was

turned to them at twelve o'clock, and and perhaps ruindus in its consequences, told them that they were to be liberated To which may be addeil, that publicity, without going before the Vice-Chancellor, in those cases, is extremely unpleasant upon which thev came down stairs and to females, as it may be the means of walked hon't.-An action was brought subjecting their characters, however in the Court of Kings' Bench against pure, to uncharitable remarks, and illthe proctor, pro-proctor, and marshal, natured surinises. for false imprisonment. The University Orford, Feb. 18. 1815. claimed their recognizance of the cause, which allowed.--'The plaintiff's, whose expelices were already to a con

FREEDOM OF SPEECH. siderable sum, were advised to drop all

Sır, Knowing that you as much despise farther proceedings, as the cause must panegyric, as I do the panegyrist, it is have been determined in the Vice Chan- not my intention to pass fulsome com celor's Court, where there is no jury, and pliments, but merely to shew to the where it might have been protracted to a world what happy effects are produced great length of time, and have been atten- by the perseverance of plain truth.d:d with much additional

The fact is, your plain arguments have

expence; not tui mention this trifiing circumstance, greatly tended to convert an educated that the proctor himself, the very man

man, and an original enemy to your Rewho was one of the defendants, "might sister. --- From my intimacy and friendhave sat with the assessor, and his bro- ship with him, I have constantly sent ther proctor, as one of the judges ! Now it him to read. Sometimes he would, and it must be observed that the conduct of sometimes he would not look at it: the proctors was not only unnecessarily Time, the tryer of all things, as your corharsh and severe, but illegal. That this respondent on Religious Persecution was the opinion of the Vice-Chancellor, says, eradicated that rancour, and curianay be inferred from the circumstance osity predominating, led him occasion of the young women being liberated, ally to look it over, till at last conviction without appearing before him, who, if got the better of his prejudice, and I am any thing whatever could have been pro- happy to state, that we are now as unitved against them, would not have dis- ed in politics as we are sincere in missed them without reprimand. It friendship.---The wonder working effects would have been unjustifiable and illegal, of your uncontaminated reasoning is also even if the young women had been com- proved in your forcing a rebut from Sir mon prostitutes, for they had been guilty J. C. Hippisley, to your animadversions of no ill-behaviour, and the pro-procior on the abominable Times Newspaper interposed his authority, at a time of day, report of what you justly censured as an when he had no power of exerting it ex- in propriety in Sir John's (supposed) illicept on matriculated persons. Punish- beral and ungentlemanly attack on Mr. ment, in this case, if iufiicted at all, Madison, the President of the only free should have been inflicted on the gowns- country in the world. I cordially particimen; but they were allowed to escape pate with you when you say,“you cannot with impunity.-Instances similar to the " help wishing that a respectable English above, I have rşason to think, liare fre- gentlemen had refrained from the use quently occurred, though the individu-" of a phrase fit to be applied only to

“ als who suffered had no opportunity of

“ the head and members of a government bringing their cases before the public; “ of a very different description.". I could a circuinstance that will not be wonder- have wished that you had named the ed at, when it is considered that aggres- government, but I have a pretty good sions of this nature are generally comunit- key to this when I look to your extracts ted against persons who cannot take from a Pamphlet written by Mr. Thorpe, any expensive measures to obtain redress, the Chief Justice of the Colony of Sieras by their own situation or that of their ra Leone, (on the subject of the slave relations and friends, they are more or less trade) to Mr. Wilberforce, a sanctifed dependent on the University, and to member of parliament, a suppressor .whom any resistance or opposition to of vice; a good old man, who would those members of it who are clothed with, rather die than be deprived of the pleakuthority, might be very detrimental sure and power of cramming Bibles

