The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-01-25 00:00:00

Pr

it stated that at the end of time, even at the latest mo-1
mentof the world's essistence. " there will be marriages'
and I,;:ving in marriage:" and Burke says, in a worl4of
his, that at the time the walk of Constantinople were
surrounded by the enemy, the Senators were debating•
on •• free will," &e.; and a British Parliament were Ile-
bating in 1819 about his two-penny trash, while a whole
"nation were Ai-Kr nit to he saved from ruin by r•xres-
sire taxation. Mr. lobbett concluded by returning
thinks for the attention that had been paid to bins
during the observations that he bad tittered to their con-
• sideration.—(Continued arclamations.)
Mr. WELL!' rose.—As Chairman. he said. it was his
to catch the public feeling. They, as well as him-
s,:f, had been gratifiod n•ith hearing the most luminous
.t.itetnett that he tail ever heard io his life. Ile would
thereforvpropose that they should give three times
three.for Mr. Cobbat's unanswerable speech.
It was drank with enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the following toast
" That Mend of mankind, the venerable and beloved
Earl Fitzwilliam."—(Three times three.)
Mr. Witt.t.s then rose to propose a Petition for the
adoption of the 3leeting. The Meeting, he said, par-
took of conviviality as well as business. Had it been
a Futility Meeting they would ►ave been deprived of
the .raosceadant talents of Mr. Cobbett. as he was not
a freeholder of the ennnty. He therefore hail thiaped
his measures (he called them his measures for the
" Committee," the " Chairman," and the " Reqni-
sitionists." were bat one person after all.—(Laughter.)
—Weed his situation put him in mind of a story of
Lord Merril, who said that if the French landed in
Irelaoil, he would raise a regiment of light horse.—
The French did land, and in the Town Ilall his Lord•
s'Jip was asked, " Where is your regiment of light
horse?" A ragged fellow, almost without breeches,
at the lower end of the hall, exclaimed—" I am Lord
Donegal's Light Hone—(Laughing;)—so might he
exclaim—" I sin the Committee, the Chairman, &c."
All the nark had fallen on his shoulders—he was the
whole and sole "person that bad got up the Meeting,
' and he invited Mr. Cohbett to attend; so that they
were it so small degree indebted to him for the high
g►atifcation they had experienced in having Mr.
l:•ubbett that Slay at Huntingdon. The petition lie had
to propose was couched Is the language recommended
by howl John Komi'. His Lordship says, " petition
boldly and resolutely fur a reduction of the tax a;"
and he agreed with his Lordship that they ought to
petition " boldly and resolutely." The petition he
held in his hand did not partake of the qualities of
either the milk of Mr. Cobbett, or the water of his
ems (they were drinking milk and water only), but
was formed of at.,ster stuff;" and he hoped it would
have ■n effect on certain minds which could only
be dose by giving it a formidable appearance by
the great somber of their signatures. Ile begged
them sot so Adak front doing their duty. He should
he sorry if his petition was rejected ; but he wished
it to ►e fairly discussed, clause by claim. if they
thought proper; and if it was approved, he called
upon the Meeting to give it their assistance in Kett*
It signed in the differ's* parishes throughout the
country.
Mr. Altman. Wau.s, the brother of the Chairman,
a freeholder of the county. in a loud voice, exclaimed
SI No.l.

The Comastax hoped he would hear the petition
read, before be objected to it; be did not wish to
stifle discussion, he wished it fret as air, like trade
aml commerce, and it would cause general happiaess.
Mr. 31. WEhha asked if the clauses were to be dis-
missed singly ?
The CHAIRMAN. who expressed his surprise at sp•
position from the quarter whence it came, said that he
should propose each clause singly.
3ft. 31. Waht.s—l object to the petition altogether.
The Chairman then read the petition.
Mr. AI. WILLS begged to move an amendment to the
petition proposed for their adoption. They hail beim
c died upon in a Mate of great distress, to petition Par-
liatnect for relief, gni therefore ought to do it in that
in inner that appeared to be most likely to obtain the
end they sought fur. He did not disagree with the con-
tents of the petition, but with the tootle in which it had
be is brought forward.—(Considerable noise.)—He, as
th • proprietor of a farm in the aounty, must know the
114tilr• of the diatrese of that class of persons to which
he belonged were sufferiog. He called upon the !met-
ing not to cast aside such men as Lord Milton and Lord
John Russell—men of the most independent minds—
and bring a foreigner into the comitv.—(tlreat confu-
sion, and hear, hear.)—He admitted 31r. Cobliett was a
very great man, as a statistical writer; but to bring a
stranger into the county, in opposition to such men as
Lords Milton and Johu Russell, was what lie should op-
pose. though it was the act of his own br:ther.—[The
noise WAS so great, that the voice of the speaker was
drowned.]
The CHAIRMAN begged that the speaker might not be
interrupted.
Mr. M. WILLS proceeded.—He called upon the meet-
ing not to be deluded.—(.\ great uproar.)—They must
remember the time when Lord Milton took the Chair in
that room ; they knew the manner in which he. as well
is Lord John Russell were received, and would they turn
their backs on men who had supported the independence
of the country, for • stranger 2—(Great confusion.)—
He trusted that he was not doing wrong in acting as lie
had done ; lie did it with the best intentions, and should
therefore proceed to. read his amendment, hich was as
follows :
ss To the High Sheriff of the county of Huntingdon.
We, the undersigned, being respectively Freeholders
of the comity of Huntingdon, do hereby respectfully re-
quest you will be pleased to commie a public meeting
of the Nobility, Clergy, Freeholders, and Farmers of
the county, to take into consideration the present dis-
tressed state of the county, the alarming depression in
the value of agricultural produce, the overwhelming in-
Somme of the public burdens, and to consider of the pro-
priety of petitioning the Legislature to adopt such mea-
sures as will arrest the progress of the manifold evils
that seem impending over all classes of the community."
The CHAIRMAN said, that there was no objection as
he knew, to a County Meeting being held ; but a re-
tinisition for a County Meeting could not, by any possi-
bility, he an amendment to his petition. lie called upon
his Hon. Relation to declare who it was that be charged
with deluding the Meeting.
Mr. M. Wahhs.-1 charged no one with deludiog.—
(Hear, hear!)
Cnataatast.—ln reply, be would say, ~Oh that my
enemy had done this!" He would inform his relation,
and it would convince him of the injustice of his enspi-
'ions, that lie had invited Lord John Russell to the
Meeting, and he pledged 1 • self to the Noble Lord, that
he would forfeit his friendship for ever, if any thing the
least offensive to his Lordship should occur at the Meet-
ing; and if be did not afterwards rejoice at having had

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