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state her innocence to the depriving a sovereign of rank public, and pay to her that re- and power, none but a saint spect which was due to her could sit with safety on a throne. high rank. Fortunately for her But, admitting the validity of Majesty her cause had been the argument attempted to be taken up by the great body of founded on morality, was exthe people at large, and had ample on the part of the Queen, been supported with great force only of importance to the naand ability by the uncorrupt tion? Surely the conduct of the and honourable part of the King was in this respect at press. Before ministers pushed least an object of equal conthis measure further, let them sideration? Whether ministers, look at the gulf that was yawn-in the dangerous path which, ing at their feet. If they were they were now pursuing-a not as blind as moles-and their path beset with dangers both work was equally dark and to the Crown and to the country dirty-they would see that thewould attend to the warning same pit that buried the crown voice of the public, was not the of the Queen might also swallow question to be considered at preup the crown of the King. sent. It was the duty of the When precedents were new people to express their opinions formed, for arbitrary and oppres-fearlessly and openly, whether sive purposes, there was no se- they were attended to or negcurity for the length to which lected. (Applause.) After some they might be carried. It was further observations, in the alleged by Ministers that this course of which he condemned. was a national question, and the punishments that had rethat the state was interested in cently been inflicted on indivithe investigation which they duals who had been found had been pleased to institute. guilty of exerting themselves in But how could any act commit- the cause of reform, particularly ted by her Majesty on the banks instancing the sentence of Mr. of Como be said to be a national Hunt, which he described to be question? And was it to be en- cruel and undeserved, the hon. dured that this construction was Baronet concluded by declaring, to be given under the cant of re- that he was happy to lend his, ligion and morality? Could mo- assistance on this occasion to rality and religion say, that the oppose a system of government nation.. were to be shoek-under which no man could ed at the knowledge of her Ma-possibly be safe.

jesty's conduct in Italy, which Mr. HOBHOUSE was then loudly knowledge was only communi- called for, and came forward cated to the country through the amidst general cheers. He beg representatives of that religion ged leave to assure them, in and that morality? If such cir- conjunction with his honourable, cumstances were calculated to and worthy colleague, Sir. E shock the feelings of a nation, Burdett, that his being present and to become the grounds of at the meeting was purely acci

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dental, and that on entering the only the conviction of governroom he had no intention of ment-he meant his Majesty's troubling them, with his senti- ministers-that they had the. ments on the momentous ques-power to do so, which emboldtion which ch had called them to- ened them to make the attempt. gether. If it had been thought But they had the satisfaction to difficult by those who had pre- know that even all the present ceded him to secure the attention ministers of the crown did not of the audience, he must feel approve of the measures which that difficulty in a still greater had been pursued towards her degree; but, connected as he Majesty; one of them had, in was with a large portion of the his place in parliament, expressinhabitants of the metropolitan ed his reluctance to join in the city, it was his duty to obey the prosecution, and had stated his call which had been made on him, opinion that her Majesty was as and to speak his mind freely, deserving as ever of affectionate without looking to any personal regard (applause). And were consequences. It was impossi- not the people of England to ble at the present juncture for a believe so till the contrary were man to know whether he was proved? Were they to be decommitting a crime or not; and terred from doing justice because perhaps he was at that moment the ministers deprecated and subjecting himself to such pu- cried out against popular clanishment as his Majesty's At-mour? That which was now torney-General might be pleased called clamour was the same to inflict. He was convinced that voice that had been raised from those individuals who were now one end of the country to the other suffering in the cause of reform, when innocent persons had been and whose names had been men-sabred and trampled to death. tioned by the hon. baronet, had while legally and peaceably asbeen no more conscious that sembled in the exercise of their

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they were committing a crime undoubted rights. The same upon the hustings at Manchester, arguments had been used on this or at Birmingham, than he was occasion to prevent public meetof violating the laws in address-ings as had been urged after ing them at present. But, were the Manchester massacre: he even sure of the same punish-quisitionists had been told by ment that had been inflicted on certain sheriffs, and other official those persons, he should not re-persons, that they were not for frain from expressing his senti- prejudging the question. But ments, and discharging his duty in the case of the Manchester to his country (applause). The affair, when meetings were represent attack on the Queen of fused, had inquiry been ultiEngland was no more than had mately instituted in parliament, been seen on other occasions: and had redress been obtained it was only one additional in-for the injured? No; the anstance of open injustice, perpe-swers of ministers in parliament trated by open force. It was had been, that the conduct of

the Magistrates and Yeomanry

The resolution was received would become the subject of with loud acclamations, and was investigation in a court of law, unanimously agreed to. and that therefore the question