down our throats.--Sir J. C. Hippis- ral position, that it was consistent with the prinley, or tlie Times, may say that they hate ciples of public law, and with the practice of cithe Americans if they please ; that will vilized nations, to include allies in a treaty of do the Americans no harm. I like can- peace, and to provide for their security, never dour; therefore it should be allowed was called in question by the undersipeed: but every one, with the same candour, to they have been denied the right of Greri biisi, speak the truth. Then it might be truly according to those principles and her (mis said that we live in as free a country as to interfere in any manner with Indian tube; America. --According to the sense our siding within the territories of the United States, Big Wigs have given to the word libel as acknowledged by herself, to consider ich isilies (namely the greater the truth the greater as her allies, or to treat for them with the Curiteit the libel) Sir J. C. Hippisley was cer- States. They will not repeat the facts atid antainly correct when he said, that Mr. ments already brought forward by them in supp Hunt was libelling our own country: port of this position, and which remained unanWe must therefore take it for granted swered. The observations made by the Britis that Sir John's admits the truth of Mr. Plenipotentiaries upon the treaty of Grenville, and Hunt's assertion, “ that the Americans their assertion, that the United States now, for the “are the only remaining free people in first time, deny the absolute independence of the “ the world.” Here I certainly would have Indian tribes, and claim the exclusive right of been on Sir John's side of the question. purchasing their lands, require, liowever, -At the same time, I should have made notice. If the United States had now asserter, it distinctly understood, that it was be- liat the Indians within their boundaries, who inave cause I considered Mr. Hunt's assertion acknowledged the United States as their only to be the truth, call it what you may.- protectors, were their subjects, living only at guta Possibly Sir John thinks gagging a part ferance on their lands, far from being the first of our boasted liberty. But it is my mis- | in making that assertion, they would only have fulfortune not to consider any country free, lowed the exarate of the principles uniformly and or enjoying the blessings of nature, that invariably asserted in substance, and frequently is deprived of the liberty of speech. avowed in express ternis, by the British GovernWhat constitutes genuine freedom ? Is it not the liberty of speaking and speaking colonial churters granted by the British Monarchy,

ment itseif. What was the meaning of all the the truth, the source from which

from that of Virginia, by Elizabeth, 10 that ot have derived all human blessings ? Georgia, by the immediate' predecessor of the When, therefore, we punish or censure others for exercising this faculty, we ren

present King, if the Indians were the Sovereigns der it a curse instead of a blessing; we

we

nay, what is venus girof the north western boun- with the Treaty of Grenville. These principles have day line now proposed by the British Conimis.j. been unitoruly recognised by the Indians themoners the nuselves, it it is the rightful possession selves, not only by that treaty, but in all the and sovereignty of independent Indians, of which other previous as well as subsequent treaties between those boundaries crispuse? Is it indeed necessary them and the United States. to ask, u luthier Great Britain ever has permilled, The Treaty of Grenville neither took from the or world' permit, any foreign nation, or without Indians the right, which they had not, of selling he covsent, any of her subjects, to acquire landstands within the jurisdiction of the United States from the Indians, in the territories of the Hudson to foreign. Governments or subjects, nor ceded i Lay. Company or in Canada? Ini formally pro- them the right of exercising exclusive jurisdiction testing ay:inst this system, it is not against a novel within the boundary line assigned. It was mere. pretenuion of the American Government---it is ly declaratory of the public law, in relation to the against the most solemn acts of their own sovereigns, parties, founded on principles previonsly and uuiagainst the royal proclamations, charters, and versally recogniserl. It lett to the United States the treaties of Great Britain for more than two centu- rights of exercising sovereignty and of acquiring ries, from the first settlement of North America soil, an: bears no analogy to the proposition of to the present day that the Brisislı Plenipoten- Great Britain which requires the abandonment tiaries protest. From the rigour of this system of both. The British Plenipotentiaries state in however, as practised by Great Britain and all their last Note, that Great Britain is ready to enier the other European Powers in America, the bus into the same engagement with respect to the mane and liberal policy of the United S:ates has Indians living within their lines of demarcation, voluntarily relaxed. d celebrated writer on the as that which is proposed 10.the United States. The laws of nations, to wliose authority British jurists undersigned will out dwell on the immense inequahave taken particular satisfaction in appealing, lily of value between the two territories, which, after statiny, in the most explicit manner, the under such an arrangement, would be assigned, by legitimacy of colonial seulements in America, the each nation, l'espectively, to the Indians, and which exclusion of all rights of uncivilised Indian tribes, alone would make the reciprocity merely nominal. has taken occasion to praise the first seulers of New The condition which would thus be imposed on England, and the founder of Pennsylvania, in hava Great Britain not to acquire lands in Canada from ing pureliased of the Indians the lands they re- the Indians, would be productive of no advantage to sutred to cultivate, notwithstuuding their being the United States, and is, therefore, no equivalent furnished with a charter from their sovereign. " It for the sacrifice required of them. They do not is this example which the United States, since they consider that it belongs to the United States, in any became by their independence the sovereigns of respect to interfere with the concerns of Great the territory, have adopted and organised into a Britain in her American possessions, or with her political systein. Under that sysiem the Indians re- policy towards the Indians residing there ; and they siding within the United States, are su far indepeud- I cannot consent to any in:erference, on the part of ent, that they live under their own customs, and not

