smaller number of individuals, every pur- did not flinch from the subject, because pose might have been answered. As it he dreaded to meet the subject; but he was, however, he hoped that Englishmen challenged the Noble Lord to say, whewhen addressed would consult their rea- ther in subjects of such importance we sons as well as their passions. He would ought to lose that spirit of good fellowship thus early say that he by no means came and unanimity so necessary to carry us to the same conclusions with the Noble through our difficulties, on account of MiLord as to the present state of public af- nisters? He thanked God that it was not fairs, and he begged that the Meeting of any importance to the public at large would hear him patiently if what he said who were Ministers—(a load laugh.)— had reason in it. (Much laughter.) There There were talents enough stil in the was a sort of slur cast on Gentlemen who country to supply the places of those now opposed popular addresses, and on this in power if they gave offence.-Gentleaccount he thought it necessary to profess men, said Mr. Montague, let us despise that he had no selfish or sinister object to those men who talk of any set of men as serve; his wish was to speak honestly and fit to be Ministers-let us despise those independently. When the Noble Lord persons, who, by appealing to the passpoke of the alarming state of public af- sions of the populace, think to gratify fairs, he perfectly agreed with him that their ambition, if not their avarice. Genthey were alarming; but if affairs were tlemen, do you suppose that Parliament alarming, let us beware of trusting to the will not institute a rigid enquiry into representations of any set of men what- all the subjects of complaint that may ever; let us beware lest in the heat of the be brought before it? Has Parliament moment we awaken against each other ever been deficient in doing its duty?— feelings which should only be excited (Always, exclaimed a hundred voices). against the common enemy. One great What! Was Mr. Fox? (A. They never cause of our alarm, was the unity, vigour listened to him.) What do you mean-do and capacity which directed the Govern- you want to substitute yourselves for the ment of France; ought we not then to Parliament? What is your ground of beware of throwing difficulties and dis- complaint? (A. Its incompetency.) I can't sensions in the way of those whose busi- help that-(Loud laughter). What, are ness it was to meet the mighty arm of we better able to understand the various France? With respect to Ireland, he saw points connected with these expeditions no grounds for any alarm on that score; than the Parliament ? can we send for he considered that country as more tran- Lord Chatham or the Admiral of the Fleet? quil at present than it had been in former Has the Sheriff any power over them? In times. As to the introduction of foreign short, I deny that it is in our power to introops, he did not think it fair to call to terfere except by overturning the State at the recollection of the Meeting the anti- once.--Is the Parliament to be put down, pathies of our ancestors to Dutch troops, because certain gentlemen are out of temparticularly at a time when our own stand-per with it? Do you believe, that, by ening army was so small, that the King deavouring to destroy the bulwarks of the might have overturned the constitution Constitution, we shall be better able to put and destroyed the liberties of his subjects, down Buonaparté? Why is this violent by means of a handful of foreign soldiers. and intemperate Address (groans and hisses) With respect to the other causes of com- to be voted one week before the meetplaint against Ministers, the grounds ge- ing of Parliament? I am for distrusting nerally taken, and indeed the broadest of those who will not wait until Parliament all, was the failure of our foreign expedi- meets. Do you believe that the King will tions. He had no doubt, however, that dismiss his Ministers before he has conwhen these expeditions came to be dis- sulted Parliament? Is he a stout-hearted cussed in the proper place, namely, in Englishman if he does?—He believed that Parliament, the people would be enabled the present Parliament was as honest a one coolly to judge for themselves: it was im- as ever sat in England. It introduced and possible, at a public meeting like the pre-established many of those liberties which sent, to enter into all the various views of policy which actuated Ministers in fitting out these expeditions. He would not attempt to enter into so wide a field. He

we now enjoy; and if they are overturned, it must be by want of unanimity among ourselves. He would maintain, that those who stood up to excite dissensions at the

all public meetings. What had fallen from Mr. Deane on the subject of the assessed taxes, proved that no complaint could be ill-timed. Much had been said of our distant calamities, and he trusted the effect of the present Address would be

check corruption in the Parliament, and redress the grievances of the subject. With respect to the assessed taxes, he could say from his own experience, as a Commissioner under the Act, that the Inspectors and Surveyors had arrogated so much power, and behaved so insolently, that he had ceased to act as a Commissioner of Taxes while the oppressive and arbitrary clauses were in force.

Mr. Marsh) are we to sit down quietly and trust to the investigation of Parliament, after the specimen they gave us of their integrity in the Duke of York's business?-Did they not gravely tell us, that there was neither corruption nor connivance at corruption!-but did the Peo-to induce his Majesty to do his utmost to ple believe them? No! He was certain that nine hundred and ninety-nine, in every thousand individuals in the Country, were of a contrary opinion. He trusted that the Country would always be able to defend itself, both against foreign and domestic foes. The ancients had represented Liberty as a beautiful nymph, and worshipped her as a goddess; and, like most ladies, she required a little watching (a laugh). Our ancestors celebrated her rites every three years; but septennial Parliaments were soon introduced, and the homage paid by Parliament to her shrine became less fervent.-He concluded, by saying that he had no doubt the Prince of Wales, who had not received a German education, but was an Englishman every inch of him, would tell his father, that the people of this country were not to be goaded too far without resenting it."

