not this rump of a committee, who are gree dispraising of the Whig Ministry caterers for this feast, been beating of Earl Grey, or the precious doings of up for recruits in every corner of the the reformed Whig Parliament, his country? Have they not sent a mission lordship's recommendation would be eastward to Monkwearmouth for that just of this sort to them. (Loud wise man of the East, that disinterested cheers). Then they have another secrepatriot, Sir Hedworth Williamson?-tary or writer of some kind or other, (Loud laughter and cheers). Have they (cries, a member of the committee), who not sent another vidette southwards to signs James Charlton-look at his episbring in another youth of the name of tle to Mr. John Fife. He is a most laHarland, of whom we know little either conic fellow, a true Spartan. (Laughgood or bad, who has nothing to do ing). Mr. Fife writes a letter civilly with Gateshead, but who happens to be to ask if this dinner be meant as an member for Durham? (Cries of Hutt, understood praising of the Whig MinisHutt). Aye, gentlemen, and have they ters, or as a personal matter to Lord not sent westward to Gibside, to lug in Durham alone; and what says this Lacea gentleman of the name of Hutt, of demonian schoolmaster in reply? Somewhom we know absolutely nothing ex-body once repeated a whole chapter of cept that he is member for Hull, and the history of some island, which was who may be for aught I know a worthy merely this, "There are no snakes in and independent man, but who is un- this island;" so I shall repeat this letter known here? If then, gentlemen, they of the pedagogue of the rump commitwere in such want of good men, if they tee, where, however, there are snakes. were thus scouring the country in all (Roars of laughter). Sir, I believe directions, if they were thus going about" the dinner is meant as a mark of relike Esop with his lighted candle seek-"spect to my Lord Durham." That is ing for an honest man-could they not the Spartan answer-it would do for a have found one a little nearer home, copyhold! (Loud laughing). So lofty without crossing either the Wear or the and laconic is it, that one would think Tyne (Cheers). Could they not, I ask it had been written by Dyonisius, the them, have bent their patriotic steps to- tyrant of Syracuse, after he turned wards Wickham, (loud cheers), where schoolmaster. And after all he only bethey could have found an honest man lieves! What anchorage for hope is and an honest politician without any there after this? (Loud cheers and candle at all? (Shouts of laughter). Oh laughter. I believe no such thing. no, fellow electors, this did not suit (No, no). What! have we not been them. Mr. Attwood is not to be tongue-told, both in print and verbally, that tied, and therefore and for that reason this address is an insult to Lord Duronly they left him out. Look at their ham? Have they not said this? An correspondence; look at the elegant insult! A respectful but free-spoken composition of Mr. Secretary Brockett, address from the inhabitants of this bowho says it is "a lie" (that is the gen-rough an insult! I say, gentlemen, the tlemanly expression), that any compact insult is in supposing Lord Durham as to speaking was made with the Earl could think it so. What! are we to supof Durham. Perhaps not, perhaps no pose a calm exposition of our sentiabsolute compact, perhaps not one writ-ments-our true sentiments, must, of ten, perhaps not one spoken; but there course, sound like insult to his ear? are such things as understandings and Gentlemen, I profess neither overrecommendations. Dr. Johnson talked strained respect, nor certainly disrespect of a man being thrown out of a two-pair of-stairs window, and then recommended to fall to the ground. Now my friends, if this great lord recommended even in a whisper that the rump should contrive to say nothing in the slightest de for this nobleman. I know he has done some public service, but whether he is friendly to real reform, whether he really wishes to remove the infernal system which is fast driving this country to ruin or revolution; or whether he only wants to keep his father-in-law, Lord Grey, (Great cheering and applause). Then in office, I know not, nor do you know. there is "the land we live in:" that is His lordship has now an opportunity, if a common toast, will they drink that, he choose it, of settling that question. will they, and not venture to hint, for He must be either the one or the other; fear of offending his lordship, that the Lord Durham must either be a real re- toast ought now to be changed to the former, or a mere Whig partizan. If he land we starve in? (A burst of cheering). be the first, then our address will be What! will they bury in oblivion the really welcome; if he be the last, then very report of their own pet Parliament, there is the more need of it, to set the which describes agriculture as in a state independent men of Gateshead right in of ruin, and prophesies famine in case the eyes of the country. (Loud chcers) of a short harvest? Let us try another, This we shall soon know, and