Great Britain, with their own concerns, and pare under the laws of the United States; that their ticularly with the Indians living within their terrirights upon the lands where they inhabit or hunt torics. It may be the interest of Great Britain to are secured to them by buundaries defined in ami- limit ler settlements in Canada, to their present cable treaties between the United Staies and them- extent, and io leave the country to the west a perselves; and that whenever those boundaries are fect wilderness, to be for ever inhabited by scattered varied, it is also by amicable and voluntary treaties ribes of bnnters; but it would'inflict a vital injury by which they receive from the United States ample on the United States to have a line run through compensation for every right they have to the lands their territory, beyond which their settlements ceded by them. They are so far dependent as not should for ever be precluded from extending, thereby to have the right to dispose of their lands to any arresting the natural growth of their population private per

nur 10 any power, other than the and strength; placing the Indians substantially United States, and to be under their protection by virtue of the proposed guarantee, under the proalone, and not under that of any other power. tection of Great Britain, dooming them to perpetual Whether called subjects, or by whatever name barbarism, and leaving an extensive frontier for designated, such is the relation between them ever exposed to their savage incursions, and the United States. That relation is neither asserted now for the first time, nor did it originate

-Signed as before.

Printed and Published by G. Houston: No. 192, Strand wliere all Communications addressed to be

Editor, are requested to be borrardid,

Vol. XXVII. No. 10.] LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1815. [ Price 1s

289 ]

[ 290 CORN BILL,

smallest, was mede to inflame, or to mislead; no atiempt to mark out any par

ticular class for popular resentment; no WILTSHIRE COUNTY-MEETING,

attempt to stir up the labourer to cut the Held at Salisbury, on the 8th of March, throat, or to set fire to the house or barns

of his employer ; but, many endeavours 181..

were used, and it is believed with com This meeting, which was convened by plete success, to make the vast assem advertisement, under the authority of blage clearly understand, that the propotheliigHiSHERIFF was the most numerous sition to make corn dear had grown out of any that had ever been wiinessed in the of the desire to continue to raise. County. The Sheriff opened the proceed- | taxes upon the farmer; that this desire had ings in the Council Chamber of the City, grown out of the immense expenditure but, it being found, that the open air was still intended to be kept up; and that the only proper place to afford a chance this immense expenditure had grown out of hearing to such an inmense assembiy, of those measures; which would have an adjournment took place to the square been all prevented by a Reform in the in the front of the Council House.-Here, Commons' House of Parliament.-It was after the requsition bad been read, the explained to the people, that the owners Resolution, and after it the Petition of land and growers of corn would not (which will be found below) were moved gain, in the end, by a Corn Bill, which, by Mr. Hunt and seconded by Mr. in fact, was intended to enable them to Cobbett of Botley, who having a free- pay war-taxes in time of peace, though hold in Wiltshire was induced to take some of them had been evidently actuated part in a discussion, in which every man by the sellish notion of gaiu to themselves. in the kingdom is interested. -Whatever It was explained to the Meeting, that the might have been the wishes, or the ex- inevitable effect of the Bill would be (o pectations, of the friends of Corruption, enhance and uphold the price of corn ; They were not here gratified by witness- or, in other words, that it would impose ing any attempts to work up the passions a new tax upon the loaf, and that, too, and prejuslices of the people into that without any ultimate benefit to the land. fiame of violence, which, unhappily, has lord or tenant, however some of these burst forth in the metropolis, and which might think the contrary.--In adverting it is the duty of every man to discourage, to the Wiltshire Petition for a Corn Bill, and to prevent, if he has it in his power. it was observed, that the Petitioners had -- Mr. Hunt gave early proof of his de- said, that they had long borne leavy sire to discharge this duty and of the taxes, AND THAT THEYWERE STILL weight which a man may have with the WILLING TO BEAR HEAVY TAXES, people, if he proceed in the right way. provided the Government and Parliament