MR. SILLS, of Abingdon, said a few words in support of the Address.

LORD FOLKESTONE shortly replied. He called upon the hon. gent. (Mr. Montague) to tell the meeting who the men' were who were actuated by motives of ambition and avarice in calling the present meeting? (Name! name! resounded from all parts, but Mr. Montague made no answer.) His Lordship then read a Resolution of the House of Commons in 1680, expelling a Member for calling in question the right of the subjects to petition.

tions resounded through the Hall. Three or four only held up their hands for Mr. Montague's motion against the Address.

MR. DEANE, of Waltham, supported the Address. He went into a long detail on the subject of the Assessed Taxes, and was The question being then called for, the heard with much attention.—In the course | Sheriff desired those who meant to vote' of his speech he stated that, the Surveyor for the Address to hold up their hands, under the Assessed Taxes had recently when all, except a very small number, surcharged a gentleman who kept a Tax-voted in this manner, and loud acclamacart, because he had the luxury of a cushion on the seat of it. He supposed that if a man was to sit in a Taxed-cart with stuffing in his breeches, the Surveyor MR. C. DUNDAS then rose, and stated, would tell him, that under the Act he had that it gave him much satisfaction to deno right to wear breeches in a Tax-cart. clare, that he perfectly coincided with the Mr. Deane concluded with a motion, which sentiments of the Address that had been' was unanimously carried, to instruct the voted. On the subject of the grievances County Members to apply to Parliament under the Assessed Tax Act, he could asfor a repeal of that part of the Assessed sure the Meeting, that he would be happy Tax Act, which vested the powers of de- to listen to any complaints that were made ciding on appeals, in the hands of Com-to him, and would cheerfully bring them missioners appointed under the Act, and took it out of the Courts of Law.

MR. GOODLAKE supported the Address, in an animated and energetic speech. Alluding to what had fallen from Mr. Montague, respecting the present being an ill-timed Address, that was an old and stale trick with the friends of Ministers at

before Parliament. This speech was received with great applause.

It was then resolved that the Address, and the King's Answer when received, should be inserted in the County, and in all the London Newspapers, and the Meeting broke up about five o'clock.

LONDON :-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough - Court, Fleet - Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD), Pall-Mall.

VOL. XVII. No. 4.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1810.

[Price 18.

"Many public Officers and Accountants have raised great Estates to themselves, at the expence of "the Public, when it is evident they have had no lawful means to attain them: and several persons, "whose duty it was to hinder such Exorbitancies, measuring their requests rather by their own avarice "than by their merit, have obtained for themselves Grants to such a value, as in foregoing Reigns have "been esteemed large Supplies towards great and public services: which has been another great cause "of the Debt that lies upon the nation. This general mismanagement of the public affairs did actually "spread itself over the whole kingdom, and seems to be owing to a disposition of Offices and Places, "where men were rather chosen for their inclinations to serve a Party, than for their qualifications to serve the Public. And these men being conscious to themselves of the many Frauds and Offences a commilled against the Public, have no other hopes to shelter themselves from Justice, THAN BY "TAKING AWAY THE REPUTATION OF THOSE WHO DESIRE TO DO RIGHT TO THEIR "COUNTRY BY DETECTING THEIR INIQUITIES; and being UNITED IN GUILT AND INTEREST, they endeavour to amuse and impose upon those, whose posterity, we have too much reason to fear, will groan under the sad effects of the wickedness of the one, and the too great credulity "of the other. We chearfully depend upon your Majesty's wisdom, that all our Grievances, by your "grace and favour, will, in due time, be redressed and renoved, by PUNISHING those, who have been "the cause of them, and by entrusting none in the administration of public affairs, who, for their own private advantage, have manifestly contributed to the calamity of their Country."- -ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TO QUEEN ANNE, in 1702.

97]

[98

SUMMARY OF POLITICS. their villainies. "These men," said that truly Honourable House of Commons, PECULATION.Is it possible to read "These men, being conscious to themthe Motto to this Number, without making "selves of the many frauds and offences, a comparison between the House of Com-" committed against the public, have NO mons in the reign of QUEEN ANNE and "OTHER HOPES TO SHELTER those in this Jubilee Reign? When have « THEMSELVES FROM JUSTICE, we, during this reign, heard such language "THAN BY TAKING AWAY THE REfrom a House of Commons; and, shall we" PUTATION OF THOSE WHO DEever hear it again?This language was " SIRE TO DO RIGHT TO THEIR addressed to Queen Anne the first hour, as "COUNTRY BY DETECTING THEIR it were, of her coming to the throne; and " INIQUITIES."- Reader, need I point the consequence of it was a reform in out to you the recent cases, wherein the every department of the public expendi- conduct of the Public Robbers of King ture; but, the Dutch King had contracted William's reign has been so happily imithe Debt, the all-enchaining and all-corrupt- tated? I had not this Address in my mind, ing Debt; that curse remained, and it has nor do I know that I had ever read it, gone on increasing in mischievous effects, when, last summer, I observed, with reas well as in its amount, until the nation is spect to the garbled documents and other in that state, which the original opponents publications respecting ME, that, in blastof the Debt foretold that it would be.. ing the reputation of those who endeaBut, if in the reign of William III. Pecu-voured to expose them, consisted the only lators bought estates with the public money; hope of the Public Robbers" to shelter if this was, at that time, a subject of com-" themselves from justice." I gave this senplaint, what would the same House of Commons have said, if they had existed at this day, when a sum equal to the whole of the taxes raised, in the reign of Queen Anne, annually, would scarcely supply the annual amount of waste?In this Address of the House of Commons to Queen Anne, there is a passage, whence the reader of the present day will clearly perceive, that Public Robbers have always played the same tricks, and especially the trick of calamniating, in all manner of ways, those persons, who have endeavoured to detect