Mr. Alderman Wood stepped for

would be prejudged by a par-ward to return thanks, but the expresliamentary inquiry; but when sions of approbation prevented him for the trial of those accused by the government came on at York, some time from being heard. He had no evidence could be admitted found it necessary, for reasons which respecting the conduct of those they would excuse him for not stating, who had committed the mur-to remain silent on this question, not ders. In the same manner, only in the House of Commons, but at when the bill at present pend-all public meetings, and even in private ing in parliament against her society; yet he must not be altogether Majesty should be passed, the dumb in returning thanks for the hopeople would be told that it was nour they had done him. There was not as absurd to express their opinion a man, he was convinced, in, that on the subject after the bill was passed, as it was improper to county, or in this kingdom, who, if he prejudge it before (applause). had been in possession of the same The prosecutors of her Majesty, facts which had been known to him for in producing precedents for the several months, would have acted course of proceeding which they otherwise than he had done. He hau had adopted, said they would knowledge that this illustrious lady not go farther back than the was in the hands of betrayers: she had revolution. He would wish the been placed in that situation, in which, people to go no farther back if something had not speedily been than the period of the revolution (applause). Hministers thought done, she perhaps would never have they could find, in the proceedings of that period, certain a bold and determined feeling, and in rules by which their conduct his opinion she was right in coming to was to be regulated on the pre-England (applause). The whole emsent occasion, the people might pire had felt the justice of that sentialso think that they could find ment; even ministers, who had atsomething which their ances-tempted to prevent her from coming tors had done with glory to here, admitted, now that she had arthemselves, and with benefit to rived, that she had acted correctly the nation, and the example of which they might do well to imitate (applause).

Mr. FLANNAGAN moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Alderman Wood for his conduct in all the offices which he had hitherto filled, but particularly for the manner in which he had acted towards her Majesty the Queen.

reached these shores. She had evinced

(cheers). In doing what he had done,

he had merely performed his duty as an Englishman. Circumstances emanating from a high quarter led him to. believe that this illustrious individual was to be sacrificed. He had in consequence proceeded to the continent, and he was sure there was no man who heard him who would not, under the

lions annually out of the public funds (shame, shame). He was sure it would

same circumstances, "and actuated by the same feelings, have proceeded to the most distant part of the world, forgive them great pleasure to hear that the purpose of giving her every as- her Majesty was at the present moment sistance in his power. He would have in the highest possible spirits. Within gone to the continent at an earlier pe- | the last 24 hours, he had heard her exriod if his official duties had not de- press herself in these words—" I would tained him in England. Her Majesty, not exchange my situation with any previously to his leaving this country, woman in the world." (Cheers.) She being determined to meet the charges said this while reasoning on her situabrought against her, be they what tion-arguing on it with that talent they might, had ordered him to send which she was well known to possess, a ship to Leghorn to bring her over. and with a full knowledge of all the He, however, did not think it right to enemies she had to encounter. Yet, take that step without consulting other under such circumstances, these were individuals; and that circumstance the magnanimous expressions that fell alone was the cause of the delay that from her (applause). He could inhad taken place. Every day, every form the meeting that on the first day hour, her cause wore a more favour of the trial she meant to go down to able appearance. The evidence to the House of Lords at 10 o'clock in which persons of distinction had de- the morning, and she never would posed was so decidedly in her favour, leave it as long as the proceedings that he thought it was impossible, not- were going on. For strong reasons withstanding the strong opinion which which induced him at present to be sihad been given by his hon. friend of lent, they would not expect that he the corruption of the two Houses of should enter into the merits of the Parliament, for any tribunal to find case; and therefore he should only add her guilty (cheers). Those who sup- again his thanks for the honour which ported her cause looked not for place the meeting had done him.-(Great or preferment, while those who were applause). arrayed against her were supported by pensions drawn from the labour of the people. The persons to whom he alluded received more than three mil

Thanks having been voted to the Sheriff, and to the Members of the Committee, the meeting was dissolved.

Printed by W. BENBOW, 269, Strand.-Price
Sixpence Halfpenny in the Country.

VOL.37.---No. 5.] LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1820. [Price,6d.

TO THE

King, and also on the Trial

MIDDLE CLASS OF PEOPLE, which is this day to begin, and

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I addressed a letter to you, in ther, I shall offer no opinion. August last, from the shores of I am not living in what I deem America. I then told you, that a state of freedom; and, as I your; ruin was at hand. I de- dare not say that I approve, scribed to you the causes that of the contents of the Letter, were leading to it, and endea-so I will not say that I disvoured to impress on your minds approve of them, I publish. the necessity of exerting your- the Letter itself, because all selves for the purpose of avoiding other periodical publications. that ruin. He must be blind, in- contain it. Let me observe, deed, who does not now see, however, how great are her that I was correct in my calcu- Majesty's disadvantages in this But reserving myself contest, as far as the press is to say more, by and by, upon concerned. No man dares, on this subject, suffer me now to pain of his destruction, to apaddress to you a few remarks on plaud this Letter, while any the Letter of her Majesty to the man may safely condemn it,

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Printed and Published by W. Benbow, 209, Strand.

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