at one
o'clock, and having stated the object of the Meet-
ing, which he conceived himself bound in duty to
assemble,
Mr. Sheriff WOOD came forward amidst loud
applause,. He regretted extremely, that it was
his painful duty to lay before the Livery a letter
from the Secretary of State, the language of
which. whether it came from his Majesty or his
Majesty's Ministers,she could not but most sin.
cerely lament, inasmuch as it itivolve4 k question
of the utmost magnitude to the British Kini.ire,
he meant the right of petition to his Majesty,
and tendcJ to subvert that privilege Which bad
been so lung enjoyed by the subjects of the realm,
of seedling their Sheriff to his Majesty's presence
to present their petition, or convey their senti-
ments, respecting the evils of which they might
have to complain. lie and his brother Sheriff
would nut be allowed to approach his Majesty's
-person, in pursuance of the direction of the Li.
very, and they were therefore obliged to return
without baviug accomplished the object of their
mission. Before the Report which he had drawn
up din this subject was read, he begged leave, in
his character of a Liveryman, to express his re-
probation of this innovation on the rights of the
City of London ; and as the Report did not con.
taro a full detail of the whole of the circum-
stances attending the negociation with the Secre-
t try of State, he would shortly state the facts:—
Immediately after the order from the Common
Hall at the last Meeting, he, with his colleague
and the Remembrancer, went to the Secretary of
State's °dice ; he was not aware of any other
mode of gettinz to his. Majesty ; on his arrival
there he was told that his Majesty had not re-
ceived any Address except from Corporate Bo-
dies and the Colleges, utiles, through some one of
his Ministers. How likely It was that these very
Ministers would submit to his Majesty a cum.

plaint against themselves was but too evident.
Ile and his brother Sheriff then urged, in the
most forcible latignage, the established rights of
the City of London, which had been so long en.
joyed. They were told, however, that it was
impossible for them to be introduced to his Ma-
jesty without stating what was the nature of their
holiness. They then stated the ltesolutinos of
thefahutmots Hall, and they were distinctly told,
they child not be receiv►d in any manner but as
before. The Secretary of State having signified
this determination as decisive, they *rote a letter,
which letter was read to his Majesty, and an an-
swer had been received. Tbe worthy Sheriff then
animadverted in the warmest terms on the in.
fritigement on the rights of the Livery of Lon.
d)n, and deprecated the shallow exc:►sts which
were made as a justification of his Majesty's re-
to receive on the Throne their Petition.
Ile also declared, that the conduct of Mr. Sheriff
Atkins had been strictly in conformity with the
directions of the Common ; and that he had
exerted himself to the utmost of his ability to
carry into effect their IL-solutions.

Mr. Sheriff ATKINS ea reseed his readiness
at all times to comply with the wishes of the Li.
very, so far as they were connected with the eaccu-
tion of his offt.ial duties ; he trusted, however,
drat should he come before thee, as an indi-
vidual, they would honour him with their atten.

tion.
The Report of the SherifTa was then road,
which, baring recited the Resolution of the Com.
moo Hall, proceeded to describe the interview
between the Sheriffs and the Secretary of State,
and contained the following Letter from the Sheriff.
on the subject of their mission, directed to the
Right lion. R. Ryder :-
‘6 SIR, " Jan. 11.1110.
" /lush* received the instructions of a Common Hail of
She Livery of Lund" nwersibled qui the 9th instant, to pre-
'inn to his Majesty in person, at the nett Levee. a Copy of
the Resolutions entered ii.to ois that thy. tic are to request s
yin \kill he so goiod as to inform v.. whettev it will lie con-
venient fur his Nlajesty to receive us at that filar; and if tot,
that yon will be pleased to move his Muje:ty to appoint
Noe other time :nod place.
(signed) " ROOD and ATKINS, Sheriffs."
To this Letter was reecived au answer to the
following effect :
" cesrLswes. " Whitehall, Jan. 13. 1810.
" In answer pi your letter of the 1 ita in t. •statiox the
online of yaw' instructions fro* the Livery of London, I
have to Whir* you, that no per being arbnitted to a pri-
vate Levee, I laid Wire the Kin; your I.:lter, to ascertain
his &wort on the subject, and have it in c •inmand from
his Majesty le informs you, that his Majesty having already
siviilled kis wish to receive all Addeesses from his subjects,
t the medium of his millions, exinit vaeli as ave
fillriXtlies Corporate, or toe Universities, his Majesty
does oat tltirtk Gt to depart fr.im that course.
I have it also
to cum to say, that hail the Address to which you
have Attu come from the- Body Corporate, his Majesty
would have received it frosts you is lier.iiii. It is upon the
cnuvicsinu, that if he received the Address of the Citizens
of LUIldll4l, he roast also receive those of the other classes
of hi. subjects, and thereby sublect hiinself to personal in-
convenience' tnat he has refined, in the present instance, his
weakness of sight having induced hilts to discontinue his pub- i
lie Levees.
" I shall be ready to receive the Reintutions of the Com-
loon Hall, w henever you may feel it convenient to Kan.-nit I
them to me, and shall take the earliest opportunity of las nig
them before his Majesty, in obedience to his espresa coin-
strati. I am, &c.
(Signed) " R. RYbER."
Mr. FAVELI. then addressed the Meeting, and
its a speech of considerable length and elopence,
avertml to the gross and flagrant misconduct of
Ministee, who, wit saiisfiill with having over-
vibelni.the country by the disgraceful and imp-
Wit unalures that had marked their career in
office, were now resolved to till up the measure
of their iniquity, by degrading the Livery of
Loudon, and preventing them from exercising
tbeir privileges, which they had at all times else.
fished as the first and must important of .their
rights. lie was as willing as any Mail to adult
the expediency of an alliance between the Court
mad the City of London'; and be was equally
anxious that their interests and procedure should
$ it clash with each other, and treats: dissentious

which could only terminate in the ruin of both ;
lot although those were his seutiinents) his hos