timent to the reader in almost the very words, in which it had been expressed to Queen Anne a hundred and seven years before by a House of Commons famed for its wisdom and its integrity.- -It is of the greatest possible importance, that the public, that the people in general, should bear this sentiment in mind; and should be constantly upon their guard against the va rious arts, which are, and which always will be, made use of by the Public Robbers, for the purpose of destroying the reputation of those who have the spirit D

:

to expose their robberies. "Being" said cellent man, MR. WAITHMAN, who has that wise and virtuous House of Commons; lived to see arrive all, yea all, the national "Being UNITED IN GUILT AND IN- calamities that he, from time to time, pre«TEREST, they endeavour to amuse and dicted, and many others, which neither impose upon those, whose posterity, we he nor any other man could have possibly "have too much reason to fear, will imagined. For many years, AIR. WAITH"GROAN UNDER the sad effects of the MAN was called a jacobin and leveller; he "wickedness of the one, and the credu- was so called because he made a motion lity of the other."— -Alas! how fully to address the king for an inquiry into the. has this fearful prediction been realized! shameful failure at the Helder. Nay, as We do, indeed, groan, literally groan, often as he rose his voice against any act under the burdens, which have grown out of folly or corruption, or national mismaof that system of peculation, of the first nagement of any sort, so often was he rise of which this House of Commons called a jacobin and leveller.What complained; and, let us always bear was the natural consequence of this cry, in mind, that this terrible system never to join in which a great majority of the could have got to any head, had not the City were persuaded? what was to be expeople been credulous enough to listen to pected from this? Not, perhaps, that Mr." the calumnies, which the peculators propa- Waithman would give the thing up; that gated against the enemies of peculation. he would retire to his home in disgust, United in guilt, and interest, they endea- and abandon his country to its fate this, "vour to amuse, and impose upon the peo- perhaps, was not to be expected: but, it ple." Just as they do now. Exactly was to be expected, that many many as they do now. Only now, the times are others, though entertaining the same sensuch, that the longer success of such en- timents as Mr. Waithman, but having less deavours must inevitably sink this nation political courage, would be deterred from into a state, not of what is commonly call- coming forward. There are very few ed ruin, but of actual submission to a fo- men, who have the courage to meet such reign yoke. The people have, in fact, a host of slanderers as were set to work been their own undoers, not intentionally, upon Mr. Waithman. The mere time to be sure, but still they must take a great and labour of giving a simple negative to share of the blame to themselves. They each of their downright LIES are more have been the instruments, the tools, in the than any man has at his command. If, hands of others; but, it must be confessed, during three months of the last year, I had that, in but too many instances, they written only a simple assertion, in contrahave been the willing instruments. There diction to every LIE that was, during that can be no doubt, in the mind of any ra- time, published against me, it would have tional man, that the City of London; that taken up the whole of my time. No wonthe tameness of that City; that its having der, therefore, that men, in general, should been made a mere instrument in the hands be afraid of exposing themselves to such a of the minister of the day: there can be swarm of calumniators!The wretches, no doubt, that this City, thus made use of, who are employed for this purpose, has been a principal cause of the present afraid of no consequences; they have nodangers of the kingdom. The people of thing to apprehend; they themselves the City of London were amused and im- have no character to lose; from the naposed upon; they were persuaded to be- ture of their office, they must be destitute lieve, that "all those who desired to do of all sense of honour and of shame; and, right to their country" were jacobins, le- generally, their associates are of the very vellers, republicans, rebels, traitors, sans- worst description of men and women. culottes; no matter by what, or by how But, while they are, from these causes, many names, those persons were called; quite fearless and callous, the world do the people of the City of London were not know, and cannot know, that such is persuaded to believe, that all such per- the case. Whatever gets into print carsons were enemies of their country. Chargeries some degree of credit with it; and, it any man with frauds and offences against the public; why, what was the answer to you? "You are a jacobin, and want to "overturn all order and government.' Such was the answer, which, for years and years, was received by that truly ex

are

is next to impossible, that, by some part of the people composing a whole nation, the calumnies, though pure inventions of such wretches as I have described, should not pass for truths, and should not produce, at least, some effect, upon the minds of