if, as I fellow electors-aye " Church Reform; would fain disbelieve, this disgraceful Rippon and Church Reform (immense tongue-tying understanding really exists, laughter) that they must drink. The sincerely do I pity the situation of our promised extinction of tithe, and the representative, Mr. Rippon; nay, I pity application of clerical wealth to national even the rest of the guinea-dinner-men, purposes, that they MUST drink; in the whole flock of guinea-fowls, do I pity. (Shouts of laughter). What is Mr. Rippon to do hung up thus, like Mahomet's coffin, between heaven and earth? (Loud cheers). Praise the Minis try, praise the Parliament, or any of its doings, he cannot, for he has been in the minority the whole session; (cries of he cannot praise them); and if it is to be the etiquette not to dispraise in any way, if this be the etiquette, if Mr. Rippon is to make speeches about nothing, Gateshead and with our Member in the chair, that must be one health. And, can it be believed; will no one, neither Mr. Rippon nor any one for him, denounce the broken pledge? aye, the pledge broken by the Minister in the very teeth of the Commons ? Is it possible, my friends, they can drink that toast without unearthing that, and yet see if they do? (Cheers). Let me give them one toast more," Army and Navy," that I hope they will drink; and is all right there? promotion, half-pay, pension; "All see-saw between that and this ;" is all right? Did no man ever hear of scions of the aristocracy, younger sons if he is to spin long yarns without end of younger brothers being put over the or meaning, rhyme or reason, I envy heads of old lieutenants of twenty years' not his situation, nor that of the miser- service? My Lord Grey has younger able guinea-fowls to whom toasts are sons, how old are they were they allotted. (Laughter). What he or they scarcely ever afloat? What are they? can say is to me a matter of astonish- captains, or masters and commandment. There are many toasts they must ers, one or both? What, and is no drink how are they to drink them sound to be breathed of this at a dinner tongue-tied? There is the Reformed of the Electors of Gateshead? Oh! shame, Parliament, they must drink that; and where is thy blush? (Loud cries of will they really, verily, and indeed do shame, shame, and applause). Gentleso without so much as glancing at its men, whether I am right or wrong in precious doings? Will they not dare my anticipations will soon be proved. even to allude to the infamous coercion We shall now know if my Lord Durbill for Ireland. (Loud cheers)? Will ham is real or plated, gold or tinsel, they make no mention of the refusal Radical or Whig, and for the rest mark even to repeal the unconstitutional them-I say mark their words, their acSeptennial Act? No whisper about their tions, all, and judge, if I am right or conduct as to their rescinding the vote wrong. (Applause). And now, gentleon the malt tax? What! none? and not men, let me quit my Lord Durham for even an allusion to the tyrannical, stu- a little, and pay my respects to Mr. Rippid, unjust measure of the legal tender? pon, for whom do not think I am going MR. ATTWOOD'S LETTER. to express disrespect; but before I speak | slightest disrespect to Lord Durhamof him, let me first read you a short bit but quite the contrary. It is such lanof an excellent letter I received this guage as befits us to speak, and him to morning, from Mr. Wallace, the patrio-hear, "if he have ears to hear, let him tic member for Greenock. I know it will hear." please you, for it is a perfect godsend in its way! (Read, and laughter. Mr. D. then read as follows:) "You will allow I have set a good example, and have (To the Editor of the Newcastle Press.) taken the bull of long parliaments by Whickham, 24. Oct., 1833. the horns; every voter, at any rate every DEAR SIR,-Before this reaches you, constituency may now have annual par- you will have become acquainted with liaments, or satisfactory servants, which the more public part of those transaclatter is my sole aim, being as much op- tions of yesterday, in Gateshead, in posed to annual parliaments, as I am in which I had the honour and the happifavour of triennial. I am the FIRST ness to bear a part. You are aware MAN who has fairly and premeditatedly already, that, upon that day, it had laid down his trust, and been re-elected heen fixed by an intriguing, but most instantly by the unanimous voice of a despicable faction, now called the RUMP large, well-educated, and clear-sighted of Gateshead, to give, in the name of constituency." (Great applause, and the people of that public-spirited, but cries of Bravo!). I knew it would please insulted borough, a public dinner to the you, and now I turn to Mr. Rippon; Earl of Durham. You are aware, and before I say one word more of this besides, for you have yourself most ably gentleman, permit me (for it is due from and efficiently contributed to its exposure me to him), to declare most distinctly and defeat-that the object and contemand unequivocally, that I approve of his plated result of this arrangement, was