Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-10-29
FOREIGN.

WESTMINSTER MEETING.

~ lie usual place, before The Kings
Arms tavern, and al twelve O'Clock the
whole area Of Palace yard was thronged,
and The roofs of few hackney coaclrs.
which remained OIL Tie stand in front Of
Wesimlnier- hall, covered With people.
among whom we observed several we'll
dressed females. The conduct of this
great multitude was calm and decorous !;
nor did any ofthe people of whom il con,
sisted, and many of whom, from their an.
pearance. were of the laboring classes,
manifest the slightest irritation at the
occasional appearance of the soldiers
OF the horse guards, who traversed Paria
meni street, on their Way over Wesimin.
s'er beidge 10 Astley's, " hiclr was under
stood TO lie their station, there 10 remain
III readiness, in case their assistance nigh,
be required by The civil power, 10 quell
amy iuinut IN the course of The day.
The windows in Palace yard vere crowded
with persons OF respectabiliiy, and even
the space as far az the rails OF ST. Mar
garcts Church, was covered with people,
who silently awaited the commencement
OF the business of the day. The public
houses in the neighborhood were entirely
filled with constables.
A little before one o'clock party from
the vicinity Of Drury lane, consisting
of about twelve persons, proceeded down
the Strand TO join the Meeting in Pal
ace-yard. They were preceded by a
band OF music and two flags, one Inscribed
Universal Suffrage" the other, " Peace
and Cool will" They soon after arrived
IN front OF the liustings, where tl,ey halted
amid the cheers OF The people.
At one O'Clock it WAS impossible 10
conceive any thing more imposing than
The view from the hus,ngs. AT This time,
on a moderate computation, there were
not less Than 10000 people assembled
lhe immense multitude extended itself
down towards ST. Marsarets Church OH
lhai side, and 10 the river, near Westmin-
ster bridge on the other, i'll so close and
compact body, that The change OF po-
slhon OF one set the whole III motion.-
Nothing conld he more orderly than their
conduct, and there we're a greater number
OF respectable looking persons present
than we ever remember on any former
occasion.
Al ten minutes past one o'clock, Sir
Francis Burdett mate his appearance
on the hust!ngs, accompanied by Mr..
Hobhouse, Maj. Cartwright, Mr.. Clark
OF MidaleseX, and a number of other gen.
tlemen, who usually take a part in the
business OF Westminster Meetings.
The worthy Baronet, the venerable
Major, Mir. Hobbouse, aud The other
Gentlemen who accompanied them.
were in succession loudly cheered-and
We never remeHiber TO have seen so i'm
posing scene as the immense crowd
which filled the area of Palace-yard pre-
scented when al this moment as If by one
accord, they stcDd uncovered.
As soon as the shouts of applause sub.
81 ded-
Sir Francis Burdett (the Chai:man)
opened ihe business Of the day III ihc
following manner -
GeniIemen-tlIe High Baiiff Of West
minister not having thought fit 10 comply
With Requlsiiion 10 convene this meet
ing, which Was presented 10 him, signed
by large number of respectable house
holders OF Northumberland having, ]
say, thought IA, and without assigning
any reason 10 do that which ! think il
was his duty 10 do, namely, 10 call and
preside al, this meeiing-l have, al the
reqnisiilon OF number of electors, come
forward on this most important, as well
as sorrowiul and melancholy occasion,
to fill that situation, which, as | think, IL
was the duty OF the High Ballff 10 have
filled and trust and hope That | shall
~ was NNty 81 W iUS
country at this moment, IN manner
which will eniiile il 10 consideration, aud
induce il 10 be followed, as hope il will
be followed all over The United Kingdom,
so as TO shew those practically, NhO wish
TO suppress by violence the voire of
EDglishmen, what are The real feelings of
the country OH Tie cause for which they
have so met, as well as their feelings of
indignation and dbhOTrence at those pro-
ceedlngs which have recently occurred al
Manchester. The difficulty that | feel
on this important occasion is how, will
regard 10 the public peace Of tins i'm
mense assemblage, aud with nv own
feelings, so To express myself here, and
so FAR mitigate and subduc my own scuti-
menis, as 10 keep within due bounds
when deliver my Judgment upon those
transactions on which we have this day
met TO express our feelings. y Great
dppiaHSe.) (Here there was considerable
noise and uproar on the skirts OF The
! immense crowd, which was AT length
discovered 10 arise from The view uf the
huslings being obstrucied by tie line Of
hackney coaches on Tie stand, which
were, we have already observed, covered
with people. Tie difficulty was hardly
started when il was removed The people
on tie coaches were obliged Instantly
10 dlsmouni, and with some difficulty The
| coaches we're removed 10 lie edge Of lie
| crowd) Sir Francis resumed" The
| question is not now, whether this or that
mcasure-ihis or that principle--be pro.
per for consideration or adoption The
| question Is not now, whether this or illai
party he IN power: II IS scarcely Cat least
IN one point OF view political question
lit Is, on Tie contrary, the great para
mount basis on which all political ques-
lions must rest--ihe question from which
no honest man OF any political party can