The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-23 00:00:00

'S.llitpt :
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_AMBRIDGE—it is HO% 4r name a day :
,oelpreue ; that was with the Sheriff; brut •doubs-
der mold be a meeting before Pliant should
assemns--z(Briel of •• Now's the time !")
Sir T. LIMIT/RIDGE—You are Englishmen—l bare
die honesty to be one too. lam a Soniersetsiolre matt
to .the bilk bone. I freely acknowledge your right to
exereds yobs' opinions; I hope you wall allow the 9.111111
me—yorriet according to your opinions. allow'
um to act according to mine. I always shall, I hope,
have the boldness and determination to act on my ow*,
opinion, and have always done so. —During the last two
Sessions of Parliament 1 uniformly voted for a reduction
of the taxation of taxes, a hick more particnlarl v affected
the lower orders of the people. I advocated the repeal
of the Salt Tax, and we succeeded in taking off an ion
position of 13s. out of 15s. This, I trust, is an earnest of
the object uext my heart; and Isavit.g. taken one step, I
hope you will give me credit fur an intention to take
another. The lion. Baronet went on to say, that lie had
been for a long time of opinion as to the primary cause
of the depression of landed property, sad every day the
more confirmed that opinion. In seeking for relief, he
did not wish to see one class of society sacrificed to are
other.—With respect to tithes, he could not go all the
way with his lion. Colleague. Ilct would not go so far
as to say that a commutation of tithes might not with
safety take place ; but he did not sufficiently see his way
as to that question ; it was a delicate and difficult goes
tion to consider; all that he could say was, that when
he ally his way he would go straight up to it. 'floe trad-
ing interest of the country, it was said, ought to be pro-
tected. Undoubtedly it ought; but be hoped that the
landed interest would be protected also. That interest
was suffering most severely - and now that the difficulties
of affairs abroad were nearly removed, that peace had
returned, this was the proper time to ameliorate the:con-
dition of the country. He hoped the Government would
exert itself to do so. If Government did not so exert
itself, he should oppose the Government as
in many instances be had already done. He had
received obloquy and blame from persons alto did not
understand his motives, but he would always act on his
own opinion, and on his sense of what was just and ho-
nest. It was, he thought, extremely unjust that one class
should be left to almost excluaire suffering—that one
party should be weighed down, and all others suffered to
eo scot free. Whether Parliament should be reformed
or nut, he, as long as lie should have a seat. should art
according to his judgment, without bring influenced by
tlyeats or by the promise of rewards. No one could say
that he did not go into Parliament with clean hands. He
hoped that the Meeting would not act aithout considera-
tion—that they would be guided by those sound princi-
ples which always led men to pursue their own interests,
taking care at the rime time not to injure the interests
or invade the rights of others. The Honourable Gentle-
man concluded by expressing his approbation of the
proceedings of the day.
Mr. iiANNINO, in explanation, said, his object was to
keep the question of Reform distinct from the business
more immediatele before the Meeting; he hoped, as a
Meeting for Reform would soon take place, that Mr.
Hunt would not press his Petition.
Mr. liuNr saisi, that if the Sheriff would now name
the day of Meeting he would have no objection to
withdraw that part of the Proposition o hich related to
ft-forin.
The SHERIFF said, that he would call the Meeting in
1 a few days, certainly in the course of the next week.
Mr. 11usT-1 wish you to name the Jay.
The SHERIFF—The Meeting shall be held in the
course of next week, at this place.
General BATHERST said, that though little known to
the Meeting, he could assure them, that he was not one
who would stoma up to defend public abuses of any sort;
he objected to Mr. Hunt's Petition, because it would
have the object of causing distention in the Meeting
[cries of no, no r 7; he was anxious fur unanimity; be
did not mean to cast ary blame whatever on Mr. Hula;
his propositions were moderate. They did not appear
to have come from :s disciple of Tom Paine's, whatever
might be the opinions of others, they certainly were de-
serving of fair discnssion. He certain, y, howevet, would,
under all the circumstances, prefer the original Petition,
and wonl.l vote for it accordingly.
Mr. Saxnvaitu suggested, that the Sheriff might name
that Jay week for the Reform Meeting.
Mr. SHE/LIFT accordingly named next Tuesday.
Mr. HUNT.—To ahew that I am not so very obstinate,
I note withdraw my proposition with respect to Re-
form.
After some further observations, Mr. Hunt's Petition,,
as altered, was them put by the Sheriff.
The SI/CRIFF put the question thus:—As many as are
in favor of the Amendment will hold up their hands and
go to the right side.
Mr. Hear.-1 reo!est against this as one of the
foulest things that has been ever a:tempted in a County
Sleeting.
The SHERIFF said it was neither foul nor unusual, it
was done at a recent County Meeting.
31r. Hes:v.—lt has been never done unless where the
numbers appeared nearly equal, so that the Sheriff could
not decide. _

The Shrriff at length put the question in the usual
way, when Mr. Bunt's Petition was carried by a vast ma-
jority, amid fond cheers.
Mr. HUNT next moved that the Sheriffxhould sign the
Petition on behalf of the county.
The SHERIFF said he would not do it ; it hail been de-
cided that an officer signing a Petition made it his own ;
now the present was not his Petition ; he did not agree
those who framed it as to the points it contained, and
be would not sign it.
Mr. HUNT now stood forward, and moved a Vote of
Censure on the High Sheriff for refusing to authenticate
the Petition of the county.
Much confusion actl dissatisfaction ensued. After some
time bail elapsed—
Captain Hr.motio moved a Vote of Thanks to Mr.
Hunt. - - . .

After which the Sheriff dissolved the Meeting.

Thus the Petition, though agreed to almost unani-
mously at one of the largest Aleetiegs ever held in
Snm.rset'hire, remains without the signature of any
public officer.

We gave an account of the execution and confession
of Hartley in our last week's paper. It is stated on
Hartley's own authority, that his father formerly kept
the Sir John Falstaff. public house, iu Wincolailre, ad-
joining this town. It is only justice to a respectable
man to say that the Mr. Hartley in question had only
two sons, both of whom died in the Navy some years
ago; the proofs of we have se en.—(llnll4./itinertiser)
The alleged confession of !fartley app►ar ul too unwor-
thy of credit to be inserted in the ST.I txuma x The
paper, indeed, in which it origiiially appeared, has lately
confessed that the story was extravagant. This narrative
as well as that relative to the other culprit, who was
executed, a short time before, for the murder of a woman
at Greenwich bad the common characteristics of fabri-
cation.

WA TILR CORD NIA FILETS, Jan. 13.—The price of bntter
increased yesterday to 735. the first qualities of the
neighbouring districts (equal to about 76, with the for-
mer beatnage of 4lbs per firkin) 734. and 6d was said to
have been paid in a few inmvie ea. Weighed at the
Crane on Wednesday, 129—Thursday, 136—yesterday,
67 fir.
Singed Pigs bare advanced a little, and may now be
quoted at lbs. to lbs 6d per ern fur goid lots.—
scaltbd pigs were yesterday a ♦ery dull.sa e. at 14s to
17s. 6d per cwt generally.