general conduct as our representative. nothing else than to create, at a disHe has conducted himself as he ought tance, and throughout the kingdom, through the entire session of Parliament; where the secret trickery, and machinabut in my opinion, he ought before this, tions by which such things are brought to have met his constituents, and given about could scarcely be expected to be an account of his stewardship. (Loud understood, an impression of the incheers). Why, brother electors, why fluence and popularity of Whiggery, was Gateshead not in the place of and of the Earl of Durham as prime Greenock? Why was not Cuthbert Rip- Whig leader in the north of England, pon the first man to give an account of and of the comparative weakness in his trust, and throw himself on his con- public favour, of those principles of stituents, instead of Robert Wallace. honest, efficient, and genuine, or in other Why, fellow electors, why did he not words, of radical reform, to which you meet us, not under the roof of a Metho- and I, sir, are devoted to the advocacy, dist chapel, at the hypocritical price of a and the ascendency of which is, indeed, guinea; but here as we meet; as the very boast and glory of the north. freemen ought to meet; with the soil You know, too, sir, that it could be of our own England beneath our feet, only under favour of the very equivocal and the heavens above our heads. (Im- aspect of Lord Durham's present polimense cheering). And now, gentlemen, tics, in so far as the people understand turn we again to my Lord Durham; I them, as being thought by them to am nearly exhausted, and the few words verge, at least, towards Radicalism; I have to say must be given to him. you are aware that it could be only Whatever may be the creed of my Lord under favour of this impression, of Durham, be he Whig, or be he Tory, it which the confiding generosity of the is for us to do our duty. The resolution people renders them but too tenacious, I have now to propose is temperately so long as politicians have the prudence but firmly worded-it conveys not the to be silent, or, till unwished-for cir cumstances put them to the test; you circumstances of my exclusion, as known are aware, I say, that it could only be to you before, and dwelt on in your last under favour of such circumstances that week's paper, from all participation in such a ruse could have been thought of, this packed and hole-and-corner juggle; and you will join me in exulting, that I that have the honour, I may proudly through the sense and virtue of the say, to be one of the principal organs people, it has utterly and shamefully of Radicalism in the north of England, miscarried. In short, the very soul and and when I add to this what neither you essence of the scheme was this-my nor the public had previously obtained Lord of Durham being still hoped and the knowledge of,-that my exclusion believed by the people of this district was the result of rump-discussion, and to be somewhat of a Radical, chiefly, a vote, and that Mr. Doubleday was also as I think, because he has not said similarly excluded (surely to his honour) much to the contrary, it was hoped to from this mean affair. No doubt can smuggle him into, and through this possibly remain that it became the true dinner, under that thin and flimsy cloak Reformers to look well about them, and of imputed righteousness, with the eclat to crush these eggs of the cockatrice of of an apparent popular reception. The Whiggery, thus impudently sought subsequent Whig version, or construc- to be deposited within the very nest of tion of the text, would have been an radicalism. easy matter. However, sir, the men of Gateshead are not so easily imposed on. They are not ignorant how possible it is to cover two faces under one hood, particularly under the hood of a politician; nor do they need be told, on the authority of Hudibras, how readily they can adapt themselves to the nature of whatever element it may be, alternately, their cue to live in, "As some rats, of amphibious nature, A public meeting, sir, was therefore called, for the purpose of addressing his lordship on the occasion of his visit, with cordiality and compliment, but at the same time, with a plain expression of the true opinions of the people of Gateshead and its neighbourhood, upon the working of the late so-called reform. Now, sir, I come to the yet unpublished part of this transaction, of which it is my duty, from the official part I took in them, to render an account unto the men of Gateshead, who will, I know, considering the interest you take in it, be satisfied that I should do so, through the medium of this public letter to yourself. Are either for the land or water." They did, therefore, resolve, without intending, and as I affirm without having offered any insult, unkindness, or incivility to his lordship, in the least degree, to take, as was their right and Upon the evening of Monday, the 21. duty, the occasion of this visit, before instant, a preliminary meeting of about bestowing their acclamations on his sixty persons had been held, in