- There were carried into the Council wouid pass a law, the effect of which Chamber, upon the tops of two long should be TO RAISE AND KEEY

poles, a large loaf decorated with gay UP THE PRICE OF THEIR CORN. ribbons, and a small loaf arrayed in crepe. That is to say, that so long as they could Mr. Hunt requested, that those loaves have a price, which should be a protec(the sight of which was so well calcula- tion to them against rain, they did not ted to infiame) should be taken away. care how leavily the loaf was taxed, They instantly were taken away, and never how much money was squaudered away, again made their appearance.- To give how large a standing army was kept up any thing like a report of speeches here in time of peace, nor how the Fberties will not be attempted. But, it is right to and rights of the people were dealt with, observe, that no attempt, not even the. It was explained to the meeting, that, in

K

this the petiti. »ners for a rom Bill were ; account was sent araç ilini on ini
me; 19"Itovy rusht, eins. contrary, the
to tave caueú ivr reuuction of t!
taxes, without which the immense stand the House of Lords in the course of
ing army could not be kept up in time next week.--The following are copies of
of peace; and, being relieved from those ile Resolutions and Petition.
taxes, they might well afford to sell their
corn as cheap as any that could be
brought from abroad. It was observed

WILTS COUNTY MEETING.
to the meeting, that, in consequence of
the price of provisions having fallen, it was
notorious, that the price of labour had

RESOLUTIONS fallen; that the farmer now, and very justly, paid less to lis people than lie unanimously agreed to by the most nu. paid before, including bis snith, wheel- merous Assemblage ever witnessed in wright, collar-maler, &c. But, that the

the city of New Sarum, on Wednesmeeting should well remark, and bear in mind, that those who are paid by the

day, March 8, 1815. public still receive undiminished salaries GEORGE EYRI, Esq. Sheriff, in the chair. and allowances; that, during the last twenty years, the allowances to the Royal Family, to the Judges, to the RESOLVED, That political corruption, Police Magistrates, to public Oficers of

after having exhausted all the oilier all descriptions, had been greaty aug- sources of taxation, bas, at last, promented upon the capress ground of the (eeded to the outrageous lengili of atrise in price of provisions; 294, that acu', teiupting to burthen with a heavy tax, when provisions had fallen, and brought the very bread that we eat, being down with them the wages of the la- therenato arged and encouraged by bourer, none of these allowances wire the false statements of certain rapalowered; on the contrary war taxes were cious Landowners; that, therefore, to be kept up, for the purpose, in part,

a petition le presented to the House of keeping up those allowances, and,

of Lords, praying their Lordships to as these taxes could not be raised while

interpose in betalf of this long insulted, corn was cheap, it was intended to make

and long sullering nation, in such a corn dear in order to enable the land

manner as to prevent the enacting of jord and farmer to pay taxes.

Thus

any law, 10 prolilit, or restrain, the was the abhorred measure traced fairly

free imperiation of corn. to its source, and an appeal was made to the SENSE, and not, as in some other RESOLVEN, Tliat the Sheriff be secases that have occurred, to the NON

quested to sign the petition, and that SENSE, of the people. The conduct

copies of it le sent for signatures 14 of the High Sheriff was remarkably pro

tie various towns in the county. per. His priyaie opinion appeared to RESOLVED, That when signed, the ShieIean towards a Corn Bill; but, so im- riff do transmit the ¡etition to the partial, and, indeed, so alle, was the Earl Stanhope, and request his Lord. manyer, in which he conducted the liu

ship to present the sanie to the House siness of the day, and so readily did he of Lords. assent to what was manifestly, the una- RESOLVED, That the Sheriff be renimous wish of the Meeting, that he retired amidst the applauses of all descrip

quested to sign the resolutions, and tions of persons.--The conduct of the

to publish them in the Salisbury and

Winchester Journal, and in two LonPeople was equally good. Not a word of violence: not a word of folly. At

don morning and two London evening night, some boys paraded a thing, stuffed

Newspapers. with straw, supposed to represent some RESOLVED, That the thanks of this contemptible friend of thie Corn Bill, Meeting be given to the High Sheriff They hanged and beheadleri this person- of the county, for his readiness in age, opposite Mr. Hunt's lodging; and calling this Meeting, and for his inthere even this fun ended. Alien this partial conduct in the clair,