Gatespublic character, to ascertain unques- head, at which meeting an address was tionably what that character might be, agreed upon, as the one which should or in what character he was brought be offered to the general meeting; and there to claim them. In short, sir, as Mr. Doubleday was solicited to prepare he was to be served up to them at a a set of resolutions in conformity to public dinner, they were resolved to that address; which documents were know whether he were flesh, fish, or those adopted at such general meeting, fowl. I say, sir, that they would have and which your press, sir, and not yours been justified, and that it would have alone, will put, I trust, on lasting record, been their duty to have acted thus, to the service of a noble cause, and lastunder even far less dubious and sus-ing shame of a most base one. picious circumstances than those at- The same preliminary meeting, sir, tendant on the progress of this dinner instructed me to communicate to the clap-trap. But when you refer to the Earl of Durham the intentions of the people; and I did so, in the following | several persons came confusedly about Jetter, which I transmit to you, together me, one of whom, I think, was Mr. with his lordship's answer, to be inserted Hedworth Lambton, who, with a degree after it. of something like agitation, but at the same time in a manner and with tones both him and them to accept my willof genuine courtesy, for which I beg Whickham, near Gateshead, MY LORD,—I am requested, by a preliminary meeting of inhabitants of Gateshead, to inform your lordship that it is their intentioning thanks, represented to me the unto hold a public meeting to-morrow, the 23. suitableness of the occasion. "Consider inst., at two o'clock, at the entrance into the time, Mr. Attwood, consider the Gateshead from the south, for the purpose of passing an address to your lordship, in which time," were expressions which I heard it is intended to combine with the cordial con- around me from several voices, in tones gratulation of the meeting, on the occasion of which I assure the utterers I found it a your visit to the borough, a statement of the painful, though a needful duty, not to true opinions of the people on the "working" be persuaded by. of the late reform in Parliament. I am further to inform your lordship, that it is intended, by the meeting, to await your coming, and to depute myself, as chairman, to present to your lordship the address which shall be adopted and read at their head. your lordship's most obedient servant, To the Right Hon. the Earl of Lambton Castle, SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of your intended proceedings in Gateshead to-morrow, and am, sir, Your obedient servant, DURHAM. I In the midst of this confusion, however, up came his lordship, with the inquiry, "Oh; are you Mr. Attwood?" was replying yes, and beginning to state the object of my mission, when his lordship interrupted me with an "address of his own, which I must call a lecture, uttered in very rapid, and at first severe and angry tones; these, however, softened as he went along, under the influence, perhaps, of what I certainly intended as a deprecating, not to say imploring look; before the meek submission of whose mute appeal, as the eyes of the simple Radical once caught those of this angry lord, I fanC. Attwood, Esq. cied that I saw the sternness of his lordship's looks materially relent. Must After the holding of the general meet- it not have been most fortunate, sir, it ing, I waited, with the people, for his was so, before their gorgon terrors had lordship's coming, and presented my-literally congealed me to a stone! self, with as good and courtly a grace as The substance of his lordship's I am master of, hat in one hand, and speech, as near as I am able to repeat address in the other, at his lordship's it, was as follows:-"Then, sir, I must carriage. He did not, or he would not, tell you that you ought to know that see me; and he passed into the inn, up you have taken a most unjustifiable stairs. I followed him, as was my duty, course in fixing a place and time for supported by Mr. Doubleday and a few presenting an address to me, instead of others who had borne part in our pro- first ascertaining from me when and ceedings, and found him with a consi-where it might be my pleasure to rederable number of other persons, in the ceive it; and under these circumstances least of two opposite rooms, the larger I shall not receive it." being apparently quite full of dinner guests awaiting his arrival; but, observe, it was not in either of those rooms they were to dine. On proceeding into the room, of which the door was open, and inquiring if the Earl of Durham was there, as I had a public address which I was ordered to present to him, The moment that his lordship ceased, I, who had an office to perform for the meeting, which made it my duty to endure rudeness, which, if acting on my own behalf, I would not have done, began, or endeavoured to begin an expla— nation to this effect: that circumstances of supposed necessity or urgency |